The Battista Brothers at Mr. Villa 4-16-12

I had to give up my table. When the place is packed, customers waiting at the door; a decent guy just has to get up and let someone else sit. My wife and I were done with dinner. We didn't have any more excuses. There is no place to stand so we left.

The owner was pleading with us to stay, she was so sweet. She understands the need to hear great music. She is a huge Battista fan. She made sure I knew The JerKels were playing at her other restaurant, El Norte. We both had slobbered all over Jerry, but I knew I had to man-up.

See El Norte here: http://elnorteloungeseattle.com/

I was a waiter, I know that turnover is the name of the game. We used to call folks that sat around after they were done with dinner campers. "they're starting a fire on table 9, getting out the marshmallows!" I wasn't going to be that guy.

As much as I wanted to hang around, Mrs. Ghia and I headed out the door. We thanked Jerry and his brother, left him some dollars and went home. Sniff.

I had seen Jerry's post on Facebook earlier in the day, he and his bro would be at Mr. Villa in Lake City. Jerry and his brother Jeff play there two Mondays a week; the 2nd and 4th. I hadn't been up there in a while, I emailed the wife and made plans to see The Battista Brothers at Mr. Villa in Lake City.

See Mr. Villa here: http://mrvillaseattle.com/

Jerry plays the sweetest guitar, he is a master and obviously loves to play. He has been named Seattle's Best Guitarist by The Weekly. I have seen him in 3 of the many bands he is a member. I have seen him sitting in for vacationing guitarists. And I have seen him absolutely rock. So seeing him playing lounge music in a tiny little restaurant was fun.

They started with a beautiful Santana tune, a brotherly guitar duo. It was gorgeous, melted me and Mrs. Ghia. It was weird tho, here was Seattle's Best Guitarist playing to a roomful of people stuffing their faces.

I looked at my wife and said, "Murph and the Magic Tones" she replied "don't go changing" Ha! She is sharp. This of course is from The Blues Brothers Movie. As in the movie, here was two great musicians playing wonderful music to a barely interested crowd. I have the best pic illustrating this very statement.

Jerry and his brother Jeff sing beautiful harmonies; trading lead vocals they meshed perfectly. Nobody does it like kin. They both are playing great licks and singing, having fun and entertaining those of us who could appreciate it.

I love both the owners of Mr. Villa; they are special to set aside a couple tables that could be making dollars to the artists. They appreciate good music and the smile that it brings to your heart.

I have to add a plug for my favorite dish at Mr. Villa. I call them "crack tacos", on the menu it is called Tacos al Carbon. Try them and you will see why they have that name. Mmmmm, drool; Jonse-on for them right now. Oh, add Pico de gallo, spicy. Ai yi yi!

Great music is accessible and cheap. Try it, you won't be able to stop. You can even get a great taco and an adult beverage in the doing; feeding the soul, the mind and the body...

Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything-Plato

We got 45 minutes of The Battista Brother's beautiful music. It is so cool that Jerry and his brother get out and play in little cafes like this. Jerry plays 4-5 days a week, you can see a Seattle Treasure tonight! Worship Jerry here: https://www.facebook.com/jerry.battista

Jerry gave me one last smile for the ride home (look just above the m).

Sorry about the lousy pics, lousy light...

The Rugcutters Bash with The Black Crabs, Lucky Lawrence and the Souvenirs and Louis Ledford at Darrell's 4-14-12

I gotta learn to dance.

Last night the dance floor was the place to be. Starting with the first act the kiddies were up and swinging. After all this was the Rugcutters Bash, cut a rug!

You wouldn't expect dancing during a folksy-style one guitar and one percussion set but there it was. Louis was rocking and the kiddies, hungry to move their feet just had to dance.

There were some great dancers tonight. Jonathon of the Crabs is a marvelous dancer. He oils his way around the floor with a myriad of gorgeous girls. He has the best moves and always has a smile on his face. Makes me smile.

I saw a familiar guy that was tearing it up with a girl in a white full dress. They made quite the scene as he spun her around like a top. Oh yeah, this is the guy that spun his partner so hard that she lost her glasses. It was at Conor Byrne a month ago, I told him then that I loved to watch him dance. I told him again tonight how fun he was to watch.

