Preview: Charlotte Cardin Headlining Neumos 11.12.2023

The incredible Montreal-based Charlotte Cardin is embarking on a three month world tour, and the majority of the concerts - from France to Belgium, Victoria to Toronto - are already sold out. Those in Seattle will be lucky to catch Charlotte on the beginning of the tour, as she makes a stop at Neumos this Sunday, 11.12.2023.

Charlotte's a multi JUNO-winning Canadian singer/songwriter, and her sophomore album, 99 Nights, is an absolute gem. Recorded in Montreal, the album has a slew of collaborators; DFA (Dua Lipa), Rob Grimaldi (BTS), Mr.Hudson (Kanye West), Jorgen Odegard (Justin Bieber), Jenn Decilveo (Miley Cyrus), Ryan Linvill (Conan Gray), Felix Joseph (Jorja Smith). 

Her latest single, “Next to You”, is a hypnotic piano ballad that fully displays Cardin’s rich and ethereal vocals, and serves as a love letter and farewell to her hometown of Montreal. You can watch a beautiful performance of the track, here. 

For friends of Visible Voice not in the Seattle area, check the tour poster below and grab tickets near you. You'll thank us later.

McKinley Dixon - Neumos - 3.19.23

If McKinley Dixon isn't on your radar yet, let these words you're reading clue you in: he may be the best musician you've yet to hear. There's a reason The Guardian included him in their list of 2023's most promising musical newcomers, and it's because he really is flat out phenomenal. 

McKinley opened for Tank and the Bangas to a sold-out Neumos audience in Seattle on a night where the winter attempted to stick around for a few more days in the PNW. Often with opening acts, the crowd mills about, orders drinks, and generally doesn't pay much mind to what's happening on stage. Not here. McKinley had everyone in the house glued to the stage, and for good reason. His set what energetic, tight, and sounded fantastic. By the end, the crowd was eager to sing along with the chorus as instructed.

He's based out of Chicago, and to be clear, it's tough to classify his sound into one genre. Maybe that's to be expected from a guy who rocked the set in an ICP t-shirt, calls Toni Morrison the greatest rapper of all time, and writes truly transformative lyrics that tackle topics like violence, religion, and finding new ways of physical and mental communication, as evidenced by his stunning last project For My Mama And Anyone Who Look Like Her. Is he a rapper? Yes, and a great one. A singer? Also fantastic. His backing band is also heavily jazz influenced. Does his music need to be classified? Maybe not. What it is is great, beautiful, honest music. 

Keep up with McKinley here, and catch him on the remainder of the tour with Tank and the Bangas. You'll be glad you did.

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Words + Photos by Bodi of Sattva Photo

Preview: Meltt Headlining the Vera Project 3.3.23

Hailing from North Vancouver, psych-rock rising stars Meltt are kicking off their tour and celebrating the release of their new EP, Another Quiet Sunday, with a headlining set at Seattle's beloved Vera Project. 

For the unfamiliar, Meltt combines distorted riffs, otherworldly soundscapes, and ethereal vocals to offer profound meditations on loss and love, grief and hope. Fans of Foals, Tame Impala, and Glass Animals will no doubt find much to savor, be it at an energetic live show on their Another Quiet Sunday Tour, on the aforementioned new EP, or their transcendent 2019 LP Swim Slowly. There's a reason they've racked up millions of streams across multiple tracks: this is just genuinely great music.

Much of Meltt's newest work touches on the feelings around grief and suffering centered around the loss of band member Ian Winlker's father to ALS. In the band's own words, “The title track, ‘Another Quiet Sunday (Keep Moving On).’ is purposefully vague as to whether the perspective being sung is someone passing away and into a new form/life, or someone saying goodbye to someone passing away into a new form/life. Meaning either returning back to the living after encountering the other side or moving on. We wanted it to be optimistic: the vibe being all of this is temporary, we’re always in transition, and we’ll all rejoin with each other eventually - either turning back into energy that exists within the universe, or becoming part of nature, or reuniting with our ancestors in some spiritual form.” Echoes of this same sentiment permeate the soulful 5 song, 18 minute EP which is now streaming worldwide. 

Dates for their upcoming USA tour are below, and details and tickets can be found here.

