How depressing it must be to be a music-loving kid these days. Now that I think about it, how depressing it is to be a music-loving adult these days, in a town so lame that anyone who wants to provide kids with what they took for granted when they were kids is forced to become a martyr for a cause. I wonder where I'd be if I hadn't been able to see X, Julian Cope, or the Ramones as a kid--or a teen-aged, dreadlocked Mike Johnson rocking his ass off in his band Snakepit. I wonder where he'd be, for that matter.
Recently, upwards of 70 kids--and ostensive grownups--gathered in Volunteer Park to discuss ways to keep the all-ages scene alive. Kate Becker of the Northwest All-Ages Show Association (NAASA) was there, and tells me she feels the public forum had a positive effect, if only that it "proved there are a lot of kids who are still really supportive of the all-ages scene." NAASA will present a show on Friday June 25 at Washington Hall--located on upper Capitol Hill at the corner of 14th & Fir--featuring 764-HERO, Pedro the Lion, and Damien Jurado. Treat the place with respect, and maybe the city will have a new, viable venue. The Fenix, which recently held its first all-ages show with Sky Cries Mary, is continuing this endeavor by booking shows at the Ballard Eagles Hall. But its choice of bands is puzzling. Last I checked, "the kids" weren't lining up to see Hit Explosion.
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On to the fun stuff. A certain bar that shall forever remain nameless in these pages--lest the yucky, weekend-warrior crowd ruin it--was alive with rock stars Saturday night. It's become quite the post-show hangout. Sleater-Kinney's lovely Janet Weiss and Corin Tucker floated about the room, some of Hovercraft was there, as were the ever-present members of Sunny Day Real Estate. The place is so laid back, even the semi-reclusive Eddie Vedder has been known to pop in for a hang. And speaking of Ed Ved, his appearance with C Average at the East Troy installment of the Tibetan Freedom Concert June 13 was a hoot. Vedder--arriving sans Pearl Jam--made a plea to the audience for a drummer and guitarist to join him on stage. Two ecstatic rocker types gladly scrambled up to play a scratchy version of "Better Man." The jig was up, however, as soon as it all started to get too professional to believe. The Wayne and Garth types were revealed to be C Average.
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Hitched: Congratulations to ex-Hammerbox/Anodyne guitarist Harris Thurmond, who married his longtime sweetheart Laura Box last weekend. Also hitched: Generator--the creepily coifed and packaged Buck Cherry of the Northwest--has signed to Epic. New American Shame has signed to Atlantic. In other band news, Marigold has been in London recording an album with Mark Waterman, who produced the forthcoming Elastica record. Three months in swingin' England has convinced the boys (who recently made the big move from Springfield, OR to Eugene, OR) that it's time to relocate to Seattle.
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The item that appeared in this column two weeks ago about local all-ages promoter Lori LeFavor caused some commotion. LeFavor called up to point out--and rightfully so--that the Melvins' booking at the Velvet Elvis rather than at RKCNDY had nothing to do with a personality conflict between her and the agency. William Morris confirmed LeFavor's take, saying they picked the Velvet Elvis because they wanted to do an afternoon show. As for claims that LeFavor made a "screaming banshee" phone call to the agency about the decision (a claim that LeFavor also disputes), William Morris' Robbie Frasier had this to say: "She called to fight for the show, like any promoter would. After I explained why the Melvins had gone with the Velvet Elvis--that they wanted to do something different--then she was fine with it. As far as bitching and moaning goes, in my world, that's just normal business."
