So Tuned In

Mickey Hart's Big Bang

2011-12-04T21:02:00.000-08:00

Photo by Michael Weintrob

Mickey Hart Band

featuring Tim Hockenberry, Crystal Monee Hall, Vir McCoy, Ian “Inx” Herman, Gawain Mathews, Greg Ellis, and Sikiru Adepoju.

Tractor Tavern, Ballard, WA

December 1, 2011

I didn’t need any convincing to go hear Mickey Hart and his new band play a tiny brick warehouse in Seattle last Thursday night. Only 200 people? To hear this legendary seeker and world traveler, who made 22 albums and performed 2,300 live concerts spanning 30 years with the Grateful Dead? Not surprising, the entire crowd was dancing and cheering from the first note on. There’s always a magical “je nais se quoi” around the music and members of the Grateful Dead.

In an article I read recently, Mickey explains his theology. I think it explains his reason for being, and his special passion for music:

“Speaking as Mickey Hart, Rhythmist, it's about the rhythm of things. Everything is interlocked. The world is rhythm. Everything in the world has a vibration. Anything that's alive and moves has a vibration. And if it has a vibration, it has a sound. And if it has a sound, there's an effect emotionally that it can have on you, spiritually perhaps. Whether it be through brain-wave function or something that makes you dance, it's all interconnected. Music is just a miniature for what's happening in the universe and deep space, from the beginning of time 13.7 billion years ago.”

Mickey has been digging deep inside his psyche to explore the frontiers of the cosmos for many years. Some of the Dead’s drums/space jams are legendary for his polyrhythmic sound sculptures. Like this one from June 14, 1989:

Grateful Dead Drums/Space June 14,1989

The show last Thursday night featured an amazing electronic drums-synthesizers cockpit, at the core of which Mickey buzzed, tapped, and pounded, all the while intently commandeering the sound. His set took up half the stage; the other half featured three fine--and previously unknown to me--musicians: a lead guitar player, a fabulous male singer (who did The Other One), and a rich soprano who made a few of us cry when she sang a slow, heartfelt Brokedown Palace. In the background hulked a Shrek-like bass player who at some key moments stole the show with his Lesh-like symphonic stylings.

The Other One from the other night

The band gleefully and comfortably stretched out to explore the vibrations of the Universe. Recently Mickey explained how he actually gathers sounds from space:

“I'm working with NASA and scientists like George Smoot, who won the Nobel Prize in 2006 for his discovery of the big bang. Pulsars, galaxies, supernovas, black holes, stars, planets—they all have a vibration. And since space is a vacuum, there's no sound. The only way those vibrations can travel is through light waves. Once we've gathered those with radio telescopes, I take the algorithms and make sound out of it. And that's what this band I'm touring with now is about. The band will be playing these sounds and having a conversation with the universe. You'll be hearing sounds that no human has ever heard before. The sounds that spawned you. These vibrations that are your ancestors.”

OK, heady stuff for sure. And very cool in theory. In practice, I was a bit relieved to find that the sounds were a lot more accessible cerebrally than I thought they would be. In fact, strangely familiar and danceable. Rich and multi-layered, and very interesting. Distant cousins of techno-world-jazz-fusion-rock. It was also interesting how these primordial sounds so easily slipped into recognizable songs, like a seal into water: did Mickey know some of my favorites are Scarlet Begonias, The Other One, and Brokedown Palace? Or do they just have the vibrations that Mickey (and I) resonate with most?

Union Jack: Rolling Stones Tribute This Saturday

2011-11-16T14:30:00.000-08:00

Stu Gordon on bass, with Mick Zimmerman

Albert Ceccacci tears it up on "Can't You Hear Me Knocking"

Union Jack - Last Show of the Year this Saturday 9:30 p.m.!
Celebrating the re-issue of "Some Girls"

at BB McGraw’s
440 16th st NE, Auburn, WA 98002
253.333.8205
http://www.bbmagraws.net

“I still want to be Keith Richards,” said a guitar-player friend of mine recently. We were talking about tone, and how certain musicians not only get great tone out of their guitars, but create their own signature sounds that are recognizable as their own from the first note.

That signature tone is one of the reasons it’s so hard to nail the Stones’ sound, and why there are so few Rolling Stones tribute bands worth seeing.

Enter Union Jack, stage right. Great, danceable Rolling Stones music that’s so ultimately cool. And they really do nail it with the right sound, great musicianship, and a touch of showmanship. That would be enough for me, but the band goes the extra measure and provides a dramatic impression by dressing and acting the parts of the members of the original Rolling Stones band. Watching their “Keith” played by Ciggy Cater, I’m almost transported back to 1978 when I first saw the Stones, playing Anaheim stadium (Peter Tosh and Prince opened).

Raw guitar work, scorching solos, and that oh-so-right feedback. Albert Ceccacci, who literally and musically “plays” the Ronnie Wood part, looks a lot like Ronnie under the black rock’n’roll hair. Mick Zimmerman makes a great “Mick” front man, with scarf-swashling struts and flourishes.

But, I have to say my favorite is the understated Stu Gordon, who plays the Bill Wyman bass part. No small feat: Stu brings all the touch and elegance of Bill’s genius bass compositions, along with the Power of a long-time bass-playing veteran. And even as the original Wyman-Watts rhythm section was the bedrock upon which the Stones’ sound was laid, Stu and now-drummer Bruce Ericson drill deep.

Union Jack, this Saturday 9:30 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.

BB McGraw’s

440 16th st NE, Auburn, WA 98002
253.333.8205
http://www.bbmagraws.net

Robben Ford is Golden

2011-10-20T15:05:00.000-07:00

Robben Ford, Triple Door, Seattle, October 19, 2011

Robben Ford does not disappoint. Whether playing his beautiful vintage Gold Top, or cream-colored Tele, he alternately woos and bullies the most fantastic tones out of his guitars.

With a past studded with legendary music stars, Robben brings it all to every show. You can hear the influences haunting his playing. Robben has toured with such jazz greats as Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Witherspoon, and Miles Davis, Bill Evans (Miles’ saxophonist), and John Scofield, and pop and rock legends George Harrison, Phil Lesh, Darryl Jones (Rolling Stones’ later bassist) and Bob Dylan, among others.

Robben plays at a “Wow!” level, right up there with Pat Metheny and Larry Carlton. In fact, his Gold Top guitar was a gift from Larry. And he makes it shine.

His current trio, performing last night in front an intimate audience of 250 lucky people, absolutely mesmerized. Each artist was distinctly and insanely great, from Robben’s soulful singing and masterful playing, to drummer Gary Novak’s pin-point sticks and boom, to bassist Jimmy Haslip’s artful architecture and never-wavering pulse. Robben writes much of his material, but it’s often hard to tell he’s doing a cover; his unique character and style makes the song his own.

Visit www.robbenford.com for tour dates and information about his instructional “guitar dojo” and clinics.

Billy Shew Band

2011-09-14T18:47:00.000-07:00

Shew Fetish

Go and see Billy Shew and you will be humming melodies and tapping toes for days. Billy is one of those rare guitarist/songwriters who gets into your head and lingers. Maybe it’s the fact that he writes his own original material and does his own vocals—his music is delivered straight from the heart.

It doesn’t hurt that he has mastered his instrument and makes it look easy. Or that his playing is bright and musical. Billy isn’t hard on the ears or the eyes. But what truly engages is his ability to do what good movies do, and that is to “suspend disbelief.” Meaning, he takes you away, and for a brief time you’re removed to a magical place all his own making. Don’t pinch me, I don’t want to wake up!

Billy Shew lead vocals and guitar, Doug McGrew on drums, and Hank Yanda on bass,
doing a mystical "Feels Like Rain"

Billy’s new album, called Look at Me Now provides a clue to his enigmatic appeal. Starting with the punchy How ‘Bout Now? he’s right there, and, you realize instantly, so are you. With surprising chord progressions, nice fat bass, great lyrics, and tasty embellishment licks, Billy is all about being in the moment. He exudes a sense of gratitude and yet longing. The poignant “Is This Real?” shows a childlike awe and wonder. His stellar band brings rich harmonies and depth to the arrangements. A special shout-out to his bassist, Hank Yanda, one of the best around. Love the old ’62 jazz bass, smooth as velvet.

Get the new Billy Shew CD “Look at Me Now” only $10

Look for show dates on Billy Shew’s Calendar

Guitarist Robben Ford to play Seattle

2011-08-29T16:12:00.000-07:00

photos by George Wells

Guitar Hero Robben Ford

For those of you who know who Robben is, or have seen him play, you know what I’m talkin’ about. This guy’s discography reads like the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame roster. I’ve had the distinct pleasure of experiencing Robben’s musical genius live on several occasions. And a lucky audience will have an opportunity again:

Robben Ford, with guitarist Mike Landau, bassist Jimmy Haslip, and drummer Gary Novak, Triple Door, Seattle, October 19

Robben has played with artists as diverse as Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Witherspoon, Miles Davis, George Harrison, Phil Lesh, Larry Carlton, Bonnie Raitt, Claus Ogerman, Bob Dylan, John Mayall, Greg Allman, and many others.

Robben recently started his Guitar Dojo, a learning center where he shares his experiences and musical discoveries. Here, follow along as Robben gives you personal and comprehensive lessons through high quality streaming video. You can also virtually visit sound checks and other live recordings.

A little history from his website:

He began to teach himself guitar at age thirteen upon hearing the two guitarists from The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Michael Bloomfield and Elvin Bishop. In the late 1960’s, Ford frequented the Fillmore and Winterland Auditoriums in San Francisco to see Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Albert King, B.B. King and all of the progenitors of blues. “It was an incredible time for electric guitar,” Robben recalls.

On his interest in jazz, Robben says, "I fell in love with the sax-playing of Paul Desmond and The Dave Brubeck Quartet, and before long found Ornette Coleman, Archie Shepp, Yusef Lateef, Roland Kirk, John Coltrane, Wayne Shorter, and of course, Miles Davis.”

Robben’s first attempt at forming his own jazz quartet was picked up by legendary blues singer Jimmy Witherspoon, who brought Robben to L.A. He toured the U.S. and Europe with Witherspoon and was seen by Tom Scott and members of The L.A. Express, who were about to begin a promotional tour with Joni Mitchell for her recording “Court and Spark.” Robben was invited to play guitar on the tour and played on two recordings with Mitchell and The L.A. Express. “The two years I spent with Joni were the most formative of my musical life. Joni was just brilliant and very accessible.”

Beatle George Harrison invited Robben to join him on his “Dark Horse” tour of the U.S. and Canada…”

After moving to New York, he was called to play with musical icon Miles Davis. “Producer Tommy LiPuma played Miles my work with the Yellowjackets, then three days later, Miles called me personally to join his band. Shocking!”

“Tiger Walk” is an instrumental recording produced in New York with Keith Richards' rhythm section…”

In 2000 Robben was invited to tour with Phil Lesh and Friends, co-billing with Bob Dylan, and reuniting him with Billy Paine and Paul Barrere of Little Feat, as well as drummer John Molo. “This experience gave me new respect for Jerry Garcia as a musician and songwriter. The songs and musical context were pure pleasure--real guitar music!"

In 2002, he released “Blue Moon” [I highly recommend this album]. His third release for Concord was entitled “Truth”. “I feel this is the best work I have done in terms of a solo recording. It is my most realized work as a songwriter, and I feel like I am reaching higher ground as a guitarist. [I second that!]

Robben has been touring the world off and on with the legendary guitarist Larry Carlton, the two producing “Live in Tokyo”, and an “unplugged” DVD from Paris. Collaboration seems to be the current M.O.-- projects with John Scofield, and touring and recording with fellow Miles Davis alumni saxophonist Bill Evans, as well as Randy Brecker and Rolling Stones bassist Darryl Jones.

Most recently (2010) Robben released “Renegade Creation,” with a group of musical friends who have played in different combinations and contexts over the years and decided to focus on a project together recording for Mike Varney’s Shrapnel label. This is a rock band, Robben’s first, and the results have people talking: “Dare I say everyone who hears it, loves it!” The other members are guitarist Mike Landau, bassist Jimmy Haslip and drummer Gary Novak. [This is the line-up playing at Triple Door Oct 19 !!!]

HOT HOT Beatles Show: The Nowhere Men

2011-08-05T21:41:00.000-07:00

Nowhere Men play to a crowd of 800 people at University Village, Seattle

Now that’s rock n’roll, when the guitar player literally lights his amp on fire! That’s what happened Wednesday night at the outdoor University Village show featuring the apparently hotter-than-hot Nowhere Men.

George Myers on rhythm guitar got us all dancing with “Get Back” and looked over to see flames coming out of his amp, while Rick on bass stopped playing and quickly, carefully, unplugged a few things. But did a mere burning amp stop the show? No! They continued right on with a fabulous medley that included, I Want You, She Came In Through the Bathroom Window, and A Day in the Life. At one point I thought the lead guitar player was going to light his amp on fire too, his playing was so hot!

Day Tripper at U Village

About 800 people enjoyed hearing Beatles’ music live on a rare sunny warm evening, while the Nowhere Men tripped the light fantastic through the Beatles’ library. Early songs, like “Please, Please Me” and “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” reminded us of the simple innocence of the young Fab Four, as we traveled through time to later, more satirical songs like “Taxman” and “Revolution.”

But it’s the psychedelic era of the Beatles’ body of work that I think the Nowhere Men get absolutely pitch-perfect, with songs like “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds,” “The Walrus,” “Glass Onion,” and other White Album-era pieces. These are more complexly-orchestrated compositions that really showcase the musicianship--and heart--of The Nowhere Men’s playing. They don’t try to assume the Beatles’ looks or personas; instead they strive to capture the intent and integrity of the sound of the Beatles. And they succeed.

Superb sound mixed by Audio Media of Seattle.

Catch their shows any chance you get. Here’s The Nowhere Men show calendar.

Victor Wooten, Bass God

2011-08-01T16:44:00.000-07:00

Victor Wooten on bass; Bela Fleck on banjo

A little Zydeco from Bruce Hornsby on mandolin;

Regi Wooten on washboard; Bela on banjo

Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers
Bela Fleck and the Flecktones
Chateau Ste. Michele Winery, July 30, 2011

There IS a god! A bass god—and his name is Victor Wooten. Forget for a moment that he plays with one of the greatest--if only--jazz fusion banjo players ever (yes, “jazz fusion banjo” all in the same sentence)—Bela Fleck. That is another story in itself.

Victor Wooten astounded and thrilled us on Saturday at the Chateau Ste. Michele winery concert. Bela Fleck and the Flecktones opened for Bruce Hornsby and the Noisemakers, which I was OK with seeing, too.

But, I went specifically to see Victor, and I wasn’t disappointed. He does this thing where he gets the bass going and uses both sets of fingers in opposite directions swirling up and down the fret board, as if he’s playing a great horizontal harp. It’s really unbelievable to watch, and the sound is poly-fantastic. Victor exudes pure joy when he plays. I think very few musicians feel that free onstage.

I always appreciate when great musicians “give back” by supporting music education. Victor has gone far beyond that. His Bass/Nature Camp, in its 12th year now, has grown into a permanent school on 150 acres near Nashville. People from all over the world come to Wooten Woods to learn or improve their bass playing, with instruction from greats like the legendary Chuck Rainey (Steely Dan, Aretha Franklin, etc. ) and Steve Bailey (Dizzie Gillespie, Jethro Tull, etc.). Even my bass hero Robin Sylvester (Bob Weir's Ratdog and TRI Studios) is in awe of those guys. You can apply to attend the bass camp by sending email to: basscamp@victorwooten.com

A word or two about Bela Fleck—what’s up with the name? It’s Southern, people! And it’s pronounced “bay-lah.” Bela exudes the cool of a California surfer, while superb picking and harmonies underscore his soulful interpretations. Bruce Hornsby cleverly invited Bela and Victor back onstage with him, to take his own performance higher. Bruce has written some great songs, like The Way It Is, and Spider Fingers, and although all are written for the piano, they translate very well to the bass (after all, piano and bass are both in the Rhythm Section). Bela’s banjo acted as a surprising guitar duo: rhythm and lead guitar effortlessly rolled into one.

