Seattle, WA

Coby Bryant ‘Embracing’ Safety Position With Seattle Seahawks After Move From CB

Published

2 years ago

August 12, 2024

Coby Bryant ‘Embracing’ Safety Position With Seattle Seahawks After Move From CB

At various points throughout the 2024 offseason, defensive back Coby Bryant’s current and future status with the Seattle Seahawks has been a question mark.

The former slot cornerback, now primarily playing safety for the Seahawks, recorded 70 tackles, four tackles for loss, two sacks, four forced fumbles and four pass deflections as a rookie in 2022. Battling injuries and added depth at corner last season, Bryant saw action in just nine games as a sophomore and finished with 18 tackles and one forced fumble.

With the team adding even more depth at cornerback entering 2024, Bryant would need to make an impact from a new spot, and that’s precisely what he did in the team’s preseason-opening victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.

Bryant didn’t have any tackles in 19 defensive snaps, but he secured one interception early in the second quarter off a tipped ball from a punishing hit by K’Von Wallace on Chargers tight end Hayden Hurst and nearly had another later in the game. He was Seattle’s fourth highest-graded defensive player in the game, per Pro Football Focus, with an 86.4 overall grade.

“I take preseason serious, whatever the case may be,” Bryant said postgame. “I just love football and competing.”

Bryant isn’t a player who stands out solely on his athleticism. As he displayed Saturday, Bryant is a smart football player — always managing to be in the right place at the right time. That trait was apparent in his rookie season when he tied for second in the NFL in forced fumbles.

That’s an element of Bryant’s game that can’t be taught, and it may be enough to extend his career in Seattle. So far, he’s adapting well to not only a position change but also the innovative scheme head coach Mike Macdonald is implementing.

“Mike challenges us extremely hard in practice, and then versus when it’s in a game, it’s a lot easier. I feel like that kind of helps us when we go out there,” Bryant said. “As a team, you definitely want to have that dog mentality, no matter what it is, special teams, offense, defense, that’s the mentality you want to have.”

Bryant has to be the favorite to backup Julian Love at free safety on Seattle’s 53-man roster. Macdonald likes to run three-safety packages, and he could be especially useful if the team gets into any dime, quarter or dollar sets (six-to-eight defensive backs). At the very least, Bryant displayed his value as a serviceable fill-in in a pinch.

“I’m embracing it pretty well,” Bryant said of the move to safety. “Each week I’m growing. I set myself with goals to attack each week, what I need to work on, what I’m improving on, so just the little things.”

Interestingly, former Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll appeared to be experimenting with Bryant at free safety last year in the preseason, as well. Bryant played 103 snaps there in the 2023 preseason, per PFF, which was more than he lined up at corner during that span. He then only played one snap at free safety during the regular season.

Second-year safety Jerrick Reed II is also expected to fit in somewhere once he returns from injury (torn ACL in Week 10 last season), but that may be after the start of the regular season. The Seahawks would have time to evaluate their depth at that position or elsewhere to reshuffle the roster upon Reed’s return.

Nov 13, 2022; Munich, Germany; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Coby Bryant (8) celebrates with fans in the second half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an NFL International Series game at Allianz Arena. / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

With a few more quality preseason outings against the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns, Bryant will have fully flipped the narrative from being potentially the odd man out of Seattle’s cornerback room to becoming a contributing safety. If Bryant continues creating turnovers, the coaching staff won’t have a choice but to keep him around and supply him with opportunities.

Seattle’s next preseason game will be on the road against the Titans at 4 p.m. PDT on Saturday, Aug. 17, preceded by a joint practice with Tennessee in Nashville. Following an encouraging first outing as a team, Bryant is glad he and his defensive teammates get to hit someone else for a change.

The Seahawks allowed just 71 total yards in the first half against Los Angeles and didn’t surrender a first down for the game’s first six drives. That defensive effort allowed Seattle to nearly double the Chargers’ time of possession.

“We get tired of scrimmaging each other each and every day,” Bryant said. “Obviously, we learn each other. But just to go against someone else and execute the way we did, it shows something.”

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Seattle, WA

New Music You Shouldn’t Miss – The Stranger

Published

2 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Press Room

New Music You Shouldn’t Miss – The Stranger

Lucha Luna
Brilla Brilla
(Self-Released)

One of Seattle’s most interesting new groups, Lucha Luna consists of vocalist Eva Vazquez and percussionist/synth manipulator Thomas Arndt. You may know Arndt as percussionist for exceptional eclecticists Day Soul Exquisite and Vazquez for her time in Toxic Tears and Savi. On their debut album, Brilla Brilla, they team up for a tantalizing fusion of reggaeton, punk, cumbia, and EDM.

