The Librarians (photographed here performing at the annual Subdued Stringband Jamboree) has released its debut album Lorem Ipsum. Photo by Rowan Dart

With their debut release, Lorem Ipsum, the Librarians have created a beautiful, warm and haunting album that makes you think of a cozy fire, good wine and a late night with close friends.

The band travelled to Woodstock, NY to record the album with their good friends Mike Merenda and Ruthy Ungar (the duo played at this year’s Subdued Stringband Jamboree). Featuring Carly Nelson on vocals and guitar, Kevin Nelson on bass, Joel Ricci on vocals and trumpet, Bruce Shaw on bass, and Allegra Ziffle on fiddle (with the help of Mike and Ruthy in the studio as well), the Librarians’ trip east helped the band create a wonderful piece of work, a debut album that they should be proud of.

The overwhelming characteristic of Lorem Ipsum is warmth – warmth in the recording, warmth in the songwriting and warmth in the musicianship. Everything feels like the listener is at a friend’s house a house with character and charm where you sit and have some wine while watching your friends play in the living room (which is how The Librarians practice – in the living room of Carly and James Nelson’s house). The atmosphere of the album is loose, a little sad and overwhelmingly beautiful, much like the band’s live show.

Stylistically, the songs all fit into the acoustic category, often sounding like they were recorded with one mic in the center of the room, and run the gamut from bluegrass inspired to old timey to country. The standout song is the instrumental “Where You been Lil’ Hoss,” it’s soft and haunting with guitar keeping the rhythm, trumpet floating over the top and fiddle working in between the two. The chord progression is the same throughout the song, but the beauty lies within its simplicity – just a little number to change the album up, but the music is stunning.

Most of the singing is done by Carly, though Joel sometimes adds his talents. Lorem Ipsum includes three instrumentals as well, keeping the album moving forward while simultaneously breaking it up.

While there’s an element of familiarity to the album, it’s not without surprises. The biggest of which is how beautifully Joel’s trumpet works within the music – seemingly at the right time or in the right song, it adds another dimension to the music. The trumpet is not featured on each song, but when it is, it’s like a perfect spice, the perfect texture, the perfect tone for the song.

For their debut album, the Librarians have created a truly wonderful album. Hopefully it’s the first of many.

Self Released
For more, visit www.bisonbookbinding.com

The Librarians

The Librarians

The Librarians

As I step into the house where I am to meet The Librarians I am greeted by the smell of black pepper, and the warmth of a home cooked meal.

From an old wooden stereo comes the mastered version of The Librarian’s newest recordings. The musicians themselves sit in the dimly lit living room–listening to the music, their instruments about the place like furniture–and mill around the kitchen and backdoor. A wooden table set for eight is the centerpiece of the room, and Carly James (vocals and guitar) welcomes me with a handshake and a smile before moving to tend her stove. Lakota, a small cinnamon colored dog, ambles around seeking affection and Joel Ricci (vocals and trumpet) offers me a mug of wine. The hominess and comfort of this place is undeniable. This is the practice space for The Librarians, and for them, it seems just about perfect.

The Librarians came together in 2005 during jam sessions with friends at The Mill in downtown Bellingham. More and more friends started joining in, and as Kevin Nelson (bass) puts it, “Eventually, we had to take it to the stage,” for which I know many local music goers are oh-so thankful.

Where the name comes from is debatable–Kevin says he thought of it, while Carly insists she has a better memory and thought of it herself–but The Librarians’ main twosome, Carly and Kevin, own Bison Bookbinding & Letterpress and wanted to keep things in the literary family.

The band’s sound is just as homey as their practice space. Kevin calls it “orchestral folk” while Joel refers to The Librarians as his “country band,” Bruce Shaw (banjo, madolin, guitjo) adding that, “You can find our music in any aisle in the library,” to laughs and smiles of agreement from the group. Which is true, because to be a Librarian, one must learn to “play quietly.”

Other qualifications include but are not limited to being easy going, a good listener, and just plain lucky. “You have to be open to change and allowing the music to evolve,” Kevin noted, adding later that, “We play how we play. We’re not trying to fit into any kind of genre.”

