2024-09-14 Hardly Raining Seattle “folktronica” trio Mt Fog celebrated their album release at the Tractor on September 14, 2024. Ultraviolet Heart Machine is available on Bandcamp tomorrow. Mt Fog will also play shows in Portland on September 20, and in Tacoma on September 21. Opening were Seattle “dreamgaze” band somesurprises, and contemplative singer–songwriter Tiny Vipers …
2024-08-25 Hardly Raining The annual Wiener Dog and Wannabe Races returned to Emerald Downs on August 25, 2024. See coverage of the 2021 event here. The Wiener Wannabe champion was “Ice Ice Lady” (trained by Trevor Schneider of Seattle), who defeated “Arlo the Long Boi” (trained by Jamie Jensen of Auburn) in a photo finish. …
2024-08-11 Hardly Raining STG’s THING Festival returned for its fourth year—this time at a new location in Carnation, WA. Headliners included St. Vincent, Toro y Moi, and Black Pumas, supported by artists from the Pacific Northwest and around the world. See a gallery below, and check back soon for the full review!— Note: Unless otherwise …
2024-08-08 Hardly Raining The fourth annual THING Festival returns to western Washington on August 9-11, 2024. Headliners will be St. Vincent, Toro y Moi, and Black Pumas, supported by Spoon, Killer Mike, Stephen Sanchez, Ethel Cain, and Earl Sweatshirt. The lineup includes 30 bands at multiple stages. Presented by the nonprofit Seattle Theatre Group, this …
2024-08-03 Hardly Raining Experimental-music group Negativland played a live set at Northwest Film Forum on August 3, 2024. Negativland includes Mark Hosler, Jon Leidecker (AKA “Wobbly”), and David Wills (AKA “The Weatherman”), who joined by video from his Seattle home. They performed We Can Really Feel Like We’re Here, a collaboration with multimedia collage artist …
2024-07-07 Hardly Raining Jazz Port Townsend returns to Fort Worden State Park the week of July 22-28, 2024. Sponsored by Centrum, the event features a a week-long jazz camp, followed by a weekend of concerts by the faculty artists. Small-ensemble shows “in the clubs” are on Thursday and Friday nights this year, and mainstage concerts at …
2024-06-28 Hardly Raining Singer–songwriters Marissa Nadler and Jesse Sykes co-headlined a show at Seattle’s Ballard Homestead on June 28, 2024. It was an evening of hauntingly beautiful gothic country, set in an intimate arts space within a converted 1920s house. Nadler performed solo on guitar and electronics. Joining Sykes was long-time bandmate Phil Wandscher (guitar, …
2024-06-20 Hardly Raining Krist Novoselic debuted his Bona Fide Band at Easy Street Records on June 20, 2024. Along with the former Nirvana bassist, the group included Mark Pickerel (drums), Kathy Moore (guitar), Jillian Raye (vocals), and Jennifer Johnson (vocals). They played mostly songs from Novoselic’s other bands: Giants in the Trees, 3rd Secret, and …
2024-06-01 Hardly Raining Seattle kicked off LGBTQ+ pride month with the Pride in the Park celebration at Volunteer Park. Presented by Seattle Pride, the six-hour outdoor event included live music, drag performances, DJ sets, vendors, and food trucks. The organizers announced that they expected 12,000 attendees. This year marks the 50th anniversary of Seattle Pride. …
2024-05-25 Hardly Raining Three-time Grammy winning jazz vocalist Samara Joy performed at Benaroya Hall on May 25, 2024. Seattle nonprofit Earshot Jazz presented the concert. Joy has performed many times in Seattle, including at previous Earshot Jazz events. Joining Joy was a jazz septet, including Evan Sherman (drums), Connor Rohrer (piano), Felix Moseholm (bass), Donavan …
2024.05.03 Hardly Raining Seattle bands Acid Tongue, Zookraught, Midpak, and Balcony Bridge played a DIY show under the 1st Avenue Bridge on May 3, 2024. The event benefitted Gaza relief. Gallery: 1st Avenue Bridge Show
2024-04-26 Hardly Raining Eclectic Americana artist Star Anna played the Belltown Yacht Club on April 26, 2024. The Ellensburg native recently released three singles from her upcoming album, Love and Sex and Fear of Death, due out in July. Opening were synthpop and chiptune artist Leeni, and guitar duo Poor Katherine (Kathy Moore and Patrick Porter). …
2024-04-24 Hardly Raining Psychedelic funk group Polyrhythmics played a packed show at Nectar Lounge on April 24, 2024, sponsored by Elysian Brewing. The long-time Seattle band includes Ben Bloom (guitar), Jason Gray (bass), Nathan Spicer (keys), Grant Schroff (drums), Scott Morning (trumpet), Art Brown (saxophone, flute), and Elijah Clark (trombone). Polyrhythmics released Filter System in …
2024-04-21 Hardly Raining Belltown Bloom returns to Seattle’s Crocodile complex on May 4-5, 2024. Now in its fourth year, the weekend festival features a diverse lineup of women and nonbinary artists. Last year’s bill featured classic punk group L7 and Russian performance-artist activists Pussy Riot. (See a gallery below.) Some major acts are headlining this …
2024-04-21 Hardly Raining Dreampop duo Still Corners returned to The Crocodile on April 21, 2024. They were last in Seattle in 2022. The group included Tessa Murray (vocals, keys) and Greg Hughes (guitar, electronics), along with Jim Wallis (drums). Seattle was third stop on Still Corners’ month-long tour of the U.S., Mexico, and Europe. Their …
2024-04-20 Hardly Raining Seattle “dreamgaze” band somesurprises performed at the Tractor Tavern on April 20, 2024. The group included Natasha El-Sergany (vocals, guitar, keys), Josh Medina (guitar, synth), Laura Seniow (bass), Benjamin Thomas-Kennedy (drums), and special guest Lori Goldston (cello). The well-attended show celebrated the release of their LP, Perseids. In support of this album, …
2024-04-14 Hardly Raining Vocal supergroup säje — Sara Gazarek, Amanda Taylor, Johnaye Kendrick, and Erin Bentlage — performed at the Edmonds Center for the Arts on April 14, 2024. The jazz-influenced group is notable for their tight harmonies, skillful arrangements, and catchy original compositions. The band included Dawn Clement (keys), Michael Glynn (bass), and Roberto …