In a 2024 Slog post on Day Soul Exquisite, Arndt revealed their immersion in Brazilian music, and the intro to opening track “Ritmo Eternal” appears to contain an arresting riff on berimbau, a single-stringed Afro-Brazilian instrument that produces a wonderfully warped twang. Eventually, a beautifully eerie keyboard melody sparkles over a menacing yet celebratory rhythm and synth bass, as Vazquez sings in Spanish with steely resolve. Throughout these seven songs, she’s a commanding presence on the mic, ranging from punkish agitation to heart-fluttering featheriness. “Manzana Prohibida” is as exhilaratingly tense as PiL circa Metal Box, as Vazquez sings with a gripping urgency. On “Camino por la Noche,” unusual, metallic percussion timbres and ill Roland 303 blurges cohere into a vibrantly dirge-y cumbia white-knuckler. With its superb dynamics and arrangements, interesting array of instruments, and extranjero percussive timbres, “Camino por la Noche” exemplifies Lucha Luna’s specialness.

A lot of Latin-diaspora music sounds cloyingly cheerful (I know, it’s a me problem), but Lucha Luna add a welcome degree of edginess and distortion to these styles. They excel at threading post-punk darkness with Latin American rhythmic sabor. There just isn’t much in Seattle that sounds like Lucha Luna. ¡Respeto!

Black Viiolet
Dark Blue
(Adrenalin Fix)

Nicole Laurenne plays organ and sings with the Darts, a femme-powered Seattle quartet who kick garage rock into vibrant new life with fishnet-stocking-clad legs, as evidenced by their new album, Halloween Love Songs. But moonlighting as Black Viiolet, the multi-instrumentalist/songwriter goes off on a radical tangent into torch-song trip-hop.

Like an American Amy Whitehouse fronting a jazz-loving Morcheeba, Black Viiolet traipses into familiar territory, but she imbues Dark Blue’s songs with alluring mystique and lyrics informed by the ache of being away from your new lover while you’re doing something you love, i.e., touring. Laurenne wrote these 13 tracks in the Darts’ van while on the road, and you can feel the longing in them. Absence makes the words burn brighter.

Laurenne’s nuanced singing—which would make the late David Lynch stub out his cigarette with gusto and pay close attention—dominates, but her deft keyboard playing and beatmaking elevate the music to the top 10 percent of this overcrowded field. Drummer Gregg Ziemba, double bassist Evan Strauss, trombonist Basile Conand, trumpeter Jean-Gatien Pasquier, and saxophonist Paul Cadier fill out the noir-ish portraits with restrained, impressionist daubs and a soupçon of funk. The result makes any listener feel way more sophisticated and rich than they have a right to. Even Dwarves’ notorious hell-raiser Blag Dahlia appears on vocals and arrangement on a remix of the elegantly lubricious “One” and can’t break the enchanting spell.

Seattle-area musicians can send music to NewSeattleMusic@TheStranger.com for possible coverage.

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Seattle, WA

Seattle ends six-game slide with 4-3 shootout win over Vegas at Climate Pledge Arena

Published

14 hours ago

April 10, 2026

Press Room

Seattle ends six-game slide with 4-3 shootout win over Vegas at Climate Pledge Arena

SEATTLE — Berkly Catton scored in the third period and added a game-winner in the shootout as the Seattle Kraken ended a six-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday night.

It was just the second win for the Kraken (33-34-11) in the last 12 games.

The Golden Knights (36-26-17) had their four-game win streak snapped under new head coach John Tortorella.

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Mark Stone (61) celebrates his goal with defenseman Rasmus Andersson (4) as Seattle Kraken center Berkly Catton (27) looks on during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Mark Stone gave Vegas a 1-0 lead with 10:04 left in the first period and he added his 26th goal of the season on the power play 55 seconds into the second.

Vegas went ahead 3-1 just 1:11 into the third when Brett Howden scored off the rush.

The Kraken got on the board late in the second on a power-play goal by Jared McCann, his 20th of the season. It was Seattle’s first power-play goal since March 21 to end a 0-for-17 skid. It also marked the fifth straight season McCann has scored 20 goals, all with the Kraken.

Catton cut it to 3-2 early in the third and Bobby McMann netted his 28th of the year to tie the game for the Kraken.

Joey Daccord stopped 31 shots for Seattle. The Kraken recalled goalie Nikke Kokko from the Coachella Valley Firebirds on an emergency basis ahead of the game. Goalie Matt Murray was away from the team for a family matter.

Seattle and president of hockey operations Ron Francis mutually parted ways Wednesday, which Kraken CEO Tod Leiweke discussed ahead of Thursday’s game.

Up next

Golden Knights: At Colorado on Saturday.

Kraken: Host Calgary on Saturday night.

