| Bands | Guestbook | Mail to Webmaster |
| News & Comment | Schedule | Scrapbook |
| "Interviews by Jonesy" | Miscellaneous Links | Ol'Pappy-isms |
| Lynelle Jones | A Dancer's Place | May 25, 2009 |
Originals or Covers?So now, almost 2 years later, I finally got my chance to see DoctorfunK at the new Big Daddies. My understanding is that DoctorfunK is almost like Big Daddies house band. They play there regularly and always draw a crowd. What I didn’t know is that DoctorfunK isn’t a cover band. I learned this after the fact when I went to their website and realized they have a CD on the market that they are slinging (prescription for soul). –This explained a lot. My girlfriends and I (Lisa and Linda) arrived at Big Daddies with the intention to do a little bartering at the door for reduced cover. This went well. I had used the same tactic the week before with Rick and Frank at Marcos… Linda has lips like cherry wine and Lisa has ‘real’ strawberry blonde hair, both these women stack cleavage deeper than the Grand Canyon, so it’s pretty much a can’t miss combo. I approached Sean (the doorman) with a $20 in my hand and said “3 for 2 tonight” and all 3 of us gave him the million dollar smiles. Sean looked a little uncomfortable and the waiter standing by him said something to the affect of “I didn’t hear that” and ran off. Now (before I throw Sean under the bus) I want to point out here, that we were also meeting 4 fellow friends at the club and that equals $60 in cover right there, so if you are the owner of Big Daddies and reading this, don’t get mad at Sean, he made the right decision, and gave us the deal. I’ve seen these two girls work men over so bad they were ready for diapers. Sean really didn’t have a chance any more than the police officer who pulled us over for speeding the weekend of our girls get away. Besides, when a person gets a deal at the door it makes them want to come back. So in we went. We learned from Sean that there were multiple 50th birthday parties going on and also a class reunion. We were pleased we found a table. That’s one great thing about Big Daddies. It’s so huge I don’t think you could ever get stuck looking for a table long. They just don’t make clubs like this anymore. It’s sort of like stepping back to the 80’s when clubs were designed for bands and dancing, not just beer, darts, sports tv and pool. I will say I’ve had a few people comment that they don’t like how large Big Daddies is and they feel like they are in a cafeteria, but I for one am ok with it. The lighting is about right and it kind of makes you feel anonymous it’s so big. As luck would have it, we hit the club just as the band was going on break…So we sat there waiting for a server to come by and wondering where our friends were and mourning the days when you could sit down in a club and light a cigarette. We began the game I like to call ‘waiting on the waiter’. This seems to be a recurring theme in the clubs these days, odd in that the drinks are obviously where clubs make their money, so where are all the wait people? Considering the size of Big Daddies, it’s not bad service, definitely better than the Canoe Cabaret at Tulalip which is about the same size. We eventually got served. We ordered Nachos just before the kitchen closed, and they were perfect, a good sign that the chef cares about his craft and wasn’t in a hurry to go home. I’ve heard from other folks that they like Big Daddies food, so I feel confident recommending it, and encourage people to try them out for dinner. The band took stage. DoctorfunK is a multi talented 10 piece band with a brass section which highlights the trumpet a lot. Their brass section is phenomenal. They sound great. They look good. They really didn’t impress me. This isn’t their fault. I thought I was going to see a classic funk band that would play songs from folks like Earth, Wind and Fire, maybe some Prince, James Brown, Parliament, who knows? As it was, I think they did 3 cover songs while we were there. They performed ‘Pick Up the Pieces’ by Average White Band, which is a classic good funk song, they performed it well and it was a refreshing choice for a cover. They did ‘Brick House’ which really surprised me, because I expected more from a 10 piece funk band. This is a song I’ve seen 3 piece cover bands do really well, so with 10 musicians to work with I expected a little more ‘wow’ with their song selection. Other than that I can’t remember what covers they did. The girls and I went out with the intention of dancing. For whatever reason, we just weren’t catching the dance fever. For an original band they sounded good, but they really didn’t make my blood boil. Whether it’s a cover band or original band, I think it takes a huge amount of charisma and character to bring that ‘it’ factor that makes people love you and want to dance, no matter what you perform. As a group we kept waiting for ‘the next song’ to see if we wanted to dance. We did dance, but it was a little odd because we didn’t know what songs we were dancing to and it really wasn’t that funky. Most of their songs were in the same caliber as ‘Pick up the Pieces’ which really isn’t that much of a funky, jump on the dance floor and get down, dance song. The dance floor was packed every song, but I have no idea if this is because DoctorfunK has a huge following or if when people go out to see a band like DoctorfunK they are going to dance whether they like it or not. Perhaps it’s the name that has thrown me off with this band, because my expectation was for a lot of groove, and they were more like an old school big band. Either way, DoctorfunK is a successful local band, and I think they are worth checking out, but more for listening purposes than dancing. | ||
| Ben | A Dancer's Place | April 26, 2009 |
|
Spiders spin beautiful webs. If their web is destroyed the spider will just spin a new one, not as good as the first one, Destroy the second one, and they will spin a third one, not as good as the second. If you continue this the web ends up a gnarly mess of silk, and the spider ends up insane. I wrote this article on my laptop, and it powered down without warning or back up. Strange because it was plugged into the wall socket. So I rewrote it, during my lunches at work. I was putting the last link into the articles and the article was replaced by the link. The program I was using, did not have a undo function. One more time... into the madness... The Pop Tarts @ Marco's - April 10-11, 2009 Back in February of '05, The Pop Tarts had their first gig. It was at John Petosa's in Lynnwood. They were not asked back. The Pop Tarts went on to refine their performance. John Petosa's was sold to become Marco's. The Pop Tarts became a good and popular band, and Marco's hired them two or three times. The last time, one of the waitresses complained they were too sexy, and Marco's decided to not have them back. "Too sexy"???, well DUH! Since then The Pop Tarts have become one of top bands on the circuit, and Marco's who should have profited from the closing of the China Clipper, and the discontinuance of live music at Club Hollywood and Royal Casino, but they haven't. Now The Pop Tarts have been hired back by Marco's. That pretty much brings us up to date.I arrived about 8pm, got in without paying cover, and got a comfortable table in front. I sat there watching Erich and Rene' set up the lights. I thought it was odd that they pointed the white spots at their feet, viewing this from a photographer's point of view. There is no ventilation on stage, just the color 8" cans make it hotter than hell up there. After they finished, they joined me at my table. Momentarily we were joined by Todd, they introduced me to Doug McGrew, who was filling in at drummer. The regular cast of inmates that make up the Pop Tarts are Erich Benedict - bass/keyboards/vocals, Todd Davis - guitar/vocals, Ben St.John - drums, and fronting the band is the beautiful, energetic, sexy, and moderately insane, Rene' Benedict.  The band heading to the stage, and a dance-partner of mine, Reva arrived with a friend,
Theresa. I invited them to join me at my table. There is a strong possibility that Reva will be moving to Montana shortly. That is a real shame. She has done much to support live music and help bands. He is also a helluva a dancer:)There was a large birthday party, mostly young women, and were highly motivated to dance and rarely left the dancefloor while the band was playing. Not unusual, one think that can be said about The Pop Tarts is that their music is fun and high energy, appealing to the normal 30-40 demographic as well as the 20'sumthins. The floor was packed from the second song. Come the second set Reva and Theresa headed over to Baxter's to see how Expertease was doing. They return during the third set, reporting Baxter's to be packed. Interesting, since it was crowded at Marco's, I guess when times are tough on people it is even more important to get out and relieve stress. The band was aware that Reva had returning, and held off playing "Closer" until she returned, and invited her on stage to dance. Nice touch, and great stage performance between Rene' and Reva.  As the last set played, two rather large men were doing the 1am rush on an attractive young woman. While one was dancing with her the other moved onto the dancefloor. Reva expected a fight. I expected the second man to hit the floor like a fallen tree. He was having a hard time focusing, and gravity had long since ceased being a friend. Oddly, nothing happened, thank Bacchus:)Saturday I arrived at 8pm again, and this time ordered something to eat. I couldn't not get a good table, as they were all reserved by different people/parties. I ordered some nachos. Can't recommend them, way over cooked. I think I'll get their meatloaf next time. Erich and Rene' joined me and we talked about video recording, editing, and reproduction. The previous night we hadn't had much chance to talk because they needed brief Doug on their arrangement of the various songs coming up on the next set. Reva showed up again with her girlfriend Maria, and friends. This was about the time tables were running short. They ended up with the party half standing half sitting. Reva came over and said "Hi". I invited her and Maria to have a seat, but they wanted to hang with their friends, my table not large enough to support the whole party. The band had started and the dancefloor was full by the second or third song. People were really having a good time. Lynelle(check the bylines of some of the articles here) showed up with a friend, and with amazing luck, grabbed a front table just vacating. They had been down the street checking out a new club, "Nobody's Business"(?). I got a few dances in with Lynelle, always a pleasure.  A fairly large group of friend showed up, and found that they all weren't on the band's guestlist, and departed for Baxter's. Truth is over twenty people had asked the band to be put on the guestlist, and the Tarts were told by Marco's they could only have four. This is an interesting study in economy. Cover at Marco's is $5, and I bought a double Grand Marnier for $10.00. At Baxter's that same drink cost $14.00 so, to me, it all balances out. Besides, after being bothered by a panhandler at the Raging River, a cover doesn't sound like that bad an idea.Reva's friends decided to move on to Baxter's, but Reva wanted to stay and joined me. We managed to get a lot of dancing in, and when invited to dance on stage to "Closer" this night, she was wearing pants so she could properly cut loose:) Truth was there was no shortage of attractive, provocative, single women dancing. Not unusual for a Pop Tart crowd. Third set, a promoter, Craig Cook came in to check the band out. He had come from seeing Notorious Sensations at Rocksport in West Seattle. Craig and I got into a discussion of old band, Chaotics and Sonics, and clubs, BFD, Spanish Castle, and the Battle of the Bands Craig used to promote. Craig stayed through the set and break. The band joined us, and I left them to talk industry and business. All in all it was a wonderful night. I counted 26 couples dancing to one song in the last set, including Reva and I. The laughter, the fun, the dancing, this was the kind of evening people hope for when they go out to see a band. Not just a good night out, but a memory to help them through these troubled times. I am biased about The Pop Tarts. Erich and Rene' are friends, they have invited me into their off-stage lives(which is how I differentiate between friends and acquaintenances in the music scene)and have proven themselves to be truly amazing people. Recognizing the bias, I made a promise I wouldn't bore you folks with stories about them, but, frankly, they are one damn fine band. | ||