With the orange-plum sunset gloaming behind us in the soft summer evening, they played a bittersweet Mandolin Rain, about longing and love lost. Bela and Victor wove a beautiful orchestration. The rich, purple-black 2007 Cold Creek Cabernet didn’t hurt either.

Nowhere Men and the Beatles

2011-07-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

The Nowhere Men

Last night was a gift: golden summer evening, bare feet on the grass dance "floor," and the Nowhere Men playing Beatles music! These players, led by George Myers on rhythm guitar, and Rick on bass, capture the real, live sound of the Beatles' foursome.

From their website:

"The group decided early on that they wouldn't try to physically impersonate The Beatles, but rather to concentrate on how to deliver the total sound in a live format within the context of a foursome. This has become the group's challenge and motivation. As a result, their audiences enjoy the interpretations of the early Beatles and the creativity involved in performing some of the more complex arrangements from albums like "Sgt. Pepper" and "Abbey Road.” In 2005 the band played a farewell show, intending to wrap it up after 15 great years, but the pure enjoyment of the music and the fun of sharing the experience with an audience brought them out of “retirement.” Their goal is still the same as it was when they started in 1990 – to create a live musical experience that comes as close as possible to "The Beatles" unforgettable sound."

Passionate players, fine instruments, exeptional electronics, and sophisticated mixing board and tech (thanks, Steve!) bring the Sound home.

One of the best live music experiences in the Northwest.

Experience The Nowhere Men this coming Wednesday, August 3, 2011, at University Village 6:30-8:30.

http://www.nowheremen.com

Little River Band

2011-07-19T17:44:00.000-07:00

Wayne Nelson on bass and lead vocals

It’s a Long Way There

Hey everybody…yeah, don't you feel that there's something?
Feel it, feel it?
Hey everybody…yeah, don't you feel that there's something?

People on their own are getting nowhere,
I am on the road to see,
If anything is anywhere and waiting, just for me.

Every night I walk around the city.
Seems like I'll never know,
That feeling of being together when I go.

And it's a long way there, it's a long way to where I'm going,
And it's a long way there, it's a long way to where I'm going.

This is great songwriting, brought to you by Little River Band, one of my favorite--and somewhat unheralded--bands of the '70s.

Their show at Snoqualmie Casino near Seattle last week was testament that good songwriting doesn’t fade with time. Formed in Melbourne, Australia in 1975, Little River Band based their success on good songwriting, guitar harmonies, and powerful vocals. One of the longest running band members, and arranger of most of their material, Wayne Nelson (bass/lead vocals) also hasn’t faded—his playing was just as fresh and vibrant as ever. And he plays that big old custom bass with such authority. You could tell he still felt the words and music pour out of his soul. I have to hand it to him; he really connected with the crowd (in spite of the sing-along, which, on principle, I never participate in—hey, if they want me to sing, they gotta pay me!).

Also of note was Matt Watts; with a name like that he’d better be a good drummer! And he was stellar, although if he had sat any lower in his kit he would have been on the floor, like a catcher at home plate. Turns out he’s played with a constellation of greats including The Allman Brothers, Little Feat, Charlie Daniels, and Badfinger.

It was fun seeing the whole band dressed in their idea of what Seattle-ites wear: lumberjack flannel shirts and torn jeans. C'mon, we're cooler than that.

There were some magical moments: the stunning lead guitar work in "It's a Long Way There;" the lilting and poignant “Reminiscing” and “Lady," and the cracking “Happy Anniversary." It was interesting that over 50% of the crowds’ hands shot up when they asked, “How many are celebrating NOT being married?” A bit of Aussie humor there, or a result of being On The Road for as long as these road warriors.

Steely Dan

2011-07-06T09:08:00.000-07:00

Steely Dan graces WAMU Theater in Seattle, July 2, 2011

It’s not possible to exaggerate when describing Steely Dan’s show in Seattle last week. Called the “Shuffle Diplomacy Twenty Eleven” tour, Donald Fagen and Walter Becker and their group couldn’t have played a more astounding concert. Are they Jazz? Rock? Funk? Blues? Pop? The definition of Fusion.

Classics like the poignant “Hey 19,” the simultaneously driving and haunting “Aja,” and a very funky “When Josie Comes Home,” all hit the groove beyond our wildest dreams. With the first notes of each song I was amazed at the breadth and depth of Steely Dan's body of work. No wonder the Wamu Theater was packed to the rafters with about 2,000 lucky fans.

I was mesmerized by Fagen’s tremendous writing and arranging, as all the players proved they are the absolute best of their class, from the crisp horn section to the thunderous bass and spot-on lead guitar of Jon Herington. I happen to love Walter Becker's warm sounding Fender expression, too. And it was fun to watch the three backup singers dance and groove while they added their rich soprano harmonies. It was hard to believe this was the first show of their tour, they were so incredibly sharp and tight.

The group of top players dubbed the “Miles High Band” (ode to Miles Davis?) feature the “Embassy Brats.” The “Band” and “Brats” include Jon Herington (guitar); Freddie Washington (bass); Keith Carlock (drums); Michael Leonhart, Walt Weiskopf, Roger Rosenberg and Jim Pugh (horns); Jim Beard (keys); with singers Tawatha Agee, Carolyn Escoffery and Catherine Russell.

Check out their new song, “The Bear” on YouTube.

Ayron Jones and the Way

2011-06-27T11:13:00.000-07:00

Ayron Jones, with Conrad Real on drums, photo courtesy Moonlight Media

Ayron Jones, guitar and vocals
Conrad Real, drums
Deandre Enrico, bass

It’s not often you see a young band, and I mean very young, who are already so good it blows you away. Jar of Rain is one of those, and so is Ayron Jones and the Way.

Last week Ayron Jones and his band were a highlight of the Rock Show to Benefit NW Harvest. After an impressive set by Alan White, legendary drummer for Yes, these young unassuming guys jumped up on the stage. Dylan said you can tell how good a musician is by the way they carry in their guitar case. I say you can tell a lot about a musician by how they tune up. I watched and listened carefully as the bass player thoughtfully, carefully, and oh-so-efficiently tuned his active 5-string, and I knew we were in for it.

I’d just been talking with a drummer friend about dynamics, and how often musicians sacrifice modulation for LOUD. Not these guys; they showed a keen sensitivity to the feeling and tempo of each song, whether a soulful ballad from Hendrix, or a rockin’ blues song from Buddy Guy. Good musicians let the music move them, almost as if the music plays the band, not the other way around. Then POW, all three hit us with their technical chops and blew the roof off the place. It was sheer pleasure to hear their joyful playing of blues and rock classics, with a twist.

From Facebook: “Guitarist, Singer/Songwriter Ayron Jones from Seattle, Washington mixes blues, funk, hip-hop and R&B to deliver his sound. Self taught since the age of 13, Ayron continues to develop an approach to the blues by spanning the guitar styles of legends such as Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix and Albert king. Constantly growing and exploring, Ayron adds his personal touch with rhythms and grooves derived from today's sounds while still paying tribute to the history of the blues. Ayron Jones is a student of the neo-blues evolution.”

Also, Kudos to Conrad Real on drums. I'd heard him play before as an occasional special guest at 88 Keys jams, but with this trio Conrad finds his signature style: superb touch and tasty licks with a smooth groove and punchy cymbal work. I believe he has what it takes to become one of the all-time greats.

It’s hard to say enough about Deandre Enrico on bass. I kept wondering how on earth he could be so good, so young. Few bass players engage the bass as a low-register guitar, with all chords and solos working together, and he’s already got it down!!

For show dates check the Ayron Jones and the Way Facebook page.

Mary McPage and the Assassins

2011-06-21T18:25:00.000-07:00

Recently at Engel’s in Edmonds

As a little girl, Mary McPage loved singing in church. Later she started singing in blues bands in Idaho and Florida, then Seattle. How do you go from church music to singing in blues bands? “Fear!” she says. “The Blues gets into your soul and won’t let go. It scares me, but I look it straight in the eye and do it anyway.” It’s not fearlessness; with Mary you get the sense that she is fully aware of facing down that fear, and paying her respects.

Mary’s driving low-soprano voice shows all of her influences as she relives memories of sounds from earlier experiences: the reverence of church music; then-pop favorites like Englebert Humperdink; country divas like ”sweet cotton candy soprano” Dolly Parton, Lorretta Lynn, and Tammy Wynette; rock and roll from Stevie Nicks and Ann Wilson; and real soulful power singing from Janis Joplin and Etta James.

Part of trying to voice her musical memories is finding the right musicians to help channel the sound. And Mary has a talent for finding and surrounding herself with some of the best musicians in town. With the fabulous Patrick McDanel on bass for the past year, Mary has been able to stretch out and do some deeper, funkier stuff. On guitar and vocals, Honolulu’s Keith Fraser brings a blend of jazz and rock influences from Mike Stern to Jeff Beck to Hendrix. Always searching for that warm sound, Keith delivers masterful chord architecture and superb melodic solos that only the best players can.

A favorite experience for Mary was at the Best of Blues awards show in 2009; her then-band had broken up when she learned they were nominated as Best Band, “which was a total shock!” she laughs. “Wanted to do something different so we did a total acoustic blues set, first acoustic band playing at their awards shows. A really cool moment.”

See Mary McPage and the Assassins. Get their full show calendar here.

Remembering Clarence Clemons

2011-06-20T09:51:00.000-07:00

Clarence Clemons whaling with Bruce Springsteen

The Big Man

Although not a huge Springsteen fan, I am a huge fan of Clarence Clemons. To say he was “larger-than-life” is an understatement. At 6’5” and 270 pounds, he owned whatever stage he graced. Every street, including E Street, was a one-way street: his way.

Following last week’s hospitalization for a stroke, Clarence left this earth. Although he’d had serious health problems for years, recently he was improving, even playing at the 2009 Superbowl halftime, and two songs on Lady Gaga’s recent “Born This Way” album.

I’ll never forget that golden evening at the Hollywood Bowl, June 1981, we went to see Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, with the original lineup: Steven van Zandt on guitar, Clarence Clemons on sax, Max Weinberg on drums, and Gary Tallent on bass. It was "Survival Sunday," a sort of anti-nukes awareness concert. Clarence came out in an electric blue suit, with his gleaming gold sax, completely anchoring the first set. His signature solo on “Jungleland” took him years to perfect, and will live on in our musical lexicon.

The Guitar Man

2011-06-11T17:32:00.000-07:00

Mike Lull: Our Own Local Treasure

I was feeling pretty special when Mike Lull offered to fix up my Fender bass’s intonation; but then again he treats everyone special, including members of Pearl Jam, players with Clapton, Rolling Stones, Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Creedence, and B.B. King, and a constellation of other guitar players from around the world.

Because he is The Man. The Guitar Man. Ask any player and they’ll say go to Mike Lull, he’s the best. That can be dangerous though, because once inside his tech studio, you’ll be seduced by one gorgeous custom guitar after the next, all hanging on the wall ready to play. Mike is happy to design your dream guitar. I’m eyeing the lavender mist 4-string bass, a cool $2200, but a lot more than that out in the retail market.

He also updates pickups and whatever else requires repair wizardry. After only a couple of hours, he fixed up a friend’s Greco and it sounded better than I’ve ever heard it, maybe even as good as Keith Richards’ black version with the pirates etched in the pick guard.

Mike Lull Custom Guitars & Guitar Works
13240 NE 20th St.
Suite #2
Bellevue, WA 98005
Telephone (425) 643-8074
Fax (425) 746-5748
email: service@mikelull.com
Hours: Mon-Fri 9AM to 5PM, Sat 10AM to 5PM (Pacific Time)

Miles Davis' Greats in Seattle

2011-05-28T10:24:00.000-07:00

Recorded in 1959, Kind of Blue is woven into our musical lexicon, into the very fabric of our lives. Many say it’s the greatest jazz recording of all time, maybe even the greatest recording of any music genre. Its influence is felt by every living musician.

So when "Four Generations of Miles" played at Jazz Alley last night, it was a poignant and heartfelt tribute.

A sans-trumpet tribute to Miles Davis. "None of these four Miles Davis alumni were ever classmates in the same Miles Davis group, but all are distinguished grads of that most prestigious small college in jazz." - JazzTimes.com

Legendary Miles Davis drummer Jimmy Cobb

The legendary Jimmy Cobb educated us all on how to use brushes—at 82 he is still crisp and tight, and brilliant. I wish my drummer friends could've been there to see how the Master does it. His unique contribution of tasty drum licks will forever be emblazoned on our memories. Mike Stern, silky smooth across the galaxy of frets, likes his effects pedal, and on most guitars I’m not too fond of the echo-y sound. All was forgiven when they played one of the best versions of My Funny Valentine I’ve ever heard.

Jazz guitarist Mike Stern and Honolulu guitar hero Gomez Fraser after the show

Sonny Fortune, one of the best jazz sax players since Dexter Gordon, is old-school, impeccably dressed in suit vest, tie, and Italian loafers. He’s all business when he plays. White-hot lights glinting off his glasses and golden saxophone, I heard echoes of Kind of Blue in his riffs. Sometimes horns can sound a little out of key compared to the strings, but he was dead on. Was Pink Floyd's sax influenced by Kind of Blue? Absolutely.

What can I say about Buster Williams? His lumbering old stand-up bass has probably seen as much action as Stanley Clarke’s, with duct tape-harnessed electronics and age-old scuff marks. With the lightest touch, Buster coaxed bouncing highs and the deepest growling lows. It was a wonder to behold.

If you’re lucky you can still catch one of their shows this weekend:

The Pacific Jazz Institute at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley presents 4 Generations of Miles. Band members include Jimmy Cobb (drums), Mike Stern (guitar), Buster Williams (bass), and Sonny Fortune (saxophone). Set times on Thursday and Sunday 7:30 pm and Friday through Saturday 7:30pm and 9:30 pm. Doors open at 6:00pm Thursday and 5:30pm Friday through Sunday.

Bios:

Jimmy Cobb: A superb, mostly self-taught musician, drummer Jimmy Cobb is the elder statesman of all the incredible Miles Davis bands. Jimmy’s inspirational work with Miles, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderly and Co. spanned 1957 until 1963, and included the masterpiece Kind of Blue, the most popular jazz recording in history. He also played on Sketches of Spain, Someday My Prince will Come, Live at Carnegie Hall, Live at the Blackhawk, Porgy and Bess, and many, many other watermark Miles Davis recordings.

Mike Stern: In a career that spans three decades and a discography that includes more than a dozen eclectic and innovative recordings, five-time GRAMMY nominee Mike Stern has established himself as one of the premier jazz and jazz-fusion guitarists and composers of his generation. Stern first met Miles Davis in New York, where he was recruited to play a key role in Miles' celebrated comeback band of 1981. During his three-year period with Miles, Stern appeared on three recordings with the jazz maestro, a Man With a Horn, Star People, and the live We Want Miles.

