THUNDERPUSSY April 15, 2022 The Showbox Eclectic Arts
THUNDERPUSSY
Smokey Brights
Actionesse
The Showbox at The Market
Seattle, WA
April 15, 2022
The original New Year’s Eve celebration for Thunderpussy was postponed due to you know what. The New Year’s Eve gig has become a tradition at this point with the band pulling out all the stops to make for an extra special event each year.
While at the time everyone understood the need to postpone the show, the good news is not only was it rescheduled for April 15th, 2022 but it actually happened! I remember thinking to myself back at the end of December "I wonder where we’ll be with all of this shit by April?" Well, I, along with hundreds of others, were at The Showbox, celebrating, properly this time, like it was 12/31/21.
I’ve learned about a lot of awesome local (and not local) bands at the various Thunderpussy shows. The Black Tones, Wild Powwers, and Kolars just to name a few. Friday night the band had two local bands on the bill that I had heard about but had never seen live so I was excited.
Actionesse started things off for the evening. A fucking bundle of energy, the band hit the stage like it was their encore. I was blown away by their energy and their unique sound. They are a band that is hard to categorize but that just makes them that much more special. They made the most of their 30 minute set. By the time they were done, they wore me out. And I mean that as a high compliment. Great way to kick off the show!
Smokey Brights were up next. Their sound was much more polished but it was also a different kind of music. At times it went from funky retro dance to more folk inspired songs which mostly worked. They, like Actionesse, have been playing around town doing their own shows for quite some time now. And it showed. They were very professional sounding with the harmonies and instrumentation. The keyboard/synth in the middle of the stage is always a tough one to figure out for any band. For mellow singer songwriters, it kinda works. For bands that have more energy like Smokey Brights, it’s kind of distracting. I almost wanted the vocalist and keys/synth player Kim to kick that thing into the photo pit and start stalking the stage with a mic in her hand. Another great set by another quality Seattle based band.
This was my fifth New Year’s Eve gig in a row covering Thunderpussy (I’m counting 2016 but I was there on 12/30 instead of the second 12/31 show at Neumos that year). I always love the intention behind these special events. From the amazing wardrobe custom designed by Pakio Galore to the visuals (dancers, light design) to how the band is going to start the shows - they never repeat themselves. It’s always something different. And in recent years there have been special guests - sometimes many special guests.
Thunderpussy came on stage (Molly - vocals, Whitney - guitar, Leah - bass, and Michelle - drums) and blasted straight into, “Never Know”. If you’ve never experienced the band live, you’re in for a rock n roll spectacle.
The band is a rock band but they are uniquely their own. I’ve said it a ton of times but Molly is such a fantastic leader of the band. Her dance and movement background is always on high display at any Thunderpussy show. And Friday night was no different. Back bends, dropping to the stage, kicks, and just a constant ball of rhythmic energy, she is the perfect front person for the band.
Whitney is stage right with her trusty Les Paul and she dishes out the 70’s inspired guitar work. Her energy is always one of a fun, bad-ass guitarist. She speaks her mind in between songs as well on the mic.
Leah is stage left and she carries the bottom end with upper fret melodies at times, too, which sometimes go overlooked. She moves to the music as well, whipping her four string bass around the stage.
Michelle was new to me on the drums. She clearly knew the set as she fit in great with the band. I don’t know if she was filling in for the gig or what but, again, she did a great job on the songs.
Old favorite, “Speed Queen” brought out two dancers for the first time while “Velvet Noose” brought out special guests to the stage. “Fever” brought out pole dancers on each side of the stage which added to the visual presentation I mentioned earlier.
Dancers and special guests rotated in and out depending on the songs toward the end of the night. “Barracuda” by Heart got the Thunderpussy treatment as did set-ender “The Show Must Go On” by Queen, complete with basically everyone from the entire night on stage all at once.
It was fucking amazing to be back after not seeing the Thunderpussy live for over two years. With things going the way they are out in society, here’s to seeing the band live again at least one more time before we do it all over again on 12/31/22.
Best,
Mark Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts
Connect with Eclectic Arts: Social Media Links Here
Special thanks: Whitney for putting me on the list and for saying hello before the show. Great sharing the photo-pit with Christine Mitchell again after two plus years. And thanks to my friends that made it out to the show as well. I was so glad you guys could all make it. Thank you for supporting Thunderpussy and the local music scene here in Seattle!
