OlyMusic Experiences

ArtsWalk is a truly terrific event. I love it. There was a nifty article in the Olympian last week...
So I'm trying now to remember all the bands I heard and stuff. There are a bunch! Starting back on Friday... I tried to get downtown in time to hear OldHwy99 outside Capital City Guitars, but I was too late, having had a hard time with leaving a picnic. Walked around a bit, watched the luminated procession, with the giant alligator, and rhino, and everything, listened to a duo on the street singing Neil Young and Beatles tunes that sounded great, and ended up at the Covenant show at the Eastside Club. Those guys play good reggae music, and I always enjoy hearing them. I met a cool guy who is in the band Foque Mopus and he said they were playing over at Le Voyeur, but when I went to check it out, there was ambient electronic, and I didn't see him in the group, so I don't know which band that was, but we had paid a cover to hear Covenant, and we were in a reggae mood, so we went back to the Covenant show until we were tuckered out. The next day I was working from 9AM til 8PM so I missed the Procession of the Species, and probably lots of great music during the daytime. I got downtown a little while after 8 and met my folks in front of Le Voyeur, where the guitarist and drummer from A-Kamp were rocking it out on the sidewalk. There was a good cluster of people dancing, and people dressed up in artistic outfits dancing in the windows of Le Voyeur. There was a sculpture made of a pile of bicycles. I danced some and hung out there for a while. Then walked on down to the 4th Ave Tav for the King Fu, O.N.U., Pummeled show. I was hungry so I got a Kraut Dog and fries, and it was good food. There was a band playing when we got there that had a keyboard and computers set up, it looked like for processing their sound through some software, and they sounded pretty terrific. I didn't catch their name, but I really liked how the keyboard and bass sounded in particular. In one of the last songs they did, the bass sounded kind of like a tuba, and generally they had lots of catchy hooks. If anybody knows their name, please throw it on a comment. I thought they were Pummeled, because I didn't know there were other bands besides the 3 I was expecting. When they were done, Pummeled set up and started to play. They were very loud - we were feeling Pummeled, so we retreated to the front of the bar, where it was still really loud. Then a friend came in and said that Head for the Hills Bluegrass was playing over at El Guaneco, so we decided to walk over there and come back later. While we were walking down the street, Capital City Guitars was cleaning up after the days ArtsRock. We talked with Bob for a little while. That guitar store has lots of very nice guitars - It's always fun to look at all the stuff they have there. We went on to El Guaneco. The place was packed full of people dancing and smiling and smiling and dancing. I squished myself in and smiled and danced and danced and smiled for a good little while. Many of my favorite friends were there already when I arrived - It seems that it is generally accepted and proven that if you enjoy good bluegrass, you will have a terrific time at a Head for the Hills Bluegrass show. A little later on, I went back to the 4th Ave. King Fu was playing. They rocked. I think their music is more energetic than a lot of people know what to do with - I could see there being a mosh pit or something - I felt like being in a stadium would be appropriate - the music is compelling. While not a lot of people were dancing, I could see that the room was full of people watching and listening closely - obviously engaged by the music, and trying to understand what they were experiencing. If you dance to the music, it involves some thrashing or something - it rocks. After King Fu, One Nation Undereducated played. I was blown away by how good they sounded. I've heard them a few times before, and while I have always been impressed by their musicianship and the sounds that they get, some of which I haven't heard anywhere else, their levels have always been off in the past, so that it sounded too loud, and I couldn't understand the words of their songs. This time was different. The levels were perfect as far as I could tell. It was comfortable to listen to and the words were very understandable. I was reminded of Primus at some points where the vocal inflection was similar to things I've heard on Primus tracks. All in all they were just downright terrific. They said they had bootlegs of themselves available, and I went to get one, but Matt said to download the songs from their website. I'm gonna do that sometime soon. I downloaded all their old stuff, but this is new stuff, in the last few weeks. I hope it sounds as sweet as they sounded at the 4th. I'll be super pleased if that's the case, because, I'll say it again, they sounded terrific. There were lots of bouncy things that made people bounce around, and lots of tight quick tempo changes. So then, after that show I went home and slept and slept and then I woke up and did relaxing Sunday activities until it was time to go to the Longhouse at the Evergreen State College for the Joules Graves, Flowmotion, and Taarka show. I love Joules Graves for being who and what she is, earthy, inspired and inspiring. I saw her at Evergreen sharing the show bill with Leftover Salmon a couple years ago, and I was so tired out dancing to her music that I slept through most of the Leftover Salmon set, which I'm sure was good nonetheless. Flowmotion played first, and I enjoyed it. It was pleasing to the ears, and comfortable to move to. Then Joules played starting out with songs with the hand drum and then some a capella, and then some guitar, then more hand drum with a guest, I think it was *Lance Scott* sitting in on another hand drum that was just plain awesome drumming duo, with them playing off of each other in a spontaneous way that made me smile wide - I enjoyed the music very much. I did miss the additional drummers and lead guitar player that played with her at the show a couple years ago, because they raised the energy up a few more notches and helped to get things super cookin'. Joules recently went public about having Multiple Sclerosis, which is a tough thing - in a recent email she put out a call for those who wish to audition to play chords and drive for her so that she can keep touring if it ever becomes impossible for her to form chords. Her music is beautiful, compelling and soulful. Taarka played last, with mandolin, violin, bass and drums/percussion. They play some sweet music. My friend who is a conga player said she missed their old percussionist, because he is amazing. It looks like there are a few different projects going with former and current members of Taarka. I just went to their website and found my way over to Trillian Green mp3s. Flute and percussion and basslines that are nice. Now I am listening and enjoying. Smiles, peace and love. And music.