If they had to choose, they would say to “file us under genreless,” despite iTunes’ attempt at cornering them into specifics like folk and even chamber music. Joel speaks of the groups’ sound-force, and that, “There’s a sort of daring in our band to reach beyond the idiom.”

But despite all this abstract talk of the metaphysics of Librarianism, the songs they write rarely hide meanings or go beyond the literal. “Song inspirations aren’t deep, hidden messages,” Carly said, “just a simple day in the life of a deer, or a cat, or a gardener.” The group also gains inspiration from food and the home-cooked meals they share together, resulting in songs like “Western Spaghetti.”

In fact, Bruce calls food one of the best things about being a Librarian. “[But], as good as the food is, playing the music is one of the best things [about being a Librarian],” Allegra Ziffle (fiddle) said. “We’re always improving.”

And the best moments are when everyone makes it to a gig, they all agree, which can be difficult, considering just how many of them there are. The set-up ranges from three to eight, depending on who’s in town and can make it to the gig.

Unfortunately, not every band member is always even allowed on stage. “One of the worst things is playing venues that don’t allow dogs on stage,” Kevin said. But overall, the band is really interested in being in the moment, meaning that as the set-up changes, the songs evolve and that’s a good thing.

People have come and gone from the group, but the sound is still distinctly Librarian. “We’re pretty low-key people and we like each other,” Carly said. But just because a few members can’t make it to the gig doesn’t mean the show won’t go on. This kind of low-key versatility works well for The Librarians and is something that as an audience member I can really appreciate.

And when you find yourself in the audience at a Librarians show, know that the groups’ favorite kind of crowds are the listening ones, pure and simple. However, at one show the group experienced some whistling from the room at key musical points, leading them to believe that some audience member had really good taste. At the end of the set they realized that the whistling actually came from a rather large parrot. “Hey, man, that parrot had good taste,” Joel laughed. “We like it when our audiences are parrots,” Bruce said as straight-faced as possible.

“But we’re really buzzing about this new recording,” Carly added earnestly, and it’s easy to see why. From what I’ve heard The Librarians’ newest recordings, titled Lorem Ipsum, are pitch perfect and beautifully mastered with everything you could want from the homey, folky, orchestral, genreless group. Wikipedia says it’s Latin, or really faux Latin, and the publishing influence has found its way into the group once more in the title, which is the placeholder text used in publishing before the actual text is added in. You can get your own copy of Lorem Ipsumat the Subdued Stringband Jamboree, mostly because, “It’s the only way we could get 1,000 people to come to our CD release,” Carly joked.

See The Librarians on Aug. 13 at the Subdued Stringband Jamboree. The band also performs at the Honey Moon later this month and every last Saturday of the month at The Ridge.For more, follow them on Facebook.

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 - May 2011. Artwork by Jess Hara

Good morning, good morning, hello hello. Welcome to the month of May. I hope everyone is doing well this month and you’re ready to read a little bit on the Bellingham music scene, sliced and diced right into these very pages.

Each month, I like to begin this column with a little on what’s happening on the What’s Up! front.

The What’s Up! Presents at the Pickford Film Center (which is NOT called the Pickford Dream Space, as we stated last month, our apologies) is continuing this month with two very cool films. The first, which runs May 20-21 at 9 p.m. (Friday and Saturday) is about Jesse Bernstein, in I Am Secretly an Important Man. Having grown up in Seattle during Bernstein’s heyday the 70s and 80s I was well versed in the eccentric ways of the city’s best known beat poet. He played shows with bands like Soundgarden and Nirvana that were manic, disturbing and often brilliant gaining him the attention of such luminaries as Oliver Stone. In October of 1991, Berstein stabbed himself in the throat, ending his life and furthering his legend. The film examines the life and work of fascinating and troubled Bernstein. Next, on May 24, we’ll be presenting a single showing of Howl at 8 p.m.. Staring James Franco, the movie is about Allen Ginsburg and his seminal poem, Howl – another cool film if yer a fan of poetry. Then, June 3-4 at 9 p.m., we’ll be presenting The Upsetter: The Life and Music of Lee Scratch Perry. If yer a fan of reggae, this is a must see but even if you aren’t, it’s a damn good film. Directors Ethan Higbee and Adam Bhala Lough delve into the music industry and Lee Scratch Perry’s life within that context. Three great films over a two-week span at the Pickford, you should check ‘em out.

