2010 in review
01 Jan 2011 Leave a Comment
in Burke Museum, Kristen Ward, Mike McCready, Museums, Music, Pearl Jam, The Dusty 45s
The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:
The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads This blog is doing awesome!.
Crunchy numbers
A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 3,500 times in 2010. That’s about 8 full 747s.
In 2010, there were 47 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 199 posts. There were 334 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 146mb. That’s about 6 pictures per week.
The busiest day of the year was October 17th with 40 views. The most popular post that day was Rocking out with Mike McCready.
Where did they come from?
The top referring sites in 2010 were ifreestores.com, facebook.com, en.wordpress.com, homercat.blogspot.com, and mariaozawa2u.blogspot.com.
Some visitors came searching, mostly for kim virant, mike mccready, mike mccready wife, kristen ward, and aztec dancers.
Attractions in 2010
These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.
Rocking out with Mike McCready May 2008
Aztec Dancers & Altars November 2009
2 comments
Another Flight to Mars with Mike McCready & Friends May 2009
3 comments
The Dusty 45s Playing Everywhere This Summer August 2010
Cruisin’ the Fossil Freeway at the Burke January 2010
Another Rainy Night in Ballard with The Dusty 45s
22 Oct 2010 Leave a Comment
in Music, Seattle, The Dusty 45s Tags: Davidson Hart Kingsbery
It was a dark and rainy September night in Ballard when I saw The Dusty 45s again . . . OK. I’m behind, and I’ve been here before, but I do have video!
Opening for The Dusty 45s that night was Davidson Hart Kingsbery and his band, and they were good (and had people dancing already).
Davidson Hart Kingsbery
*10/24/10 Update: OK, there was a video on Vimeo of this band I posted, but it’s now private. See the link below to check out their music.
Find more of their music at: http://www.myspace.com/davidsonhartkingsbery
Then The Dusty 45s. Oh, yeah! A rainy night in Ballard? It was definitely time to have them back at The Tractor (and there were a lot of people dancing)!
Here they are with Cold Woman, off of their new album, Fortunate Man:
Kim Virant, fresh off of being part of the annual Patsy Kline tribute joined them for one of Patsy’s songs (and I’m forgetting which one) and a duet of Jackson (June Carter & Johnny Cash) with The Dusty 45s’ lead singer, Billy Joe. I wish I had taken video of that one.
Kim Virant with The Dusty 45s
I did get The Dusty 45s cover of St James Infirmary:
and, everyone knows a Dusty 45s’ show isn’t over until Billy Joe’s trumpet is set ablaze (and there’s nothing like a drunken crowd in Ballard calling for a little pyromania)!
Here’s Miserlou as the finale, complete with a flaming trumpet:
Their last show in Seattle for awhile as they headed off to a series of shows near Boston (including a place called the Chicken Box, in Nantucket), then down to Arizona & California.
Find out where they’re playing next at: http://www.dusty45s.com/
Vince Mira and The Dusty 45s
21 Sep 2010 Leave a Comment
in Music, Seattle, The Dusty 45s, Vince Mira
So, I finally checked out Vince Mira, best known as the young man who sounds like Johnny Cash; playing on a double bill with my favorites, The Dusty 45s at The Triple Door.
Musicquarium's Aquarium
I headed over after work and a brief stop at the library, coming early to take advantage of The Triple Door’s Musicquarium lounge happy hour. I had a tasty chicken skewer and trying an old-fashioned.
I’m still trying to figure out well drinks and try different ones now that I can’t have beer. Most of the “helpful hints” I found online aren’t of much help, as they’re from snooty people explaining why you don’t want to embarrass yourself ordering a cheap well drink and should order expensive top shelf booze in your drink; instead of telling what types of drinks there are (which is generally what the questioner online wants to know, as do I). Of course, the reason I and others want to figure out what well drinks we can try (they can’t have carbonation or dairy for mine) is because some bar is offering $3-$5 well drinks for happy hour.
Musicquarium's Bartenders
Since I saw people lining up already while I was eating, I didn’t figure I’d get a good seat, but they offered me one right at the foot of the stage (with one empty seat to the left of me). I knew that was too good to be true and was prepared to move when one of The Triple Door hosts brought down two guys he was going to seat there and asked about my reservation. It turned out it was their mistake, and one of the guys suggested they just get another chair so we could all sit there (which we did).
Two guys not young enough to be my sons (which is getting rarer when I go out these days). . . and about then my drink arrives. . .one of those huge (and delicious) ginger martinis. . . Boy, do I look like a lush! In my defense, it does last me all night, though both band’s sets. We had a great time talking about bands (including The Dusty 45s’ drummer Kelly Van Camp’s other band, The Rolling Blackouts, which I need to check out), The Triple Door’s former life as a grand movie theater, Amnesty International and the state of the world (and then it was time for some music. . .or maybe another drink. . .Oh, wait, not a good idea!)
