Where does one spend a Friday night in Seattle? Capitol Hill, of course! This bustling bar and music district is home to staples such as Neumos, Rhino Room, and Barboza. Last weekend, Keys N Krates took to this popular neighborhood to perform a DJ set at Q Nightclub.
From the sidewalk, Q Nightclub almost fades into the background behind the club next door, Neighbors. The line outside, though, will almost certainly lead to Q. On any Friday night, Q Nightclub is widely considered the place to be, but on this particular Friday night the club felt full well before the standard call-the-uber-its-time-to-party time of 10 PM.
Boombox Kid got the party started | Photos by Bobby Tamez www.qnightclub.com
Local DJ, Boombox Kid, warmed up the crowd before Keys N Krates took to the stage
Boombox Kid was a standout opener thanks to his excellent selection of bass heavy tunes. The theme was feel good music and Boombox Kid definitely delivered on that front. On a particularly crowded Friday night, he delivered heavy, yet well-known music that pleased headbangers and club-goers alike.
The transition between DJ’s was notably smooth, as Keys N Krates slid onto stage while keeping the party going. The difference in audio quality was huge. With an artist like Keys N Krates it’s not just star quality that makes the night memorable, but high quality equipment and masterful mixing. The sounds were just better.
We appreciated Keys N Krates’ setlist which included a few well known tunes, but relied mostly on quirky underground and original music, including a number of unreleased songs. Of course they played music from their most recent album A Beat Tape for your Friends, but they also included a number of songs with bizarre or untraditional vocals, showing their heartfelt appreciation for unique voices.
Keys N Krates take the stage | Photos by Bobby Tamez www.qnightclub.com
The crowd came dressed to impress, and happily danced the night away
Trying to fit multiple artists onto one small stage was a bit of a challenge visually. Especially due to the crowded nature of the venue, if you came to watch a show you probably left disappointed. On the other hand, if you came to dance your pants off you probably had a blast, enjoying what was certainly the hottest party of the weekend.
Looking at the faces around the venue, very few people went home unhappy. Dressed to impress, audience members young and old found their way from the bar to the dance floor with multiple drinks in hand. We had a blast observing the light-hearted atmosphere, where people cared more about dancing and making friends than snapping photos or crying when their favorite song played.
Guests came dressed to impress | Photos by Bobby Tamez www.qnightclub.com
While we would have loved to see Keys N Krates perform at a bigger venue such as Showbox or WaMu, their DJ set at Q Nightclub was definitely worth attending. And who knows, maybe the trio will announce more Seattle dates in the near future?
If you’re on the lookout for more great shows in Seattle, check out Dance Music Northwest’s selection of must-see February shows.
Important things happen in Pacific Northwest nightlife, and DMNW will send you alerts!
