Fiddling Around and Rocking the Rez
31 May 2009 Leave a Comment
in Gene Tagaban, Music, Northwest Folklife, Seattle, Star Nayea, Swil Kanim Tags: Cal Scott, Celtic music, Chaske, folk rock, Irish music, Kevin Burke, Little Big Band, Native American, Peter Ali, Solana Booth, Sue Quigley, Unangax Aleut Dancers
OK, so I did get out a little to Folklife last weekend. It was the fiddling that brought me, but I ended up rocking out again!
Last Saturday I went to hear Irish fiddler Kevin Burke, whose music I’ve enjoyed over the years, going back to the Bothy Band, through recording with Michael O’Domnaill, Patrick Street, the Celtic Fiddle Festival and solo. He was playing with Cal Scott at Folklife, and this was the first time I’ve seen him live. He did not disappoint!
I liked the one at the end about going to London for work and finding so many Irish there that it was being back home again (and the same was true here in America)!
Here are Kevin Burke and Cal Scott back in Ireland, at Dolan’s in Limerick City:
Afterwards, I got up from my spot under the Space Needle to wander around some more and see all the other stages.
Only to end up back at that stage when I heard some folk rock I wanted to hear more of.
Sue Quigley played a set of intensely personal songs about relationships and life. Here she is with Perfect Chaos (and her band) at the Tractor Tavern. Check out more of her music on her MySpace page(http://www.myspace.com/suequigleyband):
OK, when I say I got out a little, as usual I mean very little! I came back Sunday to hear the evening show, Tahqua Alaska Native Performing Arts Performing Group, at the Bagley Wright Theater. I wanted to hear more fiddle music, this time from Swil Kanim, who played his violin in Sherman Alexie’s The Business of Fancy Dancing.
There was a lot more – from traditional Native dancing to rock and roll. After starting the evening with taps on flute and fiddle in honor of the fallen for Memorial Day, the first act up were the Unangax Aleut Dancers.
One of their dances was of the grizzly bear, teaching the young to fish, and of the mama bear protecting the young from the older male bears. They also did an uncanny interpretation of seagulls (especially as the real ones were soaring overhead at Folklife all weekend).
Solana Booth and Chaske continued the journey, including hoop dancing.
Peter Ali played flute next.
Swil Kanim and Gene Tagaban (MC, flute and storyteller) showed excellent comic timing in addition to playing beautifully. Maybe it’s time for a Native American Smothers Brothers!
Here Swil is giving Gene a bad time on the size of his flute.
Here’s a video of them together at the Seattle Art Museum, with Swil Kanim telling one of the stories he told at Folklife.
Gene Tagaban transformed himself into a Raven (aka One Crazy Raven) for some of the stories.
Toward the end of the evening, the music evolved and a rock band broke out. Little Big Band, whose members included Gene Tagaban and Swill Kanim (at least for the evening), and the beautiful (and beautiful voiced) Star Nayea, winner of two Nammys (Native American Music Awards) in 2001 for Somewhere in a Dream (Independent Recording), and in 2008 for Silenced My Tongue (songwriter).
Here’s a video collage with Silenced My Tongue (about Star and many others being adopted out from their tribe):
Elements of the traditional kept showing up in the Little Big Band set, including the re-emergence of the Raven:
Unfortunately, the Little Big Band doesn’t seem to have a cd out or music on their website. They really rocked together!
On the way out I took a wrong turn and an unintentional tour back stage at the Bagley Wright. Oops! I guess in live theater settings you can’t just take any exit. . .
Rockin’ Out at the U. District Street Fair
25 May 2009 1 Comment
in Dog Leg Preacher, Music, Seattle, Shotty Tags: Cafe Allegro, Quicha Mashis, Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, The People Now, University District Street Fair
OK, so last weekend was the University District Street Fair (and I’m definitely behind in my music postings). During the University District Street Fair, “the Ave.”, as we call it, is taken over by craft and food booths, and music everywhere.
