BLOG ENTRY BY MISTY BLUE - TRIP TO SEATTLE - JULY 10-20/09
My association with the Washington Blues Society in Seattle began with a CD review of Dave Conant & The D-Rangers’ Chiaroscuro, published in its Bluesletter of February 2002. However, I had connected with Dennis “Blues Boss” Dudley sometime in 2001, when he sent me a copy of “BB” award-nominated Smokin’ Gun’s Live Rounds from Seattle. Several dozen CD reviews and changes in the WBS Board of Directors later, I finally made good on my intention to meet some of my Seattle blues idols in person. Here's the scoop, for those of you who are interested:
FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2009
Leaving my current residence in Canada’s capital city of Ottawa, Ontario (my birthplace, in fact), I started my 10-day whirlwind tour of the Greater Seattle Area with a courtesy pick-up at the Sea-Tac Airport by Blues Boss. Instead of heading directly to my reserved room at the Holiday Inn on Dexter Avenue, he took me for a drive-by tour around that general neighbourhood, which was coincidentally where he himself resided.
Although Blues Boss presumed I would be ready to retire for the evening after the five-hour Air Canada flight from Toronto, I shook off my jet lag and headed over to Highway 99 Blues Club to catch the “West Coast Guitar Killers Showcase”. The event featured various set line-ups by veteran Pacific Northwest guitarists Tim Sherman, Tom “T-Boy Neal” Boyle, Brian Lee, and Chris Stevens, with superb backing throughout the evening by Mark Dalton on bass, Conrad Ormsby on drums and Ron Weinstein on keyboards.
Although I stayed “incognito” for the first hour or so, I eventually approached Tom’s vocalist wife, Becki Sue (who had been called onstage to do a number), and introduced myself as the former Washington Blues Society CD reviewer and radio broadcaster from Canada. Standing nearby was her drummer, Jeff Hayes, whom I had failed to recognize earlier when we were sitting at opposite ends of a long table. Jeff proffered a napkin invitation to attend an upcoming outdoor concert in Shoreline, which included Becki Sue and her Big Rockin’ Daddies! on the bill, but I ended up accepting another invitation that came with the offer of a ride. In fact, a lot of the gigs I attended took place outside the central core of Seattle, so I was very grateful to have the assistance of various drivers.
SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2009
Blues Boss met up with me for breakfast the next morning, and then we headed off to his hometown of Tacoma, south of Seattle, for the annual Old Town Blues Festival, which takes place, for the most part, in a large park. However, the Mountaineers Club also hosts an outdoor concert in its backyard, which features an L-shaped stone climbing wall in one corner. This wall served to contain the acoustic output by the legendary Little Bill [Engelhart] & The Bluenotes and various other performers taking part in the festival. Little Bill’s regular sax player, Dick Powell, had recently suffered another bout of cardiac arrest, and Jim King was sitting in for him. Session guitarist Rod Cook, also of Rod Cook & Toast and Snake Oil, was also playing with Little Bill. (Check out Rod Cook & Toast’s sizzling Troublemaker CD, the follow-up to I Ain’t the Fool.) I also met Curley Cooke and drummer Billy “The Pocket” Barner at this club, but missed out on meeting Billy’s Canadian wife, Sharon, who hails from B.C., I believe.
It was a hot, sunny day but after Little Bill’s set, we wandered further on down the road to the big open park, where Blues Redemption (featuring Blues Alliance keyboardist Doug Skoog) was just ending its set. We checked out a few more performances there, but mostly we stood in the shade behind the stage, chatting with various musicians (e.g. Joe Hendershot, Al Earick, John “Scooch” Cugno, and young Tommy Simmons).
Back at the Mountaineers Club, we caught a set by Gail Muldrow, whom I had mistaken for another musician, Georgia Anne Muldrow, but I believe they are unrelated. Both of these musical ladies are worth checking out.
