Milo Greene
Columbia City Theatre, Seattle, WA
02.15.15
To a packed house at Seattle’s historic Columbia City Theatre, Milo Greene sang electro-pop dreams. There’s something magnetic in their musicianship that belies their appearance in the genre. They call it “cinematic pop” and I’d venture it’s an accurate definition – songs that feel bigger than themselves, that capture moments without overwhelming them, songs that are made for the movies.
Milo Greene’s dynamic is a unique one, given their four-part harmonies and various instrument changes. It’s democratic, incredibly cohesive, and honestly impressive. Including almost every song off the new record, more than half of their first, and a spot-on cover of Phil Collins’ “Take Me Home,” the set list for the night was well thought out.
Transitions were filled thoughtfully with instrumentals – which you’ll also find on their albums – that showed off their chops and gave them a chance to switch up their instruments. It might have taken them a bit to get comfortable with the crowd, but once they did there were dance moves aplenty. Jokes were made about street meat, Seattle’s cream-cheese-laden hot dogs, and at one point a broken bass string necessitating a replacement instrument.
While their sound may have changed noticeably from their folksier self-titled debut to the just-released Control, it’s not a bad thing. They’re making a pretty smooth shift into the electronic and synthesizer-heavy sound that other indie artists might struggle with. Control’s intricacies and variety deserve more than a first listen. The band is in the midst of touring and gearing up for festival season, including joining the Sasquatch! roster.
Opener Zella Day is also one to watch. Much blogged-about and somewhere in the realm of a country troubadour version of Lana Del Rey, Day’s voice is impressive and I don’t doubt we’ll be hearing more from her soon.
Review by Stephanie Dore
Photos by Sunny Martini
Milo Greene
Zella Day
