Fanny Alger gives us the goods

Fanny Alger is a Skagit-based band with remarkable mystique, considering their longstanding musical background and lack of notoriety outside of their loyal fan-base. With pseudonyms like “Hugh Mann,” “Junior Mintz,” and “Blind Lemon Pledge,” spanning the liner notes of their albums, the actual names of the band members are hard to pin down.

There are five members of Fanny Alger, however their names change each album, giving them a shrouded history. “Let me put it this way,” says singer and guitarist, Shane Gildnes, “We’ve been nerds since before it was cool. In fact, we were in a band before that was nerdy!” Drummer Jon E Catt bluntly adds, “I thought it was a good way to meet girls.”

“We want to help people find a community,” Gildnes says of Fanny Alger, which contains members of now defunct bands, Stagnant Water and bluegreen, and formed sometime in the late 80s. “We want like-minded individuals to come to our shows, maybe fall in love.”

They explain how Fanny Alger has developed a business model that is frowned upon by the modern day music industry. Before explaining their model, Catt asks “Are you familiar with de-evolution? It’s kind of like that.” They continue by adding how they don’t aim to make money by selling their music but, instead, by giving their audience the ability to pay them. “We don’t need much,” says Gildnes, “But if we can get a few doctors or lawyers to donate 10 percent of their income forever, we can continue our crusade.”

The crusade, he says, is against boredom and stress, ignorance and intolerance. He adds, “We want our music to be like those [Seasonal Affectional Disorder] lamps.”

Fanny Alger concerts, or “revivals” as the band calls them, are to promote health and prosperity. “Want to know what makes it healthy?” Gildnes asks, “One part hygiene, one part good posture, and one part organic virgin American snake oil.” Catt adds in, “It has to be American.” Gildnes furrows his brow in agreement, “Oh, definitely.”

They continue in saying that, although their revivals are spectacular, their large-scale production makes traveling difficult. “Also, we’re old,” Gildnes says, “If our car breaks down we might catch influenza.” “Or whooping cough,” adds Catt.

Their latest album, Yellow Monster, is self-recorded and features many story-based tracks. “Yellow Monster,” the title track, is based on an incident which took place in the early 70s when their friend’s mother swears she saw a large, yellow beast. Apparently, the creature was so large that it was able to clear the driveway in one step.

“The next day my friend went outside and found yellow hairs,” says Gildnes. They don’t think it was bigfoot but they researched the subject and found a study by Washington State University audiologists, who recorded sounds in the wilderness of Washington State only to find unidentifiable noises closely resembling primates.

Fanny Alger decided to sample the noise in “Yellow Monster,” which Gildnes remembers being an eerie moment since the sound was in the same key and time signature of the song. “It was really weird,” he recalls, “I just randomly placed it in the song and it fit perfectly.”

“Not only that,” says Catt, “But we hadn’t played that song as a band in [a long time] and we were able to record it in one take.”

Fanny Alger’s fixation on the unusual is seen in other songs on the album as well. One track is about Robert the Doll, a doll that was owned by Key West painter Robert Eugene Otto and is believed to have magical abilities.

The band was able to visit the doll in person. “I took a picture of Robert without asking [him],” says Gildnes, “He made me forget my camera in the museum.”

They also wrote a song about Paul B McCloud, the biggest Elvis fan in the world, whom they were also able to visit. Catt relates the experience to being like a three-hour long acid trip.

Gildnes excitedly emphasizes the reality of their music. “All of it is true,” he says.

Since traveling as a band is complicated, Fanny Alger are not anticipating a heavy tour regiment. Catt says, “Never say never,” but they are nonetheless excited about their revival in February. “We like to play shows in smaller towns,” Catt explains. “Not to bash on big cities, but the crowds in smaller towns are more likely to let loose and have fun.” He says that he often notices how city crowds bob their heads during their sets rather than expressing any sort of emotion by dancing. Other than scheduling revivals, Fanny Alger plan on focusing towards how they’ll spend their riches generated by the release of the album.

“Maybe I’ll wear a meat dress [for the performance],” Gildnes proposes. “It’s been done,” says Catt, adding “Maybe a Spam dress?”

The humor created by the members of Fanny Alger speak to their intentions as a band. Gildnes says, “So many people are content with laying on their couch and watching television, we just want to have fun.”

For more information about Fanny Alger, visit www.fannyalger.com

January 2012 Cover by Debbie Leighton

Happy New Year! I hope ya’ll survived the holidays just fine – I’m writing a lot this here le Beat on New Year’s Day and judging by your Facebook posts, you might have done a little celebrating last night. By the time you read this, I hope ya’ll have recovered.

