I feel pretty blessed that I get to live in Seattle. It’s such a beautiful city and there is always all sorts of awesome crap happening all the time. It is almost impossible to be bored. Here is some stuff that I am looking forward to in the upcoming weeks. Hooray!
Third Annual Come Together For the Planet — A Tribute to John Lennon
10/9 | Columbia City Theatre
This night features the MOTHER LOAD of Seattle musical talent all coming together to celebrate the great John Lennon’s birthday. Each act will be playing a John Lennon song or two as well as a few of their own. OMG! Look at at all these folks. Should be a great show!
C-Leb & the Kettle Black
Norman Baker & the Backroads
Home Sweet Home
Mother of Pearl
RL Heyer’s Sweet Action
Thaddilac
Cracker Factory
Sunshine Junkies
Tekla Waterfield & the Sweet Nothings
Mts & Tunnels
Welcome Strangers
Eric Miller
Kathy Moore
Ryan Devlin
Amanda Hardy
Ethan Anderson
Andrew Vait
Austin Kleon
10/13 | Town Hall Seattle | 7:30pm
Austin Kleon is the author of one of my all time favorite books Steal Like An Artist. It’s all about the creative process and how to really get in touch with the artistic side of yourself that often gets neglected in everyday life. The basic premise of the book is that nothing out there is truly original. Once you accept that fact, you can embrace it and steal things from people you admire and eventually make those things your own. It’s great and short. I’ve read it many times. It really comes in handy when I’m feeling like a fraud because all my ideas suck balls. This book helps me realize that no, not all my ideas suck balls and I am actually good at stuff.
He also writes a really cool newsletter once a week. You can sign up for that here. It’s one of the few emails I look forward to getting. It will be a great thrill to see Austin Kleon speak in person.
The Spinning Whips
Hobosexual
10/16 | The Tractor
If you want to get your face rocked the fuck off then this is the show for you. The Spinning Whips and Hobosexual are easily the two most hardest rocking bands in town. Holy Shit! Who knows what’s gonna happen!
Also, The Spinning Whips just recorded a new album called Season of the Whip. Go buy it!
2 Chainz
10/24 | Showbox Sodo
Ok. You got met. That’s not 2 Chainz in the picture above. That’s a picture of me photoshopped onto 2 Chainz’ chains. Seriously though, I love me some 2 Chainz. I mean, have you heard the Fast and Furious 6 theme song?!! It is awesome! 2 Chainz!
And here is 2 Chainz riding a Segway. 2 Chainz!
And here he is on the red carpet at the 2013 MTV music awards. Looking good in those chainz! 2 Chainz!
2 Chainz!
Literary Mixer
10/27 | The Hideout
This is a cool event that happens once every quarter. A bunch of folks gather around in one place to booze it up and talk about books, music and art, cats, or whatever…
“Like all the best ideas, this one is simple: bring your favorite book, have your favorite drink, and meet people who will make your evening great. And yes, we’ll even let you in with an e-reader.”
It’s a great place to have a good time and make new friends. Here I am at a recent Literary Mixer event. That pretty lady thinks that I’m really interesting, can you tell?
Jeff Grant & Friends
10/29 | Columbia City Theatre
Jeff Grant of M. Bison fame is a fantastic singer/songwriter and he will be playing some tunes just for you. He will be joined by New Zealand singer/songwriter Anthonnie Tonnon, whom I don’t know, but I imagine he is pretty good. This show is right in my neck of the woods (Columbia City) so the chances are high that I will be ther, or maybe… (see below)
Debbie Miller
10/29 | Hotel Hotel Bar
Photo by Louography – Photography
Did I say that I was going to see Jeff Grant on 10/29? Hold the phone! That also happens to be the same night that singer/songwriter Debbie Miller kicks off her house show tour at Hotel Hotel Bar. Every time I see her I tell her she needs to play more shows, and she says that she plays shows all the time but that I just don’t go to any of them. And then I feel bad. Well, now’s my chance. I’m hoping I can make this one. I don’t even know where Hotel Hotel Bar is. I guess I should figure that out.
Debbie is one of the best Bushwick Book Club Seattle artists and her performances are always memorable. Like this one:
The Bushwick Book Club Presents:
Original Music Inspired by Stephen King’s Carrie
Halloween Prom Night Spectacular featuring Richie Aldente
10/31 | Hale’s Palladium
What are you doing for Halloween this year? This is what I’m doing.
