Fortune

Fortune (according to Merriam-Webster) is as follows: a hypothetical force or personified power that unpredictably determines events and issues favorably or unfavorably (there are other entries but this one,1, will do).

I have had the good fortune, thankfully, of going to check out the Georgetown Music Fest (or is it called the Seattle Weekly's Artopia? They clearly take place the same weekend, within the same 3 block radius, and both offer music. Confused much? Welcome to my world)this past weekend to catch some live music and I ran into a couple of old friends I had not seen in some time. The weather turned out to be great also.

All in all, that weekend was pretty damn sweet.

The Best Comics in the GPNW?

I went to the GTMF to see and hear Ladyfriend and The Black Whales. I got to the GTMF early, not knowing what to expect for parking and crowd size. Parking was easy, and the crowd was not large yet. So I wandered around to check out the lay of the land, you know, where the beer gardens, portajohns, music and food vendors were. I was glad to find out that Fantagrahics was local to GT. At first blush, this was after all my first time to be in GT (Georgetown), it seems I was falling for it hard.

I wandered across a busy street to what appeared to be the food vendors area, but to my surprise and delight, it was the GT Farmers Market. Lots and lots of fresh good food, and some raw food!

I know the owner of this company, but it had been some time since I was in touch with him, but it was nice to run into him and catch up. Plus, the raw food he makes is ridiculously good and all raw and vegan. Out. Of. Control. Kind of like this.

Ladyfriend

I went to the Ladyfriend stage/flatbed truck and found myself presented with a great find; there was a beer garden directly across from them. That is actually where I took this picture from. I got to the garden early, the beer was just starting to flow and I was a little unsure if I was at the right place. So I asked the person pouring the beer and the other patron in the garden if they knew if this was the stage Ladyfriend was playing at. The other patron said yes it was, she knew because she was in the band. So I introduced myself to Taylor and she went to the stage to perform.

Aside from the fact that there was some damn jet show going on at the Boeing Airfield and some crazy jets flew by overhead, Ladyfriend's set was great. I mean, just listen to their song "Backyard Seance", it is cool and catchy all at the same time, or at least I think so. Another excursion where I find great people who make great music.

I then made my way to another stage to see a band called Black Whales perform. They played at a much large stage/beer tent. In fact there were two stages. And another friend I had not seen in some time. Crazy day.

Black Whales

I first found out about the Black Whales a few months ago when I was searching for local entertainment/bands for a school club book release event I was planning. I really liked their song "The Diamond Divide", but unfortunately they were not available to play our gig. So I saw them play live at the GTMF.

Strong musicians all around, their new songs, or at least the songs I did not recognize from them I considered new, were different, but still well crafted and played. I think the newness of the songs had the crowd just appreciative of them, but when they busted out Diamond Divide, the crowd started to bob and weave to the beat.

Megasapien

I stuck around to finish my beer, but really what I was there for was to listen to the power duo that is Megasapien. They started playing and I started listening and was like "Who the hell are these guys?". The drummer is good, damn good. Pretty much they are straight ahead rock, and they use a Mac for some added sounds here and there (like at the end of their set when they were playing the Superman theme song while they broke down. It was a nice touch). I will say this, their live performance blows away their recordings online. Their live show brings more energy and a stage presence that adds lots to their songs.

Magically Delicious

So I get lazy when it comes to cooking for me, but still require putting minimal effort into making something better than stock. For instance, frozen cheese pizza. Not my usual M.O. to say the least, but I think it turned out pretty good, for frozen pizza at least.

Pre-baked

Take one stock bare bones frozen cheese pizza, add more cheese of your choice (obviously), some greens (spinach or in this case I used mixed baby greens), seasonings such as: salt, pepper, chili powder, red pepper flakes, and fresh pressed garlic. Lots and lots of garlic. I used 8 cloves. It could have used more.

Post Baked

Of course, some your might say I ruined it in the end because I drenched it in La Victoria Red Taco Sauce. But what can I say, I was in the mood for spicy.

I will say that I am not lazy all the time when it comes to cooking. For instance, an upcoming potluck picnic I am making come home made peanut butter toasted ravioli with this bad boy.

So I have some guilt about always reporting about cool bands I have seen and giving no preview of upcoming things that people might like. Well, I now have the opportunity to present something some of you might like and even enjoy. If you like the movie Amelie, that same director has a new movie out called MicMacs, and it happens to be playing at The Egyptian Theatre. I have yet to see this, but plan on doing so this week or weekend sometime.

Also, I am really dying to check out emmer&rye on Queen Anne. Local seasonal food paired with some good drink selections, what is not to like?

What else might you, or dear reader, like? How about The New Pornographers playing with The Dodos & Imaad Wasif at the Showbox @ the Market on July 31st?

Or maybe a new funny show? (this might offend some people, it airs on Adult Swim at night).

Have a great day in the Sun everyone, I know I will.

Joshua

It must be the shoes.

