I’m old enough to remember when this was played regularly on the radio. I also used to sing it to my oldest son when he got interested in basketball. You don’t get songs like this any more. Cheech and Chong were creative and actually ignited thinking in people. Commercial radio won’t touch that level of …
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On twenty second December I headed to Seattle’s Showbox to see Brian Setzer’s Rockabilly Riot concert. The last time I saw Brian Setzer live was with the Stray Cats in 1982 and 1983, and though I’ve been wanting to see him again, things never quite worked out. (I used to say he was the father …
Wednesday December 14th, 2011 was a day I looked forward to for at least two months. For on that day two of my favorite bands, Streetlight Manifesto and Reel Big Fish were playing a double bill at Seattle’s King Cat Theater. I arrived just before Lionize came on stage. Lionize is a four-piece composed of …
On Thanksgiving Eve I ventured out to Seattle’s University District to Landmark Theater’s Varsity Theater to view The Other F Word. The movie is a documentary about punk rockers (mostly from California) and what it’s like for the ultimate rebels to be fathers. The movie begins with Art Alexakis (Everclear), Fat Mike (NOFX), Jim Lindberg …
The Neptune Theater in Seattle’s University District only just recently was converted into a live music venue. I’d been in it many times when it was a movie theater. The venue lends itself well for hosting live music. The seats on the main floor were removed making a large dance floor and the very back …
On Thursday November 17 I left my place of work, a high school in North Seattle, and headed five miles south to the south end of the University of Washington. Today’s march was in honor of the second month anniversary of the Occupy Movement. As I approached the masses standing in the shadow of the …
When I walked into the legendary Showbox across from the Pike Place Market, last Sunday night the first band of the Pop Punk’s Not Dead show was already on stage and in full swing. This Time Next Year is a Bay Area pop/punk five-piece that play a very poppy sound with punk thrown in and …
Chapter Sixty-One A doctor was leaning over our daughter’s isolette listening to her with a stethoscope. I suddenly felt weak. That wasn’t a good sign. Keith wrapped an arm around me and squeezed me tight. The nurse who stood beside the doctor noticed us and approached. “We were just about to rouse you,” she began. …
Chapter Fifty-Eight All Keith and I could do was hold each other and listen to our baby scream as they stuck a tiny needle in her leg to insert an IV. My stomach turned into knots and I felt like I was in the middle of some horrible nightmare as medical staff rushed to Mandy …
Chapter Fifty-Nine Keith spun around and froze. It took me a second to realize who they were. Then I recognized Keith’s father. Even though I’d only seen him in a dark nightclub, I recognized his eyes. His black hair had more silver than I remembered. His mother‘s hair was cropped short and almost nearly gray. …
Chapter Fifty-Eight Keith pulled me into his lap and wrapped me in his arms. “Your mum called and says the baby made it through another night.” “I can’t wait to see her. This has been a nightmare I don’t care to repeat.” A nurse came in pushing a wheel chair. “Ah, your limo has arrived,” …
On November Sixth 2011 I made my first international call to Paris to interview Ken Stringfellow, a powerful creative force (along with Jon Auer) behind Seattle’s long-running, legendary, melodic power rock combo, the Posies. A full-time Paris resident now, Stringfellow has a thriving career as a solo artist, is writing music scores for films, and …
Chapter Fifty-Seven “Your daughter is a tough little girl. However, she’ll need more specialized care than we can provide. We want her airlifted to Great Ormond Street Hospital in London. They have the best neonatal intensive care in the country. You’ll need to sign papers giving us permission.” “Mon dieu,” I gasped. “She will survive, …
On November 5, 2011 I attended yet another Occupy Seattle event. I once again hopped on a bus to the downtown Seattle hub of Westlake Center. Getting there at around 1:00, I joined a protest already in progress at the busy intersection of fifth Ave and Pine Street. Traffic had to be diverted around us …
Chapter Fifty-Six The next thing I was aware of was waking in a private room. Keith was sitting by my side. He looked exhausted, but broke into a broad smile when he saw my eyes open. “Hi, my love. How are you feeling?” I began remembering. “The baby!” I sat up. “Shsh.” He laid me …
