The best band in Seattle...at least I think so!

How good a band do I think Barcelona is?  So great that I would actually take a day off of work to watch them play live.  So awesome that I would actually drive 180 miles round trip not once but TWICE just to see them!  So talented that I was honored for the chance to support them monetarily in their new album release.  So wonderful that I now consider them friends. For me, it's not something I can say very often or take lightly because my tastes in music are rather eclectic.

I devoted the past two nights taking in the music of Barcelona at the Columbia City Theater in Seattle.  The record release shows were the start of their tour to promote their new album, Not Quite Yours.  For the May 18th show, I drove directly to the theater from work, braving the Friday rush hour traffic.  This would be the first time I would be taking advantage of my VIP guest list privileges, courtesy of  Barcelona's Kickstarter campaign.  The concert started a bit late, but I didn't mind...it only heightened the anticipation.  There were two opening acts who like Barcelona, were also based in Seattle.  The first was Lucas Field, a pop-soul artist with an infectious energetic style.  The following act was Motopony, a band that can be described as indie-pop, who recently had their music featured on the TV shows House and Cougar Town.  I thought Lucas Field was pretty cool, but couldn't find myself connecting with the second act.  But, really, I was just getting more and more fidgety waiting for Barcelona to take the stage.

When, Motopony finally finished their set and broke down their equipment, I watched as the Barcelona guys set up theirs.  It wasn't something I was used to seeing.  Having been to dozens of Five For Fighting shows, I was conditioned to the sight of road crews doing all that.  But, when you haven't reached that level of stardom yet, you do everything yourself.  It makes you respect even more all the hard work and dedication to craft that bands such as Barcelona toil through to put on a great show.  And, it was worth the wait.  They started things off with Hanging In A Void, and it only got better and better as the night rolled on.  Lead singer Brian Fennell alternated between acoustic guitar and keyboards, accompanied by Chris Bristol on electric guitar, Rhett Stonelake on drums, and Brian Eichelberger on bass.

 

The band played songs from their new album, and a few from their last one.  The audience really came alive when they performed their hit song, It's About Time, and also a couple of cover songs which I'm embarrassed to say I knew nothing about.  Hey, I don't follow the pop charts stuff!  The funniest moment of the show was Brian Fennell's acknowledgement that he was wearing a flannel shirt and was pretty darn hot because of it!  If you're reading this, sorry Brian, I thought it was too good NOT to share!  After the show, I said my goodbyes to the guys and made the long drive home.  By the time I hit the sack, it was 4:00 am!  

Yesterday, was Round Two of my Barcelona concert experience.  Once again, I traveled down to Seattle, but with a different friend.  I thought it was important to expose as many people as I can to Barcelona's music with hopes they will buy their music and likewise spread the word.  I was lucky to have a chance to talk to the guys before the show, which allowed us to get to know each other better. 

For their second Seattle show...which was again at Columbia City Theater...the band played a few different songs from the new album and changed up a couple from the old.  And, I can happily report Brian Fennell did NOT wear a flannel shirt for this show...lessons learned from the previous night. 

At one point, Brian announced that Chris wouldn't be traveling with the band for the rest of the current tour due to the impending birth of his first child.  Congrats to Chris and his wife!  The highpoint of the night came when instead of performing It's About Time the usual way, the band invited members of the audience to the stage to sing the chorus.  The reward for their bravery...a free Barcelona T-shirt!  The three volunteers did an awesome job, and it really made things fun.  

When the show came to an end, I managed to get my hands on a set list from the stage, thanks to Brian Fennell who happened to be walking by.  The guys were available for the customary meet and greet, and I asked them one by one to sign the set list.  It was pretty cool to see the two Brians staffing the merch booth, something I would never see Mr. Five For Fighting John Ondrasik do.  I had fun with Brian F. trying to decide which Barcelona T-shirts I wanted to buy...I ended up getting two.  I ended my perfect Seattle Barcelona experience with a pic with the two Brians, joined by my friend Tiffany, who by the way loved the show!  

Barcelona continues their current tour as they head on down the West Coast...next stop Portland, OR on May 22nd.  Visit their Not Quite Yours tour page for future dates.  If you want to hear some awesome music, check them out...you won't be disappointed!  A HUGE thanks to Brian F., Chris, Rhett and Brian E. for making my first Barcelona concerts happy ones!  And, I'll see you guys again soon...very soon! 