The dance floor was full of marvelous dancing for all three bands, it is so great to see Jonathon's event turn into such a success. This was the place to be, to dance and to hear the best Rockabilly and Country on this lovely spring evening.

Yeah, I gotta learn to dance.

Oh there is one more note of interest. The Hot Rollers, an all girl trio featuring Kirsten is getting back together for some shows. Scott, the magic behind the great sound at Darrell's told me to look for their show. This is not to be missed. I believe it is April 27th at Darrell's. You can bet I will be there. See The Hot Rollers here: http://www.myspace.com/thehotrollers

See Darrell's calendar here:http://www.darrellstavern.com/

Tom Forster came all the way down from B'ham to play with the Crabs of course, but he was also sitting in with the first act. I had seen Tom play all night with several acts before so it didn't surprise me to see him back there. He is a stellar percussionist and a genuinely nice guy, just the kind of guy you would want as a partner. I knew that Lucky had his own drummer so Tom would only be doing double duty.

On to the great music of the evening, first up was Louis Ledford and as I said before Tom was backing him up on the drums. The crowd was large and Louis had a fairly big challenge getting their attention. It turned out he didn't need my concern, he did just fine.

He had a masterful command of his guitar and adding killer vocals he won over the crowd. He connected with me right away. His songs were sung from the heart with all the passion he had. You can see him singing on the porch with a bunch of friends, passing the jug and petting the dog. I guess you could call it folk with overtones of country and rock. Great original music.

He was comfortable on stage as he sang vocal with simple but beautiful guitar work. He played harmonica on occasion but was best singing his wonderful original lyrics. His set had the crowd up and moving, a great way to start the evening.

Louis did a killer version of Stagger Lee, a total original arrangement..."I'm a very a bad man" he sang. His last tune had a flashback to this tune sung some time earlier, a nice touch and a magical ending to this great set.

I was fortunate enough to purchase a CD from him and also got a chance to talk with him over a beer. He is originally from New Orleans, relocating to the NW recently. Super talented and a nice guy. See him here: http://www.louisledford.com/

The good times were just starting though; I had been looking forward to this evening for a long time, every since Johnny scheduled it. There is no better recipe for success than The Crabs, The Souvenirs and Scott at Darrell's. Intimate, hot, musty and that is the start of the list of goodies at this wonderful neighborhood tavern. The windows are steaming over as the kiddies were pouring in the door last night. The word is getting out, the Bash is always a fun night.

Scott tunes the mix perfectly, the musicians can hear themselves and it sounds great every time I have been there. Scott is great guy, he and I yacked several times last night. He keeps me informed as to the upcoming bills and interesting tidbits of info. Darrell's is my default destination.

The Black Crabs took the stage and started delivering their great music; Tom again on drums, Jonathon playing his beautiful Gretsch and Kirsten on a gorgeous blonde double bass.

The Crabs are one of my favorite all time bands. I have had their music for a couple years and have seen them multiple times. I have reviewed many times and if you want to see how obsessed I am with them you can read it here. I am sure it will be used against me in a court of law sometime soon.
http://liveseattlemusicintheclubs.blogspot.com/2012/03/blacktop-denizens-at-slims-last.html
http://liveseattlemusicintheclubs.blogspot.com/2012/02/friends-of-knucklehead-at-high-dive.html
http://liveseattlemusicintheclubs.blogspot.com/2012/01/ragcutters-bash-at-darrells-1-20-12.html

I was loving the mix tonight; they started with familiar tunes and covers but soon started playing some of the new music they are currently recording. True heaven for a Black Crab fan. They played all my favorites and introduced some of my future favorites. Kirsten sang lead on a tune, Tom is adding backup vocals Johnny is killing his guitar.  And I am in nirvana. Ommmm....

I was pleased to see my friend Michelle walk through the door with some of her buddies. She lived in Edmonds and this was a nice close location for some live music. I told her about this group, I hope she enjoyed the Crabs as much as I did.

 
I will always go out of my way to see them perform. Tonight was special, but not just because of the Crabs, Johnny got Lucky and his band to leave their mountain hidey-hole for a night. Lucky and The Souvenirs, from Roslyn are also one of my favorite bands. And they were up next.