We then headed back into Seattle, where I was comp’d a ticket (along with a few other lucky people) to get into The Triple Door that evening. The blues-rockin’ triple bill began with Sam Marshall, doing an energetic solo acoustic set, followed by a well-received Texan band known as Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat, who incorporated musical samples from Deep Purple (“Hush”) and The Beatles (“A Day in the Life”) into their set. I bought a copy of their Tijuana Bible release, as well as Love Ride 25 - Silver Anniversary CD. The Triple Door headlining act that night – Too Slim and The Taildraggers – has a song on the release called “Devil in a Doublewide”, as well as the now deceased Jeff Healey performing Todd Smallwood’s “Can’t Tame My Soul”.
Too Slim & The Taildraggers is now comprised of Tim “Too Slim” Langford on lead guitar and lead vocals, erstwhile solo artist Polly O’Keary on bass and backing vocals, and Tommy Cook on drums. Towards the end of the show, Too Slim invited the Texans back up on stage for an impressive blow-out performance.
The Triple Door is a swanky theatre house that features an almost exclusive and expensive (for me) Cambodian menu, but, to its credit, offers a wide variety of musical acts. I would have loved to have checked out Vagabond Opera there the following week, but that was not meant to be.
I was good and ready for a long sleep that night!
SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2009
I spent the entire morning lounging in bed, listening to KEXP 90.3 FM (which station happened to be located just down the street!) on my crappy hotel room radio. It was supposed to be a smoking-permitted room, but the hotel had either run out of ashtrays or expected me to provide my own, which ended up being a Styrofoam cup containing some water.
FRIDAY, JULY 10, 2009
Leaving my current residence in Canada’s capital city of Ottawa, Ontario (my birthplace, in fact), I started my 10-day whirlwind tour of the Greater Seattle Area with a courtesy pick-up at the Sea-Tac Airport by Blues Boss. Instead of heading directly to my reserved room at the Holiday Inn on Dexter Avenue, he took me for a drive-by tour around that general neighbourhood, which was coincidentally where he himself resided.
Although Blues Boss presumed I would be ready to retire for the evening after the five-hour Air Canada flight from Toronto, I shook off my jet lag and headed over to Highway 99 Blues Club to catch the “West Coast Guitar Killers Showcase”. The event featured various set line-ups by veteran Pacific Northwest guitarists Tim Sherman, Tom “T-Boy Neal” Boyle, Brian Lee, and Chris Stevens, with superb backing throughout the evening by Mark Dalton on bass, Conrad Ormsby on drums and Ron Weinstein on keyboards.
Although I stayed “incognito” for the first hour or so, I eventually approached Tom’s vocalist wife, Becki Sue (who had been called onstage to do a number), and introduced myself as the former Washington Blues Society CD reviewer and radio broadcaster from Canada. Standing nearby was her drummer, Jeff Hayes, whom I had failed to recognize earlier when we were sitting at opposite ends of a long table. Jeff proffered a napkin invitation to attend an upcoming outdoor concert in Shoreline, which included Becki Sue and her Big Rockin’ Daddies! on the bill, but I ended up accepting another invitation that came with the offer of a ride. In fact, a lot of the gigs I attended took place outside the central core of Seattle, so I was very grateful to have the assistance of various drivers.
SATURDAY, JULY 11, 2009
Blues Boss met up with me for breakfast the next morning, and then we headed off to his hometown of Tacoma, south of Seattle, for the annual Old Town Blues Festival, which takes place, for the most part, in a large park. However, the Mountaineers Club also hosts an outdoor concert in its backyard, which features an L-shaped stone climbing wall in one corner. This wall served to contain the acoustic output by the legendary Little Bill [Engelhart] & The Bluenotes and various other performers taking part in the festival. Little Bill’s regular sax player, Dick Powell, had recently suffered another bout of cardiac arrest, and Jim King was sitting in for him. Session guitarist Rod Cook, also of Rod Cook & Toast and Snake Oil, was also playing with Little Bill. (Check out Rod Cook & Toast’s sizzling Troublemaker CD, the follow-up to I Ain’t the Fool.) I also met Curley Cooke and drummer Billy “The Pocket” Barner at this club, but missed out on meeting Billy’s Canadian wife, Sharon, who hails from B.C., I believe.