Buster Williams: Buster Williams is a prodigious bassist whose playing knows no limits. He was 20 years old when he first met jazz greats like Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, and Tony Williams. Meeting them would later figure heavily into his future. His big, deep, resilient and inventive playing since then has made him the bassist of choice throughout the jazz world. Upon his return to New York in October of 1968 Williams recorded 5 albums with the Jazz Crusaders; worked and recorded with Miles Davis; played with Kenny Durham and was in demand as first call for recording studio; TV, and movie dates.

Sonny Fortune: When critics speak of Sonny Fortune, names like Coltrane, Cannonball, Davis, Young, Bechet, Hawkins and Parker are mentioned. Sonny Fortune embodies all of the finest qualities of those late, great musicians. Lucky for us, Sonny is still here and blowing hard. In September 1974, Miles Davis offered Sonny a job in his fusion group. Fortune had previously turned down the same offer to stay with McCoy Tyner, but he eagerly accepted the opportunity to move on to something completely new. Fortune stayed with Miles for a year, recording four LPs, Big Fun, Agartha, Pangaea, and Get Up With It.

Seattle Bands

2011-05-21T09:37:00.000-07:00

We hadn’t seen the Sun since October, until this blue-sky day. So it was about time to celebrate. At the 88 Keys in Seattle Thursday night, it was the first real party of the summer season, with many of our local musicians in attendance, ready to rock. And, it was fabulous to see some legendary luminaries in the audience (you know who you are).

And celebrate we did! All three bands, so distinctly different, had one thing in common: they absolutely played their hearts out! Jar of Rain, a young up-and-coming band featuring the Thornberg brothers, showed us what passion is all about. Russ absolutely owned his driving guitar solos; he played with total commitment and took everyone in the audience with him. Technically, he’s better than a lot of players twice his age, and yet, he is soulful beyond his years. His older brother John, on Drums, exceeded all expectations with his powerfully crisp beat and his ability to reach into our emotions and move us. I’ve seen them play several times and this was definitely the best yet. Any chance you get, I highly recommend seeing Jar of Rain. I still find it touching that John says “Thanks for letting us play.” You’re welcome!!!

Jar of Rain

Next set, Lynn Sorensen wooed us on the violin (in Sex and Violins) and some rocking vocals, while we enjoyed Evan Sheeley on bass. Smaller physically, this guy packs Big Power. Superb jazz rock fusion bass playing. Both Lynn and Evan were a nice complement to Mark Russell on lead guitar, who transfixes with his swaggering leather-grometted virtuosity and hard rock edginess. He is another one to watch. His pretty wife in the audience knowingly smiled and giggled with delight as he played, and rightly so. Drummer Jeff Kathan rocked and held down THE most steady beat in town. No rotary perception creeping there. I was sad their set ended so soon.

Sex and Violins

But, I got over it as beautiful Aury Moore took the stage and began a pulsing, deep-throated version of the Beatles’ “Dear Prudence.” I just about swooned! Dominique D. Stone, as always, was masterful on his 6-string bass. Manuel Morais with the movie-star latin looks, played a scorching lead guitar. Steady Eddie Mendoza on drums. All at the top of their game. Some really interesting hard rock originals in contrast to lovely heart-clenching ballads, Aury can sing them all. It’s hard to put words to her artistry: Soulful. Towering. Velvety. …Royalty.

Aury Moore Band

The word is that 88 Keys is going to be the place for original Seattle bands to rock on Thursday nights. Big, big show coming up on June 23. Stay tuned for details.

Bob Weir's TRIday Outtakes

2011-05-17T10:56:00.000-07:00

For those of you who were victims of Blogger's outtage last week, and who received the link to Bob Weir and Friends' TRIday the 13th's historic live netcast too late, here are some outtakes from the gig. I absolutely LOVE this video. Too fun!

Sign up for the TRI Studios newsletter to stay tuned in to all their events.

TONIGHT Bob Weir’s TRI Studios

2011-05-13T10:23:00.000-07:00

What if the passion for music that’s led you to become one of the longest-touring musicians ever, that has made you a living legend, that has given you the financial freedom to do anything on earth, is still burning white hot inside you? What would you do next?

If you were Bob Weir, you’d build Tamalpais Research Institute, or TRI Studios, and bring the Live Music Experience to the entire free world.

Join them on their maiden voyage TONIGHT!
TRI Studios Live Webcast
Friday, May 13, 7:00 p.m. PDT
http://www.tristudios.com

"In addition to a solo acoustic performance, Bob Weir will be joined by Rob Wasserman, Jay Lane, Jeff Chimenti, Steve Kimock, Robin Sylvester, and a 4 piece Horn Section over the course of the 2 set performance. During set break Bob will also log onto both the TRI Studios Twitter and Facebook accounts and respond to viewers’ comments and questions about their first set viewing experience.

“Tamalpais Research Institute is the vision of Bob Weir, a founding member of the Grateful Dead. Weir and his team have built a state-of-the-art performance studio for broadcasting live HD video and audio streams directly to the Internet. TRI is a virtual venue where fans can gather and enjoy the performances in the comfort of their own homes, or anywhere they have Internet access.

“The main performance space at TRI houses a Meyer Sound Constellation System - a revolutionary acoustic modeling technology which has the ability to dramatically change the acoustical properties of the room. With the touch of a button, an artist can instantly change the sonic environment from that of a small intimate club to sounding like a theater, an arena or even a cathedral.

“Each show will be directed, filmed, and mixed live in real time. Every care will be taken to provide the highest possible upstream bandwidth to transmit high quality HD video and audio to the end user. The live stream will be accessible by and tailored to a variety of viewing equipment such as mobile devices, streaming players, game consoles, computers, Internet ready HDTV's as well as home theaters.

“All of this will take place in a small intimate setting in front of a live studio audience. The musicians may be playing in the domain of Mount Tamalpais, but their music will be beaming out to the entire free world."

Go to http://www.tristudios.com at 7pm PDT Friday, May 13

Electric Violins

2011-05-09T22:57:00.000-07:00

Lynn Sorensen with Michael Johnson and Doug McGrew

Geoffrey Castle at Wilde Rover

"All night have the roses heard the violin

Till a silence fell with the waking bird

And a hush with the setting moon."
--Lord Tennyson

In the recent past, when someone said “there’s a violin,” I ran in the opposite direction. Maybe it was years living with a professional violinist who practiced endless scales hour after hour. But now, thanks to gifted artists like Lynn Sorensen, violins--especially electric violins—hold new interest for me. The other night, while dark rain pelted the windows behind him, Lynn’s pure white violin mesmerized us with a spellbinding rendition of Led Zeppelin’s ballad “The Rain Song,” and the hair stood up on my arms.

Geoffrey Castle is a local musician who specializes in the electric violin. His regular Monday night gigs at Wilde Rover in Kirkland offer some extraordinary playing. The first time I heard Geoffrey, he was serenading passers-by at the Issaquah Art Walk, and I did a double-take: WHO is THAT? But Searching for Art took precedence and the opportunity was lost.

Two years later, I had the pleasure of hearing him play again, this time at the Wilde Rover in Kirkland (whose sound system is greatly improved). Big and cat-like, Geoffrey commands attention. Grace, Poise, and Power. He draws on a deep repertoire: everything from Irish drinking songs to Bruce Hornsby to a little Hendrix. He's mastered his instrument, and takes it further.

Upcoming shows featuring the violin:

Celtic Music Night with Geoffrey Castle, at Wilde Rover in Kirkland
Monday nights at 8pm

Sex and Violins, with special guests Aury Moore Band and Jar of Rain, at 88 Keys in Seattle
Thursday, May 19 at 8pm

Powercell and Jam, at 88 Keys (with Lynn Sorensen on bass and violin)
Wednesday nights at 8pm

Jam Night, at Oddfellows Grill in Redmond
Thursday nights at 9pm

Starry, Starry Night

2011-05-06T19:34:00.000-07:00

Cory, Doug, and Mark at Red Dog
[Refresh the page to play again]

I could tell it was going to be one of those nights when the woman sitting across from us said, “Look! I tied it with my tongue!” pointing to a dainty cherry stem tied in a neat little bow. I don’t remember what I said…Nice job! Wow, that’s a real talent! How did you learn to do that?

I never get to see these three guys play together, so it was extra special Thursday night at the Red Dog in Maple Valley when Cory Wilds, Doug McGrew, and Mark Fluegel took the stage. Usually, Ronnie Muir is CWB's regular drummer, and he is seriously one of the best drummers out there. But it is a special treat to see Cory and Mark play with a different drummer, different style, nuances, flavor. Mark was playing one of his, what he calls, “Snooty Basses." Yes, a $3,000 bass that looks like a Fender P-bass, but, when placed in my hands, the weight, the balance, ah, so nice. Low action, sleek controls, slightly smaller in scale, no brick to lug, I could play a bass like that!

And did they play!!! Cory Wilds, as ever, was sensational with his genius and driving, lyrical guitar solos. Mark was riding two horses at once, with Cory galloping ahead and Doug McGrew drumming, faster and faster, reeling them in, then riding the wave. UN-Believable!! Whether it was “Long Gray Mare,” "Manhattan Blues," or “Black Magic Woman” we were IN, all in.

In the past year, there have been several key shifts that gelled into an extraordinary night of music. Cory’s vocals show steady improvement while his guitar playing is more sparkly and improvisational than ever; Mark’s playing is more mature and shows incredible range and natural leadership; and Doug, who really should play with these guys more, upped the ante in his already considerable arsenal. Sticks went flying. Crack!! So on it. So tuned in!!!!!

Catch some of these upcoming gigs:

Cory Wilds Band at The Sidetrack Pub & Eatery in Kent http://seattle.citysearch.com/review/10744973
Friday, May 13 at 9pm

Power Cell with Doug McGrew at Tulalip Casino Canoes Lounge http://www.tulalipcasino.com/directions.aspx
Saturday, May 14 at 5:00pm

Cory Wilds Band at A Terrible Beauty Pub in Renton http://www.aterriblebeauty.com/
Saturday, May 14 at 9pm

Magic Bus with Doug McGrew at Red Wind Casino http://www.redwindcasino.com/index.asp
Sunday, May 29 at 8:30pm

Magic Bus at the Tulalip Casino Canoes Lounge http://www.tulalipcasino.com/directions.aspx
Friday, June 3 at 9:30pm

Fool for the City

2011-04-18T12:23:00.000-07:00

Charlie Huhn from Foghat, Humble Pie, and Ted Nugent,
with Doug McGrew on drums

Donny Evola's Pink Floyd tribute "Echoes"

I’m constantly amazed at the wealth of local music talent here in the Puget Sound area. Some nights I just can’t believe what I’m hearing! And many of these musicians are not just locally well-known, but world-renowned!

Last Friday at the King Cat Theater (one of the best venues in town for concert-quality live music) we all experienced some truly fine rock musicianship. World-famous lead guitarist and vocalist Charlie Huhn, who played for years with legendary bands such as Humble Pie and Ted Nugent, and who is currently touring with Foghat, cranked it up a few levels with excellent Donny Evola and his band Echoes (the best Pink Floyd tribute band I’ve ever heard).

The rhythm section pounded a very tightly-wound “rotary perception,” a term Charles Mingus coined to define the center of each beat, and how different musicians zero in on that center in a way unique to their own style. Our own Doug McGrew blasted the Traps with such Keith Moon-like power and artistry that the entire audience, as well as Charlie and the rest of the band, roared with applause.

Some upcoming shows you won’t want to miss:

Jam Night & Blues To Do TV featuring Power Cell (Lynn Sorensen, Doug McGrew, Michael Johnson) and Special Guests, at 88 Keys in Pioneer Square
Wednesdays, TV taping 6-8pm, Jam 8pm – midnight

Jam Night featuring Power Cell and Special Guests at Oddfellows Grill in Redmond
Thursdays 9pm

Geoffrey Castle, fantastic electric violin, at Club Sur in SODO
Friday, April 22 at 9pm

Fabulous Johnsons (Lynn Sorensen on bass, Jeff Kathan on drums, Michael Johnson on lead guitar) at J&M Cafe in Seattle
Friday, April 29 9pm

Riverbend with Klover Jane (featuring the very talented Rane Stone) and 1Wish, at Hard Rock Café in Seattle
Friday, April 29 at 9pm

Chris Cornell at the Moore Theater in Seattle
Sunday, May 1 at 8pm

No Quarter (top-notch Led Zeppelin Tribute) at Big Daddy's in Woodinville
Friday, May 6 at 8:30pm

Soul Stripper (Howard Comfort’s excellent AC/DC Tribute) at R&R Sports Bar in Graham, WA
Saturday, May 14 at 9pm

Poodle Bomb (with Mark Fluegel on bass) at J&M Cafe in Seattle
Thursday, May 19 at 8pm

Magic Bus at Tulalip Casino Canoes Lounge
Friday, June 3 at 9:30pm

Hammer of the Gods

2011-04-07T09:26:00.000-07:00

photo courtesy Lori Mullins

Back in high school, my sister used to blast KISW FM radio, a station that at the time played a lot of Led Zeppelin, before it was known as “heavy metal.” The radio itself featured no bass and substituted static for high notes, but on and on it rasped. From my serene blue-and-white bedroom next to my sister’s, I thought Robert Plant’s voice was very strange and I was sure it came out of some martian synthesizer. Although some of the tunes were catchy, I was never really motivated to go to a Led Zeppelin concert.

Fast forward to now: Maybe it’s that recently one of our local musicians had the pleasure of playing with Jason Bonham (yes, John’s son), Led Zeppelin is in the air. Tuesday I went to jam night at the Barrel in Burien, and members from Seattle’s premiere Led Zeppelin tribute band “Kashmir” were playing. Whole different experience. Whole Lotta Love!!

Terry Mriglot is Robert Plant incarnate; his voice hits those hard to reach spikes and wails, and he even looks like Robert, with that leonine curly blonde hair and oh-so-tight jeans. Dan Benz plays a beautiful minstrel-like guitar, as if he had time-travelled from the Olde English countryside. Is it a Marshal? I’ll have to ask him, but that boy can paint castles and unicorns in the clouds.

I loved the combination of these Kashmir members playing with members of Howard Comfort’s AC/DC tribute band “Soul Stripper”: tall Howard plays a scorching lead guitar and exudes Rock Star Cool from behind his shades as his accomplished bass player thunders on his 5-string. When they played Collective Soul’s “Shine” it all came together: Magic!

The Barrel Jam, every Tuesday night 8-12 p.m.

Local Live Music Update

2011-03-06T20:14:00.000-08:00

Let There Be Songs to Fill the Air
An amazing array of live music events are happening in the next few weeks. My picks:

Blues To-Do TV Taping at 88 Keys in Seattle
Wednesdays 6-8 p.m. Interesting guest musicians and insightful commentary from the talented Marlie Walker, filmed in front of a live audience; public welcome.

Jam hosted by Powercell at 88 Keys in Seattle
Wednesdays 8-12 p.m. Stick around after the Blues To Do TV taping: the ubiquitous and uber-talented Lynn Sorensen on bass and violin, Doug McGrew on drums, and Lloyd DeBar on lead guitar. Rock n' Roll at its finest.

YES! The Oddfellows Jam is back!! New night: Thursdays
Jam hosted by Lynn Sorensen and Doug McGrew at Oddfellows Grill in Redmond
Thursdays at 9 p.m. starting March 10. With Special Guests.

Aury Moore at Dueling Pianos 88 Keys in Seattle
Friday and Saturday nights 8 p.m. The beautiful and talented singer Aury Moore will blow your mind with her sultry vocal prowess and artistry. Come hear her sing rock and blues favorites, accompanied by the famous 88 keys dueling pianos.