;

The set by The Crabs exhausted me. I had danced the whole time and I was biffed. My shirt was sticking to my clammy flesh. Now that I have grown my hair out it was stringy and wet. My feet were killing me but the fun had just begun. I rallied just in time to see Lucky take the stage.

I have seen Lucky several times, this is another set of talented musicians that I will drop everything to see. I once paid premium cover to see him open for The Dusty 45's. I left after The Souvenirs set. Don't get me wrong, I love Billy Jo, Jerry and the rest of the 45's, but this was a Lucky evening. I have reviewed them before, you can read it here:
http://liveseattlemusicintheclubs.blogspot.com/2012/02/lucky-lawrence-and-souvenirs-with.html

I saw him at the Rockabilly Ball and fell in love, I have listened to his CD so many times I know all the words to the lyrics by heart.

Lucky has a beautifully smooth full voice. His band compliments him perfectly. Randy plays both pedal steel and solid body guitar. I saw him earlier in the crowd and told him how much I was looking forward to seeing him.

Tonight Randy divided up his guitar lessons fairly evenly between the two. I must say I love him most when he is sitting, but he is a master at both. I closed my eyes in bliss during his solo on King of Heartache, the title track to the last Souvenirs CD. He is one of my favorite guitarists.

Like the Crabs, Lucky and his guys were playing some new music. I had seen them at Slim's a month and a half earlier and heard a lot of the new tunes. This was time to get reacquainted with the old and reintroduced to the new.

The Souvenirs play a wonderful original brand of Country/rock. The steel of course gives the country fried flavor, but that is not the only influence. The Jack on bass is rocking and laying down the killer bottom. Along with Perry, the great drummer they are the anchors to this marvelous band.

They are great rockers, you can't sit still during Lucky's set. The dance floor was packed, I was up there moving just like everybody.

I am listening to Anna Marie (off the King of Heartache CD) as I write, I recall it's impact on me last night; I was lost. Lucky crooning, the band rocking behind him; it doesn't get any better than this.
 
I can't wait for the new CD.

Thank you to Darrel's and Scott for having one of the best venues in town for live music. Thanks to Jonathon for putting together this great bill, one of my all time favorites. Thanks to the musicians for their passion and dedication to their art.

I feel privileged to have been a witness to the magic that happened last night. It cost me all of 6 bucks to get into the door. This was the best bargain on the planet.

See some live music soon, support your local artist.

I Can Lick any Son of a Bitch in the House, Arliss Nancy and The Riffbrokers at Slims Last Chance 4-13-12

I Can Lick any Son of a Bitch in the House.

I'll bet I said it 10 times on Friday. My work peeps know I go out to see live music. They always ask where I am going, I can lick any son of a bitch in the house was my reply. I loved saying it, it always got a great response. I was like Bart in the Simpsons when asked by Homer what he learned in Sunday school. He said "Hell". BART! yelled Homer, "but that's what we learned about, Hell, hell, hell..."

I Can Lick any Son of a Bitch in the House. I love the sound.

And they lived up to expectations; by the end of their set I was battered and bruised, more of that later.

As I perused the offerings for Friday night this show stood out. There were a lot of good bands but based on past experience I chose Slims Last Chance for the destination du jour. They have good food, good bar, great atmosphere, intimate band experience and Jim. If Jim is at the controls all is well. The musicians are happy, the crowd can hear every subtle sound, and it will never be too loud. I saw Dave of ICLASOBITH blowing him kisses during their set. He is a pro. I always tell Jim how much I appreciate his work.

First up was The Riffbrokers, a local Seattle band with roots in Boise. 4 talented musicians; they played a mix of genres. I heard twang, punk, pop with a hint of the Crawdaddy's. Heather on bass and singing back-up vocals along with her hubby Nick on lead and lead vocals made beautiful music. Nick has a great voice and the combo reminded me of many wonderful duos. At one point I looked up through my fuzzy eyes and saw Exene Cervenka of X, her harmony reminding me of same.

The married couple along with Chris on the guitar and Dan on drums make up this long lived band. They had all the earmarks of longevity, great tight sound, killer guitar solos, rocking rhythm that got us up and dancing. A marvelous quartet that knew how to please and did just that.

The two guys on guitar traded lead; Chris taking most of the first part of the show and Nick assuming control at the end. Both were accomplished musicians. Chris was laying down some very tasty licks on tunes that had Beatles influences. There was some folk mixed in there too.