2024.04.15 Hardly Raining Baltimore experimental electronic duo Matmos performed at Here-After on April 15, 2024. Matmos includes partners Martin Schmidt and Drew Daniel. The pair sampled unconventional musical instruments—a balloon, metal bowls, textured tile, pouring water, duck calls, a broken record—and constructed them into banging dance tunes. They used quadraphonic sound to provide each seat …
2024-04-06 Hardly Raining Portland rockers Sun Atoms headlined the fourth and final day of Seattle’s Seagaze Festival on April 6, 2024. Held at the Tractor Tavern across two weekends, Seagaze celebrated the Pacific Northwest shoegaze, post-punk, and psychedelic-rock genres. The festival began in 2016. Sun Atoms have performed in Seattle several times, most recently at …
2024-04-09 Hardly Raining Guitar master and composer John Scofield and his group played the Kirkland Performance Center on April 9, 2024. Joining Scofield were jazz talents Vicente Archer (bass) and Bill Stewart (drums). Their set included originals from their latest album, bebop standards, and a Bob Dylan cover. Scofield’s trio is playing three dates in …
Photos: John Scofield Trio at Kirkland Performance Center Read More »
2024-04-05 Hardly Raining Malian singer–songwriter Fatoumata Diawara performed at the Neptune Theatre on April 5, 2024. The show was part of the 2024 Spring Concert Series, presented by PDX Jazz. Diawara’s tour continues at Portland’s Revolution Hall on April 6. Gallery: Fatoumata Diawara
2024-03-30 Hardly Raining Legendary avant-garde artist Laurie Anderson performed “Let X = X” at Benaroya Hall on March 30, 2024. Anderson incorporates electronics, spoken word, invented musical instruments, surreal video, and audience participation into a stunning multimedia experience. She played to an enthusiastic, nearly full house. The event was part of the 2024 Spring Concert …
2024-03-29 Hardly Raining San Diego garage-rockers The Schizophonics played an action-packed set Seattle’s Substation on March 29, 2024. The trio recently performed at Boise’s Treefort Festival, and their west-coast tour continues in Portland tonight. Opening were Seattle bands Shark Legs and The Checks. Gallery: The Schizophonics
2024-03-22 Hardly Raining Portland alto-saxophonist and composer Owen Broder performed at the Royal Room on March 22, 2024. His multi-city quintet included Noah Simpson (trumpet), Carmen Staaf (piano), Emiliano Lasansky (bass), and John Sturino (drums). (Broder also played the Royal Room during the 2021 Earshot Jazz Festival.) The group completes their three-stop west coast tour …
2024-03-03 Hardly Raining The two-day Freakout Weekender returned to Belltown on March 2-3, 2024. The Weekender is a short-and-sweet version of Freakout‘s four-day fall festival, which includes a diverse selection of legacy artists, emerging and established Seattle groups, and bands from Latin America. It offers an ideal opportunity to explore new music. Held across four …
2024-02-28 Hardly Raining Innovative Grammy-nominated jazz artists Theo Croker (trumpet, electronics) and Kassa Overall (drums, vocals) played a double-bill at Nectar Lounge on February 28, 2024. Croker’s band included Mike King (keys), Giulio Cetto (bass), and Miguel Russell (drums). Joining Seattle native Overall were Tomoki Sanders (saxophone), Bendji Allance (percussion), and Matt Wong (keys). Both …
2024-02-08 Hardly Raining Contemplative experimental artists somesurprises played Beacon Hill’s Clock-Out Lounge on February 8, 2024. The band included Seattleites Natasha El-Sergany (vocals, guitar, synth), Josh Medina (guitar, synth), Laura Seniow (bass), and Benjamin Thomas-Kennedy (drums). somesurprises by somesurprises Gothic avant-pop group Shitty Person played the second set, celebrating the release of their new EP, …
Photos: somesurprises, Shitty Person, Patrick Toney Read More »
2024-02-06 Hardly Raining Jeff Fielder (guitar, vocals), Barrett Martin (drums), and Joe Doria (organ, synth) played the Sea Monster Lounge on February 6, 2024. The Seattle supergroup performs together rarely, so this late show was a treat. Gallery
2024.02.01 Hardly Raining NYC jazz group Civil Disobedience graced the new Seattle Jazz Fellowship space on February 1, 2024. Bandleader David Ambrosio (bass) was joined by Donny McCaslin (saxophones), Brandon Lee (trumpet), David Kikoski (piano), and the esteemed Victor Lewis (drums). Performing to an appreciative crowd, Civil Disobedience played two sets of late-1960s releases from …
Photos: David Ambrosio’s Civil Disobedience at SJF Read More »
2024-01-26 Hardly Raining The Seattle Jazz Fellowship (SJF) reopened its doors in a new Pioneer Square location on January 26, 2024. Founded in 2021, the nonprofit organization has operated “Fellowship Wednesday” concerts at Vermillion, the “Julian Speaks” community talk series at Langston (with legendary trombonist Julian Priester), a youth-focused jam session at the Seattle Drum …
2024-01-26 Hardly Raining The Freakout Weekender returns to Belltown on March 2-3, 2024. The two-day psychedelic mini-festival will feature 20 bands across four stages at The Crocodile building. Headliners include Ty Segall’s San Francisco hard-rock project Fuzz, Chicago indie-rock trio Dehd, Jamaican British vocalist Derv Gordon (of The Equals), Brazilian psych-pop group Boogerins, Los Angeles …
2024-01-21 Hardly Raining Seattle post-punk group Swamp Wife played the Cha Cha Lounge on January 21, 2024. The quartet formed less than a year ago, but has already released an eponymous EP and received some media attention. Opening was Seattle hardcore punk/hip-hop band The Bitter. Their set was notable for powerful social-justice lyrics and an …
2023-11-06 Hardly Raining Now in its eleventh year, the four-day Freakout Festival returned to Ballard on November 2-5, 2023. The psychedelic music event provided an anything-goes experience where you could try a new band or genre, mosh, crowd-surf, or (ahem) expand your mind. Bands appeared on eight indoor stages throughout the nightlife area of the …
2024-01-15 Hardly Raining Seattle’s 41st annual MLK Day March and Rally took place on Monday, January 15, 2024. The event was part of a multi-day celebration of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., sponsored by the Seattle MLK Jr Coalition. This year’s theme was, “Dream: Unfinished.” View a gallery from the 2023 event …