Now onto the music.

BOOKED & HOOKED

Minus the rough start, Yellingham 2011 was a huge success. The police shut down the Contra show (the house address was listed in a different publication), but let all the other ones go off without a hitch. So, next time you want to be a jerk to the police, remember they actually let Yellingham happen when they could’ve worked to shut the whole thing down. Not sure how the Yellingham organizers will top this year’s, it was so big, so cool, it’ll be tough to do while still keeping it underground. Good to see lots of folks out for all-ages shows, as well, hopefully a lot of young people were introduced to new bands. Then they’ll start bands and the scene continues and so on and so forth. It’s how it works.

The Underground Coffeehouse on campus will be hosting a Battle of the Bands on May 11 that’s gonna be interesting. On top of the battle part, which is always interesting, I’ll also be a judge, which makes it REALLY interesting. Winner will be playing a very, very special show at the PAC on May 25, before The Head and the Heart. I believe the deadline for submissions might have passed, but the UCH could very well let a few more folks in for the sake of a good competition.

The UCH also has a Spring CD sampler that ya’ll should check out. It features all the best bands playing at the UCH over the spring quarter and is available at the coffeehouse. Free local music, how can ya beat that?

BEAF (Bellingham Electronic Arts Festival) is making its triumphant return over the first weekend of May. The festival begins on May 5 at 4 p.m. in the American Museum of Radio and Electricity where there will be a lecture and demonstration as well as a Theremin clinic (A THERIMIN CLINIC). If I remember correctly from last year, there were a ton of amazing vintage synthesizers and other electronic equipment for folks to check out on this first afternoon really amazing old stuff. Music is scheduled to begin later that evening at the Western Viking Union open gala and the weekend just takes off from there. Each day and night features a ton of great music as well as lectures about electronic music. Please check out beaf.org if you, ya know, like music.

Blue Horse Gallery continues to be a good place for some local jazz there’s never enough jazz in town, so it’s good they’re around. It’s an all-ages venue so you can bring yer kids if you want introduce them to jazz, they’ll turn out like Sarah Jerns!

DJ Short-wave is putting on an epic Dub Step extravaganza on May 29 at the Majestic on Forest. Ben Samples, Short-Wave, Postal and Dubble Penetration will be spinnin’ while artists as well as live visuals will be shown throughout. If the bass scene is yer thing, this will be a huge, huge show to hit at the end of Memorial Day weekend.

ON THE ROAD

As is the case each month, tons of stuff happening in the Yogoman Burning Band camp. First off, YBB is hitting the West Coast from May 27 through June 6 including a headlining slot at the 35th Annual Summer Arts and Music Festival in Gaberville, California. They’ll also be playing a show on May 6 at Vaudvillingham which is a benefit for Mt. Baker Planned Parenthood and in support of The Bellingham High School Gay-Straight Alliance.

In addition, Jordan Rain and his wife Tina North are performing at the Book Fare Caf , located above Village Books on May 19, and also as Memes on May 2 at the Ridge. OK, so, yeah, that’s cool, right?

THERE’S MORE! Yogoman (and Zach Zinn, aka DJ Platonic) are hosting Drink, Dance, and Domino to domestic and international Soul on Tuesday nights at The Shakedown, and May will bring the return of Yogoman to Boundary Bay. This isn’t just May, anymore, it’s YogoMay (yeah, I said that, I’m awesome).

COMING & GOING

Drummer Andrew Jenkins has a new studio out in Ferndale called Crestview Recording. He’s currently working on a Bears Everywhere EP with Jeff Den Adle, which should be very, very cool.

Teo Crider (Candysound) has teamed up with “Omar” and Katie Rismondo (Party Thighs) for a little pop punk band called Jaguarz. They’re just startin’ up, so WATCH OUT!

Wounded Age have begun working on their debut EP which is slated for release this summer, with their full length to follow in the fall. METAL! YES!