Vince Mira
Vince Mira is really impressive, both by himself and with his band, who really rocked The Triple Door, not only with the Johnny Cash and Leadbelly covers, but with some of Vince’s originals. I wish I took some video of their set. Their cover of Johnny Cash’s Long Black Veil sent chills up my spine.
Vince Mira & his band
Here’s a video by samnuttmann of Vince playing his I’m Not Your Lover Anymore at the Pike Place Market, where he got his start. Where does that deep and worldly voice come from in someone so young?
. . .and, of course channeling Johnny Cash. . .here’s Folsom Prison Blues with Vince Mira and the Wild Dogs about a year and half ago (video by CForce33):
Another highlight the evening at The Triple Door was Vince’s cover of Leadbelly’s Where Did You Sleep Last Night (a song many in the Seattle crowd probably knew from Nirvana’s unplugged version). Here’s a version of that from about a year ago, video taped by jm812007:
Vince and his band would have been a tough act to follow, for any band other than The Dusty 45s. I love it when the opening band is that good, because it ups the ante!
Now, I know, I see this band a lot. In fact, I would have loved to have seen them play earlier that day, at noon on the Harbor Steps, as part of the city’s Out to Lunch concert series. That one was a little too far from my office, though (and, to be fair, they played City Hall, on my end of downtown earlier this summer).
Fortunately someone else went and took video. Here they are at the Harbor Steps with New Romance (which they did at The Triple Door as well), video by frabjousfrank:
Now, one of the things I love about this band is that they’re terrific in so many settings, and know how to make each work for them. There are the summer outdoor concerts like The Harbor Steps or University Village, the roadhouse shows at places like the Tractor last Saturday night, and then there’s the classy show at places like The Triple Door. . .
The Dusty 45s
. . .a place I’m a little intimidated by, being not so classy. . ., but an awesome place to see a show (and The Dusty 45s will be back there for 2 shows New Year’s Eve, with space for dancing up front!).
Here’s Fortunate Man, the one video I shot that night:
They did bring Vince Mira out, after Billy Joe set his trumpet aflame, to join them on (what else?) Ring of Fire. : )
Vince Mira with The Dusty 45s
Another great night out! I was tempted to stay awhile and check out the band playing the Musicquarium, but after two nights in a row out, I was ready to head home.
The Dusty 45s Playing Everywhere This Summer
17 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment
in Music, Seattle, The Dusty 45s
While I was late for their set in West Seattle, fortunately I did not have to wait long to hear The Dusty 45s again. In fact, they were playing a noon concert in front of City Hall that coming Thursday, on July 15th.
The Dusty 45s Play City Hall Plaza
City Hall is conveniently just a few blocks from my office, so I was able to catch part of their concert, which had a good size crowd, with some people even dancing. Here’s a clip of River from My Eyes, off their new cd:
Now, the difficult thing about a noon time concert was that I had to drag myself away and get back to work. Although I could still hear some of their music, especially Kelly’s drumming and Billy Joe’s trumpet, including the finale. I knew there was a trumpet in flames somewhere nearby. Of course, someone had to catch it on video. Here the clip from the Seattle Arts channel:
I did stop by the sponsor’s table on my way back from City Hall, and got a pen and this piggy bank from the Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union. The way my current finances are, I better not put any money in it. It would be totally embarrassing (and sad) when I’d have to smash the poor little thing to buy some groceries (and not too many of them at that). . .
Credit Union Piggy Bank
I did catch all of their next Dusty 45s’ concert I went to, on August 4. This one was within walking distance to my home, as part of the University Village Sounds of Summer Concert Series (Wednesday nights, this week is the last one).
Dancing to The Dusty 45s
It was a great venue, and a beautiful evening, and the place was packed. As you can see, a lot of dancing. . . and the boys were in fine form:
The Dusty 45s Put on a Show
The Dusty 45s always put on a great show! Even more importantly, they’re an incredible talented band and always play up a storm! Although, fortunately, not literally . . . Here’s Walking in the Rain, also off their new cd (and you can see some of the incredible dancing their music inspires):
That’s: Billy Joe Huels (lead singer, guitar & trumpet), Jerry Battista (lead guitar), Kelly Van Camp (drums & harmonica), and Jeff Grey (upright bass). Watch them all shine in their inspiring and literally smoking finale of Chase Your Dream:
I had a dream. I think. At some point. I think my dream right now, in this tanking economy, is not to end up at the Nickelsville tent city, which is now conveniently right down the street from me again. . .
You should chase your dream if you’re as talented and hard-working as The Dusty 45s, though!OK. It doesn’t hurt to be young either. I wasn’t going to be one of those old and cynical people. Hey, I grew up in the 60′s! I wasn’t supposed to get old, even. . .
