Tonight In Seattle : Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside, The Hillbilly Headbanger’s Ball and more
Posted by Chris GreenSeafair is far from the only thing going on this Saturday – there will be plenty of live music both inside and outside all around town.
Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside, Cobirds Unite, John Heart Jackie @ The Columbia City Theater | 8/04 | $10 adv (Get Tickets)/$14 at door | 9pm | 21+
This weekend marks the second anniversary of the opening of the remodeled Columbia City Theater. This storied venue was built in 1917 and has hosted everyone from Duke Ellington to Jimi Hendrix. In the current incarnation, they have been hosting live music events (occasionally combined with burlesque) featuring all genres of music.
Photo by Melani Brown via sallieford.com
Saturday night’s anniversary celebration is headlined by Sallie Ford and the Sound Outside. This Portland band started steadily growing a Pacific Northwest fanbase with the 2009 release of their Not an Animal EP and a busy performance schedule. In 2010, they were named the best new band in the Willamette Weekly. They first toured nationally as an opener for the Avett Brothers and then recorded their first full-length album, Dirty Radio, which received widespread praise and attention. The band has played live on David Lettermen and made numerous appearances at large festivals.
Fronted by charismatic singer Sallie Ford, the band combines her powerful and sassy voice (which brings to mind singers such as Etta James and Billie Holiday) with bouncy hooks and a great rhythm section. Their style combines roots rock with elements of swing, soul, and jazz and the occasional appearance of Tom Waits‘ spirit. Their catchy songs and the low and steady beat of the upright bass makes their live act one that is guaranteed to make even a Seattle crowd shake some dust off of their dancing shoes.
Also playing are Seattle acoustic folk group Cobirds Unite, featuring the singing of Rusty Willoughby and Rachel Flotard accompanied by pedal steel, bass, and cello. In the video below, they cover the song “Streets of Baltimore”, hailing back to the vocal duet by Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris on the most well-known version of that song.
Starting things off this evening will be another male/female vocal duo, Portland’s John Heart Jackie, consisting of singer/songwriters Jennie Wayne and Peter Murray.
Second Annual Hillbilly Headbanger’s Ball @ Slim’s Last Chance | 8/04 | $12 | 1pm | 21+
During the summer months, Georgetown’s Slim’s Last Chance sometimes takes advantage of its outside courtyard to put on all day mini-festivals with the bands playing on an elevated stage and lots of good food and drinks courtesy of their famous chili kitchen and the Pig Iron BBQ next door. This Saturday will be the sophomore year for their “Hillbilly Headbanger’s Ball”, a large event featuring a large bill of local bands including metal, country, and rockabilly. The quality of the bands coupled with a forecast for warm temperatures and sun make this event a real winner that is sure to attract a large crowd for a day of music, food, dancing and drinking.
Witchburn photo from facebook.
Heading up the heavy metal part of the bill are southern metal powerhouse Witchburn. Fronted by singer Jamie Nova, Witchburn has torn up stages both large and small, including touring with such acts as Helmet and and Zeke. Also helping out with helping to keep the heads banging and the devil horns raised will be Zero Down, speed metal band Skelator, and the aggressive fury of Demon Dogs. And still more hard rock will come from Hard Count, who (appropriately for this event) cite both Motorhead and Johnny Cash as influences.
Mixed in with all the hard rock will be outlaw country from the awesome Shivering Denizens who have just released a new album, and Hartwood.
Band logo from reverbnation
Also included for the same admission price are a pair of energetic rockabilly/psychobilly bands that will be sure to get people to kick up their heels. The Hot Roddin’ Romeos, and the Hard Money Saints.
Other notable things going on this saturday include the third day of the massive Pizza Fest at the Funhouse, featuring tons of bands and a pizza-eating contest. Or, if you’re not in the mood for pizza, The Supersuckers will be playing at El Corazon and for you east-siders, Allison Krauss and Union Station will be playing a sold-out show at the Chateau Ste. Michelle winery in Woodinville.
