When far-away friends visit Seattle, a question that frequently comes up is, “What’s your favorite concert venue?” My answer is, “Well, it depends on what you’re looking for.” If you’re looking to relax and enjoy conversations with friends between performances, I highly recommend The Triple Door. It’s not the sort of place that feels distinctly Seattle; it’s more of a fancy restaurant that happens to have live music. But every once in awhile it’s nice to take a break from standing/sweating/pushing and treat yourself to a night of cocktails and pleasant tunes.
I have been unable to stop humming “Easy to Love” by Ivan and Alyosha since the release of their EP The Verse, The Chorus last fall. They put on a great show for my last review so I came into this expecting nothing less. When they came out on stage, there was immediately a different vibe. Instead of looking over-polished and rocking out electric guitars, they sported flannel, beards and acoustic guitars. They engaged with the audience as if it was filled with their closest friends (which it was), and nearly every song included clap-along choruses. While I’ve heard that The Triple Door prefers intimate/toned-down artists, it seemed a bit ironic that this was not the performance I saw at a venue called The Tractor Tavern. Nonetheless, I couldn’t help but enjoy the happiness felt throughout the dining area. It was nice seeing this loveable band in a new light – I just wish their set could have been longer.
Things clicked for me upon learning that Barcelona would be headlining this concert. After seeing them open for Copeland a couple years back, at an overly crowded brick basement venue in the Midwest, I had the chance to say hi to the band upstairs. I excitedly proclaimed, “I’m so happy you’re from Seattle – because I’m moving there – and I can go to all of your shows!” To my dismay, they replied that they don’t play many shows in Seattle. That has stuck with me ever since – to the point where I have felt conflicted listening to their CD. I have always felt passionate about supporting local music. So, what kind of band doesn’t like to perform in their hometown? The answer is: a mainstream pop band living in the birthplace of grunge. Thus, The Triple Door was the perfect place for them to reach their northwest fans.
For those unfamiliar, Barcelona’s sound is similar to other piano rock acts such as Coldplay or The Fray. Much of their popularity stems from having the opening track of Absolutes, “Falling Out of Trees,” featured on the hit TV show Grey’s Anatomy. If someone gave me this description of the band, I would surely roll my eyes. Fortunately, their sound is much more varied and exciting as the album progresses. Even the songs I’m normally too sleepy to enjoy were made much more vibrant for this performance, thanks to the full string section that accompanied their set until the encore. They started the set with songs from Absolutes before showcasing new material. I was delighted that the new songs were both up-tempo as well as slower piano ballads. An acoustic solo song made for a classic encore, with the rest of the band joining in to bring this elegant evening to a close.