Words: Bodi Hallett (Sattva Photo) // Images: Courtesy of Meltt

Cafuné - Paramount Theatre - 9.30.22

There aren't a whole lot of artists or bands who can say their first time performing in Seattle was to a sold out audience in the historic Paramount Theatre, but New York's Cafuné can. Opening up for Chvrches on their Screen Violence tour, Cafuné left their mark on the audience with a rollicking set, making the most of their 40 minute slot and undoubtedly priming themselves to come back to Seattle on a sold out headlining tour of their own in the near future. 

If you have TikTok, You may know Cafuné from their viral hit "Tek It" from their debut album, Running. Shortly after blowing up on socials, Elektra Records signed Cafuné. Smart move on their part, because Sedona Schat and Noah Yoo's musical chops and showmanship ensures they're set up for a lengthy touring career, regardless of having another song go viral on TikTok.

With a musical through-line of alt-pop and indie rock, Cafuné would nest nicely in your playlist alongside Phoebe Bridgers, the aforementioned Chvrches, and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs in equal measure. Their next tour will undoubtedly be as a headliner, and when they come to your town, you'd be well served hitting up their show and moving those dancing feet to their effortlessly catchy sound.

Catch Cafuné on tour now, and hopefully again soon.

Photos + Words by Bodi of Sattva Photo

Fitz & The Tantrums - Chateau Ste. Michelle - 8/21/22

Completely selling out the legendary Chateau Ste. Michelle on the outskirts of Seattle on a Sunday night is no small feat, but that's exactly what LA-based Fitz & The Tantrums (with fantastic support from fellow LA-native Andy Grammer) managed to do. As we all continue our gradual emergence from covid, it's hard to overstate the power that comes with being in community, even if that community for the night is a sea of strangers, while energetic and upbeat music fills the air. Make no mistake: Fitz and the Tantrums provide the perfect soundtrack to dance the night away and feel rejuvenated, refreshed, and just optimistic about what comes next. 

As they put the finshing touches on their 5th studio album, Fitz and the Tantrums somehow found time to tour the country, serving up music that's inspiring without being saccharine, positive without being preachy. With killer vocals from Noelle Scaggs and Michael (Fitz) Fitzpatrick and a backing band that could slot right in filling a stadium at the Super Bowl Halftime Show or on the streets of New Orleans, they just sound good. Their music is a balm for the soul, something which we could all use in these increasingly divided and disparate times. 

See them on tour. Dance the night away. Make friends and memories. You'll be happy you did.

 

The Band CAMINO - Seattle, WA - 4/1/2022

On a stormy April 1st, The Band CAMINO - with support from flor and Hastings - played to a sold out, enraptured audience at Seattle's historic Showbox SODO. This being the band's first tour since everything closed down, and armed with their self-titled, Elektra released debut that premiered in September, it was impressive to see the following and fanbase TBC has cultivated over the last several years. Selling out the SODO is no small task.

In a turn of inspired marketing that will only help to further broaden their sizable audience, a well lit photobooth was available for all fans to take selfies and share their love of the band. Given that so many are hungry for the return of live music, bands likely don't need to pull out personalized touches to bring out the crowds. Yet, in doing so, they're no doubt deepening their ties with their fans who will feel like an integral part of the action. It was fun to see, and downright admirable.

Their live set pulled mainly from their new album, with a few cuts reaching back to their 2016 and 2017 EPs. Hearing the audience sing along with tracks from each showcased the loyalty of their fans during an electric, energetic performance that was sincere in its engagement with the audience and tight with showmanship. For old fans, this will be a night that no doubt exceeded expectations. For the new coming into the fold, it no doubt ensured strong word of mouth for many more sold-out shows to come.

Catch The Band CAMINO on "The Tour CAMINO" here.

Photos + Words by Bodi of Sattva Photo

JPEGMAFIA - Bellingham, WA - 11/18/2021

It's tough to describe a JPEGMAFIA concert to anyone who has never been before. Is it a rap show? Yeah. Is it punk? A bit. Is it pop? Sort of. Is it entertaining? Absolutely. It's a concert you experience, not just one to which you listen.

In 2018, Barrington Hendricks (JPEGMAFIA aka Peggy) garnered widespread acclaim for his breakthrough album, Veteran. Few were the year-end lists -from Pitchfork to Spin, Rolling Stone to Noisey - on which the album didn't appear. Ever since, he has continued to use that momentum to build a large and ever-growing fanbase around the world. Case in point: he sold out the Wild Buffalo in sleepy little Bellingham, Washington, on a Thursday night, in the midst of a pandemic, and the majority of folks in the audience knew the words to his songs. 