| Lynelle Jones | - | April 13, 2009 |
A Breath of Fresh Air…None of Your Business is located right next to Hwy 99 at 17711 (just a block south of Marcos) and is a quaint little bar that seems to be thriving even without a website or cover charges. Truthfully I don’t know anything about this bar but it was very welcoming and friendly. It looks like they feature live music regularly and not a bad spot to hang your hat and relax. The amenities include your standard sports bar fare of pool tables (situated away from the band area) dart boards and a number of video type gaming devices. Cozy lighting and tables situated to allow plenty of space for mingling keep this bar from feeling like a sardine box. I really felt comfortable, and although I wasn’t big on the carpet (I prefer wood floors when it comes to dancing) I would definitely go back to this club to see shows in the future. My friend Jerry had told me about his friend’s band and the debut of Spin Cycle, so even though I wasn’t feeling totally clubbish Saturday night (I was slightly dysfunctional from Fridays dysFUNKsion show at 13th Ave.-Great Show and by the way, that club has turned into a Friday night hotspot.) I figured I owed it to the industry to witness the birth of a new circuit band. I was pleasantly surprised. Turns out the band had been preparing for their debut for over a year, practicing 2+ times a week and keeping it real at various parties which made for a smooth debut. Mike Fish’s (guitar and vocals) relaxed confidence and control comes through in a good natured personable way that makes you feel like you’ve known him for years. This is a guy you would invite on your next camping trip because you just know he’s got some great stories to tell by the campfire. Don Harrison (drums and vocals) has a steady beat and not too flashy drum style that I like in a performance. When it comes to drummers I say there are two types…you’ve got your Carter Beaufords (Dave Mathews Band) who quietly finesse their drums to everyone’s delight and you’ve got your Stewart Copeland (the Police) who are amazing drummers but are constantly at odd’s with their band because they pound the things so damn hard it makes everyone crazy. Anyway, Don Harrison runs in the Carter Beauford category and I think that’s a good place to be. Aaron Baca (bass and vocals) plays a mean bass that he admits he spends more time slapping then playing, which is ok with me because I enjoy a good slap (and a little spanking now and then isn’t too bad either). Aaron brings a nice eye-candy element to the band for the women, but I should report he is happily hooked up. Still though, hotty bass player just does something for the libido-it reminds me spring is here. Last, but anything but least, we have Cindy Harrison (vocals, percussion and newly performing on the bass). Cindy is the cutest little petite blonde you ever did see and wow she’s got some vocals-Ben you’re going to like this one! Vocally Cindy is anything but pretentious and you wonder how she’s going to pull off some of the harder classic rock songs and then the tension melts away as she effortlessly sings her way through them with the support of her band members. This is a lady who you imagine singing her way through her household chores just as delightfully as a butterfly fluttering from flower to flower, truly a breath of fresh air. And that’s the perfect way to sum up Spin Cycle, a breath of fresh air. I liked their song choices, they weren’t playing the covers that the industry dictates as a formula for success but the covers they seemed to truly like and wanted to play. When it comes to set lists the industry as a machine sometimes forgets that every song doesn’t have to be a dance song and every song doesn’t have to be performed perfectly, if a band loves what they are playing the audience feels that love and it truly is contagious. ‘Spin Cycle’ has a website: www.reverbnation.com/spincycle and a My Space page; http://www.myspace.com/everettspincycle, and I encourage folks to watch for their next gig they are a fun band to see. So what’s next, well it’s hard to decide there are so many great shows coming up this weekend you’ve got Poptarts, Expertease, Deja Groove, Hiwatt, Franks in Opera all nice and local…I’m probably going to have to toss a coin, but I’m leaning toward SouL’d Out since I haven’t had the opportunity to see them and I’ve heard they are great…Also, I think it’s time I check out Big Daddies newer location. I can’t boycott them forever just because they have a cover charge. | ||
| Ben | A Dancer's Place | April 7, 2009 |
Hardly a weekend goes by that someone asks about Chain Reaction. No, Chain Reaction is not coming back, except maybe for a reunion tour. Michael and Rick are now playing with Idol Eyez, which brings up the important point. Admittedly Robin Clark never sang with Chain, but she is a powerful singer with dynamic stage presence, like Tina Hart, Julie Davidson, Robin Just, Laurie Holme, Naomi Morgan, and other former Chain Reaction singers. If you are looking, waiting for Chain Reaction, Idol Eyez is as close as you will come, and that is VERY close.IDOL EYEZ @ EMERALD QUEEN CASINO - 2009 April 04 I went to see Idol Eyez at the Emerald Queen Casino last Saturday. This was way overdue. I promised Robin at the Bite of Seattle last summer, I'd come out and see their show. Interesting word, it is a show, the quality of which reminds me of SouL'd Out, though different music realms. Trust me that comparing anything or anyone to SouL'd Out is a good thing.The coverband music at the Emerald Queen Casino is far to the back, in the Bridge Lounge(?). The only thing farther back is the event center. You have to stand in line to get in, and are frisked and wanded. Sorta makes you wonder... I really did not like the Emerald Queen Casino after they moved off the sternwheeler. The location they moved to, the old bingo facility, was not in the best of neigborhood and the local Tacoma mob took a liking to hanging out there. The location hasn't gotten any better, but I saw no evidence of dominion personnel. In those days there would be 15-20 yellow shirt SECURITY people stand at regular intervals around the back wall. Since there were only a couple security people there, I would guess it isn't the relaxation hotspot for organized crime it used to be. This night "The Whisperers" were playing at the event center, and parking spaces were hard to come by. Next time I go there, it will be a couple hours early, and I'll grab dinner there. Save me the mile walk from the 'not quite a real' parking space. There was a real Christmas atmosphere. Not the mistletoe and eggnog Christmas, but the mall parking lot Christmas atmosphere. Didn't help that cars were lined up the entire length of the building for valet parking. Yeah, go early next time. I have no idea who The Whisperers are but one of them had a heart attack during their show, and they had to get an emergency vehicle through all those cars to help him. Seriously though, I imagine that a casino with alcohol, concerts, frisk & wanding, would need to have a limited medical staff on hand for emergencies. I don't know how the band member did, but do hope he's okay. I'm guessing the concert ended early as hoards of people piled into the Lounge between 10:00-10:15pm. A lounge that was lit up with the excitement that is Idol Eyez. Beyond my promise to come out and see them, I had heard that they were doing well, one of the top bands in the southend. It is notable that they play seven casinos and only one nightclub, and that is Tacoma's Stage 56. As I sat there I had a nagging feeling all this was familiar. It was hard to home in on, but I finally got it that the feel of the evening, the crowd, the enthusiasm, the music, reminded me of that time when I was going out to see Chain Reaction on a regular basis. Admittedly John wasn't there, and that leaves a big shadow for Ted Pickett to fill. He is different, but doing a great job both playing and singing, as well as smoozing on the breaks. At the heart of Idol Eyez is beautiful young blonde, Robin Clark. Robin has been on the circuit for some twenty some odd years. Almost everyone in the industry knows Robin, thinks fondly of her. She is one of the nicest people you'd ever meet in this art form. Beyond that she is blue-eyed blonde beautiful, stage savy, multi-talented(vocals, guitar, keyboards), and has pipes that'll blow your socks off. If you miss Chain Reaction, find someway to make it to the southend and check out Idol Eyez. Their next gig is April 24-25 at the Red Wind Casino in Olympia. Truth be told, most of their gigs are at the Emerald Queen Casino or reat American Casino in Lakewood, if you would rather. Hot bet for this weekend is the return of the Pop Tarts at Marco's. There is a long estranged relationship between The Pop Tarts and Marcos, the explanation of which put most people to sleep. Just trust me that a great time will be had by all. For the month, the hottest gig I can see is SWAY returning to PJ Pockets April 30th - May 2. Yep, Thursday thru Saturday. Anytime you get Liz Aday and Steph Smith on the same stage, it's gonna be a good, no, GREAT show. | ||
| Ben | A Dancer's Place | March 10, 2009 |
