The Comettes

The Comettes opened Saturday night’s KEXP Audioasis benefit for Amara, hypnotizing the house with their spot on ’60s California rock. Lead singer and Farfisa wizard Timmy Sunshine’s power over his subjects became eerily clear when he mentioned it was guitarist Sager’s birthday and the crowd broke into a chorus of “Happy Hirthday” in perfect time. A few songs later he would raise his drink and say “Cheers” then, in unison, his adorers raised their cups and chanted (hundreds at once, I tell you) “Cheers”. Embodying vintage Venice sunshine, the Comettes made simple, elegant, rocking R&B, exchanging a rhythm section completely for only drummer Jettie Wilce, who has mastered the trap kit and uses a tom tom to get heads to nod. Birthday boy Sager Small did his best march up and down the blues scales on a Danelectro while Timmy’s voice echoed vibrato into the crowd.

Photogenic pop rockers Bellamaine caused a rash of cell photo papparzzi when they took the entire event from head bobbing to hip swaying by dragging in keys, synth, drums, guitar and bass, and four band members to crowd the stage. Wisely, I’d say, Bellamaine avoids pop maximalist tropes by picking perfect notes instead of cluttering the air with chords from all directions. They’re able to create an atmosphere on the strength of their drummer alone, who rode the high hat all night and hit the skins like he was rocking to a whole arena. Playing songs from their new album An Anxious Mind, with long intros full of synth and drums, husband and wife team Nick (guitars, vox) and Julianne (keys, vox) embody pop cuteness, and pour forth positivity that keeps their cool points stacking up. This Anacortes-based band also has the rare distinction of sounding better the louder and more out of control they played. I couldn’t help but think that even arguments between the couple must make for some great pop song material.

River Giant was a weird band to follow these two acts. I have only spent time with their music all by myself and hadn’t realized—until I saw a crowd of people trying to grok their psych rock—that every song they play has tempo changes and polyrhythms galore. Between the rock riffs, folk harmonies, and grinding alt-rock guitar, people didn’t know whether to mosh, dance, or stare, but the show was outstanding nonetheless. Kyle’s rubbery voice goes from Van Morrison mumble to Neil Young falsetto in a chord change and the music hops genre from country to grunge to classic rock within a song. The spectacle that is River Giant is truly worth beholding, and I'm positive they’ll be a hit at Timber(!) Music Festival, playing their loud, rowdy music with a mystical essence outside among the trees. - The Stranger

"The Pacific Northwest is witnessing a surge in buzz-worthy rock bands, and one that you should keep an eye on is The Comettes. This band has played around Bellingham bars and Seattle clubs for a while now, changing names every few months, but with the release of their first album their most recent moniker The Comettes is likely to stick. And once you hear their self titled release, their sexy 60's guitar playing in songs like “Photographs” will stick in your mind. Friday night at Barboza marked the band’s CD release. The blue lit stage fit the band’s psychedelic rock and roll like a glove. Despite initial sound issues with an organ, the band and the crowd were as unfazed as they could be — both groups determined to have a great time alongside the flittering guitar and vibrating vocals. With rock on the rise, it would be easy for a band to get lost in the shuffle, but while the organ may have given the band something to worry about when it wasn’t cooperating with the sound setup, it’s one aspect of The Comettes that makes them stick out. Twentysomethings around Seattle are reconnecting with and recreating the music of our fathers, as evident in bands like The Comettes. And while vintage influenced bands aren’t anything new, The Comettes have that special something that makes their music familiar, yet refreshingly unique."

-Review By Lindsay Bluher SSG Music Seattle - SSG Music