Grand Archives

You know, it’s criminal that as Sera Cahoone steps onto the Slims stage the venue is half empty. If life were just, the entire city would be queued around the block bustling to hear, first hand, this Seattleite-best seller’s hypnotic and genteel tones. Her acoustic alt-country roots sound is a world away from the indie-rock of the first Band of Horses album that she contributed drums to, similarly her previous band Carissa’s Wierd, but its just as special. The country music & bluegrass world need more women like Sera Cahoone. With delightfully crafted songs such as ‘Only As The Day Is Long’ (from her second Sub Pop album of the same name) and innocently beautiful ‘Baker Lane’ (“Everyone's saying the best is already gone, but I know what we've got coming 'round…”) with haunting pedal steel courtesy of Jason Kardong, through to tonight’s highlight ‘Last Time’ - none of these songs find a good chorus absent. Watching her performance feels strangely humbling as she and her band exude such natural talent and ability from every pore. She acts almost as if she has no idea just how good she is.

Sera Cahoone and Grand Archives perform a cover of ‘Delta Dawn’

Cahoone’s final song, a sing-along rendition of Tanya Tucker’s ‘Delta Dawn’ sees the whole of fellow Seattle-family headliners Grand Archives join her. On tonight’s performance it begs the question of whether Cahoone is being aimed at the right audience as a Sub Pop artist. Her haunting and subtle country sound is one of the most beguiling around.

As fellow Seattle headliners Grand Archives take to the stage for the last date of a six-week US tour, the dewy hue Cahoone has woven is blown from our minds as the Californian sun comes out to shine. Led by the wonderful Mat Brooke, ‘Miniature Birds’ and ‘Index Moon’ with their perfect 4-part harmonies are out in force, creating a simple and delightful sound that just begs to be sung along to. We try to add our own parts - badly. Two new songs are aired tonight, the first ‘Crazy Grave’ with catchy melody and memorable guitar line is classic Grand Archives. The other, ‘Liberty Bell’ is a sunny pop number brimming with vocal harmonies and up-tempo drums. But as soon as the instantly recognisable reverberated intro to highlight ‘Sleepdriving’ is played the band shift into their strongest gear. Brooke, backed up by keys-playing guitarist/singer Ron Lewis on lead guitar, together create a perfect rendition that is immediately topped by ‘Torn Blue Foam Couch’, soaring and taking off around the room with the entire audience as its conga-line. As they climax we’ve hardly time to contemplate a much-needed smoke, for the Archives are on their way to claiming soul singer Sam Cooke’s 1963-hit ‘Another Saturday Night’ as if their very own hit. Their cover is one of the best of any song, let alone just this one. With a masterful transition that crashes straight into ‘Crime Window’ sending a hot poker up the ass of every audience member once more and violent handclaps directly skyward – they’d be welcome every night. I think about putting in a request to play my wedding, funeral and bar mitzvah…

As the rest of the band leave the stage, Sera Cahoone steps up to perform a special and intimate duet of ‘Louis Riel’ with Brooke. Seeing the two former Carissa’s Wierd members on stage together again is magical. The rest of the band return to the stage afterwards to round the evening off with the surprise ode to ‘old friends’ ‘Southern Glass Home’ - a rare live treat from Grand Archives and a crowd favourite. The quality of songwriting and talent on display tonight is enough to make you walk home with your head hanging in shame. However, with the plentiful good vibes that have been baked fresh on stage tonight, it doesn’t matter right now. I’m too busy trying to wipe this goofy grin from my face. Lobby your local MP to get them to the UK now!

Photo by Dese'Rae L. Stage