Dirty Old Man @ Jimmy Jack's - 03/07/09 Hmmm... Fetticine Alfredo and a couple hot dogs, topped off with a diet cherry Coke. Food of the gods, there is nothing like a bachelor's diet. It's a matter of believing that Murphy's Law is part of the divine plan. If I started eating healthy, I'd be dead in a matter of days. I'll tell you the "cockroach story" some day. Meanwhile... Facing a threat of snow, I headed up to Jimmy Jacks. I had watched the weather report and they talked about a convergence zone(whatever that is) forming. Hmmm... on the map it was coming in from the northwest, and centered where 405 merged with I-5. Holy mother of god! The convergence zone was on top of Jimmy Jack's. I sincerely hoped a convergence zone was a good thing. Jimmy Jack's has enough problems drawing a crowd. It didn't need hinderance from the weather. More than a decade ago, I sat in one of their booth wondering what, if anything, could be done to make Jimmy Jack's popular, short of spreading the rumor that it was a 'meat market' or popular among the recreational snow crowd. Now into the 21st century nothing has changed. Jimmy Jack's has a great stage and dancefloor, cheap drinks and no cover. You would thinks a winning combination. Yeah, you'd think. Dirty Old Man is a bar band that plays classic rock, maybe once every 4-6 weeks. As bar bands go, they are pretty good. Let's face it, there is as great a chance of any band named Dirty Old Man playing a casino, as there is of me going out to dinner with Eliza Dushku.  In my pursuit for a good bar band with a female front, I had seen Dirty Old Man with the breathtaking Romy Lawyer (memories of this sexy young woman fronting for them in a parochial schoolgirl uniform). Matter of fact I saw them accompanied by Jacque, Carol, and Gem, on my last birthday. The girls were very impressed with the band, and loved their raucous behavior and song selection. Romy has since moved on to Notorious Sensations.Romy was replaced by the beautiful Caitlin (Katy) Dittmer, an ex-Siren (from the band Sirens). I caught the Sirens at Waldo's. They were a little rough, but I thought they had a lot of potential, specially with Katy and Laurie Ervin fronting for the band. I had some doubts about Katy fitting in with Dirty Old Man, because, well, she's kinda classy, and the other band-members dress in overcoats and socks. Never underestimate the adaptability of a woman. Show lots of cleavage, play off of the guys on stage, and she fits right in. I walked into Jimmy Jacks, behind a small group of people. Bearing in mind that Jimmy Jack's, on a good night, hosts a small group of people. The place was packed! That wasn't the most shocking thing. I heard the band was playing, and they were amazingly good. I had heard DOM play just two weeks before and the change was astounding. Katy, dressed in a black leather skirt and bodice, was kicking it like any great bar band singer should. Somehow, someway, DOM, as they like to refer to themselves, had gained several years practise and experience in those two weeks. Also their playlist had drifted a tad, not much really, from classic rock a little into Top40/Dance, which is more in line with the northend clubs. Did I mention Katy was dressed in a black leather bodice? :)  At the next table were some of Katy's acquaintences. Among them a tall elegant blonde named Daphne. I had seen her out before, mostly at Jimmy Jack's. This time I got the courage up to ask her to dance. She is a good dancer, and dance partner. Should have asked her earlier.On the downside, late in the evening, a car in the parking lot had been broken into and everything not nailed down was stolen. The lesson I learned from this is park near the street, in the best lit area. Other than the robbery, and with the way the economy is going I have to imagine that we'll be seeing more of this, the night was a wonderful success. Heck, leather bodice, Daphne, incredible music, full dancefloor, it was truly an amazing evening. Now DOM disappears again for a couple months, to return to Jimmy Jack's on 5/8-9th. If they would care to play more often, getting them into Rocko's, Hayley's, Stewart's, and maybe even the Swinomish Casino, shouldn't be difficult. They have the talent, they just need more exposure and/or promotion.. | ||
| Ben | A Dancer's Place | February 22, 2009 |
Loud Mouth Blonde @ Baxter's - 02/20/09I had heard from members of "Our Weekend Gang" that Loud Mouth Blonde was not very good. Last weekend's northend lineup was not stellar, by my tastes, so I decided to give them a look at the amazingly "interesting" Baxters:) Kenny wasn't working that night, but I stayed anyway.  I hinted strongly to two women that live near Baxter, that I would be there(yeah, they didn't show up). I know Doug Sample, LMB's guitarist, from back in his Boinkers(the band not the hobby) days. He is a excellent guitarist, and I always enjoy talking to him, so Loud Mouth Blonde became a good pick for the evening. Later Markie Mark and Eric joined me, on a "check out bands" night.LMB consists of Darin Hawks on Keyboards and vocals, as mentioned, Doug Sample, formerly of the Boinkers, on guitar and vocals. John Rhodes, formerly from Boogled Mindz and Latigo Lace, on bass, the newist member is David Samek, formerly of Poodlebomb, on drums, and lighting up the stage is Jill Crueger, former of Boogled Mindz, fronting the band. Since the folding of Square One and Knee Deep, the sabbatical of Sirens, the mysterious disappearances of Chain Reaction and Indy Nile, the northend has become dominated by all-guy bands. The one outstanding exception is Expertease. A ADP given is that I rarely go to see guy bands because, if I'm going to sit there all night watching a band, I want to have something worth watching. In that regard I have been looking for a band or bands that fill my need for a good nights entertainment. Though not into country I thought The Chrissy Alexander band might fit my needs, but Chrissy isn't playing that much in Western Washington. By the way, our own Chris Alexander, former singer for Pop Culture, KISW Rockgirl, bartender at Cowgirls, currently Nashville studio singer, song writer, and recording artist, is in a popularity contest at http://www.kkrv.com/Playlist.asp. She loses every week to Scott Smith. Smith hasn't done anything that I'm aware of, other than vote for himself. I've actually watch him vote for himself for six hours straight just to shut everybody out. I would think his time would be better spent writing, performing, and recording, rather than just voting for himself. Did I mention that I ramble? It was a quiet night at Baxters. One of those night that bands dread, and have to work twice as hard to keep the excitement level up. Loud Mouth Blonde did just that. The night rocked with that energy that separates a live band from a DJ. I really loved Jill's performance. She is high energy, talented, and dominates the room. Okay, okay, she is amaziningly beautiful as well:) Talking to her I was impressed with her intelligent and sense of humor. The music, the evening, ended all to soon. I headed home, and a tire fell off my car. I had it towed home and $300+ later the car is rolling again. (sigh) I promised Jill I would be back Saturday night, but my car had pulled up lame. Perhaps I can catch them at the Rockbottom next weekend. | ||
| Lynelle Jones | - | February 19, 2009 |
A quick disclaimer just to make sure we are all clear.I apologize for the implication that Big Dog Review could be sequencing. I know you guys work your butts off - I’ve seen your show. I hope you will consider it a compliment as to how tight you are. I swear to god I am partially delusional, ask anyone close to me…I’ve seen flying umbrellas (and I’m not talking about the small ones here, this was a large patio umbrella coming straight at our car), Crazy Sauce at Taco Bell(just try ordering that at the drive up) and Ostriches running loose in Lynnwood. This is sloppy journalism at its best. I don’t get paid, I don’t have an editor to fix my mistakes, and I don’t do it to make work for myself, the only fact finding I do is visit websites and shows. Everyone who reads this column should understand that my reviews are based on perception and not necessarily fact-and they certainly don’t reflect the opinion of our web host Ben, he just lets me do my thing(for now anyway). It is important as an audience to seek out these bands and see what you think for yourselves. This website is about promoting our local night life, and if I come off harsh at times, I apologize; I have the highest respect for what these bands are out there doing. In the same vein, you have to understand if I am going to put my name and recommendation on your band then I have to believe in what I am promoting. If I review a band or bar at all consider it a compliment. I shop the shows I go see very carefully, I can’t afford to go see lousy shows. The last really bad band I saw (by accident) has not graced these pages; I just can’t be that evil. If you are a band or bar owner, remind yourself that any PR is good PR-and all fluff makes for very boring reading. If you are a patron remember to ask questions, get involved, and certainly don’t take my word as the final word, seek your own truth. Everyone who reads this column needs to understand I only write about the best of the best bands I see. I may take some hard jabs at our north-enders, but I am only reviewing what I call A circuit bands. Big Dog Review is certainly at the top of their game and I apologize if you have a bunch of idiots (like me) asking you if you are sequencing (not that there would be anything wrong with that:). With all that said, this leads me to a list I’ve been compiling lately. Things to Annoy a Musician in a Cover Band. 1.Make a song request completely out of genre 2.Tell them about the time you partied with someone from Heart. 3.Ask them if they do any originals. (Remember this is my column, this may not annoy them, but I think it’s rude). 4.Talk to them about your music background that you gave up 20 years ago. 5.Ask them how much they are making. 6.Talk to them about your friend/relative that used to be in a band. 7.Pin their female lead singer up against the wall and tell her you’re in love. 8.Climb on stage uninvited to dance. 9.Touch their instruments. 10.Fall into their instruments. 11.Talk to them about your friend of a friend of a friend that can get them booked at some cool club. 12.Take up their whole break explaining why you should get up on stage and play with them.(if you’re that good get your own band.) 13.Crumple up their set list and put it down your shirt. (ehm-I still need to make amends to Dana Osborne’s Changes band for doing that.-love you guys!) 14.Review them on adancersplace and imply they could be sequencing when they aren’t. Things to Make a Musician in a Cover Band Happy. 1.Tell them you like their version of a song better then the original. 2.Buy them a drink. 3.Flash them. 4.Dance. 5.Make a song request in their Genre on a $50 bill. (Don’t whine if they don’t play it.) 6.Ask them where they are playing next so you can go see them…and spread it around. 7.Take pictures of them on stage and then request one off. 8.Flirt with them while they are performing. 9.Hoot and clap at the end of songs. 10.Tell them they sound great. 11.Give them your phone number on a paper coaster. 12.Ask them to autograph anything. 13.Tell them the set list is perfect. 14.Write a stellar review of them and post it everywhere. I know there is a whole bunch more of them out there. Feel free to sign ADP’s guest book and add to the list. | ||
| Ben | A Dancer's Place | February 16, 2008 |
Happy New Year 2009!(revisited)Just a brief editorial correction. Big Dog Revue is huge, as bands go, as such they do not need to use sequencing, and don't. That having been said, we return you to your regularly scheduled life:) | ||
| Lynelle Jones | - | February 09, 2009 |