KISW/Rock Out ALS featuring Jar of Rain (EP Release Party) at Club Motor in SODO
Saturday March 12 at 7 p.m. Witness extraordinary young raw talent as the Thornberg brothers and their bassist Julio rock out.

Sex and Violins featuring Lynn Sorensen at Hard Rock Café in Seattle
Friday March 18 at 9 p.m. Lynn and his goddesses inspire.

The Fabulous Johnsons at J&M Café in Pioneer Square, Seattle
Saturday March 26 at 9 p.m. If you haven't seen Lynn, Doug, and Michael Johnson live yet, don't miss this show. Superb musicianship, tasty improvs.

This show is going to be H O T—get there early for good seats:
Cory Wilds Band at J&M Café in Pioneer Square, Seattle
Saturday April 2 at 9 p.m. Cory Wilds is a true Artist. You'll think "Where Have I Been?? This band is AMAZING!!" Blues, rock, classics with a twist, infused with Heart and Soul. And a little Funk. With stellar Mark Fluegel on bass. Good size room and accoustics, decent size dance floor.

Gumbo Factory

2011-02-19T21:15:00.000-08:00

Musical Flavors of New Orleans
It is urban myth: you hear about it, you know it’s happening, but you never tangibly see it. Somebody is making an amazing record right next door, and it could be something Big.

Gumbo Factory is such a record. Masterminded and produced by Travis Fullerton, its rich layers of musical flavors thoroughly satisfy. Gumbo Factory began as a musical tribute to Travis’ friend, the late, great blues singer Ronnie Barron. It evolved into a collection of songs in a unique fusion of eras and styles that pay homage to Ronnie’s New Orleans roots. Gumbo Factory features six original songs as well as covers that put a new spin on two classics.

Sid George, legendary sax man, plays a key lead role, weaving you through haunting New Orleans melodies. Star-quality vocals, mystic lyrics, power drumming, creative keyboards, and sublime slide guitar work are orchestrated into something truly special. I would say it as the French say: Gumbo Factory has that certain je nais se quoi.

Travis is no stranger to the world of music: his early history drumming in young bands up and down the eastern seaboard led to international touring with world-famous groups starting in the heyday of Haight Ashbury. Gumbo Factory members have played with Dr. John, Stephen Stills, John Mayall, Tower of Power, Quicksilver, Humble Pie, John Lennon, Roy Buchanan, Martha Reeves, Sly Stone, Janis Joplin, Stevie Wonder, Eric Clapton, George Clinton, Duane Allman, Lou Rawls, and many more.

Recorded in Bellevue, WA and Tucson, AZ with strong southern R&B roots, Gumbo Factory is a tasty, eclectic experience.

You can get the EP on iTunes and at Amazon.com. Visit the Gumbo Factory website to learn more or find them on Facebook.

The Fabulous Johnsons

2011-02-08T07:45:00.000-08:00

Michael Johnson on lead guitar, Jeff Kathan on drums, and Lynn Sorensen on electric violin and bass.

It was one of those special nights at The Barrel in Burien: three rock stars having fun and honing their chops, taking requests, and digging into some pretty deep repertoire, like a private rehearsal for a lucky few. If The Fabulous Johnsons' show at J&M in Pioneer Square this coming Friday is anything like the other night, it will be a show well worth seeing.

The revamped J&M Cafe features a bigger stage at the back of the venue, past a huge well-stocked bar, and there is a nice size dance floor. The engineered sound is excellent. Get ready to rock!

Local Talent Eleanor Fye

2011-02-01T09:23:00.000-08:00

Original and Unexpected

Business consultant by day, singer-songwriter by night, Eleanor Fye surprises and delights. Her genre-defying performances two-step in and around jazz, pop/rock, and a little country. A little Raitt, a little Tori Amos, a little Carole King, her original compositions and passionate vocal performances take you on a soulful exploration of her own experiences, with playfulness, sorrow, joy, and utter authenticity.

Eleanor is a local Seattle talent who lives on Whidbey Island. A few years ago she followed her heart to Nashville and has surrounded herself with Grammy-winning artists. Back home in the Northwest, she is concentrating on her own songwriting and producing.

While “Drive,” Eleanor’s first album, gives us a glimpse of her unique point of view, her second album, “Love Stays On,” being released this month, dives deeper as she ponders life’s poetic journey.

Eleanor Fye “Love Stays On” CD release party is Wednesday, February 16 at Egan's Ballard Jam House1707 Northwest Market Street, in Ballard, WA.

Children's Music Foundation

2011-01-21T10:14:00.000-08:00

Students perform at the CMF Event

Gary Wenet, CMF Founder and Chairman of the Board

Lisa Fitzhugh, CMF Champion

First Note

I don’t usually stump for causes, but last night, Triple Door in Seattle was host to a fundraiser for The Children’s Music Foundation (CMF), a cause worthy of your consideration. The Children’s Music Foundation was created exclusively to promote the study of music as an essential educational tool in our elementary schools throughout the United States.

Years of research confirm the undeniable link between music and increased academic achievement, and I would add, increased enrichment in life overall. In the past several years, there have been devastating cuts in K-12 music curricula and after-school events. CMF aims to bring back music education to K-12 classrooms as an integral piece of the core curriculum with standards-based music for kindergarten and first-grade teachers that build the foundation for learning music early.

The program is called First Note, and will be comprised of three essential parts: curriculum, training, and ongoing support. All teachers will receive a package that contains all they need to start teaching. Nationally, there are 3.6 million kindergartners and 3.8 million first graders who are waiting for the First Note program, and at $27 per student per school year, this is an investment to seriously consider when making decisions about annual giving and donations.

Local Live Music

2011-01-11T16:18:00.000-08:00

Time to rock!
The next few weeks are brimming with live music from a constellation of talented local musicians. My picks:

JAM NIGHT at 88 Keys in Seattle hosted by Power Cell
Wednesdays at 8:00pm

Magic Bus at Tulalip Casino-Canoes Cabaret Lounge
Friday, January 14 at 9:00pm

Cory Wilds Band at Williams Ave Sports Bar in Renton
Friday, January 14 9:00pm

JAM NIGHT at The Barrel in Burien hosted by Doug McGrew
Tuesdays at 8:00pm

Magic Bus at Tulalip Casino-Canoes Cabaret Lounge
Wednesday, January 19 at 9:30pm

Cory Wilds Band at Salty’s Redondo in Des Moines, WA
Friday and Saturday, January 21 & 22 at 8:00pm

Guy Johnson at J&M Café in Seattle
Saturday, January 22 at 9:00pm

NSANE at Collectors’ Choice in Snohomish
Friday, January 28 at 9:00pm

Power Cell at Tulalip Casino-Canoes Cabaret Lounge
Saturday, January 29 at 5:00-8:00pm

Randy Hansen with Special Guest Menace at Jazzbones in Tacoma
Saturday, January 29 at 9:00pm

No Quarter (Led Zeppelin tribute) at Tulalip Casino-Canoes Cabaret Lounge
Sunday, January 30 at 8:00pm

Dudley Taft at the Hard Rock in Seattle
Friday, February 4 at 5:00-8:00pm

Echos (Pink Floyd tribute) with Randy Hansen at King Cat Theater in Seattle
Saturday, February 5 at 7:30pm

No Quarter (Led Zeppelin tribute) at The Central Saloon in Seattle
Saturday, February 5 at 9:00pm – 1:00am

Heartless (Heart tribute) at Tulalip Casino-Canoes Cabaret Lounge
Sunday, February 6 at 9:00pm

Happy 2011!

2010-12-29T10:08:00.000-08:00

Stevie Ray Vaughan, Live Alive Tour 1987, on his famously beat-up '59 Strat

Stevie lays it down

My backstage pass

Carpe Diem! Seize the Day!

Recently, a good friend reminded me that life is short, and that it’s up to us to recognize miracles as they happen, and to participate, or not. In honor of the New Year and all its forthcoming opportunities and miracles, please allow me to reminisce:

I was reminded of a wedding I attended while living in Los Angeles in the mid-‘80s: Delaney Bramlett's wedding. Although Delaney has been dead now for 2 years, it seems like just yesterday. Music for the ceremony was provided by a young and spry Leon Russell, and singer Rita Coolidge. Several well-known musicians were in attendance, including my friend and blues harmonica great, John Juke Logan, and many of the cast of the TV show, Roseanne.

It was an inter-connected social web in L.A. back then. Bonnie Bramlett went on as a guest actor on Roseanne; my friend Juke played the now-famous harmonica line in the opening sequence of the Roseanne show. Around then Albert Collins was in town recording for Alligator Records. I met the executive producer of Alligator Records at a party, who invited me to meet Albert later on. At the time, I was working as a graphic designer for a small firm in Los Angeles, whose owner attended the same Musicians’ Alcoholics Anonymous as Stevie Ray Vaughan: we designed all of Stevie’s tour advertising and merchandise that year, even his Christmas card.

The Wiltern Theater was host to one of the greatest single displays of rock musicianship I’ve ever witnessed: Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble playing in front of 1,000 people in May 1987. Stevie was an absolute MONSTER on his beat up ’59 Strat, and, with tremendous authority, blew all our minds! Our design firm had the entire 10th row of the grand old vaudeville theater, and during intermission we went back stage to meet Stevie. We shook hands, and I was surprised at how small physically a person he was. I was wearing a backstage pass and was looking around for something he could autograph, and Stevie just took the Sharpie out of my hand with a smile and signed my backstage pass, right on my chest!

Around this time, Stevie was travelling so much, it’s a miracle he stopped over in L.A. to record, and even more of a miracle that I was in that place at that time. Here’s an excerpt from Wikipedia:

After weeks of mixing the Live Alive album in Los Angeles, Vaughan and Double Trouble went on tour in Europe, where they were scheduled to play 28 shows. On September 26, the band shared the bill with ZZ Top at the Circus Krone Building in Munich where Stevie continued a downward spiral with drugs and alcohol. After spending two months in treatment, Vaughan and Shannon went back on the road with Double Trouble, playing their first sober show at the Towson Center in Maryland. They would often attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings while on the road. The tour took the band to Radio City Music Hall in New York City and Atlanta's Fox Theatre for a New Year's Eve show with Lonnie Mack. In January 1987, they played at the Fair Park Coliseum in Dallas, which was Vaughan's first sober performance in his hometown. The band appeared with The Fabulous Thunderbirds in New Orleans for a Mardi Gras television special on MTV.

In April, Vaughan made a guest appearance on a Cinemax television special called B.B. King & Friends: A Night of Red Hot Blues. Filmed at Los Angeles' Ebony Showcase Theatre in tribute to B.B. King, the special featured musicians Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Dr. John, and Albert King, as well as vocalists Etta James, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, and Billy Ocean.

Musicians such as Joe Bonamassa, John Mayer, Robert Randolph, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Colin James, Jonny Lang, Los Lonely Boys, Mike McCready, Eric Johnson, Orianthi, John Petrucci, and Doyle Bramhall II have cited Vaughan as an influence.

On August 27, 1990, after a sold out concert of 30,000 at Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wisconsin, featuring an encore jam with Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Jimmie Vaughan and Robert Cray, Stevie’s helicopter crashed, killing instantly everyone on board. Stevie was 35.

Jar of Rain

2010-12-18T13:35:00.000-08:00

Julio Posada on bass, John Thornburg on vocals, Russ Thornburg on lead guitar

John Thornburg tearing it up on the drums (photo from JarofRain.com)

Hot Young Band

I had the great pleasure of seeing Jar of Rain play at the new 88 Keys jam on Wednesday night, and Whew! These boys rock! They showed up on the radar about a year ago at the old Oddfellows jam in Redmond (by the way, how’s that Martini bar going??), and what a wonder a year makes.

John Thornburg has matured significantly as a musician, and at the tender age of 18 is already cultivating his explosive style of drumming. Sharp, powerful, and with unexpected artistry, he is a drummer to watch, now and in the years to come. His younger brother, Russ, plays a fine lead guitar, and to round out the sound, they’ve got sure-footed Julio Posada on bass.

The threesome play mostly their original material, which is also maturing. Is it loud? Yes. Is it raw? Yes. Does it show huge potential? Yes. Original songwriting is tricky; it’s partly craft and partly genius. These guys might just have what it takes.

In the meantime, when Jar covers a song, they take it further than it’s ever gone. Most young bands wouldn’t attempt the Beatles’ Come Together, or fall short in the effort, but these guys absolutely smashed it to the moon.

"Like" Jar's Facebook page to get posts about upcoming shows. Go see them in small venues while you can; rumor has it they are gaining interest with all the right people.

New Jam Night at 88 Keys in Seattle

2010-12-09T16:56:00.000-08:00

Powercell: Lynn Sorensen on bass, Doug McGrew on drums,

and Michael Johnson on lead guitar

Manuel Morais on lead guitar

Pete Butterfield on bass

Lynn Sorensen on electric violin

Eddie Mendoza on drums

Wednesday Nights at 88 Keys

It’s hard to overstate how gleeful I feel when I’m sitting in the audience at 88 Keys listening to the amazing Powercell, house band for the new jam at 88 Keys on Wednesday nights. I think to myself: Wow! I can’t believe I’m seeing/hearing this superb musicianship and rock music that I love, live and in person, 20 minutes from home!! Not to mention no cover, and free parking!

My favorite jams right now are at The Barrel in Burien on Tuesday nights, and the newcomer, 88 Keys in Pioneer Square, both 8-12p.m. Both jams are organized by the fabulous Doug McGrew, who is not only one of the finest drummers out there, but an unflagging promoter of live music. The new jam at 88 Keys on Wednesday nights is not to be missed. In an old wood and brick warehouse with high ceilings supported by huge ancient forest beams, the sound is clear and rich. And it’s great that the owners wired the place with the right equipment and enough juice to really crank.

Last night was no exception. Lynn Sorensen (of Magic Bus, and Bad Company) absolutely smoked on a gorgeous fretless bass (“Aww, I’m just goofing around,” he said later, modestly), then switched to his cherry-red favorite, and then electrified the room with his violin while Pete Butterfield grooved on the bass. They played some of Pete’s originals, which are screaming towards iTunes availability. (Tunecore.com can help with distribution.) Back on bass, Lynn took us to another world with Robin Trower’s Bridge of Sighs, then a rocked out a Guns n’ Roses song not usually my favorite, but when these guys play it, it just about takes the house down. Then Doug invited some notable locals up to play. Some surprises from Supertramp, Steely Dan, Stones, and Beatles from an ever-changing showcase of fine musicians. Among them was the Joe Satriani-meets-Stevie Ray Vaughn-meets Eddie van Halen—like awe-inspiring lead guitarist Manuel Morais, and the great Eddie Mendoza, both from the Aury Moore Band.

I can’t wait for next Wednesday at 88 Keys. From what I hear it’s going to be packed, with some very Special Guests playing, so get there by 8:00 for good seats.

Royal Fragrances From CREED

2010-12-05T20:38:00.000-08:00

Rock your world.

In the past week, I’ve become aware of a natural and historical perfume that has rocked my idea of what “fragrance” is.

“CREED adheres to unrelenting high standards, using natural ingredients and methods of hand production instituted at the company's founding 250 years ago. For these reasons, CREED has a loyal clientele that includes royalty, Hollywood stars, political leaders, legends in business, sports, music and the fine arts, as well as discerning members of the public who value beauty and quality in scent.”

CREED was founded in London in 1760. It’s the world’s only privately held luxury fragrance dynasty, and has been passed from father to son for over 250 years. It’s one of the 100 oldest family businesses in the world! Today, based in Paris, CREED is led by the legendary Olivier CREED, sixth generation master perfumer and company chief.

