Releases New Single “Whisk Me Away” PRESS HERE TO LISTEN & Announces Ninth Studio Album  Yellow Jacket Out June 6 PRESS HERE TO PRE-ORDER 

Summer Tour 2025 Kicks Off June 3 Featuring John Butler (with Band) + G. Love & Special Sauce, Donavon Frankenreiter and  Illiterate Light on Select Dates PRESS HERE For Tickets & More Information

(Photo Credit: Shervin Lainez | PRESS HERE To Download Hi-Res Assets)

NEW YORK, NY – April 30, 2025 – Celebrated folk-rock band DISPATCH has released their new single  “Whisk Me Away” (PRESS HERE to listen) alongside the announcement of their forthcoming ninth studio  album Yellow Jacket, out June 6 via Bomber Records/AWAL Recordings. 

“Whisk Me Away” dives into deep themes of life’s fragility and redemption, capturing the raw urgency of a  desperate plea to not be taken from this earth just yet. Towards its emotional peak, the refrain – “feel alive  again, feel alive again, feel alive again” – rings out like both a cry and a celebration, anchoring the track in  hope, revival and the stubborn will to keep going. Musically, the track serves as a standout moment for the  band, blending a Southern rock spirit with a folk-rooted rhythm that moves the body as much as the heart.  Twin lead guitars – reminiscent of the Allman Brothers – duel and dance over driving drums and rich  instrumentals, building a sound that’s both expansive and intimate. The single also marks a first for the band,  as longtime member Matt Embree takes the spotlight with a powerful lead-vocal performance, adding a  new texture to DISPATCH’s evolving sound. It’s a bold, electrifying addition to their legacy – one that  continues to explore human experience with introspection and unshakable groove.  

The band returned “home” to Boston to record and produce nearly all of Yellow Jacket with Craig Welsch  at Rear Window Studios, and the 11-song collection of music harkens back to the infectious blend of reggae,  ska and roots rock that built the band’s heralded career and dedicated fanbase. 

“For us, this album is a way to acknowledge what our culture is facing and the effects of the abuse of power,”  said Chadwick Stokes. “In this album, you’ll find the effects war has on family in “Johnny Whoops,” the  complexity and brilliance of Emily Dickinson’s words in “Trinket (ft. John Butler),” and we pay homage to  the great activists of our time alongside Ani DiFranco on “In the Street,” as a reminder of how crucial it is  to not sit back idly. But mostly, our goal with this album is for listeners to enjoy the tunes in whatever way,  hopefully at times collectively, and in community.” 

DISPATCH will kick off their Summer Tour 2025 alongside John Butler (with band) + special guests  G. Love & Special Sauce, Donavon Frankenreiter and Illiterate Light (select dates) on June 3 in St.  Augustine, Florida, and make stops in major markets including Chicago, New York City, Las Vegas,  San Diego, San Francisco and more (full routing can be found below). The mammoth 35-date outing is on sale now – PRESS HERE for tickets and more information. 

Throughout their rise, the band has taken every opportunity to use their success for good, launching charitable  organizations to fight inequality and mass incarceration, raising funds and awareness for environmental causes,  schools and hospitals on the road, and even traveling as far afield as Zimbabwe to work with children and  communities in need. Chadwick Stokes’ Calling All Crows joins bands and fans together in collective  activism that has raised more than half a million dollars for feminist movements, while Brad Corrigan’s  Love Light + Melody helps amplify the stories of children who live in extreme poverty. 

Ileana’s Smile, the award-winning documentary film directed by Corrigan, which will be released  worldwide next month, is an inspiring story of a girl who endures life in a trash dump in Managua, Nicaragua,  and the devastating choices she faces. The film is being released to raise awareness for child  vulnerability and to fund Ileana’s School of Hope – ensuring that every child is safe to flourish and has  a chance to write their own story. The film also features the original DISPATCH song “Darker Light” (out  May 23). For more information, please PRESS HERE. 