It was a hot, sunny day but after Little Bill’s set, we wandered further on down the road to the big open park, where Blues Redemption (featuring Blues Alliance keyboardist Doug Skoog) was just ending its set. We checked out a few more performances there, but mostly we stood in the shade behind the stage, chatting with various musicians (e.g. Joe Hendershot, Al Earick, John “Scooch” Cugno, and young Tommy Simmons).
Back at the Mountaineers Club, we caught a set by Gail Muldrow, whom I had mistaken for another musician, Georgia Anne Muldrow, but I believe they are unrelated. Both of these musical ladies are worth checking out.
We then headed back into Seattle, where I was comp’d a ticket (along with a few other lucky people) to get into The Triple Door that evening. The blues-rockin’ triple bill began with Sam Marshall, doing an energetic solo acoustic set, followed by a well-received Texan band known as Jim Suhler & Monkey Beat, who incorporated musical samples from Deep Purple (“Hush”) and The Beatles (“A Day in the Life”) into their set. I bought a copy of their Tijuana Bible release, as well as Love Ride 25 - Silver Anniversary CD. The Triple Door headlining act that night – Too Slim and The Taildraggers – has a song on the release called “Devil in a Doublewide”, as well as the now deceased Jeff Healey performing Todd Smallwood’s “Can’t Tame My Soul”.
Too Slim & The Taildraggers is now comprised of Tim “Too Slim” Langford on lead guitar and lead vocals, erstwhile solo artist Polly O’Keary on bass and backing vocals, and Tommy Cook on drums. Towards the end of the show, Too Slim invited the Texans back up on stage for an impressive blow-out performance.
The Triple Door is a swanky theatre house that features an almost exclusive and expensive (for me) Cambodian menu, but, to its credit, offers a wide variety of musical acts. I would have loved to have checked out Vagabond Opera there the following week, but that was not meant to be.
I was good and ready for a long sleep that night!
SUNDAY, JULY 12, 2009
I spent the entire morning lounging in bed, listening to KEXP 90.3 FM (which station happened to be located just down the street!) on my crappy hotel room radio. It was supposed to be a smoking-permitted room, but the hotel had either run out of ashtrays or expected me to provide my own, which ended up being a Styrofoam cup containing some water.
In any case, KEXP was airing “Preachin’ the Blues”, which runs from 9 a.m. to noon, and I really dug listening to blues music when it seems the most appropriate time to do so (other than on Monday mornings, when I used to host my own “Patchwork Blues” radio show in Canada).
To pass the early part of the afternoon, I began the first of many 10-minute walks to the Space Needle, which area also housed the Seattle Centre, Experience Music Project (EMP), the Science Fiction Museum, and later on that week, the “Bite of Seattle” festival. On that day I only took a cursory glance around, trying to avoid doing the tourist thing. I couldn’t resist taking a peek inside EMP, at least in the Skychurch hall (no entrance fee), which featured a giant screen displaying, at first, a performance by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and then, of course, Jimi Hendrix (R.I.P.), one of their local heroes and famous dead rock stars, alongside Kurt Cobain.
Later on that afternoon, I hooked up with Blues Boss again and off we went to the outdoor park adjoining Angle Lake (still within Seattle city limits). Guitarist Rod Cook, drummer Chris Leighton and bass guitarist John Bayless were scheduled to play in the gazebo overlooking the lake, but unfortunately the inclement weather (the only rainy day during my entire trip) and uncooperative P.A. system drove away most of the people who had gathered around to listen to them.
