Leighton Meester: As Loud As Sold Out

Leighton Meester with Duke Evers
The Showbox, Seattle, WA
02.26.15

Everyone loves Leighton Meester, or so they made perfectly and aggressively clear last week, when the singer-songwriter graced the stage of the Showbox theatre for a one-hour set of homespun folk pop. As bodies shuffled in throughout the evening, the crowd of disproportionally young females was easily the most excited I have seen a crowd in a long time.

Meester, known for her acting roles, has taken up a new tune with her first full-length release Heartstrings, out last October. Having taken a couple of years to write and release the album on her own label, the songs are a worthwhile listen, whittled down to an essential nine tracks that swing from happy and wholesome to heartache and relationship trouble.

While some might doubt Meester’s multi-hyphenate abilities, she seems to be taking the musical venture quite seriously. After multiple forays into true sugary pop songs in the past, this album shows a new side of the artist, and her slightly twangy, Stevie Nicks-influenced vocals seem much more fitting than her pop persona.

Surprisingly, Meester comes off a bit timid live on stage, so it was good she brought a full five-piece band – including album producer and talented multi-instrumentalist Jeff Trott – to back her as she wound her way through most of the new album as well as a few solid covers. Overall, a laudable performance that had the crowd singing along and surely cemented her fans further. While she just wrapped up this leg of touring, keep an eye out for more dates.

Opening the night was hometown Seattle band Duke Evers, a somewhat surprising match for the headliner but a pleasure to witness nonetheless. The duo plays dirty, bluesy rock fit for a basement but worthy of a dance floor (see their “about” section on Facebook where their genre is noted as “awesome”). Vocalist Josh Starkel comes off something like a young Elvis – with some supreme dance moves – while drummer Kyle Veazey grins like a kid in a candy store, both rightly enjoying the performance. They’re playing the Sunset on April 10^th. Click here for more info.

Leighton Meester Set List:
Heartstrings
On My Side
Run Away
Good For One Thing
Sweet
L.A.
Ain’t Woman Enough To Take My Man (Loretta Lynn cover)
Entitled
Words I Couldn’t Say (from “Country Strong” soundtrack)
Lovefool (Cardigans cover)
Blue Afternoon
Encore:
Dreams (Fleetwood Mac cover)

Review by Stephanie Dore
Photos by Sunny Martini

Leighton Meester