Stokes’ has written a new Rock Opera called 1972. Still in the workshop phase, it’s the story of a 19-year-old pregnant woman named Hannah who flees an abusive relationship and joins a band of outcasts jumping freight  trains across America. Hannah’s harrowing journey ultimately leads her to the “Janes,” the underground  network of courageous women who took extreme risks to provide solace, hope and care to women in  complicated times. Some influential women are involved in the development of 1972 including Jessie Nelson  (Waitress) is directing, and the musical is co-produced by Stokes’ Calling All Crows Co-Founder Sybil  Gallagher, Dori Berinstein (Stereophonic, Legally Blonde) and activist Laurie David (Fed Up, An  Inconvenient Truth). After short runs in New York, Boston and Chicago, including a three-night, sold out stint at Joe’s Pub, an upcoming workshop performance is planned for NY’s The Cutting Room on  May 21. PRESS HERE for tickets and more information. 

Formed by Chadwick Stokes and Brad Corrigan while in college in Vermont, DISPATCH has forged their  own path outside the mainstream music industry as one of the most successful artists in the roots rock scene.  Over the course of a slew of acclaimed studio and live albums and countless tours and festivals, the band has  gone on to become one of biggest success stories in independent music history, selling out three  nights at Madison Square Garden and drawing over 100,000 fans to a massive outdoor show in  their adopted hometown of Boston without any traditional radio or major label support. For  more information, please visit www.dispatchmusic.com. 

(Yellow Jacket Album Art) 

YELLOW JACKET TRACK LISTING 
Yellow Jacket 
Whisk Me Away 
Trinket (ft. John Butler) 
The Night Young 
Everyone’s In the Street (ft. Ani DiFranco) 
Johnny Whoops 
Flood 
The Moon and The Seven Seas 
Hush Money 
Tulsa Picnic 
Darker Light 

SUMMER TOUR 2025 DATES 
June 3 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre *
June 5 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy * 
June 6 – Charlotte, NC – Skyla Credit Union Amphitheatre * 
June 7 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater * 
June 8 – Wilmington, NC – Live Oak Bank Pavilion * 
June 10 – Richmond, VA – Allianz Amphitheater at Riverfront * 
June 12 – Virginia Beach, VA – The Dome * 
June 13 – North Charleston, SC – Firefly Distillery * 
June 14 – Asheville, NC – Asheville Yards Amphitheater * 
June 17 – Cincinnati, OH – Andrew J Brady Music Center * 
June 18 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park ^ June 21 – Highland Park, IL – Ravinia Festival % 
June 22 – Minneapolis, MN – Surly Brewing Festival Field # 
June 24 – St. Louis, MO – Saint Louis Music Park * 
June 26 – Rochester Hills, MI – Meadow Brook Amphitheatre * 
June 27 – Cleveland Heights, OH – Cain Park Evans Amphitheater ^ 
June 28 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met * 
June 29 – Bridgeport, CT – Hartford Healthcare Amphitheater * 
July 1 – New York, NY – The Rooftop at Pier 17 * 
July 3 – Portland, ME – Thompson’s Point * 
July 4 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage * 
July 5 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap * 
July 24 – San Diego, CA – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre * 
July 25 – Las Vegas, NV – The Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan * 
July 26 – Costa Mesa, CA – The Pacific Amphitheatre * 
July 27 – San Francisco, CA – The Masonic * 
July 29 – Jacksonville, OR – Britt Festival Pavilion + 
July 31 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater * 
August 1 – Redmond, WA – Marymoor Live * 
August 2 – Sandpoint, ID – The Festival at Sandpoint * 
August 3 – Bonner-West Riverside, MT – KettleHouse Amphitheater * 
August 5 – Salt Lake City, UT – TBA * 
August 7 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre # 
August 8 – Dillon, CO – Dillon Amphitheater # 

* w/ John Butler with Band + G. Love & Special Sauce + Donavon Frankenreiter 
^ w/ John Butler with Band + G. Love & Special Sauce 
% w/ John Butler with Band + Donavon Frankenreiter 
# w/ John Butler with Band + Donavon Frankenreiter + Illiterate Light 
+ w/ Donavon Frankenreiter, No John Butler with Band 