When it came right down to it this was just great rock and roll. They were all talented artist and played with great passion and technical skill.

I am not sure what I was expecting to see tonight but The Riffbrokers surpassed my expectations. I loved this band and will look for them again. I was disappointed that I didn't see any CD's for sale. They mentioned they have music; I would like to support them as best I can.

See them here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Riffbrokers/46288759524

 Arliss Nancy was up next. I had seen their rig out front; they were obviously on the road. A small utility trailer was being pulled by a customized van. This was their world, that and all the stages, hotels, restaurants and pavement between here and Fort Collins Colorado. It must be a hell of an experience living out of a car. I am sure glad they came by Seattle.

Cory on guitar and vocals, Dominic on drums, Chris on keyboards and vocals, Kyle on bass and vocals, and Jason on guitar and vocals make up this killer band. From the first lick they had me. I was standing next to the sound board and I turned to Jim to see if he was enjoying it as much as I was. He smiled and opened his eyes as if to say, wow.

Right off the bat the drummer broke the foot pedal for his bass. The musicians in the other bands put down their tall PBR's and sprang into action. A new pedal was located and they were back in action. It was fun to watch most all of the other band members scrambling to help one of their own. The brotherhood of live small club musicians. This is one reason I love to do this so much. The community is marvelous.
 

 This band had a very distinctive sound, the keyboard added a lot to the sound. They had many influences. Tom Petty was the obvious first hit; the keyboards again (and the way they were played) were reminiscent of the Heartbreakers. But that was just the first blush, this band was another great rock band with a captivating stage presence. Kyle was so delirious with passion his hat was flying off his head with every song. He finally left it sit.

Cory had a great delivery, sometimes crooning, sometimes growling. He hunched over the mic and sang lead vocals on their very original tunes. He was aided in the vocals by all four of his front-line mates. Kyle sang lead on a couple tunes. The interaction and harmonies were special. My buddy Mark and I agreed they couldn't be pegged and just decided this was killer rock.

I moved up close and got a front row seat to the fun. They were tight and well schooled with their tools. Jason on the lead guitar was killing the solos, he also sang back-up vocals adding great depth to this already rich sound.

 One of my fellow Sbux partners (Kevin) showed up for a couple pints after the Mariners game. He asked me why I came and I told him I see a lot of live music and I had made the decision to come here tonight. I was beaming to Kevin in between tunes..."we chose well".

I absolutely loved these guys. You can see them here. Purchase one of their CD's, they could use the support. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Arliss-Nancy/326784819312

Speaking of which, my regulars know I purchase a lot of music and especially if I can buy straight from the artist. Last night I made my way to the merch table and encountered one of the guys from ICLASOFABITH. He was quite pleased as I purchased all the CD's that were offered. 2 from Arliss Nancy and 4 from them. 2 of the discs I got were out of print and were the last copy's available.

I made my way back to the my seat with my booty and gloated to all of my neighbors on my score. One young gent was all smiles and mentioned that he might have had a part in some of that music. I inquired further about his status and he pulled out 4 of the CD's beaming that he had played on all of them. He picked one out saying how great it was; a drunken session that lead to some dynamite music. We got along famously and Dave was gracious and proud of his band. He thanked me profusely for supporting them.

Funny tho, as it turned out I purchased a display copy of Arliss Nancy's Simple Machines, their new CD. I got home and it felt mighty light, no CD. I am not bummed about losing the dime, they deserve my support. I am bummed I don't have the music. I will have to get the CD online.

 I Can Lick any Son of a Bitch in the House came on like a tsunami. They had been standing around with their fans drinking since 9 and they were ready. I had mentioned to Mark that it might be just the band and us as the place was absolutely empty during the break. But that didn't last long.

This band came with their own crowd of loyal fans. As soon as they hit the stage they were surrounded by love. It was actually kind of funny. There was nobody in the house 2 minutes ago, now if you wanted to see the band you had to move right up close. That is not a problem for me, I love to watch close enough to really experience the band. I tried to blend in with their fans, but it was hard to keep up with them. There were old fat guys grooving, young skinny boys banging heads, older women shaking with the palsy, all absolutely lost in the music.

I tried to get a decent shot of the fans, but they were a blur.

