5/8: Whitney Lyman @ The Triple Door – I’ve seen Whitney Lyman provide vocals for multiple artists in the Seattle area. From Odesza to Andrew Joselyn to Theoretic, I feel like if a band needed a solid female vocal talent Whitney has been on the “short list”. Aside from this concert, Whitney will debut her latest album “Pleasure/Pain” on May 8th.

5/11: The Black Tones @ Clock Out Lounge – “Simply put… The Black Tones are like a mixture of Kurt Cobain and cornbread” reads the bio on the band’s website. Add a healthy dose of “black power” and I couldn’t think of a better description of this Blues/Punk trio.  This show will also feature local bands, Tres Leches (one of CityArts Magazine’s Best New Music bands), and Moon Palace.

5/13: Miyavi @ The Crocodile – In the debate over who currently is the World’s Best Guitarist, a name often overlooked is Japanese rock “god” Miyavi. Miyavi was brought to my attention 7 years ago when a YouTube video of his song “Selfish Love” was making the rounds, showcasing his unique slap style of playing. More recent work like his cover of “Havana” or the clip of him riffing on the song “Rockstar”, show how this versatile guitarist has evolved with the time. If there was any show not to miss this month, it would be this one.

5/20: Red Wanting Blue @ Barboza – NPR host Larry Groce called Red Wanting Blue, “America’s Local Band”.  With a vocal sound similar to Eddie Vedder or Chris Cornell, lead singer Scott Terry sings songs that both make you want to dance but they also feel relatable. With two decades of experience, this is a show more than worth the ticket price.

More shows to consider:

• 5/11 The Longshot @ Chop Suey (Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong’s other band)
• 5/17 & 18 La Luz @ The Crocodile (17th) and Vera Project (18th) (Their album “It’s Alive” felt like a Tarantino film soundtrack. “Floating Features” is out May 11th)
• 5/22 The Struts @ Showbox (a throwback to classic glam rock of the 70’s and 80’s, while still remaining contemporary)
• 5/31 Puddles Pity Party @ Showbox (This isn’t your everyday clown show.)

Sasquatch Shout Out: With a debut album set to be released on May 25th, Thunderpussy’s set at Sasquatch 2018 will be the one, attendees should not sleep on. Thunderpussy is one of Seattle’s fastest rising local bands featuring a fun hard rock style that is both sexy and wildly entertaining. If you’re going to Sasquatch this year, make time for Thunderpussy.