Belle and Sebastian
Paramount Theatre, Seattle, WA
04.07.15
Good coffee. Good clean air. Good people – Just a few simple things that make Seattle stand out to lead singer Stewart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian. Good performance. Good sound. Good people – just a few simple things to say about their indie pop show tonight at the Paramount.
Priming the crowd with an uncommon blend of screaming/soothing vocals, in combination with unexpected dance moves, opening band Perfume Genius just made sense alongside Belle and Sebastian. Who knows, maybe Murdoch offered some dance moves back stage before the show. Native to Seattle, Perfume Genius seemed to hit some crowd favorites and certainly made an interesting walk-off-the-stage-during-the-last-song exit.
As for the main attraction, Belle and Sebastian are still consistently playing the same vivacious, standout songs as they have over the past 19 years. They hit a mix of new and old songs from their collection of 9 albums. This review would not be complete without mentioning the guest appearance of the keytar, “because an indie band must keep up with the times.” Luckily, for the crowd, some great 80’s-inspired riffs worked their way into the set.
With the recent release of their first new album in five years, Belle and Sebastian filled the set with new songs from Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance. Opening up the night was the album’s first track “Nobody’s Empire,” an upbeat track lead by Murdoch on piano, with backing by the other five members of the band and a backup orchestra section. Having a new album full of music to play for the world, B and S left anybody looking for a classic, reunion-type show in the dark. One fan left for the bar in frustration, pining for their older material. Get with the keytar, man.
As a group of talented entertainers, there was never a dull moment, from the unique dancing music videos that played on the screen to inviting a fan on stage to dance around. Their playful personalities were kicked into high gear, telling funny stories about their experiences traveling around the United States, including a humorous backside view of Mt. Rushmore. These dancing, jolly folks from Scotland are more than welcomed to come back and visit Seattle any time.
Photos by Logan Westom
Review by Allie Leaf
Bella and Sebastian
