Blood Red Dancers are Devils in the Emerald City.
October 1st, 2008
Blood Red Dancers are timeless.
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They’re an unconventional trio of bass, keyboards and rhythm with vocals primarily from Aaron Poppick that would be just as well suited for cursing the Gods from upon mountain high as they are for cracking the paint in the local venues. It teeters on the edge of self destruction - a cigarette ash 3 inches long, but still hot. Julian Thomas’ keyboards are from a psychedelic era your dad avoids talking about. Dripping with sweat and the foam of a rabid dog. The bass, again from Aaron Poppick, and drum of Kevin R. Lord create rhythmic drones that rattle the bones. They strike a primal chord in the soul, reverting it to a time when strength and teeth decided the ruling class. The songs themselves are deliberate as a steam engine. They evoke images of drafty candle lit rooms in an dilapidated inn where downstairs men obsess over broken dreams obscured by rivers of drink. The name, Blood Red Dancers is partially derived from the legends of aboriginals that would paint themselves in the blood of their enemies for celebratory dances. How’s that for imagery…Even their attire of cuffed shirts, slacks and suspenders casts them into a time before any of us can remember, right down to a dollop of palm-aide greasing back the hair.
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This is not music to dance to, but it is music that will move you. You can download their free EP Let Him Fight, I’ll be in the Breadline, here. It’s broody, evocative and heavy hearted. To give it a sound, I’d say mix a little Doors, a little Tom Waits, and a little Elvis on a hella-fuggin-drug bender. Wham there you have it. Surprisingly though, the players themselves seem to dump all this out of their system while on stage. Out of the light, they’ve got a easy view of the world, contagious sense of humor and are interested in things you expect a group of fellas to be interested in; drinking, low cut blouses, listening to music, drinking and listening to music while looking above the low cut of a blouse. You know, the usual.
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They have been friends since they were little, all playing and listening to music together since we were kids. Julian is both jazz and classically trained on piano. Aaron has been playing bass for ten years. Kevin’s primary instrument was not the drums but they came naturally to him. Lucky us.
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Currently Blood Red Dancers are tearing up the local circuit and playing a ton of shows around Seattle. You can catch them at any or all of the shows listed below. I’d recommend grabbing their free EP here to whet the pallet.
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Oct 4 - 4:00P @ REVERB Music Festival @ the Sunset Tavern
Oct 9 - 9:00P @ The Funhouse
Oct 18 - 6:00P @ the KEXP’s Audioasis at the Highdive
Nov 13 - 9:00P @ The Comet
October 2nd, 2008 at 8:33 am
LB said:
That’s a pretty cool photo op–they got the “aesthetic” just right. I probably won’t be able to make Reverbfest this weekend, but hopefully I’ll be able to check out their show at the Funhouse or the Comet. “Sweetie’s Gettin’ Mobbed” is a great track, but I also really dig the last one, “Muddy Water”.
October 3rd, 2008 at 5:47 pm
lawless said:
These men are a delight to see, hear and drink with.
I’m not at all surprised about the notice being taken… they’re well worth much attention. Can’t wait to see them tomorrow night!
October 12th, 2008 at 12:08 am
The Liars CLub said:
I had the pleasure of seeing these guys at The Funhouse. This is not a flashy type “big rock show” kind of band, and thats just how I like it. Minimal bullshit talk and posturing that take good music into parody. Just 3 guys playing the crap out of their songs.
November 26th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Seattle Subsonic » Liars Club and Blood Red Dancers - Together at Last : Seattle's Music Blog said:
[...] This Sunday, Nov 30th is the perfect way to round off your Thanksgiving break. Two local Subsonic favorites, The Liars Club and Blood Red Dancers, in one place for one low price. To make it even easier on your constitution, this is all going down at the Sunset Tavern’s Sunday Bloody Sunset - a Sunday afternoon concert series usually focusing on up-and-coming local acts. Doors open at 4 and last through about 8. An easy way to continue that Bloody Mary buzz you started at Kingsand continues at the Sunsed ($3 all day both places), ease into a long night of Ballard barhopping, or just call it a night and get home at a reaonable hour for a grand return to work… . First up this Sunday are the Liars Club, fronted by the madmad K.C. Rehberg who channels ungodly amounts of energy into every second of every song as if it were his last. No stage can contain him. Drummer, Steve Popplewell cracks amazingly sharp and tight on the kit driving the songs ahead. You get solid licks from Chris Craig on the axe, wrangling it to fill in dark melodies that shouldn’t be possible from one instrument and Alex Difabio brings it real on the bass, sometimes positioning himself as more of a lead than a rhythym. Even the songs that sound a little more subdued on their EP light off the stage like a pack of black cats. Check SCTG’s review here . And that’s just the first act, then there are the Blood Red Dancers whom I have personally been gushing over. What they produce is not music to dance to, but it is music that’s guaranteed to move you. It’s broody, evocative and heavy hearted. To give it a sound, I’d say mix a little Doors, a little Tom Waits, and a little Elvis on a hella-fuggin-drug bender. Wham there you have it. for a full review of thier sound, check this previous post. [...]