I turned around to see what was going on behind me. That is when I noticed that every lip in the house (except for me and Mark) was voicing the words to every tune. These guys had been around for a while and they had a rabid following covering the whole spectrum of humanity.

And there was a reason why; these guys rocked. My new friend Dave was playing the killer harp. He could make that thing sound like a banshee wail, manipulating the sound with his pedal. He was having a gas. He waved to me from the stage and then went on to melt his harp.

By the second tune Mike looked like Sasquatch. His long hair was matted on his face with sweat, he was hunched over his guitar belting out the vocals. Killer original rocking, moving, music. If you were not up and dancing you were dead. I loved Mike and his passion for his art.

He had me convinced of the sincerity of his words. They started with American Fuck Machine and it went downhill from there. This was a absolute wall of sound. Jim had them dialed in and the place was shakin'.

Handsome Jon was blazing his guitar; singing vocals, his eyes closed adding to the rich sound of this over the top band. He and Mole were trading lead licks, they were one in the madness that is I Can Lick any Son of Bitch in the House.

Flapjack Texas is in the back trying to kill his drum set. He was glowing red as he beat the crap out of the skins. I moved in close to witness; I think he was elevating the whole set with his exuberance.

This was a freaking natural disaster tamed down for public viewing. They beat the shit out of everybody in the short 45 minutes they were on stage. Just when I thought I could escape without any damage, they threw a sucker punch. Scream was screamed by Mike and the boys with an intensity I don't get to see very often. Yikes!

See them here: https://www.facebook.com/icanlickanysobinthehouse

I was impressed. I will be looking for them in the future. I also have 4 CD's so I will continue to be bludgeoned with their brand of belligerence for some time to come. Thanks to I Can Lick any Son of a Bitch in the House for coming up from Portland and kicking our asses. (Ha, I got to say it again).

If you haven't heard Petunia and the Vipers you must. I am just getting deep into their new CD and it a a phenomenal example of Western Swing. Incredible vocal range, kazoo and yodeling; Petunia has it all. Please take my word for it, these guys are incredibly original and fresh. See them here: http://www.petuniamusic.com/

WhiteTrash Whiplash and Blacktop Deceiver at The Horseshoe Tavern in Woodinville 4-7-12

Last week I was reminded of the cultural differences between us Americans and Canadians. It was interesting juxtaposing last Saturday's show with Petunia and the Vipers and this last show at The Horseshoe.

Yes, Petunia rocked but quietly and calmly. He had us all sweating and moving as he cooly tapped his foot and chewed his gum. In vintage style, the lead guitar player Steven sat on his amp, standing only when he played a solo. The band had a wonderful classic vibe, they didn't break a sweat yet they made us all melt. The passion was not missing and neither was the talent. They just rocked in a more genteel way.

This week was the opposite; this was American Music. The names say it all, WhiteTrash Whiplash and Blacktop Deceiver; in your face, in the audience amercun style entertainment.  Prepare to be hit with a big dose of local fun.

Webb O'matic, the drummer of WhiteTrash Whiplash had reminded me of the show via Facebook.  It was in Woodinville at a little road house from the 40's. The Horseshoe Tavern is on the other side of the river from downtown in a little residential neighborhood. I had seen it before but never been in. It is a bit of a throwback. On the revrerbnation website it identified it as a dive bar, capacity 70 persons.

I arrived a little a after 9 and was surprised that there was no cover. I stood in the door like an idiot with a ten in my hand figuring it would just be a matter of time before they got around to absorbing my dollars. Blacktop Deceiver was already on and rocking so after a while I forgot about it and started moving to the music.

The bar was small and would have been comfortable with 70 people in there, as it was there was probably 40 including the bands. This tavern had all the right ingredients; nice long bar, plenty of taps, cocktails, good seating with great views of the band and a friendly and attentive staff. What it lacked was ambiance.

I am a design professional but it wouldn't take a interior designer to know that having two bright kitchen lights in the main part of the bar was a total buzzkill. I spent the night trying to get close to the band and avoid the harsh light. It was the opposite of how it should have been: no light on the band but an awful amount of incandescent light on the drunken bar patrons.

If the bar owners are listening: kill those lights, the neon beer signs will provide enough light to drink by. I think you will find you will sell more drinks if you lose some of the lumens. Then add some simple lighting for the band. Ask one of the bands, they will have a cheap solution.

