CultureMob.com would like to thank Ryan and Lisa from the Pioneer Square Community Association for showing both Shilo and I a great time yesterday at the First Thursday’s Art Walk. There was so much to see. Remember, if you would like to participate in the First Thursdays Art in the Park, go to http://www.pioneersquare.org/artparkinfo.html

We took a bunch of random short videos and posted them on the CultureMob.com page at Youtube.com. Feel free to subscribe to it too. Here’s one of my favorites.

Shilo’s First Ever First Thursday


You can see the rest (bloopers, dance group, Amber Tide and so much more at our youtube.com page)

For more events, go to CultureMob.com

This just in: Glitch Mobsters OOah and Kraddy will be playing at Nectar May 16, and the opening deejay kicks ass too: our favorite local madman Novatron.

Nova plays again the next night (May 17) at the Inner-Dimensional Art Show at the Transcendent Church of Bass with Tipper; there will no doubt be many more talented deejays lined up to spin at this awesome venue.

If you haven’t heard of any of these guys then GET DOWN to Nectar and the Church of Bass and prepare to have your mind blown by the sounds of the future. I am so stoked about these upcoming shows- what great news for all of us alive and kicking out here in Seattle! I wouldn’t think my day could get any better but I’m headed to the Seattle Art Walk in the SUNSHINE in just a few hours.

Miss Saigon is a tragic story of love and sacrifice, war and injustice, hookers and the American Dream, all set to a rich backdrop of music and colorful costumes. It is one of the best musicals ever, up there with Les Miserables and Phantom of the Opera, and the Tacoma Musical Playhouse promises to deliver the epic tale with quality performances.

Opening night is April 11 and Miss Saigon will run through May 4; curtain is at 8PM for evening shows every Friday and Saturday with matinees at 2PM every Saturday and Sunday. For theater buffs wanting a peek at the action behind the scenes, this Sunday April 6 at 7PM the Tacoma Musical Playhouse puts on Behind the Curtain, a 90-minute look at what it takes to create a production like Miss Saigon as well as the story’s history and proper theater-going etiquette.

Tickets for the show itself range from $16-$23 and can be purchased online at the website of the Tacoma Musical Playhouse up to 48 hours before showtime. This event is not recommended for children under the age of 16, but everyone else will enjoy the “sex, violence, war, prostitution, and profane language” which are necessary to tell the poignant story of American G.I. Chris and young and innocent Kim.

For a tiny taste of Miss Saigon, these lyrics are sung by the Engineer (a.k.a. the Pimp) who dreams of a life in America, away from the war and the filthy life he leads:

“What’s that I smell in the air?
The American dream
Sweet as a suite in Bel-air
The American dream
Girls can buy tits by the pair
The American dream
Bald people think they’ll grow hair
The American dream
Call girls are lining time square
The American dream
Bums there have money to spare
The American dream
Cars that have bars take you there
The American dream
On stage each night: Fred Astaire
The American dream

“Shlitz down the drain!
Pop the Champagne!
It’s time we all entertain
My American dream!”

Will the Engineer ever get to the Land of Milk and Honey he dreams about? Find out at Miss Saigon at the Tacoma Musical Playhouse this spring!

First Thursdays Art Walk in Downtown Seattle tonight 6PM to 8PM.

CultureMob.com’s Shilo and Cedric met with Ryan and Lisa from the Pioneer Square Community Association (PSCA).

Ryan (Romaneski), the executive director talked to us about what to look out for this evening. You’ll want to get out to as many galleries as possible. Occidental Park will feature “Art in the Park“: Arts n Crafts, Live Music - tonight’s band is Amber Tide (6pm - 8pm in Occidental Park), there will also be a dance performance and so much more. Watch the video.