If you don't know Barcelona, you should

Yesterday, I had the most fantastic time at my very first in-store music event.  No, I never did one of those with Five For Fighting....YET.  John Ondrasik tends not to do that sort of stuff much anymore, opting more for radio station sponsored appearances to promote his music.  The place was Silver Platters, a music store located in the Queen Anne section of Seattle, WA that buys and sells used CDs, DVDs and vinyl records.  I was there to see Barcelona, one of Seattle's best bands that hardly anyone seems to know about.  Now, how did I discover them?  Let me backtrack a bit.

About three years ago, I was doing a Google search, looking for anything new on Five For Fighting.  I stumbled across a review of Barcelona's debut album, Absolutes.  The reviewer mentioned one of their songs sounding like a John Ondrasik Five For Fighting song.  Curious, I checked out the song...and thought it didn't really sound much like John.  But, I did like the song enough to listen to a few more Barcelona tunes.  Well, I was so impressed with what I heard, I ended up buying the CD.  I played that CD a lot, but never got around to actually going to a Barcelona concert.  There had been a few in Seattle in the past few years, but things never worked out to allow me to go.

Then, things took an interesting turn last year.  In August 2011, Barcelona started a Kickstarter campaign to raise money to help promote their upcoming album. I thought it was a great opportunity to help support a local band who I had faith would continue to succeed in the music business.  In fact, I had such high hopes for these guys, I chipped in $500, which came with a lot of nice perks.  A digital copy of the new album, poster, T-shirt, vinyl record, acoustic and B-side song downloads, AND my name on the CD liner!  But, best of all, I'll be on the VIP guest list for every Barcelona show FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE!  The Barcelona Kickstarter campaign was a rousing success, raising over $42,000, which also allowed them to replace their aging tour van.

With the release of their new album, Not Quite Yours, Barcelona announced some upcoming shows.  I was excited to find their first two would be in Seattle at the Columbia City Theater on May 18 and 19.  The question was, would I attend one or both?  I was so eager to see them play live, I decided I needed to take advantage of every opportunity.  I informed the Barcelona management that I would like to go to both shows, which gave me two free tickets.  I'll be taking two of my friends who aren't familiar with Barcelona's music.  It's my hope that afterward they'll be new fans and buy their music.

Soon after the Barcelona concert schedule was released, another show was added.  That would be the in-store event at Silver Platters.  I was happy to see it coincided with my day off, so there was no question I would be there. I arrived at the store early, and browsed the selection of CDs and DVDs.

I ended up getting a Japanese horror DVD and the Not Quite Yours CD.  Even though I already had the digital download of the album, I like to have the real deal.  I was hoping the meet the Barcelona guys before the actual show, and I wasn't disappointed.  The first one I met was drummer Rhett Stonelake.  Before I could even introduce myself, Rhett address me by name!  Huh?  Turns out he knew me from my correspondences with the band, plus the fact I was on the elite VIP list.  Still, it surprised me, considered I have never met them before.  Rhett introduced me to guitarist Chris Bristol, who was unloading their equipment from the van.  Soon after, bass player Brian Eichelberger and lead singer Brian Fennell arrived, and I touched bases with them.  Brian F. remembered me from last year's Seattle Symphony charity concert (see blog " A package full of wishes").  I had a pleasant chat with Brian F. as the equipment was being set up on the stage.  I told him how I discovered Barcelona's music, and even talked Five For Fighting a bit.  I was then treated to a sound check of my favorite song off the new album, Watching Me.  I don't have a video of it, but you can watch this one...pretty awesome!

 

When the real performance started, there were about 40 people in attendance...a large majority of them young women.  The band played five songs from the album to a very appreciative audience: Hanging In A Void, Watching Me, Slowly, Evermore and the new single, Slipping Away. 

After the show, the band held an informal meet and greet, choosing to just mingle with the fans.  I had brought my Not Quite Yours vinyl album to get autographed, plus I had the CD I bought earlier.  I offered the guys my compliments...they put on a great show!  And, I let it be known that I would be attending their two Seattle concerts.  Of course, my day would not be complete without a photo with my new favorite band!  

Hmm...is it my imagination, or am I kinda short!  Seriously, they are really sweet guys!  And, super talented!  Check out their concert schedule, and if you get a chance, attend one of their shows.  Or, you can buy their music on iTunes and Amazon.  Barcelona rocks!