Blues Boss had graciously agreed to drive me out to the Raging River Café in Fall City that evening, which was at least an hour out of town, to check out guitarist/vocalist/ songwriter Nicole Fournier, who had temporarily returned from her new home in Fate, Texas. Although Nicole was the official guest performer at this weekly Sunday open-stage, guitarist Mark Riley had also shown up, later that night, hoping to play. He ended up having to wait until the end of the night, but together with Nicole, Tommy Wall, and Andrew Cloutier, they tore up the place for the die-hard audience who had stuck around! Earlier on, Nicole had played a song called “Sugar Daddy”, which she jokingly dedicated to Blues Boss. I had met her in person on a previous occasion, when she was playing in a 100-piece mandolin orchestra near Montreal, so it was great to make her acquaintance again (hopefully she doesn’t think I’m stalking her…).
MONDAY, JULY 13, 2009
I started off this day with a city bus ride to the historic district known as “Pioneer Square”. I’d been told there used to be quite a few blues-friendly clubs in this ’hood in years past, but the reigning one, and struggling to survive against fierce competition from the more upscale Triple Door, is the New Orleans Creole Restaurant and Bar. I didn’t actually locate it that day, but as I was walking down one particular street, I came across the “hidden” Waterfall Garden Park, almost completely enclosed by tall hedges. It was a charming little spot, sparsely populated by some folks ostensibly seeking a peaceful respite from the hustle and bustle of the streets.
I was anticipating a change in musical pace later that evening, so my alter ego (D.D. Rocker) took over for the afternoon. Now that I was in rock-music mode, I decided to take a trial run at finding El Corazon without benefit of a tour guide. Hopping on a public transit bus (which, at some points in the city, are free), I took a long, lovely ride alongside a marina and through the university district, only to discover that this bus route did not take me where I wanted to go. After consulting my little tourist map, I discovered that the club was only a 20-minute walk away from my hotel! I would also find out later on during my visit that nothing is more than a half-hour drive from one end of Seattle to the other.
I arrived at El Corazon around 9 p.m., fairly late, considering that the all-ages show had started at 7, so I missed the first two bands. I paid the full entry fee to see the headliner (A Static Lullaby) and got carded (at age 54!) when I entered the licenced area (“It’s the law, ma’am.”). After listening to five or six similar “songs” growled out at warp-speed, I left there, arriving at the hotel well before midnight. Rock and roll may never die, but it sure gets tired of the same three chords. I’ll try again next month at the Vans Warped Tour in Vancouver (with my son, Angus, steering me towards the better bands).
TUESDAY, JULY 14, 2009
I spent the better part of this day back at the Seattle Centre area, taking amateur tourist shots with my woefully inadequate digital camera, and then hopped on the monorail train for a quick trip (less than five minutes) to the Westlake Centre shopping mall. I didn’t want to blow my daily allotted budget in there, so I bought only a shiny red metallic “wind-spinner” mobile that produces a kind of psychedelic effect when in motion.
That evening, Washington Blues Society (WBS) President Eric Steiner gave me a lift to the blues lovers’ monthly “Blues Bash”, now taking place in the Red Crane Steak and Sushi Bistro at Club Hollywood Casino. The first thing I saw as I entered the building was this huge beautiful silver Cadillac parked in the main foyer, bearing vanity plates that read “MMonroe”. It didn’t click right away that it had been Marilyn’s vehicle (or a replica of same), even though I should have guessed, going by the name of the club…
Blues Boss, who is the current Music Director of the WBS, arrived at the club later that evening and asked Eric to get a photo of me “reading” a Bluesletter while standing at the rear of the Cadillac, and so he did, even though the result was somewhat less sensational than if I’d been the beauty queen herself! The live entertainment that night consisted of Al Earick (on guitar) and teenaged Jumpin’ Josh (on harmonica), followed by a set of electric blues by the John Stephan Band, which included B.C. native Trev Cutler on drums, Jeff Conlin on keyboards, and Tom Roesch on bass.
