It has been a LONG TIME since I recorded any music, several years, actually. This is a shame, because I really like recording music very much. It's a process of fair challenge (I'm not a great musician in any way, nor have a studio) and sparky delight when something creative actually gets DONE, instead of other boring stuff like putting away the dishes or scooping cat poop.
So, this came about because I am a giant drooling fan of this rather obscure 45 from 1966 by The Deadbeats on Gray Ant Records (written by a couple of cool kids named Ricky Maske and Bobby Coleman). It sold approximately nothing at the time, and there's a copy of it up now at Discogs for 600 bucks if you are a cooler Paul Allen. It's my favorite combo: dirty guitar, Beatle-y melody, sweet harmonies, quirky snare drum timing, and a relentless beat. My 2018 take on it adds some weird honky synth, a hear-able bass line, and relentless handclaps.
A song also needs a video so I chose another era-appropriate fave to pull from: the classic star-crossed pair of Batman and Catwoman, from the original TV series, because I RECOGNIZE NO OTHER BATMAN OR CATWOMAN OTHER THAN ADAM WEST AND JULIE NEWMAR! Sorry for the caps; I'm pretty vibrant in my feelings about this. Please to enjoy and go do some art or music or whatever you find fun!
(For the second year, my son, writer Evan "The Exterminator" Spellman and myself, photographer Blackjack Spellman, team up to bring you coverage of the fabulous musical and wrestling spectacular known in short as "Rager 2." Furthermore, due to Blackjack being felled mid-event by finishing-move-style heatstroke, the rest of the visuals for the show, edited into the YouTube video below, are provided by the very generous courtesy of the following attendees: Grace Sullivan, Ernie Fuglevand, Alfred Martinez, Kirsten Ballweg, Ben Winchell, Melissa Gonzalez, Jamie Felton, Jen Knight, and Stallion's own Mr. Dynamite. You guys saved the day here -- THANK YOU for your tag team action! Click on the photos to enlarge, click on the Flickr photo links for more, please to enjoy and share, and see you suckas at Rager 3! -- Blackjack)
It's almost time for the wildest, craziest, rockin'-est event the Pacific Northwest area has ever seen, and you had better GET YOUR ASSES IN GEAR! Yes, the 2nd Annual Backyard Bunkhouse BBQ Brawl & Rock n' Wrestling Rager is BACK on Saturday, July 28, 2018, hosted again by NWA World Champions of Rock n' Roll, Stallion! This year, this premiere music and pro wrestling spectacle will be held outside the legendary Randy's Restaurant, located at 10016 E. Marginal Way S in Tukwila, Washington, conveniently close to Seattle's Sea-Tac International Airport, for those attendees jetting in from parts unknown. Randy's is on the Metro Bus #124 line, for those attendees coming from parts known.
BACK OFF, FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH! You've got nothing on me! I had Super Show Powers at Beacon Hill's swingin' Clock-Out Lounge with Tissue, The Fall-Outs, and The Intelligence! Only the best of luck was in place for this live music event, where I split myself into three separate content-capturing whirls of space energy -- still photos, video, and audio -- because I love you that much. I have now pasted myself back together with rubber cement and carpet tacks in order to bring said content to this public forum. Click on the photos to enlarge, click on the Flickr set links for more, click on the video to play it, click click click click click click click, and please to enjoy!
Sometimes I come across vintage film footage that cries out, nay, BEGS AND PLEADS to be repurposed into a fresh, modern application. This very thing happened last week as I was combing the Seattle Municipal Archives on the YouTube and found a fantastic business training animation from 1959. Its jittery modernist style, linear and surreal, immediately brought to my mind professional musician Lars Finberg, and his superb 2017 album on In The Red Records, "Moonlight Over Bakersfield." Might there be a song there that would lend itself to a pair with a thoughtfully-edited version of this wild training film? Oh yes, oh yes, yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes. (Why I just did that will make sense to you soon.)
It's time for more wonders from wanders to local thrift incubators and antique muskholes! My cellular communication device and I bring these curiosities to you free of charge, although if I had been charging for this service over the last 10 years, perhaps I would be wealthy enough to buy all these things and have my own Vintage Gawkery. Click on each photo to enlarge and please to enjoy!