OK, enough of the lesson. I felt uncomfortable but I wasn't going to leave, there was good music in the air.

Jason on vocals and occasional rhythm guitar, Ron on lead guitar,  Jay on slap bass and Vetala on drums make up Blacktop Deceiver. They play rock, rockabilly with a dose of blues. I had never seen them but heard good things. They had missed the Rugcutters Bash in February because of inclement weather. It snowed like hell and the venue was in North Seattle.

I found that their sound was raw, stripped and naked; classic rockabilly style. Many times it was a sparse but rocking sound that made you move, dance and feel good. Jason sang vocals, he had a rough voice and sang the original lyrics with passion. He did have a guitar hanging around his neck and played rhythm on occasion.

Jason had a good rapport with the audience and there were folks in the crowd who were there just to see them. There was a birthday party and a bunch of rockabilly clad fans were there and trying to have fun in the blaring light. OK, I added that last part, they didn't seem bothered by the lights, they were dancing and carrying on like it didn't matter...

Ron's lead was perfect, he played marvelous solos as Jay banged the doghouse and Vetala grooved on the skins. They all had a chance to add their own touches of talent.

Jay spun his beautiful blonde bass and managed to get the biggest sound out of it. He had huge muscular arms that were decorated with colorful tattoos. He sang vocals and was a source of jokes throughout the set.

Ron was quietly picking, strumming and caressing his gorgeous hollow body guitar. He was happy to sit back and bless us with his wonderful gift. Vetala was in the back keeping the band honest and added some creative beats to the mix.

Blacktop Deceiver was good comfort music that left you smiling and wanting for more. They have a CD coming out in the fall. These are great local musicians that deserve our support. See them here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Blacktop-Deceiver/164392150258146

After a short break, WhiteTrash Whiplash hit the stage. I loved them before and I knew I would love them again. When I saw that the lead singer had donned a sequined top coat I knew we were in for some fun.

This is a band that knows how to make the audience crazy. The last show I saw, they had the crowd on stage with them from the first lick. They are killer entertainers. I mean this band has a guy who has a whiskey filled gun and knows how to use it.  Top that.

Unfortunately his first shot ended up in his rhythm guitar players ear...you have to be prepared when facing the gun.

Matt "Cheeder" is on vocals and the one who had the good taste to wear his formal glitter jacket with tails. It was appropriate dress for the occasion.  He made the most out of it and of course had his custom red-neck cowboy hat; he cut a striking figure. He is constantly moving and if you didn't know it you would think he had St. Vitus Dance...best use of a life-threatening illness ever. "I can't stop my leg" he seems to sing.

He had a great voice and singing all original lyrics is the killer front-man for this great local band. Buc is playing lead and singing vocals, Billyclub is also adding vocals and playing bass, Ronnie is mugging and playing rhythm guitar, they make beautiful music together.

Let's get back to the Whiskey gun. I am anxious to discuss innovative ways to deliver adult beverages. The fillings were provided by the bar, we thank the owners for their kind contribution. Next time turn off the lights so we could enjoy it and could you make it single malt Scotch? I will throw you a fiver.

Cheeder circulated among the rockers in the crowd with his power-packed pistol, warning the kiddies to signal if they didn't want the shot. Ronnie was still trying to get the booze out of his ear...let this be a lesson! There is just something about a crazed rocker in a cowboy hat that has been manipulated to what appears to be something out of the revolutionary war, in a golder glitter top coat with a multicolored squirt gun in his hand. Why yes, yes I will have a squirt!

The talent of the band shines on the original tunes they crank out with passion and energy.  Webb is in the back performing his brand of magic on percussion. He effortlessly plays creative and original beats keeping the band steady. I love to watch him work/play.

Ronnie is having a blast on rhythm; he is always moving and rocking. He reminds me why I love coming to see this band play. He isn't getting squat to do this, he is doing this to have fun and for the love of live music.

Billyclub plays the bass, anchoring the band, laying the ground work but with a creative bend. He adds vocals and a lot of humor. This is another fun guy having a good time. Lucky us that he is willing to share.