UPCOMING FESTIVAL DATES 
June 15 – Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival 
June 20 – Milwaukee, WI @ Summerfest 
July 13 – Marshfield, MA @ Levitate Music and Arts Festival 
November 4-8 – Soulshine at Sea 3 – Miami, FL (to Cozumel, Mexico) 

FOLLOW DISPATCH 

Facebook | X/Twitter | Instagram | YouTube 

For more information on DISPATCH, please contact: 
Katie Leggett – katie@pressherepublicity.com
Amanda Curtis – amanda@pressherepublicity.com

Some bands have great sound and chops. Brilliant bands have those components and are able to transport its audience to another place. Al Nesbitt & The Alchemy could be called a “Super Group.” Based on their brilliant performance at Seattle’s legendary Triple Door this past April, it would be easy to say that this is a musical group who are simply superb. Al Nesbitt, Jonathan Sindelman, Curt “Kirkee B.” Bisquera and Tony Franklin took fans on a musical excursion to a place where the sun is hot, the beach is cool, the drinks flow and the living is easy.

Great artists don’t just play, they listen and they feel what is happening in the space and truly serve the music. Each member of this band has an amazing resume and musical pedigrees. Together, they create magic that hits squarely in the pocket and then in an instant, musical artistry that can incite high adventure beyond the outer limits.

On stage the band created a singular sound with perfect synergy while shining equally as individuals. Not an easy chore. These cats did it effortlessly. They were all locked in with each other and the audience was happy to go wherever Al and company wanted to take them.

Listen for yourself with this live track from the forthcoming EP, “Live In Seattle” recorded at Madame Lou’s in Seattle last fall. Happy travels!

The group has a big June planned, already gaining significant altitude with their first single, The Lost Night  and with a video soon to follow, all ahead of their live EP across streaming platforms. Keep an eye out for announcements, live dates and more via their Instagram page at @alnesbittalchemy.

Seattle Music Insider wanted to get a little more insight into the musical direction, influences of Al Nesbitt, how the project came together and what’s next for the band.

How did this band come together? Did you know each other previously?

We all came together for what was supposed to be ‘one off’ gig in September of last year.  I had accepted an offer for a show and found myself without a band due to some scheduling issues.  Tony had recorded a song on my last album ‘A Million Shiny Things’ and I decided to shoot for the stars and ask him if his schedule was open for the date and a couple days prior, for rehearsals. His schedule was open, and he had a drummer he had worked with countless times prior was available as well, Curt ‘Kirkee B’ Bisquera.  Finally I asked my dear friend Jonathan if he was available for the gig, which he was.  The stars had lined up and I locked in everyone for two days of rehearsals and the gig.  The first day Jonathan and I met Tony and Kirkee B was in Burbank at the rehearsal studio. We shook hands, visited a bit and got to work.

What was the first rehearsal like?

The first rehearsal was incredibly productive, as expected.  We had discussed the set list prior, everyone had done their homework  and we just started going down the list.  It was immediately clear that this was a very potent 4 piece and I was pinching myself as I looked around the room and witnessed musicians that I’d admired for years and years playing these songs.  They were the ultimate pros and I was beyond thrilled at the thought of playing a show with them.  Little did I know what was right around the corner and what would be happening shortly after that first show, which was all of us deciding that this was a very special unit and it deserved to have a focused and concerted effort as a band.

Your music has a definite Latin flavor, what inspired the musical direction?

The Latin flavor of the music is no accident.  I’ve always loved the intensity, feel and sexiness of Latin / Flamenco music.  The scales, chords and progressions were just so appealing to me. As a fledgling guitarist I was given a cassette of ‘Friday Night in San Francisco’ and it had a huge impact on me.  Listening to Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin and Paco Delucia in a live setting, playing with that much virtuosity and intensity was mind blowing.  I couldn’t conceive how acoustic guitars could be played like that.  That particular album still offers a huge well of inspiration for me. I also found inspiration with players like Jesse Cook, Ben Woods, Vincent Amigo, Strung and Farah, Rodrigo and Gabriela, all having a very strong Spanish and Flamenco flavor.  

