West Seattle, Washington
03 Wednesday
Music for the ages – and for the present – will fill West Seattle’s historic-landmark Admiral Theater next Sunday, with a live double bill under the title “Tribute Times Two – Anthems of Activism” — expected to be a moving and unforgettable experience, both musically and in the context of the national election three weeks later.
It’s also going to be a benefit for Northwest Folklife (whose website previews the event here) – launching a new series of benefit events to keep the annual festival going strong.
The opening tribute at 4 pm Sunday features Peter McKee, a singer and banjo/guitar player who performed with his folk group Clallam County as part of Seattle’s celebration of Seeger’s 90th birthday three years ago at the Admiral. It’s the premiere of his one-man, multimedia show, weaving together recordings, images, and live performances that reveal the breadth and depth of the legendary humanitarian who at age 93 continues to inspire with his commitment to peace, justice, and environmental sustainability, via ever-relevant songs:
Says McKee, “For more than 70 years, the songs he has sung and written are songs of consequence, they are songs of import. He has been on the forefront of virtually every major social issue that has confronted our nation since 1940.”
Also continuing to inspire – though he’s been gone for 28 years – is Steve Goodman, who proudly considered himself one of Seeger’s disciples. At 7 pm Sunday, historian, Admiral Theater patron, and Goodman biographer Clay Eals will take the stage to focus on the story and music of Goodman, who wrote and performed hundreds of songs throughout the United States and Europe during his 15-year career, before leukemia ended his life here in Seattle in 1984 at age 36.
Anchoring the Goodman show next Sunday will be the stalwart of Eals’ events, Tom Colwell, whose track record as a singer/songwriter and interpreter of others’ music spans more than 50 years. Colwell was the featured performer in the Seeger 90th-birthday bash held at the Admiral 3 years ago. He actually shared a stage with Goodman – and told the story at a Sunday rehearsal for the upcoming show:
“City of New Orleans” – the signature Goodman song mentioned by Colwell – was also part of his rehearsal with bassist/harmonica player Bruce Hanson,dobro/steel guitar/harmonica player Mark Myers and Eals:
If you’re going to have an EP-release party – what better place than a music store? And if you’re a West Seattle band – it had better be THE West Seattle music store. Add all that up, and that’s why Daughters of the Dead Sea rocked Easy Street Records in The Junction on Saturday night. Brad Yaeger and The Night Terrors opened; Hobosexual closed. Before the show, we caught up with DOTDS’s Mia in the Easy Street aisle:
Mia’s bandmates are Jen and Iris. Didn’t catch them tonight? They’re performing at the Funhouse downtown in about two weeks – here’s the Facebook event page.
Every Saturday afternoon, West Seattle’s Vietnamese Cultural Center invites you to visit. This weekend, Saturday brought something extra: A commemoration of the 712th anniversary of the passing of 13th-century Vietnamese hero Gen. Tran Hung Dao – who is honored with the statue outside the center.
Gen. Tran Hung Dao was considered to be a brilliant tactician and is revered for having turned back three invasions. He was in his early 70s when he died of natural causes in 1300. You can visit the statue, as well as other memorials – including one for fallen soldiers – at the center, 2236 SW Orchard, 12-3 pm on Saturdays.
From Twelfth Night Productions, a West Seattle-based community-theater company:
Twelfth Night Productions announces open auditions for Miracle on 34th Street: a Live Radio Play. The radio play is based on the holiday movie favorite of the same name and will be presented as a live 1940’s radio broadcast. Miracle on 34th Street tells the timeless story of an old man who calls himself Kris Kringle, is hired as the Macy’s department store Santa. His claim to be the real Santa Claus becomes a court case and a young child’s belief could make all the difference.
Rehearsals begin October 23rd with shows running December 7 – 16 in West Seattle.
Audition Information
Please contact tnpauditions@gmail.com to request an audition time.Please prepare to read a 1-2 minute monologue. We will also have you read a variety of sides from the script.
Audition/Interview Dates:
October 13 1 – 4 PMCallbacks or second audition/interview?
October 14 1 – 4 PMAudition Requirements:
Please prepare to read a 1-2 minute monologue. We will also have you read a variety of sides from the script.Casting info:
We are casting 1 young girl (age 10 – 16,) 4 women, and 7 men to play multiple roles.
