Rimkus!’s old pal – and Pacific Northwest National Treasure cartoonist – Ambrosavage was born and raised “across the (proverbial) tracks” on the blue collar side of Madison Wisconsin in the 50’s and 60’s, where he is presently spending the holidays with his Dad (now in his 90’s) – an original swingin’ “Mad Men” who worked …
Another Saturday night in Seattle and another stellar punk show is staged at El Corazon. This time legendary punk band X were headlining. Opening the show were the equally legendary Blasters and legendary (in the Pacific NW) Girl Trouble. Does it get much better? All three bands lived up to their legendary status. X is …
…MRS. Rimkus was, along with the 13 year old Rimkus daughter and one of her BFF’s (the friend got Rimkus’ ticket – Rimkus MAD!). All reports are that it was a “f___ing awesome” concert. Enough so that the increasingly sullen early teen 13 year old Rimkus said “Thanks Mom – I really enjoyed it” (this …
Last Saturday night November 30, Seattle’s foremost punk club, El Corazon, hosted the legendary Dickies. Although I’ve been a Dickies fan since 1979, I never saw them live until two years ago. I was so impressed I went back for seconds last Saturday. The Dickies play so fast live that it made it difficult at …
On Tuesday night two days before Thanks Giving, pop-ska band Less Than Jake headlined a show at The Showbox Market. LTJ are the only ska band of notoriety from Gainesville, Florida. Florida is not known for its ska by any stretch of the imagination. But Less Than Jake would be a hard act to follow, …
On Saturday night November 16, I received a Facebook message that Natalie Wouldn’t were playing a show at Darrell’s with Nigel Mustafa opening. I received this message about two or three hours before it was supposed to happen. Obviously I was going out that night after all. It had been awhile since I’d seen Nigel …
To borrow from Steven Tyler (or Gene Autry), Trentalange is back in the saddle again, after a four-year semi-hiatus from recording and performing — and the wait will be worth it, trust me. Her new album is due on shelves Jan. 28. Often twisting the knob a quarter-turn from the darkly tinted atmosphere of previous …
A bright beam swept the night skies of Britain’s East Anglia for decades, looming large in genius-musician Thomas Dolby’s memories of childhood. It was doomed to darken, it’s supporting tower about to literally crumble into a sea that will eventually claim Dolby’s ancestral land, as well. This poignant aspect of Dolby’s homecoming — after spending …
A Thursday night in the waning days of September isn’t a night you would expect a packed crowd at Seattle’s El Corazon, but The Queers were opening for Teenage Bottle Rocket and once again Seattle shows its adoration of pure punk rock. Teenage Bottle Rocket was formed by twin brothers Ray (vocals/guitar) and Brandon (drums) …
It’s Saturday night in Seattle and El Corazon is hosting the Easy Big Fella reunion show in their tiny lounge room. The stage is not much bigger than two large dining room tables shoved together and it’s going to be hosting ska bands of seven to eight members each. By the time Easy Big Fella …
The first Friday in September and I’ve headed to Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood to see a show at a club in the basement of Neumo’s called Barboza. I was invited to photograph and review a quartet from Philly called Bleeding Rainbow. Bleeding Rainbow are Rob Garcia — vocals and guitar, Sarah Everton — vocals and …
It’s Thursday night September 5 and Wisconsin governor Scott Walker is in town. His appearance at the Washington Policy Center dinner at the posh Seattle Sheraton barred all reporters. Outside, however, about three-hundred people took over the street in front of the hotel holding signs saying things like “Not In Our State” or “Governor Walker …
It’s Friday night at Seattle’s El Corazon and the most anticipated show of the summer of 2013 is about to begin. And I am there. Canadian punk legends DOA are headlining and Seattle’s legendary Fastbacks are also on the bill. The show was billed as DOA’s farewell tour, yet DOA mentioned nothing of the sort …
On Thursday August 29th thirty percent of Seattle Schools SEA represented staff voted nearly unanimously to reject the contract proposal offered by the district. The district refuses to reduce the case load for support staff (counselors, psychologists, physical therapists, etc.), they want to increase the work day by thirty minutes without compensation and want to …
Wednesday evening I joined with others in Seattle’s Westlake Center for a protest rally against the sentencing of a person most know as Bradley Manning (in the last couple days Bradley Manning has decided he wants to undergo a sex change and wishes to be called Chelsea Manning). As most people now know, Manning was …
On Saturday August 17, I attended a march for civil rights in Central Seattle. This march was to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the famous March On Washington where MLK gave his famous I Have A Dream speech. The event was organized and funded by The Black Trade Unionists. Due to bad traffic I arrived …
It was a warm August night and Seattle’s Showbox across from the Pike Place Market hosted ska legends Five Iron Frenzy. Hailing from Denver, CO, the members of this eight-piece outfit are as much comedians as they are musicians. Front man Reese Roper came on stage dressed in light colored spandex emblazoned with girlie unicorns. …
Sunday night August 11 I attended my first ever Concert at the Zoo in Seattle. The event was Todd Snider’s Traveling Folk Show. I attended with my son as Sarah Jarosz was on the bill (see my review of her show at the Triple Door last year). I don’t often get to see folk shows, …
The latest from Staxx Brothers both looks and sounds so much like a Stax-Volt homage that no one would be surprised if Booker T. Jones or Steve Cropper themselves showed up for a cameo. Enjoy!
