People are already starting to debate Paul Allen’s legacy. Some admire him, some disliked him (mostly because of his wealth) and some don’t care at all. I can honestly say his generosity had a major impact on my life as well as countless other people in this region. He used his wealth to try and …
This is me as a manchild in 1994-1995. I am starting to look like him again. This kid was trying to dunk. He was damn close. ‘Free Your Mind‘ is heading up the charts again starting this weekend in the Caribbean thanks to the Godfathers. One thing music taught me was patience. The other thing …
☆ Last week the church I grew up in shut down forever because not enough people go anymore. There were no more kids, they couldn’t cover the mortgage. They did vote to welcome gays and allow Women to be Pastors, so they did go out with class man. Lord knows they tried. ☆ I sang …
Youtube is alive with fantastic vids of Simrit Kaur performing at various places around the world. The Keeper (below) is a particularly arresting introduction to Simrit’s siren blend of trance-world-classical with alt-folk vocals. This music has texture and, when given voice in the right venue, will ebb, flow and echo around the audience, hypnotizing, beguiling, …
I have a $100 budget. Who is ready to make a memorable show poster out of this image of Eric Struthers to celebrate his first show in Seattle with The Staxx Brothers? The show is Saturday Nov 3rd. We did some standout posters for the nights Ras Jones (Jonezy) came to visit us from England and when Matt Fink (Dr. Fink) rocked …
A long time ago, perhaps 36 years ago, I went to a club with my husband. It was really hot outside and I was wearing a dress that had no shoulder straps. My husband was hanging out with some friends and I was happily talking to another woman when a gang of UW frat boys …
In 1991 my wife and I were living in a townhome type place at 19th and Denny in Seattle across from a house we called the “Rathouse”. The Rathouse was home base for our Ohio expatriate gang. The Gits, 7 Year Bitch, Alcohol Funnycar and DC Beggars all rehearsed in the basement there. This was …
I finally get to tell you that Band in Seattle is switching to KING 5! I had to keep that under wraps for a while. This is so big for that show. An NBC affiliate. Conrad Denke has put his heart and soul into that show, and working with him has been one of the experiences of my career in …
This post apocalyptic Seattle smoke hellscape is deeply concerning and will have grave consequences. But healthwise I am fine. All my friends have headaches, bleeding sores, mutations, cholera. But I hit the sauna. I am both a Shark and a Jet. I am a hybrid. I will survive. But can we really survive the demise …
On a smoky Saturday night I ventured to Seattle’s Pioneer Square to a club I used to frequent often thirty years ago, the Central Tavern. This 100 plus-year-old tavern was hosting a night of local ska starring Mister Blank (with former members of the now defunct It Gets Worse). As I’ve mentioned, James Sweazea (bass, …
My word, KEXP really scored when they hired Eva Walker as the new host of Audioasis. This woman is a mega talent and I absolutely adore her long view and careful study of history. It makes her music and performances hit so much harder than what a Hipster might do scratching the surface with same the chord …
Oozing attitude and commanding attention, PSA’s new video for “Ghost” embodies the bombastic spirit of the rising Seattle pop star. Cheered on by her team, PSA lambasts a love gone sour with tongue-in-cheek flair. Native to the Pacific Northwest, PSA embodies the creativity and freedom of DIY culture as well as the drive and ambition …
On a hot August night I ventured to SE Seattle to see the highly pedigreed Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra. This outfit, fronted by Greg Lee (of Hep Cat fame) was a combination of a big jazz band, a ska band and modern mixed in with old and traditional. Greg Lee was fascinating to watch. …
On a warm early August evening I had the chance to do some time traveling. One of my favorite performers of the early eighties was playing a concert at Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo. That artist is Adam Ant. I saw Adam a couple times in 81 and 82 and remembered him being an incredible performer. …
I know it sucks that THEY are coming for The Showbox. But the fate was sealed years ago when we all swallowed this pill of sh_t that it was OK to drive out the Soul of our city, starting with Black folks in the Central District that gave the world f_cking Jimi Hendrix and Quincy …
