For the uninitiated, Kyle Craft can sing. At once raspy, evocative, and grandiose, Mr. Craft's voice sounds straight from his soul, imbuing his music with an immediate punch and anchor. His voice was the clear focal point of an excellent performance at Day 3 of Sasquatch Music Festival at the Yeti Stage, drawing a small but enthusiastic crowd. Craft's band proved particularly tight, every instrument clear in the mix, which further bolstered material from his Sub Pop debut LP, Dolls of Highland. However, Craft was not afraid to change gears, constantly varying the tone and mood of the set, including two tracks performed by his lonesome, accompanied by piano.
The imagery in Craft's music remained at the forefront of the set -- his songs depict characters and ghosts that would feel at home in a Raymond Chandler novel. Whether singing about the woman dressed in a white fur coat on new standout track "The Rager," or the titular "Lady of the Ark," Craft's characters are brought to life by his music, a talent which echoes the music of Bob Dylan and Robyn Hitchcock, among other greats. On the set's closing track, the mighty "Pentecost," Craft's voice reached an emotional peak as he asked a friend to "take the one in the chamber out," the music swelling around him before slowly fading into the 80-degree heat.
Kyle Craft’s singular brand of bordello glam-rock is coming to Upstream Music Fest. For the first of our Local Artist Spotlights leading up to the festival, we speak to the Portland singer/songwriter about his approach to his craft of writing and recording.
Succubass is the alias of Seattle-based DJ Jessica Duran, a member of the local TUF collective who's quickly become well-known for her exceptionally diverse tastes and ability to jump across multiple styles and confidently provide top-notch vibes to a wide range of dancefloor parties. A trusted sel…
The Gorge's rust-colored cliffs are about as far from the city as you can get, but, with the right artist onstage, they can feel just like home. On Sunday afternoon at Sasquatch's main stage, Seattle electro-pop outfit SISTERS captured the warmth and informality of a cozy family gathering (sans dru…
Before a closing performance from Twenty One Pilots, MGMT played a packed set at Sasquatch Music Festival's Main Stage, playing tracks from each of their past records, including several to be featured on the forthcoming Little Dark Age. As evidenced by past live performances, MGMT are unafraid of s…
No stranger to the KEXP Blog or airwaves, DoNormaal took Sasquatch Music Festival by storm, playing a collaborative set which featured additional performances from close collaborators including Raven Matthews, Taylar Elizza Beth, Guayaba, and Astro King Pheonix. DoNormaal remains a magnetic, distin…
