Seattle, WA: Columbia City Theater (Bushwick Book Club - Fahrenheit 451)

For something new at this Book Club show, I'm emceeing in addition to performing. The song ("Just Like Me"), then, is general and broad--an introductory piece to welcome the crowd and let others go deeper. The between-song bits, however, are much more detailed, culminating my grand bring-contestants-onstage quiz on the following theme: "Who said it? - Ray Bradbury or Mark Zuckerberg?!"

Roasting The Half Brothers

Seattle, WA: Town Hall

I've said it before, but I don't mind repeating myself: it's a kick to hear 75 voices sing your song! I'm here with the Nelsen Middle School Concert Chorus from Renton, WA, directed by bandmate and dear friend Brian Hoskins and the only middle school choir invited to perform at this year's Northwest American Choral Directors Association Divisional Conference. They're including a revamped arrangement "Carry On" in their program, and I'm tremendously honored.

I know folks' eyes glaze over when they hear about kids' choirs, remembering the excruciating experience from when their neighbors dragged them to see their kids or the last saccharine offering from church. But this is different: these kids bring it, not in a nice-for-a-bunch-of-kids way, but in a real, present, 'wow' way. Brian chooses music from myriad cultures and traditions, which is nice both in comparison to other programs and given the diversity of the choir itself, a reflection of its hometown. They sing, they move, and we do our best to keep up in the backline.

Thanks, as always, to Don Shawe (1917-2007), whose story is the song.

Choirs, Bands, Books, & Video

Seattle, WA: Erickson Theater (Bushwick Book Club - Pride & Prejudice)

I now number among those cultured souls who have read some Jane Austen (thanks, Book Club!). Didn't hate it (as many told me I would), but really felt just how different the life of the late-18th-Century English gentry was from mine today.

Downside to writing and performing a Taylor Swift parody (yes, this is how I imagined P&P for the show): ongoing Taylor Swift earworms...

Seattle, WA: Egan's Ballard Jam House

Opening the evening here for (and then backing) Ms. Nancy K. Dillon, who has requested a set of Bushwick Book Club tunes. Kinda fun to string together some highlights from the past year-plus, some of which are much more context-specific than others. Then over to the mando...!

Seattle, WA: New Day Northwest

Obviously, I do far more radio than TV--perhaps TV regulars don't get the same kick out of the language that I do, but I was giddy with anticipation when I was told by the very pleasant and capable New Day Northwest staff: "Please come camera ready (hair and make-up done). We will be powdering you for HD."

Well, consider me powdered...in the same King-5 studio as Almost Live!, no less! Glad to give the Book Club some screen time, and continue to plead Tommy Treadmill's case.

Seattle, WA: Fremont Abbey (Bushwick Book Club - Alice in Wonderland)

It's neat how a great crowd in a great room can really lift up a show--tons of fun, and better shared. Got flack for assuming that I did not have a show-stealer this time, but I didn't honestly think a slow, minor-key ditty could do the trick (I'll concede comically dirge-y). Alas, now I've got to think if I've ever before received applause just for the verbal introduction preceding a song. Thankfully, Debbie Miller stepped in in the second half and stole the show for real. Yay reading!