PIER SOUNDS
Pier Sounds celebrated summer at Pier 62 with live music, dance, interactive activities, food, and fun for all ages. Catch up on the highlights and performances below.
SHAINA SHEPHERD
Shaina Shepherd is a singer, songwriter, vocal teacher, and community organizer in Seattle, WA. Known for her pervasive style as frontwoman to soul-grunge band BEARAXE, her notable vocal stylings have brought her into various creative spaces — from collaborating with Duff McKagan, Chong The Nomad and Acid Tongue, to sharing stages with rock stars like Dave Matthews and Thunderpussy, to being a soloist with classical ensembles around the country. Inspired by the parallels between gospel and garbage metal, Shaina Shepherd is not your average vocalist. Living in the city where both Soundgarden and Quincy Jones cut their teeth, Shaina lends her soulful voice to projects of all genres.
FLY MOON ROYALTY
Fly Moon Royalty’s music is everlasting! With the team of vocalist Adra Boo & producer and emcee Mike Illvester, you literally can’t go wrong. Mike’s production is smooth and solid, textured, and alive with electricity, and Adra steps to the music with a vocal prowess like no other, holding you and shaking you in equal succession. Although the two have been moving as solo artists for the last few years, what is evident is that when they come together, you are reminded of why the two are heavy-hitting, or for the grown folx, forming like Voltron! Whether they are performing as a two-piece, or joined by vocalist, Taryn “Hot Legs” Dorsey and Xaviera Vandermay’s 3rd Shift Dance crew, you just can’t deny it- FMR is here to put that good good into the atmosphere.
NIGHTRAIN
NighTraiN (NTN) offers a fresh take on the garage, punk, and rock genres, and are constantly discovering their ever-changing voice. The fluctuating ages of the group and their individual experiences genuinely affect the outcome of their music. Exposed to varying viewpoints, they stick to their own truths; therefore, NTN’s music is never stagnant or stuck within one genre due to their non-traditional approach. NighTraiN’s sound is a heavy engine hum formed by the blunt bass rhythms of Selena “No Pick” Whitaker-Paquiet. It is a heartbeat held steady by the percussive stylings of Taryn “Hot Legs” Dorsey. It is dark heat strummed from the guitar of Nicole “Jaja Juicy” Peoples and accompanied by the steam whistle wail of Rachael F.
BREAKS AND SWELLS
Seattle’s Breaks and Swells have steadily gained notoriety as one of the premier live acts in the city. Featuring funk and soul grooves that recall early 70’s Stevie Wonder, Thundercat, and D’Angelo, the band perfectly compliments the frenetic passion of vocalist Marquetta Miller (Knife Knights). The power and energy of their performances have convinced even hardened Northwest crowds to dance. In the wake of their first self-titled EP and several follow-up singles, the band have given feature performances at Capitol Hill Block Party and Seattle’s venerable Hoodstock. Breaks and Swells released their first full-length record “We Will Not Despair” (produced by Erik Blood) in July of 2018 to positive reviews from KEXP and Artist Home. The band plans to release their next album “Entomology” in 2022.