Bobby (bass) and Jeff (guitar) from Full Frontal Assault and the All Nighters and Sean (drums) from The Baltic Cousins, The Russians and Tearamanapart have joined forces to form Devilry. Do I need to say more? Not really, the awesomeness is already there.

Aaron Apple, Casey Nolan, Nick Duncan and Toby Reif have formed Bowl Cut, a band inspired by the hair style. Actually, they’re more inspired by pop punk, but when I think of pop punk, I think of children’s hair styles, so it really works. On a side note, this band has four of the coolest, most genuine people in the music scene today, which makes them one of my favorites without hearing a note.

RECORDS & RELEASES

Anacortes’s own Spoonshine has released a new EP, their first in three years, which was produced by Adam Kasper (who has also produced The Foo Fighters, Seaweed, Cat Power). The band has been playing around the Northwest for years and seems poised to really get some notoriety for their work. Could be a good year for the ol’ Shine.

Hambone Wilson has been a busy, busy dude with two CDs and a DVD coming out this month. The first is a set of railroad inspired songs that he recorded with the legendary Evan Johns (some of which I heard and is really cool) while the second is his own material (but produced by Evan Johns) called Sumthin’ Cookin’. The DVD was filmed at his performance at the Sunbanks R & B festival in 2010. Lots of goods from Wilson, who has been hangin’ tight as of late it’s good to see him out playing a ton of music again. Watch for shows at McKay’s and the Cabin Tavern this month as well as a CD release at the Roadside Tavern in Deming on May 13.

Barnum Jack have changed their name to Pretty Little Feet and will be releasing their release on June 3 at Boundary Bay with The Librarians, Squirrel Butter and guests. The album was recorded by Tim Brown at Actual Air Studio.

Candysound is very, very close to finishing up their latest EP and will be playing some shows (including one at KUGS at the end of the month). Ya know I’m a huge fan of Candysound, have been for years now, so I’m really excited for the new goods. Great band.

After tons of hard work and labor, the new Snug Harbor album is finally ready to hit the streets with their CD release being held at the Wild Buffalo on May 5. I sincerely hope the band takes their new goods and hits the road for a few weeks, comes home, then hits the road again (ala Yogoman Burning Band). In the mean time, check ‘em out in town. See the feature on them on page 20.

Continental Records has geared up for a busy 2011 with new releases by The Beechwoods and The Volcanics as well as a new magazine (#18) with a CD full of surf/rock goodies. Sean Berry, owner of Continental Records, has been putting out surf/rock goods for years, usually under the radar in Bellingham, but he’s well known in the surf community around the world. I dig that about this area, you can be a sneaky superstar.

Shit Machines’s CD release party is slated for May 13 at The Shakedown and will also include Zorbatron and the Party Thighs. I’ve listened to some of the Shit Machine disc and I really dig it, so come and buy a copy at the show!

That’s about it for this month. As always, check us out on Facebook for regular updates and show picks, and our website for web-only stories.

Have a happy month of May, enjoy all the happenings. And Happy Mother’s Day to all you wonderful moms out there!

Hugs and kisses, Brent

editor@whatsup-magazine.com

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

The Librarians

The Librarians is the most down-to-earth band in the City of Subdued Excitement.

The group doesn’t use social networking skills and doesn’t plan on becoming a world-famous act. The Librarians are all about cooking dinner, playing songs, taking breaks, and bringing their dog on stage.

“We’re friends trying to create beautiful sounds together,” band member Carly James said. “We load up our shit, we play our hearts out, we pack it up and have a late night meal at the `Shoe.”

Currently comprised of James, her husband Kevin Nelson, Bruce Shaw, Allegra Ziffle, Kevin Wharton, Joel Ricci and Chris Opteka– the band started performing when local musician Robert Blake offered some key advice.

“It’s about time you start playing live,” Blake said, according to James.

The band’s intimate performances have shaped the group and its fan base. Most of their listeners are located within Whatcom County, but their appeal seems to have a wider-reaching potential. What’s more, the Librarians have a laid-back grace during their shows that is undeniable.

“Our favorite moments on stage are when it’s feeling so easy and natural,” James said. “Bruce is in the zone– we can do no wrong.”

