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Live show review | Northwest Bands | Recommended shows

Grand Hallway packed the Tractor

9 Jan 2010 at The Tractor Tavern

 

Tomo Nakayama (and all of Grand Hallway for that matter) is a pleasure to watch perform.  The eight piece orchestral indie-pop band played to a bursting Tractor Tavern, last Saturday, with headliners Black Whales and Amateur Radio Operator. Having never caught Grand Hallway live before, I was surprised by Tomo's ability to alternate between intensity and composure, while weaving together delicate songs that tug at the heart and mind in equal measure.

If you missed it, you have a chance to catch them again at the Triple Door, March 6th, backed by the 50 piece Seattle Rock Orchestra and the Perkins School Children’s Choir. I can't imagine a better place to experience their brand of sweet orchestral pop in it's full glory. Bam.

 

Grand Hallway

Grand Hallway

Grand Hallway

Grand Hallway

Grand Hallway

Grand Hallway

Grand Hallway

Grand Hallway

{Check out more great photos in the TIG sparkly indie-pop flickr pool}

 

Wednesday, January 13, 2010
by bobby mchugh

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1   josh said on January 13, 2010

we tried to see this show and were stunned when it had sold out before the opening band had even finished playing. ballard!

2   Randal Chicoine said on January 14, 2010

I saw all three bands at The Tractor that night. By the end, I was struck by their differences; yet one factor underscored all - the primacy of songwriting. Grand Hallway is a pleasure to watch but I found the songwriting to be way too precious. Delicate is another word for it, I suppose. Filigreed. Ornamented. Affected. Black Whales' songs, by comparison, were vigorous, propulsive and urgent. One or two songs on their set slowed down, yet even these built up to something momentous like a rising tide. I prefer songs that stick, punch and wound me.

3   ChrisB said on January 14, 2010

I made this point on Twitter that night but with this show, Shabazz Palaces at Neumos (where I was) and Barcelona at Chop Suey, there were three shows of all local bands on the same night and they were all sold out.

4   bobby mchugh said on January 14, 2010

Randal ~ I hear ya. I'm really lovin' the Black Whales songwriting and energy. They were no doubt a big part of why the show was packed to the brim. I'm looking forward to grabbing some photos of them very soon!

5   JD said on January 14, 2010

I'm gonna kind of, have to, sorta disagree with you Bobby that Grand Hallway were the reason for The Tractor being full to capacity. Although I am a big fan of all the bands that played that evening, most of the people I met and talked to during the sets were there to see Black Whales. Great show all around and nice photos, but the credit really belongs to the headliners. They killed it.

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