Buc plays lead and well, never stops moving. Not content to stay on stage with his mates, he melts his guitar in the aisle, on the tables and in your face. A talented artist, he moves, bobs, weaves and stomps his way through these great tunes. Buc provides wonderful theater and his solos are the best; the boy knows his way around six strings. He towered over us while standing on the tables, we were sure to pay attention.

I was just getting a groove around 11:30 when they announced that the next song was their last. I was sick, going on two, shit three weeks now. I was taking medications and I was really spaced. The bright lights didn't help the funk (oh I know, get over it) but I was over the worst (I hope) and ready for more.

Luckily they had CD's for sale. Regular readers will know I am a big supporter of local music and I will always buy the music from the band. It is the best way to support the artist and I had the benefit of listening a to WTW all the way home.

See WhiteTrash Whiplash and buy their music. Here is a link to their website: https://www.facebook.com/pages/WhiteTrash-WhipLash/129890887031792

This was a great night, super upfront and personal experience with the musicians. Webb tells me there are more shows in the near future. When I need an atta boy, I will look for the WhiteTrash Whiplash brand of energy.

I came out of the bar and looked down the street. There was what appeared to be a very large street light. I did a double-take, it turned out to be the moon low and full. Pretty cool.

Petunia and The Vipers at The Anchor 3-31-12

Facebook is a marvelous tool. I connect daily to talk with friends, research bands, find amazing new information and post my blogs. It is really a phenomenal way to stay in touch with your world. And you can choose the world you want to participate in; don't like your old school mates religious posts...toast! And if you choose to worship your favorite people in a semi-anonymous fashion, you can do that too.

I have Facebook friends that are big in the music scene, people like Sweet Pea, Roy Kay and Johnny Stuart have their pulse on the rockabilly events in town. They also drive some of the best shows that grace the small clubs here in Seattle. I always pay attention to their recommendations.

So when I saw a post by Roy mid-day on Friday I took notice. He had noted the Rosie Flores show at Slim's on Friday night and a show at The Anchor on Saturday night. Petunia and the Vipers? Who was this girl and why was she playing with snakes?

I had committed to see a show that had some of my fellow employees at The Mars Bar. The Jimmystuarts and Killing Jenny were going to rock the house, I was looking forward to it and then Roy upset the apple cart.

I took one look online at Petunia, quickly discovered that she was a he and that this was going to be a special show...in Everett.

It is a long slog to Everett 30+ miles north of big town and I live in North Seattle. It is all freeway and so it wasn't an especially challenging drive. But hey, anytime you get in your car after 9 in the evening you never know what you may see. I don't drink anything of consequence...I may have a beer. As I drive I pretend that there is a cop driving right behind me. I occasionally wave and he waves back...we have an understanding. I stay between the lines and never speed and he escorts me safely to and from my event. Thank you imaginary gendarme.

On Friday nights I prep with Shake the Shack; the best of rockabilly, R&B, surf, and boogie woogie. Leon and Mike put me in the mood to move, by the time I hit the bar I am already in the groove.

I have a totally different ritual on Saturday night. After watching a comedy movie with the family (usually something like Blazing Saddles, Young Frankenstein or The Producers [can anyone see the common link in those?]), I get in the car and head to the chosen show. I always tune into The Swing Years hosted by Amanda Wilde on KUOW 94.9 FM.

I am a baby boomer; my mom hummed everything from Elvis to Glen Miller. She was an artist and music lover so we always had great music in the house. In the 50's she loved Big Band and Swing. So hearing Amanda spin the same on Saturday night is refreshing and nostalgic. I love to go out to the car at a break during a punk show and listen to Wilde Amanda. I had to text her when I was at a show, it was between The Mothers Anger and Brett Netson as I sat in my car and listened to Over The Rainbow, it as just so surreal. She got a big kick out of it, noting that she liked to juxtapose different music genres herself.

The long drive to BF Egypt gave me the chance to get a big dose of Swing. She played Fats Waller, Frank Sinatra, Xavier Cugat, Artie Shaw, Rosemary Clooney and many other greats. These are the roots of what we are listening to today.