The only two places to get CREED in Seattle are Nordstroms downtown, and at Niemans in the Bravern Bellevue.

Try one of these for a heady experience:

• Love In Black, “evokes in dusk blooming wildflowers the enigmatic beauty of the 20th century’s most intriguing First Lady,” Jacqueline Kennedy.
• Irisia, made with one of the most expensive raw materials in the world: oil derived from the root of the Iris. The Iris is the royal flower depicted in the famous symbol of imperial France, the fleur de lis.
• CREED’s mens’ fragrances are also sublime. My favorite is the royal and spiritual splendor of Original Santal.

You can shop online at Creedboutique.com.
Or search “creed perfume” on Ebay.

Seattle Holidays

2010-11-27T20:18:00.000-08:00

The view up 5th Avenue with the Monorail on the left.

The "Bon Marche" Star and the Tree Lighting at Westlake Center.

The Paperboys at Triple Door

It’s official: we’re in The Holidays.

The Day After Thanksgiving is always a holiday in itself. That’s when the Tree Lighting happens downtown, and it seems like the whole city is celebrating. I like meeting for cocktails at the Fairmont Olympic in the afternoon. Built in 1924, this venerable old hotel used to host bear hunters visiting the northwest. Its splendid Italian Renaissance-style colonnade and vast high-ceiling lobby make it the perfect festive meeting place. The 25-foot Noble Fir, centered in the grand living-room like lobby, is probably one of the most beautifully decorated trees in the world. You can purchase one of the other, smaller contenders, artfully decorated trees up for auction, placed around the lobby.

Amidst the busy shoppers coming and going, friends meet for signature cocktails and honor the tradition. I like the Olympic Gold martini with a little infused ginger. The Glacier Blue Martini is festive and icy. Or the “Absoluley” which gets harder and harder to say.

A half hour before show time, we bundle up and walk the few blocks over to Westlake Center. There we join thousands of revelers to watch local newscasters MC the old-style variety show of musicians and carolers, and we sing along as they perform favorites like “Silver Bells” and “Here Comes Santa Claus…Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeer, pulling on the reins...”

And then the star on the top of the old Bon Marche (now Macy’s) building starts to glow…and the rays light up one by one, and then, the crescendo, the star is lit, the Big Tree is lit, and the fireworks go off! !!!

That’s the signal to find a great place for dinner. We sample the exceptionally good food from the Wild Ginger kitchen while seeing the entertaining Vancouver-based The PaperBoys at Triple Door. What they may lack in originality, they make up for in sheer verve and enthusiasm.

It’s great to be home for the holidays!

Stay tuned: a new weekly Jam Night at 88 Keys in SoDo this coming Wednesday!

New World Music

2010-11-18T19:10:00.000-08:00

Music Genres-in-a-Blender

There’s a new kind of music that’s popping up all over the place. I’ve seen a few bands recently that exemplify this genres-in-a-blender sound: Handful of Luvin’, Still Time, Railroad Earth, and coming up on Thanksgiving weekend: Vancouver-based The Paperboys at Triple Door in Seattle.

Where do these guys get off, saying things like, “we’re Irish Jigs and Reels and a good dose of Country and Bluegrass, with healthy servings of Ska, Soca and African Highlife, White Boy Reggae, strains of Soul, Pop and Funk, mostly accoustic although electric, Pop music, Good music.”

Well, from personal experience, I can say that most of these bands deliver. It’s only in the past few years I’ve seen a real love for--and resurgence of--electric violin, mandolin, and yes, even the sometimes scary Banjo (“Run! Run away!") It’s interesting to hear young musicians master these nostalgic instruments. And create soulful, original music that yet somehow harkens back in Time.

In fact, with just a bass and a banjo, Bubbles and Fog take old rock classics from the likes of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd right into the bluegrass arena with their amazing amalgams. If you get a chance, catch them Wednesday nights 7-10 p.m. at the Old Village Pub in Lynnwood, corner of 76th and 196th.

Average White Band

2010-11-16T16:02:00.000-08:00

Average White Band members: Onnie MacIntyre; Klyde Jones;

Rocky Bryant; "Freddy V" Vigdor; Alan Gorrie

Alan plays soulful guitar as well as holding down the Bass line

Versatile, talented Klyde Jones--there's no instrument he can't play

Klyde and Alan with the boys at Jazz Alley

Play that funky music, White Boy!

AWB has been around so long. The only original members are Scotland-born Alan Gorrie, vocals and (rockin’) Bass, and Onnie MacIntyre, lead guitar and vocals.

Last week, during their annual run at one of my all-time favorite venues, Jazz Alley in downtown Seattle, AWB tore it up with classics like Cut the Cake and Work to Do. A shout-out to Klyde Jones on, get this: Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, and Vocals. Is there anything the guy can’t play excellently?? And of course, my fave, Alan Gorrie, with James Bond-like savoire faire, who makes playing his 5-string bass look and feel smooth and easy. He soooo reminds me of dinosaur rocker, Ian Hunter of Mott the Hoople fame, who crossed over into punk and new wave, and later played bass with Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band.

From AWB's website: “AWB are widely regarded as one of the best soul and funk bands in the history of music. Though perhaps best known for their timeless instrumental mega-hit Pick Up the Pieces the band's strength actually lay in their consistently accomplished song-writing, stretching across several gold selling albums and multi-Grammy nominations for the legendary Atlantic Records. Somewhat incongruously, given their Scottish roots, the six piece took the influences of their R&B heroes - people like Marvin Gaye, James Brown, Donny Hathaway and others - and developed their own 'authentic' sound which was eagerly adopted by black audiences in the US and elsewhere.”

And, I might add, eagerly adopted by white audiences. They continued the cross-over accelerated by Motown, bringing Soul and Funk to some white audiences that might not otherwise have grooved on it. Luv, Luv, Luv these guys!

More Favorite Things

2010-11-15T07:57:00.000-08:00

Barbara Bixby, Jewelry to the Stars

I can’t help marveling at this fabulous line of jewelry from Barbara Bixby. The silver work is amazing, and I especially like her inventive use of materials: coordinating clear stones with opaque, interesting color combinations, and popping little 18k gold elements here and there, which is her signature.

Barbara is a groupie, married to a musician who is well known in the rock and recording circles, Frank Carillo. He’s an accomplished guitar player, and has played with many greats including members of Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, J. Geils Band, Cheap Trick, Van Halen, and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. As a songwriter, his list of collaborations is equally impressive.

You wonder if Barbara needed something to do while Frank was on the road—well, she got busy and the world discovered a superb jewelry designing talent. Her aesthetic is very Rock n' Roll, with whimsy and castles and gypsies thrown in. I’m not as fond of her Indian-inspired bodhisattva pieces as much as the stunning silver chains and gorgeous, architectural pendants and rings. I can see groupies of all ages wearing her designs! Check out her couture line, too.

Rock Star Architecture in Seattle

2010-11-11T11:17:00.000-08:00

Steel Stair, DeForest Architects, john@deforestarchitects.com

Port Townsend Residence, Bohlin Cywinski Jackson Architects, hnelson@bcj.com

Coleman Triplex, Workshop AD Architects, steveb@workshopad.com

Suncrest Residence, Heliotrope Architects, jherrin@heliotropearchitects.com

Bodega Residence, Cutler Anderson Architects, vanderson@cutler-anderson.com

The AIA (American Institute of Architects) Honor awards can sometimes be a yawn, especially when they beat the deader-than-dead horse of Sustainability. But at this year's ceremony on November 8, the S-word wasn’t even mentioned; instead, the focus was on beautiful, useful design that honors the soul of its inhabitants.

Maybe it had something to do with the soulfulness of the multiple-award winning judges, all formidable architects in their own right:

Jim Jennings, from San Francisco, “quintessential bay area modernist”
Sheila O’Donnell, Hon. FAIA, from Dublin, whose watercolor studies, which explore and develop architecture concepts from landscape to material, have been widely published and exhibited
Gilles Saucier, from Montreal, whose work as a photographer has fine-tuned his approach to architecture

The honored projects ranged from single-family homes to large commercial buildings. My favorites are the homes that embed themselves into the fabric of the landscape upon which they are sited. There is no real distinction between “inside” and “outside” in the experience of being there. I imagine myself living in these airy, clean spaces, enjoying rich woods, and modern concrete, steel, and glass. The silent peacefulness of being one with a place in time and space.

The real stand-out of the evening was the see-through staircase. It turned the typical aesthetic upside down: usually the stairs themselves are solid, while the railing is see-through. In this delicious design, it’s the reverse: the stairs are made of steel mesh that you can look right through, and the railing is a solid sheet of steel defining and constraining the core. The owners wanted to be able to see their art through the stairs. Mission accomplished!

The AIA can help you find a Seattle architect to build your dream home.

My Favorite Things

2010-11-09T19:25:00.000-08:00

Heidi Daus designs this dramatic necklace, with faceted jasper beads

and carved onyx scarab.

Rachel Zoe's fun faux is "Major for Fall"

Kathy Van Zeeland's Rock n' Roll handbags.

Judith Ripka's spectacular sterling curb bracelet.

With the holidays coming, maybe you'll forgive me for featuring some of my favorite finds and gift ideas. In my travels I’ve come across some real treasures that give me joy whenever I wear them, and I’m constantly asked “Where did you get that?” My good friend R.A.B. and I laugh, but we’re serious when we say we’re no longer buying anything that isn’t Rock n’ Roll.

A few years ago, I discovered some beyond-great crystal jewelry designed by Heidi Daus. It’s exquisitely crafted, in a heavy bronze finished metal, and conjures Art Deco and flora and fauna in all their sparkling majesty. Amazingly, she features a line on HSN that’s priced at a fraction of what it would be out in the retail market. Heidi is passionate about her work, and it shows in every beautifully-crafted jewel. These pieces have whimsy and “POW!” all at once. Serious star power and Rock n’ Roll glam.

Ok, when did Fur become cool again? I’m sorry, I know they’re already dead, but I wouldn’t even wear a vintage genuine fur. Why would you carry that bad Karma when you can own fabulous faux creations that look better than the real thing, for pennies on the dollar? Rachel Zoe, famous celebrity stylist, has a great line of “fur” vests on QVC that are so cute and fun to wear. I like the shorter “Fox” ones with the luxurious collar and hidden pockets. I also like Kathy Van Zeeland's handbags; if you live in Dubai or Paris you're in luck, or you can shop online and save thousands of dollars.

I’m going to need to hide my credit card from myself, because QVC strikes again with the famous and ridiculously successful Judith Ripka sterling jewelry. As if her two stores on Madison Avenue weren’t enough. I really think her exclusive line of sterling jewelry for QVC is some of the best, most versatile jewelry available today. It’s very “Uptown” while still Rock n’ Roll.

So, Girlfriends (and Guys—hint, hint!), go easy on the plastic, and have some fun getting glamorous things for the holidays. Enjoy!

Bob Rivers, Seattle Radio Icon

2010-11-03T10:48:00.000-07:00

Friends and fans show their appreciation

Bob Rivers sits in on keyboards; Dudley Taft on lead; Terry James Young on bass

Spike says a few words of thanks

When the news started leaking out that Bob Rivers’ contract was not being renewed by CBS, it turned Seattle radio upside down. For more than a decade Bob Rivers' morning show on KZOK 102.5FM has been as much a part of our mornings as my double espresso hazelnut latte. He's practically an institution, and has been an important supporter of our local musicians' careers. Blatherwatch says, "This is big. He's big. The word Iconic comes to mind...this starts all manner of speculation: will he go to KIRO?"

Cory Dietz’ Radio Blog notes how Bob began to gain notoriety with song parodies he called "Twisted Tunes" for WAAF in Boston. They were so clever, ABC Radio offered to syndicate them in 1987. And he's been rocking entire cities ever since.

For me and the rest of his fan base, it’s been a few weeks of parties and farewells and celebrations of new beginnings. Spike and the Impalers, Magic Bus, Dudley Taft, Terry James Young from Rail, Roger Fisher from Heart, and many other local musicians have been paying tribute with appearances around town, including gigs at Snoqualmie Casino and other cool venues. One of my favorites was the bash at King Cat Theater last Thursday, a groovy '60s former movie theater, with swank lobby and interesting angles, and a big raked movie theater-cum dance floor.

Another event, the Bob Rivers Listeners Appreciation Night, happens 7pm Thursday Nov. 4 at Tulalip Casino, with Magic Bus featuring Lynn Sorenson on bass, Lloyd DeBar on lead guitar, and special guests.

Love at First Bite

2010-10-25T08:59:00.000-07:00

The Glamorous Hotel DeLuxe in Portland

Rustic-Chic at Irving Street Kitchen

Pearl District Deco

Fall Colors in the Pearl

When Tom Douglas, Seattle Chef extraordinaire and one of the greatest chefs in the world, gives you three recommendations for dinner in Portland, you go. To at least one of them.

Taking the Amtrak “Coast Starlight” to Portland is the way to fly. A quick cab ride, a 10 minute wait, and whoooosh, you are gliding south along the river. Tom Douglas was sitting right next to us, so of course I had to pick his brains about Food. I was not surprised to see how technologically savvy he is, as he wrangled iPhone, iPad, and blueberry muffins along the way. When asked for his recommendations for Portland restaurants, he said, “You’ve come to the right city for great restaurants: Pok Pok [Thai], Genoa [Italian], and Le Pigeon [French].”

I got busy and Googled all three of them, and was excited by the reviews, my mouth watering. The Hotel Deluxe was on the Portland Cocktail Week circuit, so the place was hopping. Barely time to take in the glamorous Hollywood decor, swank lemon-colored upholstery, mirrored Moderne style, and huge black and white photos of stars like Greta Garbo and James Stewart. A few hours of shopping in the oh-so-chic Pearl District, and it was time for the Big Decision.

We decided to dine at the Irving Street Kitchen (sorry, Tom!). It came highly recommended by several other people along the way, and the location, online reviews and website finally swayed us. It was the right choice. I’ve never seen a more beguiling menu! Apparently the James Beard restaurant critics ranked Irving Street Kitchen right up there with Pok Pok, so we were in the right league. The full menu is incredible. Some of our picks for a festive Fall dinner:

Sweet Potato & Fennel Soup, Butternut Squash, Aged Blue Cheese
Seared Shrimp & Dungeness Crab Ragout, Bienville-Bread Pudding, Pickled Okra
Grilled Bone-In Pork Chop, Southern Dirty Rice, Persimmon-Sage Compote
Butterscotch Brulee topped with Crème Fraiche, Fiddle Faddle, and Roasted Peanuts

The service was impeccable and fun; Patrick made the experience joyful as he shared his in-depth knowledge of the source, preparation, and potential wine pairing of each dish. The restaurant sits up a half floor above busy Irving Street, in a concrete floored warehouse, with impossibly but successfully paired rustic country and urban chic décor, steel beams, lovely linens, and an omni-present mason-jars fetish. All the better to savor a “Low Country” with Ransom Old Tom Gin, Fernet Branca, Sage Peppercorn Syrup, and Reed’s Ginger Beer.

Chrissie Hynde, Not Pretending

2010-10-21T19:22:00.000-07:00

59 and Fabulous Chrissie Hynde

JP Jones

The band signed the set list

Chrissie Hynde and the Fairground Boys

Chrissie Hynde and the Fairground Boys played the Showbox at the Market in Seattle on Wednesday night. A good review appeared in the Seattle Times today.

Chrissie looked absolutely great. She's always been slim and cat-like, but to think she is 59 years old is pretty mind-blowing. Her voice was as good as ever, and I was struck yet again by her rock star charisma, her easy and total command of her guitar and of the band.

