Sonic Boom Records in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood is a pretty small record store filled with more new albums and CDs than your average Seattle shop. Although highly reputable, it’s a very small space so when new band Rose Windows announced its album release show at the venue it was as if they were selling themselves short and not admitting to the following they’ve managed to procure before even releasing a full length album. Arriving at the scene, however, it was obvious that the venue was a perfect setting for the group. Rose Windows could not have released its debut album, The Sun Dogs, fast enough. The Seattle septet has been withholding recorded music for far too long and the number of folks who showed up for the group’s album release show June 25 confirmed this sentiment.
It was pretty tight in the store (“intimate” would even be too generous of a classification) and it was also pretty squashed on stage. There was nothing fancy about the setting, but then again there’s nothing fancy about Rose Windows (despite the image that the band’s name conjures). It was just…them. There were no openers, there was no light show, and there was barely even a stage. Just Rose Windows, their music and the availability of their long-awaited album. Even amidst a sudden downpour, fans were creeping outside the entrance of the store to hear emitting jams; their resilience was well worth it. We’ve been leaked enough of Rose Windows’ songs to have had favorites going into the show and true to album-release-show form they played them all. “Wartime Lovers” was an easy highlight, but the diversity of Rose Windows’ ability was showcased in the set as whole. Rose Windows reduced their dark (but unaggressive) sound in “Season of Serpents,” which is a lightly melodic track that showcases the delicacy of Rabia Shaheen Qazi’s vocals.
There’s something to say of each member’s presence on stage, but it’s the congruous nature of their individuality that makes Rose Windows a powerful live act. The combination of the whimsical flute, heavy drums and near transformative keyboards (David Davila is pretty amazing) makes for just as an eclectic live show as the band’s recorded sound has proven to be. Even with seven members, Rose Windows never sounds busy or oversaturated with noise. They delicately play with forceful energy and masterfully perform ensemble.
The Sun Dogs is available (finally) over at Sub Pop and you can check them out here; we’re looking forward to seeing them back in Seattle for Capitol Hill Block Party later this summer!