CALIFORNIA DREAMING...Yay!- it’s February. Can you believe it? January is my worst month of the year. I find it to be long, dark and lacking in celebratory intrigue. Every year at the beginning of January I begin the mental preparation, “Lynelle, start thinking ahead, find something to dream about, plan Valentines Day, plan a vacation, plan a party, find a hobby.” It really didn’t work this year. I slept a lot, and when I say a lot I mean 8 to 12 hours a night. The only thing I managed to stay motivated about was my workout. So there was that, ho-hum. I’m still waiting for my rock hard abs to sprout. However depressing and dark my January was, there was one thing that was anything but dull, and that’s the north end music scene. It was jumping with great shows all through the month. I managed to get out and do a little bar hopping and saw a number of impressive shows, but for every show I saw there were at least 4 others I would have loved to have seen. If anyone wants to fund my bar habit, feel free to contact Ben. I started the month off strong. I caught both No Rules and Funnadicts at 13th Ave Pub. Now 13th Ave is not the best layout for bands and dancing, but for a little ole sports bar in the middle of a strip mall, they really bring in some good bands. 13th Ave Pub is clean, bright, and if you don’t mind dodging a few dart players and cue sticks it’s a great no fuss spot right off Interstate 5. Live music is only featured on Friday nights and February is already listing a spot on music line up. 13th Ave doesn’t charge a cover and their website features some awesome menu specials, including Friday night Surf and Turf, so make sure you check out their link. The wait staff and food is everything you would expect from a successful sports bar, friendly, tasty, generous portions and affordable. Now on to the bands…No Rules- there is nothing bad I can say about this band. They Rock! An 8 piece band including a full brass section is just not something you see hitting the circuit these days. God knows they can’t be in it for the money and their show reflects it (did I mention they have a full brass section?). Both lead singers Jim Brady and Randy Hiatt are seasoned performers who understand the art of fronting a band (did I mention they have a full brass section?). Walt Johnson (band leader/guitar) started his touring career before I was born and his expert riffs are astounding (did I mention they have a full brass section?). The other members, Jim Austin (Keyboards) Craig Ibsen(bass) and Scott Batchelder (drums) round out the band to create a full balanced sound that really takes you back to the days of the all night rock and roll parties (did I mention they have a full brass section?). Oh and the brass section, Now maybe I’m just a virgin but I’ve never seen a baritone Sax in a rock and roll band at a little old club in the middle of suburbia. Size does matter! I couldn’t take my eyes off Dave Carlson’s instrument. It was so big! It glittered, it glowed, its sound was amazing, heart stopping, ear popping, you just can’t synthesize that sound and get the same effect. Put it with a couple other saxophones and you’re blowing off the roof, shaking down the walls, tearing the place down and putting it back together again. I recommend this band and can’t wait to see them again. I also saw the Funnadicts at 13th Ave. Pub. What can I say, the Funnadicts are fun. You can’t compare a little 4 piece to an 8 piece, but these guys-and gal, have heart. I was at this show with our formable web host Ben and like he said, there aren’t a lot of female lead singers out there these days that are cutting it. Janaya is one of them. She’s a little on the subdued side, but there is a certain quality about her that I like. She’s enigmatic (I looked that one up on Websters). Bob (keys and vocals), Mike (drums and vocals) and the recent addition of Frank (guitar and vocals) round out the band to create a no-miss sound that works the classic dance tunes in a wedding reception type fashion, and who out there hasn’t found themselves cutting loose to the Macarena at one time or another? The crowd at 13th Ave that night were certainly enjoying themselves. I left the show about 12 pm and on my way out I told Frank, “I think this place is about to get real crazy”-there was a certain electricity in the air that seemed to be building. I forgot to ask Frank how the night finished off, but for me it was a 2 thumbs up evening. Later in the month Ricky took Frank and I on a magical mystery tour of the historical town of Snohomish WA. Now I hadn’t been out clubbing in Snohomish and I have to say it was quite a treat. It was no coincidence that we started our evening at The Oxford Saloon where Miles From Chicago was playing. I had shopped this band out on a dancersplace and I was intrigued by the members’ bios which seemed highly experienced and widely diversified. We arrived early (maybe 9:30) to be greeted by a doorman who before taking our cover charge informed us it was standing room only. We headed on in. I knew by the raised eyebrows the guys liked what they were hearing and before we even found a place to stand Frank and Rick were exchanging head nods and “these guys sound good.” Miles From Chicago is a 5 piece featuring your standard instruments plus keyboards and sax. Their online song list leans toward R&B, Soul and Blues but I think they’ve had a change up because they were doing a lot of classic rock and roll. The website touts a singing drummer who wasn’t the drummer who was working that evening, so even though they were good, I was looking forward to hearing Freddy Krumins sing. Anyone who reads my column should know by now I dislike outdated band websites so with that said, I’ll just say I liked them and thought they were excellent musicians. If they had been doing a little more of the music I was expecting I would have been a lot more excited. As it was I was inspired enough to drag Ricky to the dance floor. The Oxford is unique in that it is in one of those historical type buildings with high ceilings, miles of hardwood finishing and the kitchy décor to match. A cut above the same old bar scene, but not a whole lot of standing room. From the Oxford we moseyed over to Mardini’s. Before we went inside we got the scoop from one of the smokers outside. Our informant told us the night before the band was horrible and the folks playing this evening were 100 times better. He also filled us in on the bar fight that took place earlier-it sounded like your typical 20 something testosterone induced hysteria. We went on inside. The club was jumping. The layout was a little weird. It had long tables lined up and pulled together, a little Mediterranean, a little cafeteria style. I headed to the bar to order us a round. I ordered Frank a Wild Turkey on the rocks myself a double Vodka Cran (I didn’t want to have to go back for seconds) and Rick, our faithful driver, a coffee. Now I’ve watched a few bar pours in my life and this guy pouring the drinks should be warned-My eyes just about popped out of my head! I made sure to get his name on my way out-well it turns out Mardini himself was bartending. For $12 we got what looked close to a triple Wild Turkey, and my drink was no less than a quad. According to Rick the coffee was fresh too. I recommend if you’re going to frequent this bar to make sure you watch your intake. The band on stage was named Slacker, and I haven’t been able to find them on the web, but they seemed like they knew what they were doing. They were a 6 piece, err… or maybe a 7 piece, I have to admit I don’t recall much after drinking that vodka/cran. I do know they had 2 lead singers-guy and gal who weren’t half bad. The crowd was on the younger side and the bands set list was nailing their tastes. I recall we were laughing a bit at how crammed up they were on stage and other then that I really just recall dragging Rick out on the dance floor where it suddenly seemed we were really good at two hand bar dancing. Ehem. As you can guess my investigative skills kind of went out the door from that point on. We did walk over to Stewarts, where Frank ordered us a 3rd round. But that’s all a blur. The club seemed empty after being at Mardini’s, but the 3 piece band was good. None of us have any idea what their name was (they had no branding) they ran out of music and stopped playing well before 1:00 am so we headed out. We popped in to try to catch the end of Expertease at Baxters, but they were finished for the evening too. We did get to see the end of another fight though. Sheesh, it must have been something in the air. All in all it was a great way to end the month of January…It kicked me out of my slump. I started day dreaming again, gee; wouldn’t it be fun to spend the night in Snohomish for Valentines? Stay in one of those fancy bed and breakfasts, shop around during the day, get your groove on at night…hmm, it could be a mini vacation right in our own backyard. Kind of romantic, yes indeed…Kind of romantic…thank god it’s finally February, I can almost smell spring through the dusting of snow this morning. I wonder what the temperature in California is today…? | ||
| Lynelle Jones | - | January 6, 2009 |
Happy New Year 2009!Did you go out? Did you have fun? Have you made a resolution? Myself, I spent the evening with family safe and sound. Driving to the grocery store New Year’s Eve was bad enough… you would have thought we had another storm on the way. What did I expect, we Americans like our holidays with lots of food. I have heard Snohomish County is one of the highest fat per capita counties in the entire country. So there you go, whether it is true or not I have no idea. Anyway, I didn’t go out for New Years, but I did sneak out for a few hours Dec. 27th to catch Big Dog Revue at Marcos. I had heard a lot of good things about Big Dog Revue and I’m happy to say they were all true. This band is spot on. A 7 piece band, a brass section, a Hammond B3, and all members singing-now there’s a treat. I could very well leave it at that and be satisfied, but then this wouldn’t be much of a story. There were a couple odd things about that night…So for the sake of those readers with nothing better to do than listen to my drivel I’ll divulge some of my deeper thoughts about the evening. 1st off I have to tell you I went out by myself that night. It’s not such a big deal, but it had been awhile since I had gone to a bar alone. So I admit I was a little hesitant about it. Either way, once I made my way through the door and found a seat it wasn’t too weird. The lounge was fairly full so I circled around looking for a place here I could sit and still see the band. Lucky for me there were a few empty chairs at the bar right next to a lady sitting by herself. Once I sat down and made her acquaintance the chairs on the other side of me were taken up and voila- I wasn’t sitting by myself. Imagine that, a planet full of 6 billion people, did I really think I would be sitting by myself? Seating arrangements settled, I relaxed a bit and took a good look around. You know, I can’t even count how many times I’ve been to Marco’s but sitting there by myself that night was kind of like seeing it for the first time. It’s a homey little lounge, low ceilings, subtle lighting, and lots of dark corners. If the younger generation had a hold on this lounge I can only imagine what they would turn it into. Alas, I look around and I see a bar full of folks somewhat in my age range, doing what folks my age do best, chatting it up with friends of course! One thing I noticed was the large number of couples that seemed to be out with their significant other. Once the music started this became very apparent and I have to imagine that Big Dog Review attracts this sort of clientele since I never noticed this at Marco’s before. Personally, I find it incredibly heart warming to see people who look like they’ve been married forever out for an evening of dancing. (note to self, approach Ricky about dance lessons again.) So, munching away on my fries, sipping my bud light, making small talk with my new found friends, the band took stage. The crowd didn’t hesitate. From the opening note they were out there on the dance floor ready to boogie, swing, or strut their way to the big band sounds of Big Dog Review. What was strange was my initial gut reaction. The guys were on stage, looking sharp decked out in their matching outfits (traditional red/black for the holidays I presume) the music was impeccable and the crowd was loving it and I was aghast. Aghast about what you ask? The fact is I suddenly felt really old. I’ve thought about this since that night and I tossed around all the elements that made me feel old, and I have to admit I think the worst of it was that Marco’s stage is awful. Marco’s stage looks like something that fell out of 1954. As soon as the lights came up on the band, I thought to myself, man these guys are old, but then I looked closer and thought, well gee, they aren’t much older than me…and then I thought oh god!