Seattle police’s lip-sync video of Macklemore’s “Downtown” (above) has rightfully drawn a lot of attention. The department still under a Department of Justice order to eliminate brutality, especially against people of color, has thoroughly embraced the Seattle rapper’s one-love vibe while putting their show on the road, blowing away police department lip-syncing videos from around …
When I watched the movie Hype! as a teen and simply never could convince myself to return it to Hollywood Video, one song and one band blew my mind. It was Love Battery. It was this performance. I thought it was amazing all these local bands were making it big and being from Seattle and even …
LIFE PLANS: It’s fun to tell you my plans for the future then, we can look back and see what fate revealed and what fortunes were won. I am currently planning to a few more albums for The Staxx Brothers then I want to shut that sh☆t down as a recording project. But it doesn’t necessarily mean …
I just got a call from Decurrian, AKA DC. The third official member of The Staxx Brothers after Joshua Hanson and I started the band on 2002. He was one of my best friends at the time anyway, and I remember Tina Turnbull told me after we rocked a particular house party that I had better ask DC to officially join …
“My Dad and My Dandelions!” A Tribute to Hank Kipp A little over six years ago, on April 29th, 2012 to be precise, I quite spontaneously decided to weed a dense patch of dandelions in front of the townhouse complex where I’d been living for the previous two years. The front of said complex—along the …
On Sunday June 23 Boston ska legends The Mighty Mighty Bosstones made their first Seattle appearance in four years and I was there to witness this esteemed event. The concert was once again held at Seattle’s Neptune Theater, a great venue to hold live music. This time they were promoting their brand new album While …
Here it is, the long awaited video for ‘Free Your Mind.’: The Book of Horace Chapter One As I am on the cusp of quite possibly having a Top 40 Hit in several countries with the song ‘Free Your Mind’, I keep hearing the voice and sage advice of my greatest professor. Horace Alexander Young. …
On Wednesday night June 13th I had the privilege of seeing Jonathan Richman for the first time in seven years and for the third time ever. Jonathan Richman is difficult to explain as he’s quite unique. I describe him as sort of a folky punk with a quirky sense of humor. This concert, was just …
Georgetown Orbits and the Skablins Celebrate A New Orbits CD With A Fun Night of Ska, by Holly Homan
Georgetown Orbits On Saturday May 12 I headed to Seattle’s south end to an intimate club called the Royal Room. Here Seattle’s ska masters The Georgetown Orbits were performing to promote their brand new CD, Solar Flares. I have been a fan of the Orbits since I first saw them open for the Slackers back …
Pacific NW! On May 14, 15 and 16 the motherf___ing Afghan Whigs are in your general vicinity. Dates here – looks like the first Seattle show is sold out but Portland tickets are still available as is the last night of the whole tour on the 2nd night in Seattle – do not miss this …
Saturday night April 14 was the night of the 2018 Psychobilly Brawl. I’ve attended the Psychobilly Brawl many times but I think this one was the best attended in a long time. Psychobilly is not dead in Seattle. This event was headlined by Detroit’s Koffin Kats, but any of the eight bands who played could …
Friday night March 23, I helped pack Seattle’s El Corazon club to see a double punk bill with the Dickies and the Queers. This is the second time I have seen these two punk bands headline a show together and I hope to see them do so again. The Dickies came on stage just as …
Last night, March 21, I ventured out to Chop Suey to see the female dominated SO Cal group the Regrettes. This power punk quartet oozes charm and sex appeal as well as outstanding showmanship. Front woman Lydia Knight knew just how to work her audience. Her platinum hair was in French braids and she wore …
Tuesday night March 20, I ventured out to the Funhouse to see a ska band calling themselves the Opskamatrists. With a name like that, I knew I had to check them out. I wasn’t disappointed either. This five-piece from Idaho Falls was non-stop fun. Though they hail from Idaho Falls, for some reason their front …
On March 7 I had the esteemed privilege of seeing They Might Be Giants. It has been many years since I last saw them and only my third time seeing them. The first time was in 1988 and was one of the most entertaining shows I ever had the pleasure of attending. They did not …