What is the bands approach to songwriting and performing. It seems like you all are really dialed in with each other, listen and provide a lot of space in the arrangements, that create and incredible musical alchemy. How long did it take you to achieve this as a band?

Because this band came together after I’d recorded two solo albums, we began with those songs.  I was completely open to have each one of these players add their own legendary voices to these songs with zero restraints.  I’m literally in a band with three of the best musicians in the world, so why not let them have carte blanche and trust that each song would become a very unique and special event given those ingredients.  One of the things that I’m most grateful for is that each of us approaches the music in a very mindful way.  Despite being players with amazing pedigrees, everyone is playing for the overall sound and audience experience.  Additionally, each bringing phenomenal ideas for both recording and live performances.  This has been one of the ingredients since we first got together that first rehearsal.  As we spend more time together and have more experiences together, there is a level of trust and camaraderie that I haven’t had in a very long time.  The other guys feel the same way, too.  Each one of us realizes that this is a very special opportunity to work with some fantastic humans and create / play music for as many audiences as we can.  Again, I still have to stop and laugh at the fact that I’m now in band with three of my all time favorite musicians. 

What is next for you and the band? 

What’s next? Things are culminating rapidly and we’re expecting to have our EPK finished very shortly.  This will be for booking agents, promoters, etc.  We also have a Live EP (from the first live gig we played last September) which has been mixed and mastered.  We will be releasing two singles from that EP in conjunction to two corresponding videos from them, hopefully beginning in mid June. Also getting our band socials started and ready for launch.  We’ve attained some  initial representation for management to help us navigate things as we begin the journey of playing out as much as we can.  Lastly, new music! We’re excited to begin working on new songs soon.  It’s going to be a fantastic experience and we want make sure that we leave each audience breathless after each live performance.  

About The Band:

Al Nesbitt: The Alchemy’s humble and enigmatic writer and guitarist, heralded by Guitar World Online as ‘The next big thing’ in Acoustic Instrumental Music. Driven by a desire to create unique music that blends Pop, Rock, Classical, Cinematic, Spanish and World, Al laid the foundations for what would become the Alchemy’s signature sound.

Heralded by Guitar World Online Music. as The next big thing’ in Acoustic Instrumental Music.

Jonathan Sindelman: Keyboardist extraordinaire, whose expansive range and brand of sonic architecture has touched virtually every genre, defining the landscape and production for legendary artists across the globe.

Keith Emerson, Alan White, Zappa Legacy Projects (One Shot Deal, The Furious Bongos), Googoosh

Tony Franklin: Known as the “Fretless Monster”, Tony is an ambassador of the bass guitar,playing alongside some of the greatest names in music and with his signature fretless growl imprinted on hundreds of albums.

The Firm, Roy Harper, Blue Murder, Kenny Wayne Shepard

Curt “Kirkee B.” Bisquera: One of L.A.’s top “go to” drummers when it comes to anythingdrumming related, the end is listless when accounting for his contributions. Whether it be recording, touring or just bringing his singular vibe to the situation at hand, Curt has been there and done it with the best.

Elton John, Tom Petty, Mick Jagger, Bonnie Raitt

Al Nesbitt & The Alchemy @The Triple Door (April 2025) Photo: Jerry & Lois Photography

Last year, Palaye Royale embarked on their world tour promoting their Latest full length EP, Death or Glory, and unfortunately had to postpone a handful of shows due to their international crew not being able to secure Visas on time. Fans who held on to those original tickets for those shows, including here in Seattle, were finally able to use them beginning this month as the band began performing their 2025 shows. 