-No, it’s not the band, it’s not me, it’s that stage, it’s heinous. I should have taken a closer look so I could describe it better, but really it was so bad that after I looked it over and made the assessment that it looked like the walls were falling down and were those sheets or curtains? I stopped looking. What it really brought to mind for me was Mr. Rogers Neighborhood of Make Believe, which looked really great when you were 5 years old, but when you look at it as an adult you think man, that’s cheesy. So as much as I love Marco’s and I feel for them with all the neighborhood sound problems/complaints they put up with, I wish they would do something nice for the bands that continue to play there in spite of all the restrictions and give them a stage that doesn’t look like it came out of a cookie cutter comedy movie. And speaking of the run down stage…what’s with the bar’s ice machine? I followed in a guy with a cart full of ice when I got there and I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation about the ice maker being down “again”. Perhaps Marco’s isn’t doing so well with the economy and all. There was also a lady in the restroom who pointed out to me that there wasn’t any soap. Hmmm-I’m not even going to think about what that implies when you’re in a restaurant with no soap. Anyway, I know it’s a little dicey, but I really do love that place, and I’d hate for anything to happen to it. That said the evening was a nice night out. I kicked back most of the time, enjoyed the music, and yes, I did get a dance or two in. I really liked Big Dog Revue, I thought out of all the talented band members Marc Lagen the guitarist was the funest to watch. Of course, the other guys were good, but it just seemed like he was really giving it his all that evening, he had sweat pouring off him like a mo**er Fu**er. Again, I didn’t stay the whole evening so the other guys might have had their chance to shine later on. I looked up at one point thinking to myself “man the backup is harmonizing perfectly,” only to realize no one was singing. Rick and Frank looked at me like I had horns coming out of my head when I told them this, but I will swear to it. Now sequencing is no big deal, lots of bands are doing it, but it was really weird to see it being done when the band was more than vocally capable of harmonizing those backups. I don’t know what was up with that, but it was a bit weird. And come to think of it I’m going to take a point away from my praise of the band just for the mere fact that they were a little too consistent and not taking any risks. You know, it’s not that I expect a band to be balls out every performance, I’ve seen what gigging every weekend can do to a band, but there is a point when a band can be too practiced and predictable and loose some of its fun and spontaneity. It does liken to an orgasm I suppose, you can’t ever knock having one, but some are just better than others. It begs the question, at what price are bands sacrificing their musical integrity and turning to technology in order to fulfill the expectation of the audience on a shoe string budget? Let’s face it, the smaller the band, the more money the members make at neighborhood bars who can’t even afford soap for their bathrooms. How does a 3 piece band compete with the sound and explosion that our technology driven generation expects from a live performance?-I really don’t know the answer to that question, but if ZZ Top can do it, so can our local heroes. Technology has become both the saving grace and the nemesis of musicians. As a generation of MTV’ers with huge sensory expectations, it is our job to be mindful of beguiling performers versus musicians of integrity. Then again in this day and age of breast implants, artificial sweeteners, video game physical fitness, maybe it doesn’t matter. Anyway, I guess we have a whole new year ahead of us to watch and see. Wishing you all happiness; musicians, club owners, patrons and readers, cheers to another year! | ||
| Lynelle Jones | - | Decemkber 04, 2008 |
“Saturday Night was a Big Night Out”So the big night finally came. I found myself rushing home from work to get ready; I was excited to be going out with all my friends, had it really been over a year since we all went out together? Ricky had snuck one more weekend off so he was waiting for me with dinner (an 11 is a 10 that cooks). So after all the preliminaries, dinner, dressing, hair, and make-up…We were finally out the door. We arrived at the Casino around 8:30 and it was packed. Now I’ve seen this casino packed, but Saturday night was even more so. I can’t even really describe it, it was something akin to watching the wall street stock exchange on TV, except women, youth and elderly had been invited. No sign of a recession here. We knew that the Canoe’s Cabaret has a limited capacity, so we wasted no time and headed straight there. Luckily it wasn’t full up yet, and we went right in. Our friends had all arrived, and had a huge table right on the edge of the dance floor. As a side note to future visitors, the club does reserve tables for groups and it’s a good idea to have one saved if you are meeting a lot of friends there. We were lucky Lisa and Bret arrived early, we hadn’t reserved a table, and ours was the last one next to the dance floor not taken. We arrived at a good time for pleasantries; the stage was between bands, so we were able to visit with our friends and catch up a bit before the dancing started again. We found out that the Penguins played just before we got there and everyone enjoyed them. I’ve heard really good things about the Penguins and I look forward to seeing them in the near future. There was a distinct buzz in the air. Folks were getting antsy for the band to play. People began filtering onto the dance floor and dancing to the overhead music. And then it happened. Hit Explosion took the stage and began their slow butcher of some of the best Disco/R&B to have hit the sound waves in 30 years. There were only slight indications in that first set that I was in for a night of torture, but it became apparent fairly quickly that this band was out of its’ league. The set list was spot on. That’s the best you’re going to hear from me. So if criticism evokes empathy in you stop reading. There were 3 lead singers but only one of them sounded consistently good. The female singer sounded like she was screaming through every song. Hey, don’t even attempt Gloria Gaynor if you’re going to make us cringe. Even her band mates had the look of death when she started into “I will survive.” Based on the set list the band knew this, and kept most of her singing to later in the evening. She wore a black dress that was supposed to evoke memories of years gone by, but frankly if she weren’t screaming her songs she would have faded into the years gone by. Come on, if you want to be a diva at least dress like one. Any gal on the dance floor could have jumped on stage and had more presence than her. The male singers were better, it’s just a shame they couldn’t seem to harmonize. The arrangements were odd. One of the male singers insisted on playing the tambourine throughout a couple of songs, I wanted to take it from him. Just rattling the thing doesn’t make it an instrument. Rick put it this way, “with their vocal talent I wouldn’t have even attempted 60% of their songs.” But hey, what a great set list. Needless to say, the dance floor was packed. It’s easy to ignore what’s going on with the stage band when all the action is on the dance floor. People were having a great time regardless of the weak vocals. I tried to research the history of the band a bit, so I could name names and be more specific about the band. Unfortunately their website is not very informative nor has it been updated in awhile. The last posted schedule is from September and their comments section looks about 4 years old. The Band isn’t listed by name and the photos are amateur snapshots from who knows when. The one photo of the band that is professional has a bunch of people pictured that weren’t in the show. How does a band in this day and age get away with hosting a website that doesn’t even have the current members of the band listed? Oh, I know, they lie. They post a bunch of reviews from who knows how long ago from places like the Seattle Times, The King County Journal, Tacoma Tribune, Seattle Mariners, oh and don’t forget the Seattle Supersonics…umh didn’t they leave town 5 years ago?-No, just a few months ago, but they may as well have. Let’s put it this way, the first time I saw Hit Explosion was 10 years ago…a band can change a lot in 10 years, and this one certainly has. Apparently they don’t want anyone to know it. Needless to say we had a good time. The club started clearing out around 1 am. Ricky and I stuck around even though our friends left, we just had to see what the band was going to do in the last set. Unfortunately there wasn’t any grand finale that I could rave about. I know I’ve been hard on the band. I know there are lot’s of reasons for a band to sound better one night and not so good another. Let’s say the people on the band’s website were supposed to be there. Being down 3 members of a band can make a big difference. Perhaps the sound guy at the Tulalip didn’t know how to mix the vocals right. You can hide weaknesses in a good mix. Maybe their stage monitors were low and they couldn’t tell they were out of key. Regardless, the band was very enthusiastic. The musicianship was spot on, just weirdly arranged. They had definitely brought their A game, it’s just my opinion that there were too many things going on that weren’t cutting it. They have a lot of potential. I just find it odd that a band that’s been around for 10 years can be referred to as having potential. Shouldn’t they be fulfilling it by now? All in all, the casino was a great place for the party. The nice thing about Casino’s is they don’t throw people out at 2 am. It just doesn’t make sense to jump in your car and drive at 2 am sober or not, and unlike the clubs they welcome you to stay. Just another reason in the long laundry list of reasons casino’s have the edge on nightclubs. State of the art sound equipment, good lighting, large dance floors, luxurious seating, Big/clean bathrooms, headliner shows at affordable prices, the list goes on. You do have to be careful who you go see at the casinos though, the bottom line is they want you gambling, not sitting in the club watching the band. | ||
| Lynelle Jones | - | November 23, 2008 |
