Augustines - at Neumos - Seattle, WA

As anyone whose ever heard Augustines would expect, the band was write-home-about-it epic at Neumos this past Fridaynight. Riding high on the February 2nd release of Augustines, their sophomore album that's already winning critical acclaim, they absolutely beamed through their entire set.  Despite being based in Brooklyn, the trio lived in Seattle during summer 2013 to practice this very record, so this wasno   ordinary show, either. The sold-out venue was packed to the gills with fans and friends whom they frequently called out or pointed at throughout the show.

From soaring triumphantly through "Cruel City" to drawing silent reverence from the crowd during an acoustic "Now You Are Free," his gravely voice cemented the evening as unforgettable. Drummer Rob Allen, keyboardist and bass player Eric Sanderson, and McCarthy refused to rush through their songs and instead let the event play out with extra emotion and impact. McCarthy's grief-filled facial expressions, Sanderson's core-cutting piano chords, and Allen's take-it-out-on-the-drums delivery were simply stunning.  Yet for all the glimpses of their anguish, ninety percent of the night was spent with them bounding across the stage, looking utterly filled with glee.

Wrapping up the celebration with whiskey shots, the guys again expressed their gratitude for the crowd and all their supporters with clear authenticity. And man, was the feeling mutual.

Words // Photos by: AJ Dent

 

Charli XCX - Neumo's - Seattle, WA

Until Charli XCX started crooning and shimmying at Neumo’s, I had no idea what a cult following she has here in Seattle.  The moment she cracked open her show with “What I Like,” the men surrounding me in the front row burst out dancing and singing every lyric.  Standing in the middle of her band of female instrumentalists, she owned everyone’s attention with her raspy British accent and fervid headbanging.  At just twenty-one years old, the English singer-songwriter is not only an international star, but also a fashion icon thanks to her goth-tinged wardrobe and huge, dread-laced hair.

Murmurs flew through the crowd when, at the end of her fourth song, “Lock You Up,” Charli broke down into tears.  As the tune was followed by an extra-emotional “Stay Away,” everyone assumed a former lover was on her mind.  She explained afterwards, though, that she actually had a sore throat, and had been on the verge of calling off the show, but “didn’t want to do that” to us.  The audience erupted into cheers of gratitude and affirmation that she still sounded amazing.  Without her confession and the fact she was drinking tea onstage, I’d have never guessed her voice was anything but at its best.  Though concertgoers were disappointed when she didn’t emerge for an encore at the end, we could hardly blame her, especially given that she’d still performed an impressive thirteen songs.  With catchy anthems like “You (Ha Ha Ha)” and “I Love It” (a song she wrote for the band Icona Pop) entering the mainstream, she’s sure to keep winning over hearts and growing her adoring fan base.

Words//Photos By:AJ Dent - Twitter // Web Site