Apparently she is in love with her lead guitar player, JP Jones, and they had a December-May relationship that they ended and chronicled on their album together, Fidelity. Steamy is right. The setlist was primarily from the album. Only 70 minutes long, the set was tight, powerful, and bittersweet. You could feel the love.

Hats off to the Showbox, too; the sound was excellent, and we had no problem getting right up to the stage. Chrissie's "no cameras" rule was violated by cellphones, but it didn't detract from the lovely ride she took us on. I got the feeling from the crowd that no one wanted to come back from their "Fidelity" world, most especially the lead singer.

Set List photo courtesy Diane Brooks.

Proliferate, Poetic, Picasso

2010-10-18T13:44:00.000-07:00

Entry to the SAM exhibit

The Musee National Picasso in Paris

Picasso's "Jester" Bronze

You guessed it, this is a cubist "Guitare"

Man Playing Guitare

Picasso Exhibit, Seattle Art Museum, October 8 – January 17

Amsterdam, May 1988. A friend says, “If you’re taking the train to Paris tomorrow, you MUST see the Picasso Retrospective at the Center Pompidou before it closes tomorrow night.” So I did. A genius curator had arranged the massive proliferation of Picasso drawings, etchings, paintings, sculpture, and ceramics in chronological order, through a vast maze of halls and galleries. You could actually step through the years of Picasso’s development as an artist. It wasn’t until that day in Paris that I fully registered his true genius and his impact on Art. (The Seattle Art Museum show is a smaller but no less interesting version of that.)

So, the day after that, I had to visit the Musee National Picasso which is a museum in a grand old mansion in the heart of Paris dedicated entirely to works by Picasso. The mansion is surrounded by a grove of old trees, and it’s not until you enter the driveway that it opens onto a large gravel parking de la region where they used to bring up the horse-drawn carriages. Many of the thousands of works in the museum were bequeathed by the artist from his own personal collection. It is from these works that the Seattle Art Museum’s exhibit is drawn. The SAM exhibit also includes some wonderfully obscure found-object sculpture, and a nice sampling from the other various mediums. And, we're spared the endless shelves of ceramics endured at the Musee National.

Did you know Picasso created on average three works of art per day? And that he lived to be 92? You do the math! Whether it was a drawing, a vase, sculpture, or painting, the guy was busy! And it’s not widely recognized what a superb draftsman he was. Many skeptics believed he defaulted to "primitive" cubism because he couldn't really draw. But, his early studies of nudes and hands easily rival those of the best renaissance artists. He was also a great mimic: you can see nods to the impressionists Cezanne, Degas, and Manet, as well as sculptural references to DuChamps, and African primitive art, and psychedelic morphings a la Dali.

Of course, the innovation that indelibly stamped Picasso on the art map was his kaleidoscopic cubism; he was a litmus of his times--the machine age--and he was the first to capture instantaneous views of the same object on one canvas, forcing us to see in a new way.

Some of his later works are very political, or even strongly psychedelic. A bit like an IQ test, it’s fun to stare at some of the paintings and wonder, Hmm, how did he get a guitar out of that?

Photos, except Musee National Picasso, courtesy of John Best.

Rock and Roll Fantasy

2010-10-12T08:47:00.000-07:00

Paul Rodgers, October 9, Shelton, WA

No wonder he's called “The Voice.” At 60, Paul Rodgers shows no signs that his haunting, powerful voice is in any way diminished.

Interesting that he started out as a bass player (wouldn’t you know it). With that sensitivity, he co-wrote All Right Now with Free bassist Andy Fraser in 1970. Twenty years later ASCAP recognized it for receiving over one million radio plays in the U.S. alone.

Mr. Rodgers has a powerful stage presence, and unlike some of the performers I’ve seen recently, he really connected with the audience. He talked to us (in his deep British accent), responded to us, and invited us all to come up front to the stage. It was a great experience being right up in the first two rows within reach of the band. Shooting Star was wonderful, as was Rock and Roll Fantasy. I loved hearing some of the more obscure stuff from one of his early bands, The Firm, like Satisfaction Guaranteed.

Paul has ties to many of our Seattle musicians. One of my favorite local bassists, Lynn Sorenson, again demonstrated his rock star playing prowess as well as his formidable charisma. And it was great fun seeing Jeff Kathan, who just a week ago had played at Salmon Days, pounding the drums on stage with these other superstars.

[A brief mention here about a phenomenon happening in Washington State: the Casinos. Because of Native American rights, there is now a proliferation of huge, new—and beautiful—casino/hotels popping up all over the state. Little Creek Casino in Shelton, about an hour from Seattle, is a great example. It's a strange thing, like stepping back in time, when smoking and drinking was allowed (if not encouraged) everywhere. But, lucky for us, there is a whole new circuit where our favorite rock musicians can gig.]

It was a fantastic night. To top it all off, Paul Rodgers is a nice guy. As he wished us good night, he said, “Take care, and be kind to each other.”

The Social Network

2010-10-09T13:04:00.000-07:00

The Social Network, The Movie

Go see this movie. Forget the hype, just go. Forget that there are no “stars” in the film, that there is no typical Hollywood action. That’s a good thing. This movie rocks.

Even if you’re tired of hearing about Twitter and Facebook, and you generally steer clear of privacy-compromising internet inventions or ideas, you’ll want to have seen this movie. From the first few moments, as the story opens in a dorm room at Harvard in 2004, you will be gripped by the story. The story of a 20-year-old kid who had an "online sharing" idea that within 6 years over 500 MILLION people use around the globe.

Mark Zuckerberg is simultaneously our hero and our antagonist. If the character in the film even somewhat faithfully portrays the real man, this guy is much more than smart and interesting. He is downright scary how brilliant and quick his mind is. The screenwriter, Aaron Sorkin, of West Wing and A Few Good Men fame, does a fantastic job of keeping the dialogue crackling and sharp, and I had to laugh out loud as Zuckerberg surgically taunts the attorneys in the arbitration scene.

The film is witty and sharp throughout, from the dialogue to the camera direction, to the sets, to the editing. The director, David Fincher, shows us his prowess as director of stylish thrillers, translated into an even more mesmerizing reality. And, as important, you will learn a lot about what is going on in our world right now, that is changing everything, forever.

Read the review.

Salmon Dayze

2010-10-04T08:49:00.000-07:00

Salmon Days 2010, Issaquah, Washington, October 2-3

I thought I knew what I was getting into: lots of crowds, typical fair booths, patchouli soap and garden art. Corndogs.

What I didn’t expect was a rocking show complete with famous guitar players, drummers, and Go-Go dancers. But I should have known: Magic Bus was playing. And, thanks to the music organizer of Salmon Days for the past 27 years, we enjoyed stellar musicians, mega-wattage and great sound. I missed seeing Lynn Sorenson, who is currently touring with Paul Rodgers in Hawaii, but Jeff Kathan lit up the traps with his fierce, masterful drumming. I particularly enjoyed Terry James Young, from the Seattle band Rail, on lead vocals and bass. Lloyd DeBar played a brilliant lead guitar. Steve Hanna on guitar and keys rounded out the sound. It’s not every day you hear Rick Derringer and Led Zeppelin tunes played live and loud. The fabulous cage dancers Dannielle and Shannon added that sexy Bond Girls vibe.

And we had to see the Salmon. Their triumphant, bittersweet return home, all the way upstream from the Ocean. You see scores of these big, heavy fish, each about 4 feet long, chopping their way up the shallow river bed, and you hope they succeeded in their life-long quest to return home to spawn. That’s the interesting thing about Salmon Days; it subtly highlights a cosmic sense of connection to each other and to Earth. How can we tread lightly on our environment and the other living things that were here before us?

Roanoke Inn on Mercer Island

2010-10-02T17:49:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the place is hopping until 2 a.m. With lots of comings and goings, a jukebox blasting anything from Rooster to Radar Love, and a demolition derby gravel parking lot, it’s not exactly quiet. But the last time one of the neighbors tried to have it shut down, they didn’t realize the Mercer Island City Council meets there every Tuesday night. The Roanoke is a regular institution. And of course it’s haunted: urban legend is that it used to be a brothel and weekend gambling escape during Prohibition.

The Roanoke was built in 1914 in the craftsman style, with large wrap-around veranda and patios side and back. It sits near the point where ferry traffic from across the lake used to land, bringing business men home from downtown Seattle.

When Island roads improved enough, more tourists went exploring. To appeal to the visitors as well as to serve the community, George McGuire built a chicken-dinner inn not far from the ferry dock. At first business was not exactly brisk, and McGuire lost the inn because of debts. A Mr. Green took over and operated it as a hotel.

Subsequently it was sold several times, sometimes falling into ill repute, rumored to be a brothel and a purveyor of illegal booze served in coffee mugs during prohibition. Then for decades they just served beer and wine, and a small menu of burgers and burritos. With an expanded kitchen and a liquor license, the ‘Noke has waltzed into the new century. It stands today, well preserved and looking much the same as it did almost a hundred years ago.

I like it for the casual old-Seattle feeling and the interesting crowd. With its dark green walls and fascinating collection of memorabilia, it has an old-world Pub character. I’ve seen everyone from famous Seattle business men to socialites, from rock stars to sports stars. If you go on a Friday afternoon, I suggest getting there by 4pm to score a booth.

Railroad Earth

2010-09-26T11:35:00.000-07:00

Todd Sheaffer, Lead Vocals, Accoustic Guitars

Andrew Altman, Bass; Tim Carbone, Violin and Vocals

Carey Harmon, Drums and Vocals

John Skehan, Mandolin and Vocals

Plugged In

Railroad…station. Terrapin…Station? Earth = Terrapin? Railroad Earth.

Terrapin - I can't figure out
Terrapin - if it's an end or the beginning
Terrapin - but the train's got its brakes on
and the whistle is screaming: TERRAPIN
--from Terrapin Station, Grateful Dead

Seems to me the roots of Railroad Earth are closely aligned with Grateful Dead bluegrass roots, and it was fun to see a band that got everybody dancing.

I hear people complain all the time, “Young people listen to such garbage!” or “No one under 30 has good taste in music!” and I beg to differ. Youth may not be completely wasted on the young! There is a movement where 20-somethings actually care a LOT about great writing, musicianship, and melody. I witnessed this first-hand at the Showbox in Seattle, with Railroad Earth. Next to me was a 20-year old fan from Minnesota who had traveled to Seattle to hear her favorite band, singing along, knowing all the words.

There is definitely a following of loyal young fans. RR Earth does a good job communicating with their 25,000+ fans via Facebook. Touring professionals, the band members had all first mastered their acoustic instruments before going electric (“Bob Dylan, how could you?!”) And you can see an almost reluctant plugging-in of hollow-body guitars. I especially enjoyed the electric hollow-body bass (not a Hoffner, but sweet) and banjo. Nice mandolin playing, great classical guitar picking, the treat of an acoustic bass, and a monster violinist, all melded to make memorable, danceable music. The crowd got the old wooden trampoline-of-a-dance-floor bouncing pretty good!

One of the challenges for this band is properly mic’ing the lead singer; if it weren’t so hard to distinguish the words we might have had the benefit of experiencing the lyrics along with the music, and it would certainly have been more meaningful. From YouTube I know they do some good writing. A few more years on the road, perfecting their sound, honing their writing, and you never know…

Mythical Northwest Coast

2010-09-24T08:10:00.000-07:00

Andy Warhol's Northwest Coast Mask 1986, based on a mask in the Smithsonian

First Nations art-influenced logo

Thunderbird Totem Pole, Museum of Anthropology, U. of BC

Bill Reid's Raven and First Men 1994, carved from a single 8' wide piece of yellow cedar

Tony Hunt's Raven and Moon

Flavoring Seattle is the subtle but omnipresent influence of the First Nations, or Northwest Coastal Indians; their art, traditions, and history. It is all around us, from the Seattle Seahawks logo to restaurant signs; you’re surprised by the occasional totem pole in a park, and the smell of roasting salmon in cool fall air. This influence gives Seattle a certain mythical power.

A hundred-fifty years ago, the Puget Sound’s waterways were the highways, and inland was locked by giant fir trees growing so close together you couldn’t walk between them. You can glimpse the Puget Sound of a long time ago by reading The Curve of Time by M. Wylie Blanchet.

Or, set foot in the Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia in Victoria, B.C., and your skin tingles. Feel the First Nations’ people’s relationship with the universe, their tuned-in view of man in relation to nature. Everyday objects as well as ceremonial treasures honor this sense of (what Jerry Garcia called “The Group Mind”) oneness, in the way they are carved, the mythical creatures they honor, and the connection to the sea and stars.

Bill Reid (1920 – 1998) is probably the most recognizable name in the astounding pool of northwest coastal artists. He’s world famous for carving “Raven and First Men” from one gigantic piece of yellow “nootka” cedar, depicting the Haida creation story, where Raven opens an oyster shell on the beach to find the first Humans.

Tony Hunt is also a world-famous carver and print artist. He was born in 1942 at the Kwakwaka'wakw community of Alert Bay, British Columbia. His brothers, Stanley Hunt and Richard Hunt, are also professional carvers. You can still find their original mask carvings at auctions here and there.

Many northwest homes feature masks, carvings, prints, and totem poles from these and other artists. I think the Seattle Art Museum has the second finest collection of ceremonial masks in the world (second only to the U of BC museum) and it’s a good place to get educated on the subject.

When you’re ready to buy, visit my favorite gallery in the world for collectible First Nations art: Alcheringa Gallery in Victoria, B.C. Or, try going to the source: Duncan, British Columbia. Duncan is the Totem Pole Headquarters of the world, and many carvers sell directly to buyers there. Schedule your own trip on British Columbia Ferries.

FURTHUR, THE EXPERIENCE

2010-09-19T21:23:00.000-07:00

Furthur's set list, from their Facebook page

Photos by Irene Graham

Legendary Grateful Dead Band plays Remond, Wa
Third of Three Installments

Furthur at Marymoor Park, September 18, 6 p.m.
See the previous two installments:
Furthur, The Music
Furthur, The Band

FURTHUR, THE EXPERIENCE
Cosmically, the rain starts just as we walk through tall trees up to the main gate. As we’re getting our bags checked we rummage for rain ponchos. After that we hardly notice the rain—the focus is all on getting to the stage.

It’s definitely a different experience being up close (4th row center). The supreme professionalism of the stage setup, the caliber and complexity of the sound equipment and the magnificent instruments, is all laid out like a gorgeous banquet. It occurrs to me that Bobby has been touring for 45 years, pretty much non-stop. These guys are all at the very top of their game.

The plastic-sheeted fans are pumped up, ready to party. The band comes out to cheers from new and long-time fans. Familiar faces in the crowd smile knowingly, “Gonna be a party tonight, uh-huh!” as they roll into the first number, Mississippi Half-Step:

Half-step
Mississippi Uptown Toodleloo
Hello baby, I'm gone, goodbye
Half a cup of rock and rye
Farewell to you old southern sky
I'm on my way - on my way

The next song, Stagger Lee, is particularly amazing. I haven’t heard it live in concert for several years, and JohnK does a nice job on the guitar and vocals. I’m haunted by echoes of Miles Davis in the jam…those high held notes... The next few songs roll along in perfect contentment, the fans dancing, singing along, Phil smiling and grooving with Bobby, all having a real good time.

Jerry Garcia is always so palpably missing. His soulfulness came out at the most unexpected moments, through a cracking voice, or that perfect high note on the guitar. It’s hard. But JohnK holds it down. It isn’t until the last song of the first set, Sugaree, that I almost cry...