It’s January, which means I get to tell you about how old I am. Well, more specifically, how old the magazine is 14. It was 14 years ago this month I (along with Sean Spain and Amy Marchegiani) started working on What’s Up! (our debut issue came out in March, which is the official birthday). To put it into perspective 9/11 hadn’t happened, George Bush hadn’t happened, Sarah Jerns was 10, a current college freshman would’ve been four and someone just now turning 21 would’ve been in the second grade. Also, we barely used email and the web was just getting really into the swing of things. Seriously. My friends, that was a damn long time ago! Luckily, the mag gets better with age, or so we’d like to believe. I can’t imagine I’ve been able to cover music in an amazing town for 14 years I remember in high school reading The Rocket out of Seattle (old, awesome music mag), thinking about how cool it’d be to do what they do. That, my friends, makes me a lucky, lucky man.

In the third year of working on the magazine, a friend pitched the idea of doing an awards show. Seemed like a good time, so we made up some ballots and spread them around town with jars and boxes at selected locations (yes, seriously, it used to be paper and jars that the ballots were stuffed in). Now, 11 years later, our whole operation is digital and we get about eight times as many votes (over 1,500 so far this year!). The show, the bands, the whole thing has turned bigger and cooler than I could’ve imagined. This year we’re going to hold the pre-awards show at the Jinx space on Friday, Jan. 27 with Rookery, Triceracorn, Learning Team and Bowlcut. They’ll get everyone warmed up for 11th Annual Awards Show on Saturday, Jan. 28 at the Wild Buffalo, with sets by So Adult, Falling Up Stairs, Lamppost Revival, No-Fi Soul Rebellion, Sugar Sugar Sugar, The Bad Tenants, and IG88 plus DJ Postal, Poops and the Dirty Bird Cabaret all doing their thing. It’ll be a hell of a night, all for only $6 at the door. The show starts at 9 p.m. Thanks to Mark Heimer (No-Fi Soul Rebellion) for the poster design and Joe Olmstead for the printing. Good, good stuff. See you at the show!

This issue, we have a story on Fanny Alger, a local band that’s been kicking around for a while and includes a couple music scene vets, one of whom is Henry Szankiewicz. Normally I don’t talk in le beat about a story in the following pages, but this one was special and means more to me than most stories. Ya see, Henry, unbeknownst to him, was a huge, HUGE influence on me back in the day – and when I say back in the day, I mean 1992 or so. I didn’t know Henry back then, but I knew of him the dude was doing exactly what I wanted at the time. He was involved in the scene, very involved Henry was in a great band called Medelicious (top five all time Bellingham bands), he booked shows (and if I remember correctly, ran sound) at the Up and Up, plus he also put out records. For me, an awkward kid whose only desire was to be involved in a music scene, Henry was someone I looked up to and respected. I wanted to be involved in the scene as well and do things that mattered. Over the next few years, I became more involved in local music. It took awhile, but eventually I got to where I wanted to be putting on shows, being in bands (not particularly good ones) and starting the magazine. Now, nearly 20 years on, I’m still getting to do what I always wanted to do and, frankly, what I love doing. In some way, I have Henry to thank for it.

ON THE RECORD

Peadar McMahon, Bellingham’s favorite Irish musician, has been recording his latest work, which is tentatively planned for a March release. He’s been in the studio with Paul Turpin a couple of times with more sessions planned. You can check out his releases on his Facebook page.

I’ve been told by Gabe Taylor that the FFA disc is just awaiting artwork. Finally, after a couple of years, it will be UNLEASHED TO THE MASSES! When yer talking about metal, you need to use all caps.

Cower have been recording new songs. No word on a release, but them in the studio sounds damn good to me.

Kit Nelson has also been working on a new album with Andrew Jenkins at the controls. The release date is “sometime in the new year,” but here’s hoping it’s soon. She’s also working on a new band that’ll include Julian McDonough (who is, ya know, awesome) and others.

Do I have a copy of the latest Femme Uke recording? Yes I do. Is it absolutely awesome, just like everything else Femme Uke does? Yes it is. Will you be glad you picked it up when it comes out? Yes you will. Out very soon on Most Gross Records (Jenn Hartman and Sam Parker ex-Bellingham folk).

The Endorfins (not Endorphins we apologize for the misspelling in the last issue) have a CD release party on Friday, Jan. 6 at the Old Foundry with Kithkin and Osa. In addition, they are also back in the studio, recording new music with Will “I’m friends with Rob Gronkowski” Glazier.