Having last performed here in Seattle back in 2022 on their Fever Dream Tour, (see our previous coverage and photo gallery from their show in Seattle, here), fans were eager to see them again. STG’s, The Neptune Theater, hosted the band this past week when they performed an eclectic set of 15 songs from their growing catalogue, including a 3-song encore. Large inflated balls were tossed to and fro from the stage through the crowd for part of their set. Cell phones were lit up from the stage to the balcony during their performance of, “Dying In A Hot Tub”, and lights flashed and stage smoke filled the venue, highlighting notes and lyrics song after song. The band stopped performing briefly on stage mid way through their set to surprise their bassist, Logan Baudean, with a birthday cake & bubbly while they and the whole crowd sang a cheerful rendition of “Happy Birthday”. 

During their encore, lead singer Remington Leith began to play the intro to “Lonely” from behind a keyboard, but stopped shortly after he began, citing he didn’t like the way it sounded, instead opting to sing it a cappella style from behind the mic at center stage. Although there was nowhere for Leith to climb at any point during the show, (a signature move if the venue has the resources and set up, #iykyk), that didn’t stop him from jumping from atop their stage set up a few times as well as jumping into the crowd to dance among fans. He left the stage yet again for part of their final song, climbing back into the crowd and being raised into the air atop the hands and arms of adoring fans while belting out notes of “Mr. Doctor Man“, their final song of the evening. 

Outside of performing, the band continues to build their fan base through a consistent on-line presence. With updates, photos, videos, and behind the scenes documentary style films posted to their, “Royal Council” website, Royal Television (YouTube channel), and their Instagram , (including their: “members only” feed), fans are kept well entertained and connected. Their heart aches and heart warming life events are featured across their platforms, and their love for music and determination to stay connected with their fans who support them all over the world is what drives them to do what they can to get their music to the masses. Fulfilling postponed dates from last year in the US & Canada are just the beginning of shows that they have planned for the year. The first 24 dates on this leg feature special guest, Johnnie Guilbert, an LA based musician who’s amassed millions of followers over the past decade+ through his Twitch, TikTok and YouTube channel popularity.  

As for the rest of 2025, Palaye Royale has already announced multiple city dates again in Europe this summer, so fans abroad will have a number of opportunities to see them live this year. They did recently have to postpone their South American dates, and haven’t announced new ones as of publication date. They’ve also eluded on their social media to possible upcoming Australia dates, “soon”. 

I had the good fortune to catch Telekinesis’ Michael Lerner last month at a small art opening in a secluded barn up in Bow, a tiny hamlet off of Chuckanut Drive in Skagit County. It was a brief, subdued set; Lerner played guitar and supplemented a couple of songs with some beats piped in from his laptop. It was good to see and hear from him again, but it really whetted my appetite for the full-band Telekinesis experience: Lerner front and center on his drum kit backed by musicians just as lit up and exuberant as they can be, the Telekinesis I first experienced at Timbrrr! 2014 and again at SASQUATCH! in 2016. According to Lerner, the band now features Jes le Bon of Sleepy Genes on guitar and Kelly Sorbel of Kurly Something on bass. Lerner has had a rotating cast of members in his band over the years, so it will be interesting to experience this new lineup.

And experience it you can, because Telekinesis is staging a comeback and playing live again, though as an opener (testing the waters?) for Seattle punky stalwarts Wimps (a great band in their own right) and Oliver Elf Army (who go together with Wimps like peanut butter and jelly). This powerhouse bill will be blasting off this Friday, July 26th, at Lucky Dime in Everett and is guaranteed to bring in a crowd of stans of all three bands. Wimps is sure to deliver a solid set of witty, rocking gems and Oliver Elf Army will delight you with their twisted pop culture sensibility and what I like to think of as modern murder ballads. This is about as solid a bill as they come, folks. You’re gonna have a good time.

Wimps
Oliver Elf Army
Telekinesis
$15
Lucky Dime in Everett, WA

Belgium’s Lords of Acid, have been entertaining crowds now for more than three decades, and continue to sell out shows around the globe, including their show this past weekend at Seattle’s iconic Showbox.

