photos: Perfume Genius at Neptune Theater (10/21)

words & photos: Ansley Lee

Starting in 2012, KEXP partnered with Starbucks and STG Presents to start "Little Big Shows". The idea is simple — take an artist (prioritizing local acts), put them in the Neptune Theater and all ticket sales go to a local non-profit. Since its first show with Pickwick, Little Big Shows collected over $250,000 to many nonprofits all over the greater Seattle area. 

Little Big Show #19 returned with Perfume Genius & Briana Marela to benefit Lambert House. According to their website: 

Lambert House which is a center for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth, between the ages of 11 and 22, that empowers youth through the development of leadership, social, and life skills.

We had the pleasure of hearing from a few student members of Lambert House between acts with an overwhelming standing ovation after one of the young men declared "I'm still here".

Perfume Genius shows are as complex as the music itself; delicate, powerful, intimate and vulnerable. The performance commands your attention and every emotion you have. There was dancing, glitter, a few tears and a lot of squats. I described the night as queer church to a friend of mine and to be honest, it's the only church I'd go back to.