I was also introduced to former WBS President Rhea Rolfe and former Bluesletter Editor Bob Horn, as well as current Membership Director Joy Kelly and new Treasurer Elizabeth Mulligan, all of whom continue to offer their volunteer services to the 800-plus-member statewide Blues Society.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 2009
While chatting with John Stephan the previous evening, he offered to drive me to the Central Pub in Kirkland, WA, for his gig there with fellow Alaskans John Lee and Gary Sloan, so after spending an unusual “day of rest” on my own at the hotel, we headed out there for another night of live blues music. I sat with Gary’s wife, Sandy, both of whom now live in Arkansas. Sandy urged me up on the dance floor with another foot-lose patron several times, but I finally gave that up, due to the heat and crowding in the bar. Gary’s a naturally charismatic frontman, who alternated on guitar, harmonica, and storytelling throughout the evening. I felt privileged to make their acquaintance.
THURSDAY, JULY 16, 2009
Before making my own way out to Tulalip Casino (a two-hour ride on four different buses), I had some lunch at the 5-Point Café, whose tongue-in-cheek motto is “Cheating Tourists and Drunks since 1929”, but I have no complaints about their service, food, or prices. Another restaurant I frequented in Seattle a couple of times was The Hurricane Café. Open 24/7 and streaming “Little Steven’s Underground Garage” radio show, this place appealed greatly to me, and, unlike other all-night joints, it was clean and the servers were very friendly. I felt right at home, at least during the daytime hours I was there. One of the servers told me it’s packed, most likely with younger people, into the wee hours of the morning on weekends.
The outdoor Jonny Lang concert at the Tulalip Casino Amphitheatre, to be opened by Too Slim & The Taildraggers, was slated to begin at 8 p.m., so I began my long journey around 4 that afternoon. Fortunately, almost right inside the gates, were the kiosks selling merchandise for Jonny Lang, The Taildraggers, and WBS, so Too Slim and his wife, Nancy, were the first ones to greet me when I arrived. WBS volunteers Tony and Al kindly invited me to hang with them at the WBS kiosk, so that freed me to wander around occasionally, have a smoke or two, and take unobstructed photos of the stage, albeit no extreme close-ups.
At a nearby kiosk, TV/radio personality Marlee Walker and her partner and a Blues-to-Do volunteer were drumming up sales for Marlee’s self-published blues newsletter for which publication Blues Boss used to write a column and provide professional-caliber photos of blues musicians.
Jonny Lang put together an excellent ensemble of players to back him up, but he still has that oh-so-sweet voice to go with his own prodigious talent as a guitarist. He compiled a versatile setlist of new (from his Turn Around CD) and old tunes, including some from his breakthrough Lie to Me album, although “Darker Side” (my personal favourite) was left out, possibly because of Lang’s current focus on the positive things in his life. I returned to the hotel that night a tired but satisfied traveler!
Although Too Slim’s claim to fame is rooted in various forms of blues music (acoustic and electric), he’s now veering more towards the stadium rock sound, but his original compositions are solid, with catchy melodies and chorus, so it’s all good and hopefully more lucrative for him and the band. Bassist Polly O’Keary has actually put her own solo career on hold for the moment, admitting she is enjoying her tenure as a Taildragger.
FRIDAY, JULY 17, 2009
The “Bite of Seattle” outdoor food, music and culture festival was underway, so I once more headed towards the Space Needle and environs. After taking the lift up to the Observation Desk and taking some photos from that vantage point, I visited the interior of the Seattle Centre, which included an exhibit of artwork created by various artists, including a senior-aged woman whom I caught in action creating a portrait in chalk.
I then gave in to temptation and paid to enter the Experience Music Project, introduced by a huge mountain of guitars visible from the Skychurch hall! Most of the displays are naturally oriented towards local legendary musicians (dead or alive), but customers can also view various types of guitars, as well as a film that outlines the history of the guitar, featuring a great number of internationally renowned guitarists throughout the ages. Next door to the EMP is the equally entertaining Science Fiction Museum, which displayed scenes, costumes, and robotic inventions from historic films of that genre.