2023-11-05 Hardly Raining Phoenix garage-rockers The Darts played an in-store show at Easy Street Records on November 5, 2023. Sharing the bill were Mexico City punk group Carrion Kids, and Seattle mainstays The Sinister Six. The visiting bands were in Seattle to play the 2023 Freakout Festival. See photos from The Darts at their 2022 …
2024-01-05 Hardly Raining Seattle singer–songwriter Mt Fog, AKA Carolyn B (keys, vocals), returned to the Tractor Tavern, joined by Casey Rosebridge (bass, synth) and Andy Sells (drums). The trio performed mostly songs from their upcoming album, plus a few from the 2022 Spells of Silence. Mt Fog opened for Seattle folk-rock group The Cave Singers. …
2023-12-09 Hardly Raining The annual Tremolo Shoegaze Music Festival returned to Seattle on December 7-9, 2023. (Click here to view images from the 2022 festival.) Held at the historic Central Saloon in Pioneer Square, this year’s event featured 12 bands over three nights. The Saturday lineup included Helens (Portland), Valley Suns (Seattle), bloococoon (Seattle), and …
2023-11-14 Hardly Raining Pianists Mathis Picard and Jovino Santos Neto played a double bill at the Royal Room on November 14, 2023. The Mathis Picard Trio included Jonathan Pinson (drums) and Parker McAllister (bass). It was the last stop of their west-coast tour, which celebrated the release of the trio’s November 2023 album Heat of …
2023-11-16 Hardly Raining Los Angeles jazz act Lizzy & The Triggermen played a sold-out show at The Triple Door on November 16, 2023. Led by vocalist Lizzy Shapiro, the group included a ten-piece swing band and members of the vintage dance troupe The Atomic Cherry Bombs. Gallery: Lizzy & The Triggermen
2023-11-12 Hardly Raining Punk band The Linda Lindas held an in-store show and album signing at Easy Street Records on November 12, 2023. The group includes Bela Salazar (guitar, vocals), Eloise Wong (bass, vocals), Lucia de la Garza (guitar, vocals), and Mila de la Garza (drums, vocals). The Linda Lindas rose to fame in 2021 …
2023-11-09 Hardly Raining Acclaimed pianist and composer Brad Mehldau played the Neptune Theatre on November 9, 2023. His trio included Larry Grenadier (bass) and Jeff Ballard (drums). It was Mehldau’s first time back in Seattle since the pandemic. Fingers flying, Mehldau showcased his trademark chromaticism, contrapuntal improvisation, and odd-meter mastery. Ballard added clever, minimalistic drum …
2023-11-01 Hardly Raining Seattle’s beloved Freakout Festival XI returns to Ballard November 2-5, 2023. The four-day event emphasizes live psychedelic music and DJ sets. Mad Alchemy Analog Liquid Light Show will again provide trippy live projections. This year’s headliners include Allah Las, The Gories, The Spits, Son Rompe Pera, Sextile, and Jonathan Bree. Many Seattle …
2023-10-10 Hardly Raining British shoegaze pioneers Slowdive played Showbox SoDo on October 10, 2023. More than three decades after their debut, the group continues to enchant with layers of jangly guitar, plodding drums, dreamy vocals, and devastating emotional swells. Personnel include Neil Halstead (vocals, guitar), Rachel Goswell (vocals, keys), Christian Savill (guitar), Simon Scott (drums, …
2023-10-08 Hardly Raining Hundreds gathered in Volunteer Park for the Halloween Pet Parade on October 8, 2023. The Volunteer Park Trust sponsored the annual event. Held in the lawn outside the Seattle Asian Art Museum, the event featured live music by the 8 Bit Brass Band, pet-related vendors, a costume contest, and a brief parade …
2023-9-22 Hardly Raining Kinski (Seattle), Sun Atoms (Portland), and The Purrs (Seattle) played The Sunset on September 22, 2023. See the gallery below. Gallery: Kinski, Sun Atoms, The Purrs
2023-10-04 Hardly Raining The 35th annual Earshot Jazz Festival begins on Friday, October 6, 2023. The nearly month-long festival will offer live performances across the jazz spectrum. Concerts will take place in venues throughout Seattle, and some will also be live-streamed. Headliners include Hiromi’s Sonicwonder, The Bad Plus & Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog, säje, Sona Jobarteh, …
2023-08-25 Hardly Raining THING Festival returned to Fort Worden for its third year on August 25-27, 2023. The nonprofit Seattle Theatre Group and Sasquatch! founder Adam Zacks produced the event. Overview The three-day festival featured a worldwide selection of musical artists, with an emphasis upon the U.S. Pacific Northwest. This year’s headliners included indie-folk Seattle …
2023.09.23 Hardly Raining Protesters rallied in the Chinatown–International District on September 23, 2023 to demand justice for Jaahnavi Kandula. Kandula, a 23-year-old graduate student, was killed by a police vehicle in January 2023. Body-camera footage released this month revealed that a Seattle Police Department officer had made callous remarks about Kandula’s death, prompting local and …
2023-08-25–27 Hardly Raining The third THING Festival takes place in Port Townsend on August 25-27, 2023. Based at Fort Worden, the three-day event features “music & arts & other things.” (For an overview, read last year’s festival review.) Headliners include indie-folk Seattle natives Fleet Foxes, Atlanta hip-hop artist Lil Yachty, electropop duo Sylvan Esso, R&B …
2023-08-17 Hardly Raining Seattle natives vocalist Sara Gazarek and trumpeter Thomas Marriott closed out the 2023 Summer Series at the Amphitheater. The series featured six free outdoor concerts in Seattle’s Volunteer Park. Gazarek’s group included a NYC lineup of Julian Shore (piano), Matt Aranoff (bass), and Jared Schonig (drums), along with special guest Tatum Greenblatt …
2023-07-12 Hardly Raining Seattle Americana group The Dusty 45s performed at Nectar Lounge on July 12, 2023. The group included Billy Joe Huels (vocals, guitar, trumpet), Robin Cady (bass), Kohen Burrill (drums), and Rod Cook (guitar). DJ Sean Jewell spun country records between live sets. Sponsored by Elysian Brewing, the event was free to attendees …
2023-07-01 Hardly Raining South African pianist, vocalist, and composer Nduduzo Makhathini performed at the Royal Room on July 1, 2023. His trio included Francisco Mela (drums) and Zwelakhe-Duma Bell Le Pere (bass). Makhathini released his latest album, In the Spirit of Ntu, in 2022. The show was the final event in the Earshot Jazz Spring …