Yogoman Burning Band is releasing a live recording in February the only recording of YBB as a four-piece. Caught on tape (wow, that’s an old term) at a summer Boundary show, the recording catches the dynamic of YBB’s most interesting set up as a four piece without guitar or keys, the band really got to move around and explore in their space. Look for the debut YBB’s latest line up in February.

Triceracorn is already working on their second album (with the first just being released). I really, really love this band IG88 doing the beats gives it an absurd depth and Beige’s rhymes are ridiculous.

E-clec-ti-ci-ty are also working on their second album. No word yet on when it will be done, think they’re all students, but you should expect pretty good stuff from these guys on the local funk scene. They’ve been known to get people’s asses shaking.

COMING & GOING

Bands seem to be forming daily, including Astronauts and Airballoons, which is comprised of Barrett Lizza, Preston Whitman (Pirate Pirate Motorhome) and Chad from Drogados. According to Barrett, they play a bunch of different, weird instruments, including a theramin, which makes me a little giddy inside. Watch for shows.

Rhombu$ is back! Armed with Jordan Rain on guitar, what started out as a few reunion shows has turned into a week-long tour down to northern California and back. Sounds funny, but I feel like Bellingham’s music scene is better with Rhombu$ playing music again. Hopefully this isn’t just a one shot deal. Check out their Bellingham shows at Jinx on Jan. 18 and later that night down at the Cabin.

Scum Eating have gone through some personnel changes with Jessyca Murphy replacing Robert Lashey on vocals and Henry Miller replacing Bill Anker on drums. Henry spent some time playing drums with Sisturn Moth, so we’re stoked to see him playing again.

Casey Nolan has stepped down as the booking coordinator at WhAAM and has been replaced by Emily Manke. Kate McCracken is the new volunteer coordinator. You are now up to date on the who’s who of WhAAM. Now go to a show.

Bright Weapons are going on a nearly half year hiatus while singer Amy Gibson heads to China for a while. Not sure what “Handsome” Rob is going to do during the break, but he’s gotten pretty good at playing bass through a fuzz pedal, then posting it on youtube. So, there’s that. In the mean time, catch ‘em at Shakedown on Jan. 7 with Shit Machine and Sunshine.

Havilah Rand is back in town for a few months. She recently played a great show down at the Blue Horse, hopefully you’ll see more of her shows before she heads back to Austin. Ms. Rand also has a new disc out, which I hope to pick up very, very soon. Havilah is old school, used to see her play before the magazine even started. Love it when folks keep on keeping on.

GOOD TIMES

Checkmate Music has opened up over on Northwest, by the old Manna Music (if you know where that was, then you are damn old) and, coincidentally, next to Checkmate Pawn. David Payne, aka, The Guitar Doctor, is managing the shop with the help of Zach and Eron from Black Beast Revival. Unlike other music shops, Checkmate gets their items like a pawn shop, so you’ll find different stuff there (I got a trumpet for $25!). Check it out.

Speaking of sounding damn good, I didn’t make it to the Sloths show in December (had the date wrong), but I heard they killed it. There’s something about this band, they almost remind me of Truman’s Water, an old band from San Diego it’s like they’re constantly on the cusp of utter destruction. Always right there, pushed to the limit both sonically and emotionally God I love it. Some of the coolest music I’ve heard in awhile.

IG88 just signed to Portland based Nueva Forma and will be releasing his debut album on Feb. 20. You can check out IG88 special guest set at the What’s Up! Awards show on January 28. If you haven’t checked out IG88, do, you’ll be blown away. What’s inside Branden’s head is very, very interesting.

A band that I absolutely love, The Heligoats, look to be headed out on tour this spring and summer. Which means a new album is probably on the way. Which means I’m happy very, very happy. Chris (The Heligoats) has a unique way of staying under the radar locally, while gaining a loyal following nationally not sure most people realize what a badass he is and that he’s even here.

The 23rd Trailer Wars will be held at the Pickford Film Center on Jan. 11. The theme is Buddy Cop Movies. Let the hilarity commence. That is all.

Bellingham has a new podcast called Project Bellingcast, done by the brilliant minds of Chris Patton and Ross Brackett. The debut podcast includes a roundtable discussion of local restaurants, an interview with the City of Lost Children and an interview with yours truly to kick things off. Chris came by the house, we chatted, he met my wife and kids we had a good time. It was an honor to be on the debut. Check it out, think you’ll enjoy it. You can find the podcast online and on itunes.