It is a Halloween Prom Night Spectacular! So dress up and be ready to get down! There will be prizes, photos, candy, costumes, booze, prom king, prom queen, music, dancing and fun! Not only will your favorite Bushwick artists be performing (including myself), this night also features one of my favorite bands on the planet Richie Aldente. Be ready to dance!
“I’m from the old school and I take my party serious. I get offended if you do not dance.” — Richie Aldente
If you love prom, and love Halloween then this is the show for you!
The Bushwick artists include:
Nate Bogopolsky
Melissa Montalto
Katrina Kope
Mike Votava (That’s me!)
Jimmie Herrod
Tim Kennedy
Jazmarae Beebe
Emmett Montgomery
Evan Peterson
Wes Weddell
It is going to be super fun. I finally have a legitimate reason to wear my baby blue tuxedo again! (As opposed to the times I’ve worn it for illegitimate reasons).
Weird and Awesome with Emmett Montgomery
11/1 | The Annex Theatre
This is the best ongoing comedy/variety show in town. It is held every first Sunday of the month at The Annex Theatre on Capital Hill. Funny man Emmett Montgomery will lead you down a journey full of awesomely weird stuff. It’s always a good time. You should check it out.
Sisters
11/5 | Neumos
I’ve never seen Sisters before but I have seen Andrew Vait play music many times for various projects and that dude is awesome! He is also in Sisters so I have no doubt that they will be awesome too. Neumos is one of the best sounding venues in town (and also one of the harder venues to spell correctly, that “e” before the “u” gets me every time). This show will be off the charts. Real talk.
Mts. & Tunnels
Norman Baker & The Backroads
Tekla Waterfield and The Sweet Nothings
11/13 | The Blue Moon
Rule #1: You can’t play this show unless your band name features an “and” or an ampersand.
Rule #2: You can’t play this show unless your band is awesome.
Rule #3: When you see Country Mike (the Blue Moon’s door guy) standing outside give him a high five or a hug, or both.
Everyone knows that I have a serious crush on Mts. & Tunnels (I’ve written about them before), but the other bands on this bill are solid too. Norman Baker, who also plays bass for Mts & Tunnels, recently put out a sensational alt-rock/country album titled Present Day. His band can really hold down the fort, if you know what I mean. Really cool band to see live.
You also may have recently seen Norman on stage filling in on bass for We Wrote the Book on Connectors. Look at him go!
Opening up the show is the talented Tekla Waterfield. Chances are she can beat you in a singing contest any day of the week. She and her band have recently recorded their debut album. I’m patiently waiting for it be officially released. Should be any day now.
Wes Weddell
11/13 | Hale’s Palladium
Awww shit! It happened again. Two awesome shows on the same night. Thanks a lot, Seattle. What is a boy to do? In this case, however, it’s not that big of a deal. I just looked at the schedule and turns out Wes Wedell starts early at 8pm. I love early sets! When he’s done I can skip on over to the Blue Moon for some Mts. & Tunnels action.
Wes Weddell is a songwriting wizard — constantly conjuring tunes like nobody’s business. He just put out an album titled Nobody’s Flag. It consists entirely of songs he’s written inspired by books (for The Bushwick Book Club Seattle).
I had the honor of being the first person in the universe to purchase his new album. I left a positive review over on his bandcamp page.
Salon of Shame
11/17 | Theatre off Jackson
This is what happens when you go to The Salon of Shame. Adults get on stage and read their old journals/diary entries from their younger days to a packed house full of 200 strangers. Yes, it is as awesome as it sounds. So much fun! It’s perfect for date night with your sweetie.
Warning: The Salon of Shame is super popular and it always sells out in less than 5 minutes after tickets go on sale. Tickets for this upcoming show go on sale on October 25th at 8pm. You better get on that.
Richie Aldente
MoZo
Julia Massey
11/20 | Columbia City Theater
The acoustic folk country rock duo known as MoZo is about to unleash their newest album onto the world. And they brought a few friends along to help them do it right. MoZo, Richie Aldente and Julia Massey — holy crap what a lineup. Shows in Seattle don’t get much better then this.
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Well that’s all I got. Did I miss any good ones? Be sure to let me know, ding dong.