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Seattle, WA

April’s West Seattle Art Walk and much more for your Thursday

Published

1 day ago

April 9, 2026

Press Room

April’s West Seattle Art Walk and much more for your Thursday

(In case you weren’t awake early today, photographer Theresa Arbow-O’Connor was)

Here are highlights for today/tonight, from the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar (where you’ll find even more – thanks again to everyone who sends events for us to share!):

PASSOVER … concludes today.

FREE PLAYSPACE: West Seattle Church of the Nazarene is hosting playspace today until noon. (42nd SW & SW Juneau)

SOUTH SEATTLE COLLEGE GARDEN CENTER: Whether you’re planting or planning – the center is open Thursdays-Saturdays 10 am-3 pm – north end of the South Seattle College (6000 16th SW; WSB sponsor) campus.

TODDLER STORY TIME IN WESTWOOD: 10:30 am at Southwest Library (9010 35th SW).

PRESCHOOL STORY TIME IN ADMIRAL: 10:30 am at West Seattle Library (2306 42nd SW).

WEST SEATTLE UKULELE PLAYERS: From newbie to pro, all levels welcome at this weekly 1 pm gathering. Email westseattleukuleleplayerswsup@gmail.com to see where they’re playing today. (Even if you just want to know so you can go listen!) Probably C & P Coffee, we’re told (5612 California SW; WSB sponsor)

HIGH-SCHOOL SPORTS: Boys’ soccer with West Seattle HS vs. Rainier Beach at 4 pm at Walt Hundley Playfield (34th/Myrtle); softball with Chief Sealth IHS vs. Franklin at Nino Cantu SW Athletic Complex (2801 SW Thistle).

DROP-IN CHESS: High Point Library‘s weekly event is on today, 4-5:30 pm for players under 18. (3411 SW Raymond)

WEST SEATTLE ART WALK! Second Thursday means a celebration of art all around the peninsula, with most receptions running 5-8 pm. Here’s the venue list:

For highlights including which artists you’ll find showing their work tonight, at venues from Alki in the north to Gatewood in the south, browse this update!

HPCS FOOD-TRUCK VISIT: First of two Thursday night events at HPCS this week – every Thursday, 4-8 pm, Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW) gets a food-truck visit. Tonight it’s Pizza Maniac.”

WINE TASTING WITH CLARK: Another regular Thursday event at HPCS, 5-7:30 pm – info here.

HELP HARVEST FOOD: Puget Ridge Edible Park (18th/Brandon) needs volunteers to help harvest fresh food that will be donated to food banks (and you can take some home too). Just be there 5-7 pm!

WEST SEATTLE TOOL LIBRARY: Open 5-8 pm for your tool-borrowing needs. (4408 Delridge Way SW, northeast side of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center)

VISCON CELLARS: This West Seattle winery’s friendly tasting room/wine bar is open Thursdays, 5-9 pm (5910 California SW; WSB sponsor), for wine by the glass or bottle! Tonight, it’s also a stop on the West Seattle Art Walk, as with every second Thursday.

POKEMON LEAGUE: 6 pm Thursdays at Fourth Emerald Games (4517 California SW, upstairs) – bring your own console.

WESTIES RUN CLUB: 6 pm, starting from Good Society (California SW and SW Lander), you’re welcome to join the Westies Run Club‘s Thursday night community run!

WALKING FOR WELL-BEING: If walking is more your speed, meet at 6 pm at 47th/Fontanelle for tonight’s group walk – details in our calendar listing.

WORDS, WRITERS, SOUTHWEST STORIES: 6 pm online – find out the history behind names, with historian Feliks Banel. Here’s how to get the link.

‘SOUND OF MUSIC’: Another chance to see West Seattle High School‘s production of the classic musical, 7 pm. Ticket info is in our calendar listing.

LIVE AT THE SKYLARK: TIGERS EYE, Ladyfingers, Summer Schoo, 7 pm, 21+, $10 cover. (3803 Delridge Way SW)

’90s TRIVIA: 7 pm at Admiral Pub (2306 California SW).

LIVE AT TIM’S: 7 pm, Eric Blu & the Soul Revue, all ages, no cover. (16th SW and SW 98th, White Center)

TRIVIA NIGHT AT THE VOID: A relatively new West Seattle trivia night! 7:30 pm, with prizes, at The Void (5048 California SW).

‘WALDEN’ AT ARTSWEST: 7:30 pm opening performance of ArtsWest‘s new play. (4711 California SW)

DJ AT REVELRY ROOM: Spinning happens tonight at Revelry Room (4547 California SW), with DJ Supreme La Rock starting at 8 pm. 21+.

Are you planning an event that should be on our calendar and in our daily preview lists? Please email info to westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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