I arrived at the Fremont Abbey Arts Center on Tuesday night completely unprepared for what I was about to experience. This show sold out about 3 weeks before it occurred because it is a small venue and - let's face it - who is bigger in Seattle music right now than Damien Jurado or Jonathan Russell of 'The Head and the Heart?' If either one of those guys were playing the show it would have sold out in advance; let alone having them share the stage. Add Katie Costello of local group 'Pretty Broken Things,' two live painters, and one sick poet to complete the best damn lineup I have seen in the two years I have lived in Seattle.

On to how I was caught off guard; the standout performance of the night was Katie Costello. She wasn't even on the original lineup, she contacted the powers-that-be at the Arts Center and asked to get on the bill. I am sure they thought she would nicely round out the lineup, not be the anchor of it. Her powerful voice and unreal songwriting ability took the Abbey by storm. Damien Jurado acted flustered all night by having to follow her in the round. At one point he looked over at her and said in reference to her songwriting being greater than his own: "I meet a lot of songwriters...but to be handed my ass like that is just like... it's fucking amazing." I couldn't have said it better myself.

I definitely enjoyed the entire lineup, but it just seemed like Costello was on another level. To be honest I am not sure if it was just me being blindsided by her, but I felt like I was witnessing history. I wanted to savor every moment of her performance because I had this gnawing inside that this wasn't just another local show. I like to think it's the same gnawing people felt when witnessing a young Kurt Cobain or Bob Dylan perform, that rare feeling when you know this isn't just another night of music, something bigger and more powerful is in the air; you are in the presence of greatness just waiting to be discovered.

If you get a chance to check out Costello's band 'Pretty Broken Things' I highly recommend it. They are playing the Columbia City Theater tonight.

Check out the group performance of Stand By Me that ended the show. (Notice Damien and Jonathan reading the lyrics off their smartphones)