Jerry Battista
Speaking of hard-working, when I got home and was uploading my photos to Flickr that night, I saw a familiar name in the Seattle Weekly under Seattle Best Guitarist:
Jerry Battista plays guitar in the Dusty 45s, the Davanos, the Lazyboys, the Jer-Kels, the Battista Brothers, the Two Fifths, and Suicide Jack. By the time you read this, he’ll likely have formed another band so that the Tuesday night off that’s been keeping his fingers all too idle is filled up. Battista will happily play any venue, from a gorgeous outdoor amphitheatre to the Tractor Tavern to the Little Red Hen to Rimrock Steakhouse’s cramped lounge to Mr. Villa’s dining room. There’s not a genre he can’t play, and he’ll never let pride get in the way of a steady booking. Take note, young Fender fondlers: This is how you make a living playing guitar. That Battista is extremely good at what he does is gravy on the potatoes. —Mike Seely
Congratulations to Jerry, who’s playing one for his mother who was in the audience in the photo above!
The Dusty 45s are playing all over Seattle, the Puget Sound and even the eastside of the state this summer; following their road tour of the midwest and south in June and early July (including playing the town square of Carlyle, Illinois, lead singer Billy Joe’s hometown, in honor of his dad’s 80th birthday).
Check out their calendar on their website to see where they’re playing near you in August and September if you’re in Seattle or Washington state, and if you’re not, it sounds like they’re back on the road after that (so, keep checking back):
Summer Arrives With Pirates & Music in West Seattle
12 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment
in Kim Virant, Kristen Ward, Mark Pickerel, Massy Ferguson, Music, Seattle, The Dusty 45s Tags: Hells Belles, Jesse Sykes, Marc Olsen, Satchel, Seafair Pirates, West Seattle, West Seattle Summerfest
I know summer was supposed to arrive on June 21, but in Seattle it took until July 5 to get here. It was time for more music and pirates landing in West Seattle the next weekend.
I headed off after work Friday, August 9, to catch the rest of the first day of West Seattle Summerfest. I wandered around first, spending some time at the Easy Street Records booth to dig through their bargain cds (& enjoying the mariachi band playing nearby). While I wasn’t planning on any more food than the raspberry lemonade I got from one of the stands, the $3 chicken skewers they were offering outside Tom Yum Koong, a Thai restaurant about a block west of Easy Street, was too tempting (and tasty).
Kim Virant at West Seattle Summerfest
Kim Virant was playing the Alaska Street stage with an all star line up in her band including Chris Friel (her husband), Jeff Rouse, Ty Bailie and Jeff Fielder. She sounded great, and the band did, too!
While I don’t have any video from their West Seattle set, here’s a clip by OutlawDigetalMedia on YouTube of Kim from the Wine, Women & Song night showcasing Seattle’s women singers, with, maybe not coincidentally, many of the male musicians who were on stage with Kim in West Seattle playing as the house band:
Check out more of Kim Virant’s music at: http://www.myspace.com/kimvirant
A little bit later, I caught Satchel at the same stage. Satchel really rocked, as you can tell from the clip below (from West Seattle Blog). I had only heard lead singer Shawn Smith at the mini-Brad reunion with Stone Gossard & friends at the Hootenanny for Haiti, where they played Buttercup from Brad.
Shawn (& Stone)’s other band, Brad, had a cd release this week, and are playing a free gig at Easy Street Records’ Queen Anne location on August 12 at 7 pm (wait, its after midnight, so that’s tonight).
Websites at: http://www.shawnsmithsinger.com
& http://www.bradcorporation.com/
It was finally getting dark at the end of Satchel’s set, but I wasn’t done rocking out for the evening. Playing a couple blocks up the street, at the California Stage were Hells Belles, the all girl AC/DC tribute band. They totally rocked out the place, with a huge and fanatic crowd, singing along. I had not realized how many AC/DC songs I knew by hear. Hey, I was going to high school when these guys were big. . . The girls had all the moves down, too; and the guys in the crowd were going ape*#@%!
See where they’re playing next, and links to merch and music at their website: http://www.hellsbelles.info/
Here they are with their TNT encore, from eyeheartgiraffe on YouTube:
Wow! I was finally rocked out for the night and headed home; but I would be back in West Seattle soon. . .
That Saturday’s West Seattle adventure started out at Alki Beach. I decided to check out the Seafair Pirates‘ landing this year. I don’t know, maybe I’m just not young enough. The pirates’ landing didn’t seem that exciting to me. The kids (& a lot of grown ups) love them though.
Just be careful with your possessions. . .
Seafair Pirate Auctioning Camera
Is that a stolen camera you’re trying to sell me, or are you happy to see me? . . . or are you checking out my camera?
I did not join the bidding on the camera nabbed, no doubt, from some poor soul who thought he’d take a few pictures of the nice pirates. OK, maybe not so poor. It would have been a nice upgrade. . .
I learned my lesson about Seafair Pirates at this year’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. This charming scalawag. . .