Well, think that’s about it for this month, my friends. As always, thanks for reading and supporting the magazine. I look forward to seeing you at the Awards Show!

Brent Cole

editor@whatsup-magazine.com

August 2011 Cover. Awesomeness by Mark Heimer

Hey! My name’s Casey Nolan and Brent Cole has graciously/ senselessly asked me to write Le Beat for the month of August. He specifically wrote to me, “approximately 15,000 people read the mag each month so don’t just tailor stuff to your group of friends… And don’t be snarky about music that you’re not into.” Come on, when have I ever been snarky?

To start things off, I can’t help but remember what it was like reading Le Beat in What’s Up! Magazine for the first time. I had just moved to Bellingham and was attending Fairhaven Middle School where come 3:02, school was out and I had some time before my Mom came to pick me up (sorry I’m writing this and not applying to jobs right now Mom). I remember walking to a coffee shop and grabbing the mag, which was a booklet at the time, finding a spot next to Dirty Dan in the Village Green (before the make-over), and discovering a whole new world of this town that I just moved to. Years past, shows and bands have come and gone, and here I sit on my post-college futon writing to all of you. I’ll do my best.

ON THE ROAD

It is August, the month of touring, so let’s just start here:

Candysound, Palisades, and Cat From Hue are going on tour in August, which is basically the definition of a party bus. The kick-off show is Aug. 19 at Boundary Bay with the notorious No-Fi Soul Rebellion and Rookery. When the boys are back in town, Thin Lizzy style on Aug. 30, So Adult will join the trio for an all-ages show at The Old Foundry. Have fun guys! And wear your seat belts! You’ll be crazy if you don’t.

Speaking of crazy, Teo Crider is having an intense 2011 summer with working on a farm, recording a new EP with Candysound, and going on a 13-show tour to California. He has also created a site for himself that has all of his solo songs, which he never plays in Candysound. I can’t say this enough, this guy is ridiculous. Seriously, I remember meeting him at Western’s Summerstart in 2007 while wearing my “Support Local Music” shirt (thanks Typical Ace).

Speaking of Typical Ace, Derek Rickard, pro-father and gear nerd, is now the bassist of So Adult with Bo Stewart officially back at the drums. So Adult is currently on tour with Jason Clackley and the Exquisities down to California and back. They made a split together courtesy of Andrew Nickerson, currently available online (expect another split featuring So Adult soon). Their tour kick off was at the JINX Art Space with Trees & Stars and EllenOprah.

Falling Upstairs has an album coming out in September and are currently finishing up plans for a tour with Todos Somos Lee and Ship to Ship. I hear they are trying to fit all three bands’ worth of gear into one van. Let the force be with you guys on that one.Falling Upstairs is also playing a show on Aug. 6 at The Shakedown with JILL BRAZIL(!). Should be an amazing show, one not to miss for all those instrumental-math rock nerds out there. I also have to agree with the talented and studdly Toby Riff-ster in that Ship to Ship is amazing and needs to put their real adult lives to the side and play more often.

Now onto things a little bit more serious: SCUMEATING! Good band. Good people. Backed hard. They have a new album coming out in August ON VINYL and they’re also going on tour. Their Aug. 9 show at Glow kicks off the tour and they will be joined by Chambers and Thimble vs. Needle. There’s also a little show coming up Aug. 23 with Broken Water and Grass Widow at The Shakedown…

Let’s talk about Rookery. They’re currently finishing recording an EP and just finished a show with Le Butcherettes at The Shakedown on July 30. I wasn’t able to go because I was in Seattle seeing The Divorce do a reunion show (which by the way was AMAZING), but from what I have been hearing/seeing about this Shakedown show, was that it definitely was “one of those shows.” What I mean by that is this one of those particular shows that you will hear about five years from now and see pictures of downtown and you either wonder “why wasn’t I there?” or my favorite and most common thought when going to The Shakedown’s bathroom, “I wish I was old enough to go to that show.”

SUMMER FLINGS

The ever-popular grassroots music festival Summer Meltdown is coming up. This lineup looks pretty rad thanks to Flowmotion and Terra Roots. Four stages worth of music, onsite camping, river floating, and music workshops– it seems impossible to even imagine being bored at an event like this. Summer Meltdown’s lineup this year features Everyone Orchestra, Orgone, Clinton Fearon & Boogie Brown Band, Acorn Project, Polecat, The Endorphins, Keaton Collective, and so many more!

