Evan Flory-Barnes

Thursday July 17th Review

There I was, slowly approaching the front door of The LoFi when I heard the trio of Josh (Rawlings), Evan (Flory-Barnes) and Jeremy (Jones) laying out a beautiful tone. The music hit me immediately. After that point, I was relaxed and ready to hear what was next.

Moments later, sax players, trombone players and even a word sayer put their own touch on the night. One sax player had a flurry of musical phrases that reminded me of Courtney Pine. The place was packed, with a crowd of enthusiastic listeners. People were friendly and social, it was the kind of party you hope to stumble onto. The Hang is a event you can proudly recommend to your friends.

It’s all about the hang.

‘Nuff said. Someone shared with me the secret of this “happening” that Josh, Evan, and Jeremy have created, and I must in turn pass along the favor. The Hang allows you to join with others to create something that you didn’t even know you wanted to create, but once it’s there in front of you, everyone’s supportive and adding to the mix. It’s how I imagine a 1950’s loft party, only you’re not hesitant to show up by yourself in jeans and a t-shirt. One night I walked in and ordered a whiskey, sat at the bar, and watched the trio jam. A trumpet player and a trombonist stood up from a couch and started to play a background riff. They broke into solos. People were laughing, dancing, thinking of solos in their heads. Then someone got up to rap. A woman in a leopard-print dress began to dance. A guy sang an impromptu version of “Besame Mucho”. A DJ started spinning in the back of the room. And, feeling transported to a place and time far from Seattle, I sang the blues.

If you don’t feel the vibe to collaborate musically, you’re still hanging. There are lots of couches and seats lining the walls; a bar with a view of it all and chill bartenders. There’s even a black & white photo booth if you feel the urge to document the night. Sit back, watch the video projected on the wall behind the music, listen, and just hang. The night is what you make it.