Pictures by Brittne Lunniss
What makes an awesome present? I {photograph} lots of yearly (in 2024 alone, I shot round 200!), and I get that query so much. When The Stranger’s managing editor Megan Seling requested me to compile an inventory of my prime 10 from 2024, my head spontaneously combusted. How? Who? When? What?
I put my cranium again collectively and started trying by means of my calendar. It felt like I used to be choosing a favourite youngster, I used to be uncertain learn how to method the record. I come from an “everybody will get an award” technology and didn’t need anybody to really feel omitted. After hours (okay, days) of contemplation, I lastly nailed down my picks. I’ve seen some sensational performances this 12 months, however these 10 regularly come to thoughts once I replicate on my favourite moments. I’ve come to comprehend the very best exhibits don’t at all times make for the very best pictures—and that’s okay! One of the best exhibits are about vitality, sound, inspiration, introspection, and, numerous instances, enjoyable. The next record is sorted chronologically as a result of, holy shit, narrowing it all the way down to 10 was exhausting sufficient!
GROUPLOVE @ ShowBox SoDo, 2/28/24
In case you’re between the ages of 30–40 and suppose you’ve by no means heard GROUPLOVE, sure, you could have. Their 2012 single “Tongue Tied” was an unofficial anthem for school events and irresponsibly enjoyable summer time nights in all places circa early-2000s. Given the chance to {photograph} them at ShowBox SoDo, I screamed internally: “TAKE ME TO MY BEST FRIEND’S HOUSE” as I faintly smelled a whiff of 4 Loko within the air. (I don’t have alcohol poisoning, you could have alcohol poisoning). The sold-out SoDo present was GROUPLOVE’s alternative to remind us why we fell in love with the band within the first place—locked in musicality, magnetic crowd engagement, playful band dynamics, and horny exchanges between front-persons Hannah Hooper and Christian Zucconi. (Steamy!) Regardless of feeling like a smothered sardine whereas taking pictures from the gang, the sound, rainbow lighting, heat viewers vitality, and general nostalgia made for a premium begin to my 2024 taking pictures season.
Midnight Excessive @ Freakout Weekender (Belltown Yacht Membership), 3/2/24
How a lot freak does a freakout freak if a Freakout Weekender may? Midnight Excessive simply might need the reply to that query. The band exploded into the Seattle scene in 2023, and identical to the glitter they collectively douse themselves in, they’re not going wherever any time quickly. They provide a uniquely catchy sound and gleeful dwell present. It’s the customized stage lights. It’s the powerhouse harmonies. It’s the ‘80s aesthetic. It’s the truth that even probably the most frozen of Seattlelites can’t resist swaying their hips when Nik Singleton sings the “oooh oooh oooh” a part of “Avenue.” (If you realize, you realize.) Midnight Excessive’s Weekender set straight competed with a headlining slot, so the Belltown Yacht Membership crowd was smaller than their normal draw. I felt fortunate to be so up shut and private with the band—that received’t occur once more, because the group is promoting out venues throughout Seattle now. It was like a disco-themed home celebration with the good children on the town.
CMAT @ Sundown Tavern, 3/22/24
CMAT (also referred to as Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson) was the best Irish nation star I by no means heard of. Like a cartoon character for adults, CMAT is loud, brazen, offensive, and outrageously cute. She drenched the sold-out crowd on the Sundown Tavern together with her persona, channeling nation diva greats like Dolly Parton and Shania Twain with the pipes to match. She two-stepped, death-dropped, and head-banged the entire approach by means of, leaving viewers members guffawing and gasping. And seeing CMAT on the Sundown felt additional particular as a result of I rapidly realized it will be the final time she would carry out in a Seattle venue of that dimension. (Sidenote: In case you’re ever uncertain if you happen to ought to go see a band you’ve by no means heard of, simply freaking do it. I did and ended up experiencing probably the greatest exhibits of my 12 months.)
Oneohtrix Level By no means @ The Neptune Theatre, 4/17/24
I’ve by no means performed ayahuasca, however one thing was within the air at Oneohtrix Level By no means. Folks laughed, screamed, lay down within the hallway, and puked within the rubbish. OPN was proof you can have a real bodily response to music. I needed to depart the theatre a couple of instances as a result of I felt so disoriented. The synth, strobes, eerie mild present… I couldn’t look away even once I needed to. OPN was a totally totally different model of music than I usually {photograph}, and I wasn’t certain learn how to method it. Live shows could be fairly literal (you take heed to the lyrics, watch the performers, match the vitality round you), however OPN is vastly open to interpretation. I used to be pushed to immerse my entire self into the music, to actually take into consideration the way it utilized to me, individually, in that second. The act of doing so was inspiring.
Theia @ Belltown Bloom (Madame Lou’s), 5/7/24
Belltown Bloom by no means fails to introduce me to badass femme artists, and New Zealand’s Theia rapidly grew to become a brand new favourite. Theia’s vitality may hardly be contained to Madame Lou’s as her electrical energy possessed the gang throughout a conventional Māori haka. Theia effortlessly switched between sweet-sounding futuristic pop to screaming out about social injustices by means of hip-hop-inspired beats. I had by no means seen haka in individual, and I felt like my soul had left my physique as I witnessed Theia channel this fireplace. Her set was a rollercoaster of feelings. At instances, we sat on the ground and cried. Different instances, we punched the air and cursed youngster predators. Theia’s Belltown Bloom set was culturally informative, empowering, and genre-bending. A grasp class in crowd engagement.