Smokey Brights
Actionesse
The Showbox at The Market
Seattle, WA
April 15, 2022
(All Photos - Mark Sugiyama for Eclectic Arts (c) 2022)
The original New Year’s Eve celebration for Thunderpussy was postponed due to you know what. The New Year’s Eve gig has become a tradition at this point with the band pulling out all the stops to make for an extra special event each year.
While at the time everyone understood the need to postpone the show, the good news is not only was it rescheduled for April 15th, 2022 but it actually happened! I remember thinking to myself back at the end of December "I wonder where we’ll be with all of this shit by April?" Well, I, along with hundreds of others, were at The Showbox, celebrating, properly this time, like it was 12/31/21.
I’ve learned about a lot of awesome local (and not local) bands at the various Thunderpussy shows. The Black Tones, Wild Powwers, and Kolars just to name a few. Friday night the band had two local bands on the bill that I had heard about but had never seen live so I was excited.
Actionesse started things off for the evening. A fucking bundle of energy, the band hit the stage like it was their encore. I was blown away by their energy and their unique sound. They are a band that is hard to categorize but that just makes them that much more special. They made the most of their 30 minute set. By the time they were done, they wore me out. And I mean that as a high compliment. Great way to kick off the show!
Smokey Brights were up next. Their sound was much more polished but it was also a different kind of music. At times it went from funky retro dance to more folk inspired songs which mostly worked. They, like Actionesse, have been playing around town doing their own shows for quite some time now. And it showed. They were very professional sounding with the harmonies and instrumentation. The keyboard/synth in the middle of the stage is always a tough one to figure out for any band. For mellow singer songwriters, it kinda works. For bands that have more energy like Smokey Brights, it’s kind of distracting. I almost wanted the vocalist and keys/synth player Kim to kick that thing into the photo pit and start stalking the stage with a mic in her hand. Another great set by another quality Seattle based band.
This was my fifth New Year’s Eve gig in a row covering Thunderpussy (I’m counting 2016 but I was there on 12/30 instead of the second 12/31 show at Neumos that year). I always love the intention behind these special events. From the amazing wardrobe custom designed by Pakio Galore to the visuals (dancers, light design) to how the band is going to start the shows - they never repeat themselves. It’s always something different. And in recent years there have been special guests - sometimes many special guests.
Thunderpussy came on stage (Molly - vocals, Whitney - guitar, Leah - bass, and Michelle - drums) and blasted straight into, “Never Know”. If you’ve never experienced the band live, you’re in for a rock n roll spectacle.
The band is a rock band but they are uniquely their own. I’ve said it a ton of times but Molly is such a fantastic leader of the band. Her dance and movement background is always on high display at any Thunderpussy show. And Friday night was no different. Back bends, dropping to the stage, kicks, and just a constant ball of rhythmic energy, she is the perfect front person for the band.
Whitney is stage right with her trusty Les Paul and she dishes out the 70’s inspired guitar work. Her energy is always one of a fun, bad-ass guitarist. She speaks her mind in between songs as well on the mic.
Leah is stage left and she carries the bottom end with upper fret melodies at times, too, which sometimes go overlooked. She moves to the music as well, whipping her four string bass around the stage.
Michelle was new to me on the drums. She clearly knew the set as she fit in great with the band. I don’t know if she was filling in for the gig or what but, again, she did a great job on the songs.
Old favorite, “Speed Queen” brought out two dancers for the first time while “Velvet Noose” brought out special guests to the stage. “Fever” brought out pole dancers on each side of the stage which added to the visual presentation I mentioned earlier.
Dancers and special guests rotated in and out depending on the songs toward the end of the night. “Barracuda” by Heart got the Thunderpussy treatment as did set-ender “The Show Must Go On” by Queen, complete with basically everyone from the entire night on stage all at once.
It was fucking amazing to be back after not seeing the Thunderpussy live for over two years. With things going the way they are out in society, here’s to seeing the band live again at least one more time before we do it all over again on 12/31/22.
Best,
Mark Sugiyama
Eclectic Arts
Connect with Eclectic Arts: Social Media Links Here
Special thanks: Whitney for putting me on the list and for saying hello before the show. Great sharing the photo-pit with Christine Mitchell again after two plus years. And thanks to my friends that made it out to the show as well. I was so glad you guys could all make it. Thank you for supporting Thunderpussy and the local music scene here in Seattle!
(All Photos - Mark Sugiyama for Eclectic Arts (c) 2022)
Thunderpussy
Smokey Brights
Actionesse
More photos coming soon!
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