The Tin Table and a show at The Crocodile

Tin Table

Okay, so school is done for a whole week. Bonus, I only have to take 6 credits over the Summer! Man, talk about some serious blogging time that I will have. What that really translates into is getting to hike, eat, listen to music and write.

So to celebrate these events, and because I believe in the Universe giving signs for a reason (I mean how else do you explain ads for the Tin Table that just keep showing up in front of my face, and I got an email coupon for $50 of food/drinks for only $25. So I bought it.) I ate there on Saturday.

Oh Saturday, how eventful you turned out to be. So I had my whole day planned, eat at the Tin Table, see a rocking show at the Crocodile, ride my bike home. I mean, what a perfect way to include three of my favorite things?

Folks, I literally live between the 2nd and 3rd bus stop in Redmond of the 545 bus. I had never encountered a bus that had a full bike rack (they can hold three), until Saturday. Really, I was amazed. First of all the weather was amazing, second of all one of the bikes and the bikes owner had paper race tags pinned on them, so clearly they were in a race or event of some sort.

So I was faced with a situation; leave my bike and catch the bus and not be late for my reservation or wait for the next bus and be late. I chose to lock up my ride at the bus stop and hop on. Well, so much for my master plan on how to get home after the show.
(As I was writing notes for my blog on my bus ride, trying my best to capture the essence of the day, I noticed that 520 is kinda shitty in some places. Or maybe it was the shocks on the bus?)

I got there and the place was empty. Which was great, I got to talk to the bartender (who also works at Ocho in Ballard) and tell him the ingredients that go in my newest, and possibly all time, favorite drink:

The Brain Duster
1 oz Rye Whiskey (preferably 100 proof)
1 oz Absinthe
1 oz Vermouth, Italian
1 dash Angostura bitters
mix well with ice, strain into a chilled cocktail glass

This drink, of which I had two of, does an amazing job of living up to it's name. The bartender and I chatted a bit about different choices of rye and absinthe, and I am interested to try a few different places and see how they make them.

I ordered the fish tacos off the menu, and they were great. Perfectly done fish bits; not too dry or moist, smothered in a red sauce of some sort that was wicked good. Copious amounts of cilantro and some Cole slaw.
My guests and I had to move seats once as the table we were seated at was reserved for 7pm, so we moved to a bar seating area by the windows. The windows were cracked open some and the fragrant odor of fresh cooked waffle cones was wafting in from Molly Moon's below. So we ordered some dessert: The lemon blueberry brioche pudding and New Orleans style beignets.

Overall, the place was great: I liked the location, the decor (although, sad to say not one table made of tin) and the food was great. One issue, the music they were playing was not in line with the overall ambiance of the place, I hope they change it.

The Crocodile

Okay, you may have noticed like I have that some of the bands I like (and by like I mean support monetarily and in person) play at the Crocodile in Seattle. Often apparently. Not that I mind, I like the excuse to make a day of it, with food and drinks and all. Fortunately some of my good friends were accompanying me this fine evening, so that made it even better.


The opening band was called Skeletons with Flesh on Them which I am guessing it means people are just that, or maybe there is some deeper meaning to their name, I'm not sure. In any case, they are great. I heard them first on KEXP awhile back. They have a very nice, pop-ish sound reminiscent of other popular NW rock acts like Pretty Girls Make Graves (RIP), Modest Mouse, etc. Highly recommend them.



The second band, whose name is awesome, Math and Physics Club, was a little subdued live. A kind of alternate 50's light rock with awkward endings. Clearly they are talented, maybe it was the sound levels or an off night or who knows. Or perhaps it was because they were tucked between other bands that were loud, punchy, pop? Who knows for sure, and even then can they say?



The last band, Aqueduct, pretty much stole the show. Or more accurately, took it with force. Pop hooks galore and a heaping dose of enthusiasm coupled with some vaguely familiar songs made for a great, great show. I mean, I am not even sure I can explain to you, dear reader, how much they rocked without sounding like a brain hemispheres fused idiot set to redundancy. I am surprised that they are not more popular. I mean, they do play biggish shows, go on tour, and had at least one song on a soundtrack to a movie.

Great sound, good crown interaction, they rocked, and man the cymbals sounded great! I love, love, love the sound of Zildjian K's. It's great because I need new cymbals myself and had no idea what kind to even look at. Listening to samples of cymbals online is hardly accurate or telling. So I was resigned to going to several music stores and hitting cymbals and then trying to imagine what they would sound like in comparison to my drums. But after seeing several live shows where the drummers sounded great, and noticing they were playing Zildian K's, the deal is sealed.

Also revealed at the show it was the Three Imaginary Girls 8th anniversary, so that was cool. Apparently, one of them was there, or at least that is what David Terry said. Or is that what she said? Anyway, a big THANK YOU goes out to those girls, they have been rocking the Seattle scene for 8 years, here is at least to another 8 more!

Yours Truly