On Saturday, May 16, we had a folk-punk band jamming on the street:
Then I rocked out a little to the last few songs by The People Now:
Further down the Ave., this guy was jammin’ to the Quichua Mashis, an Andean band who has been playing Seattle’s street fairs and Pike Place Market for years.
Here’s a short clip from YouTube of the Quichua Mashis playing the Oregon Country Fair:
Next group took me back to the 60’s. A really, young, mod group! Hey wait a second, if it was the 60’s I’d be in grade school, not old enough to be one of their moms and then some!
No matter, they were good! They closed out with an incredible jam of Santana’s Soul Sacrifice, but did a lot of original work. Here’s their Inside Out at the Sunset Tavern from YouTube:
Wait, I forgot to tell you their name! They’re Shotty!
That Sunday I was working on getting photocopying done and buying a few more clipboards for our Troy Davis vigil. I went down 15th and cut through the alley and caught some great folk music coming from a woman playing Cafe Allegro, but alas, she was no longer playing after I made my copies and I didn’t get her name.
Coming up the Ave. through the street fair again, I heard some more great rock and roll. Dog Leg Preacher! This time from guys a bit closer to my own age. No one’s going to mistake me for their mom! Woo. . . I was starting to feel ancient. . .
These guys I could believe played at a bar, or the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, which was where their commemorative cd was from and where they made a movie of their adventure that the preview below is from.
Up the Ave., though, once more from a young gun. The guys from Shotty must be looking over their shoulders for this young man! He was jammin’ away on the drums!
Coolest thing was, he was evidently just walking by with his mom and his brother and joined the session! I overheard his brother complaining: “But Mom, he got $7!” (in tips). He goes, “. . .but I was playing the drum kit!” Maybe his brother will pick up an instrument, and then before you know it, they’ll be fighting over girls! No, wait, once these kids are playing the Ave for real, there’ll be bands where I’m old enough to be the musicians grandmother. . . Eeek!
Next up – Folklife! Hopefully before another week. . .
Troy Davis – Standing for Justice in the Rain
21 May 2009 Leave a Comment
in Amnesty International, Civil Rights, Death Penalty, Human Rights, Justice, Troy Davis Tags: Gerald Hankerson, James Bible, Jeff Ellis, NAACP, Washington Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, WCADP
We had an inspiring and very wet rally in support of Troy Davis on Tuesday night, in spite of being off to a late start and having to do without a sound system.
We heard from Jeff Ellis for the Washington Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, who spoke about the injustice in Troy’s and other cases, and why the death penalty is wrong in all cases.
James Bible of the NAACP spoke next about the importance of standing for justice, and bringing all our friends to stand with us. He also introduced and highlighted the case of recently released Gerald Hankerson, who spoke of nearly giving up hopes for justice in his case. James Bible was brought back up later in the vigil to read a statement from Troy Davis in the now pouring rain (and spoke as well about a young man, 13 at the time of his crime facing the Life Without Parole).
Ours was one of many on what was a Global Day of Action for Troy around the world.
I’ve posted more details on previous posts. In bullet points from the AI Fact Sheet:
-
There is no physical evidence against Troy Davis
-
The weapon used in the crime was never found.
-
The case against him consisted entirely of witness testimony.
-
Seven of the nine non-police witnesses have recanted or contradicted their testimony.
-
Many of these witnesses have stated they were pressured or coerced by police.
-
One of the two witnesses who has not recanted or contradicted testimony is Sylvester Coles the principal alternative suspect.
-
Nine individuals have signed affidavits implicating Sylvester Coles.
-
Troy Davis has never had a hearing in federal court on the reliability of the witness testimony against him.
