Jam Night at Oddfellows Redmond

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Infamous Stringdusters

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!

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...

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.