On the hot and humid Friday night of August 9, 2013, I headed to the nearly century old Neptune Theater on the edge of the University of Washington campus. It was the second night of a two-night stand in Seattle for Gogol Bordello. Hailing from New York City, the band members actually are natives of …
Rancid came on stage and played almost all their “greatest hits” one after another, barely coming up for air. Tim Armstrong, wearing his traditional ski hat, barely stayed in one place as he moved about the stage, stood on a monitor, stood on the drum riser and moved about some more. Songs like Fall Back …
It’s a steaming hot Tuesday night July 9th, 2013, but inside Seattle’s El Corazon it’s even hotter. SO Cal ska masters Suburban Legends turn up the temperature as they hit the stage like a raging inferno and never let up. Front man Vincent Walker leaped about the stage, thrust himself into the crowd, working them …
“It’s not an accident that we’re on stage together,” David Byrne declared near the beginning of a concert Thursday with St. Vincent at the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery in Woodinville, Wash. Good thing he said that considering how little the two performers genuinely meshed during the show. That said, the concert proved to be an …
Saturday June 15 marked the first day of my summer vacation and I lived it up on a beautiful sunny day just south of Seattle at the White River Amphitheater. The amphitheater grounds are vast rambling grounds with Mt. Rainier looming gloriously over it. When I first arrive around 11:30, the press list had not …
Friday was the last day of school and I wasted no time in starting my summer vacation from teaching at Seattle’s illustrious El Corazon while they hosted a night of punk/psychobilly that won’t soon be forgotten. The infamous Nekromantix headlined a night that had already heated up thanks to three stellar opening bands. More on …
Are you an aspiring songwriter? If you’ve ever listened to a song and thought, “I can do that,” Seattle pop-punk band Quickie is ready to give you the chance. The trio wants to collaborate with you (and you, and YOU!) on a new song titled “Weapons of Mass Distraction”. “We’re looking for a phrase, a …
Saturday night May 25th I headed to Seattle’s University District to a very cozy little place called Kraken Lounge. On the bill were two of my favorite Seattle bands — Poorsport and Angie and the Car Wrecks. Poorsport finished out the night and unfortunately many had left by the time they came on. I don’t …
An impromptu night out Saturday May 18th landed me south of downtown Seattle at Slim’s Last Chance. This was my first time in this now legendary club. It think it’s even cozier than Darrel’s Tavern that’s about as far north as Slim’s is south to downtown Seattle. Slim’s is cozy, intimate and very friendly. I …
Just because it’s a Tuesday night doesn’t mean Seattle’s night life slows down. The last day of April and Neumos on Seattle’s eclectic Capitol Hill is hosting London punks Killing Joke. Front man Jeremy (Jaz) Coleman came out looking like a cross between Iggy Pop and Alice Cooper with heavy black eyeliner, thick black hair …
Another Saturday night in Seattle and another great night for local music. This time it was the 9th Annual Psychobilly Brawl at the Highline on Broadway. The Rocketz were headlining, but first there were some great acts to heat up the stage and set the night on fire. When I entered the cozy club a …