Nicole Zapel – Nov 13 – House Show
Outfitted in a wedding dress, a hodge-podge of jewelry, and a hair-do full of sticks, Nicole Zapel prepared to play her keyboard. She lit two bedazzled candles sitting on each end of her instrument. Next, she told the crowd she was nervous but ready. Adjusting the fluff of her garment and making eye contact with the eager Bellinghamsters sitting on the carpet before her, she methodically played the first note.
Originally from Vashon Island, the singer-songwriter proceeded to give a performance that was quirky and fun. Most songs were fairly slow, but like any good musician, she anticipated when the crowd was ready for something more up-beat. At one point she asked if the audience would like to hear a song about a devil child or something political, to which the concert-goers replied– devil child.
To give the performance additional spice, she told the crowd to sing-along if they felt compelled. She said the words would become obvious during some parts. So, a few people started to sing quietly. By the middle of her set, about 15 people at the house show were humming or singing with Zapel. The supportive audience seemed to bring her comfort. She smiled throughout the concert with ruby red lips and an almost child-like glow.
To conclude the show, Zapel performed a duet with Chloe Frieda, another Bellingham resident who lives at the house that put on the concert. The two were well-rehearsed and cute together– Zapel in her wedding garb and Frieda in a vintage, sparkly cocktail dress. The crowd clapped for an abnormally long time after the song was finished.
While Zapel carried away her instrument, the concert-goers shuffled into the living room for a spirited, electronic dance party to celebrate a not-so-eerie Friday the 13th.
Zapel is a tasteful storyteller and her local fan-base will probably grow if she continues to give intimate performances. She is un-signed and has not released a record. But with soulful tunes and an intriguing, underlying darkness, Zapel definitely has a solid place in the Bellingham scene.
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