“The times they are a-changin”I remember as a kid the city of Everett was a destination of significance. Our family would rally and plan for the Bon Marches’ month end clearance sale. My older siblings would hit Colby for cruising and my dad depended on the booming tree industry and Weyerhaeuser for his employment. Then as 1980 rolled in a whole lot of Everett rolled out. The 70s saw Everett Boeing company go from 100,000 employees to 40,000. The pulp mills closed as did Weyerhaeuser’s mill, and shops started closing when the Everett mall caught on as a one spot shopping experience. Mother’s Against Drunk Driving successfully lobbied to close Colby to cruisers and suddenly Everett was a ghost town. “Everett is scummy” so said my sister, and I had to concur. There wasn’t much left to interest me there for the last 2 decades. I remember in the 80s when talk began of a naval station being built in Everett. My girlfriend Susan and I would debate the ramifications. Susan hated the idea, and myself, well, even though I wasn’t a fan of the ‘war machine’ I had a pretty good inkling that Everett needed something to regain its’ economic stability. Regardless of our debates, the city of Everett is now home to the U.S.S. Lincoln and many other support vessels. In the midst of this Everett also ushered in a decade of revitalization. It now hosts the Everett events center, the 3 story Everett station, and the waterfronts’ 300 million dollar North Marina enterprise, not to mention the money and jobs being generated out at Boeing these days. So what does any of this have to do with a Dancer’s Place? Well I have visited Everett twice this last month and I have to say I am impressed! Everett has changed! Earlier this month Rick and I went and saw the Everett symphony at the old Everett historical theater and last weekend we hit Haley’s Bar & Grill for a night out dancing. Both nights were absolutely terrific. Compared to the city of Seattle, it was a refreshing respite. I work in Seattle and it sickens me what a cesspool it has become. The Everett symphony holds all the bells and whistles of your big city symphony at an affordable price. You can get a ticket for as little as $12 and if you want to splurge the most expensive ticket is $36. There isn’t a bad seat in the house at the historic theater, but I recommend you spend a little extra for a better seat. Hey, how often do you see the symphony, live a little! Dr. Paul-Elliott Cobbs is the Music Director and Conductor and a most charming host. Dr. Cobbs began each piece with a quick history lesson of the composer and culture of the music being performed which enriched the performance and understanding as a listener ten-fold. It’s amazing to hear about social norms, trends and expectations from 200 years ago that are still being repeated today. Dr. Cobbs has been with the symphony for 25 years, the man knows his audience well, and gives a great home town show. The next stop on our Everett expedition was Haley’s Bar & Grill, formally Jimmy Z’s. Now I’ve been warned not to say this, and I apologize in advance to the old owners and frequenters of Jimmy Z’s, but I just think I’m so darn clever I have to say it; “Ding Dong, the Cat Pee is Gone!”-or whatever that scary smell was! I went to Jimmy Z’s last August to see a friend’s band play. I’m sorry to say it, but we had to leave before they even got set up. It stunk so bad in there I was trying not to breathe, and when Gary ordered us drinks I thought I might pass out in the time it took me to drink it. Needless to say we both agreed to get the hell out, Jim(the band’s drummer) was a good friend, and he understood why we weren’t staying. I know, Jimmy Z’s was a hotspot for local bands and there are folks out there mourning it’s close, so lucky for us Haley’s is still hosting bands and supporting the music industry. So what did I think? I was impressed. The arrangement of the club works nice and is really well thought out. You have a multi-tiered floor plan with pool-tables out of the way of the dining and dancing, yet well situated to the upper right of the stage where players can catch the action from a safe angle. The stage is a real stage, where the musicians don’t have to worry about drunks falling into their equipment. The dance floor is in a pit so folks watching the band don’t have to peer through a host of sweaty bodies and those dancing don’t feel like they should be getting paid for putting on a show. Overall, I’d say the floor plan, along with state of the art sound and lighting are this clubs secret weapon. Service was good. When we arrived there was a desk with a doorperson and a $5 cover charge sign. The ATM was out of order, so the doorman waived us right in. I’m not a big proponent of the ‘cover charge’. It’s one of my pet peeves really; I’m just not sure it makes any business sense when you’re competing with free entertainment at all the casinos. The bar wasn’t very busy, and it looked like the place across the street was a lot busier, albeit- no cover? If I was 15 years younger I would have made the trek across the street to find out, and who knows, maybe wouldn’t have come back-not because it was a nicer bar, but because it was busier. A friend recently told me, the way a club becomes successful is to be known as a ‘meat market’. Who am I to say though, maybe Haley’s was trying to keep the riff raff out…but if it was me, and my club was only 1/3 way full on a Saturday night I’d be waiving that cover and running some impromptu drink specials. I’d be telling the patrons text a friend and if they come down the next drink is on the house etc, etc. One thing that is happening these days that is a disservice to the dedicated musicians out there working the circuit is that club owners expect the band to be able to fill the house. Now back in the 80s clubs use to host a band for more than one or two nights and they could set up a big show, promote and get the word out and really collaborate to fill the house. Anymore you don’t see this happening. How is a working band (meaning they work day jobs because they can’t support themselves with music) enslaved to the whims of their agents suppose to have any time, energy or resources to advertise a 2 night show where each musician is lucky if they make a couple hundred dollars for their 8 hours of work each night? Since when did it become the band’s job to promote? All I’m saying is I don’t think it’s the bands responsibility to fill the club. But as usual, I digress. So the club wasn’t very busy, but we were told it was packed the night before. Once again this is the same band 2 nights in a row; I’ve seen Expertease perform to packed houses night after night, so this is obviously not a reflection on them. We were told by our friends when we got there we might need to hit the bar, they hadn’t seen our waitress for awhile, but she showed up right away, and was attentive all night. I’m sorry I forget her name, she was worth mentioning. Next time, I promise! The acoustics and lighting were great; though I did ask the light guy if he could maybe back off on the strobe light a little…he ignored me. Hehe. I am old! Hey, 1976 called, they want their strobe light back! The dance floor was a perfect size, though I think it would be cool if they mirrored it in, it would look bigger and we narcissists could watch ourselves dance. I didn’t taste the food, but I heard it was great. No one was complaining about watered down drinks (I was sticking to beer) and I’m sure I would have heard about that if it was a problem. I only have one true complaint about the bar, and that’s the restroom. Dun dun duh! Yes, I am the restroom police! I like a nice big, clean, well lit powder room. If I need to hold a meeting with the girls, we will head to the ladies room. If I want to talk with the blonde about her gorgeous shoes, it will most likely happen in the can. If I need to take a pee, it’s gonna happen in the loo’, and folks, I don’t want to be afraid of the loo! Unfortunately the restrooms on the circuit these days are not seeing the kind of advances downtown Everett has going on. The restroom at Haley’s is somewhere in the mid-range standard of what I see in most neighborhood bars these days. It was small, not particularly well lit, a strange rust pink paint color, no artwork, and nowhere near having enough mirrors, counter space or hooks on the stall doors for purses. I encourage all club owners to at least put purse hooks inside their stalls. Recent studies have found ladies purses to carry hundreds to thousands of harmful germs and bacteria including fecal matter similar to what is found on restroom floors (ladies throw out that old purse, it could be making you sick!). Basically I want to see club owners hold the same standards of aesthetics in their restrooms as they do the rest of their bar. With that said, I’ll move on. Haley’s bar is very nice, a cut above the rest-I want readers to understand I think this club is well worth visiting and I can see it being both a home for locals and a destination point for out-of-towners. A club that bands will want to get booked at and audiences will want to see them perform at. The next time you’re looking for somewhere to hang your hat for the evening I recommend it. Just don’t plan to hang it in the restroom. But hey, that could change, the city of Everett did, why not Haley’s? | ||
| Lynelle Jones | - | November 18, 2008 |
LIFE & TIMESIt’s funny, about a year and a half ago after spending 18 years together my husband left on a business trip to return with a ‘Dear John’ letter for me (maybe I should call it a Dear Joan letter, but I digress) and a girlfriend that he is now married to (it’s amazing what can happen in 10 days). This left me in quite a situation. Single and 40ish. Eee gads. The social implications are overwhelming. But don’t despair, I am well. I have a job that puts food on the table and a roof over my head, and oh yes, I’ve met a wonderful man (Ricky from Square One-hi honey!)that inspires me and gives me hope…One of these times I might write about how we met. It’s a gas of a story (and I might add directly related to using a dancersplace to pick my evenings out). Anyhow, Hope…that’s a big one. What gives me hope in these trying times? What gives me peace after a long week at work where I get paid the wages of a Starbucks barista and do battle with ER stress? Some folks play video games, some shoot pool. Some people go gamble and others watch T.V. I can’t say I haven’t done those things in my last 20+ years of adulthood, but at 40 something I find myself unable to keep a passion for any such pass times. I’m not going to win my way out of middle class hell at the gamming tables (plus I work my ass off for every dime in my pocket) and yet I don’t want to sit my way to obesity playing video games or watching T.V. either. Come Saturday night I’m not looking to be competitive (I’ve just worked the ER all week) and after a long hard day I need to find something to break up the crazy, freaking, drama/trauma, that continues to replay itself in my head like a gerbil on his treadmill. If I sit at home with my honey, without a plan, inevitably we will talk about work and the last thing I want to take into my weekend is work. Lets face it folks, I’m 40+ and I’m paid very little to babysit a whole lot of professionals who I’m very surprised can manage self serve gas stations, let alone their adult lives. So what do I want to do on Saturday night? I want to go out. I want to go out and dance my ass off and have some fun. I want to go where no-one knows my name, have a drink or two and see a band up close and personal