Take action online at: http://www.amnestyusa.org/troy
Read the report “Where is the justice for me? The case of Troy Davis, facing execution in Georgia at:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/document.php?lang=e&id=ENGAMR510232007
Tues. Vigils for Troy Davis – Westlake & Around the World
18 May 2009 1 Comment
in Amnesty International, Civil Rights, Death Penalty, Democratic Party, Human Rights, Justice, Troy Davis Tags: James Bible, Jeff Ellis, Judge Rosemary Barkett, NAACP, Senator Dianne Feinstein, Senator Edward Kennedy, Vice President Joe Biden, Washington Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty, WCADP
Seattle will be holding a vigil for Georgia death row prisoner Troy Davis tomorrow night, Tuesday, May 19, 6–8 pm at Westlake Plaza as part of a Global Day of Action by Amnesty International members and friends throughout the US and around the world. Speakers at Seattle’s vigil include Jeff Ellis from the Washington Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty and James Bible of the NAACP.
It’s shocking, when in this country, evidence of innocence can not be heard in a capitol punishment case. Yet, as Amnesty International noted:
Restrictions on Federal appeals have prevented Troy Anthony Davis from having a hearing in federal court on the reliability of the witness testimony used against him, despite the fact that most of the witnesses have since recanted, many alleging they were pressured or coerced by police. Troy Davis remains on Georgia death row, and may be scheduled for execution in the near future.
Troy is currently just past his 30 day stay following an April 16 denial of Troy’s case by the 11th District Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that he will file a last-ditch appeal to the Supreme Court on Tuesday. Amnesty International includes a link to the 11th District ruling online.
One thing that struck me about the ruling was, as commented on by the Atlanta Progressive News, the ruling quoted Democratic Senators’ political posturing as reasoning for why new evidence of innocence should not be considered, including then Senator (now VP) Biden, Senator Feinstein and Senator Kennedy, claiming they don’t want to go against the wishes of Congress:
“The vast majority of us… want to and have been trying for years to change the old system to limit the time in which a petition can be filed and to limit the number of petitions that can be filed. So essentially you get one bite out of the apple,” then-US Sen. Biden (D-DE) said, according to the 1995 Congressional Record.
“The proposal to limit inmates to one bite at the apple is sound in principle,” US Sen. Kennedy had said.
So, because we have Democrats jumping on the “tough on crime” band wagon, passing laws refusing to let proof of innocence be heard, that’s reason enough for the courts to abandon justice as well.
Indeed, it was during a Democratic administration that this damaging legislation was passed and signed into law by then President Clinton.
Enacted in 1996, the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act , among other things, placed limits on the grounds upon which someone on death row could request a new federal hearing.
The AEDPA “tightened these limits by requiring successive petitioners to show both cause — or diligence — as well as a fundamental miscarriage of justice — or actual innocence,” the majority judges noted.
As dissenting Judge Rosemary Barkett points out:
This case highlights the difficulties in navigating AEDPA’s thicket of procedural brambles,” Barkett wrote. “While we must deal with the thorny constitutional and statutory questions before us, we also cannot lose sight of the underlying issue in this case.”
“Simply put, the issue is whether Troy Anthony Davis may be lawfully executed when no court has ever conducted a hearing to assess the reliability of the score of affidavits that, if reliable, would satisfy the threshold showing for a truly persuasive demonstration of actual innocence, thus entitling Davis to habeas relief.”
“To execute Davis, in the face of a significant amount of proffered evidence that may establish his actual innocence, is unconscionable and unconstitutional,” Barkett wrote.
Shouldn’t innocence matter? Especially when the death penalty is involved? Sorry, it’s too late to prove Troy’s innocence because the Federal Judges don’t want to offend Congress? Too late because we have Congress members and Judges who would rather kill an innocent man than not appear “tough on crime” by allowing him a chance to prove his innocence?
Learn more and take part in a vigil in your community or act online at: http://www.amnestyusa.org/troy
Free Aung San Suu Kyi!
18 May 2009 Leave a Comment
in Amnesty International, Aung San Suu Kyi, Burma, Human Rights
Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of Burma’s opposition party faces trial today, accused of breaking the terms of her house arrest (which has went on 13 of the last 19 years) because an American man, John Yettaw, swam to her house uninvited and refused to leave her house.
