Seattle folk-pop vocal trio Uncle Bonsai celebrates its 30th anniversary at Bellevue’s Meydenbauer Theater Friday, November 18th, 8 pm.
Uncle Bonsai performs original folk/pop music. With intricate 3-part vocal harmonies and biting humor, accompanied by only an acoustic guitar, Arni Adler, Patrice O’Neill, and Andrew Ratshin deliver poignantly unflinching portrayals of life, love, and a guy named Doug. The trio’s influences range from the Beatles to Stephen Sondheim. Some say Zappa crossed with Peter, Paul and Mary. Loudon Wainwright III, the Roches. Three tightly tiered and adhered voices, acoustic guitar. That’s it.
Uncle Bonsai has released 9 recordings, headlined at clubs, concert halls, and festivals throughout North America and appeared with Bonnie Raitt, They Might Be Giants, Suzanne Vega, The Bobs, Tracy Chapman, and others.Their anniversary concert will feature songs from all nine of the group’s recordings, including 2010’s “The Grim Parade,” which focuses on the passing of time, the passing of genes, and the passing of pets — the truth of everything seemingly buried somewhere under the family tree.
This is the group’s first performance at the Meydenbauer Theatre in Belleuve. The event is sponsored by Wintergrass. A portion of proceeds go to the Wintergrass Youth Academy and Wintergrass Youth Symphony.
“Singers Ratshin, O’Neill and Adler are pitch-perfect in their delivery of often complex harmonic arrangements. And if there were an Ella Fitzgerald Award for Exquisite Elocution in Song, they would surely get it. The trio officially bills itself as a “folk” outfit, but has none of the naiveté that label might suggest. These are nicely edgy, sour-sweet songs, written for grown-ups.” – Michael Upchurch, The Seattle Times
WHEN: Friday, November 18, 8pm
TICKETS: $15-20
Available at Brown Paper Tickets:https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/198636
WHERE: Meydenbauer Theatre
11100 NE 6th St.
Bellevue, WA 98004
Please see www.unclebonsai.com for more info.