They are having a Pledge-Drive this week. I made sure to pledge in support of Amanda and The Swing Years. I am a big supporter of public radio, I am a member of KUOW, KBCS, KEXP, KPLU and contribute to NW Public Radio. I also purchase every cd I can from the bands I see. Support the things that are important to you and to the community at large. See Amanda here: http://www.kuow.org/swing_years.php

Everett has grown up since the last time I was there. I had to drive through the center of town to get to The Anchor, this is a big town now; large skyscrapers and lots of retail. There were a lot of clubs too; the bars were full, parking spaces packed.

The Anchor is an ancient establishment on the other side of the tracks. Well not quite on the other side, more like right on top of them. As I pulled up I couldn't help but notice the 75 plus motorcycles on the other side of the street. It was a cool neighborhood and The Anchor has served the roughnecks that worked in the Port and related business for decades. Its is now a really cool bar and a great venue for music.

See them here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Anchor-Pub/106320855010

The crowd was good, a lot of pretty girls dressed to the nines. Some wore big full skirts, some in tight 50's style skirts. I took note of some regular rockabilly dancing fans that I see at a lot of places in the city. And of course Roy was there in his signature jean jacket and cowboy boots dancing with all the cute girls.

Petunia and the Vipers took the stage; 5 guys who had the everybody paying very close attention. He doesn't come this way often and the kiddies were ready for him. Petunia yodels, plays kazoo, hoots and yelps, plays guitar and sings in a beautiful candy coated voice. His band is a collection of killer musicians; the Vipers are Steven on lead guitar, Jimmy on lap steel, Marc on percussion and either Sam, Patrick or James on stand-up bass (there are 3 listed on his Facebook page).

They reminded me of Ray Condo and The Ricochets right off the bat. They are from BC, and you know our neighbors to the north have a different vibe; in my mind a classier but more relaxed view of life.

The other reason they reminded me of Ray was that here were 2 band members from Rays old group, The Ricochets. Jimmy and Stephen were mates of Rays when he passed away in 2004. I felt privileged to see them here in the Seattle area.

Billed as playing Canadian roots, Rockabilly and Western Swing, their set started off with a mellow instrumental. Petunia eyes down and chewing gum, Jimmy looking down at his lap steel, Steven taking it easy sitting on his amp, the standup bass (name please, use comments below, thx) eyes closed, gently stroking the doghouse, and the drummer barely touching the skins with his brushes; this was a really quiet way to start this show. I expected a wild eyed Canuck that would be all over the stage in true rockabilly style. Instead this was Ray Condo Light; technically lovely classic western swing for the nap hour.

Keeping it mellow but killer, they took a break 4 songs into the set. Apparently they had some kind of technical problems and as they tried to find the solution they cracked some eardrums. I was glad to be standing off to the side.

Petunia and the boys made it back to the stage and with renewed vigor started hitting all my buttons. Petunia sang a high lonesome voice as his band mates made beautiful music behind him. Jimmy played some spectacular licks on his Fender Lap-Steel trading off with the very talented lead Steven.

As an example of the notion that they had a little classier and classic tone, Steven stood during his solos, sitting down after in deference to his fellow babies. The more they played, the better they got and the happier I was. My feet started moving, my big butt started swaying and I got up to do a little hip shaking. As it happened Petunia played a great version of Shake Your Hips, made famous by the Rolling Stones. I was sold and so was Petunia; his hair now falling in his face, the band rocking and the dance floor filled.

I loved the stand-up bass player, an obviously classically educated musician he kept a bow close at hand. He alternately stroked, plucked and sawed at his doghouse. He was great and even mugged for my camera.

Just when I thought that they were finally channeling Ray Condo, they played a Ray Condo tune. Better or equal to Ray's version he was having his way with us. The whole place was in his hands; we were his willing slaves.

The second set made up for the technically shortened first one. They kept up the dynamite music and made me crazy 'til just short of midnight. The lead guitar was making some great sounds with his guitar; groans and grunts I had never heard before. Jimmy was killing the steel, the crowd applauded after each solo. And Petunia was just warming up, he was a one of a kind original.

See Petunia and his great band here: http://www.petuniamusic.com/Petunia.htm

I cannot remember a funner show from a unknown (to me), I had already ordered his new cd online so I left happily knowing I would have more of Petunia and his mates for my very own. They were taking a short break but I was done having been up till 2 the evening before and having worked a major portion of the day.

I hope to see him again soon; I thanked Roy for the tip on the way out, got in my car, waved to my personal sheriff and headed home. Life is very good.