2023-06-25 Hardly Raining Queer/Pride Festival returned to Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood last weekend. The three-day outdoor event featured LGBTQIA+ centric music and drag performances along a closed-off street outside festival sponsor Queer/Bar. The Sunday headliner was Australian-American dance-pop artist Betty Who. Flanked by two sometimes-shirtless background dancers, the out bisexual artist performed to an enthusiastic …
2023.06.22 Hardly Raining The East–West Trumpet Summit performed at The Royal Room on June 22, 2023. Personnel included Thomas Marriott (trumpet, flugelhorn), Ray Vega (trumpet, flugelhorn), Roy McCurdy (drums), Michael Glynn (bass), and Tim Kennedy (piano). Seattle multi-instrumentalist Jay Thomas sat in for the final number. The event celebrated the release of their album, Coast …
Photos: East–West Trumpet Summit at the Royal Room Read More »
2023-06-17 Hardly Raining The Steve Lehman Trio performed at Raisbeck Auditorium on June 17, 2023. A jazz alto saxophonist and composer, Lehman was accompanied by Damion Reid (drums) and Matt Brewer (bass). In 2019, they released The People I Love. The trio completes a five-date tour tonight in Los Angeles, joined by tenor saxophonist Mark …
2023-05-30 Hardly Raining Hermeto Pascoal Brazilian avant-garde jazz legend Hermeto Pascoal performed at the Neptune Theatre on May 30, 2023. The 86-year-old composer and multi-instrumentalist sang, and played keys and melodica. His band included André Marques (piano), Ajurinã Zwarg (drums, percussion), Fabio Pascoal (percussion), Itiberê Zwarg (bass), and Jota P. (saxophones, flute). The group played …
2023-06-01 Hardly Raining NYC alto-saxophonist and composer Lakecia Benjamin performed at Cornish College’s Raisbeck Auditorium on June 1, 2023. Joining Benjamin were Zaccai Curtis (piano), E. J. Strickland (drums), and Ivan Taylor (bass). Benjamin released her fourth studio album, Phoenix, earlier this year. The quartet tours the U.S. west coast this week, including two nights at Portland’s 1905. They …
2023-05-21 Hardly Raining The Mark Turner Quartet performed at Cornish College’s Raisbeck Auditorium on May 21, 2023. Personnel included Mark Turner (tenor saxophone), Jason Palmer (trumpet), Joe Martin (bass), and Jonathan Pinson (drums). The quartet is on tour through May 24, with remaining stops in Santa Cruz and Portland. The event was part of the …
2023-04-28 Hardly Raining New York-based jazz duo Allison Miller (drums) and Carmen Staaf (piano) performed at The Royal Room on April 28, 2023. Staaf and Miller released Nearness in 2022. Their second album together, it features their original compositions plus two covers. This show was the final stop on their west coast CD-release tour. Gallery
2023-3-29 Hardly Raining Swedish singer–songwriter Alice Boman performed an intimate set at Fremont Abbey on March 29, 2023. Boman captivated the Seattle crowd with her atmospheric instrumentation, angelic vocals, and tender despair. In 2022 she released The Space Between, which includes a duet with Perfume Genius on “Feels Like a Dream.” Seattleites were fortunate to …
2023-04-07 Hardly Raining Cruel Diagonals (Megan Mitchell) performed at the Chapel Performance Space on April 7, 2023. The Los Angeles-based experimental electronic artist is touring in support of her March release, Fractured Whole. Opening were Seattle-based performers Raica and Kole Galbraith. Gallery Fractured Whole by Cruel Diagonals
2023-04-01 Hardly Raining The Immanuel Wilkins Quartet returned to Seattle on April 1, 2023. Joining the 25-year-old alto saxophonist were Micah Thomas (piano), Kweku Sumbry (drums), and Rick Rosato (bass). Part of the Earshot Jazz Spring Concert Series, this show took place at the new Raisbeck Auditorium. Wilkins had performed in Seattle previously as part of the 2021 Earshot …
2023-02-17 Hardly Raining Bill Frisell FOUR and the Ambrose Akinmusire Quartet played an introspective jazz double bill at the Moore Theatre on February 17, 2023. Both artists have released their recent work on the iconic Blue Note label. Trumpeter Ambrose Akinmusire opened the evening, joined by Sam Harris (piano), Linda May Han Oh (bass), and Tim …
2023-01-28 Hardly Raining Legendary jazz trombonist Julian Priester is presenting six community events this year, through a partnership with the Seattle Jazz Fellowship and Langston. Priester will play his albums, share stories about his time with other jazz greats, and sustain the jazz community in Seattle. The next Julian Speaks session takes place tomorrow, Saturday …
2023-03-17 Hardly Raining Jazz vocalist Samara Joy sold out a show at Town Hall Great Hall on March 17, 2023. Joy had performed at Seattle’s Earshot Jazz Festival with pianist Sullivan Fortner in 2021. Accompanying her this time was a seven-piece band of rhythm and horns. The audience offered an enthusiastic reception, including a mid-set …
2023-03-09 Hardly Raining Seattle songwriter, musician, and vocalist Mt Fog (Carolyn B.) performed at the Tractor Tavern on March 9, 2023. The Forest Cats—Andy Sells (drums) and Casey Rosebridge (synth)—accompanied her. They played a set of moody synth-pop that emphasized Mt Fog’s 2022 album, Spells of Silence. Seattle bands Fotoform and Reverse Death opened. Mt …
2023-03-04 Hardly Raining The Freakout Weekender mini-festival returns to Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood on March 4-5, 2023. This year’s event takes place at three stages within the recently relocated Crocodile complex. The largely punk-focused lineup features several Seattle artists on the Freakout Records label, along with bands from around the world. The 28 acts include Stockholm …
2023-01-29 Hardly Raining Seattle-raised drummer and producer Kassa Overall is offering a four-part music series at Langston. He gave a drum masterclass on January 29, and held open rehearsals in early February. Next, Overall will offer a free beatmaking and production workshop on Saturday, April 1 from 2-5 p.m. The series will conclude with a …
