Dearboy at EMP

On Valentines Day I saw a great performance of the group Dearboy at the EMP. I knew about it because the singer of the band, Kathryn, is the daughter of our good friends Donna and Bill van Buren.

The concert was part of the yearly Sounds Off, "the Northwest's largest underage battle of the bands competition for musicians 21 and under." On February 14th four bands played. I was excited to see the girl I knew for so long playing in front of a big audience and the jugdes. The group had to compete against three other groups which were very good too. But Dearboy was the only girls band.

I never heard them playing live before and I have to say I loved it. There was a special atmosphere in the space when they played. A certain seriousness. The audience seemed to mirror the seriousness of the band members and share in their presence. No attempt to please the audience with prepared moves or fancy gestures, just the music. I was fascinated looking at them, doing their "work".

But while they somehow contained themselves, concentrated on their instruments or the text of the song, their was a wildness too. A powerful energy, a determination. These songs had to be played and had to be sung. Beautiful!!

Bass: Jessa Lowe. Drums: Willa G. Strings and sings: Kathryn van Buren. Keys: Sasha Kool

Dearboy made it to the second place on the 14th and the third in the finals on March 7th . This is quite something. Congratulations!!!

Watch out for Dearboys next performances. It's so great to see them live. Here you can hear and see them with their song "Blister"