Then there is the Subdued Stringband Jamboree! I look forward to this every year not even for the festival, but to see the amazing poster that Bison Bookbinding prints for it. Even the tickets look beautiful! This year’s fun times are courtesy of Robert Blake, The Librarians, Yogoman Burning Band, Rattletrap Ruckus, The Crying Shame, Bent Grass, The Gallus Brothers, Naked Hearts, and seriously, so many more bands.

This year’s lineup for the amazing thing that is Total Fest (in Missoula, MT) is simply amazing. But since I just had to destroy my heart and cancel the year-long plan I had of going to my first Total Fest, I will keep this short as to minimize the amount of tears rolling down my cheek: Hammerhead, Big Business, Helms Alee, Japanther, Thrones…I can’t take it any more…

COMINGS & GOINGS

Now on to something that will cheer anyone up: Sarah Jerns. Where do I start with this one? Well, she has a new project. And it’s awesome. The band is called Chambers with Matt Curtis and Ryan Wapnowski. They had their first show at AMP Fest and I must say it’s nice to see Sarah playing guitar. She does a fantastic job and you can tell that she is stoked.

Big ups to new band on the scene Olio. They won Whatcom Community College’s battle of the bands a few months ago and recently finished their album over at Crestview Recording. New bands that are good always rule. You have the opportunity to see them live Aug. 6 at The Old Foundry with Keaton Collective and Trees & Stars.

Another new band that I can’t wait to hear all the time is Totalizer. It is comrpised of Ryan Greer (Black Eyes and Neckties/Rookery) and Ryan Clapper (Tearamanapart/Leatherhorn/Torero) on guitars, Chis Howard on bass, Kyle Roe (Tearamanapart) on the drums, and Nick Dillon on vocals. Their first gig is house show on Aug. 3, but I know that you will be able to catch them all over town soon. There are also some recordings coming out as well…yay!

On a serious note, two of my favorite Bellingham ladies are leaving. Anjali Kusler (EllenOprah/LOA/WhAAM/Ladyfest/Food Not Bombs) is heading off to Seattle. She is one of those people in this town that doesn’t get nearly enough recognition for the amount that she does. I hope wherever she goes has numerous neighborhood cats for her. Valerie Brogden (Mechanical Dolls/Connecticut Four/ Shrapnelles/Burn Out) is going off to Peru to teach for a year! I’ll never forget seeing her play for the first time at the Viking Union for Localpalooza when she was drumming for Mechanical Dolls–I still think she is one of the coolest girls in the world. Bellingham will miss you both!

Bye-Bye Bunker Haus. Yet another house has fallen victim of a noise citation. The Bunker will no longer be having shows at the house. This falls in question as to where will all of these underground touring bands play? To all those who live at The Bunker, I know I’m not alone in saying thank you for your hospitality, your indoor half-pipe, and the chill times that you provided.

Pirate Pirate Motorhome had their last show on July 29 at The Fairhaven Pub. That band has definitely been going for a while in town and around the Northwest region. I’m sure we haven’t heard the last of them.

We’d like to welcome Joel Ricci of Lucky Brown and The Librarians fame back to Bellingham. Recently married, he and is wife Ivy have decided to move from Portland and make Bellingham home. Welcome back!

RECORDS & RELEASES

Because of the weather this summer, it appears that all these musicians and bands have been okay with being inside writing and recording. There are so many new releases!

The Bad Tenants is releasing Our Neighborhood at the end of this summer. The Carnelian Agency helped out the Endorphin boys put out their latest CD called Union of Opposites. Bellingham’s hardcore band Envision has a new record, which is joyous to anyone’s ears. Todos Somos Lee also has a new album coming out in August. I was able to hear some of it, and it sounds flawless! Fanny Alger also is coming out with a new record. IG88 currently has a new album available online called Blackberry Light, and just in case you forgot, the band features Jenni Potts, Mike Harris and Ricky Wilson. Vantage has a second full album coming out. Librarians also have a new album coming out called Lorem Ipsum. Additionally, the band just returned from a trip to Woodstock, NY to record their first full-lenth record which will be at the Subdued Stringband Jamboree.

RAD TIMES

Snug Harbor recently took down the newly painted and beautifully styled Make.Shift van down south for a show. That’s right folks, the van is ready to hit the road! If you’re in a band and need transportation to a show, you can go to Make.Shift’s website and find more information there. It’s pretty easy. The van is parked outside of Make.Shift’s new spot at The JINX space if you would like to go to check it out. Personally, I would love to see this van become part of Bellingham’s one of many visual staples. You know what I mean, those sights where all the Western freshman take pictures by and title the group of photos “Bellingham Adventures: Part 1.”