play some of the best music recorded in the last 50 years or so…I want to see sweat dripping off a drummers chin. I want to see dirty looks when the guitarist misses the intro and I want to see the singer smiling when they hit that unbelievably high note. I don’t want to pay 100 bucks to go watch a band through binoculars when I can buy the video for 20 bucks and have a better time. So that’s what I do, I go dancing and have a good time. Over the last year or so I’ve had some very unusual experiences at the bars. It may not be original music being played but there is always something new and interesting to observe at these locales. Now don’t get me wrong…I’m hardly a people watcher…I generally start out observing my surroundings and taking a serious look at the band and then slowly making my way to the dance floor…but by the end of the night I’ve usually had some strange and bizarre experience. Let’s face it your local watering hole becomes it’s own Hillary Clinton village by 2:00 a.m. So how did this all get started? Well as the youngest of 3 sisters it was my legacy clear back in junior high to be the first one out on the dance floor getting things going. Let’s face it folks…those after school dances were about two hours long and if you were going to get a boys attention you had to move fast. So I did. My sister Angie use to tell me that her and her girlfriends would hit the floor at the beginning of every dance and do a little shuffle routine and yell out “lets boogie” and run out and grab a boy and make them start dancing…Now I’m not sure this is true, but it wouldn’t surprise me, and it certainly inspired me. So that was me as a youngster…I’m sure some of the men out there recall the girl that always asked them to dance. I’d dance with anyone…ugly, cute, short, tall, smart, dumb, it didn’t matter…And if a boy didn’t want to dance with me I’d dance by myself or with my girlfriends. Sometimes this is more enjoyable then dancing with a partner. Just me and the music, no interference.-Yes, it’s true, sometimes I dance with a partner just so people don’t think I’m a freak. And then there was high school, pretty much the same story, except by then I was dating boys in bands. Yep, I didn’t know it then, but I was headed toward a life long trend of having musicians as my partners. Not that I haven’t had partners that weren’t musicians, but the ones that lasted the longest and that I have any real fond memories for were musicians. Now I’m going to stop right here with my history of dance for a moment and put in a warning. Those who say ‘DON’T DATE MUSICIANS’ really have it right-most of the time. Dating, marrying, or going to bed on a one night stand with a musician can be a very dangerous business and I hope in the future I’ll have the opportunity to expand on this. Now I’ve had 3 ‘serious’ musicians in my life, each of a different flavor (the original musician who did shows, the original musician who only did studio recording work, and presently the cover band musician). Each one very different, and yet strangely very similar in their passion for what they do. Now anyone who has partnered with someone who is passionate about their work will understand if you aren’t like minded or don’t have your own pass times, you are going to feel left out and lonely much of the time. Creativity isn’t something that should or can be stifled for any amount of time. So be careful where you tread. Now back to dancing. From high school on to college the trend went on. I even did an east meets west dance program in college. Then of course I had the couple years I worked as an “exotic dancer” (as the state of Washington likes to call it). Yes, dancing has been a central theme in my life as long as I can remember. I think it was high-school when I made the “rule”. “I don’t date boys who don’t dance.” My senior prom was a pretty traumatic experience on account of my boyfriend at the time did not dance and wouldn’t even attend. I kept asking guy friends to go with me and they would accept and then they would hook up with girlfriends, and cancel, and really it was just a crazy spring. Finally two weeks prior to prom I still didn’t have a date and asked a college boy from Bellingham whose band played the high school dance. Sure enough I attended prom with a musician from out of town who saved the day. I probably had all of a 30 minute conversation with him and he threw on the ole tux and drove an hour just to take me to prom …and by the way…he danced. He also hooked up with one of my girlfriends at the after party, but that’s another story… In my young twenties and during the exotic dancing phase I met my ex-husband(he was the studio recording musician). We settled in and became the old married couple…not really, but the going out dancing thing became more for special occasions or when I managed to trick him into it. I frequented the lake city contra dances on Thursday nights and occasionaly the monthly scrambled square dances at the Tractor in seattle (4th grade square dancing skills pay off!), these were dances I could attend without a partner. My husband was not a willing accomplice. We actually almost split up early on when we attempted to take ballroom dance classes together. We had two totally different senses of rhythm and just couldn’t flow together. He would whip me around like I was a rag doll and being a musician had an impeccable sense of timing that I just couldn’t flow with. We finally quit the class, it just wasn’t worth the pain. I don’t have two left feet…and anyone who has danced with a variety of partners can tell you some you mesh with, and some you don’t. It’s really quite magical when you have a partner that you synch up well with. But him and I did not. So married life went on and on, as I said,18 years of it. We did dance a lot, but mainly in the living room of my sisters. Her and her husband liked to dance back in the day, so we had a lot of house parties where we had friends over, a few drinks, games and dancing. Those were good times. We really got wild in the living room. We even used dance to keep the kids at bay. When they started arguing and fighting we would insist on a ‘Dance off’ to solve the fight, they would usually go away disgusted and work it out themselves or they just might, just might, once in a blue moon start dancing with us and drop their argument. Those poor kids, I’ll say this for them though, they are all really good dancers! And here we are again just where I started, present day. I became single and started going out a bit. I didn’t even know where to go or how to find places to go to. I had gone to Marco’s one night the summer before last and had a really terrific time. I think it was Expertease playing that night. My one single male friend and I danced our asses off. Him and I began going out more and more. It didn’t take long with Google to find the best place on the web to figure out where north end dancing was happening and I’ve been coming here ever since. I met Rick last September while the band was playing at Marco’s and since then I’ve been frequenting the north-end clubs like a junky with a really bad problem. Of course most people know that Square One broke up last March so I don’t follow them to their gigs every weekend like I use to, but I try to drag Rick out as often as I can. I’m still trying to find the ultimate club. Granted, I’m not that adventurous. I tend to end up at Marco’s or 13th ave Pub more often than I’ll admit. I’ve yet to hit Kirkland for any of their nightclubs and it looks like they are pretty nice. Of all the places I have gone I have just a few favorite spots that are on my A list. I’m continuing to explore though, and if Ben’s willing to indulge me, I’d like to write about some of my adventures here when I get the chance. My newest dilemma is Rick will be working weekends (final night out for him for awhile- we’ll be at Haley’s Bar & Grill Sat. Nov 14th to see Expertease)so that means I’ll be hitting the clubs by myself, or more likely I’ll be kidnapping Frank from Funaddicts when they aren’t gigging. So that’s it. I’d like to see Ben’s website have more ventilation on who’s out there, what they are doing, where they are going. I’m not a big myspace fan, I don’t like searching for people to see who they are and what they are like, so I’m hoping by posting a bit here and there it will just come to me. Oh-who am I? I have a number of club names…I’ll give you a few, maybe you’ve heard of me. Muffin man Puddin Tang Major Tom Trouble Hannah Luci Jonesy Nellie Seattle But really, you can just call me by my real name, Lynelle . | ||
| CRA | CRA | September 22, 2008 |
COUNTRY ROCK CONCERT BENEFITS ANIMALSA local band raises money for the Seattle Humane SocietyA free concert will be held Thursday, Sept. 25 to raise critical funding for the Seattle Humane Society's lifesaving work. Country Rock Association (CRA), a local country band, is hosting a three-hour show at Big Daddy's Place in Woodinville to support the Seattle Humane Society. The music starts at 9 p.m. and admission is FREE! All donations throughout the evening will be contributed to the Seattle Humane Society. Country Rock Association's playlist includes the music of Big and Rich, Kenny Chesney, Rascal Flatts, Brooks and Dunn and many other popular artists. In addition to the benefit performance, volunteers from the Seattle Humane Society will be on hand discussing the mission of the organization, accepting donations and selling logo merchandise. But mostly the night is about having a great time. Ferguson says that doing a benefit for the Seattle Humane Society was a no brainer for the guys in the band. "Everyone has a pet," he says. "Big Daddy G [George, the drummer] has a dog named Dallas that is a big, old, friendly dog. F-bomb [Frank, the guitarist] has cats in his household and Vegas [Vince, the vocalist] has a dog. It was an obvious choice to support the Seattle Humane Society." Ferguson, whose nickname is "The Professor," lives with a cat "who thinks he's a dog." "The Seattle Humane Society is always honored when a group like the Country Rock Association decides to hold a benefit to help us save more animals' lives and to bring people and pets together," states Brenda Barnette, chief executive officer of the Seattle Humane Society. "We appreciate the money that is raised and also the opportunity to bring orphaned animals to the attention of great people who love County Rock and pets!" Big Daddy's Place is located in Woodinville at 17626 140th Ave. N.E., close to Towne Center. The Seattle Humane Society was founded in 1897 to bring people and pets together. The Seattle Humane Society does this today through adoptions, low-fee spay/neuter surgery program, pet workshops and training, pet food bank, humane teen club, visiting pets program and more. The Seattle Humane Society is located in Bellevue, at 13212 SE Eastgate Way. For directions and more information, visit www.seattlehumane.org or call (425) 641-0080. | ||
| Chris Cannon | TimeSlip Band | September 1, 2008 |
| ||
| Ben | A Dancer's Place | August 13, 2008 |
|
Barring flood, fire, or the whims of a beautiful woman, this was to be a weekend of new bands, Hardline(Taste of Edmonds), The Chrissy Alexander Band(Ad Lib in Kent, and Taste of Edmonds), Sway(Muckleshoot Casino), and Knee Deep(Tulalip Casino). With all apologies, I had a cat emergency and missed Hardline. This is Naomi Morgan's latest project. I'll try and make it up to them at the 13th Avenue Pub & Eatery, on Friday, August 22nd.