The live music performers were already in action behind the Seattle Centre, so I made my way past the family-friendly water park to the first stage (featuring a band whose name I didn’t catch) and then headed towards Mercer Street, where the “Blues Stage” had been set up. The kick-ass band (formerly known as “Dirty Bird”) playing some original-sounding rock music when I arrived was apparently involved in a radio campaign to decide its new moniker. They were followed by The Troublemakers, a country/ rockabilly band from Portland, Oregon, who tapped into my old school rock and roll music sensibility, so I scooped up a copy of their Chop Shop Pit Stop CD.
Towards the other end of the exhibition area, I caught Rock Steady, a classic rock cover band featuring a woman named Angela (last name unknown) on who had “multiple personality” vocals. I know plenty of people who dislike cover bands, particularly those who completely duplicate the originals, but I believe this duplicating requires just as much if not more talent than reinterpreting them. I compare it to art forgeries; only the best can get away with it undetected. When my ear first caught Rock Steady, Angela was nailing songs by Heart and Jefferson Airplane, followed by Boston and Led Zeppelin.
I didn’t have anything planned in advance for that night, so I decided to return to the Triple Door (after a much-needed nap, of course). Magic Slim & The Teardrops were putting on an exclusive concert there, without an opening act, and since I’d never seen them live before, I figured this might be my last chance to do so.
The show began promptly at 8 p.m., with the Teardrops pumping up the rather small and subdued audience in anticipation of Magic Slim’s appearance. They had their work cut out for them, as the rapport between entertainers and audience never quite reached a fever pitch, even with the star of the show doing his best to cajole an enthusiastic reaction from them. Magic Slim completed a disappearing act by 9:30, despite belated and stunned calls for an encore.
It was way too early to go back to the hotel, so I took in a reprisal of the annual Alaskan reunion celebration by Gary Sloan, John Sebastian and John Lee (of the Crossroads Band) now taking place at the New Orleans Creole Restaurant. I knew I was going to be there the next night, as well, but I just couldn’t wait to check out the joint, considering its fairly close proximity to the Triple Door.
After blowing so much dough again at the Triple Door, I balked at paying another cover charge (the US exchange rate for my pathetic Canadian money just about had me broke by this time). Eventually I gained free entry, thanks to John Stephan, who spied me hanging around outside the door. I ended up donating money directly to the band, which is apparently a long-standing tradition in this club and its namesake city, too, I believe. The guys played a slightly different playlist than the one they played at the Central, so they were even more entertaining this time around!
SATURDAY, JULY 18, 2009
I returned to the “Bite of Seattle” festival around 2 p.m., meeting up with Blues Boss one last time to catch the set by Cee Cee James. The Janis Joplin vocal clone apparently tries her best to alter this natural occurrence, but her effort seemed unsuccessful that day. For sure, that would require talent - to NOT sound like someone else when you naturally do (see blog entry re Rock Steady, Friday, July 17).
Liz Mulligan, my new acquaintance from the WBS Blues Bash, agreed to accompany me to the New Orleans Creole Restaurant, after confirming that her vegetarian diet could be accommodated. I asked her if she was familiar with the music of David Brewer, and she replied in the negative. I then warned her that it would probably be loud (and proud!), but she said it would be okay with her.
David is from the school of boisterous Texas blues-rock, having been Albert Collins’ second guitarist for several years in the ’80s (with a newly-released, remastered CD to prove it!). I liken him to Canada’s aforementioned Jeff Healey in his blues-rock music intensity, except that David, having composed “Bad Habits”, popularized by Colin James, is also an acclaimed songwriter (a talent Jeff himself denied having).
