Live Music Roundup: Thursday, July 2
Chop Suey has an awesome line-up this evening: See Me River, Triumph of Lethargy, Skinned Alive to Death and Battle Hymns. And it's only $7. The thing starts at 8 p.m.
Kyle Johnson Grand Hallway
And in cheap fun, the Sunset Tavern celebrates nine years of existence with a show featuring all kinds of prominent local musicians: John Ramberg and Johnny Sangster (of The Tripwires), Jacob London, Los Rubbish (featuring Kurt Bloch and Leslie Beattie of Thee Sgt Major III), and a bunch more. That starts at 9 p.m. and it's free.
Grand Hallway, Friday Mile, Apple War and carcrashlander at Nectar, 8 p.m., $7
Grand Hallway is a name that evokes eminence, a kind of timeless grandeur. Such is the quality of the octet's sprawling orchestral pop music - it is stately without being stuffy and dreamy but not too distant. Grand Hallway's songs are built upon layers of guitar, violin, piano and percussion - all showcasing frontman Tomo Nakayama's smooth, exquisite tenor. (Sean Nelson of Harvey Danger dubbed Nakayama's "the most beautiful singing voice in Seattle"). The craftsmanship that went into putting these songs together is apparent - some of the lush melodies are stop-in-your-tracks gorgeous, even more so when coupled with the swelling strings and tinkling piano keys - and lyrically, too, they are packed with stirring, picturesque emotion. "When you're lying next to me, I'm a hibernating grizzly bear," lilts Nakayama on "Blessed Be, Honey Bee," a track off of Grand Hallway's forthcoming LP, Promenade. Refreshingly, the music lacks tired irony or any other superciliousness - instead, these are simply dazzling and eloquent love songs. ERIN THOMPSON
1 comment(s)
Estey says:
I would so be at that FUCKING AMAZING Chop Suey show tonight if I wasn't so horridly allergy stricken.
You should go if you can, Sara -- I know you'll dig SMR, but also would love to hear your thoughts on Triumph's new poppier (in a good way) stuff and Cameron's latest incarnation.
Posted On: Thursday, Jul. 2 2009 @ 10:06AM