Chapter Fifty-five “Please don’t let me lose this baby.” I cried to an empty room. The pains became more and more intense. I couldn’t get up or reach the phone. I tried calling out, but couldn’t catch my breath to yell. I noticed the dark outline of the phone cord dangling in front of the …
It was Halloween night and The Koffin Kats were headlining a show at Studio Seven in Seattle’s SODO District. Their psychobilly songs center on topics macabre, making them an appropriate band for the occasion of my favorite holiday. They even began and ended their set wearing crazy headpieces looking like Muppet faces on donuts. I …
Chapter Fifty-Four Keith looked panicked. “What’s wrong?” “Your daughter just kicked me, that’s what! I think she bruised a rib!” “I’m sorry she’s so hard on you, luv.” I gave Keith a knowing smile. “You said she. I heard you.” He gave me a sheepish look. “Only because you’ve conditioned me.” I laughed. “Well, you …
I had never heard of, therefore had never been to the Horseshoe Saloon before. Woodinville is a bit off the beaten track for me. But when I learned Season of Nightmares, my favorite Seattle psychobilly band were headlining a Halloween show, I knew I’d have to lay trust in Google Maps to get me there …
Chapter Fifty-Three “Really?” Keith turned on the lamp, looking like a kid with a new toy. “Let me feel.” He put his hands on my stomach. “I don’t feel anything.” “Maybe it was nothing. I’m going back to sleep.” The next few days I felt those flutters again and my doctor confirmed I was feeling …
Chapter Fifty-Two The last week of August arrived and we were again crammed in that wretched van headed for Brighton. We arrived at the hotel to find it swarming with kids in punk attire. The band was immediately bombarded for autographs. Keith and I barely escaped into the lift. “We have two hours before we …
Chapter Fifty-Five “Well, dear, you’re not only pregnant, but about two months along,” the nurse said. I sat in shock. “Pregnant? I can’t be. We’ve taken precautions.” I tried remembering back two months and remembered that first night after learning of the untimely demise of my father. “But the only time we didn’t use protection …
Chapter Fifty I ran and ran before collapsing against a boulder. The waves crashing to the shore only reminded me of the angry words I last spoke to my father. My whole body shook and I cried my eyes out. I wanted to reverse time to change my last visit. I was so angry with …
Originally I planned to see two legendary Seattle bands at Neumos, The Fastbacks and Mudhoney, but The Fastbacks cancelled so I saw just Mudhoney. When I arrived, the opener, Love Sick Empire, were in full swing. Front woman Alicia Amiri has an intense stage presence and gutsy pipes making her sound like a cross between …
Chapter Forty-Nine “It’s your father,” she sobbed. “He died in his sleep some time last night.” “What are you saying?” “I wish it was all some horrible mistake . . .” All I could do at this point was scream, “No, you’re wrong. He’s only 48. You don’t die in your sleep at 48!” “The …
Chapter Forty-Eight The guitar’s neck was broken clean off. “What have those incompetent arseholes done?” Keith screamed. “Fuckin’ aye!” Ryan echoed. “Why now?” “I need to be on stage at one of the biggest festivals in the world and these imbeciles destroy my guitar!” I noticed the others inspecting their instruments, which thankfully were unscathed. …
Chapter Forty-Seven “It would look bad if I turned them down.” “Your willingness to give up our time to go off and jam with people makes me realize I’m not as important as your music.” “Come on, luv, be fair. Other musicians are noticing us. It’s an honor to be asked to jam with them. …
On Saturday October 15, 2011 I took a bus to downtown Seattle from my North Seattle suburban home. I felt I could no longer sit by and be a spectator for the injustices caused by Wall Street. When I arrived at about noon, things were already in full swing in the heart of Seattle’s shopping …
Chapter forty-Six “A ghost?” I questioned. “It was fucking spooky. A bird about fifteen or so in old-fashioned clothes,” a bloke from School Lunch said. A club employee spoke up. “Yeah, there’s the ghost of a young girl here. I’ve never seen her, but others have.” “I knew there was something creepy about this place,” …
The King Blues are a London band who are just beginning to get noticed here in the US. They’re well known in England and other parts of Europe, having played in many European countries steadily over the last few years. The King Blues blend elements of ska, punk and even some hard core and rap …