Review: 8-Piece San Fermin Allure Neumos Crowd

After a sunny day in Seattle, it was nice to end up at Neumos on this Tuesday night. The evening opened with Esme Patterson taking the stage shortly after 8:30. After 45 minutes of a great set and an artist to watch, the stage shifted. Around 9:45, everything was ready to go for the main attraction of the night.

Even with a band name like San Fermin, which is the place that holds the famed bull-running event, no one wanted to run away when the music started. The 8-piece band took the stage, and while the first few songs of the set were softer and a little quiet, that quickly changed with the progression of the show.

The stories that are told through the songs go back and forth between Charlene Kaye and Allen Tate as they take turns on the leads depending on the song. Each member of the band has just as important of a role in the music coming alive as the other, whether it’s Ellis Ludwig-Leone orchestrating everything behind the keyboards, Stephen Chen playing the sax, John Brandon on the trumpet, Tyler McDiarmid on the guitar, Michael Hanf on the drums, or Rebekah Durham tearing up her violin bow while getting into the music.

Each song is a piece that connects both of San Fermin’s records, and the audience waits patiently to hear what’s next. Both albums, the eponymous debut and the newer Jackrabbit, have the same alluring texture. We were lucky enough to hear some new songs the band has been working on while on tour as well. Some of my favorites include “Sonsick,” “Methuselah,” “Jackrabbit,” “The Woods,” and “Emily.” This is a great band to see live, so make sure to catch them they come around your area!