The Librarians are known for a soft, folky sound–but they do mix it up from time to time. Some of their musical influences include Supertramp and Vic Johnson. Recently, the band received the “Best Highway Americana” award at the 9th annual What’s Up! Awards show.

The band’s EP Biazzaro Suite (which was the top seller at last year’s Stringband Jamboree Festival) includes six original songs, with “A Guide to the Outdoors” being one of the band’s most beloved tracks. The song was written by Chris Opteka and recorded live at the Honey Moon. Opteka is also in the band The Heligoats.

“It was our first time performing with Chris [when we recorded "A Guide to the Outdoors"], so it has that nervous, excited energy to it,” James said.

James met Opteka in their hometown of Chicago when she was 10 years old; he began working with the band when he moved to Bellingham a year ago.

Ultimately, however, the group resulted from late-night, jam-sessions at the old Bison Bookbinding and Letterpress shop– James’ and Nelson’s business. The couple has been playing music together for 10 years and the Librarians’ presence reflects this closeness shared by the band members.

James and Nelson are so dedicated to their business and music that they once sold all of their possessions to sustain their way of life. All they had left was10 tons of machinery and their guitars.

Today, James and Nelson are busy working and playing music most of the time.

“We’ve let go of most past times, hobbies, even friendships at times, to completely immerse ourselves in our work,” James said.

But something else gives the Librarians a remarkable edge–the band is notorious for making ultra-miniature performance spaces work.

“We’ve gotten quite good at fitting a f#!k-load of people onto a tiny stage,” James said. “We could probably play a show inside your car.”

James sings and plays guitar and guitjo while Nelson is responsible for being tall, hairy and playing bass. Shaw brings in the banjo, mandolin, guitjo, dulcimer and the occasional fiddle, and Ziffle operates a violin. Wharton brushes snares and cymbals and drinks beer and Ricci plays the trumpet, sings and writes music. Last but not least, Opteka assists the band in performing a few tracks he’s written.

In addition to the current line-up, some other folks have had a notable impact on the Librarians. Stell Newsome was their lead guitarist for a while, but he left the band when he moved to Seattle. Ivy Ross, Ricci’s partner, often treks up from Portland with Ricci to sing with the group.

“[Ivy] adds a haunting third harmony to our singing,” James said.

The Librarians hope to release an EP this spring and and continue recreating a living-room sound in small, noisy bars around Bellingham, with some touring and performances in Portland and Alaska.

For more information about the Librarians, catch the band live at the Honey Moon on Tuesdays, March 16 and March 30. Their EP Bizarro Suite is available for $6 at shows.

THE WINNERS:

Best Silver Platter: Rooftops A Forest of Polarity
Best Up Close and Personal: Dirty Bird Cabaret
Best Heavier Than Heaven: Dog Shredder
Best Booty Shakin’ Music: Yogoman Burning Band
Best Twilight Zone Soundtrack: Pan Pan
Best Highway Americana: The Librarians
Best Moniker: The Ghost and the Grace
Best Axes of Folk: Biagio Biondolillo
Best Spinner: Yogoman
Best Rhyme and Beats: The Productionists
Best Newby: Pan Pan
Best Rock ‘N’ Roll Explosion: Sugar Sugar Sugar
Best Pop Will Rock Itself: The Love Lights
Best Skin in What’s Up!: Femme Uke
What’s Up! Appreciation Award: Bucketz
What’s Up! Lifetime Achievement Award: Robert Sarazin Blake
What’s Up! Lifetime Achievement Award: Gunther Frank (RIP)

Poops was the host and he started the night off proper by singing a country song about drinking at the 3B, and accompanied by Sarah on the guitar. After a few awards were presented, we were introduced to the Dirty Bird Cabaret, who danced in between bands.

The first musical act of the night was Femme Uke. Promoting their new EP In the Key of G-spot, Laine and Ashley took the stage armed with two ukuleles and a ton of hilarious songs, these ladies were a pleasure to watch. In my opinion they saved the best song for last, “Big Fatty.” This was the only song they harmonized on and a clever bridge showed that this was the best structured song of their short performance.

