Widower ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

In a way, The Sunset has become one of the de facto centers of the Seattle music scene. You’re just as likely to see members of your favorite local band, from literally the largest bands in town to the smallest just formed bands, supporting their friends in the crowd and sometimes on stage in roles you hadn’t envisioned. Such was the case last Wednesday, when many corners of the scene were brought together to appreciate three of Seattle’s most promising bands. Every turn of the head brought into view a local personality of note.

First band on the bill was The Final Spins is the project of Joe Syverson, formerly of Throw Me the Statue, supported by many of the same crew who brought us Siberian, with Colin English of Hardly Art’s Pica Beats manning the drums. This particular Wednesday the band was celebrating the release of a new LP by playing three sets throughout Seattle in one day. First the traditional new release KEXP noon set, then a Sonic Boom Records all-ages set, before finally arriving at The Sunset for their last one.

The Final Spins are of a rock band in the mold of the Kinks supplying simply arranged and decidedly jilted and complex pop songs soaked in warm reverb. I almost feel like this band comes out of the thirteenth month of 1969, still feeding off of and reinterpreting the folk and rock traditions of that loomed large through the previous decade. Though a couple of those synthy intro’s even had me thinking on the Cars, if only for the intro.

Following a short smoke break on Ballard Avenue, where we caught a glimpse of Grizzly Bear member Daniel Rossen conversing quietly with Fleet Fox Robin Pecknold, we retreated back inside for the Zach Tillman led project, Pearly Gate Music.  With a band consisting of many of the same cast of Final Spins characters and big brother Josh Tillman on drums, Zach Tillman is now finally showing some confidence with his material and himself. We’ve been impressed with pretty much all of Pearly Gate Music’s material since their last appearance at the Sunset, so when on a tuning break Tillman revealed without ceremony that they had just finished recording an album, it was welcome news to our ears. Upon seeing the modestly large crowd, Tillman remarked that he was impressed to see so many people at the Sunset on a Wednesday night, declaring it “the last cool place in Seattle.” At least on this night, we could heartily agree.

Widower is fast becoming one of my favorite bands to come up from the Seattle scene. If their modern take on country delivers the mournful ballads and dysfunctional love songs expected of the style, wounded puppy lead singer Kevin Large would never pass muster in Nashville. His closed eyes and seemingly shy demeanor belie a songwriter and singer that makes me think of Wilco and Bright Eyes at the same time. Somehow he incorporates the turns of a phrase and even Tweedy-ish pronunciation like the former, while lyrically at times he matches the poignant and sometimes verbose sadness of the latter.

Next Week on August 2nd the Final Spins with Black Whales are opening for the Henry Clay People at the Crocodile. Pearly Gate Music is supporting Josh Tillman on a short California tour at the end of August. Widower will play next at the Comet on September 9th. That’s the Wednesday following Bumbershoot.

Pearly Gate Music ::: Photo by Josh Lovseth

The Final Spins ::: Photo by Abbey Simmons

Flickr: Widower, Pearly Gate Music, and the Final Spins at the Sunset Tavern