What's Up! Magazine - October 2011. Artwork by Madi Nupcharoen

Usually I would say something cutesy here. For example, I was going to tell the story on how I was grounded when I was 10 for requesting Offspring’s “Pretty Fly for a White Guy” instead of Britney Spear’s “Hit Me Baby One More Time” (like I told my mom I would) on a radio station. But there’s too much going on, too much to talk about!

THINGS ARE A BREWIN’

First, something that everyone’s been waiting to officially hear, JINX Art Space will be re-opening its doors under new ownership! Make.Shift took over the lease and purchased the business from Michelle Schutte and Django Bohren late spring. After many pizza work parties involving dry walling, painting, sweeping, and many other “slight modifications,” the space is done. On Oct. 7, the doors will officially open for Art Walk and the theme is “The Black Forest: Fear and Nature.” Along with the many artists showing off their work, the Bellingham Circus Guild will be there along with Bar Tabac. I hope anyone that has been to an Art Walk at JINX or to a show happens to take some time on Oct. 7 and go check out the work that community members have put many hours of their summer into.

And then (drum roll please!), Whatcom All Ages Arts and Music (WhAAM) will also be part of JINX Art Space! WhAAM will be hosting all of the shows, as JINX will continue to be an all ages venue in Bellingham. The organization has taken the time off it needed to regroup and reorganize itself. It’s looking for new staff members and volunteers so if anyone is interested in doing anything then just head over to whaam.org. The first show is on Oct. 13 with Oakland’s Big Kids, Seattle’s Jason Clackley and the Exquisites, along with Bellingham’s own So Adult and Livingston Seagull. The official grand opening will happen on Saturday Oct. 22 with No-Fi Soul Rebellion, Candysound, and Bright Weapons. Halloween’s my favorite though. I love me some cover bands! The Misfits, Black Sabbath, and The Ramones will grace the stage on Saturday, Oct. 29. I love it!

Another new development is the purchase of The Nightlight space. For those newbies of Bellingham let me do a naive attempt at explaining The Nightlight to you. The Nightlight was this really cool bar/ club that is huge inside. There were two pool tables, a ping pong table, an amazing sound system, a personal short/wide stage, and the sweetest lay out. But it is big. Amazing shows have happened there. Right before I turned 21, I missed my roommate open up for Shonen Knife (I was five days short of being 21). There were problems with ownership, problems with money, etc. the story can go on but it doesn’t matter. The fact is that the Nightlight had become, after a while, just another empty building. Every time you walked by the space, your soul would just cry for its loss. Well, Brian Tines (owner of The Royal, Bellingham Bar and Grill, and Big Fat Fish Co, and the former Fairhaven, which recently closed) purchased the lease. You might have heard from Cascadia Weekly’s beautiful Carey Ross, but he has no plan of opening as a music venue and will call the club space The Underground, opening Oct. 5. Personally, I have no problem with this. As much as it saddens me to see the potential of a venue turn into something else, I have no power over it and I’m sure he’ll do something great that serves a niche in Bellingham’s business community that’s missing. The only thing that I’m not looking forward to is confusing the Underground Coffeehouse on Western’s campus with this Underground.

Moving along the alleyway and on to Cap Hansen’s Tavern, Sept. 30 was the last day of ownership for John and Liz Krusenstiern. Aaron Roeder will be the new owner and word is that he plans on having music more often in the bar. I love this idea. I’m excited. I don’t remember a single time disliking a show that I saw there. I say bring on more sweaty, overcrowded, seat standing show nights at Cap’s any time!

Now let’s move up the street and take a right heading towards the location of the new Green Frog Acoustic Tavern, opening soon. Not only will they be serving different forms of liquids than before, but they also plan on continuing their legacy of having fantastic shows! Stay tuned for their official opening. Something I’m looking forward to personally: their rooftop deck.

ON THE RECORD

New subject, new topic: FULL FRONTAL ASSAULT! If anyone has seen their DVD, it’s awesome, and let it be known that I want a copy. Their full length disc is coming out soon according to Bobby Savage. Both Chris Nelson and New Regard Media are going to put it out. I can’t believe that those boys have time for this. Next to Devilry, Phreddie and the Nightmares, Ball Bereth, and Leatherhorn, and you thought Brent Cole was busy.

Odd Ones Out are making their way through Washington. They recently played at a Mojo Music showcase at Boundary Bay and will also be part of the SurfRider Benefit at Boundary Bay on Oct. 8. The band is also going to be recording an EP at Binary Recordings before the end of the year! These are some busy guys for all being younger than 14 years old.

