Bellevue, WA: KBCS 91.3-FM

With the Northwest Folklife Festival looming, the hometown heroes at KBCS are doing their usual slate of preview interviews. I'm here in my capacity as singer/songwriter community coordinator (all the jokes've already happened...) discussing the Emerald City Songwriter Circles--open-to-all, come-and-go gatherings welcoming anyone at the festival to share (or listen to!) an original song, now in their third year--and I've dragged newly-deputized host Vince Martinez with me. We gab for a bit, slide in a plug for The Bushwick Book Club, and then simulate circle rhetoric/etiquette by each leading the other through sharing a song. Get in, get out, leave 'em wanting...

Seattle, WA: Chop Suey (Bushwick Book Club - Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman)

I mentioned these shows at the gig last night and a fellow came up to me during the break to share that he'd taken classes from the inimitable Feynman at Cornell. Really strong show!

Photo: Mark Blasco

Pasco, WA: Three Rivers Folklife Society

It's bittersweet, really, the way this career has you constantly leaving people and places you enjoy for more of the same someplace else. So it goes, then, as I spend my morning in Gresham, OR, at Mt. Hood Community College's Northwest Vocal Jazz Festival backing (and ostensibly chaperoning) Brian Hoskins' talented Lindbergh High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble. And then--whoosh!--down the road in a cloud of smoke to the Tri-Cities, home to the annual treat that is the Tumbleweed Music Festival, to entertain at 3RFS' annual organizational meeting. And off again in the morning.

No one got raptured.

Portland, OR: Alberta Street Public House

We miss Erin and Amanda (welcome to the world li'l Walter!), of course we do, but there's barely enough room on this stage for the four of us and our gear (mostly Brian's)--I'm getting a little cozy with one of Dave's cymbals, but it's worth it to have the full crew along on our first out-of-state (just barely) venture. Also appreciate rock-star hotel room spread provided by Brian's dad...fun to play 'dress-up.' Nice opening set from Alicia. Now, if only we could pump our own gas...

Portland Be Warned (5/7) - Tri-Cities On Notice (5/21)

Seattle, WA: The Ould Triangle (Ye Ould Ear Feed)

Good to know I can still shout 'em down and make 'em (pretend to) listen.

Seattle, WA: Chop Suey (Bushwick Book Club - The Time Traveler's Wife)

I must have missed a memo regarding including some Freudian-time-travel mention of co-protagonist Henry De Tamble's mother in my song. Oops. I gave my free-will/self-determination-vs.-pre-destination effort for Slaughterhouse-Five, so that left me the love-story route (having apparently missed other, creepier options), which seemed to satisfy those who enjoyed Audrey Niffenegger's work. (Learning that Niffenegger herself was born in South Haven, MI--the town from which other-protagonist Clare Abshire hails--lends credence to a few of the songs that suggested she'd written her own I've-been-waiting-for-this-tamable-bad-boy-to-come-along fantasy.) Great hosting vibe from Chop Suey, and fun connections as always!

Photo: Mark Blasco