Mei Semones at the Raccoon Motel -- October 24.
Thursday, October 24, 6 p.m.
Raccoon Motel, 315 East Second Street, Davenport IA
Lauded by Paste magazine as "a master of subtle surprise," indie-pop singer/songwriter Mei Semones headlines an October 24 concert at Davenport's Raccoon Motel, the Brooklyn-based talent's output also praised by the Chicago Reader as "charming, understated songs that drip with romance, infatuation, and melancholy."
As stated at AllMusic.com, "Singer, songwriter, and guitarist Mei Semones makes sophisticated indie pop with undertones of jazz, bossa nova, and math rock. Based in Brooklyn, she issued her debut EP, Tsukino, in 2022. It featured lyrics in both Japanese and English, a trend she continued on subsequent releases including 2024's Kabutomushi EP, her debut for Brooklyn indie Bayonet Records.
"Semones grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, playing piano and later switching to guitar. Initially attracted to indie rock, her tastes grew more eclectic as she began playing in local jazz and funk groups. While studying jazz guitar performance at Boston's Berklee College of Music, she started collaborating with artists like Reggie Pearl, the Brazen Youth, and G Luné, and releasing her own music. Blending a unique set of influences from Thelonius Monk and João Gilberto to Smashing Pumpkins, Semones recorded her debut EP, Tsukino, back in Michigan and self-released it in 2022. Singing in both Japanese and English, it introduced her savvy mix of intricate guitar pop with bossa nova rhythms and string arrangements (by Noah Leong). Its release coincided with a move from Boston to New York, and she spent the next year releasing a pair of interesting collaborations with John Roseboro ("Waters of March" and "How to Cope").
"Semones joined the roster of Brooklyn's Bayonet Records at the start of 2024, and the indie label released her EP Kabutomushi in April. Produced, recorded, and mixed by Kai Tsao, it found her again joined by a small acoustic combo that included Leong on viola."
Mei Semones performs her headlining engagement in Davenport on October 24, admission to the 6 p.m. concert is $19.84, and tickets are available by visiting TheRaccoonMotel.com.