The experience started even before the music began, as all concert-goers were given JPEG branded masks at the door - a clever (and much appreciated from a public health standpoint) bit of marketing and branding that will only help to further develop the man's legion of supporters. When Peggy took the stage, half empty champagne bottle in hand and announcing to the crowd he was drunk, bedlam ensued immediately. All energy, no brakes. The man even went into a rendition of "Call Me Maybe" and had the crowd singing along. Legendary show.

Catch JPEGMAFIA on tour when you can. 

Photos + Words by Bodi of Sattva Photo.

Julien Baker - Seattle, WA - 11/10/2021

 

It's hard to overstate just how brilliant Julien Baker's live set is. It's intimate and enormous, subtle and euphoric. It's a concert, yes, but it's more than that: it's an indelible hybrid of music and emotion that's as cathartic as it is beautiful. Suffice to say: Julien Baker, sold-out at the Moore Theatre in Seattle, was one hell of a first post-COVID show.

Julien is one of those rare artists where the live music somehow sounds even better than the records - and that's saying a lot, because from "Sprained Ankle" to "Turn Out the Lights", "Little Oblivions" to her work with Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus in the supergroup Boygenius - her work is lauded and acclaimed by critics and her rapidly growing fanbase alike. And her set on this rainy Wednesday night kicked off with the transcendent album opener "Hardline", closed out with elegiac "Ziptie" and pulled from each of her previous records in between. 

One of the pivotal moments in the show was when Julien's (absolutely stellar) band leaves the stage, Julien sitting down solo at the piano. The next three tracks forged an emotional connection that gets into the bones, and I have absolutely no idea how she holds a vocal note for upwards of 10 seconds without seeming to get winded. Though all in attendance were wearing masks, I could still see teary eyes. And if you've ever experienced a Julien Baker show, you'll know why. If you haven't, well...fix that.

For our domestic readers, you've got a couple more chances to see Julien in North America this year. For our lucky European readers, you've got a whole spring tour to look forward to, and I'd recommend getting tickets now.

Live music is back, and the future of live music is Julien Baker.

Words + Photos by Bodi Hallett of Sattva Photo

Newport Folk Festival 2021 "Folk On" -Preview-

After a long, lost year of COVID-cancelled concerts, shuttered venues, and languid live streams, “there will be music in Newport this summer.” It may look a little different at first, but Newport stands ready to welcome both the Folk and Jazz fests this July - some of the first large-scale music festivals to return in the country.

The difficulties of 2020 need not be expounded upon - and health experts are still exercising caution and encouraging vaccinations - but this summer’s schedule certainly feels like a return to the normalcy we took for granted. There will again be music, merriment, and we trust a little bit of that Newport magic.  

This year’s fest, dubbed “Folk On,” will run at half capacity spread out over double the days. (Tickets are sold out but it’s not too late to queue up for tickets on the Lyte ticket exchange.) Other tweaks include removal of a stage as well as kids’ tickets, the addition of hand sanitizer stations, and an added requirement of proof of vaccination or recent negative COVID test.

While the shape may seem a little different, many of the sounds will not. We’ll have familiar favorites like Deer Tick, Langhorne Slim, alongside returns from Middle Brother, Margo Price, Billy Strings, Hiss Golden Messenger and Kevin Morby, plus newcomers like Joy Oladukun and icons like Randy Newman. There are still many slots left unannounced, and many stages seem ripe for cross-pollination. And an upside of the reduced capacity could mean better experiences all around.

But more importantly, beyond the lineups and the logistics, for the first time in nearly 24 months, we will again get a chance to live out the Folk Festival’s ethos and “Be kind, be open, and be together.” And that is reason enough to celebrate.

Tickets are still available for the jazz festival, which continues to book increasingly eclectic, genre-stretching line-ups in the same spectacular setting. As of writing, Friday is looking particularly funky with Kamasi Washington stepping in for Wynton Marsalis; plus Mackaya McCraven whose recent “reimagining” of Gil Scot-Heron is an absolute stunner, and the mellow modes of Folk Fest-alums Khruangbin and Yola. Plus: Mavis Staples. Enough said! 

Words by Brian Hodge