2023-01-22 Hardly Raining The NYC-based Goldings/Bernstein/Stewart Organ Trio played two sets at the Royal Room on January 22, 2023. Larry Goldings (organ, comedic banter), Peter Bernstein (guitar), and Bill Stewart (drums) have performed together for over 30 years. The group plans San Francisco and New York dates this autumn. Gallery
2023-02-16 Hardly Raining NYC avant-garde jazz group Sexmob played two sets at the Royal Room on February 16, 2023. Personnel included Steven Bernstein (slide trumpet), Briggan Krauss (saxophone), Tony Scherr (bass), and Kenny Wollesen (drums)—along with special guest (and Bernstein’s long-time friend) Tom Varner (French horn). The event was part of the Earshot Jazz winter concert series. After Seattle, Sexmob …
2023-02-18 Hardly Raining Tord Gustavsen Trio performed in Seattle on February 18, 2023. The Norwegian jazz ensemble included Tord Gustavsen (piano, electronics), Steinar Raknes (bass), and Jarle Vespestad (drums). Part of the Earshot Jazz lineup of winter concerts, the event took place in the Town Hall Forum. Gallery
2023-01-22 Hardly Raining Introspective rockers somesurprises played The Sunset on January 22, 2023. The Seattle-based group includes Natasha El-Sergany (guitar, vocals), Josh Medina (synth, guitar), Nico Sophiea (drums), and Laura Seniow (bass). (Read a review of somesurprises and a recent interview with El-Sergany.) On March 2, somesurprises will return to The Sunset with Coral Grief. …
2023-01-19 Hardly Raining Drummer Matt Cameron (Pearl Jam, Soundgarden) played a sold-out double bill at the Royal Room on January 19, 2023. The Matt Cameron Trio kicked off the evening with a set of mostly jazz originals. Joining Cameron were Geoff Harper (bass) and Ryan Burns (keys), along with special guest Caspian Coberly (guitar). Musical …
2023-01-18 Hardly Raining London post-punk group Dry Cleaning returned to the Neptune Theatre on January 18, 2023. They were last here in 2021, and unfortunately did not perform at the 2022 THING Festival after having been announced in the early lineup. Dry Cleaning includes Florence Shaw (vocals), Tom Dowse (guitar), Nick Buxton (drums), and Lewis …
2023-01-16 Hardly Raining Seattleites marched in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. on January 16, 2023. The 40th annual march began at Garfield High School and wound through the Central District. Outside the new Children and Family Justice Center, speakers called for an end to youth incarceration. Organizers carried banners and led chants in support …
2022-12-17 Hardly Raining Seattle collective Tremolo presented a two-night shoegaze event at the Sunset Tavern on December 16-17, 2022. The shows featured 11 bands from Seattle and other U.S. cites. Day 1 included Dead Leaf Echo, The Sleepover Disaster, Medejin, Karate, Guns & Tanning, and New Age Healers. Day 2 was Pure Hex, Black Nite …
2022-11-13 Hardly Raining Seattle’s Freakout Festival returned to Ballard on November 10-13, 2022. This tenth iteration spanned four nights and six venues, along with a new outdoor stage that featured popular Seattle artists. It was a fantastic lineup from around the world, emphasizing bands from Latin America and the U.S. West Coast. On-brand for Freakout, …
2022-11-23 Hardly Raining Portland indie-rockers Modest Mouse played three sold-out nights at The Showbox on November 21-23, 2022. Formed in Issaquah in 1993, the group has been integral to the Pacific Northwest alternative music scene. Their The Lonesome Crowded West tour commemorates the 25th anniversary of their 1997 album by that title. Most recently, Modest …
2022.11.07 Hardly Raining The 34th annual Earshot Jazz Festival returned to Seattle from October 8–November 6, 2022. This autumn’s festival featured 37 jazz shows across a dozen Seattle venues. Headliners included Grammy-winning artist Dianne Schuur (vocals, piano), and NEA Jazz Master Charles Lloyd (saxophone) with his Ocean Trio. Resident artist Alex Dugdale (saxophone, tap dance) …
2022.11.01 Paul Rauch, special to Hardly Raining The Grateful Dead have always defied convention, when it comes to the more commonly accepted protocols of American entertainment. Their refusal to be pop stars despite immense popularity is part of the allure, just a group of six guys playing music without any sort of show business glitz. …
Grateful Dead Meetup at the Movies: Confessions of a Modern Jazz Journalist Read More »
2022-09-16 Hardly Raining Danish electronic artist Anders Trentemøller kicked off his North American tour at The Showbox on September 16, 2022. Based in Copenhagen, Trentemøller is a composer, musician, and producer. Joining him were Icelandic artist DíSA (vocals, guitar), Silas Tinglef (drums), Brian Batz (guitar), and Jacob Haubjerg (bass). Trentemøller creates techno that draws on diverse musical influences. …
2022-10-07 Hardly Raining The 2022 Earshot Jazz Festival kicks off tomorrow. The 34th annual event runs October 8–November 6 at venues throughout Seattle. Like last year, the festival will offer both in-person and virtual attendance options. Headlining is saxophonist Charles Lloyd’s Ocean Trio, which includes Anthony Wilson (guitar) and Harish Raghavan (bass). This year’s artist …
09/12/2022 Hardly Raining Cigarettes After Sex returned to Seattle for the fifth time on September 12, 2022. The El Paso-then-Brooklyn-based dream-pop trio includes Greg Gonzalez (vocals, guitar), Jacob Tomsky (drums), and Randall Miller (bass). Like most of the band’s shows, this one was sold out. An hour-long entry line wrapped around the block outside the …
2022-08-26 Hardly Raining Three years after the inaugural event in 2019, the second THING Festival returned to Port Townsend on August 26-28, 2022. THING is sponsored by the nonprofit Seattle Theatre Group. This year’s THING featured a curated lineup of musical artists from around the world, with a focus upon western Washington. Headlining were Connecticut …
2022-08-18 Hardly Raining The Volunteer Park Summer Series at the Amphitheater closed out its season with Women in Song, featuring Star Anna, Eugenie Jones, and Alessandra Rose. Ellensburg-based Americana artist Star Anna (vocals, guitar) kicked off the evening. Her band The Oracles included Mark Pickerel (drums), Omar Schambacher (guitar), and Tyrah Dunning (bass). Although the …