David’s two daughters, Rachel Mae and Stacey, were in attendance, along with their respective boyfriends, and I was hoping to hear Rachel Mae do a live performance alongside her dad, but I had to content myself with a copy of her debut Blackwing CD, entitled Circle on the Floor. Rachel Mae proudly advised me that her father wrote the opening song, “Don’t Break My Heart”, and added that she wrote the remainder of the lyrics and music on the disc; it's a mix of country and blues tunes that are all very engaging. I also had the good fortune to meet Dee Dee Conant, widow of the late Seattle guitarist Dave Conant, at this club. She kindly remembered and thanked me for the comments I had written about the musician’s Chiaroscuro CD and his untimely demise several years ago. How classy is that!???
As well, a male and female exotic dancer (or at least wannabes), perhaps on their night off, were competing for stage attention, so the seated patrons got to choose which “performers” they wanted to watch, until the distraction got just too annoying, that is. Luckily, the dancing exhibitionists left before the last set started.
To her credit, the somewhat delicate Liz made it through two power-packed sets of David Brewer & The Intimidators (bassist William Freckleton, saxman Raven Humphres, and drummer Trev Cutler) before taking her leave. I stayed, of course, and got my nightly quota of live music, until it was over for the night.
Since my return to Ottawa, William and David were right on the ball acknowledging my visit to the PNW and the chance for us to meet each other in person. That was pretty classy, too, but that’s what you can expect from honourable ex-Vietnam veterans. As a side note here, William Freckleton has recently released an earlier recording by the late Isaac Scott, with Dave Conant guesting on it. It's called Posthumous Blues and is very entertaining, as is David's newest release.
SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2009
Again, KEXP was broadcasting “Preachin’ the Blues”, via a DJ named Chilly subbing for the regular show host, Jonny Horn. I’d been itching throughout the vacation for the chance to go into the station and introduce myself as a Canadian radio DJ, so I finally decided to scratch it. I sent Chilly an email, desperately pleading to be allowed to drop in, already being so close to the station in the first place. At first he wrote back, saying “no”, due to the very short notice and his being alone at the station, but then he agreed to meet me right after the show was finished at noon – yay! By that time it was too late to discuss on-air the state of blues music or mention the local blues musicians I had met, but he was gracious enough to give me a tour of the station premises and equipment set-ups without making me feel I was cutting into his personal time, which I was, of course.
Feeling rather jubilant and pleased with myself, I decided to forego another afternoon at the too-crowded “Bite of Seattle”, unfortunately missing Stickshift Annie (Eastwood) with Kimball Conant & The Fugitives. Instead, I grabbed a taxi to Pier 57, also known as “Miners Landing”, which houses, among other things, a carousel, the Pirates Plunder gift shop, and Fisherman’s Restaurant, which faces the pier and the live entertainment stage. It also serves a delicious Pacific sockeye salmon entrée - yummm!
After my scrumptious lunch there, I went out onto the pier area to catch “some” live music by Paul Green & Straight Shot. Three sets and three hours later, I was starting to feel the heat of the sun, despite the beautiful breeze that had been gently blowing off the lake all day. Instead of going directly back to the hotel, I spent an hour or so walking through the Pike Place Market area. Mixed in with the unavoidable odor of fish was the smell of fresh-baked bread, popcorn and candies, and other types of food. Strangely enough, I was not approached at all by any homeless or otherwise unfortunate people, unlike the Byward Market in Ottawa.
This laid-back but nevertheless busy tourist area is also conducive to street busking, and in that regard, I caught a quartet of black a cappella singers harmoniously and spreading the gospel word in addition to a magical-sounding classical pianist named Jonny Hahn doing his instrumental thing a bit further down the road.
When I got back to the hotel, I realized my chin was sunburned! I had been wearing a baseball cap (unusual for me), but that precaution obviously did not protect my entire face from the particular angle of the sun shining off the lake in the late afternoon. It was worth the pain, though, since it was my last outdoor foray until my airport taxi arrived the next morning to bring me back to rainy Ottawa.
