I swear, seeing the Tontons live isn’t the only thing I do when I travel. But my trip happened to coincide with their tour in both Denver and Seattle, and who would pass up an opportunity to hang out with friends and represent your home state? If anything became clear from seeing the band in other cities and other natural settings, it was that the Tontons are no less convincing and powerful without the support of their hometown fans. Frontwoman Asli Omar was dynamic as ever on Tuesday night, tearing at her hair as she danced passionately.
Seattle’s Sunset Tavern seemed to have turned out at least in part to witness the release show of a local favorite, Rough People. Initially, the crowd hesitantly lingered half way back in the room, but The Tontons brought them to life, and concertgoers moved their bodies increasingly enthusiastically as they steadily neared the stage. We’ve been saying it for a while, but shows like this make it clear. This band is magnetic.
See photos of the night below. All images © Bryan Parker & Pop Press International; all rights reserved. Click any image to open in slideshow viewer.
