Nurses, Kaylee Cole, The Globes & Throw Me The Statue
Sunday, August 23rd at the Empyrean

It was too my surprise that Nurses was playing tonight at the Empyrean. I had no idea that they were going to be there, but I am glad they were. Nurses blew me away, another fantastic group from Portland ! They are a three piece that sounds like a polished Animal Collective with reverb vocals and awesome harmonies. They were fun to watch because both of the front guys would switch sides and instruments.

They had massive tables covered in pedals, buttons, electronic music making machines, and even keyboards. Reminded me of Dan Deacon’s mixing table. I know they impressed the crowd because I saw multiple kids carrying around a CD or vinyl record. I will most definitely be back to see them at the Empyrean on September 29th.

Kaylee Cole was up next with Dane Ueland and Kim Wescott. Dane was backup vocals and on guitar while Kim also sang along during some songs and played the viola. Kaylee like usual was very funny during her set while also saying thank you after every song, good manners. She played the second song she ever wrote “The Car Accident,” a new song she wrote on Monday, and plenty of songs from her latest album. It is always fun to watch her play the piano; I have never seen someone’s fingers stretch so far apart.

Kaylee is the new owner of an iPhone in which she handed off to her friend in the front row to record a video of her performing in which she is going to “YouTube the shit out of later.” While playing the three of them are very elegant and a great group of talented local musicians, always pleasant to watch! I am so excited to hear Kaylees work with TV on the Radio; all this talk is like knowing there is a Christmas present that you have to wait to open! By the way she said it sounds like it will be different from her past music but, fantastical!

We moved our chairs aside for the Globes. The Empyrean was packed; they have a big pull in Spokane . We saw them at Elkfest this year and they were just as good as they were tonight. I liked that they picked at the Inlander for calling them the Gloves, when they even lived here at some point.

The Globes are full of sharp kids that know what they are doing, everything sounded pleasantly delicious. I dig that they can play without singing for a period of time and I don’t get bored, it’s cool how they mix the instruments just right. It was a kick to clap along during a song or two and to hear people sing and watch the crowd dance.

You knew people were having fun and were all about the Globes because as soon as he mentioned I think we are going to play two more songs everyone yelled back to play three instead. I am sure they will be back in the future, when they do arrive early so you can get a good spot!

Last but not least was Throw Me The Statue. There was a lot of gear on stage, a lot. Two of the guys each had two keyboards and then a guitar or a glockenspiel. Each of the three kids up front also had their own pedal boards with a minimum of four pedals. Their drummer had a blue and clear drum set that made me want to go swimming, it looked super cool. Not to mention their singer also played bass and guitar. All of this, you would think it would be a little bit of a cluster but it was the sweetest sugar coated indie pop band that was polished. “Ancestors” is a lovable little tune; you can check it out on their myspace!

They looked effortless on stage but you knew what they were doing was complicated. They have fun music and lyrics we can relate too, I like that in a band. They are sort of like a poppier smoother Built to Spill. Matty is so good at calling out who they sound like. I wouldn’t mind seeing them again a time or two. Great summer band! Keep you eyes and ears out for these kids, sooner or later they will end up on your iPod.

Check out more photos from the show here!

Andrea@checkitoutmusic.com