Review and Photos by Samantha Witt
Nostalgic music lovers braved the typical PNW elements to attend the Del Amitri, Semisonic, and Barenaked Ladies concert at Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery in Woodinville, Washington on Father's Day. Despite the weather, the atmosphere was electric. Fans huddled under umbrellas and rain ponchos, eagerly waiting for the music to start while sipping wine and eating local fare from the vendors before the show. The combination of great 90s-era music and delicious local wine made for a truly unique evening.
The first band to take the stage was Del Amitri, who kicked off the show with "Not Where It’s At." The crowd erupted in cheers and enjoyed a trip back in time. The band’s hit "Roll to Me" had fans singing along to every word. The entire performance was lively, with frontman Justin Currie's powerful vocals capturing the audience's attention.
Next up was Semisonic, who got the crowd moving with their upbeat and catchy hits like "Chemistry." The band's performance was full of energy and enthusiasm, with lead singer Dan Wilson engaging the audience with his witty banter and funny quips as he talked about the band’s 20-year gap between new music releases. Unfortunately, the skies also decided to open right as the band hit the stage, and began raining buckets. Fans donned their ponchos, and the band joked that people from the Midwest were only terrified of one thing, rain. The highlight of their set was undoubtedly their hit song "Closing Time," in which the band had everyone on their feet singing along because, as they stated, this is one song where pretty much everyone knows the lyrics.
Finally, it was time for the headliner, Barenaked Ladies, to take the stage, kicking things off with "Matter of Time." Luckily, Mother Nature decided to give the crowd a brief reprieve from the downpour, but the band still commented that they had never seen so many ponchos in one place before. Barenaked Ladies’ performance was a perfect mix of nostalgia and humor, with hits like "One Week" and "If I Had $1,000,000" bringing back memories of the 90s. Frontman Ed Robertson kept the crowd entertained with his hilarious stories, making the concert feel like a night out with old friends. Robertson also joked that the sold-out show was comparable to the Taylor Swift Eras tour in that they sold out an entire venue that is the size of just her stage. The band knows they cater to a slightly older crowd these days, but their music upholds the test of time, which was clear by the way concert goers sang along to every song.
Despite the pouring rain, decades-long fans left the venue with smiles on their faces and memories that will last a lifetime. The combination of great music, delicious wine, and the celebration of Father's Day made for a night filled with laughter, love, and great music.
