Tulalip, WA: Washington Library Association 2012 Conference

The Tulalip Casino & Resort is an interesting spot for the subdued and thoughtful atmosphere of the Washington Library Association 2012 Conference--beyond adequate and very nice, certainly, but so close to hundreds of noisy slot machines.  I'm here with Geoff Larson and Tai Shan of The Bushwick Book Club presenting our 'wares' in the form of a Time Life-y 'best of' revue that I think plays quite well.  But what to do with all our down time...

Seattle, WA: Musicquarium Lounge at The Triple Door

The lights are off-upon-arrival in the MQ fishtank--an ominous sign... The rest of the evening unfolds like this:

Occasionally in conversation I note that some performance-related experience from my past strikes others as more incredible or noteworthy than it does me, and I realize that I have different expectations as a result of logging many performances over the years. It is not, I hasten to point out, that I am jaded and cannot again be taken by a moment--indeed, that possibility is still a huge part of my commitment to live performance--but it take more to catch me off-guard. And it can still happen...like in the, um, intensity showcased by tonight's late-Sunday, post-mainstage-show dance party... (Good thing the band kept our hoedown set handy!)

Two lingering observations:
That was a lot of dancefloor touching!
And does that sign say "Blame Wes Weddell" ??

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...!