Pirate who stole my backpack
“Look up there!”, he said to me, and so I looked, while he made some outrageous claim about someone flying an Irish flag off one of the flagpoles (still flying the Stars & Stripes and the Washington state flags, as usual). Seconds later, he’s running down the street with my backpack. . .
Hey, wait a second! Well, at least I had his photo to show the cops. . . Come to think of it, though, there was a cop right at the intersection. . .Fortunately, the pirate returned my backpack.
So, no, I didn’t bid on the stolen camera at the pirate’s landing. Is this a good thing to be teaching kids? How easy it is to steal? I know the Seafair Pirates return their loot, but will all the little rascals (especially when they grow up)? Just asking. . .
It was a nice, if hot day, so I took the time to dip my toes in the water and walk up Alki Beach to the lighthouse before heading over to the West Seattle Junction for more music at their Summerfest.
Alki Beach Lighthouse
While it isn’t the ocean, Elliott Bay does have salt water and little waves. Although, alas, it and the rest of the sound does need some cleaning, which is why I think the idea of the Puget Sound Partnership is a good one. It’s just that there have been reports that they’re spending their money in questionable ways. . . Lets hope most of it is being used to clean up Puget Sound.
After my stroll on the beach, I navigated the buses to go back to The Junction. As I’ve learned in the past, going to more than one place in West Seattle, especially on the weekend, when the one route that runs from Alki to the Junction isn’t running. I figured I’d take the bus I came on back to California Street in the Admiral District and hop a bus down California to the festival, which worked.
Did I mention my chosen attire for the pirate’s landing? My Riot Act era Pearl Jam t-shirt with a skull & crossbones and my pink sun hat. Now, I always get strange reactions when I wear that t-shirt. On the one hand, I get compliments from die-hard Pearl Jam fans, always guys. . . Hey, wait a second, maybe I should wear it more often. . . Sigh. Unfortunately, even the Pearl Jam fan base is generally 10 years younger than me. It’s getting even stranger now that I realize most of the bands I’m watching are young enough to be my kids. . . Regarding the t-shirt, on the other hand, a lot of people recoil, or give me dirty looks because of the skull and crossbones. . .
Even when paired with this pink hat:
Pink Sun Hat
I wandered around at first, as the two bands I knew I wanted to hear, playing at partially overlapping times, were later in the afternoon. A lot of indie music that I wasn’t that into at first. I decided to look around for a bite to eat, and ended up going to the Taco Guaymas on California for a couple of beef tacos (holding the cheese, of course, much as I miss it). It was good, and so was the non-carbonated aqua fresca I had with it.
I walked on down to the other end of the street and caught Massy Ferguson at the California Stage. They were playing some great Americana. Here’s their Wagon Wheel closer (and my not so great video):
Here’s a better clip, by TheShadyOne of them playing Take Down the Company at the Sunset Tavern in Ballard:
Check out Massy Ferguson’s website for upcoming gigs, including their cd release party September 17 at Neumos:
http://www.massyfergusonband.com/
Next, I listened to an acoustic set by Marc Olsen down at the Alaska Stage. Good songwriting. There’s not a lot current about him or his music online (a MySpace page that looks like it hasn’t been updated in far longer than my own or our Amnesty International group’s which I’m supposed to be maintaining, and an album from 2003 on cdbaby, for example). Marc has played with bands like Sage and Sky Cries Mary.
Marc Olsen
I then headed over to the California Stage to catch the start of Mark Pickerel and his Praying Hands‘ set. More great Americana. I know a lot of people still think of him as the Screaming Trees drummer, and he still does a lot of great drunning with groups around town; but if you haven’t checked out his singing, you really should; and he’s got a great band backing him with the Praying Hands.
Here’s a clip from the West Seattle Festival of Graffiti Girl:
Check out more of Mark’s music on Bloodshot Records and his MySpace page:
http://www.bloodshotrecords.com/artist/mark-pickerel
http://www.myspace.com/markpickerelandhisprayinghands
Of course, you can also find Mark’s music (and many of the other bands I’ve mentioned on this blog) at Damaged Goods, his record store in Belltown.
I slipped away from Mark’s set in time to catch Kristen Ward at the Alaska stage. It makes no sense that they scheduled them at nearly the same time. . . Of course, I could have caught Kristen the next day at the Ballard Seafood Fest, . . .but that would have meant having my act together, which I sadly didn’t on Sunday. . .
Kristen and her band were in find form. Here they are with a new song:
. . . and Shoot Me Down, from West Seattle Blog:
Kristen’s website for more music and upcoming gigs:
Her one Friday night at the Columbia Theater with Kasey Anderson and Barton Carroll has fallen off the front page with all the other gigs coming up, but is listed on the Shows page.
