(taken from the Crackberry)

It was such a treat to be able to finally catch Fairline perform after missing two of their previous shows. I went into Q Cafe w/ no expectations. I had heard that lead singer Nathaniel used to be a part of Ivory – but other than listening to their demos, I knew nothing.

Wanita and I almost missed their set because we kept missing the turn for the cafe and drove over the bridge in Ballard nearly five times! The cafe was crowded and there definitely wasn’t anywhere to sit except for two chairs right in front  of the stage that were open, which we snagged of course.

So let me tell you about Fairline:

I felt so confined to my seat during the entire set. The band invited everyone in the audience to get up and dance, but that just was not going to happen in that setting and atmosphere that we were in. That was all I wanted to do and had it been any other place, I probably would have. The band has only been around since January or so. Typically with new bands, it is obvious that they are new. With Fairline, there were no blunders – no mess ups – they looked like they were pros and that they had been doing this for a very long time. Honestly, they did incredible things with their music that I had never even seen before. Every song made me creep closer and closer to the edge of my seat.

Also, I have such a soft spot for bands that dress the part. I think it’s great when bands show that they have some kind of character and personality as opposed to just a band t-shirt and jeans. The guys of Fairline looked like they walked straight off the runway of a Band of Outsiders showing.

At the end of the show, Wanita and I were recapping and reflecting on our thoughts when she turned to me and said, “They have the kind of package that a band normally wouldn’t have established until later in their career.” That, to us, is quite impressive.

I am so excited about Fairline and what is to come and I cannot wait to work with them because they seem like genuinely nice guys. It has been a long time since I have seen a new band in Seattle rise with this kind of momentum behind them and with this much potential.

They will be playing at the Hard Rock Cafe on May 14th.