MONDAY, JULY 20, 2009
I was up bright and early but not looking forward to another long flight, this time heading to Ottawa from Seattle via Vancouver, BC, rather than Toronto, ON. For some strange reason, the Canadian return flight didn’t seem to take as long, but it really helped to pass the time being able to watch in-flight movies, even if the selections were not to my taste. I ended up watching “17 Again”, the quirky short film, “The Dog Walker”, and then part of “Pontypool”, the latter flick which I found completely ridiculous and vaguely but subliminally Anglophobic in nature. The plane landed before that movie was finished, and I couldn’t have cared less about that.
I have posted photos of the trip on my Facebook page. All in all, it was a great adventure in Seattle, and my only regret is that it took so many years to finally get there!
SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2009
Again, KEXP was broadcasting “Preachin’ the Blues”, via a DJ named Chilly subbing for the regular show host, Jonny Horn. I’d been itching throughout the vacation for the chance to go into the station and introduce myself as a Canadian radio DJ, so I finally decided to scratch it. I sent Chilly an email, desperately pleading to be allowed to drop in, already being so close to the station in the first place. At first he wrote back, saying “no”, due to the very short notice and his being alone at the station, but then he agreed to meet me right after the show was finished at noon – yay! By that time it was too late to discuss on-air the state of blues music or mention the local blues musicians I had met, but he was gracious enough to give me a tour of the station premises and equipment set-ups without making me feel I was cutting into his personal time, which I was, of course.
Feeling rather jubilant and pleased with myself, I decided to forego another afternoon at the too-crowded “Bite of Seattle”, unfortunately missing Stickshift Annie (Eastwood) with Kimball Conant & The Fugitives. Instead, I grabbed a taxi to Pier 57, also known as “Miners Landing”, which houses, among other things, a carousel, the Pirates Plunder gift shop, and Fisherman’s Restaurant, which faces the pier and the live entertainment stage. It also serves a delicious Pacific sockeye salmon entrée - yummm!
After my scrumptious lunch there, I went out onto the pier area to catch “some” live music by Paul Green & Straight Shot. Three sets and three hours later, I was starting to feel the heat of the sun, despite the beautiful breeze that had been gently blowing off the lake all day. Instead of going directly back to the hotel, I spent an hour or so walking through the Pike Place Market area. Mixed in with the unavoidable odor of fish was the smell of fresh-baked bread, popcorn and candies, and other types of food. Strangely enough, I was not approached at all by any homeless or otherwise unfortunate people, unlike the Byward Market in Ottawa.
This laid-back but nevertheless busy tourist area is also conducive to street busking, and in that regard, I caught a quartet of black a cappella singers harmoniously and spreading the gospel word in addition to a magical-sounding classical pianist named Jonny Hahn doing his instrumental thing a bit further down the road.
When I got back to the hotel, I realized my chin was sunburned! I had been wearing a baseball cap (unusual for me), but that precaution obviously did not protect my entire face from the particular angle of the sun shining off the lake in the late afternoon. It was worth the pain, though, since it was my last outdoor foray until my airport taxi arrived the next morning to bring me back to rainy Ottawa.
MONDAY, JULY 20, 2009
I was up bright and early but not looking forward to another long flight, this time heading to Ottawa from Seattle via Vancouver, BC, rather than Toronto, ON. For some strange reason, the Canadian return flight didn’t seem to take as long, but it really helped to pass the time being able to watch in-flight movies, even if the selections were not to my taste. I ended up watching “17 Again”, the quirky short film, “The Dog Walker”, and then part of “Pontypool”, the latter flick which I found completely ridiculous and vaguely but subliminally Anglophobic in nature. The plane landed before that movie was finished, and I couldn’t have cared less about that.
I have posted photos of the trip on my Facebook page. All in all, it was a great adventure in Seattle, and my only regret is that it took so many years to finally get there!
mistyblue1955 @ hotmail. com
July 29/09 All rights reserved
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