Thunderpussy debuts ‘West’ at Benaroya Hall
I don’t even know how to start this show and how to express the emotions behind the experience. Perhaps it’s because I’ve been following Thunderpussy since their set at Sasquatch Music Festival 2015, perhaps because it’s been 10 years of so many memories created at their shows and being a part of that special community they created with their art. Their performance with the Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall was absolutely magical from the very first moment we walked in, until we ecstatically walked out. Later witnessing the northern lights in our backyards, the night seemed like a page that had fallen out of a fairytale.
The night would be a celebration of all the band has created and to launch their second record, West, into the cosmos accompanied by the talented symphony. We didn’t know what to expect never hearing the new songs live before, but we knew it would be incredible. All the arrangements were completed by Andrew Joslyn, and the conductor would be Sarah Hicks, a legend in her field. Walking into the hall felt like something unforgettable was about to happen and only people present could explain it. We’d been here before many times, but this felt different, it was full of people who all shared a passion for the specific band. A band who’d never done something like this before.
When the lights dimmed and it was time for the show all the musicians took their places as fog filled the stage. Lead singer Molly Sides glowed in a red dress with ruffles as she carried a candle down the aisle with dancers guiding the way. Choreographed by Alice Gosti and Amy Lambert the performers brought imagination and Sides’ usual theatrical flair. Guitarist Whitney Petty was to her left, bassist Leah Julius to her right, and Lindsey Elias was sitting behind the drums for the first part as Michelle Nuno would trade off later. All the outfits for tonight would be created by their longtime collaborator Pakio Galore whose creative eye has always matched their unique style. Some of Galore’s pieces were displayed in the main atrium for people to walk by and take a closer look at the creations throughout the years working with the band.
As Thunderpussy started this magical journey, our ears were overwhelmed by the sound in perfectly harmony between the band and the Seattle Symphony. As they played “Misty Morning,” “Put Your Hands on Me,” and picked up the beat with “Firebreather,” and “Sallie Mae,” the audience was constantly engaged. The first part of the night ended with a beautiful “West” and the echoing of Sides‘ voice inside Benaroya Hall. There is so much pathos in her vocals, sometimes it’s hard to return from the abyss.
After a short intermission and catching up with the rest of the fans we know the show resumed with Sides and Petty on the acoustic guitar, accompanied by the talented Andrew Joslyn on violin. The trio played “On the Line/I Was Once My Father” and as Sides led the mood of the room, for a second, we saw right through her pain. It was one of the highlights of the night for me to see the whole room pay undying attention to her words. After this the rest of the band stepped back in with the Symphony for “Badlands.”
Another highlight came next as the band played my favorite tune, “Welcome to the Disco.” The energy shifted to a dance party and the audience was on their feet moving around to the infectious beat. There is no way you’re hearing this song and not moving, it’s impossible. Hearing it at Benaroya was something I never expected so seeing it all come together with the layered sound and multiple dancers in front of me was a treat. The show continued with another hit, “Velvet Noose,” as Petty shredded intensely.
Next came “Thunderpussy,” the song that introduced me to the band back at Sasquatch. Hearing the audience answer to Sides‘ ‘Thunder!’ with a roaring ‘Pussy!’ is what makes this song such a masterpiece. This is what I originally heard at Sasquatch and immediately ran to see who this band was causing all this commotion. Who would have thought that after all these years we would be here doing the same thing with the Seattle Symphony in the room. By the end of the song, we had a euphoria of dancing, Sides stepping down into the crowd, everyone standing up filling the aisles, and a plethora of stage performance.
The second part of the show ended with “Torpedo Love,” as fans standing up showed their appreciation applauding as loud as possible. After one last costume change, this time clothed in white, the band returned for their final song, “The Cloud.” As the night came to an end, we couldn’t believe the performance we had just witnessed in this beautiful hall. What a pleasure to see one of your favorite local-based bands fill this space and play with the Symphony. The night had it all; music, theatrics, dancers, ruffles, aisle dancing, heart retching vocals, guitar shredding, loud bass, Snaxxx drawn on the drum set, that created an unforgettable evening. We couldn’t have thought of a better way to celebrate a band that has given so much to the city in the last decade.
Pictures: Brandon Patoc