I caught a little of Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter before I left. Here’s a clip from the West Seattle Blog:
Her website is: http://www.jessesykes.com/
As I waited for the bus back, I was already plotting my return trip the next morning to catch The Dusty 45s. I had it together, or at least I thought I did. Somewhere between Saturday evening and and Sunday morning I lost track of the time. 12:45. . . It’s not that early on a Sunday. OK, maybe for me it is. . .
OK. There were other things distracting me, which is why I built in extra time for the 1:45 start. . .oops. . .to get there early and even have a cupcake from Cupcake Royale. . .which at least meant I only missed half of their set instead of all of it. . .
The Dusty 45s
It just wasn’t my day. When I got home, and checked the two videos I took, I realized just because I can zoom in during video on my camera, doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Unfortunately, it takes to long to recover focus. . . OK, so my camera is kind of like me. . .
Here’s one of Walking in the Rain from the West Seattle Blog:
Fortunately, that was not my last chance to catch The Dusty 45s this summer, or even that week. . .
Check out their upcoming schedule at: http://www.dusty45s.com/
A lot more music coming soon, and lantern floating on Green Lake!
Hopefully, before September. . .
Dusty 45s CD Release & Originals at the Tractor
05 Apr 2010 Leave a Comment
in Music, Seattle, The Dusty 45s Tags: The Raggedy Anns, Tractor Tavern
So after catching their show at Easy Street Records on a Friday night, I headed over to the Tractor Tavern for The Dusty 45s’ second show Saturday.
The Raggedy Anns opened – a young band of guys who harkened back to the British invasion of the 60s, with a some swing in there, too. Their trumpet player also played the clarinet.
Cool! Took me back a-ways and got the crowd dancing.
Here’s a video from a previous gig at the Vera Project:
Check out more of their music at:
http://www.myspace.com/raggedyannmusic
To make it extra special,The Dusty 45s played only originals all night, until the encore.
In addition to my usual, excessive number of photos of questionable quality, I managed to shoot two videos. Title cut, Fortunate Man, above. OK, a little shaky on camera technique, but the band is great!
Along with their new album, they also played some of their older stuff, including Bumble Bee (they had a lot of fun with that one), and Chase Your Dream.
I had a dream! Well, at least I remember I had one! Some day some one will YouTube my only (as far as I know), video taped stand up routine. . .
I don’t know it that will be a good day or not. . .
Back to the show!
32 Quarters, their finale for the main set. My memory card gave out shortly after the bugle lighting, but caught enough of it to give you the idea (and the song really rocks). That dapper young man who flicks his Bic, is, of course, the lead singer from The Raggedy Anns.
Awesome!
More about The Dusty 45s, including their upcoming shows at:
Behind Door Number 1 – The Dusty 45s!
03 Apr 2010 Leave a Comment
in Music, Seattle, The Dusty 45s Tags: Easy Street Records
Caught The Dusty 45s twice last weekend! First up was their free show at the Queen Anne Easy Street Records. I wandered up after work that Friday, though downtown and Belltown, then past Seattle Center.
Wandering past this poignant scene in front of the Seattle Art Museum – The Hammering Man is missing his left arm, which is in for repairs due to repetitive stress injury! Hope he’s getting Workmen’s Comp, and maybe the wage & hour folks should look into this, too. According to the city’s sign, since 1992, The Hammering Man has logged 90,000 hours, striking four times a minute!
Who do I call? Oh, wait, I have a show to go to. . .
So I stayed out of trouble (hmm, maybe we need a rally or march on SAM), stopped off for a quick cup of coffee at Uptown Espresso and got to the record store early,
This was my first time at an in-store show at either of the Easy Street locations, so I was trying to figure out where they’d fit the band. I noticed people were hanging around the record racks in back (new LPs, err, vinyl; not just dusty 45s). I didn’t think it was odd that the Nirvana mural was on what looked like a garage door.
It was like one of those old game shows. They raised the door and behind Door Number 1, it’s. . .
. . .The Dusty 45s! Whew, we chose right. It could have been a goat or Officer O’Malley of the FBI from the Cheech & Chong album. . .
Seriously, Easy Street Records is a cool venue to see one of your favorite bands. Check their website so see who’s playing the stores next.
It makes for an all ages show, too!
The Dusty 45s played their entire Fortunate Man album, in order. It’s all original material, written by lead singer Billy Joe Huels. A lot of songs about romance (going good or gone bad, though mostly the former), a couple on not being greedy, and ending on 3 very personal ones: Stompin’ Through, about his brother’s schizophrenia, Perfect Piece of Art, dedicated to his wife (who was there, and had also recently just donated a kidney), and City Girl, dedicated to his parents (also present) and about their marriage.
Ending on an encore of Chase Your Dream, with the obligatory trumpet lighting.
Then they stuck around to sign everyone’s cds!
Coming up next, with videos, The Dusty 45s at the Tractor Tavern the following night!