Their current 35 city tour, “Make Acid Great Again“, is their first full tour in more than four years, (last here in Seattle in 2019). To mark the occasion, fans dressed up and some were barely dressed. Showing off an array of high heels, combat boots, leather, lace, metal and a whole lot of exposed skin, the band entertained the crowd with their erotic lyrics and stage show performing an enormous seventeen song set. LOA‘s seventh studio album, Acid Reign, is expected later this year.

This tour also marked the return of LOA‘s frontman, Praga Khan, with his other band, (aptly named Praga Khan– perhaps most known for their song Mortal Combat, written for the video game back in the early 90’s). He hadn’t performed with that configuration live in the US for more than twenty years. Outlaw pop artist, Devora, was the opener for this leg of the tour.

The band began in shadow with a rousing rendition of “Release” from their debut album Ten before segueing into “Thin Air.” After that, the band took a brief pause as Vedder looked around at the 17,000+ fans in attendance and said, “Well, look at us, we’re home.” Later in the set, Eddie reminisced about all the venues they’d played in Seattle over the last three decades and expressed their pride in being continually involved in both the artistic and musical communities in Seattle. They also acknowledged their role as musical representatives of the Seattle music scene.

One of the many highlights of the evening was an epic performance of “Alive.” As Vedder thrashed about the stage, Ament and Gossard jammed together, while Mike McCready demonstrated his guitar mastery by playing most of the song with his instrument hoisted backward across his shoulders. It was quite a feat to behold.

Later, the group slowed it down with a low-key rendition of “Daughter,” featuring Jeff Ament on an electric standup bass. It was a touching moment as Vedder strolled over to sing along with a young girl, no more than ten years old, sitting on her father’s shoulders in the front row. The band also paid tribute to two legendary Seattle sports icons: the Storm’s Sue Bird, whose jersey hung from the rafters, and dedicated the song “Man of the Hour” to Bill Walters, who had passed away the previous day.

A huge burst of energy emerged as the band finished their initial set with a rousing edition of “Rearviewmirror,” featuring Vedder furiously windmilling his guitar. The lights dropped, the band waved, and the arena erupted into cheers as they walked off stage. After 10 minutes of raucous applause, Vedder returned to the stage to briefly talk about the band’s relationships before playing an acoustic version of “Just Breathe.”

A few songs later, the band broke into their inaugural hit “Alive,” which felt like a religious revival as the arena lights turned on, revealing a crowd of 17,000+ rapidly pumping their fists in the air. Later in the encore, Vedder introduced the crowd to the opening act, Deep Sea Diver, whose lead singer Jessica Dobson kicked off the guitar solo for another Seattle tribute: a cover of Jimi Hendrix’s “All Along the Watchtower.”

The band amped up the energy with “Yellow Ledbetter” / “Little Wing,” much to the delight of a man in the front row holding a sign requesting the song. Waves crashed across the giant LED screen as Pearl Jam finished with “Setting Sun,” a cut from their latest album “Dark Matter.” After an incredible 25-song, set, the band gathered one last time, took a bow, thanked the audience, and walked off stage.

Photo: Mocha Charlie

The Word Alive has played dozens of shows over the past few years, criss-crossing the globe, promoting their latest EP, Hard Reset, (released Aug ’23), and fans in Seattle were finally able to see and hear them perform some songs off that release here last Sunday on Mother’s Day at Showbox SODO. What was originally supposed to be held at The Showbox, the event sold out so quickly that they made the decision to switch venues in order to allow more fans to see the show. (This is not always the case, so fans should be grateful they were able to make that happen.) They are currently wrapping up dates with Memphis May Fire and Nerv, supporting Asking Alexandria’s, “All My Friends”, North American tour. Although they played second in the night’s lineup, fans were at the ready with the venue being near capacity by the time they took the stage.

The majority of their, (albeit unfortunately short), setlist for this tour did include songs off their new EP, to which seeing and hearing them performed live definitely made the crowds go wild. The crowd’s energy was non-stop, although it was elevated to the max when they played their song, Life Cycles, (released over a decade ago), when the crowd became more alive with bursts of energy, as intense as big waves in the ocean. It was then that more than a dozen fans were elevated above the crowd and surfed their way toward the barricades. To the (not so) thrilled security team than lined the pit, hat higher energy then continued until the band left the stage.