Project website: www.twelfthnightproductions.org
Hurry! If you’d like to learn a little Chinese language and Chinese culture, the Seattle Chinese Garden (which is in West Seattle – photo above – on the north side of the South Seattle Community College [WSB sponsor] campus) invites you to the second edition of “Chinese Corner” (here’s the wrapup from the first edition)! But if you don’t sign up fast, you’ll miss the chance. Here are the basics:
The six sessions will be on Mondays from 4 to 6 pm on 10/15, 10/29, 11/12, 11/26, 12/3 and 12/17. The sessions will introduce Chinese culture and basic Mandarin Chinese conversation with fun games and exercises for people of all ages. The professional teachers will be provided by our co-sponsors the Confucius Institute of the State of Washington and the Chinese Language Teachers Association Washington State. Teacher aides will be the students from the Mandarin Chinese program at Chief Sealth International High School.
To register for this free class (donations welcomed), people can register by filling out this form, or e-mailing chinesecorner@seattlechinesegarden.org
Heard about the Caine’s Arcade Cardboard Challenge (inspired by the now-famous video above)? West Seattleite Marie, who publishes Make and Takes, is hosting one as part of the worldwide event on Saturday, October 6th, but needs to find a venue! She says:
The location would need to be indoors and large enough to host up to 30-40 people with room for cardboard creations, multiple tables preferred. Children, and adults, will bring in their pre-made cardboard creations to display and for others to play with, cardboard-arcade style. This event is also in need of cardboard, scissors and tape donations as well, for those who want to create while they are there. If you have any information that would help, please e-mail Marie at marie@makeandtakes.com.
If she gets a place set up for 10/6, we’ll add a followup with where you can go to be part of it!
Just in from the city – Randy Engstrom, former director of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, will become interim director of the city Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs. Read on for the city’s news release:Read More
As the West Seattle Community Orchestras get ready to start their new season tomorrow, we welcome WSCO as the newest WSB sponsor. Here’s what they would like you to know about their organization and how to become part of it:
The first rehearsal of the West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ 2012-13 season is tomorrow (Tuesday, September 25). We welcome musicians of all ages and abilities to come together and make music. Thanks to a generous grant from the Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs through the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestras, we also have professional musicians providing individual and group coaching during rehearsals.
No matter what your age and musical ability, you are likely to find that one of our orchestras is right for you. The West Seattle Debut Orchestra welcomes musicians who have played for one year or perhaps are returning to their instrument after an extended leave of absence. For those with a couple additional years of experience, the West Seattle Intermediate Orchestra offers the full symphonic experience for those that are not quite ready to play the standard symphonic repertoire of our Symphony Orchestra. Finally, the West Seattle Symphony Orchestra, our most advanced group, performs standard symphonic repertoire. All groups perform community concerts each season.
In addition to our Orchestras, we are expanding our West Seattle Adult Beginning Strings program to include a Winds and Percussion class. These classes are geared toward adults with little or no experience with a musical instrument and will lay the groundwork needed for beginning adults to move up to the Debut Orchestra.
Participation in the West Seattle Community Orchestras is offered without charge to students K-12. Please visit our website for more information at wscorchestras.org or e-mail Mariane at info@wscorchestras.org.
We thank the West Seattle Community Orchestras for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
You could call that a pop-up library as well as a “free library,” which is how Linda described it, sharing the photo and explaining:
My dad and son, both West Seattle residents, made a free library in honor of what would have been my mom’s 71st birthday. She was a public-school teacher for many years.
Linda says you’ll find it in “the corner of my yard at 6119 SW Spokane Street” (map).
Five and a half months after ArtsWest revealed the productions comprising its 2012-2013 season (WSB coverage here and here), its season opener is about to hit the playhouse’s West Seattle Junction stage. Tomorrow (Wednesday) is opening night for the Northwest premiere of “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,” a Tony-nominated musical, directed by Christopher Zinovitch, with musical direction by Kim Dare. In ArtsWest’s announcement last March, it was described as a “comedic audacious mix of historical fact and fiction surrounding America’s controversial seventh president — the man who invented the Democratic Party, drove the Indians west, and ultimately doubled the size of our nation,” with “outrageous comedy, anarchic theatricality, and a rock score.” It runs through October 20th, Wednesdays-Saturdays at 7:30 pm and Sundays at 3 pm (with a few exceptions to that schedule, so check here – same link where you can buy tickets online).
