Emery w/ Duke Evers and Wall of Ears
Neumos, Seattle, WA
06.11.17
Duke Evers: another Seattle band, another slightly odd band name, but not another tiny little band to ignore until they become popular.
Wall of Ears danced happily onto the stage dressed in mismatched thrift-store outfits and statement sunglasses to start the night off right with their fun psychedelic pop-rock. But just in case the unique outfits and dreamy sound weren’t weird enough for you, their performance definitely was. From the typical head-banging to holding crowd member’s heads, the set was all over the place, but surely in a good way.
Just like the previous band, Duke Evers had a set that was also a bit all over the place in a way that kept you engaged and smiling the whole time. Sound-checking in a flowy white shirt and dark sunglasses, lead singer Josh Starkel had a stage presence and persona that instantly captivated the audience, then kept them entertained once the band actually got into it.
“Velvet Hips,” the title track of their debut album, opened the set with the floaty, happy-go-lucky kind of intro, giving the audience absolutely no indication or warning of the power riffs to come during the bridge. A majority of the song was basically the musical version of flower crowns—it’s light and sing-songy with a chorus sure to be stuck in your head for days.
That is, until it suddenly changed direction in the bridge where the instrumental got so intense, that you couldn’t help but wonder how the band doesn’t have brain damage from head-banging and whipping themselves around so violently.
The rest of the set followed suit with retro melodies intertwined with heavy rock moments to create the perfect mix of the two moods.
And finally, to headline the night, Emery passionately rocked out with fans and families of all ages.
Duke Evers is certainly a hidden gem among our local music scene and one whose performance never gets old. It’s loud, it’s reckless, and it’s messy. Yet, it’s still methodical and meticulous. Boiled down, it’s simply a fantastic time.
Review by Lulu Dawson
Photos by Sunny Martini
Duke Evers
Emery
