Shows this week: Jolie Holland, Zoe Muth, Star Anna, Elliott Brood

I’ve been kind of bemoaning a trip I’m about to take. During the two weeks I’m about to be out of town, there are at least a dozen dozen shows I want to see, and will have to miss. I’m sure they’ll be great; I’m sure all those bands will be back. I’ll get over it. This past week, however, I managed to cram in a small handful of outstanding shows, and the week ahead includes a couple of note (some of the best locals and a couple of out-of-towners): Tuesday singer-songwriters in the round with Shenandoah Davis, Lindsay Fuller, and others. There’s a Wednesday night CD release party for badass blues-rocker Betsy Olson at the Tractor (Jeff Fielder & the Dinosaurs and a solo-this-time Jack Wilson will be on hand to help the celebration along). Friday night, Laura Gibson rolls into the Croc with Wooden Birds and Great Lake Swimmers. So it ain’t all bad. If you’re not in Seattle and wish to play along, I’d suggest clicking on those links and giving them a listen. That wrap-up will come later, though. For now, a look at the week that’s passed. It kicked off Tuesday night…

Jolie Holland – Triple Door – Seattle, WA – Sep. 6, 2009


I don’t know what it is about Jolie Holland – her music does things to me. For one, she’s remarkably talented and could probably make sad, haunting music while strumming a broom head if she felt like it. She was particularly charmed this night by the Triple Door’s house Steinway and claimed to not want to end the show for fear it would mean ending her relationship with that piano. There were a handful of remarkable instrumental moments on a cigar box fiddle, and sweet, memorable turns on songs from all four of her releases. Highlights included turns on “Goodbye California,” “Palmyra,” and “The Living and the Dead.” She also gave a couple of excellent covers, including a Washington Phillips gospel tune and a beautiful rendition of Townes Van Zandt’s “Buckskin Stallion Blues.”

Zoe Muth & the Lost High Rollers/Star Anna & The Laughing Dogs – Conor Byrne Pub – Seattle, WA – Sep. 9, 2009


It’s been a while since I’ve seen Zoe Muth play a show, though her self-titled full-length, which released this summer, has been on my speakers. She kicked off the night with a pair of sad, quiet solo tunes before welcoming her tight, twangy band to the stage. Country Dave (pedal steel, electric guitar) delivered a number of excellent solos, while Muth’s voice was the real centerpiece this night. She seems to have warmed up to the mic more than I recall from past performances. Regardless, the band pulled strongly from their recent release with spirited turns on tunes like “Hey Little Darlin'” and “You Only Believe Me When I’m Lying.”

Star Anna & the Laughing Dogs showed up fresh from scoring an enviable nod from NPR’s Song of the Day for “Through the Winter” from their sophomore album The Only Thing That Matters. It’s just one in a string of accomplishments for this crew, who have been climbing the food chain all year since that disc dropped in the spring. This night, they brought the rock with them, unleashing a slew of hard-hitting guitar tunes. Among them, a cover of Tom Petty’s “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” that outshone the original (thanks in no small part to Star’s growly, dynamic vocals – notable considering there’s not much melody – and guitarist Justin Davis’ no-hold-barred, minutes-long guitar solo). No doubt they tore it up well into the wee hours. I had to duck out early, though, to cross the street and catch another band, which brings me to…

Elliott Brood – Tractor Tavern – Seattle, WA – Sep. 9, 2009


Toronto’s Elliott Brood was one of my favorite bands from the AMAs in Nashville. Their banjo-guitar-drums lineup produces an exceptional amount of distorted sound in their live shows. This night, they decked the stage out like the entrance to a county fair, complete with string-o-flags and twirling siren light. The room was packed and the vibe was light. There was a lot of bouncing and dancing about, and the band pulled mostly from their latest disc, Mountain Meadows. Every last bit of this show was packed with energy – “Oh Alberta” and “Write It All Down for You” were the easy standouts, but they didn’t drop the energy for a minute. Getting one’s brain rocked by heavily distorted banjo tunes is a fitting way to close a Friday night, if you ask me. Bring on the week ahead!