Billy Howerdel with VOWWS
Neumos, Seattle, WA
06.19.2022
For those that might not be familiar with the name/artist, Billy Howerdel started his career as a guitar tech for many bands such as Faith No More, NIN (Nine Inch Nails) and notably TOOL in which he formed A Perfect Circle with Tool singer Maynard James Keenan.
Billy Howerdel last played in Seattle with A Perfect Circle Dec.1, 2017. That was a packed show at then Key Arena.
When this show was announced at NEUMOS, it was a literal double take to make sure that was not a āBeautiful Mistakeā. There was no way this could be right? To my surprise it was indeed correct, and I quickly searched to see if there was a new solo album that he was supporting. After all it has been several years since A Perfect Circle was active, and then we had the āGreat Pauseā that stopped everything for over 2 years.
Billy was indeed supporting his new Solo release aptly named āWhat Normal Wasā released June 10, 2022. As I absorbed the new release in anticipation of the show, and I was treated with the familiar ethereal guitar sounds and soothing vocal prowess of the mastermind behind APC and Ashes Divide.
Neumos was a perfectly intimate setting for the evening. It was not as packed as expected, but those who were there knew what they were about to witness. Something special, that we would never forget. As the band took to the stage in the lowly lit star like setting, they broke into āBeautiful Mistakeā. The Seattle stop was pretty much right at the beginning of the tour, so at one point Billy joked with guitarist Danny Lohner (NIN Fame) about still learning the songs and getting used to the set, even though he played on the record and helped with the songs. We all had a great laugh at the on-stage banter as they continued.
Billyās introduced the remaining members of his band: Nylo (Keyboards), Greyson Nekrutman (Drums) and bassist Eliot Lorango (Dorothy) whom Billy explained how much he not only loved his name, but that Eliot only learned the entire set upon a weekās notice before the tour started.
While mixing up the set, they played āWhat Normal Wasā in its entirety, and the Ashes Divide favorite āForever Can Beā. It was such a great set and reflected the power of this stellar new release. What a fantastic night seeing this line up in such an intimate setting, over the usual Arena sized venues.
Opening the show was VOWWS the Australian Industrial duo Matthew “Matt” James Campbell – vocals, guitar, Arezo “Rizz” Khanjani – vocals, keyboard. They just recently played in Seattle opening for the Deftones/Gojira at WaMu Theater. This performance felt so much better in connecting with the Neumos audience than the silhouetted, distant obscurity of the massive WaMu stage.
If you were one of the lucky ones in attendance tonight, you witnessed something very special. A night to remember, and a beautiful return to live shows.
Billy Howerdel Set List
Beautiful Mistake
The Same Again
Ani
Bring Honor Back Home
Selfish Hearts
Poison Flowers (With Greyson Nekrutman drum solo)
Follower
Forever Can Be (Ashes Divide song)
Free and Weightless
EXP
Stars
Photos and review by Neil Lim Sang