Luthier Todd Baker was doing some restringing when we stopped by the first-ever West Seattle Guitar Show and Sale at Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) this evening. As the original announcement explained, this is a show *only* for West Seattle guitar makers, sellers, and tradespeople. It’s continuing into the night, with Aaron Daniel performing at 9 pm. It’s co-presented by West Seattle’s Thunder Road Guitars:
Thunder Road is online-only but looking for a place to set up bricks-and-mortar business, according to proprietor Frank Gross, who says they’re “actively searching for a retail storefront / showroom … Ideally, something along California Avenue that is between 500 – 1000 square feet. If you know of something opening up, feel free to send e-mail at hello@thunderroadguitars.com.”
The West Seattle Community Orchestras‘ season is about to start – and along with some changes and additions, they are once again ready to welcome you to join their ranks! Here’s the official announcement:
WSCO welcomes Rachel Nevis as she takes over the conducting duties for the Debut Orchestra. This group will expand to include woodwinds and brass, providing a full orchestra experience for those musicians new to playing.
Leading the Intermediate Orchestra is WSCO’s founding conductor Toni Reineke, Ph.D. The Intermediate Orchestra provides musical opportunities for midrange musicians, whether students moving up in their skills, or adults who are coming back to music after time away; mentoring is a key aspect of this group along with additional learning opportunities from SYSO coaches.
Kim Roy, who led the group in a rousing rendition of Aaron Copland’s “Hoedown,” will be conducting the Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Roy is a well-known Seattle musician who also conducts the Seattle Rock Orchestra. She will lead the Symphony Orchestras in tackling the most challenging works of our three groups, providing members with a chance to stretch themselves and provide audiences with great performances right here in West Seattle. The schedule for the Symphony Orchestra has been expanded this season to include three ten-week sessions.
A brand new addition to WSCO this fall is an Adult Beginning Winds and Percussion Class, taught by Toni Reineke. And due to the popularity of the Adult Beginning Strings Class last spring, a new Adult Beginning Strings Class is offered this fall, taught by Kriszti Bunica, candidate for Masters in Teaching. Both classes will meet at 7:00 to 8:00 PM on Tuesday evenings, at Chief Sealth International High School. Class sizes will be limited. Information and registration information is available on the website.
Registration is now open; rehearsals begin September 25, at Chief Sealth (2600 SW Thistle). For more information please visit our website, www.wscorchestras.org.
Thanks to Sherri Chun of Admiral for sharing that new video by Not Dead Yet – a West Seattle band whose members include her husband Paul Zarkowski. The song is NDY’s “signature song ‘West Seattle Hey‘,” and the video is produced by West Seattleite Erik Nachtrieb of 1iOpen Productions. Sherri enthuses, “The song is about West Seattle, written and performed by guys from West Seattle, and the video was filmed in West Seattle … There are great shots of Easy Street, Bakery Nouveau, the Poggie Tavern, Alki Beach, and Jack Block Park. All great symbols of WS. And the song is catchy and fun.” NDY – who we recorded singing “West Seattle Hey” at the WestSide Baby cocktail party earlier this year (WSB coverage here) – will be performing at the Poggie at 9 pm this Saturday and the Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) at 9 pm October 19th, Sherri says.
Thanks to Melissa for the reminder that one of the movies playing this week at Admiral Theater was partly filmed here in West Seattle. We mentioned the Shipwreck Tavern shoot for “Safety Not Guaranteed” in May of last year. According to the Admiral schedule, the movie is showing there once a night through Thursday, at 9 pm.
6:46 PM: We’re on the east lawn at Hiawatha Community Center – where the sun is shining on the south half of the field, but there’s a bit of an almost-autumn chill in the shade, as Curtains For You plays its first set of the last Summer Concerts at Hiawatha show this year. Come by – free popsicles for everybody who wants one (come see the Admiral Neighborhood Association at the east edge of the lawn – we’re right next to them), free face painting for kids – or, arm-painting …
… and free music, till 8.
7:42 PM: Another couple songs and they’re wrapping up. ANA president Katy Walum took the stage to thank this year’s sponsors, musicians, volunteers, and attendees. And – last but not least – her ever-supportive husband Erik Walum:
And Katy confirmed there’ll be a fifth season of Summer Concerts at Hiawatha! More to come in our wrapup of tonight, including a clip of Curtains For You (which will open for The Head and The Heart at the Paramount downtown on September 15th).