Speaking of good things, need to say a happy 21st to Carlton Eide. He turned 21 this past month and is now able to join the big kids at shows. Congrats man, you’ve earned it. Carlton is doing a nice job over at The Old Foundry and managing local Western band Lamppost Revival who have a new live album out for all of our ears to listen to. The dude does many things in this town and in Seattle. I’m glad to hear that he had a good birthday.

The Pickford Film Center is having their Official Grand Opening starting on Aug. 12 and going all weekend long. Look out for some local musicians playing their lobby while volunteers and staff give tours and some buskers play before each showing on Friday! More information can be found on the Pickford’s website.

Attention kids who went to Yellingham: remember all of those cameras that you saw everywhere? No, they weren’t undercover police interns BUT friends of Jake Waluconis, a student at Evergreen College who has made a documentary on Yellingham for his schoolwork. The class required him to make a 15-minute film, but he still has all of the footage (he had to buy a new hard drive) and plans to make a full-length film including “special features” showing a song of each band playing. Hopefully we can look forward to a viewing at The Pickford’s new center?

In the ultimate grudge match, two of Bellingham best DJ crews, Wishbone and Blessed Coast will square off on August 18 at Glow in a head to head, winner take all battle where the winner… Well, frankly, I don’t what’s at stake, but this should be a hell of a fun night for fans of Wishbone or Blessed Coast.

Well, I hope you enjoy this issue of What’s Up! Magazine. Thanks Brent for giving me the chance to write this issue’s Le Beat, and thanks to Mark Heimer for creating this month’s cover. Genius. Hi Mom and Dad!

Casey Nolan

EDITORS NOTE

I’d like to thank everyone who came out to the What’s Up! benefit at Glow on July 27. Special thanks go out to DJ Einstein, who organized the whole event and Evan Cooper, the owner of Glow who kept me laughing all night. Many thanks go out to Boris Budd, Luke Warm and the Moderates, Jenni Potts with IG88, Bloodshot with Raw Jawz, Keaton Collective and Polecat for their great performances. We made a nice chunk of money that helped tremendously with our printing bill. AND, thanks to all who came down!

We’d like to also bid fond farewell to Boris Budd, who will be moving on to other projects. Boris has put in some serious time with the magazine and we’re forever grateful. Thanks man!

Brent Cole

What's Up! Magazine Cover - July 2011. Artwork by Jessica Lynch / Slow Loris

Oh my sexy friends, welcome to summer. Try to keep your clothes on while going to shows. Helps us all out.

Thanks to the kind folks at Glow as well as Polecat, Jenni Potts with IG88, Bloodshot with Raw Jawz, Keaton Collective and a special guest, What’s Up! will be having a benefit on Wednesday, July 27 which is really cool, ‘cuz we can use the cash. We run a pretty bare bones operations (to say the least) and when advertising crashes out, as it has this summer (and often does during the summer), it can be a bit of a problem. Thankfully, in a time of need, the community steps forward and helps us out ya’ll have in the past and we hope you do again. It’s going to be a big show, we’ll see ya there. And thank you in advance.

Also, as a side note, a lot of bands are releasing new recordings, and when I say a lot, I mean, “Good God I’ve never seen this happen in town.” So, a few of you have been asking if your recording will be reviewed. We are not ignoring them, there are just A LOT of new recordings out right now. We try and review every CD we get and if we don’t, it might have slipped through the cracks. We’ve decided to expand the review section from two to three pages to get more reviews out each month, but as of right now, we still have approximately 30 recordings that need to be reviewed. Some of them are fantastic too (Erin Corday, I’m looking in your direction), so hang tight. They’re coming.

COMINGS & GOINGS

A couple of lifelong Bellingham musicians will be moving out of town soon both of whom have greatly contributed to the music scene over the years and have been friends. First off, Daniel Anderson will be moving to Los Angeles in September into the swanky Brentwood area and paying less than he does in Bellingham. It always bums me out when folks leave town, but this move just kinda makes sense. (And Daniel swears he’s saving money and working at buying a house back up in Bellingham in a few years. We hold him to it.)

The other big name leaving town is Brad Lockhart, who graduated from Western with a design degree and, gasp, received a job with it. Unfortunately, it’s in Seattle. As of press time, I haven’t heard the official word on the future of the Baltic Cousins, but I’ve seen bands spread farther and continue, so I’ve gotta assume they’ll be rolling along. They’re a damn good band, so I hope so.

