The evening opened with Chastity Belt, a fun, young band that started in Walla Walla when Julia Shapiro (guitar, vocals), Lydia Lund (guitar), Annie Truscott (bass), and Gretchen Grimm (drums) met in college. The girls have great chemistry and Julia's voice is powerful but light. They play sunny party rock about some of the less than subtle aspects of femininity. Chastity Belt's most recent album is called No Regerts (yes, you read that right). Check out their live in studio performance on KEXP's Audioasis.
Deep Sea Diver is one of Seattle's local gems. Jessica Dobson has supported such artists as Beck and the Shins, but now is working on her own songs with such talented musicians as Peter Mansen and John Raines. Dobson's deep, soulful voice coupled with sparkling guitar riffs and steady, melodic bass lines really got the crowd moving with favorites from Deep Sea Diver's most recent album, History Speaks, and a sneak preview of unreleased tracks.
Cloud Cult has been playing together since 1995, when Craig Minowa asked a group of musicians to help him record some sings he wrote. Over time the band grew to a small orchestra of rotating musicians including french horn, violin and cello, and even a live painter. Aside from music, the band's main focus is raising awareness of environmental issues. Minowa started a non-profit, eco-friendly record label called on his farm in Minnesota, and the band has toured in a van covered in solar panels. Cloud Cult performs with a joy that permeates the crowd, and really made this edition of Concerts at the Mural a memorable night.
Lovers of fist-shaking, hair-mussing rock'n'roll should mark your calendars for this weeks' series featuring Mudhoney, Grizzled Mighty, and Dude York. Old timers needn't worry, it's a family friendly show- the music starts at 5:30pm and ends by 8:00pm so you can put the kids to bed or move on to the next party. Best of all, it's free! Did I mention beer gardens?
(photo credit Brittany Bollay)
