Hello, dear readers. August 5 proved to be another hectic day for Mr. Renton. Sunday began by covering the Seafair Cup races at Lake Washington, including another mindblowing aerial display by the Blue Angels. Nighttime found yours truly catching, simultaneously, JESSE SYKES at Gainesbourg and KASEY CHAMBERS at The Triple Door.
In between, Mr. Renton found the time to chat up former Almost Live! host JOHN KEISTER at West Seattle’s esteemed Feedback Lounge. The occasion – as if there needed to be one — was THE ROCKET‘S 33 1/3 Anniversary party. Yes, it’s been that long since THE ROCKET began covering Northwest music and arts like no other publication before or since. It’s also been almost 12 years since The Rocket unceremoniously, sadly closed its doors, and former editor-in-chief CHARLES R. CROSS felt it was time to celebrate the magazine’s glorious legacy. Spotted among the buzzing crowd of former staffers, contributors, readers and musicians were The Long Winters President and CEO JOHN RODERICK, Presidents and Love Battery drummer JASON FINN, high-profile rock photographer LANCE MERCER, former Almost Live! star and Seattle’s sweetheart, NANCY GUPPY, Rocket alum/renowned rock journalist-author GILLIAN GAAR, East Portland Blog‘s own critic in residence, TOM KIPP, and Portland’s stalwart rock writer, JOHN CHANDLER.
Hosting the trip down memory lane was Feedback Lounge co-owner, noted rock writer and all-around great guy JEFF GILBERT, who proudly confided to Mr. Renton that he owed his start in music journalism to The Rocket. As heavy metal’s answer to Rick Blaine worked the room, oh-so-talented musician BEN LONDON worked the turntables, spinning some tasty NW favorites from past decades. London was spelled at dinnertime by none other than Jet City rock demigod KURT BLOCH, seemingly even more omnipresent than Mr. Renton these days. With lip-reading skills mysteriously failing, Mr. Renton could only guess that Cross, huddled with old friend/Rocket grad Keister were discussing their newest projects: the bestselling author recently co-penned ANN & NANCY WILSON’s autobiography, due on bookshelves next month; Keister is working on a new sketch-comedy show, THE 206 TV.
As the temperature rose and libations flowed, Mr. Renton was by no means alone in having a fabulous time at this long-overdue fiesta, which was a fundraiser for MusiCares. A 2024, or 45 year, reunion is rumored; hopefully the motley collection of scribes, subjects, photographers, ad salesmen, illustrators, layout artists, office staffers and music fans can be persuaded to party again before then.
