Rumor has it that while Björk fans were watching their idol storm off the Pier stage in anger at the end of her short set last Friday (allegedly angry about the sound system, according to reports from reviewers), a good hundred and something of us were still woozily circling the Sound on the Lady Mary, for the maiden voyage of the I Sunk Your Battleship cruise. Organized by local band Tourist (which, one member told me, was having one of its first live performances on board), the three-band bill was a sold-out success despite the threat of choppy waters. As we sailed by the industrial shipyards and back along the city's skyline on a double-decker "luxury craft"--balancing six-dollar cocktails--the crowd seemed giddy with the reality of getting loaded and dancing at one of the city's more perfect party spots (if only it could accommodate more people). The bands--Problem with Heroes, Tourist, Hint Hint--all put on good shows, and while I'd seen the latter many times before, my first exposure to both Heroes and Tourist left me impressed, as did the brilliance of having a party that sailed for a non-retiree demographic. Made it hard to return to dry land.
As I reported in a short news item last week, the Zak's space will reopen under new owners in the next two months. Bobby Kuckelburg and Rob Frishkoff, co-owners of the Lobo Saloon on Eastlake, are taking over the space with a couple of changes, including a new name: Fun House. When I talked to Bobby last week, he said he plans on doing a "small remodel" that includes bringing out the kitchen (who knew there was a usable kitchen in that place? But actually, with the state of that bar before it shut down, who'd want to know?), which will allow him to serve just enough food (BBQ, corn, etc.) to legally serve hard liquor. Eventually, Bobby says, he wants a "Coney Island-style" bar menu, but for now he and head bartender Rob are just excited about getting things going for what will ideally be an early October opening date. Zak's ex-booker Brian Foss, who has been spreading his talents around the Monkey Pub and the Sunset, will return to Zak's--I mean, Fun House--space and have live music four to five nights a week. Bobby says he bought the punk bar because "I'm a rocker and I love going to shows. Basically our space here [the Lobo] is a little too small, and clubs are closing down left and right, and I want to have more shows." The Lobo will continue to have performances as well, with Travis Hall (who worked as the doorman at Zak's and is already over at the Lobo) taking over the booking.
Last Saturday night the Makers bade farewell to drummer Jim Chandler--who heads off to Europe to play with the Cramps--with lots of glitter, smoke machines, and nipple rubbing. Although I was very happy that they played my favorite song off the new record (the Prince-style ballad "Calling My Name"), the highlight of the night came during the encore, when a shirtless Chandler took the mic to sing "Hang Up" by Northwest Nuggets rockers the Wailers.
Portland is hosting the interesting-sounding Tropix fest August 22, 23 and 24--a cool little cross-genre indie-band marathon that will go down at the Modern Zoo, a huge warehouse and exhibition space in North Portland. Scheduled to play are Friends Forever, Anna Oxygen, D. Yellow Swans, Glass Candy and the Shattered Theatre, Jonny X and the Groadies, Point Line Plane, and lots of other acts (plus a dance party on the opening night). For more info on the weekend-long event, allow Tom Selleck to be your guide at www.sincerebrutality.com/tropix.
Whether or not you go out of town this weekend, be sure to head back for the Friends Forever show at Aftermath Gallery Sunday night, August 24 (see preview on page 45). This request especially goes out to Eddie Vedder (on the off chance that he's reading this), whom I promised bassist Josh Taylor to give a personal invitation to on behalf of keyboardist Jason Isaacs, whose birthday is Sunday and who, Josh tells me, is a "huge Eddie Vedder fan." Josh, I've fulfilled my duty, and Eddie, Josh says you can even "show up in disguise" if you prefer.