Links:
The Dusty 45s: http://www.dusty45s.com/
on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/dusty45s
(30 second clips from the album, from iLike, under the music tab)
Easy Street Records: http://www.easystreetonline.com/
In addition to their shows and record stores like Easy Street, Fortunate Man is also up on iTunes.
Dusty 45s for the Homeless
06 Feb 2010 Leave a Comment
in Homeless, Music, Seattle, The Dusty 45s Tags: Chuckanut Drive, DESC, Triple Door
A week ago Friday I went out to see the Dusty 45s again! New Year’s Eve wasn’t enough. This time they were rocking the Triple Door for a two show benefit for DESC (the Downtown Emergency Service Center), an organization that helps the homeless.
I went to the second show and missed all the dignitaries like Congressman Jim McDermott and Senator Maria Cantwell who were at the first show. Photos of them are currently on the DESC site’s Gimme Shelter 2010 thank you page. As the DESC article on the event points out, this was one night after the annual One Night Count, which identified over 2,700 people living outdoors in King County. See the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness for more information:
http://www.homelessinfo.org/one_night_count/
There was another band that sounded pretty good playing the Triple Door’s Musicquarium Lounge as a approached the ticket counter to ask about will call. They were also playing pretty loud, which led to pantomime to find out how to get to the check in for my tickets. I had a little time to wait after that before they let people in to the main stage area, and got to listen in the lounge a little while and check out the groovy fish in their huge aquarium.
I was surprisingly close to the stage, given I had waited until nearly the last minute to buy a ticket, given the state of my own finances. This was my first time at the Triple Door, and I liked it, even though it’s a bit too classy for me at the moment and I found that a little intimidating. I ordered a ginger martini, which was very delicious and took me the whole night to finish, saving me from feeling guilty about not ordering anything else the whole night. It was strong, I would not want to try it if I had one hour instead of four to drink it. . .
What can I say, I’m getting adventurous these days now that I can’t have beer because of the fizz and my health problem. I could have had wine, but the prices for some of their glasses scared me. What if I accidentally order the wrong thing and it’s more than I have in the bank?
Also while I was waiting I met a friend of The Dusty 45s’ lead singer Billy Joe Huels, who had volunteered with him building a community center in Peru (and hadn’t heard the whole band live yet – he was in for a treat!).
First up was Chuckanut Drive, a band from Bellingham, named after a road in Bellingham. I really liked their sound. They wrote and played some good Americana, many of the songs about live in Bellingham.
Here’s their video for Ain’t Much Action:
Check out more of their music at:
http://www.chuckanutdrive.net/
http://www.myspace.com/chuckanutdriveband
Then it was time for The Dusty 45s! A little more of the Seattle crowd that takes a bit of prodding to get going than New Year’s Eve. Maybe due to the seating. Maybe all the energy was at the early show (which those in the know about McDermott and Cantwell being there probably went to). The bands were going, anyways though!
Someone caught some video of the first show, so while they didn’t play 32 Quarters during our set, it’ll give you an idea of their energy level. It’s also one of their original songs, and seems both appropriate and inappropriate at the same time. I love that they played it when the big shots were there.
No matter what you think about giving pan handlers money when you think they’re going to spend it on alcohol or drugs, there’s also the issue of not seeing their humanity as we walk on by.
In introducing the speaker from DESC, Billy Joe did the one thing that could get me to donate money, as close to broke as I was – he spoke from the heart. He also hit a little closer to home than I want to talk about here.
DESC is an organization that helps homeless people with some of the toughest problems – mental illness, chemically dependent, elderly, physically and developmentally disabled and the medically compromised. It’s sad how many cracks we have for people to fall through in our society; and good that we have organizations like DESC trying to take that all on.
Even with this “Seattle crowd” The Dusty 45s did get people up dancing. They also called the pedal steel player from Chuckanut Drive out to play a couple songs with them, too.
Of course, there was the finale where Billy Joe set his trumpet ablaze. Here’s video on YouTube posted from the first show (wonder if McDermott and Cantwell were still around for it. . .):
I filled out my donation envelope (had to use my credit card, but even that’s near the top), dropped it off and managed to catch the last bus to the U District out of the bus tunnel.
Great show, great cause!
Ringing in New Years with The Dusty 45s
03 Jan 2010 Leave a Comment
in Mark Pickerel, Music, Seattle, The Dusty 45s Tags: Tractor Tavern
So, I ventured back to The Tractor in Ballard for New Year’s Eve with The Dusty 45s and Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands. Two great Americana/Rock-a-Billy bands for $20 in advance, topped off with a literally flaming trumpet toward the end and an encore or two after that.
What’s not to love? Well, probably the cost of the new sprinkler system for the Tractor, but the owner had to install those by the December deadline anyways, might as well put to the test. . .
Famous last words, probably one day on my tombstone (and not doubt another great rock-a-billy band will write a song about it), but on with the show!
Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands opened and would have been worth the price of admission themselves. Really great songwriting and sound. Here’s a clip of A Town Without the Blues on Vimeo which looks like it’s from the West Seattle Festival a couple years ago:
Check out the NPR Song of the Day clip for Let Me Down Easy as well:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=87915173
Kelly Van Camp, the drummer for the Dusty 45s, came out and joined them playing the harmonica and singing for a few songs.
Someone offered to take a photo with me in front of the band. Here I am, dazed and confused (or maybe just looking like a geek – but that was in 2009!):
Their main website seems to be down, but more from Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands at:
http://www.bloodshotrecords.com/artist/mark-pickerel
&
http://www.myspace.com/markpickerelandhisprayinghands
Then it was time for The Dusty 45s! They set the crowd afire long before the trumpet. Great band, and Billy Joe is a good front man for Seattle crowds (who as we’ve talked about before, have a tendency to just stand there, inert), because he’s a great showman, and if the crowd’s energy isn’t there, he’s going to make sure he brings it back up.
They played a lot songs from their upcoming album, due out in March. Here’s the title cut, Fortunate Man from a show at The Brick Tavern in Roslyn, WA:
Oh, wait! Am I forgetting something? Oh, yeah. It was New Years! I actually YouTubed the countdown (my first video attempt at a club show):
I didn’t video the flaming trumpet finale to the main set, but here’s one from a previous show on YouTube:
Yes, a little pyromania to start the New Year! He even went into the crowd with it!
Trumpet a little singed. . .
That wasn’t the end of it. The band came back for two encores!
Over at 1:30 in the morning. Did I mention both bands played an earlier show at The Tractor, too?
Check out more of The Dusty 45s’ music at:
Bumbershoot: Flaming Trumpets, Grooving Beats
09 Sep 2009 Leave a Comment
in Bumbershoot, Music, Seattle, The Dusty 45s Tags: Dusty 45s, Extra Golden, Michael Franti, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Michael Schrieve's Spellbinder, Michael Shrieve, Raphael Saadiq, Seattle Center
Sunday, my day at Bumbershoot, I started out the afternoon with a rock-a-billy band literally on fire, grooved out to African music and a jazz band that included the marathon drummer famous from Woodstock, braved a mosh pit full of teenage fans of that Mraz guy to see Michael Franti, and ended the evening with soul music so good the crowd would not let the band leave.
It was raining cold and hard earlier in the morning, but I’ve lived in the Northwest too long to wimp out, and besides I had already bought my ticket months ago, when it was half price (sign up for Bumbershoot’s e-mail list or go straight to their website when they first announce the line up to catch that deal). Fortunately, the weather improved, and I never needed my umbrella, but we had sunny t-shirt weather, rain, cold, sun again – all in the first set. Ahh – Seattle!
I even braved a crowded bus, tourists on the Ride the Duck singing and gesturing “YMCA”, and walking past the loneliest amusement park on earth to get there! Sad, but true, on the latter for “Fun Forest.” When there’s only two people on a ride while the rest of Seattle Center is packed, including families with kids, you know it doesn’t have long in this world.
I knew I wanted to get there in time to catch the Dusty 45s, our wild and raucous home-grown rock-a-billy band! Slightly scary, too, but in a fun way.
Here’s a YouTube clip from a show at The Triple Door in Seattle last year:
While the crowd cycled through shedding and adding layers of clothes as the seasons changed during the set and the tent released all it’s stored up rain water in a torrent (streaking the mural behind the Mural Stage), the band had a blast and was on fire. Literally!
Trumpet player and lead singer Billy Joe Huels set his trumpet aflame and kept playing it as it burned on. What a finale!
Billy Joe said they’re playing New Year’s Eve at the Tractor Tavern. Flaming trumpets in Ballard! I’m there!
I went to buy their new 3 song Fortunate Man EP and saw they were going to sign autographs, so I stood in line and got it autographed by Billy Joe; lead guitarist Jerry Battista; Jeff Gray, who plays the upright bass (which he made a little drawing of!) and drummer Kelly Van Camp (yeah, that’s right – the drummer from Mike McCready’s Flight to Mars crew).
I wandered around some after that. Heard a good soul song from the Fisher Green stage, but it turned out most of that band’s music was rap.
Yeah, I know, who am I to be calling Fun Forest decrepit? Seattle Center is two years younger than me. Worlds Fair, baby! The Elvis movie one. There’s a lot of things I don’t get these days – rap; sleepy, weepy,indie music; energy drinks. What’s in that stuff? They were giving them away free at the gate, but I figure they either have to have dairy, fizz, or both (neither of which I can drink with my health problem); but I realized, I really don’t have a clue. Other than caffeine, I have no idea this stuff is, and the kids are loading up on it!
In any case, I caught a little jazz, ate dinner, and as I was walking by a pass booth realized I hadn’t gotten my main stage pass when I came in, and I wanted to see Michael Franti & Spearhead, who were opening the Main Stage, evening show this year. Whoa. After all these years of Bumbershoot, to forget something like that! They still had them, though, so I was fine.
