Show Review: MX LONELY, Sour Widows, Karoshi at Black Lodge, Seattle.
March 27th, 2026.
----------
Vera Project connects people from all walks of life
March 29th, 2026
Outside of Black Lodge, a small group sporting big boots and chains chilled in the early-spring air. The tone for the night was set, intimate, unassuming, people showing up as they were. As we entered the venue and turned the corner, I could never have guessed how many people had already filled the venue at an early 7:30 p.m. Beyond your usual concert, the energy mimicked that of an art gallery — people of all walks gathered to experience something new, something deeper. MX Lonely, Sour Widows, and Karoshi.
Karoshi kicked off their set softly, adding direct, honest, punk vocals overtop. Playing in their home city, the group’s energy quickly took control of the room. Their sound crescendoed throughout the set, and the crowd’s energy followed suit. The harder the music got, the higher three guitarists jumped in the air, into walls, and even shredded while laying in fetal position. A man held a small child overhead, both headbanging along in time. The group’s rowdy presence built during songs from their 2025 album spoils, consequence + charity, discussing difficult themes experienced in your every-day. Their drummer does more than keep up, using symbols to crash through noisy guitars and leaping frontmen.
Sour Widows– enchanting. Their soft-rock opening cast spells, passed down through diaries and weary travelers. Throughout their set, the mood swayed from soft haunting and gradually opened up into heavy guitar, yelling. Their lyrics released deep, maybe even dark themes and emotions that we all needed to air out. While playing their 2024 track Cherish, the group almost begged for a requited love, other songs expressing grief or new understanding. Their sound was finely crafted, and they played tight. It shined through on-stage chemistry while guitarists danced together and connected with the crowd. I can only hope they make the trip up from the Bay Area again soon.
Touring from Brooklyn, NY, MX Lonely impressed with their 2026 album, ALL MONSTERS. Instantly, the group took on characters, or embraced their natural beast. From start to finish, the room felt too small to hold the sound, the energy. As the lead vocalist stood on a stool in front of their keyboard, they moved, contorting their body as if the music were taking over. Unafraid, the group rocked while singing through themes of otherness, impure realities and acceptance. From oldheads to juveniles, the crowd was headbanging, possessed by the power of every beat. Each musician was tapped in, the noise flowing from some internal power source electrifying their audience. It was rowdy, theatrical, and unapologetic.
While bands packed up their gear, I realized how much more connected I felt to everybody there. Artists spoke with fans, people discussed how awake they felt. Each group shared their immense talent, their mutual passion for art, and the good, bad, or ugly that must come along with it. As to be expected from the Vera Project, it was the perfect lineup, reaching deep into different sounds of the alt-rock spectrum. If you missed Friday night’s show, check out their upcoming events at the links!
| Keywords: | Seattle | Black Lodge | MX Lonely | Sour Widows | Patching |
|---|