2022-08-04 Hardly Raining The six-week Volunteer Park Summer Series at the Amphitheater continued with an evening of Latin jazz. This second jazz event of the series featured two Grammy®-nominated artists. New Mexican singer–songwriter Raul Midón (guitar, “mouth trumpet,” percussion) performed a solo set in English and Spanish. Midón experiences blindness, which he sang about in …
2022-08-01 Hardly Raining On the heels of Centrum Jazz Port Townsend, the Jeff Hamilton Trio sold out two nights at Boxley’s in North Bend. Renowned jazz drummer Hamilton led the group, which included Tamir Hendelman (piano) and Jon Hamar (bass). In 2021, the trio released a Christmas album together, entitled Merry and Bright. Hamilton closed …
2022-07-14 Hardly Raining After years of planning and construction, the Volunteer Park Amphitheater has reopened with an upgraded stage. The Summer Series at the Amphitheater is celebrating with six weeks of free outdoor concerts. The July 14, 2022 event featured piano jazz and a picnic in the park. Acts included Duende Libre, the Marina Albero …
2022-07-23 Hardly Raining The Dmitri Matheny group celebrated its CD release at the Royal Room on July 23, 2022. Matheny is a Centralia-based jazz flugelhornist and composer. The band included Jay Thomas (sax, trumpet, flugelhorn), Phil Sparks (bass), Bill Anschell (piano), and Mark Ivester (drums). CASCADIA is available on Origin Records. Matheny will be touring …
2022-07-24 Hardly Raining The Joel Frahm Trio played a night at the Royal Room on July 24, 2022. Frahm is an award-winning tenor saxophonist, previously from New York City and currently based in Nashville. The trio included Ernesto Cervini (drums) and Dan Loomis (bass). The Seattle date concludes the trio’s west-coast tour in support of …
2022-07-21 Hardly Raining Domo Branch and Branchin’ Out played the Royal Room on July 21, 2022. Originally from Portland, Branch is a jazz drummer and composer based in New York City. He has released two albums, including the 2022 We Are Made. Joining Branch were Imani Rousselle (vocals), Sean Mason (piano), Abdias Armenteros (sax), and …
2022-07-15 Hardly Raining Legendary jazz bassist Buster Williams and his Something More Quartet played two sets at The Triple Door on July 15, 2022. Personnel included Lenny White (drums), Bruce Williams (sax), and George Colligan (piano). After a show in Portland tonight, they continue to Half Moon Bay.
2022-07-03 Hardly Raining Arizona garage-punk band The Darts played the Substation on July 3, 2022. The band includes Nicole Laurenne (vocals/organ), Meliza Jackson (guitar), Christina Nunez (bass/vocals), and Mary Rose Gonzales (drums). While in Seattle, the group also did an in-store show at Easy Street Records and a session at KEXP. Seattle bands Biblioteka and …
2022-06-23 Hardly Raining “We’re playing a show!” exclaimed Fleet Foxes frontman Robin Pecknold. In their first time onstage in several years, the Seattle natives sold out the Moore Theatre. The June 23, 2022 performance kicked off their summer tour. Along with Pecknold (guitar, lead vocals), the indie-folk group includes Skyler Skjelset (guitar, mandolin, backing vocals), Casey …
2022-06-27 Hardly Raining The Charlie Porter Quintet played the Royal Room on June 27, 2022. Porter is a GRAMMY-winning trumpeter and composer. Joining him were Nick Biello (sax), George Colligan (piano), Garrett Baxter (bass), and Alan Jones (drums). After completing a Pacific Northwest tour this week, the group will record Porter’s original album Cipher—so named …
2022-06-24 Hardly Raining Thousands gathered outside Seattle’s Federal Building to protest yesterday’s U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned abortion rights. As part of a national response to the expected ruling, local organizers had planned rallies across western Washington. Event speakers included local abortion-rights leaders and Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant. Protesters then marched through downtown, …
2022-06-19 Hardly Raining The Juneteenth Celebration took place June 18-19, 2022 at Jimi Hendrix Park. Although Sunday’s Juneteenth Parade was unexpectedly cancelled, the festival continued with speakers, music, food, and vendors. (Hardly Raining covered last year’s parade and celebration.) Saturday’s events included a Black business panel. Today’s event continues until 8 p.m., featuring local artist …
2022-06-18 Hardly Raining Singer-songwriter Daniel Rossen (Grizzy Bear, Department of Eagles) performed a solo set at Neumos on June 18, 2022. Rossen sang, and alternated between three guitars and electric piano. His style is notable for dense guitar harmonies and moody vocals. (Check out his Reddit AMA!) Rossen eschewed a set list, instead taking—and declining—requests …
2022-06-14 Hardly Raining Bassist Christian McBride kicked off a two-night run at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley on June 14, 2022. An eight-time Grammy®-winning musician, McBride is also a composer, broadcaster, educator, and festival artistic director. Although McBride just turned 50, his band showcased young jazz talent—most of the band was well under 30. Personnel included Nicole …
2022-06-06 Hardly Raining Dream-pop band Still Corners returned to Seattle on June 6, 2022. In November 2018, they had played an intimate show at the Sunset Tavern. Still Corners includes Tessa Murray (keys, vocals), Greg Hughes (guitar), and Jim Wallis (drums). In 2021, Still Corners released The Last Exit on their own label, Wrecking Light …
2022-06-11 Hardly Raining Vocalist Carrie Akre and her band performed at the Tractor Tavern in Ballard. Originally planned for August 2021, the show had been postponed due to a COVID exposure. Akre has fronted Seattle musical groups (Hammerbox, Goodness, The Rockfords) since the early grunge era. Her band at this show included Tim DiJulio (guitar, …
Carrie Akre (with Danny Newcomb) at Tractor Tavern Read More »
2022.06.08 Hardly Raining Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band played the Royal Room for two nights, closing out the spring series of the recently formed Seattle Jazz Fellowship (SJF). Band members included Orrin Evans (piano), Mark Whitfield, Jr. (drums), Luques Curtis (bass), Caleb Wheeler Curtis (alto), Troy Roberts (tenor), David Gibson (trombone), Reggie …