10:30 PM: Here’s the clip:
And we’ve been meaning during the season to mention the stage crew, Randy Knowles and Dave Grixoni, who’ve worked every concert in the series:
Dave is a letter carrier by day, around The Junction. He’s been working on the concerts ever since Katy Walum called him, having heard from someone that he knew something about sound systems. They talked about the Admiral setup – and eventually Katy asked if he could run the sound. Dave said Hiawatha had some great equipment (board, amps, speakers) so it shouldn’t be too hard. He had played in bands with Randy, and between the two of them, they had equipment if anything wasn’t readily available. They’d known each other since Randy’s days at a local store; Dave delivered the mail to the store, got to talking with Randy, and they decided to play music together.
Their first band, they told WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand, was the Neil Young tribute band Ragged Glory (which played the Hiawatha series its first year), and that’s morphed into Melanie and Her Blue Suede Dudes, much more bluesy, they say, than Ragged Glory.
Since they have worked together for so long, it only takes about an hour for them to set up, and the sound check for a 6:30 pm concert is usually 5 pm. So look for Dave and Randy next year – the unsung heroes behind the scenes (or, at least, the stage).
Before summer wraps up, how about a South Pacific-style afternoon, without leaving West Seattle? Seaview United Methodist Church invites you to its annual luau, Saturday at 2 pm. Just announced by Seini Puloka:
The Tongan (Polynesian) members of the congregation are hosting this event. The menu includes roast pig, fish, taro and other Polynesian foods. Entertainment will be done by the children and youth of the church, complete with music and dances from islands of the South Pacific.
Location: 4620 SW Graham Street
Donation: $20 adults; $10 for teens; $5 for 12 and under
Tomorrow (Thursday) night, it’s the grand finale of the Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series, presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association, with co-sponsors including WSB. Tonight’s reminder comes from ANA president Katy Walum:
I wanted to let your readers know that the Admiral Neighborhood Association will be having two face painters for the kids’ enjoyment at tomorrow night’s show. Free! Also, we’ll be giving out the rest of our popsicles – free! And the best free thing of all – the free concert – Curtains For You – brought to the community by the ANA and our fabulous sponsors. We’re a little sad that the last show of the summer is upon us, but so glad that we get to ring out the close of the season with such an amazing power-pop band (hint: they’ll be opening for the fall tour of the Head and the Heart)! Fingers crossed for clear-ish skies …
Above, a recent Curtains For You clip we found on YouTube. The concert’s free, on the east lawn of Hiawatha Community Center, 6:30 pm. See you there!
Big news from ArtsWest – a prestigious grant never before given to a theater in our state. Here’s the announcement:
ArtsWest Playhouse and Gallery is pleased to announce that the American Theatre Wing, best known as the creator of the Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards, is awarding the Company with one of the 2012 National Theatre Company grants.
The award includes a $10,000 grant given to only 10 theaters in the country. ArtsWest is the first theater in Washington State to win this award.
This grant will have a significant impact on ArtsWest, providing resources needed to realize our full artistic vision and assisting in our ability to provide even broader access to the arts. The grant is given to emerging regional theaters that have articulated a distinctive mission, cultivated an audience, and nurtured a community of artists in ways that strengthen and demonstrate the quality, diversity, and dynamism of American theatre. More information about the National Theatre Company grants can be found at http://americantheatrewing.org/grants.
Announced today by Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) co-proprietor Jeff Gilbert:
PICK AT IT: THE 1st ANNUAL WEST SEATTLE GUITAR AND GEAR TRADE SHOW with special live performance by AARON DANIEL
Saturday, September 15, 6 PM
Pick At It is a unique spin on guitar trade shows as it features ONLY West Seattle guitar makers, sellers and tradesmen showcasing their wares. Included event sponsors are…
Owner Frank Gross, buys and sells vintage guitars and amps worldwide through his online store, and is one of the city’s top authorites on guitars.
Todd Baker is a highly trained and skilled luthier, not only repairing all aspects of guitars, but making custom acoustic basses as well.
