University District Street Fair – Day 1: Rediscovery
22 May 2010 Leave a Comment
in Dog Leg Preacher, Music, Seattle, The Whole Bolivian Army Tags: University District Street Fair
Last weekend was the University District Street Fair, which is the first of the summer street fairs and also in my neighborhood, so I caught both days. Lots of music, and Saturday night, in between – more music!
Saturday, I more or less knew where I was going for the street fair. I caught up on a couple bands I had not heard live in a long time.
I made it at 10 am. . . OK, a little after 10. . . to hear The Whole Bolivian Army, who organized and played a series of benefits concerts for local Amnesty International groups in Bellingham, Seattle, Portland & Eugene 10 years ago. Seattle’s was at the OK Hotel, before the quake. . .
Here’s their video for Free Tonight:
They sounded great, even though 10 am was a challenge, for both the band and fans. The street fair is a little quiet at that hour. . . but livened up as the set went on.
I think this is the first show I’ve ever been to where the lead singer stopped to tie the shoelaces of one of the guitar players (which was real sweet – they are married and she didn’t want him tripping). . .
Here’s Run Girl Run, which I YouTubed:
They’ll be playing that at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon this summer! Look for them at the Bite of Seattle and other area festivals as well.
More music and tour schedule at: http://www.twba.com/
Next was wandering through the craft booths. Saturday morning I also had one destination in mind there as well. . .
That’s right . . . The Hatterdashery! Always a dangerous place for me. . . I got a pink sun hat. . . OK, maybe I won’t get much use from it in Seattle. . . but I’m ready. . .just in case! We did have sun that day, and you can’t be too careful. . . Besides, where else can I find hats I know were hand sewed in Seattle, not a sweatshop in China?
Check out some of their hats and see where they’re going to be this summer at: http://www.hatterdashery.com/
Accessorize, acccessorize! I also got new butterfly keychain from the Earth Art International booth. Check out their work at: http://www.earthartinternational.com/
Then at 1 pm, it was time to rock out with Dog Leg Preacher! I caught this band last year at the street fair, and was just wondering where they’re playing next.
None of that wimpy indie kid stuff, this group really rocks out! Old school rock! Famous for playing the Sturgis motorcycle rally!
Their crew even rocks out! Always a good sign. . .
Here’s a video I made of Ready to Fight (and apologies for the quality with the white spot, I just found my camera needs to be deep cleaned. . . 
):
I’ll have to keep an eye open for when they play Seattle again. Unfortunately, when you bus it, even Lynnwood or Everett are a bit far away for a night show. . .
Find out where they’re playing next and check out their music & merchandise at: http://www.doglegpreacher.com
Of course it isn’t just the main stages where the music is coming from at the street fair. Bands had staked out sections of sidewalk up and down the Ave., including this one, playing New Orleans style jazz.
Complete with New Orleans style dancing in the street!
More of this on Sunday, to be continued; but I had a few chores to get finished in time to catch another show Saturday night. . .
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. . .
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