According to Zach Hansen, (band co-founder and lead guitarist), the band is writing and playing some of their best stuff released to date. “These songs are ones we’ve always wanted to do”, said Hansen, and he explained that releasing them now felt right. They are in fact finding themselves doing some of the best things they’ve ever done, and sharing their passion for the music they create is evident in their new music. Mirroring that passion, Tyler (Telle) Smith, paused briefly during their song, One Of Us, to shout out, “Live music is the best thing on Earth!”.

The new EP not only showcases the band’s growth and massive talent but it also includes five songs featuring other artists, (Loveless, Bad Omens, Escape The Fate, Normandie, and From First To Last), to which seamlessly and flawlessly make great additions. They are very proud of what their catalog contains, and the evolution of their sound they’ve been able to create. Hard Reset, is a culmination of that and moving forward. Hansen says they have even more content that will match its energy and sound. Fans will have to wait on what’s next, as no major announcements have been made…yet.

Drew Holcomb And The Neighbors is currently on their, Find Your People Tour, and are throwing one helluva dance party every night out on the road. Seattle fans have proven year after year that the band’s “people” are definitely here, as evident by the multi generational fans who sang, cheered and danced from beginning to the end of the show, which included a full on dance party that Halcomb himself partook in among the crowd. 

Encouraging fans to sing along throughout the evening, the band played an expansive 21 song set. They opened the show with their hit song, Find Your People, (which you may remember was their song choice to play at last year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade atop the Solo Stove float). Telling stories in between songs, Holcomb played guitars, tambourine, and the harmonica, and paused mid set to hand a young fan a signed copy of their latest album, Strangers No More, which was released last summer. They sang a beautiful cover of Adele‘s, When We Were Young, (because it’s one of Drew’s daughter’s favorites). Their brand new song, Soul’s A Camera, (released just last week), made it’s way onto the set list too. They also invited tour opener Donovan Woods back to the stage to sing, For Some Reason, a song he and Holcomb wrote together prior to the tour. 

Venturing out on multi-city tours for almost two decades, the band has recorded well over a dozen albums including a few holiday EP’s over the years. They announced on April Fool’s Day, (but NOT a joke), that Strangers No More will have another volume of songs, and will release Volume 2 later this year on September 12th.

By Mocha Charlie

Sweden’s, Imminence, is a band that has been contrasting brutal melodic heaviness with serene moments within their music for more than a decade; however, they’re a band most of you here in the states have probably never seen live. This is because prior to this tour, they had only played a handful of shows here in the US, and those were on the East coast at the end of last year. In 2024, they finally embarked on their first US, “From Sweden With Love”, tour and made a stop here in Seattle last week at The Neptune.

It took Imminence fourteen years since their formation in 2009 to get to Seattle, and fans here were more than ready to show their love for the band. Starting with seeing the number of fans who were already wearing the band’s t-shirts while waiting to get into the venue, to hearing the crowd chanting the band’s name over and over prior to them taking the stage, it was obvious that this crowd was eager to see what they had been missing out on. It was even more apparent when hundreds of voices from the crowd were singing along word for word, song after song throughout their set. 

The visually dark and eerie atmosphere created from the stage enhanced the band’s lyrically twisted tones and emotions, enveloping the entire room as they played each song throughout the night. The crowd became engulfed within their hopeful, tragic, and intense songs beginning with the long melodic intro prior to them singing their first note, and they remained enamored until the very end of the show when they took their final bow. A circle pit on the floor formed early on, and held strong and steady stopping briefly when lead singer, Eddie Berg, brought his mic to its center to perform toward the end of their set. Throughout the night, he belted out his vocals and played his violin with such intense vigor and precise movements that had fans feeling emotions that dug deep into their core. The diverse crowd even included one of their youngest fans of the night, a seven year old boy, (who was there with his family, whom I spoke with before the show). He listed numerous songs that he couldn’t wait to hear the band play, including his favorite, “The Black”, the longest track off of their recent album of the same name. He donned large protective headphones from the front of the barricade, and rocked out along with the entire crowd until the very end of the show.

