Somehow, the soulful stars aligned, and Austin Santiago, DJ Booger, the Screaming Eagle of Soul, and Craig Jewell were able to meet and hug it out over breakfast in Portland. COURTESY PHOTO

This Tales from the Road is the story of Craig Jewell (Wild Buffalo), Austin Santiago (BuildStrong), and DJ Booger (Wishbone) and their mission to return the ‘Screaming Eagle of Soul’s’ pants. That Screaming Eagle, who is better known as Daptone Recording artist Charles Bradley, performed at the Wild Buffalo House of Music for a sold out audience on Sunday, Sept. 4. Everyone was blown away with the soulful revival and the energy in the room was at an all-time high. Charles and his band were just as grateful of the experience as the crowd was, which really made the night special. We said goodbye and wished them a safe trip down to their next show in Portland for Music Fest Northwest.

The next day Craig received a phone call from Charles Bradley’s tour manager, Chris, who was in a bit of a panic due to the fact that Charles left his shirt, boots, cell phone, and pants at the Wild Buffalo and hotel. Chris suggested that we expedite the items to them through FedEx but we knew that these items were too important to be mailed. We needed to hand deliver them to Charles in exchange for free passes to Music Fest Northwest. How the hell would it look if the Screaming Eagle of Soul performed without pants or boots? So we were off.

The trip started off a bit shaky. Carlton Eide, who also works with the Wild Buffalo, left the back hatch open on Booger’s Subaru and everything fell out of the car as we were leaving. We soon figured out that all of our stuff was gone and we turned around and got it all back. After that, it was smooth sailing down to Portland.

We met up with Chris and the band at this fancy-pants hipster-exclusive barbeque where the beer flowed like wine and even the vegetarians were eating meat. We gave all of the misplaced items to Chris but were a bit disappointed that we didn’t get a chance to see Charles as he had called it an early night.

Day two in Portland began with an early morning set by Swedish soul sensation, Little Dragon. KEXP did a whole run of free shows at The Doug Fir which is not only an incredible venue but was conveniently attached to our hotel. After a stripped down feel good set from LD we met up with Leigh Feldman. Leigh is one of those guys that knows everyone and everything going on. The weather was hovering in the low 90′s by mid-morning so Leigh decided to take us to a nude beach on the river and we all talked about promoting shows while DJ Booger awkwardly waded in the water.

Charles Bradley kicked off our MFNW experience at the historic Aladdin Theatre. Getting a chance to see Charles perform for the second time was nothing short of inspiring. His presence is untouchable and his voice, larger than life. There is an advantageous ambiance associated with seeing the Screaming Eagle of Soul perform in a space with so much history. There was no doubt after the final encore that we all witnessed something special and one of a kind. The performance left everyone glowing, and as the excitement filled the streets, chatter of satisfied concert goers vanquished the sound of nearby traffic. Once again, we unfortunately didn’t get a chance to say hi to Charles since we needed to make it to the next show.

Phantogram was set to perform a free show at The Doug Fir shortly after Charles had ended and even though we were running late we decided to risk it and hop in a cab to see if we could catch part of their set.Upon arrival we were informed the fire alarm had been pulled and the show was running behind schedule.Once the OK was given and we were let into the venue we made our way to a decent vantage point to see what Phantogram had to offer live.Their set was a balancing act between ambient female vocals, heavy synth melodies, and melodic guitar lines. We were all impressed with Phantogram’s ability to make music simple and beautiful on record, yet high energy and driving when performed live.

After a short and sweaty stint at The Doug Fir we decided that the next step was to go to a seedy bar in Chinatown. We met an electro/house DJ that goes under the name, “Easter Egg.” We were told that he was named that because every night he plays a show he blacks out on whiskey and hides in places where no one can find him. One can doubt that he remembers us, but he’s a best friend for life in our book.

It was time for our Portland adventure to come to a close and head back to our fake jobs in Bellingham. As we were leaving town, we “yelped” a nearby breakfast spot and decided to go to an outdoor restaurant called The Big Egg. Somehow the soulful stars aligned and we picked the same place to eat as Charles Bradley and his band. He immediately recognized us and gave us all hugs for driving down there to return his belongings. In return, we made him and his band promise that they would come back and perform in Bellingham again soon.

The three of us left Portland ecstatic and satisfied. The end.

What's Up! Cover - June 2010. Artwork by George Jartos

Well, hello there friends, welcome to le Beat. Lots of happenings this month.

I always like to start each month off with a little bit of magazine news, but this month, I don’t think we’ve got any! We do have our new t-shirts available, so head on down and please buy one from either Merch Bot, Everyday Music or Black Market Boutique we’ve got two different designs and they’ll both make you look sexier. Not just sort of sexier, but “oh my God, yer hot,” kinda sexy. Besides that, we’re just kinda humming along here.

