What's Up! Magazine

Aaaah, my friends, it’s good to be back in the captain’s chair. I’m sorry about missing last month’s Le Beat, got just a little too involved with college basketball. I was drunk on March Madness, I’ll admit it. Maaaaaaaaannn, those were some good times.

Well, on to the zany world of Bellingham music. Tons and tons of stuff happening in our fair little town, I’ve gotta say. It’s pretty damn exciting.

USS Horsewhip had their CD release weekend in mid-April, which went very well. I’ve been listening to the disc whenever I feel the need for rock, ‘cuz it’s one hell of a slab o’ songs. Can’t believe it’s from the same guys who came to What’s Up! seven years ago to talk music. Aaaah James, you were so “cute” back then.

The world of the Dt’s is wild and crazy, pretty impressive for some “old folks.” The band will be releasing two albums shortly, one on Estrus and one in Spain. The cool part is, the albums are completely different – different songs and even different producers. Jack Endino recorded the one destined for Spain while Johnny Sangster recorded the songs that’ll hit the states. I was able to meet Endino while he was in town recording the kids, and God, was it tough pretending like he was just another dude. Inside I was a 15-year-old kid who’d just met God. Anyhow, Sangster was in the Young Fresh Fellows, so the Dt’s have two badasses behind the boards. As if that wasn’t enough, some of the tracks from the Jack session will end up on a 7″ on a Spanish label (I guess they’re big in Spain, huh?) and one on a label from Brazil/Argentina. Plus, they plan on touring Europe at the end of the summer, hitting some of the big festivals. Two words: good times!

The Wild Buffalo is celebrating its 6th anniversary on May 14, time flies when you’re having fun. The venue will begin hosting local music showcases every other Tuesday-no details set in stone yet-but it looks like a great chance for up and coming bands to get a start. Interested bands should get their demos to the club.

Lots of new bands popping up, one of which includes Josh and Ben of Black Eyes and Neckties plus Noah on drums. Cicadis is a primarily instrumental band, they’ve best been described as a mix between metal and Drive Like Jehu. God help us. Then you’ve got The Arcadians, which features the sexiest man in Bellingham, Joel Myrene. There’s no punk here, just tons of good art rock. The five-piece has only been around a couple of months, but are already hittin’ the Bellingham club circuit.

The mighty man Guiness is back playing music again and I gotta say, thank flippin’ God. The hip hop scene, which is picking up steam due in a small part to some great Nightlight shows and new bands (that we’ll talk about soon), just wouldn’t be the same without the mighty Guiness. I “borrowed” his demo from Jeff Mitchell and it is fan-flippin’-tastic! Too bad I had to beat the hell out of Mitchell to get the disc. Aaaah, I kid ‘cuz I love.

Speaking of Mitchell, he and Charlie (ex-Asswipe/Sharpie) have a new band called Camarojuana, which will be making their debut at the 2nd annual Hand to Mouth anniversary party. The big gig is on Friday, May 6 (yes, just before The Accused plays the 3B) and if it’s anything like last year, oh nelly it’s gonna be wild.

Ya know, don’t know if anyone has noticed, but What’s Up! hit the stands the first day of the month in March and April. What’s going on? Well, I decided that the magazine should come out on the first day of the month, not the first Friday. So, I wouldn’t set your calendar to it, but the mag will be out on the first, each and every beautiful month.

So, yeah, I was already to have the website up, but my web genius is a little “busy” with his real “job.” Hopefully this next month it’ll all be up, then we’ll start getting all of the back issues online.

What’s a Le Beat without Idiot Pilot news? Tuesday, May 17 is the big day, the day Strange We Should Meet Here officially comes out on Reprise Records. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’m really happy for these guys. They’re flying to London in the beginning of May for a one-off show, then heading back to the states for a three-week tour (including a show at the Nightlight on Saturday, May 14).

I want to thank Adam Bates from This Side Down for turning me and the magazine onto Something For Rockets. Wow! What an incredible band. They’ll be playing (coincidentally with This Side Down) at the Pickford Dream Space on Saturday, May 14. If you haven’t heard of the band, check them out at www.somethingforrockets.com. You’ll be damn glad you did, especially those fans of Idiot Pilot.

Sir Robert Blake is out on a 40-date tour, all across the great United States. So many tours, and I’m at home. Do I smell? Is that why you guys won’t take me with you? I gotta get out on the road.

Dig the Particulars are continuing to play a bunch of gigs around town. Last month, they hit the opening of the Bay Street Coffee House (see review on page 7). From all accounts, a new disc is on the way soon. Details are just getting sorted out.

I’ve heard from a bunch of folks wondering why The Pale changed their name to The Pale Pacific. Is there another band with the name The Pale or something? Apparently there is, in Europe. The boys are getting big enough that bands with the same name in other countries can cause copyright issues. That, my friends, is when yer legit.

Sea to Ski weekend this year promises to be unbelievable. Goods time are being had at the 3B, The Wild Buffalo and Boundary Bay-all three venues have huge weekends planned. The 3B will host the 2nd Annual Rockfist, including local bands like No-Fi Soul Rebellion, 76 Charger and the Star Spangled Bastards, plus out-of-towners like The Makers and The Foxx. Three nights of pure rock! Then you’ve got Boundary Bay, which has La Push, Thermostat, The Dusty 45s and Bucklebusters. Not to be outdone, the Wild Buffalo will be hosting the Flowmotion CD release party on Friday night, Clinton Fearon and Boogie Brown Band on Saturday night, plus shows on Thursday and Sunday. There’s live music for everyone, how cool is that?

The fabulous duo known affectionately as No-Fi Soul Rebellion are hittin’ the road in May for a two-week West Coast tour. If you are a married couple, is it really a tour, or just a damn cool road trip with yer sweetie? Hmmmm…

Leather Pants has a new band. That’s all I gotta say.

We here at What’s Up! are now reviewing local bands off of Pure Volume and My Space. Check it out in the review section, on page 33. We love reviewing bands, so if you’re in one and have a demo, get it to us.

The mighty COC have a new album coming out, though there isn’t any official release date yet. These guys have been workin’ their asses off, good to see it.

I’ve got a couple news items from the “way back” file. First off, I don’t know if any of ya’ll remember a little Bellingham band called Drive Car Girl from the early 90s. It was a pretty forgettable band, really (hell, I was the drummer, so I should know). Anyhow, the two primary songwriters, Jim Werle and Chuck Bert recently formed a band in Seattle called the Math and Physics Club which are quickly gaining a recognition. So much so, they’ll be opening up for The Pixies at the Sasquatch Festival at the Gorge on May 28. Wow!

Also in the way back file, the return of Port. The duo comprised of the Hugo brothers have posted all of their old records online at www.cuddlebot.com. As if all the Port discs weren’t cool enough, Russ’s side project (with the inventive name – Half O’ Port) are all up there for your listening pleasure. These dudes where messed up, I really miss them.

There’s a new internet radio station online at http://www.live365.com/stations/rmeme23. Lots of good local and regional bands on the station and a great alternative to some of the non-local media options.

I want to thank everyone for the kind things they said last month, very cool. I’d especially like to thank the staff of What’s Up! for rockin’ so much, they are the coolest people to be around. Buy ‘em drinks if you see ‘em out and about, they deserve it.

Geez, I almost forgot, What’s Up! will be hosting putting on a local show at the 3B Tavern on May 21. Bands are TBA, but it’s FREE. Best four letter word in the world.

That’s about it for this month. Don’t forget to give yer mom a big kiss on Mother’s Day, Sunday May 8.