| ||
| Arny Bailey | Weekend Musician | April 20, 2008 |
 | ||
| Ben | A Dancer's Place | April 20, 2008 |
 This play is truly written for the entire family. Adults are guaranteed to enjoy it just as much as the kids or no money back! What can I say, I do what I can. Attached is a flier with the show information and a blurb is posted below. I've also attached a picture of the cast. We are fortunate to have super talented kids and adults performing in such a wonderful space. In the past we've only been able to do one show, but we're moving on up! We have two opportunities for you this year to see what we're made of. Seating is reserved, so now is the time. You can get tickets in person, by phone or even online! Info is on the flier. Thanks for taking the time to read a bit and consider us. It's really appreciated. Feel free to forward this to anyone you think may be interested. I'd more than appreciate it. “The Great Penelope”Thankfully, she has some friends who step in and help her realize there can be a balance if she just takes that extra step. Filled with recognizable music, stylish dancing and wit that can be appreciated by the adults as well as the children, this show is a guaranteed family favorite. Applause Players is a Youth Musical Theatre Troupe sponsored by Applause Studio located in Mill Creek. We focus on a fun and professional environment where the students learn how a real company operates. They are encouraged to be expressive and creative while staying open-minded and non-judgmental towards their peers. We strive to create a comfortable classroom where a child can build self esteem through their own ideas and efforts. Each student learns true responsibility as everyone has many duties and the cast must depend on and trust each other in order for the production to happen. They practice setting aside differences to work as a team and focus on the art in themselves, not themselves in the art. For more information visit our website www.applausestudio.org. See you at the show! - Laura West | ||
| Ben | A Dancer's Place | April 17, 2008 |
SIRENS @ WALDO'S - 04/12/08 I received word that Waldo's will no longer be hosting coverband. The owners have decided to pursue original music. Jerry Carter, the general manager, thought all the bands he had seen were outstanding, and wanted to thank them for their efforts, but the powers that be...
I wanted to catch what might be one of the last coverband at Waldo, Sirens. Truth be told, I was going to see Sirens anyway, because they are good people, a good band, and Waldo's is only 20 minutes away. Also it was Caitlin's birthday on the 12th, and Bob's birthday on 13th. There is little I can advise about Waldo's, because, well, they'll be removed from my schedule shortly. Jerry really did try and make it work. I do wish them the best in their venture with original bands. (Hint: Get a sign out on 85th saying "WALDO'S - LIVE MUSIC", so people actually know you are there.)Now Sirens... Let me say that there are some bands out there, good bands, that are, unfortunately, aware of how good they are. They tend to talk about clubs they won't play, songs they won't play, and discuss other bands, original and covers, with the same love and respect that the perspective girlfriends on Rock of Love have discuss each other. They are not pounding the payment, and pressing the flesh, anymore, like they did to get where they are. As things tighten up, they should all be aware that there are talented bands that are hungry, and on the come, such as Knee Deep, Sector 7G, Big Trouble, and Sirens. They have no laurels to sit on, so they are doing everything they can to become a success. Even if they do not surplant the existing bands, they will cut into number of available gigs.  Sirens consist of Craig Webb on guitar, Ralph Natale on bass, Bob Chamberlain on drums, and are fronted by two gorgeous and talented singers, Laurie Ervin and Caitlin Dittmer. If I don't have this wrong, the band sprang forth from the not cold yet corpse of the band Midievil Times. What I noticed first about the band, beyond the incredible aqua blue banner/post art, and the beauty of the singers, was that their playlist was hauntingly familiar. It reminded me of the playlist used by a band called The Mix used about ten years. Song people 35-50 love to hear and most band won't play because they are, long since, tired of playing them. The band is fun, stylish, and energetic, and they are hungry. Rather than talking about how good they are, they are working their collective asses off, and they are having a fun time doing it. I like that in a band. | ||
TimeSlip is a high energy classic rock band made up of four veteran musicians from the Seattle area. They provide classic rock and pop from the 60’s, 70’s and 80”s with some newer stuff and original songs thrown in as well. Whether you like to sit and listen, watch, or get up and dance, this is your band! You won’t hear the same old cover band songs from these guys. TimeSlip plays songs you haven’t heard for a while and when you hear them, you suddenly realize you’ve missed them.! They change their play list often enough you never know what’s coming—just that it will be great for listening, watching and dancing.
Chris Yates (vocals and guitar) is a natural performer. A born and raised Mountlake Terrace boy, music has been a part of his life as far back as he can remember. As a young boy he was always humming or singing. Chris has been in front of audiences, singing, playing guitar and in theater performances pretty much his entire life. His fourth grade music teacher told him, “You can have this if you want it.” And want it he did. And does. At the age of twelve he remembers playing guitar and singing onto a mike suspended from the springs of the top bunk because he didn’t have a mike stand. And all through school he was in the select choirs and vocal jazz. As an adult he’s played in Fugitive and SlyMrY, and has performed the National Anthem for multiple professional sporting events, including Seahawks and Mariners games. This singer-song writer’s strong, solid voice has a great range and he relates well to the crowd. You often find Chris running throughout the venue, dancing on tables and chairs and even the bar itself. You can tell he loves what he does and he does it incredibly well. His enthusiasm is contagious and he brings the crowd along for the ride!
Jeff Roberts (vocals and bass), says his most productive musical years were when he was between 7 and 11 years old and he mastered air guitar. Born and raised right here in Washington, he grew up in Edmonds. While in seventh grade Jeff played guitar in the eighth grade Battle of the Bands—and they came in first! As Jeff says it, he “started to play for real in Junior High.” With his Father, Grandma and Grandpa’s support and encouragement Jeff developed his natural talent and got quite good at both playing and singing! He’s played in GopherBroke and a couple different bands that did Elvis tributes. When he’s not demonstrating his vocal talent singing, harmonizing or backing up the other TimeSlip guys, he and his bass often wander the floor.
Paul Buchignani (drums and vocals), who hails from Wisconsin, started on the piano at the age of four. At that point he really wanted to be playing baseball, but “my parents made me.” Ten years later, he realized he does love music and got into drums to vent his “teen angst.” He “messed around” with acoutistic guitar, and keyboards as well, but realized he could “understand what drums were all about, with rock.” So, he studied them in high school and went on to major in music—percussion—at the University of Wisconsin (Eau Claire). Although he has played symphony, orchestra, marching band and percussion ensembles, rock is his love. Rock is what drives him. He quit college to go on the road when he was 21 and added singing and song writing to his resume. He came to Seattle when he was 22 and has been in bands here continuously ever since.
Lonnie Mueller (guitar), another veteran musician on the Seattle scene, was born in Seattle and grew up in Mountlake Terrace and and Lake Stevens area. Lonnie says it was music or drugs, and he picked music. He got his first guitar from his parents for his birthday when he was 7 or 8, along with a Mel Bay Guitar learning book. But, like Paul, didn’t have much interest then. When he was sixteen, music was his “great escape from the turmoil of being a teen ager.” One day he saw his friend play an electric guitar and “it sounded so cool. That was the moment where something seemed to fit in my life. It looked easy enough, but man was I wrong about that!” He borrowed that guitar and dug out the old Mel Bay book from so many years ago. “That’s when it all began. Little did I know this would be the beginning of a habit, a hobby, an obsession, and sometimes a profession that would stay with me to this day.” He started to play in bands around the age of 18, mostly doing rock and roll, although his interests include many music styles—Jazz, Fusion, Blues, Classical and Country. He played Top Forty rock for many years and got into writing and recording original music as well as playing commercial music. At the age of 28 he moved to Hollywood CA and attended G.I.T. (Guitar Institute of Technology), where he got a small taste of the crazy world of entertainment. And discovered he liked it. He played in Lightyears, Tribute to Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones, as well as GopherBroke with Jeff, and SlyMrY with Chris, to name a few of his bands. And, well, now, he makes it look easy. And sound great!