2022-06-07 Hardly Raining Steel House performed at the Seattle Art Museum’s Plestcheeff Auditorium, in an event organized by Earshot Jazz. Personnel included Brian Blade (drums), Scott Colley (bass), and Cuong Vu (trumpet and electronics). Edward Simon (piano) was originally scheduled to play with the group but became ill, so Vu stepped in last-minute. The group’s …
Steel House: Brian Blade, Scott Colley, & Cuong Vu Read More »
2022-5-14 Hardly Raining Thousands gathered in Cal Anderson Park in support of abortion rights. Part of a Day of Action, the Seattle rally was one of 450 “Bans Off Our Bodies” events held nationally on May 14. The Planned Parenthood Action Fund and other reproductive-rights groups organized the events in response to a leaked U.S. …
2022-05-28 Hardly Raining After two years of a virtual-only festival format, the Northwest Folklife Festival returned in person at Seattle Center this Memorial Day Weekend. The theme of the 51st annual event is “Metamorphosis: in with the old, in with the new.” Across 16 stages, the in-person festival features music, dancing, film, visual art, buskers, …
Northwest Folklife Festival Returns to Seattle Center Read More »
2022-04-22 Hardly Raining U.S. President Joe Biden visited the Pacific Northwest for the first time during his presidency. After a stop in Portland yesterday, Biden continued on to Seattle to attend private fundraisers and sign an Earth Day executive order for the protection of old-growth forests. In the student union building of Green River College in Auburn, …
2022-04-14 Hardly Raining The Holden family carries a three-generation legacy in Seattle’s jazz scene. Although “Patriarch of Seattle Jazz” Oscar Holden has passed, the musical tradition continues through his descendants. Those include Oscar’s son, Dave Holden Sr., and Dave’s daughter, Darelle Holden. Both toured for decades, but they had never performed together—something Darelle regretted. That …
Continuing a Seattle Jazz Legacy: Dave and Darelle Holden Perform at Calluna Read More »
2022.03.05 Hardly Raining Hundreds of Seattleites marched and rallied yesterday in support of Ukraine. Sponsored by the Ukrainian Association of Washington State, the event included rallies at Seattle City Hall and Seattle Center, and a march through downtown along Fourth Avenue. At City Hall, organizers held a flash mob and called for air support in …
2021-12-05 Hardly Raining Thievery Corporation returned to Seattle for two nights at the Showbox Market, after a couple of pandemic years away. (See a review of their 2018 show in Back Beat Seattle.) Founded in 1995, Thievery Corporation offered a precise and high-quality show, with an endearing genuineness and a felt sense of joy in …
2021-09-23 Hardly Raining Negativland and SUE-C finally made it to the Clock-Out Lounge on September 23, 2021, a year and a half later than originally scheduled due to COVID-19. Negativland is an experimental Bay Area collective that includes founding members Mark Hosler and David Wills (AKA The Weatherman), as well as Jon Leidecker (AKA Wobbly). …
Negativland + SUE-C (with Blevin Blectum) at Clock-Out Lounge Read More »
2021-12-07 Hardly Raining New York City-based jazz vocalist Jazzmeia Horn and her trio played two nights at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley. Personnel included Keith Brown (piano), Kristopher Funn (bass), and Russell Carter (drums). (Read a review of the show in All About Jazz.) While in town, Horn also recorded a session at Seattle’s KEXP. The set …
2021-11-11 Hardly Raining The Freakout Festival returned to Seattle in November 2021, after a COVID cancellation in 2020. Held in-person at venues throughout the Ballard neighborhood, the four-day festival featured a diverse lineup of U.S. and international musicians. Seattle label Freakout Records sponsored the event, which included their own artists plus 50-ish others with complementary …
2021-10-13 to 11-05 Hardly Raining After nearly a month of live jazz, the 33rd annual Earshot Jazz Festival has drawn to a close. Venues throughout Seattle hosted an array of international and resident jazz artists, from the straight-ahead to the avant garde. Photographs from 24 festival performances are featured chronologically. Click any photo to open …
2021-10-23 Hardly Raining The Puget Sound Mycological Society (PSMS) 2021 Wild Mushroom Show is taking place this weekend. Now in its 58th year, the annual event features mushroom specimens, identification, tasting, lectures, and cultivation kits. Last year’s show was held virtually because of COVID-19. Visit PSMS’s web site for further details, tickets, and the lecture …
Puget Sound Mycological Society Wild Mushroom Show Read More »
2021-10-13 Hardly Raining Today marks the beginning of Seattle’s 2021 Earshot Jazz Festival. The 33rd annual event will take place at venues across the city through November 7. Due to the pandemic, the festival occurred only virtually in 2020. This year, both virtual and in-person viewing options are available. In-person attendance will require proof of …
2021-10-09 Hardly Raining Long-time friends Ray Vega and Thomas Marriott teamed up cross-country to present the East–West Trumpet Summit. Marriott hails from Seattle, and Vega currently lives in Vermont. Joining them were Orrin Evans (piano) from Philadelphia/New York City, Michael Glynn (bass) from Seattle, and the legendary Roy McCurdy (drums) from Los Angeles. The set …
Ray Vega & Thomas Marriott: East–West Trumpet Summit Featuring Roy McCurdy Read More »
2021-09-17 Hardly Raining New-ish band Triskaideka played their first show at West Seattle’s Skylark Café and Club. Their April 2020 debut had been postponed due to the pandemic. Appropriate to their name, it was a 13-tune set. The group features Janet Hurt (organ), Mark Bombara (guitar), Shane Peck (drums), and Dave Pascal (bass). Hurt (AKA …
2021-08-24 Hardly Raining Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio returned to Seattle for two sold-out nights at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley on August 24-25, 2021. They had played a ZooTunes show recently at Woodland Park. The trio included Delvon Lamarr (organ, vocals), Jimmy James (guitar), and Dan Weiss (drums). Special guests Ben Bloom (guitar) and Khari Simmons (bass) …
