Let me introduce you to my favorite hero of the World Cup so far — Bryan Ruiz, the cheerful captain of Costa Rica — who seems bent on proving nice guys can finish first. I had never heard of the sprightly midfielder before June. Fulham has been loaning him to Dutch club PSV Eindhoven most …
So I had Chile beating Brazil. It didn’t happen. The weight of 75 years of history and a poor nation’s passion for futbol finally crushed the lusty lads in red. Still, my skepticism about Brazil was confirmed. Neymar is awfully good, maybe even great, but his teammates are just good. Many start for top European …
For those of you who don’t follow baseball, I am happy to report that San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum pitched his second career no-hitter against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday. At 112 pitches and only one base-runner allowed, this no-hitter was a model of decorum compared to the one he pitched last year, …
Thursday evening June 26 approximately three hundred teachers and public school support personnel gathered in Seattle’s Westlake Center to hold a rally against the new Common Core Standards (CCS) before marching one mile to the Gates Building and holding a rally and protest there for over an hour. Common Core Standards was created by corporatists …
On Monday night, June 23, I had the utmost pleasure of witnessing the legendary Robyn Hitchcock perform a concert. This was my first time in the Columbia City Theater in Seattle’s south end. Seattle Theater Group recently acquired it. Columbia City Theater is very small, so very intimate, but loaded with character. The beginning of …
Sure, it’s too bad the U.S. soccer team gave up a last-second goal to drop into a 2-2 tie with Portugal, but it’s not a major disaster. The Yanks’ chances of advancing to the knockout rounds of the World Cup are still pretty good, and they’ve played well enough so far to earn advancement. There’s …
If it seems like Hope Solo’s from another planet, it’s because she is. People shake their heads at the nutty antics of the United States and Seattle Reign goalkeeper, but it’s not easy being the daughter of Han Solo and Princess Leia. It’s boundary issues really. If you were told to go to bed by …
Midway through the group stage of the World Cup in Brazil, the genuine contenders — and the hapless pretenders — are already emerging. Germany, Holland and France have all looked fearsome in the early going while Spain is suddenly yesterday’s news and England is doomed by a leaky defense. Argentina and Brazil, the front-runners from …
“How did you go bankrupt?” “Two ways. Gradually, then suddenly.” I think this quote from Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises” summarizes Spain’s swift demise in the World Cup. They were flattened by the Netherlands and Chile, unable to hoard the ball with their trademark stylish passing and too old and slow to keep up with …
Just over a week ago was Heroes and Comics Night at AT&T Park. The highlight of the evening’s pregame festivities was the appearance of Stan Lee, creator of Spiderman and most of the rest of the superheroes of Marvel Comics. Ninety-one years young, he came out to the field without even a hint of physical …
Sunday was Father’s Day and also the evening of an acoustic solo performance from one of the finest female vocalist of modern times, Johnette Napolitano. The former lead singer from Concrete Blonde blended original songs (with a couple exceptions) with humorous anecdotes and poetry she’d written. Johnette came on stage to raucous applause, and used …
After some deliberation on my part, e.g., Silver Apples at the Bohemian National Cemetery under a full moon, and the trading of a work shift of one son, I ended up attending two separate concerts by two very different bands from Sweden: Goat and Meshuggah. Goat released its debut album, World Music, in 2012. I …
This is beautiful. Rev. C. L. Franklin is the father of Aretha. His spoken word recordings of sermons were first released to great acclaim in the 1950s by famed Chicago blues recording company, Chess Records. In this clip the Reverend is singing, and quite well, thank you.
Located in the mountains of North Central, WA, just about 30 miles from the Canadian border, the Conscious Culture Festival proudly reaches its 5th year on June 20-22, 2014. CCF is the largest Roots, Rock, and Reggae festival of its kind in the Northwest. The festival has steadily gained a loyal following since its inception, …
God Help the Girl would be more aptly called God Help This Movie. This film begins with a young girl walking through Edinburgh sinnging, but I had no idea why. Then she’s in some sort of mental hospital for what appears to be an eating disorder. But again, we don’t know why. Half an hour …
My third movie as part of Seattle International Film Festival was an utmost treasure. Lady Be Good: Instrumental Women In Jazz was a documentary by Director Kay Ray, and co-producer Cathy Wadley. Lady Be Good reveals the lost stories of female jazz musicians from the early 1920s to the 1970s through archival footage and interviews …
It’s Thursday night, but that doesn’t stop the night life from hopping on maximum overdrive on Seattle’s Capitol Hill. Chop Suey hosted one of my all-time favorites, Camper Van Beethoven. I first saw CVB in the fall of 1987 and I’ve seen them a couple times since. I believe this show was the fourth time. …
Named for the First Lady of Song, Ella Fitzgerald, music was always the driving force in the life of Jamaican/English/Maltese singer/songwriter, Ella Eyre. “I’ve always been into punchy, loud songs – passionate, with a message” she said, “And I’ve always been really lyrical – I love the idea that someone has felt the same as …
Last Tuesday I watched my second movie as part of the Seattle International Film Festival. This one, called Razing the Bar was about the rise and fall of the beloved punk club called The Funhouse. Through interviews with employees, owners and local musicians, this film is mainly about Brian Foss who took over running The …
Strictly Sacred is a documentary about Seattle band Girl Trouble. Girl Trouble has been a Seattle institution for about twenty-five years, but have never received the notoriety they so deserve. That is until now. Isaac Olsen (who is the nephew of two of the members of Girl Trouble) directed this excellent introspective on the life …
It’s Sunday night of the Memorial Day weekend 2014 and Studio Seven is hosting the Tenth Annual Psychobilly Brawl, featuring Koffin Kats and lots of great openers. Koffin Kats have a new guitar player. That being Johnny Kay and he is amazing! The only time he stood still was when he was singing harmony. Otherwise …
Moscow dance project Neoclubber has a new tune out, and it might be in English. Hard to tell: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wynFqIn5j8
Portland is OK now, but it used to be way cooler. Here’s a list of 26 Things You’ll Never See In Portland Again.
Thursday night May 15 marked the second time I’ve seen the Chop Tops and I think they were even better this time around. This trio from Santa Cruz plays a mixed bag of rockabilly and psychobilly and consists of Sinner (whose name is tattooed across his chest) on vocals and stand up drum kit, Shelby …
Imperial Mammoth are some cool cats who play cool music for cool people. Below you can take a listen to “Little Earthquakes,” one of the tunes off their recent work, Gold Confetti. They will appear in Portland on June 29 at Valentines and on July 3 at Bunk Bar. They will perform in Seattle on …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdengrxzMIc
It’s Saturday night in Seattle’s thriving Ballard neighborhood and I’m at the Tractor Tavern to see folk singer Sarah Jarosz headline a show. Although calling Sarah Jarosz folk is not exactly accurate. She’s part folk, part bluegrass and a little country tossed in. She’s one hundred percent child prodigy. She’s turning 23 later this month …
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6FvHif8l0w