Jake Hemming of Big Sur (and big awesomeness) will also be moving to Seattle. I’m sorry to see all three of these guys go they’ve all contributed largely to the music scene in different ways. But, that’s the way this town goes (the life of a college town) a lot of people move away and right now the next wave of musicians who will rock our world is just getting started in some crappy band, playing crappy music with hints of something special. As they learn how to play, those hints will become what entertains us for a while.

Looks like Josh Holland made one hell of an impression on the Hyro da Hero folks because they want him back for additional tours. Jay Clark will be back on guitar, so Josh is going to play bass and it sounds like for a while. The next tour will hit the East Coast and then travelling the world from there. One month on, one month off schedule. The downside to Josh’s rock ‘n’ roll stardom? Zorbatron and Dog Shredder two of my favorite Bellingham bands are both on the backburner. Prior to their most recent show, Zorbatron said it’ll be the last one for “a while.” Hopefully Josh will rock local bands during the months he’s home.

The other day, I met one of the guys in Falling Upstairs, Ryan Wapnoski. He seemed like a nice guy, we started chatting about music a bit (briefly, since I was in line at the co-op). Turns out his band is absolutely amazing murder jazz is the genre they call themselves, but they’re obviously inspired by Jill Brazil (old school Bellingham band who played ridiculous music). Crazy, screwed up music something this town doesn’t have nearly enough of. What’s my point? Cool dude, cool band definitely the best part of this job. Ryan also plays in Pan Pan and has joined up with Strongbow Jerns and Matt Curtis to form Chambers. The new wave of the music scene.

Well, the Green Frog Acoustic Tavern is “on vacation,” right now. I like to call it a vacation, because I know right now owner James Hardesty is reading this saying, “vacation, this isn’t any f***ing vacation!” In all seriousness, Hardesty is hard at work fixing up the new location of the Green Frog Acoustic Tavern, which will be conveniently located next to the Ridge Winery at 1015 State Street (The Ridge, by the by, has been putting on some great shows). As of press time, there is no official word as to when James will reopen, but when he does, he will have a much cooler place (which is saying something, ‘cuz his old place was pretty cool), a bit bigger capacity, and a deck. It doesn’t overlook the bay or anything, but it’s outside and beer always tastes better outside (if the Shawshank Redemption taught me anything). Plus, if he can make the master plan work (we’re talkin’ “in the future,”) it’s going to be absolutely epic. But, for now, we’ll settle for awesome.

WhAAM and Make.Shift have found a new home and it’s Jinx! Watch for details about the transformation, which officially occurs on July 1, but in the mean time, Jinx will be hosting their final event on July 2, a formal prom. The evening includes music from Beach Boys II Men (cover band with some of your favorite pop musicians), a BBQ, circus performers, photos by Morgan Ellis, corsages by Aireekah Laudert and a repeat performance of Zach Zinn in his tent (which is a lot less creepy than it sounds). It’s going to be one hell of a night to say goodbye!

Just a couple months ago, Bellingham was a one screen indie theater kind of town. Then, the awesome new double screen theater opened up. Now, thanks to the tireless efforts of the Pickford Film Center, especially Michael Faulter, the old Pickford has been revamped and reopened as The Limelight. Better sight lines and more leg room who doesn’t love that!? The theater promises to have a looser format and are currently showing a bunch of old grindhouse films. Expect it to be home to more local film works like Trailer Wars. Support independent movies!

It appears Tender Situation, the Ween cover band and the Jebs, the loose Minutemen cover band, have combined forces to make Jeb’s Tender Situation a Mr. Bungle cover band. Actually, the two bands, which share the same members, have decided to just go by the Jebs and will now begin playing more originals. Pretty talented bunch of dudes, no reason not to write their own songs.

ON THE ROAD

I ran into Lucas Hicks at the Bellingham Farmers Market the other day and he mentioned, among other things, that the Gallus Brothers will be headed back to Alaska for nine days in August. Nine days in Alaska in August? Yep, that sounds damn cool. I known the past the boys have been hugely popular on their AK tours, so this time should be much of the same.

Speaking of tours… did Bowlcut have a rough one last month. You can read about the full escapades in this month’s Tales from the Road (page 34), but I’ll wet your whistle with these three little nuggets: flat tire outside of Portland (in the middle of the night), their van died in central California, and Casey “Queen of the kickass” Nolan had a LONG Greyhound ride home. Frankly, one of the worst tour stories I’ve heard but that’s part of why you do it for the experience. Even if they suck! Good job for sticking with it the best you can.

I haven’t heard the official scene, but I know Cat From Hue are in the middle of a tour right now and hitting some real bumps in the road.