After dinner, I checked out the Fisher Green stage again, and heard some good African music from Extra Golden. They really got the crowd moving, and it was teenagers to grandparents.
Here’s their promotional clip on YouTube:
Next, I wanted to catch some jazz with Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder. Last month, the Seattle Times did an article on Michael Shrieve, who is famous for his drum solo with Santana at Woodstock, and is currently playing with Spellbinder, including a long standing gig every Monday night at ToST in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle.
Beautiful music, living up to their name. Here’s a clip on YouTube from the Bumbershoot set (there area a couple jumps):
It was really crowded and I found myself a place on the ground. Some people did get up to dance, though. Now, here I am, complaining everyone never dances; and about how when we do dance, there are always more women then men; and I didn’t get up to join the “old white people dancing”, as someone said; mostly guys!
Hey, I don’t have my AARP card yet! Umm, about 8 months from now. . . Many of the people dancing looked like they could have been at Woodstock, a few like they never came back. Yeah, there’s still a few hippies around in Seattle.
After Spellbinder’s set, it was almost time for Michael Franti & Spearhead. I think the last time I saw Michael Franti was at the Fisher Green stage at Bumbershoot, 2 or 3 years ago. I don’t know how to describe his music – a mix of rock, reggae, funk, hip hop; and always very socially aware. I’ve been lucky enough to table a couple of his concerts for Amnesty International, and we actually had people signing petitions right up to the show was over after 1 in the morning. They’d notice us when they went out to catch a breath of fresh air, all exhausted.
I got to the Main Stage after walking through a very long line, starting at Key Arena, going to the huge stadium. I made my way up front, and this year, they had the very front section was roped off into a kind of mosh pit. Mosh pit area was very packed, with security not letting people stand past a line forming a corridor in back of the area.
So, I made my way down the corridor, to the other side of the stage and found a way into the back of the crowd of. . . mostly teenagers. A very packed crowd of mostly teenagers, some of whom, politely (this is Seattle!), pushed there way through in hopes of getting closer to the stage. So, I figured (correctly, it turned out), most of the crowd was there to see Jason Mraz, who Michael Franti was opening for.
It was all chill. Michael Franti got them moving, grooving, and jumping up and down, anyways. Not the more political crowd I’m used to at his shows. Maybe a good idea having him open for Mraz. Get a little education in there while they’re having a good time. Some of them weren’t quite sure what to make of Time to Go Home at first, but I think realized he’s for the troops, just for getting them back home safe.
YouTube clip from the 2008 Sasquatch Festival at the Gorge:
Actually, I don’t think Franti’s sentiment on this is too controversial anymore. Sunday morning before the show, I heard George Will agree with The Nation’s Katrina vanden Heuvel that it’s time to bring our boys and girls home from Afghanistan.
Hey World (Don’t Give Up):
Of course I was right about most of the kids being there for Jason Mraz. They went nuts when Franti brought him on stage to sing with him on his current (and first!) top 40 hit, Say Hey. I still don’t get it, even after hearing him live. That’s okay, though. More room for all of them when I and all the other Franti fans left.
Regarding the mosh pit, though, Bumbershoot really didn’t do that the right way. I know the reason for doing that, even though there was a lot of room back on the rest of the stadium lawn, is for safety concerns. So people don’t get crushed in a rush to the stage. Which is why at other shows I’ve been to that do that, they carefully count off how many people can enter that section. At Bumbershoot, they let as many as could squeeze in go into it. They weren’t turning anyone away, other than keeping that corridor. Ironically, creating the kind of packed situation where what they obviously feared could have happened. It was the most packed crowd I’ve ever been in (even with the real mosh pit at the Mudhoney show). All the kids were mellow, but still. . .
I was off to hear some soul, though. I caught Raphael Saadiq at the Fisher Green Stage. Now dark out, a good size crowd there now. I know they call his music neo-soul, but it sounded like good, old-fashioned Motown soul to me.
I found video this time from the actual Bumbershoot show:
Raphael has some Clark Kent/Superman action going on when he takes off his glasses and loosens up his tie, finally down to a black, sleeveless t-shirt (with some of the girls screaming “Take it off!”).
He’s got a great band and back up singers, too; and we just wouldn’t let them leave. After their first encore wrapped up with a Let the Sunshine In crowd sing along; with it being around 10:53 pm and the house even playing some recorded music, I thought people were crazy for sticking around, hoping for more. I was starting to head toward the Center House on my way out. . . and. . . they came out for one more, and probably more than that, but the stage manager came out after that one, right at 10:59 and said the city won’t let them play any longer. Ahh, curfew! Probably a good thing for the band, or we would have kept them there all night!
Wow! It was a great afternoon and evening. I was aching the next day, though. Like Fun Forest, I’m not so young any more!
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