Model Pussy @ Day In Day Out Fest, 7/12/24
Model Pussy’s Day In Day Out Fest made me wish to burn my bra and overthrow the federal government. If guitarist and vocalist Missy Dabice instructed me it was time to type a colony of enraged feminist punks, I might say, e experience at daybreak.” Full disclosure: Model Pussy is my favourite band. There have been instances once I’ve photographed different “favourite bands” and I’ve been left sorely upset. This was not a kind of instances. The band sounded simply nearly as good, if not higher, than their recordings. Their stage presence was magnetic. Within the spirit of rage, Dabice referred to as consideration to latest occasions surrounding bodily autonomy and gender-based violence. Earlier that month, a research revealed that a number of tampon manufacturers comprise toxins like lead and arsenic. “They’re making an attempt to poison us,” Dabice screamed. Utilizing their presence to tell and incite, Model Pussy is that this technology’s Bikini Kill. I needed to high-five a handful of mothers holding their child feminist daughters as they watched the band in awe. We have been collectively indignant. Impressed. Impressed. Now isn’t that what punk is all about? (P.S. Missy, I’m critical in regards to the colony.)
Les Savy Fav @ Day In Day Out Fest, 7/13/24
When I’ve the chance to shoot a competition, I’ll deliberately join a few bands I’ve by no means heard of. Les Savy Fav was acting on the primary stage at Day In Day Out Fest, so I knew they needed to be “good” in a method or one other. I didn’t analysis their music and even what they regarded like. I had an impression in my head that Les Savy Fav could be some horny, stylish French band. Boy, was I shocked! The artwork punk, hardcore-inspired indie group is fronted by outrageously eccentric Tim Harrington. Previous to the set, Harrington sat on stage and utilized make-up. He handed out water to the viewers, and primarily based on his informal nature, I initially assumed he was a crew member. When the music kicked in, so did Harrington’s stage persona. Harrington invaded the gang like a wolf breaking free from their cage. Spewing beer, yelling in faces, buying and selling shirts, climbing over festival-goers—the sheer power of Les Savy Fav had been launched. Other than totally having fun with their music, I had by no means laughed so exhausting whereas taking pictures a set, the band was pure pleasure.
Bikini Kill @ South Sound Block Celebration, 8/23/24
I drove three hours within the pouring rain for this present, and I might drive lots of extra for Kathleen Hanna. I used to be elated to {photograph} Bikini Kill and completely tickled I might be doing so on everybody’s new favourite vacation: BIKINI KILL DAY. The freaking governor even confirmed up??? The taking pictures circumstances for this outside competition present have been atrociously unideal. We have been within the midst of a torrential downpour, and there was no cowl for the pit. I used to be standing in water as much as my ankles and I cringed every time I took a as a result of my socks have been soaking moist. Bikini Kill proved they’ve nonetheless received the juice. In actual fact, Bikini Kill have been so juicy that the gang couldn’t comprise themselves, they usually toppled the pit barrier in the course of the second tune. It was encouraging to witness a brand new technology of patriarchy-smashing little punks crowd-surfing and singing alongside. And additional props to the band for persevering with their set, regardless of the crew having to mop the stage between songs. And thoughHanna admitted she was much less lively on stage as a consequence of how slippery it was, we have been all too smitten to even care.
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes @ Bumbershoot, 9/1/24
I knew Me First and the Gimme Gimmes was a canopy band, and whereas I respect cowl, I used to be hesitant. Cowl bands run the danger of being tacky, like your uncle who peaked in his highschool punk band performing karaoke on the native dive bar. I remembered that my editor Megan actually likes Me First and the Gimme Gimmes (and I knew Megan would by no means lead me astray!), so I made a decision to provide them a shot. Upon getting into the pit, I used to be instantly entertained by the gang demographic. In an uncommon twist, the pit barrier (normally overwhelmed by kids) was engulfed by middle-aged males in flat-brim hats. The set started, and I discovered myself darting from one facet of the pit to a different, trying to seize lead singer Spike Slawson’s antics. The punk rock supergroup didn’t take themselves too critically, which was probably the greatest elements of their efficiency. Seasoned teams (the band was shaped in 1995) usually develop jaded, leaving viewers members feeling like they’re inconveniencing the band by forcing them to be there. Me First and the Gimme Gimmes appeared genuinely stoked to be at Bumbershoot, and that vitality was reciprocated by the viewers.
Anthers @ Freakout Fest (Sundown Tavern), 11/7/24
It’s not at all times in regards to the mild exhibits and choreography—typically it’s simply in regards to the goddamn rock ’n ’roll. Anthers’s set at Freakout Fest was about as visibly easy because it will get: No lights. Numerous strobes. Fog. This back-to-basics method was good for a band devoted to feeling, not frill. Anthers are like a metaphysical circle-pit suffering from heavy riffs, hypnotic drum patterns, and bellowing angst-filled vocals. Sundown Tavern was pitch-black apart from the occasional silhouette-enhancing strobe. Electrical, siren-esque guitar tones contorted by means of the audio system, and low melodic chanting intensified into full screams. After the primary tune, I felt like I had entered a videogame and promptly made a psychological notice to by no means (EVER, below no matter circumstances) take heed to Anthers whereas on shrooms. Anthers was the very best automotive crash I’ve ever been in. I left feeling jostled, excited, and like I may actually outrun the cops if I needed to.