There are no other US dates listed beyond their current tour which wraps up on May 17th in Pennsylvania. If you’re willing to travel abroad, they do have multiple European music festivals they’ll be a part of this summer, and then they will round out the year with a fall European tour beginning in October. Will they return to the US again soon? No news yet, but based on the reception they’ve been getting at their shows here so far, fans can’t imagine they’d make us wait another fourteen years.

Legendary cross over thrashers Suicidal Tendencies, aka Suicidal or ST, performed to a sold out Showbox Sodo in Seattle. The venue was packed with older rockers, aging punks, and even newer fans who have recently found the band or who were turned onto them by their older siblings or even their parents! Doesn’t matter, people came to have a good time and ST did not disappoint!

Suicidal Tendencies announced a North American and Australian tour to celebrate the 40^th anniversary of the release of their self-titled debut album.

Getting the show started were Seattle’s own Filth is Eternal. This band came in hot and fast and immediately proceeded to kick everyone’s ass with a blistering 25-minute set.  If there wasn’t a lot interest in the band or if a majority of the audience hadn’t heard of Filth is Eternal prior to this evening, they definitely know who this band is now. The band, consisting of Lis Di Angelo (they, them) – Vocals, Brian McCelland – Lead Guitar, Mike Sparks – Bass, Emily Salisbury – Drums, and Colin Jenkins – rhythm guitar, were solid, tight and had a heavy sound to them. Di Angelo was an awesome front person, who not only can belt out the gnarliest of screams, but they actually can sing which is kind of rare when it comes to hardcore or punk. Salisbury was a monster on the drums and the rest of the band were bad ass.

They have some local shows coming up in the Seattle area, so its highly suggested that you go check out this amazing band (support your local musicians!). Also, give them a follow on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter / X.

There was about an hour wait between sets and the crowd was growing impatient – chanting “SUICIDAL! SUICIDAL!” – hoping that the band would come out sooner rather than later.

Members of the band – Dean Pleasants (guitar), Tye Trujillo (bass), Ben Weinmann (guitar) and Greyson Nekrutman (drums), opened their set with “You Can’t Bring Me Down!” which is the opening track off of their 1990 release Lights…Camera…Revolution!

“WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON AROUND HERE?” belted singer Mike Muir as he made his way onto the stage. To say that the band was a ball of fury is an understatement. They were running and jumping around, not missing a beat. The audience turned into a moshing frenzy and there were also a great number of crowd surfers as well.

The band then jumped right into tracks off their debut album. “Suicide’s an Alternative”, “I Shot Reagan”, and “Memories of Tomorrow”. Weinmann was jumping off his amps and then crowd walking, Pleasants also jumping off the drum riser and hopping up and down and Muir running around all over the stage while interacting with those in the audience.

As the band broke into “Cyco Vision” the audience split in two, with a large area in the middle of the venue, which meant only one thing. That’s right, the wall of death. They then proceeded to create an even larger mosh pit.

“YOU CAN’T SPELL SEATTLE WITHOUT ST! Let’s GO SEATTLE!” Muir yelled as he encouraged even larger wall of death and the audience delivered!

Muir asked people from the audience to join the band on stage and at one point there had to have been close to 30 people on the stage while the band performed “Pledge Your Allegiance”, “Institutionalized”, and “Two Sided Politics”.

Everyone had an amazing time, and Suicidal Tendencies put an awesome show.

Setlist

You Can’t Bring Me Down
Suicide’s An Alternative
I Shot Reagan
Memories of Tomorrow
Subliminal
Facist Pig
Won’t Fall in Love Today
War Inside My Head
Freedumb
I Saw Your Mommy
Possessed To Skate
I Want More
Suicidal Failure
Cyco Vision
Pledge Your Allegiance
Institutionalized
Two Sided Politics