Dog Shredder is currently working on getting their second EP out this year. Originally, the band was going to have a full length, but now they plan on releasing two EPs. They’re recording with Adam Pike at the Toadhouse in Portland and supposedly it is “brutal.” I don’t know Josh, prove it. I can’t wait till they start recording a full length next year!

David Ney is also working on releasing his solo record that’s going to be titled Blackened. The release will come with a 7-inch and a 12-inch packaged together with a 100 limited run pressed. Look out in October for a kickstarter for the funds for this Will Smith Bad Boy.

Speaking of Bad Boys, the dudes in Keaton Collective are getting ready for their third album release! They will be releasing a single on Oct. 30 at The Shakedown, which is just so 2011 of them. The full length will be presented to the world on Jan. 1, 2012.

COMINGS & GOINGS

A somewhat sad ending has happened in Bellingham, or maybe perhaps just a new chapter. Yogoman Burning Band are going on a break. You don’t even have to be a native of Bellingham to know and understand what Yogoman means for Bellingham. They played a forgotten cancelled show at the Bellingham Bay Marathon Finish Line Festival towards the end of September. The band will be looking for bass guitar, keyboard, trombone, trumpet, sousaphone or saxophone members to add to the crew. If interested you can contact Jordan Rain. But one thing’s for sure; it’s not New Years Eve in Bellingham with out Yogoman Burning Band. That’s one thing that we can depend on in this ever-changing town.

Zorbatron is also supposedly done for the time being. According to Josh Holland, the band is currently not practicing or has anything booked. Maybe we’ll see them again in another six years? I hope it’s much sooner than that…

I feel like it’s not a le beat write up with out the mention of Teo Crider somewhere. That boy is always up to something! He is now playing solo around town under the moniker of Porch Party. Look out for him in a caf near you!

A group of local musicians have been putting together a compilation series called Your Songs Here. Each compilation has a theme. The first one was Space and Volume. Volume Two, which was just released, is about hometowns. All of these songs are available through BandCamp and any artist is allowed to send in songs and be part of the comp! The holiday volume should be really fun to hear!

Johnny V has officially left Bellingham, and when someone leaves for Russia for two years, comes the handling of certain belongings. The classic and Bellingham known “Mount Vernon Church of Nazarene” van (formerly possessed by Clickpop/ The Trucks/ Rooftops) now belongs to the former Bellingham-ite Clyde Peterson of Your Heart Break/Boating with Clyde/ and Cold Lake. Things that stay with the family are always good in my book.

RAD TIEMES

If October doesn’t get you thrilled with the beautiful fallen leaves then maybe dancing does. Every Halloween, Bellingham puts on their dead zombie-like apparel and Michael Jacksons their way down the streets for Thrillingham. This year the performances will be held in Fairhaven (7:30 p.m.) and at Maritime Heritage Park (9 p.m.). Check out the Facebook page for details.

Trailer Wars is coming to the end of another year. It is time once again for the 2nd annual Trailer aWARds. On Oct. 5 at the Pickford, you can expect the town getting in its finest and awarding those writers with the best lines, the best costumes, best romantic scene, and of course, the trailer of the year. Good luck to all of those nominated and let the best trailer win!

Also in the upcoming days is the first (of hopefully many) Ham Country Revival Fest. From Oct. 6-8, country music will be taking over downtown Bellingham spreading over many venues. From the Honey Moon to the Blue Horse Gallery, from McKay’s to Cap’s. The festival includes all ages venues and bars (no complaining here you young-yons!) More information about performances and dates can be found online.

AS POP and Underground Coffeehouse are off to a strong start this year. Over 1,200 people attended the free Ra Ra Riot and The Globes show. Then on Oct. 11, Young The Giant will be on campus along with Kithkin! Then at the Underground Coffeehouse, Nick Drummond (former member of The Senate) and Tyler Carson will be perfoming along with Jenna Freeman on Oct. 5.

THANKS & CONTGRATS

Thanks to young artist and local resident Madi Nupcharoen for contributing this month’s cover art. She’s been painting for two years, and also did the artwork for Studio Galactica’s ad. Way to go kid!

Congratulations go to Paul Turpin and Krissa Woiwood for having their first daughter, Harriett Kay Woiwod Von Turpin. The baby came into the world on time, healthy, and looking awesome. Krissa and Paul, congratulations again, Harriet is beautiful and has a great Bellingham family to help raise her.

A soon congratulations to Brent and Becca! The Cole family is expecting a new baby in the family any day. Knowing their other two kids, this one will definitely be metal. Not only that but the family adopted a puppy named Roxy; a new baby and a puppy, why not? Let it be known that I’m down to baby sit anytime… the puppy at least.