Oh wait, before I forget, yer gonna love this month’s pin up it’s a first in What’s Up! history. Posing are two contributing writers the lovely and wonderful Haylee Nighbert and Tabitha Englebright get ready for summer games while enjoying some time with What’s Up!. It turned out fantastic thanks you two!

RECORDS & RELEASES

Go Slowpoke and Four Players are both releasing new EPs at their show at Jinx on June 4, then they’re heading out on a tour together which will take down through California (dates are still being confirmed). From what Peter of Go Slowpoke says, he and Anna will then take off for a couple month tour of the U.S. while Four Players will head back this way.

The show, which also includes Girl Group, will include a slideshow of photographs of the late and great Gunther Jose Frank – the show’s date of June 5 marks the year anniversary Gunther and Donnkie went missing in a tragic boating accident. Michelle from Jinx wanted to make it clear, the event isn’t a memorial, but a tribute to a friend we all lost and have mourned over the last year. I miss Gunther, and I barely knew him his loss (as well as well as Donnkie’s, obviously), was beyond tragic and something we’ll never forget.

For anyone who wants a copy of the show, a free download of the memorial slideshow will available soon at jinxartspace.com.

Another band releasing a CD is Rhombus, who should have it out some time this month. You can find out more info about the band on page 6 of this issues, as well as details on how to get the goods. I haven’t had a chance to give it a spin, but if Cat Sieh’s in the band and Chris Vita is behind the board, it’s gotta be damn good and entertaining.

Hey, ya know what’s cool? Bands releasing CDs so we’ve got another one! The Keaton Collective are shooting to release their latest CD in “June-ish,” but no official word yet. From what I’ve heard, though, the album will focus more on the roots side of the band with a special guest appearance by Cara Alboucq. Stay tuned.

Wow check it out, ANOTHER PERSON RELEASING A DISC! I’m in CD heaven! Damon Dmitri Jones is holding his CD release party at Bloom on June 5 at 6 p.m. Bloom is cool, Damon is great, what the hell are you waiting for?

Thought that was it? NOPE! “Mad” Max Keys (ex-Yes We Are) has just released his debut CD. The recording, which was done on his computer, was put together as part of his senior project with the proceeds of the recording going towards relief efforts in Haiti.

I think I mentioned this last month, but Tyler Clarke (ex-Hedonists) has released a new CD which is absolutely fantastic. Look for it in stores near you and a story on Tyler in July. SCOTS UNITE!

Stephen Ray Leslie and the Crooked Mile have begun work on their latest EP. No word on when it’ll be done or released, but getting into the studio is always a good thing.

COMINGS & GOINGS

In previously mentioning Girl Group, there is a new band that features Nora Hughes and Zack Zinn. They’re new, so I don’t know much about ‘em, but I know I love that name.

Cara Alboucq has a new band The A Priori Project I don’t have any details about it, this is brand new news as of press time! So, there ya go the new hot news!

Cozy Kitchen have called it a day. I kinda liked that band and was looking forward to their new record, so their demise kinda sucks.

In a bit of sad news, especially for the fine music fans of Bellingham, Cumulus is leaving at the beginning of July for the big city. I’m not sure the reasoning behind Alex’s departure (I assume they are sound), but as Alex is one of my very favorite people in town, I’m personally bummed out about her leaving and hope that she has a change of heart in June. But, then again, this is a college town and that’s part of the way things work. Alex, you’ve been a wonderful person to work with through the magazine, take care of yourself my friend!

BOOKED & HOOKED

This year’s Urban Music Festival looks to be the best yet! The first show, held on Friday, June 4, will include sets by GEO of the Blue Scholars, James Pants, Vaughn Kreestoe and DJ Booger. The following day, Empty Space Orchestra, The Endorfins, Unami, Polecat and The Tea Seas Quintet as well a members of the Dream Science Circus and Bellingham Circus Guild will be performing in the alley next to the Buffalo from noon to 8 p.m. for FREE. At night, also at the Buffalo, check out Acorn Project, Snug Harbor, Alpaca, Dubble Penetration, as well as the Blessed Coast DJs. This, my friends, is a huge, huge weekend of music. Get there.

One of my favorite non local bands, Dawes, is playing June 26 at the Plan B Saloon. For those who know Dawes, this is great news and for those who don’t, get down there to find out why they are opening up for Elliott Sharpe and the Magnetic Zero’s and playing Lollapalooza.

If yer in the mood for some hip-hop and heading out to the islands, there will be a festival June 19 on Orcas Island at the Oddfellows Hall. Live performances from Bloodshot, The Productionists, My Dad Bruce, The Knowgooders, 206 Zulu, Johnny Concrete, Designated Hitters, and Western Goodz along with BBQ, breakdancing, and beat-boxing. Seems like a damn good reason to get to Orcas.

