Music I Liked – Odesza, Nils Frahm, Russian Circles

The down side to living in Seattle is that you just can’t keep up. I started March with the excellent Decibel Festival, but missed half a dozen other concerts I wanted to see. Odesza, Nils Frahm, and Russian Circles all performed in Seattle last week. I was burned out from the past two weeks (school orchestra performance, school play, Seattle Symphony, musical theater, a musical cinema event, and the ballet). So I missed three really good concerts. But I really liked listening to the music all week at home.

Odesza

Together with Run the Jewels (who also played Seattle this month) Odesza is one of my husband’s favorite bands at the moment. If he is at home, the odds are good that Odesza is playing on our living room speakers. But I don’t mind, because they are really good. I would have liked to see them live. They are local, so maybe there will be another chance soon. (Un)fortunately, they are also wildly popular, so they’ll be on tour at least through the summer. If they come through wherever you live, you should go see them.

Nils Frahm

I discovered Nils Frahm at Decibel Fest (not the same one mentioned above – the local electronic music festival) when he played on a bill with Olafur Arnalds. That’s where I got the awful, blurry photo used above. I went because I love Olafur’s music. But Nils Frahm stole the show. I’ve considered him a favorite artist ever since. His latest album, All Melody, is as promised by the title, more melodic and … well, predictable, than his earlier stuff. But I was still disappointed to miss his show the day after I missed Odesza. All but one of his remaining U.S. shows are sold out, but if you live in San Jose an you’re free on Thursday (or if you live in Europe, where he has lots of shows booked this summer) I highly recommend that you go see him.

Russian Circles

Russian Circles are so good, and I missed them last time they came to Seattle, too. I feel shame. And sadness. It’s too late for me, but if you live in Canada, the midwestern U.S. or Europe, don’t be lame like me. Go see Russian Circles.