Next up was Pan Pan. A large buzz has been circulating about this group, and I was excited to hear them. Layers of sound with fabulous structure and dynamics showed me that Sarah Jerns is much more than an artist; she’s a genius composer. Even though Sarah writes all the parts, don’t discount her band, they’re incredibly tight and professional.

To this point there had not been a rock band. The crowd was ready for something heavy. Dog Shredder had just won the “Heavier than Heaven” award and got on stage to prove it. Guitar player Josh Holland’s stage presence was like if Iggy Pop strapped on a guitar. The overall sound is mind numbing and hypnotic. They can go from beautiful stripped down melodies to brutal unabashed metal in the drop of a dime. The rest of the band is very talented as well drummer Noah Burns lost a stick in the middle of a song and never missed a beat.

We’ve had funny music, intelligent music, face melting rock, and with Acorn Project, the fourth group to play, we finally had some dance music. These guys have been around the scene for a long time and had a great 2009 promoting their new album We’ll be Fine. The first song they played was an epic new wave song. Showing their versatility they dropped into a straight ahead funk set. These guys are one of Bellingham’s best jam bands a strong tenor on vocals and great guitar tones might even turn out the most devout metal-heads.

With all the awards given out there was only one thing left to do, party hard to the sounds of The All Nighters. Introduced by Brent Cole as “One of Bellingham’s best bands,” they played and we loved it. Halfway through their set Andy Piper joined them onstage and sang a Charlie Feathers cover. Andy killed it and the crowd went nuts. The Wild Buffalo was a time bomb, Poops lit the fuse, excitement grew, and ‘The All Nighters’ provided the explosion.

Dirty Bird Cabaret and the All Nighters - Photo by Django

Here are the winners of the 2010 What’s Up! Awards.

What’s Up! Appreciation Award: Bucketz

What’s Up! Lifetime Achievement Award: Robert Sarazin Blake

What’s Up! Lifetime Achievement Award: Gunther Frank (RIP)

Best Silver Platter: Rooftops – A Forest of Polarity

Best Up Close and Personal: Dirty Bird Cabaret

Best Heavier Than Heaven: Dog Shredder

Best Booty Shakin’ Music: Yogoman Burning Band

Best Twilight Zone Soundtrack: Pan Pan

Best Highway Americana: The Librarians

Best Moniker: The Ghost and the Grace

Best Axes of Folk: Biagio Biondolillo

Best Spinner: Yogoman

Best Rhyme and Beats: The Productionists

Best Newby: Pan Pan

Best Rock ‘N’ Roll Explosion: Sugar Sugar Sugar

Best Pop Will Rock Itself: The Love Lights

Best Skin in What’s Up!: Femme Uke

December 2009 Cover by “Mighty” Mitch Vega

Download the What’s Up! December Compilation here

The Ghost and the Grace – The Mall

Rooftops – Raft Easily

Biagio Biondolillo – Dirty Blue

Librarians – Sunday

So Adult – Scarstruck

Candysound – Million

Connecticut Four – Once Electric

Eruptagain – Ins and Outs

Nick Duncan – Hollow Town

Samuel Warner Cornish – Lucky Man

Six Feet Deep – Can You See Me Now

The Librarians are an ultra tight folk combo with an evident slick sound on their new 6-song record.

The album starts strong with the haunting “Gone” which made me feel like I was in a surreal black and white film in the south that had the Devil involved somehow. Real strong stuff, total pro. After the instrumental “Sweet Lucy” the band strikes it up with “A Guide to the Outdoors” live from The Honeymoon which is a real treat if you are in to that kind of hippie, aura, folk, tree hugger, soft, introspective, emo rock. I also thought the horn was very neat in this song. Another tasty instrumental, “Western Spaghetti” is followed by the pleasant “Sunday” with neat 3-part runs that were intoxicating and the best vocal harmonies of the CD. This was my favorite song. It’s like a great classic 50′s song that could live forever.

Self Released
www.bisonbookbinding.com
Things wind down with “Steamboat Slough,” another foot tapping instrumental that made me recall my days as a young boy on the Mississippi with my friends Tom Sawyer and African American Jim.

All in all, a very enjoyable collection from the Librarians that will have you checking out this book time and time again.