Post Punk? Pre Punk? No Wave? Nein Wave? Avant Garde? Savant Garde? Phhhhht, I say, to labels, on my way to see legendary/infamous X__X (Ex Blank Ex) on their nationwide tour, and Seattle's own Tissue and DYED at the good ol' Funhouse. On this night I am treated to humans in their '20s to humans in their retirement years (haha, just joking, no one gets to retire anymore!) taking genres and booting them out the Funhouse door, any expectations landing with an inglorious splat onto I-5. A small but enthusiastic crowd cheered on each set while I took pictures for you. Extra-special thanks to X__X's Craig Bell!
Please check out each band via the links above, support live music, and click on each photo to enlarge and click on the Flickr set links for more. Click on and please to enjoy!
What do you do when the building that hosts your supercool Seattle printing business/performance space is going to be TORN DOWN by developers within days? You host a couple of fun show nights, that's what, and say bye bye in smashing style. Ink Knife Press will survive n' thrive close by, which is great news, as so many creative businesses and artists are feeling the effects of our area's real estate frenzy and leaving for far-away digs that won't leave them in constant panic that they won't be able to cover the ever-increasing rents. ANYWAY, I was able to attend last Friday night's bash, brought my camera, and now I share this visually-informative post with YOU. Please to enjoy. (Click on the photos to enlarge and click on the Flickr set links for more and such!)
I'm Marianne Spellman. I am in Seattle-ish. I like and make music and words and photos and videos and coffee and have crappy eyesight, like every other blogger. I do freelance thingies for cool people and places every so often.
How To Choose A Democrat Nominee For President in 2020: 1. Candidate Aligns With Your Personal Values 2. Candidate Is Personable and Well-Funded 3. Candidate Is Maybe Not An Old White Man 4. Candidate Is Of Fine Character 5. The Person Who Will Beat The Orange Moron So Thoroughly That He Will Deflate Into A Gooey Melted Circus Peanut
"Twenty Feet From Stardom" film (June 4, 2013 via Facebook): "We love this review!!"
Ko Melina, The Dirtbombs, SIRIUS XM Underground Garage DJ (September 6, 2012, via Twitter): "Awesome #Bumbershoot photos of the @DirtbombsBand by @mariannesp..."
Kathy Valentine, The Go-Gos (August 23, 2011, via Twitter):
"Cool blog review & candid concert pics that capture the day perfectly!"
Bill Oglesby , Saxophonist, "Coronado," Deerhunter, Halcyon Digest (February 16, 2011, via YouTube):
"Hi Marianne, I'm the sax player on this cut and I've been enjoying this wonderful video collage that you put together for months.
I consider it quite an honor that you chose Illinois Jacquet to represent me not that I would compare my playing to his in any way, but Jacquet was a real soul-cat.
Thank you."
Keith Gordon, Co-Star & WM BFF, "Winnebago Man" (July 11, 2010, via Facebook):
Without doubt, the BEST and only original music with 'Bago bytes remix ever done. So this is what I get to hear swirling around in my head for the next few days? Welcome aboard; I'm delighted!"
Joel Heller, Producer, "Winnebago Man" (July 11, 2010, via Facebook):
"We love your song Marianne."
Ira Robbins, Trouser Press (March 20, 2010, via Facebook):
"great piece of writing. i liked the film better and the band less, but no matter. this is top-notch cultural criticism. give this woman a job!"
Chris Walter (Feb. 15, 2010, via Diarrhea Island):
"Nice piece, thank you. And thanks to Graham. I think all the photographers had a great time up there, it is an excellent book and exhibition.
Thanks
Chris"
Graham Nash (Feb. 8, 2010, via Diarrhea Island):
"Thanks so much for your very perceptive review of the show at the EMP...... Let's not forget to give thanks to Paul Allen and the people of Seattle for supporting the arts....
Again, well done."
John Cleese (Nov. 4, 2009, via Facebook):
"Nice review of the show by a real person."
God (Aug. 28, 2009, via Twitter):
"Listen, honey, if you weren't a chick you would so be smote right now."
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