So Adult are headed out on a 10-day tour at the end of the month with Jason Clackley and the Exquisites. The tour’s kick off will be at Jinx (same great name, new great owners) and the band is threatening to have a new split take with Jason for sale. The tape is kind of a way to buy some time while they finish their album (recorded by Jackson Long, whose day job is being the drum tech for Jason McGerr of Death Cab for Cutie). If you’ve checked out Pollstar lately, they’ve been on the road a lot, so it’s been tough for the band to finish the goods. I am told “soon” though.

BOOKED & HOOKED

Downtown Sounds will begin on July 6 with performances by the March Fourth Marching Band and Lucky Brown, and run every Wednesday on Bay Street. I could go into how awesome it’ll be, but you should just take my word for it and show up. Great shows every week, with a beer garden and stuff for the kids it’s pretty much got it all. Check out the full schedule at downtownbellingham.com/downtownsounds/.

ON THE RECORD

Dog Shredder will be releasing a new full length album in the summer or fall. Wish I had more concrete details than that (it will be called Doorbell Volume) but when it comes out, I imagine, it’ll be awesome. Not sure if you’ve all figured this out, but I really like this band.

Kit Nelson has begun working on her latest and greatest recording. She recorded something a while back, but didn’t end up releasing a lot (nearest I can tell). So, this will be her debut recording and since she has a sonically awesome voice and great talent, I assume it’ll be great. At this point, I’m just waiting…

Skagit County’s The Daffodils, which features members of Language Arts (for those of us over 35 who remember that band) will be recording a new album with Bruce Harvie out on Orcas Island. They’ll actually be in Olga, right down the road from Doe Bay, a place I like to call nirvana. Spent a couple days out there last month with the family it’s pure heaven. I couldn’t imagine a better place to record some good pop songs.

Envision have released a new album of brutal, sonic skull crushing music, or so I’ve been told. Mr. Awesome, Joe Olmstead, hasn’t gotten me the goods yet (hint, hint). He’s not in the band or anything, just my “connect.”

Torero’s debut is out and, as you expect, it’s heavy as hell and awesome. Check out their bandcamp page to hear the goods. (Actually, ya know, there’s a ton of great music on the bandcamp Bellingham tag, so, get on it! Listen!)

Before I sign off for this month, I want to mention a few things. First off, if you can find a recording by the band Medelicioius (Bellingham, circa 1993), grab it and love it. The drummer Johnny Catt from Fanny Alger, got me the goods and I fell in love with the band all over again. One of the best, that’s for sure. Second, on a totally different note, when the magazine started in 1998, bands didn’t tour very often, nor did they record a ton. Now things couldn’t be further from that time. Well done, Bellingham! Well done.

Happy birthday to our daughter Ruby, our 4th of July girl , and to our son Harrison, who shares a birthday with momma on the 26th.

Hugs and kisses, Brent

editor@whatsup-magazine.com

Fanny Alger went to the “Birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll” at the famous Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee to record this 14-track album called Does Memphis. Sun Studios produced some of the most famous names in rock ‘n’ roll, like Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. It’s an icon, a museum and a living studio. Four months after Fanny Alger recorded there, John Mellencamp recorded nine tracks for his current album.

With studio cred like this it’s no surprise that the album is crisp and clear with an outstanding mix. Peppered throughout are some classic covers, five of them total. The covers have a wide variety of instruments and full soundscapes, where the originals are more basic straight ahead bar band rock.

Owen Money on lead vocals has a quirky sense of humor. The lyrics for the songs are sarcastic, funny, and youthful. Junior Mintz on bass lays down the low end tightly with articulate drummer Jon E Catt. Lew Dax on keyboards enhances the mood of the songs. Blind Lemon Pledge on guitar keeps the music upbeat and rockin.

Best described as slapstick bar band rock, Fanny Alger proclaims their shows to be Revivals. The music has a southern backwoods swamp appeal to it. The lyrics seem mostly like uneducated juvenile humor with lines like “You’re Ugly, you get beat up by nerds”, “Cheryl Teigs is Hot” and “The ladies are appreciative and show us their…”. The funniest line had to go to the song ‘Black Yeti’, “Give my eyes for grandma’s biscuits, go blind, for biscuits.” It seems like the band doesn’t take themselves too seriously, but they definitely have fun.

The cover tunes were well done and when removed from the originals are in a different class. Recording a cover of “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash, at the studio it was recorded at, had to be an experience.

Overall the album has a professional sound to it and the packaging is very nice. Fanny Alger clearly likes to have fun, and the recording shows it.

Released on: Fast Sunday Entertainment
For more visit: www.fannyalger.com