Just one thing I ask of you
Just one thing for me
Please forget you knew my name
My darlin’ Sugaree

Intermission is almost an emotional relief. I’ve never attended a concert with a friendlier, kinder, happier crowd than at a Dead concert. Tonight is no different. We’re all in it together, the rain, tarps, wet chairs. None of it matters. Just the music.

The band continues to pull at our heart strings as they open the second set with Steve Winwood's classic Dear Mr. Fantasy and then stride right into one of my favorite Bobby songs, Cassidy. It showcases Bobby’s special songwriting skills: his unusual and original chord changes and vocal modalities that I’m only recently coming to fully appreciate. The show is complete for me when they swing into The Wheel and I poignantly remember the Ventura, CA show in 1985, sunset, ocean waves crashing in the background, crowd bouncing on the old wooden bleachers. For me, the concert is an accumulation of special moments, relived across the decades. Some of the best moments in my life.

A lull and maybe still missing Jerry, it feels like Fire on the Mountain is a bit lackluster, and it isn’t until I Know You Rider that the energy is back up to megawattage. They’ve been doing Going Down the Road at a lot of their shows lately, so that is no surprise, but it’s always endearing and fun when they throw in an old cowboy song like that. Next, we all come full circle when they sing Bid You Goodnight, as Dark Star Orchestra performed a superb heartfelt rendition of it on their spring tour.

And, being Saturday, Bobby had to make the set list change at the last minute (I know it was you, Bobby!) and do one of his favorites, because he gets to whale on the rhythm guitar—it’s one of the best whaling strumming songs out there, One More Saturday Night. I know I’m extremely grateful to have had one more Saturday night with this band, and it was clear they felt the same way about us.

FURTHUR, THE BAND

2010-09-14T18:55:00.000-07:00

Furthur, Today

Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, and Phil Lesh in 1974

Phil Lesh-Grateful Dead, Berkeley Greek Theater, San Francisco 1981,

Photo by Irene Graham (I was there!)

Bob Weir, Greek Theater, 1981 ("Bobbyyyy!!!")

John Kadlecik of Furthur, 2010

Legendary Grateful Dead Band FURTHER plays Redmond, WA
Second of Three Installments; see installment #1: Furthur, The Music

Furthur at Marymoor Park, September 18, 6 p.m.

FURTHUR, THE BAND
Grateful Dead founders Bob Weir (rhythm guitar and vocals) and Phil Lesh (lead guitar in the lower register, or bass), are joined by John Kadlecik (little Jerry lead guitar) of Dark Star Orchestra, along with Jeff Chimenti on keyboards (from Bob Weir’s band Ratdog) and Joe Russo on drums (collaborations with Phil Lesh & Friends, and Phish).

The thing about Bob Weir that I’ve only recently begun to fathom, is just how great a rhythm guitar player he really is. Subtle and masterful, he consistently weaves a rich texture in and around the performance, artfully guiding the orchestration while empowering the vocals and other guitars. Listen for his influence in “Help on the Way” and “Let it Grow.” He’s also become a fine singer, although personally, I miss the cute “Bobby” of the early concerts, and wish he’d lose the ZZ Top beard! Bobby was adopted, and in this truly amazing autobiographical article, shares his story about the life-long odyssey of finding his family, and the magic telecaster that finally made The Big Time.

The English language is just plain inadequate for describing the bass playing artistry of Phil Lesh. He sees no reason why a bass guitar can’t be played with as much creativity and soulfulness as a lead guitar, rather than focusing on the downbeat. He rocks my soul. My bass instructor Danny Morris, a huge Phil fan, at Berklee College of Music said, "Wouldn't it be great to tour the world as a jazz improvisation band, disguised as a rock band?" Phil turned 70 on March 15 this year. One of his more personal causes is organ donorship: he successfully survived a liver transplant over 12 years ago. When I think of the many, many fabulous musical moments he has given me, I want to give him a liver, and a kidney, too!

A quick Time Out here to tout two other important causes formed and supported by the Grateful Dead family:
• Furthur Foundation: For nearly 25 years, the Furthur Foundation has been giving money to progressive non-profit groups working on environmental and social change issues.
• Unbroken Chain Foundation: Created in the spring of 1997 by Phil Lesh and friends, the Unbroken Chain Foundation is a nonprofit organization which seeks to perpetuate the long-standing tradition of community service that has been the hallmark of the remarkable three-decade relationship between the Grateful Dead and its audience.

After Jerry Garcia’s passing in 1995, the Grateful Dead went through a few iterations, as The Other Ones, and recently The Dead (The Gorge, May 16 2009), which featured Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers Band) on lead guitar (in the Jerry position). Warren was bluesy and slidy, which was fun and a little country, but I think this is going to be my favorite lineup since Jerry: John Kadlecik on lead. He brings 12 solid years of touring and playing Grateful Dead material with Dark Star Orchestra, a high-powered, professional tour de force. John says, endearingly, “I listened to classical music and my old, hand-me-down Beatles albums, and that’s pretty much all I listened to until high school in ’83-’84. At that time I had some friends who turned me on to The Police and The Cars and Rush and Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd—which a lot of people considered to be passé and oldies by that point, I suppose, but I didn’t care.” (Neither do I!!) Through a friend John discovered Grateful Dead music in 1987, and 23 years later he is playing lead guitar with the legends he worshiped!!! Read the entertaining John Kadlecik Interview.

Jeff Chimenti rocks the keyboards. From the further.net site: “Although he had never listened to Grateful Dead music, his relationship with saxophonist Dave Ellis introduced him to Bob Weir, and in 1997 he replaced the legendary Johnnie Johnson (of Chuck Berry fame) in Bob's band "RatDog." He later was the keyboard player for the Dead's re-constituted band "The Other Ones" which officially became "The Dead" with stints in 2002-2004, and then again in 2009.

Joe Russo on drums: Growing up in Northern NJ with walls covered by KISS posters, compelled by fire, make-up, and the ways of rock, Joe Russo began playing drums at the age of 8. Cutting his chops in the shadows of Bonham, his early tendencies leaned strongly to hard rock. At the age of 13, through the guidance of his teacher Frank Marino (Long Island Drum Center of Nyack) Joe began to discover a whole new world of drumming.

Stay tuned for the next installment: Furthur, The Experience

Legendary Grateful Dead Band FURTHUR Plays Redmond, WA

2010-09-13T07:56:00.000-07:00

First of three installments
In an attempt to give you context for this amazing event, I’ll be covering three areas over the next few days: The Music; The Band; The Experience

Furthur at Marymoor Park, September 18, 6 p.m.

FURTHUR, THE MUSIC
Furthur is the next evolution of the Grateful Dead, who toured 1965 – 1995—thirty years. To be able to hear this music again, live, with the original bass and rhythm guitar players…!

If you’re a Deadhead, you’re intimately familiar with the grandeur of the lyrics written by Robert Hunter, the foremost poet-collaborator in the GD world. You can thank him for scribing masterpieces like Ripple, St. Stephen, Wharf Rat, Dark Star, and hundreds of others. Hundreds. The sheer magnitude of his contribution is staggering. What may not be commonly known is that Bob Weir also wrote a significant number of well-known songs, the best of which were co-penned by Hunter (Sugar Magnolia) and John Perry Barlow (Cassidy, Looks Like Rain, and Let It Grow).

Deep in our lexicon we’re haunted by lines like “must’ve been the roses” and “let there be songs to fill the air…” Jerry Garcia and Bob Weir put the words in a magic music cauldron and out wafted some of the finest, most soulful musicianship and improvisation in history.

The Annotated Grateful Dead Lyrics site based at UC Santa Cruz, provides an accurate historical archive of GD’s original song lyrics. You may also have seen my piece about archive.org where you can get high quality live concert recordings for free (last I counted, the Grateful Dead had 7,300 concerts listed there!) In the past few weeks of the Furthur tour, they’ve been including these classics in their set lists, so if you’re going to the show, get ready for some amazing live music moments:
Cassidy
Loser
The Other One
Terrapin Station
Unbroken Chain
Help on the Way/Slipknot
Wharf Rat

It's a miracle that you can still get tickets to the show. You can also purchase live concert recordings from the Furthur tour via digital download. Or order the live shows on CD.

Here's an excerpt from the song “Broke-down Palace”:
River gonna take me
Sing me sweet and sleepy
Sing me sweet and sleepy
all the way back home

It's a far gone lullaby
sung many years ago
Mama, Mama, many worlds I've come
since I first left home

Goin home, goin home
by the waterside I will rest my bones
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
to rock my soul

Stay tuned for the next installment: FURTHUR, THE BAND

Mid-Century Modern Utopia

2010-09-11T16:38:00.000-07:00

When we think of mid-century modern, we picture the swooping glass and concrete gems in Palm Springs and Southern California designed by architects like Richard Neutra, Rudolph Schindler, and Joseph Eichler. Who knew there was a mid-century modern enclave right here in our own backyard?

This weekend I toured the Hilltop community in Bellevue, Washington. Hilltop, with its 39 homes and common spaces, collectively shines as an example of paradise kept.

The founding members, mostly artists, architects, builders, engineers, and University of Washington faculty, pioneered the cooperative community in 1948 to value modern architecture, natural beauty and democracy. The band of families united to design and build their dream neighborhood, pooling $15,000 to buy a 63-acre site in what was once a logged-off, brambled area with limited access at an elevation of about 1,000 feet. They mapped 40 one-acre lots surrounded by a greenbelt to preserve views, greenery and privacy. They built and maintain roughly 13 acres of common land, including nature trails, a swimming pool, a tennis court, picnic tables and a playground.

“The architecture here, it doesn’t impose itself on the land,” said a current owner. “The houses are often tucked in, but light, bright, and airy. People made them to be a good place to live in, not to dominate the landscape.” Averaging 2,200 square feet, their living space is dwarfed by the past decade’s McMansions, a gluttonous trend that’s reverting to more cozy spaces as people seek once again to simplify.

Architects who designed homes for the original Hilltop families —in some cases as their own residences — include Wendell Lovett, Lionel Pries, Johanson, John Morse, Bassetti, Paul Kirk and Roland Terry (with collaboration from others in the firm Tucker, Shields & Terry). They were young, for the most part, and in an experimental mode. "For us, it was a dream world," founding member, age 101, Victor Scheffer said recently of the place he calls "a noble idea."

Connie Reed, 83, and her art-historian husband, met at Yale University, moved West in 1951 and bought into the group soon after. They built their house in 1957, and she still lives there. "What was it," she asks, "the creative energy of the times? We really liked that you weren't so much buying a piece of property but a membership. I didn't know about that utopian stuff, but the idea of working together — you know your neighbors and share a sense of responsibility for each others’ well-being.”

Learn more about mid-century modern architecture from the people dedicated to preserving it: Documentation and Conversation of the Modern Movement, Western Washington.

Or look for a modern home of your own with 360 Modern.

Rock n' Roll Line Up

2010-09-07T12:31:00.000-07:00

Quite the amazing line up this week! Some of the best musicians in the world are playing locally in the next few days. My picks:

Tuesday, Sept. 7: Open Mic Night at the Barrel in Burien, Drummer Doug McGrew and Friends

Wednesday, Sept. 8: Oddfellows Grill in Redmond, Magic Bus
Groovy music and real Go-Go girls. Lynn Sorensen on bass and electric violin; Joe Shikany - Guitar, Vocals; Steve Hanna - Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals; Jeff Kathan - Drums; and Dannielle and Shannon, the Lovely Cage Dancers.

Thursday, Sept. 9: Red Dog Saloon in Maple Valley, the wonderful Cory Wilds Band with Mark Fluegel on bass. See my review.

Friday, Sept. 10: Poppa's Pub in Kent, Aury Moore Band (celebrating drummer Eddie Mendoza's Birthday!) Beautiful Aury's amazing range in voice and repertoire will make you an instant fan, and so will her stellar band: scorching hot guitarist Manuel Morais; violinist Joe Gamble, and the powerful Dominique D Stone on bass, with Eddie on drums.

Saturday, Sept. 11: White Band at Newcastle Days, Lake Boren Park 5:30 p.m.
Drummer Alan White has spent the past 38 years with the band Yes, and has jammed with John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Eric Clapton and Jimmy Hendrix.

PoodleBomb Rocks the J&M Cafe

2010-09-04T09:31:00.000-07:00

The name PoodleBomb might be the only thing the band has in common with Ruthless People, the movie. Unless you consider the ruthless dedication to delivering fun, timeless entertainment. The name, taken from the movie as a joke, makes me laugh, and I'm still trying to get mental images of exploding pinatas, and messier, far less polite images out of my head.

Formed in 1996, the band features Mark Fluegel on bass and backup vocals, and Paul Kroger on guitar and lead vocals. Dave Samek holds down the traps.

The playing is tight with a fat groove, and funk and jazz undertones enrich the overall sound. The special synergy between Paul and Mark, and the fact that they've been playing together for 15 years, allows them to stretch the music and take it to new places. I love bass; I always tune in to what the bass player is doing. Mark commands attention while zinging off the lead: he's one of the rare bass players who uses the downbeat as a jumping off point for exploring a more creative and compelling bass line that almost becomes another lead guitar, in the lower register. For years Mark has also played bass with Cory Wilds--that's how extraordinary he is.

It would be an understatement to say PoodleBomb has a formidable repertoire; from classic rock to R&B and some surprising contemporary classics (Stone Temple Pilots, David Bowie, Red Hot Chili Peppers), the set list was sparkling and dance-able.

You can catch PoodleBomb at J&M Cafe in Pioneer Square and pretty regularly around the south Sound. See their Calendar.

Live Music Archive in the Sky

2010-08-30T12:45:00.000-07:00

A long time ago, there was a dream that one day, you could download virtually any live concert recording from the sky (now called the “cloud”) to enjoy at your leisure. That day has arrived.

The Internet Archive http://www.archive.org/details/etree is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that was founded to build an Internet library. Its purpose is to offer permanent access to historical collections that exist in digital format. It was founded in 1996 and is located in San Francisco.

You’ll find a treasure trove of live recordings from thousands of artists. The recordings are generally divided into two groups: 1) recordings from the band’s soundboard, which you can listen to streaming, or 2) high quality recordings from “tapers” or audience members which are available to download.

I recommend downloading the high-fidelity loss-less FLAC files, converting them to WAV files, and burning them onto a CD. That way you can build a library of your own favorites. FLAC, or Free Lossless Audio Codec, allows you to store CD-quality audio at a fairly small file size compared to the size of the raw data. But, to listen to them on your CD player, you’ll need to convert FLAC to WAV files. This maintains the high-fidelity (vs. converting to MP3, the scourge of us audiophiles).

The most common way to convert FLAC files to WAV is by using WinAmp, which is free. Download it from www.winamp.com, and download the FLAC codec for WinAmp, which is available from http://flac.sourceforge.net/.

After installing WinAmp and the FLAC codec, open up Winamp and go into the Options menu. From here, select "Preferences," and in the Plug-Ins section, select "Output," followed by Nullsoft Disk Writer and click Configure.

If you run Windows 7, and you're saving the WAV files, you'll probably want to keep them in your Music library or wherever your music is stored on your computer. Once you've selected a directory, click the OK button and go back to the WinAmp main screen.

WinAmp will play your files and convert them at the same time, so go to File and hit Play File, then select the FLAC files that you want to convert. Press "Open." WinAmp converts them quickly, then you're ready to burn.

To burn a CD using Windows 7's Media Player, open Windows Media Player, and in your music library locate the WAV files you want to burn. Drag them onto your Burn List. Insert a blank CD, start the burn process, and the prompts should take you through the rest.