GOOD TIMES

In Trailer Wars news, What’s Up! would like to congratulate KMDB Films for their ridiculously hilarious “Shower Guy: Shampooin’, an “awkwardly erotic tale of cleanliness.” You can find the winning video on YouTube and I’ll promise ya, you’ll be entertained and slightly concerned it’s f***in’ hilarious.

Next month’s category (which was picked by KMDB) is Biographies aka Biopic. If you’d like to find out more, you can contact the fine folks at http://myspace.com/trailerwars.

On the art scene, check out Chase Boston’s work over at the Lucia Douglas Gallery in Fairhaven. The show’s opening is on June 4 and the work, titled “An Ocean of Bones,” runs through the 7th.

Last month, we included a story about the Appliance Art Revival show coming up on June 4 at the Chuckanut Brewery. What we failed to mention was possibly the coolest aspect of the whole event the Appliance Races. What is it? Crazy appliances being raced down Holly Street prior to the event. There’s only one word that can describe this: glorious. Get there.

Becca and I would like to thank everyone that braved the cold on May 29 to attend the launch party for our new magazine, Grow Northwest. Those who could make it had a great time and got to listen to some wonderful music from Thimble vs. Needle and the Librarians both bands were incredible (thank you for performing!). You also got to see a glimpse into the future as our son Harrison realized how much he loved being on stage even at times when he wasn’t exactly supposed to be up there. If you haven’t had a chance, grab a copy of Grow Northwest (www.grownorthwest.com), full of info and resources about local food, farming, gardening, cooking, adventures and more. We think you’ll dig it.

Finally, I had an epiphany a month or so ago that I wanted to tell you about. I was on my way down to Seattle listening to the new Holy Tailfeathers record for the umpteenth time, when it hit me in the 12 years since starting the magazine, even 18 years I’ve lived in town and absorbed the local music scene, I’ve never loved a local record as much as I love the Tailfeathers’ offering. From the first track to the last, it’s nothing but rock ‘n’ roll goodness the songs are simple rock bursts and LP’s vocals are ridiculously cool… It’s disappointing to no end that they aren’t the biggest and best band in town I love ‘em like no other and I sincerely hope you, the reader, listen to ‘em too. If you’ve read this magazine for any length of time, you know that I love local music, but I’ve never declared my love for a band over no other that’s how important and how much I love this band.

Ok, ya’ll, have a great June hope the weather turns around for us all, ‘cuz the current weather just sucks.

–Brent Cole

editor@whatsup-magazine.com

Austin from Buildstrong is up to his same old tricks, promoting great shows. Inside the Buffalo, DJ Booger was set up on the floor to the right of the stage, spinning a hip-hop set. He’s no stranger to the genre, having spun for Wilson Project and currently for Somebody Cares.

When watching him, you’re not surprised that he’s in such high demand. Don’t let his laptop fool you; Booger’s old school, all about the mix. His crossfader rarely stays to one side, his taste is broad and eclectic. In the middle of his hip-hop/break beat set, he seamlessly transitioned into George Harrison’s late 80′s hit, “Got My Mind Set On You.” Booger knew his role and executed it perfectly: getting the crowd ready for the night and holding it down between bands.

Up next, Seattle’s seven piece feel good, funky jam band Luc and the Lovingtons promoted their latest effort Feel The Warmth. Personally, the overall sound was a bit too happy for me, it sounded like the members of Sublime took ecstasy, jammed with four pacifists and found their inner hippie. But the sheer musicianship of everything-man, Phillepe Conete, kept me interested. He switched from instrument to instrument harmonica, guitar, shakers, a guiro, while singing back up vocals on every song. He even had a Michael Jackson style dance battle, a sure fire crowd pleaser, with frontman Luc Reynaud right in the middle of their set.

But it was their last song “Freedom” that made me realize their sincerity and passion for peace and love. Inspired to help others, Luc went down to New Orleans two weeks after Katrina. While volunteering at a homeless shelter, he co-wrote with some children from the shelter the song “Freedom.” I’m not ashamed to say that their powerful performance helped me ‘let the love in.’

Even though they’re called The JB Quartet, there were five men on stage. Three seasoned veterans and two youngsters, these five men equaled musical brilliance. JB, played a vintage Fender Rhodes. He had a quick vocal draw for the verses of most of their songs. For his two part power harmonies in the choruses, he used sampler. Sustained periods of instrumentation followed by tight taught tenor vocals, gave them a sound similar to Jamiroquai.

The highlight of the evening was the percussion of Kevin Kreestoe. I don’t know how many bands he’s playing in, but the man is a master of his craft. Super tight and technical, watching him play was mind numbing, like watching Rodney Mullen skate – awesome.

Furthermore the addition of a saxophone gave them great versatility. Ranging from fast jazz or stab filled blues to even mellow rock, this quintet is a pleasure to watch, listen and dance to.