What's the Buzz: August 21-27

The Week in Preview:
They tried to make me go to Chillers, I said no, no, no.

Thursday, August 21
It's starting to seem like public libraries are the new hot spots. Forget the noise of nightclubs, the din of discos, or the clatter of cafes. Quiet is the new loud. Everyone knows you're more likely to catch a man by lurking in the dusty book stacks than at a tavern full of two-bit drunks. The Post Falls Public Library has even brought live music into the equation, with their very brief (2 shows) "Courtyard Concert Series", which got off to a rollicking start last week with an appearance by dulcimerists Doherty and Johnson and wraps up tonight with a set by Spokane's mellow retro-swing mavens 6' Swing, described thusly by the Inlander:

Right in our own backyard, a storm has been a-brewin' in the form of a burgeoning swing-jazz scene. Spokane natives 6' Swing bridge the gap between 1930 and 2007 with surprisingly contemporary, vintage swing jazz. It's a seeming oxymoron the band pulls off and pulls off well. With the horn section blaring and the piano skipping and jumping over singer Heather O'Brien's smoky voice, the melodic hum of the upright bass and the metallic buzz of the washboard, 6' Swing's music is an intoxicating, driving assemblage.

Video Lesson #438:


6' Swing at Think Swing! 2008


Friday, August 22
"The brown note, according to an urban legend, is an infrasound frequency that causes humans to lose control of their bowels due to resonance. There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that a "brown note" (transmitted through sound waves in air) exist." (Wikipedia)

"The Brown Notes are three talented musicians from the Spokane area that are always ready to tear it up! They've played in a number of bands around town since the early nineties, including Ardekan, SuperNormal, Vortex, Dilemma, Mahareeb and Sugarpig. Ryan Sundseth (lead guitar/vocals), Mark Tuttle (bass), and Cameron Smith (drums/vocals) are stoked to raise your spirits with a dose of rock and roll that's definitely worth knocking a few back to. Playing music that ranges from heavy metal to jazz fusion with a country twist, The Brown Notes know there is a note in there just for you." (Brown Notes Bio)

Come to The Grail tonight where the Brown Notes will be causing bowels to blow involuntarily, along with Faded, Another August and Mute Sidewalker. Brown Notes MySpace.


Saturday, August 23
I don't mean to be rude, but it seems like the organizers of the Kootenai County Fair didn't really apply a full effort in their search for performing talent to fill the entertainment roster this year. Terence B and HypnoDog? Farmyard Follies? Music-wise it's the omnipresent Kelly Hughes Band, the old, old-time thrills of the Lake City Harmonizers, and staying on the Geritol tip, it's the Ray Stone Band. I actually have a soft spot for the jazzy former Mayor of Coeur d'Alene and his musical pals ever since they played at my mother's wedding reception in 1995. Stone and his swing cats rocked the Ponderosa Golf Course Clubhouse and had every drunk in the family spilling their daiquiris on the dancefloor. I have to admire Ray for still getting out there and performing at the ripe young age of 137. Okay, maybe not, but it seems like he's been around at least that long. Today, gorge up on elephant ears, express some awe at the giant squash and show up at noon at the main stage to jive and shimmy.

Sunday, August 24
A Get Out "Stay-at-home Sunday Drive:" Those of you who perhaps live away from your home town of Coeur d'Alene and miss it's many beloved visual quirks will appreciate this. So will those kind local folks who are just too blissfully obese to rise from the recliner. I stumbled upon a most stupendous flickr portfolio by local amateur photographer posting under the name doombot. It's titled "my own private (coeur d'alene) idaho" and it's an eye-popping collection of local shots that's evocative and simple, capturing a town in transition and striking a clever balance between the old version of Coeur d'Alene and the new/future one. Samples below. Find the full photo stream here.

(photos by doombot)

Monday, August 25
It's Monday lazybones, so stop and get a cheap Rotisserie Chicken and some Hawaiian Rolls from the Safeway Deli, put on your Garfield slippers and gear yourself for the gut-wrenching despair of A&E TV's hit show "Intervention". Each episode is a mini-documentary peek into the real lives of hardcore drug and alcohol addicts and that ain't pretty. What the sots don't realize is that they're also in for a surprise family gathering in which they get a TV shrink to plead the case for rehab and bawl their blessed heads off. So do you. Most of the time, the addict reluctantly goes and everything seems momentarily full of hope and light until they flash the post-production update. The poor soul has usually relapsed or died, leaving you to feel like there just ain't no hope in this whole black, black world. It's a fun show. Here's a synopsis of tonight's featured episode and bonus videodictive action:

Intervention: Phillip

A 44-year-old singer and songwriter, Phillip used music to escape the pain of an unstable childhood. He gained fame due to his charisma and musical talents, but Phillip now consumes up to four pints of peppermint schnapps a day. He lost his career, the love of his life, and the respect of his family. Can Phillip break the grip of addiction before he loses the most precious relationship in his life, the one he shares with his 11-year-old daughter?

Tuesday, August 26
My god, haven't I blathered on enough lately about Baja Bargarita? No. Not as long as long as they keep the tricks coming and here's the latest: Karaoke every Tuesday and Thursday night with the divine Miss Jesi B. of Jesi B. & the All-Rites fame. She's been doing karaoke shows around town since way back when the Fort Ground was still a rundown tavern and the Summer Theater troupe would come in to sing and do the cha-cha up on the rickety bar. One night during one of her nights down there, Jhanie and I started a riot by performing our K-Tel Hookers trademark tune "Hit Me With Your Big C**k" and some random redneck in the crowd got all bent out of shape and fights started breaking out. We fled across the street to the apartment building where the theater boys were staying and watched the popo come and cool things off from the safety of the third-floor window. Jesi is and can cause a total riot and you know that girl can sing better than any other b***h in town.


Wednesday, August 27
California magician/comedian Derek Hughes will be in town this evening for a gig at NIC's Student Union at 8 p.m. Let's get to know the young comic a little better, shall we?

Music
Imogen Heap.
Nickel Creek.
Bach.
Tool.
Miles Davis.

Movies
Being John Malkovich.
Bladerunner.
True Romance.
Raising Arizona.
Hudsucker Proxy.
Anything by Errol Morris.

Television
Lucky Louie.
Firefly.
Real Sports.
South Park.

Books
Slaughterhouse Five.
Turning the Mind into an Ally.
Song of Ice and Fire

Heroes
Buster Keaton.
Robert Houdin.
Kurt Vonnegut.
Richard Pryor.
Lenny Bruce.

(Derek Hughes MySpace)

Derek Hughes Part 1 (Parts 2-4 on YouTube)