Greg Williamson is widely known for his extremely popular and hand-crafted Greedtone guitar effects pedals (now carried nationally by Guitar Center) and hand-built amplifers. Greg is also the sound engineer for the annual West Seattle Summerfest.
Every Fastback guitar is exclusively designed and hand crafted for guitar players by guitar players. Fastback also has a line of popular custom made amplifers and is a recording studio as well.
Owned and operated by Shadowland’s Ben Jenkins and Greg Williamson (Greedtone), this Georgetown studio is fast becoming one of the more in-demand rooms in Seattle to record in.
A West Seattle resident and one of the more unique guitarists in Seattle, Aaron – who recently performed two sold-out shows at The Moore Theatre with the Seattle Rock Orchestra – will be doing a live showcase at the event.
Come buy and trade, try out amps and effects pedals, get a free tune-up on your guitar and hang out with tons of fellow musicians and guitar geeks and fans. There will also be a themed cocktail designed by the legendary Matt Johnson. (Wait ’til you see what it is!)
West Seattle filmmaker Jamie Burton Chamberlin has big news – his feature film featuring Duff McKagan’s Loaded is almost done. The video above is from an interview in which the project is discussed by McKagan himself, whose most recent star turn was as Seafair Torchlight Parade Grand Marshal. Before that, the film was shot in a variety of places around the area, including West Seattle venues such as Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) and West 5 (where we covered the wrap of filming last September – here’s that story), along with scenic spots like Alki.
Chamberlin says the film, “The Taking,” will “be released in episodes; a total of 10 vignettes/music videos that will tell a tale of totally bizarre adventures, imprisoned band members, and kids’ size ice cream cones. The series begins Fall 2012. There are numerous cameos in the film including: Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney of Alice in Chains, former Guns ‘n’ Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke, Steve Jones of Sex Pistols, and Lemmy Kilmister from Motorhead.” Chamberlin is producer and director for “The Taking,” and promises more news soon on exactly where you’ll find the vignettes when they start rolling out.
The two hottest nights of the week are coinciding with the nights for West Seattle’s ongoing weekly summer outdoor concerts. First, tonight at Alki, The Braxmatics:
They boogied at the beach, during the annual Alki stop for the Summer Concerts at Hiawatha series presented by the Admiral Neighborhood Association.
(Video added)
Next Thursday, it’s back to Hiawatha, with Caspar Babypants, 6:30 pm, free as always.
But first – another free outdoor concert in West Seattle tomorrow! The Summer Concerts at The Mount series will feature the 85th Street Big Band at 6 pm Friday, south side of the Providence Mount St. Vincent (WSB sponsor) campus, which is usually shady by showtime. Bring a chair/blanket – and some $ if you’re interested in dinner (tacos with toppings bar – available starting at 5:30 pm), hot dogs/hamburgers, or other treats.
In that video from earlier this year, it’s the funky party band The Braxmatics – playing Thursday night’s show for the Admiral Neighborhood Association‘s Summer Concerts at Hiawatha. HOWEVER – remember that this show is NOT at Hiawatha, but at Alki Beach, near the Bathhouse, perfect night for it since it’ll be cooler by the water. 6:30 pm, free, fun, bring your own chair/mat/blanket (or just stand up to get down). This is the fourth concert of this year’s series – the last two will be back at Hiawatha, with Caspar Babypants on August 23rd and Curtains For You on August 30th.
The Seattle Glee Clubs – based in West Seattle, performing citywide – start a new season next month, so they’re recruiting singers right now:
Seattle Glee Clubs’ two vocal groups — the Seattle Metropolitan Glee Club women’s choir (the Met) and the Offbeats Vocal Jazz Ensemble — both have openings for the 2012-2013 season that begins in September.
The Met, which performs a combination of traditional choral, folk, jazz and popular music, has openings for all female voice types. The group is led by highly experienced musician and director, John Gulhaugen. An audition and some background in music are required. Rehearsals begin Tues., Sept. 11. 2012. For more information, e-mail John Gulhaugen at: The_Met@Seattlegleeclubs.org.
The Offbeats, performing a variety of jazz styles, including swing, bebop, Latin and contemporary, has openings for tenors and baritones. Acclaimed Seattle jazz singer Kelley Johnson directs the group. An audition and some background in music are required. Rehearsals begin in mid-September. For more information, e-mail Kelley Johnson at: Offbeats@seattlegleeclubs.org.
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