Black Pistol Fire
W/ Pink Fuzz Band
March 6th, 2026
Neumos, Seattle, WA
Photos and Review by Travis Smith
On a gray Seattle night built for loud guitars and cheap beer, Black Pistol Fire walked onstage and wasted no time. No intro tape. No dramatic buildup. A blast of fuzzed-out guitar ripped through the room, followed by a drumbeat that hit with the kind of power that makes you feel it in your chest.
Before the headliners took the stage, Seattle got a taste of the kind of raw energy that was about to come with Pink Fuzz. Hailing from Denver, a brother/sister led three-piece out of Denver made up of singer/guitarist John Demitro, singer/bassist LuLu Demitro, and drummer Forrest Raup. The trio lit up the stage with their own brand of psych-infused rock. Their sound, a swirl of heavy riffs and trippy textures, warmed up the crowd and set the tone for the night ahead. The band clearly enjoyed it, setting the bar for what was to follow.
But as the house lights dropped and Black Pistol Fire entered, the dynamic shifted. For a band with only two members, they generate a staggering amount of noise.
Do what you love and you won’t work a day.
Guitarist and vocalist Kevin McKeown spent most of the night pacing the front of the stage with a half grin that suggested he knew exactly how reckless the energy on stage was, he was a man possessed who would be performing the same whether he was getting paid or not – clearly having the time of his life. Behind him, drummer Eric Owen attacked his kit with the stamina of someone who understood the weight of every beat in a two-piece band.
The sound filled the room completely. Garage rock grit collided with blues muscle and barroom swagger. McKeown’s guitar tone stayed thick and gritty all night.
That tension drives the band.
Early in the set they tore through a run of high-energy songs with barely a pause between them. Owen pushed everything forward while McKeown stacked riffs and vocals on top. The crowd responded immediately. Heads nodded, hands lifted.
Momentum carried the night.
Songs rarely stayed contained to the stage, several times during the performance McKeown jumped off stage to play in the crowd, the stage followed him wherever he went, creating a circle of onlookers smiling, phones out documenting the surreal experience. The room grew hotter and louder by the minute.
For a while, the already small venue felt closer to a packed basement show than a concert room. The mezzanine was the only reprieve.
That is the strange magic of Black Pistol Fire. Years of touring and bigger stages have not sanded down the raw edge of the band. The energy still feels like two friends trying to blow the roof off whatever room they are standing in.
While there was a encore, there was no theatrical finale. A quick wave, a few tossed picks, and the band stepped offstage after emptying the tank.
Black Pistol Fire left behind ringing ears, scattered beer cups, and a reminder of how powerful a guitar and drum kit can sound when pushed to the limit.
Who is Travis Smith, the Photographer?
Travis Smith is a Seattle based Photographer and Videographer who takes pride in a diverse set of skills and over 20 years of experience behind a camera. Concerts, Sports, Motorsports, Aviation, Landscape, Architecture, and Travel photography all fit within his wheelhouse of interest.
You can see more of his work on his personal website or his Instagram.