Fri May 23, Old Fire House, 8 pm, $8 (all ages).
Q and A w/Ian MacKaye
Tues May 27, Vera Project, 8 pm, $3 (all ages).
Since 1991, Kate Becker has been a positive, constant driving force in the local all-ages music community. She founded Redmond's Old Fire House, a 500-capacity music venue, helped develop (and served on the board of directors for) the Vera Project, and was a member of Seattle's Music and Youth Task Force, the group that ultimately took down the Teen Dance Ordinance (which made it illegal for someone under the age of 18 to be in the same club as someone over the age of 21), replacing it with the All Ages Dance Ordinance (which, among other things, eliminated age restrictions at all-ages music venues).
"She's definitely a superhero," says 17-year-old Ryann Donnelly, a Vera Project volunteer for the past two years. "She's always fighting for so many good causes; she has nonstop energy."
Becker moved to Seattle from Massachusetts in 1991. On the East Coast she'd been working with treatment programs for teenagers, and running a program specifically for young girls. Before her arrival, neither Seattle nor Redmond had a sturdy teen center or all-ages music program; recognizing that lots of kids were hanging out with nothing to do, the City of Redmond hired her in 1991 to begin programming music, art, and other activities for "non-traditional youth." She absorbed ideas for the program while talking to kids on the street, and in 1992 helped found the Old Fire House.
"In many ways Redmond was ahead of their time," says Becker. "Really, it seems like everyone else is behind their time. What's so novel about programs that engage kids that are not mainstream kids? Every community should have that."
In 1992, faced with the binding Teen Dance Ordinance and a severe lack of all-ages venues, kids were starving for arts and music programs. From the Fire House's opening night, that fact was apparent.
"I distinctly remember our first show," Becker says with a smile. "Three hundred and twenty-four kids came, and I just went, 'Oh, my God.' At that time it was just young Eastside bands, bands nobody in Seattle had heard of, but because there was so little going on in Seattle, we could put any band on the stage and that room would be packed."
Over time, the Fire House has become more than just an Eastside music mecca; it's also a five-day-a-week after-school hangout, darkroom, art gallery, zine library, and media lab, among other things. Last September, the Fire House celebrated its 10th anniversary, making it the longest-running all-ages venue in the Northwest and second-longest-running all-ages venue on the entire West Coast.
A countless number of Eastside teens have grown up at the Fire House. Blood Brothers co-frontman Jordan Blilie saw his first hardcore show at the venue when he was 12. Since then, he says, Becker has been a part of his musical landmarks--including the first Blood Brothers show in September 1997. "For the most part, everything that has shaped me musically can be traced back to Becker's efforts," says Blilie, "and the positive environment and community that she's created for kids in Redmond."
Now, after Becker's 10-plus years of endless dedication and hard work for the local music community, she has decided to leave.
"It was very hard to give my notice," she says. "But I have a family situation that is compelling me to leave right now. I do feel good about [going], but it was really hard [to decide to leave]. I know that all the other people who are involved will certainly keep things going in a similar or better fashion, though."
Indeed, others in the city are also vital parts of our all-ages music community. James Keblas and Shannon Stewart continue to create youth-oriented art and music events through the Vera Project. Even after losing their venue, the Paradox's Jeff Bettger and Bubba Jennings continue to book only all-ages shows at various venues around town. Amy Mahardy and Ground Zero in Bellevue; Patty Hinkle, Brian Jackson, and Carrie Hallgarth at the Brick House in Ballard; Ian Templeton and Burke Thomas at the Milkbar; and Alison Coogan at the Fusion Cafe and Downtown Seattle's YMCA all help enrich the local underage scene.
Before Becker leaves us, the Fire House and the Vera Project will be throwing a couple of parties in her honor. On Friday, May 23, the Old Fire House will host a big show; then, on Tuesday, May 27, D.C.'s Ian MacKaye (of Fugazi, Minor Threat, and Dischord Records) will host a Q and A session at the Vera Project to help celebrate Becker's efforts.
"I really appreciate Kate's work and was happy to be a part of this," says MacKaye. "I think Seattle has been really fortunate to have her in the ranks. Kate is one of many people [working for the all-ages community], but she has always been at the forefront."
Becker says she will miss her job when she leaves, but adds, "Really, the true test of making something that stands over time is whether it can exist without you."