The nature of Aung San Suu Kyi’s crime? According to the Brisbane Times:
The police report says Ms Suu Kyi and her two maids offered the US national John Yettaw food and drink after he swam to her house and then stayed there between May 3 and 5. It says Mr Yettaw also made a visit last November when Mr Yettaw left a copy of the Book of Mormon at her house for her to read, it said.
According to Amnesty International:
On May 14, 2009, Aung San Suu Kyi and two of her assistants, Khin Khin Win and Khin Khin Win’s daughter, were taken from Daw Suu Kyi’s home to Insein Prison. Insein Prison is known to be a harsh facility with substandard conditions of detention including poor food and poor medical care. Reliable reports beginning in early May confirm that while still confined in her Yangon home Aung San Suu Kyi had been suffering from dehydration, low blood pressure and weight loss. Her medical condition makes her transfer to Insein Prison at this time doubly serious.
Today is a Global Day of Action for Aung San Suu Kyi. Campaigning for Human Rights and Democracy in Burma reports that “demonstrations will take place in more than 20 cities, including London, Bangkok, Sydney, San Francisco, Pretoria, Perth, Ottawa, Tokyo, Melbourne, Canberra, Taipei, Toronto, Indiana, Barcelona, Paris, Stockholm, Barcelona, Boston, Cadiz, Sevilla, Washington DC, and Kuala Lumpur.”
They have an online action calling for the UN and ASEAN to take immediate action to secure the release of Aung San Suu Kyiat:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/ASSK_action.html
Amnesty International has an online action to Burmese officials as well, with a link on the Burmese country page:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/all-countries/myanmar-burma/page.do?id=1011205
Why is the Burmese government so afraid of Aung San Suu Kyi?
Another Flight to Mars with Mike McCready & Friends
06 May 2009 3 Comments
in Charity, Crohn's Disease, Duff McKagan, Duff McKagan's Loaded, Flight to Mars, Kim Virant, Mike McCready, Music, Pearl Jam, Seattle, Shadow '86, Stone Gossard Tags: Crocodile, Guns N' Roses, Showbox, Ticketmaster, Velvet Revolver
I can’t get enough of Mike McCready’s guitar playing, as I continue being spoiled living in Seattle and getting to hear Mike and his rock star friends at ridiculously low prices in intimate nightclub settings for charity. Spoiled, except for the fact his main band never plays Seattle these days. No, the Gorge isn’t Seattle, at least for those of us without cars. Shouldn’t those of us who leave a small carbon footprint be rewarded? ; ) OK, so really I don’t have a car because I’m too broke to have one and would have to live in it if I did, but still. . .
On to the show! After missing out on a reprise of Tom Morello playing the newly reopened Crocodile for $15 because a friend was in crisis, I jumped at the chance for tickets for Mike’s latest fundraiser at the Showbox (at the Market) for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, even though I was in Boston for Amnesty International’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the time (yeah, I still need to blog about that one). Tickets only $20, except Ticketmaster tacked on almost $15 in “convenience” charges (still a bargain, but come on, a 75% profit on charity tickets?!!).
You really got to appreciate the guys in Pearl Jam for their attempt to fight Ticketmaster on fan rip offs, even though it cost them at the time. Mike’s my personal hero for being willing to go so public with his ordeal with Crohn’s disease, most recently pushing for public restroom access in Washington state for those who suffer from Crohn’s and similar diseases. Whatever I have is milder than Crohn’s, but on a bad day – you got to go, when you got to go!
It was a dark and stormy night. . . No, really, it was rainy and very windy as we waited in line Saturday at the Showbox (at the Market), the original Showbox, across the street from Pike Place Market. It doesn’t get more Seattle than that!