That’s it for the Le Beat for October, my favorite time of the year in Bellingham. Wearing two light jackets and kicking the fallen bright colored leaves, there’s seriously nothing like it. I’m fortunate to have grown up and lived her here for nearly 10 years. But after job-hunting since I graduated in spring, and the current job market, I am fortunate enough to have been offered a job in Seattle and will be making my voyage down south. I’ll still be up here for the music, friends, and the parents nearly every weekend. I’ll never have a “last weekend in Bellingham” party. Thank you to everyone who has helped me out when in need, fed me, given me jobs, taught me a lesson, or told me that waking up at 5 a.m. to run Taylor Stairs is a “healthy thing to do.”

Thanks Bellingham, I’ll see you at the shows!

- Casey Nolan

An Interview with Charlie Baker. Photo by Haylee Nighbert

An Interview with Charlie Baker. Photo by Haylee Nighbert

An Interview with Charlie Baker. Photo by Haylee Nighbert

An Interview with Charlie Baker. Photo by Haylee Nighbert

Charlie Baker hesitantly re-approached playing music after a 30-year hiatus from it all together. His desire to be a more independent musician brought him back around, even though he had put off playing music due to his abhorrence with the culture surrounding the so-called “music scene.” The egocentrism that surrounded being in a band became understandably tiresome so he put off playing until he could feel good about performing again. “It really ate at me to the point where I got disgusted and quit playing entirely,” Baker explains. The love for his craft pulled him back into booking gigs again, which included a weekly show at the Honey Moon and a recent stint at Archer Ale House in Fairhaven.

Charlie’s sound is a refreshing take on the novelty and irony of classic folk rock, country, and blues. His live show consists of various covers, spanning from Bob Dylan to John Prine. “We kind of have a catch phrase for what I’m doing: stories in song. That’s really what it’s all about. Every song is a story, regardless of genre.”

As for his recently recorded EP, there’s only one song that’s created originally but Baker has future recording plans that will incorporate more of his new material. The EP is a great taste of his live presence and captures his lighthearted style, along with the ability to make fun of himself. That isn’t saying that his material is specifically about him or his experiences. They’re much more a statement of others’ truest and rawest emotions within the lives of everyday people.

Baker first started out playing on college campuses and coffee shops in the late 60′s. In the 80′s he joined up with a couple bands, inevitably leading to his dismissal of the music industry entirely. The pressure to play top 40 and overwhelming ego of his bandmates drove him to the edge and he dropped all public musical ventures. With family support, Charlie got back on the saddle and rediscovered his love for performing. He also plays occasionally in a folk rock venture called James Higgins and the Muddy Boots Band. “I really love the music I play in a band, and strapping on a guitar and being the lead guitarist for the night is really fun,” admitted Charlie, “It feels good to get back to the roots and remember what it’s all about.”

When Charlie started out, the music industry was a far cry from what it is today. Artists are almost entirely self-sufficient now. The days where you were extremely lucky to be able to record in a “real life studio” have ended and booking time with a recording studio is a phone call away. Rather than record companies draining musicians of their last dime, the artist gets paid a majority of the sales directly by selling their wares on iTunes or other online music services. But at the same time, the musician is almost entirely responsible for their own marketing and representation which can be a daunting process for younger musicians. For Baker, it’s an exercise of his return to the music he unconditionally loves.

Playing independently again has been an enlightening experience for Charlie. He’s gained attention from both young and older crowds, but his main goal is bridging the gap between the generations and uniting the audience with his music.

“I feel like my job is to go there for that three minutes, and if I’m really doing my job right the audience is with me for those three minutes,” Baker explains. “It’s all about connecting. That’s all that matters.”

For more information about Charlie Baker, visit www.myspace.com/charliebakermusic.

I liked Charlie Baker so much I saw him twice at the Honey Moon.

It was a random encounter; I heard through a friend that he was really good, and ended up at the wine and mead bar to see him perform. His set-up was elaborate for one guy, alternating between three different guitars and playing a couple classic rock covers as well as some folk songs he came up with.

According to his grandson, Charlie has been playing guitar since he was 11. Before playing the Honey Moon, he took a very long musical hiatus; more than a couple decades had gone by since he last performed.

You know when you know someone is a born musician? That’s the feeling I got watching Charlie play. His sound has such a firm grasp on folk and the raw emotion that goes into playing the genre. It was a seamless transition between man and guitar.

There’s one song in particular that stuck out. It was reminiscent of “Redemption Song” and Bob Dylan, a song about “your dirty little war.” It’s about the desire to detach oneself from a war that has nothing to do with its citizens. It was powerful. I got shivers when he played it.

He’s a great act to watch while enjoying a glass of Honey Moon mead. I can tell you that.