2021-09-18 Hardly Raining/Lisa Hagen Glynn Kelly Lee Owens played the show that everybody needed, after so many months pent up because of COVID. The Welsh dream-pop and techno artist took the stage at Neumos for an intense hour-long set. “We’re here to fucking dance, so let’s do this,” she directed. An adept producer and singer, …
Kelly Lee Owens (with Kid Hops and MYXA) at Neumos Read More »
2021-09-16 Hardly Raining Smokey Brights and Sera Cahoone (with Jeff Fielder) performed Thursday at the Pioneer Square neighborhood’s Occidental Park. Predicted thunderstorms threatened this final concert of the Downtown Summer Sounds series, so the outdoor show was moved up by two days. Despite the short notice, the free event drew a good crowd. The venue …
Smokey Brights, and Sera Cahoone (with Jeff Fielder) at Occidental Park Read More »
2021-09-05 Hardly Raining Seattleites danced the afternoon away to the sounds of Kiki Valera y su Son Cubano. Valera is a multi-instrumentalist, best known for his mastery of the eight-stringed Cuban cuatro guitar. In Cuba, the Valera Miranda family continues a legacy of Son Cubano and other traditional music. Kiki Valera joined the Seattle music …
Kiki Valera y su Son Cubano at Seattle Center’s Mural Amphitheatre Read More »
2021-09-05 Hardly Raining When Burning Man was cancelled due to COVID in 2020, partners Leeds and Julie brought the event’s tradition of gifting to the Seattle community instead. They built a 12-foot metal chute with a mouth-shaped opening, sought donations of fruit from neighbors’ trees, gathered like-minded volunteers, and baked hundreds of hand pies to …
Pie Chute Delivers Free Pie In Southeast Seattle Read More »
2021-08-22 Hardly Raining The annual Wiener Dog and Wiener Wannabe Races returned to Emerald Downs after a COVID hiatus in 2020. (For the uninitiated, see this overview of the 2018 event.) Defending champion “Slinky,” a red dachshund with a grey muzzle and paws, retained the title in the Wiener Dog category. Slinky is trained by …
Wiener Dog (and Wiener Wannabe) Races at Emerald Downs Read More »
2021-8-20 Hardly Raining Surf–garage group The Boss Martians played Slim’s Last Chance Saloon on August 20, 2021. Now based in Seattle, the band formed in Tacoma in 1995. Members include Evan Foster (guitar, vocals), Erik Foster (bass, vocals), and Nick Schultz (drums). Zack Hoppenrath of the Zack Static Sect made a guest appearance. For the …
The Boss Martians (and Zack Static Sect Record Release) at Slim’s Last Chance Read More »
2021-07-23 Hardly Raining The Sinister Six played atop an outdoor stage at Slim’s Last Chance Saloon on July 23, 2021. The show marked their return after a year-and-a-half COVID break. Originating in 1992, the band has remained a staple of the Seattle garage-rock scene and also toured internationally. Current members include Doug White (vocals), James …
The Sinister Six (with The Shaking Fists) at Slim’s Last Chance Read More »
2021-07-31 Hardly Raining “Beach music” group Warren Dunes headlined the Neptune Theatre on July 31, 2021. The family band includes Julia Massey (lead vocals, dual keys), Jared Cortese (guitar), and Dominic Cortese (drums). Joining them were special guests Chris Blount, Eva Walker, and Alaia D’Alessandro. Adding activism to music, the band donates half the profits …
Warren Dunes at Neptune Theatre (with Shaina Shepherd, Black Ends) Read More »
2021-07-24 Hardly Raining Seattle native Kassa Overall returned from Brooklyn to headline at the Neptune Theatre on July 24, 2021. The “backpack-jazz producer” fuses jazz drumming with elements of hip-hop. Overall has achieved significant recognition for his innovative style. During the pandemic, Overall released two COVID-inspired albums: Shades of Flu: Healthy Remixes For an Ill …
Kassa Overall at Neptune Theatre (with Breaks and Swells, & Payge Turner) Read More »
2021-07-25 Hardly Raining Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio (DLO3) performed at Woodland Park ZooTunes on July 25, 2021. DLO3 includes Delvon Lamarr (organ), Jimmy James (guitar), and Dan Weiss (drums). The acclaimed soul-jazz trio plays two nights at Seattle’s Jazz Alley in August, and tours this autumn in support of their 2021 release, I Told You …
Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio (with Marshall Law Band) at ZooTunes Read More »
2021-07-29 Hardly Raining somesurprises played their first live show since the pandemic on July 29, 2021, joined by guest cellist Lori Goldston. Drone musician Kole Galbraith opened. The Jefferson Jumpstart! series features five free outdoor concerts on Thursday evenings in Beacon Hill’s Jefferson Park.
2021-07-06 Hardly Raining GRAMMY-nominated vocal ensemble säje (“rhymes with beige”) made their Seattle debut at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley on July 6 & 7, 2021. It was their first live performance together since COVID-19. Vocalists Sara Gazarek, Amanda Taylor, Johnaye Kendrick, and Erin Bentlage were joined by Ben Williams (bass), Kendrick Scott (drums), Dawn Clement (piano), …
2021-07-02 Hardly Raining Boxley’s Jazz Club is located about 30 miles east of Seattle in North Bend, WA. The town of 7,000 is a portal to the Cascade foothills that hosts a number of downtown restaurants and shops. It was also made famous by the 1990 TV series, Twin Peaks. In 2009, Boxley’s began as …
Reopening at Boxley’s Jazz Club: An Interview with Founder Danny Kolke Read More »
2021-06-27 Hardly Raining Seattle’s Columbia City neighborhood celebrated its first-ever LGBTQIA+ Pride celebration on Sunday, June 27. Although it was organized just a few weeks ahead of time by Columbia City neighbors, the grassroots event included a disco DJ, drag entertainers, an emcee, a local-business raffle, temporary tattoos, and miniature ponies. Neighbors donated, and excess …
2021-06-19 Hardly Raining Juneteenth became a U.S. Federal holiday just last week, but Seattle has been holding an annual celebration since 1980. Seattle’s event was founded by the late activist and boutique owner Decharlene Williams, whose legacy this year’s march and celebration honored. The march began at Williams’ business at 22nd Ave & E Madison …