What can you say with a show that opens with Shadow ‘86, Mike’s Hendrix tribute band? Mike’s guitar playing is absolutely amazing, especially when he’s playing some Jimi! Purple Haze, All Along the Watchtower, and of course, Voodoo Child (Slight Return) and many others. Mike was having a great time with his band mates, Chris Friel and Rick Friel, who were also great, as always. Kim Virant did come out again for this show, this time to sing the lead on Angel.
Here’s the full, official Pearl Jam video of Shadow ‘86 playing Voodoo Child (Slight Return) at the November 3 (night before the election) concert I went to at the Showbox (at the Market) last year. I’ve previously posted a fan clip showing Mike playing the guitar behind his back. That man is incredible!
Oh, yeah – Stone Gossard came out and joined Mike with Shadow ‘86 to sing David Lee Roth’s Just Like Living in Paradise, a song choice that got a bit of flack from some of the fans and one of the guys in Duff McKagan’s band, but Stone was having so much fun with it!
Duff McKagan’s Loaded was up next. McKagan (better known from Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver) lives in Seattle these days, even writing for the Seattle Weekly’s blog, Reverb, not to mention a hilarious column on dating tips for men for the paper, just in time for Valentine’s Day this year. Now who would have thought a rocker like Duff would be a romantic? Of course, the last part, for future daters of his daughter is especially funny. You thought the DeNiro character was scary. . .
It was great having an all rock and roll lineup this year, or at least what I call rock and roll. I wasn’t that into the Feral Children that the younger crowd was into last year. What the heck, I’m pushing 50 (only one year from my AARP card as of tomorrow), so I don’t have to pretend I understand young people’s music these days.
Duff and the boys in the Loaded band have the in-your-face rock star attitude. I’m sure this was the kind of rock show my father was always worried I was going to. . .
Mike McCready came out with Flight to Mars, his UFO tribute band, rocking us past 1 in the morning. Great band and lead singer, Paul Passereli, they were all over the place and having the time of their lives. All the bands were just having a blast. I love club shows!
Rock Bottom was just the ultimate. Their version Saturday night was epic (the clip from a gig two years ago above isn’t epic, but will give you an idea). They went into the lengthy solos. Kelly Van Camp did a terrific and epic solo on the drums. Then, just imagine this one, Mike McCready in another jaw dropping incredible guitar solo, with his shirt off and tattoos showing, bathed in blue spotlight, just a few feet away.
On the one hand, I wish I had brought my camera, because it would have been an incredible shot (then again, I’m not the greatest photographer). On the other hand my thought for the evening, that I wanted to enjoy the evening and focusing on taking pictures does take some of the focus off the taking in the show, and maybe I wouldn’t have been as mesmerized by his playing, if I was trying to get the perfect shot.
Here’s one I found on Flickr, from Bridget Christian’s photo set of Flight to Mars playing at El Corazon back in August:
Both Duff McKagan’s Loaded and Flight to Mars did their versions of Iggy Pop’s I Wanna Be Your Dog, which the guys in the crowd (and it was mostly guys in the thick of it up front where I was) were really into. There’s a lot about guys I still don’t understand. . .
Loaded’s version from Osaka, Japan in2001:
The winner of the auction to play with Mike and Flight to Mars, Jeremy (no kidding), came up and was trading riffs with Mike and the band on their version of I Wanna Be Your Dog. That’s got to be a Guitar Hero fantasy moment! Jeremy was pretty good, and no, I don’t think Jeremy was wicked ; ) . Although, I did see the band was treating him with a lot of respect. I think that had to do with the size of his bid, though.
Another great evening. I love living in Seattle! Still, I may have to move to Boston or Chicago to hear Mike’s other band. . . It really sucks when one of your favorite bands doesn’t play in your city, especially when they live in your city. It’d be like Springsteen not playing Jersey (and he even still plays Asbury Park, where he started out). Come on, Seattle audiences aren’t that bad! We were really rocking Saturday night!
I always feel silly asking a band to play your city, but then again, this is silly.
Please, Pearl Jam, play Seattle!
Recent Comments