Handful of Luvin at Treehouse Point

2010-08-28T08:59:00.000-07:00

The scene: a small barn open on one end, deep in a dark green forest, a river nearby. Torches smoldering in the early evening, guests twittering, cars parked on gravel, one by one, tight.

The band, Handful of Luvin, played at Treehouse Point in Fall City on Wednesday night. The venue was spectacular, the band was entertaining. The fiddler, Andrew Joslyn, was, however, extraordinary. Command of one's instrument is a given for any professional musician. The extra spark and wit set him apart, and without Andrew's talent Handful would be just another Dave Mathews-style pop band. With a little more work on their material, perhaps digging into their bluegrass roots, they could actually be something special.

Jamming Eight Days a Week (Almost)

2010-08-25T09:15:00.000-07:00

One of the best ways to experience live music is by attending any of the many Jam Nights around town. You'll see seasoned musicians, young upstarts, and people who just want to play. Surprising combinations of players can spark magic when you least expect it. It's truly humbling to witness the wealth of talent right here in front of us.

For a robust list of jam nights around Puget Sound, visit http://openmikes.org

Some of my favorites:

SUNDAYS
Blues Night Jam, hosted by Tommy Wall, featuring Andrew Cloutier on drums. Each week features a special guest guitarist. 7-10 PM
Raging River Cafe, Fall City
33723 Redmond-Fall City Rd.
Fall City, WA 98024
425-222-6669

Open Mic Jam, 8pm
Lighthouse Bar, Des Moines
22239 Marine View S
Des Moines, WA
206-824-4920

TUESDAYS
Open Mic Night, hosted by Tim Turner Band, 9pm
Wilde Rover Irish Pub & Restaurant, Kirkland
111 Central Way
Kirkland , WA 98033
425-822-8940

Open Mic, 8pm
Barrel Tavern, Burien
11051 1st Ave S.
Burien, WA
206-244-7390

WEDNESDAYS
Jam Night, hosted by Powercell (Lynn Sorensen), 8pm
Oddfellows Grill, Redmond
7979 Leary Way NE
Redmond, WA 98052
425-882-7800

Gnomedex 2010: New, New Media

2010-08-22T08:40:00.000-07:00

Had a great time at the Gnomedex 2010 conference. Gnomedex was founded by Chris Pirillo, a local leading thinker in the new media space. Bill Schrier, CTO of Seattle ("chief geek") shared some interesting facts: Seattle City Light was created in 1905. Bill Boeing built his first airplane in Seattle in 1956. Starbucks was founded in 1971, now 17,000 locations worldwide. Microsoft has 94,000 employees today.

One of the most interesting speakers was Larry Wu, master of consumer-based innovation. He developed a one-cup french press to go! How great is that? He believes the most important Macro-Trends of 2010 are: Artisan products; Cultural Fusion (easiest way is Food and Music); Mass Personalization; Products that help you monitor your own health; Hyperlife (multi-tasking); Nostalgia Marketing (2010 Mustang); Merit Badges (collecting experiences like archeology vacations and bungee jumping); Ready, Set, Go! (innovation plus convenience); Torking (design element)--multiple uses, highest power, most memory, that amps it up for the consumer. Will your product/service/idea be successful? Can you combine macrotrends? lawrence.wujr@gmail.com

Then you have the super-scientist-artist-geeks, of which Scott Draves is a king. Engineer in the Mapping Division at Google, he's the one who created "Electric Sheep," the Flameout algorhythm-based screen saver that utilizes the super-computing power of users' computers across the internet to render. It is mystically beautiful, and a favorite of John Perry Barlow's, and incidentally would make one killer light show behind a live music performance! Download the screensaver here: http://community.electricsheep.org/download

And finally, let me mention Jason Barger, who wrote the book "Step Away From the Baggage Claim." He just wants everyone to take a step back and be a little more grateful and compassionate. Photo by (CC) Randy Stewart, blog.stewtopia.com

Lynn Sorensen: Rock Superstar

2010-08-19T08:03:00.000-07:00

Living in the Seattle area it's not rare to hear great musicians jam; last night it was in tribute to a fallen brother, Joe, taken two years ago. When a rock superstar takes the stage it's something else, something magic. That's what happened last night at Oddfellows Grill in Redmond.

Notable musicians like Manuel Morais and Eddie Mendoza from the Aury Moore Band, Roger Fisher from Heart, Darlene Tyler from Heartless, Pete Butterfield, the Thornburg brothers from Jar, among others, all amazed us with great musicianship and passion. Never thought I'd hear a pounding "Moby Dick" played live ever again, and it takes a great drummer to do that (Jeff Kathan).

Later, Lynn Sorensen (bass player for Bad Company) absolutely transformed the stage. Inventive, powerful, spectacular bass playing. Thrilling to hear him play a rocking "Helter Skelter" with the young Russ Thornburg on lead guitar.

Unplugged on Orcas Island

2010-08-17T18:55:00.000-07:00

Birthday, time out. Itinerary goes something like this: glide over cold black-green water between gum drop islands, check in to enchanted cottage, swim in turquoise pool, roast in sun until medium-rare, repeat. Crack chilled pinot gris, ponder spectacular sunset view, dine on fresh Alaskan halibut and blackberry cobbler a la mode while bucks and does and rabbits play games, old vine cabernet, count comets and planets, and plot paths of satellites, sleep on lofty cloudlike covers.

Wake up to roosters crowing, head to virgin forest, wander around pristine lakes under periwinkle skies, dive into crisp aquamarine water, stretch out on ancient cedar dock...contemplate...

Repeat!

Some of my favorite Orcas haunts are soulfully depicted by local artist, David Densmore. David has lived and painted on Orcas for many years, and to me, he captures the heart of the island best.

When you're there next, I hope you can experience some of these:

- Deer Harbor Inn Restaurant (dinner on the back deck)

- Cascade Lake in Moran State Park

- Darville's Gallery

- New Leaf (best Eggs Benefict anywhere)

- Rosario Lounge (best Bombay martini anywhere)

Muscle Cars Rock

2010-08-14T10:03:00.000-07:00

Nothing says "Summer" like a good car show. Especially when they showcase the muscle cars of a golden era: the '60s-'70s. Polished beauties heel patiently on green grass as owners proudly hover. Pontiac, GTO, Mustang, Challenger, 'Vette, Camaro...music to my ears.

Live Music Around Town

2010-08-11T10:54:00.000-07:00

Starting tonight, you can enjoy great live music every night through the weekend. Local legends and new stars, all living and playing with passion. Check out some of my favorites.

Wed Aug 11:

Jam Night with Powercell/Lynn Sorensen and Doug McGrew, 8:30 Oddfellows Grill, Redmond

Thurs Aug 12:

Cory Wilds Band, 7:30 Red Dog Saloon, Maple Valley

Magic Bus with Lynn Sorensen, 6:30 Lake Wilderness Park, Maple Valley

Bubbles & Fog with Doug McGrew on drums, 8:00 Oddfellows Grill, Redmond

Fri Aug 13:

Aury Moore Band, 9:00 Papa's, White Center

Cory Wilds Band, 9:00 J&M Cafe, Pioneer Square

Magic Bus w Lynn Sorensen and Terry James Young from RAIL, 8:00 Festival at Mt. Si

Sat Aug 14:

Magic Bus with Lynn Sorensen, 6:00 Taste of Edmonds Festival

Cory Wilds Band, 9:00 Red Dog Saloon, Maple Valley

Michael Powers, 7:00 City of Everett Waterfront Concerts

Cool Little Venue: Treehouse Point

2010-08-08T11:13:00.000-07:00

Ever feel like you've fallen down the rabbit hole and suddenly find yourself in another world? A leafy, enchanted cathedral of giant trees, soft bark pathways, and wood sprite dwellings?
That's Tree House Point in Issaquah, Washington. Among the several new inns cropping up in the Cascade foothills, THP is special: you'll find some of the most interesting bands playing here. You'll also marvel at the spectacular tree houses on the grounds that give Treehouse Point its name.
Drive about 20 minutes east of Seattle/Bellevue: 6922 Preston-Fall City Rd SE, Issaquah. 425-441-8087

Summer and R. Kenton Nelson

2010-08-04T10:34:00.000-07:00

Heat, sound of sprinklers, taste of iced tea. One of my favorite painters captures the essence of summer: R. Kenton Nelson. Born in Los Angeles, CA, he's been creating his haunting yet familiar images in his Pasadena studio for decades.
Next time you're in L.A., stop in to the gallery that features his work:
Peter Mendenhall Gallery, 6150 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles
Nelson traces his interest in painting back to his great uncle, Roberto Montenegro, renowned Mexican muralist and Modernist. The style of Nelson's paintings have their origins in American Scene painting, Regionalism, and the work of the WPA artists of the 1930's.
Nelson paints figures, landscape, and architecture bathed in light. The objective in his paintings is to idealize the ordinary with the intention of engagement, using the iconic symbols and styles of his lifetime in a theatrical style to make leading suggestions.

Cory Wilds, Cory Wilds, Cory Wilds

2010-08-01T08:39:00.000-07:00

I get out and see a lot of bands. It's rare that I'm literally stunned by a searing, lightning-bright talent. One that makes me stay until the last note is played. Cory Wilds, Cory Wilds, Cory Wilds...

Whether he's stroking an old Fender sunburst, or coaxing a heart-ache out of a cherry-red hollow-body, Cory plays with the expertise of a long-time road warrior and the soul of a true artist, adding a fresh twist to the music. With his long-time kimosabe Mark Fluegel driving the bassline, Cory absolutely sparkles with wit and inventiveness. The venerable Doug McGrew on drums, new to the trio, made it seem effortless, as if he'd been playing with them from the beginning twelve years ago.

Maybe it's the Jazz influence: Cory listens to everything, admitting he voraciously consumes a wide array of music. His first jazz album was Kind of Blue, and I can hear the Miles influence, call it soulfulness, a voice that grips you and takes you along. Rock/Blues influences abound, from Stevie Ray Vaughn to Freddie King to early R&B. Yet there's a certain british-invasion hard rock edge to his playing that's at once arresting and compelling.

Easily a rock star in every way, from his tall, elegant presence, to his impressive talent and repertoire, why isn't Cory famous and riding in limosines? "I prefer to play locally," he says. A Renton boy, he likes it here, and plays plenty.

Check them out at Benders (Renton) and Red Dog Saloon (Maple Valley). Get their calendar here http://www.myspace.com/corywildsband

Jam Night at Oddfellows Redmond

2010-07-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

It could be the room: old wooden hall built with big, original timbers in the early 1900s. It could be the place is haunted: stories abound of ghostly images and strange presences, of ladies of the evening done wrong. Or it could be the coziness of a neighborhood hangout where musicians can stretch out and try new things.

Whatever that it is, je ne sais quois, it was another rocking night at Oddfellows on Wednesday. First we had Powercell, with the fantastic Laurie Miller on bass standing in for Lynn Sorensen, and Doug McGrew on drums; then Greg Riley's driving force of a band with all kinds of groove, including a new keyboard player, with Lloyd scorching the steel strings.

Beatniks Play Free in Seattle Tonight: UVillage

2010-07-28T12:48:00.000-07:00

6:30-8:30 The Beatniks will play outside in the University Village promenade, to a crowd of happy followers. Listen for a set list with a nice mix of Beatles, rock, and danceable tunes.

I like that the lead singer plays a Hoffner bass (and very well, too). The drummer is a bit of an urban legend, and well worth watching.

JamBase: So Tuned In

2010-07-26T11:14:00.000-07:00

Now you can track all your favorite bands locally. Get alerts and news about upcoming shows in your area before tickets go on sale. JamBase.com is a free service that makes it easy.

Create your free account, search for your favorite bands and add them to your list. JamBase does the rest. I just discovered that Railroad Earth is playing in Seattle in September! Can't wait!

MadMen

2010-07-25T22:54:00.000-07:00

The struggle between good and evil, between self-respect and business success, between past and future, between love and responsibility...all poignantly posed and pondered in tonight's stunning season premiere of our all-time favorite TV show: Madmen.

Someone recently wrote about Don Draper: that we know about him, his subterfuge, his craftiness, his weakness, yet we still root for him. I counter with: we the viewers, who thought we knew Don, are actually learning more about him now, and he's rising, through the ooze...yes, we are rooting for him, not in spite of what we know, but because of it.

The multi-layer beauty of the story line and aching preciseness of the production make this season's first episode an instant classic.

With a Little Help From My Friends

2010-07-25T21:53:00.001-07:00

Ringo Starr just turned 70 years old (July 7). Let's hope we're all still rocking when we're 70. It's crazy to think he's playing right in our own back yard: Chateau Ste. Michelle winery in Woodinville, WA on Saturday July 31.

Even crazier is that Edgar Winter, a rock dino if there ever was one, is playing with him. But tell me if "Frankenstein" isn't still ahead of its time. I know Bubbles & Fog plays a truly great rockin' banjo (yes, banjo) and electric bass version: see them at OddFellows Grill in Redmond, WA on Thursdays 8pm.

I Dig a Pony

2010-07-20T11:31:00.000-07:00

Steve Jobs is also a Beatles fan. He has referenced them on more than one occasion in keynotes. When asked about his business model on "60 Minutes," he replied:

My model for business is The Beatles. They were four guys who kept each others' negative tendencies in check; they balanced each other. And the total was greater than the sum of its parts. Great things in business are not done by one person, they are done by a team of people.

Lavender and Creme Tangerine

2010-07-20T08:46:00.000-07:00

Where can you get lavendar-rubbed salmon, lavendar-lemon ice cream, and Creme Tangerine? The Lavender Festival in Sequim, Washington. This past weekend one of my favorite Beatles cover bands was playing to a crowd of lavendered fans, sun-kissed from a day of traipsing through lavendar fields forever.

Creme T. plays a nice set list, from the range of Beatles years, and they add their own personality to the performance. The singer almost lends an Eric Burden screech of intensity. It's a different take than my personal favorites, The Nowhere Men, featuring George Meyer on bass; they try (and succeed) to sound as closely as possible to the Fab Four.

The Infamous Stringdusters: Photo

2010-07-19T10:42:00.001-07:00

The Infamous Stringdusters

2010-07-19T10:32:00.000-07:00

I don't know about "infamous," or even "famous," but the Stringdusters are So Tuned In. It's rare to see this array of string instruments played with such sparkling wit and ease. "Contemporary Bluegrass" is as apt a label as I can think of. The band was crisp and tight and played some classics like "Deep Elem Blues" with fresh soulfulness.

St. Edwards Park is hosting a string of Summer concerts on Thursday evenings 6-8, you can see the lineup here: http://www.ci.kenmore.wa.us/Page.aspx?nid=115

Music distribution and mastering!

2010-07-14T09:53:00.000-07:00

I learned from a friend today who is working on some original songs to benefit Hurricane Katrina survivors, that he is using this great new service. It's called tunecore.com and provides mastering and distribution services for independent musicians.

Speaking of great musicians, check out Bubbles and Fog, playing at Oddfellows Redmond, WA tomorrow night 8pm. They take classic rock songs and play them through a time warp of banjo and bass that is fresh and original.

If only I'd known about...

2010-07-13T10:41:00.000-07:00

Many times I've come across something wonderful or inspiring, or just plain "gotta have it" and wondered how I could have missed it until now. These "aha"s are everywhere, but there is a certain exceptional quality about the discoveries that truly inspire.

Artistic expression, in the many forms of music, art, decorative objects and design, is my life's joy. The highest quality of that expression is my life's passion.

My goal is to share my discoveries with you and hopefully inspire you to live a more beautiful life.