Meiko w/ Marie Digby and Jessie Siren
Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA
03.23.16

It was a banner night at the Tractor as three lovely singer/songwriters spun tales of love, whiskey, and shitty apartments. All three artists played unique solo sets with very different sounds, but one shared result… a wonderful night of music.

The night started with local artist Jessie Siren, an artist who has a throwback Joan Baez quality, who recently was named “Best Local Musician 2015” in KING 5 News’ Best of Western Washington poll. Having written songs since she was a child growing up in Maple Valley, Siren has lately been making a name for herself in small Eastside bars and clubs – her vintage Gibson guitar in tow – with her stripped down folk rock, often accompanied by her beat-boxing husband Matt Siren. With her intensely personal lyrics on songs like “Whiskey Baby” or “Michael Miller,” hauntingly gentle voice, and unique covers – including “All About That Bass,” and some Kid Cudi – Siren will soon be a household name in the larger clubs around Seattle.

Next up on the ticket was Marie Digby. A whimsical soul in a vintage black and white dress, she was all about the fun up on stage. She demonstrated her musical flexibility by both strumming a Gibson acoustic and tickling the ivories on her keyboard. Her banter was witty as she accepted drinks from the crowd, drew a bit too much attention to her boobs, and divulged the consequences of lying to her. As for Digby’s music, it was quintessential pop: catchy hooks, interesting lyrics, and a balance of personal depth and energy. The highlight of her set was “Kings and Queens,” a song she played on the keyboard about a man that burned her deep and demonstrated the one thing you do not do to is lie to her. Digby had a veteran presence on stage with a child-like, playful nature that played well to the crowd.

Lastly, Meiko graced the stage. The now Nashville-based folk-pop singer had a stoic quality to her, possessing an abundance of depth. She had a simple stage set: one microphone, a stool for her bottled water, and one acoustic guitar. From the start, her voice had a unique breathiness to it, but her sheer individuality made up for its off-kilter quality. Meiko’s folksy storytelling nature shone in her music and the in-between moments when she would just spin yarns about her life.

Meiko talked about her family, her extended Japanese family, and her shitty apartment. The sound she brought was very singer-songwriter: stripped down, no frills, just her and her words, with the accompaniment of simple guitar hooks. The highlight of her set was the song “Leave The Lights On,” about a love affair that was hot, but unhealthy. This was the only moment when I heard a change in her voice from sunny pop, to raw reality. Meiko has a spirit to her that is all her own and I suggest that you go out and see her on her next tour just to bear witness to a person who is a genuine appreciator of the moment.

Review and photos by Phillip Johnson

Meiko, Marie Digby, and Jessie Siren