If you would like to participate in first Thursdays Art in the Park, go to http://www.pioneersquare.org/artparkinfo.html

For more events in Seattle go to CultureMob.com

THURSDAY: After you wander around at the first Thursday Seattle Art Walk in Pioneer Square and Downtown, head to the Tech N9ne show at the Moore Theatre and get served by the great lyricist and rap master. Not a thug? Mulally jams at the Blue Moon Tavern in the U District with opener Amtraque; it’s gonna be a rockin show (I should know; Mulally practices in my living room). For you happy punkers out there, Say Hi brings to Chop Suey a delicious fat portion of indie rock; let’s just hope SPD doesn’t come in and tell them to turn it down. What’s the saying? If it’s too loud, you’re too old…but you’re also wearing a badge and gun so I guess I will adjust the knob just a bit. Damn.

FRIDAY: Ghostland Observatory plays the first of two shows at the Showbox; these Austin boys bring it with passion and without apologies- hey they might even get the hipsters to dance (but probably not). Electric Avenue at the CHAC (Capitol Hill Arts Center) is a dependable dance night; Hyperfunk and company have their priorities straight: they like electro. They like retro. They like ghetto, house, and techno. Bases covered. If you didn’t get enough art on the first Thursday Seattle Art Walk, then go to the Seattle Art Museum for the SAM Remix with KEXP DJ Kid Hops; the mix of art, music, dancing, and cocktails will make you happy.

SATURDAY: KJ Sawka drums like a madman at Nectar in Fremont; if you want to know what the future of music will sound like, come out and join the show. Novatron will also be in the house. The Hands lay it down at the Funhouse with their sticky, gritty, 100% ROCK AND ROLL! WOO-HOO! Clothes may come off. KEXP (all over this weekend) broadcasts Audioasis live from the High Dive tonight; the show is all about music from the Pacific Northwest. Check it out. I will be at SPY, the best party in Seattle with the sickest lineup ever this month; it’s all happening at Lo_Fi Performance Gallery from 9PM to 4AM. Seattle loves this dance party so much there are poems showing up on Northwest Tekno. See you on the dance floor.

Tonight, local music maker Levi Fuller Hosts Softly Now at McLeod Residence

Recently, I met with Levi at the Cyclops. He mentioned that he wanted to see more support for acoustic or quiet music. Since nobody was stepping up to make that magical mystical moment a reality, Levi did what he always does; he did it himself! Levi is extremely talented and I really dig his songs on his myspace page (check out God Is Just Like Santa).

Tonights show will feature Moe Provencher TroubleShooting and Levi Fuller.

Now, the first Wednesday of every month, Levi will host “Softly Now” an evening of quiet music (an event listed here at culturemob.com). This event takes place at McLeod Residence, which is now open to the public. It’s going to be a great time. The fun starts tonight at 8pm (FREE SHOW)

I spotted a great blog about Softly Now (in Levi’s own words) from threeimaginarygirls.com’s Imaginary Dana.

For other local events, go to www.culturemob.com

As if you needed a reason to encourage people to use culturemob.com, let me tell you about my experience going to the burlesque show my wife found on the site.

You gotta love impulsive outings to great events, and last night CultureMob inspired just that. At around 7 pm, I got an IM from my wife who had just found the Atomic Bombshells show on the site, so, after wrapping up some work I met her at the Triple Door for some dinner and the show.

Before going in to the theater, though, we sat at the bar where the refreshingly enthusiastic Baby Gramps was playing. He is a foot-stomping guitar player / vocalist who occasionally got on the kazoo and was so lively I got the image of an slightly haywire animatronic singer. I was too entranced with his performance to understand the words in his grizzly voiced singing. Accompanying him was someone on doll piano, and another on harmonica and washboard. They were a load of fun.

The Atomic Bombshells, a burlesque troop displaced from “the city that care forgot” after Katrina, are a top-notch group, delivering high quality burlesque with all the glitz and spice to make for a spectacle of an evening. This is classic burlesque: silly stories, bawdy humor, wild sets, over-the-top costumes and of course, tassel twirling.

So find something and go out - be impulsive. It just might play out into a great evening.

Update: Just because it makes a better story doesn’t make it true. Failed to fact-check. Bad Mike, no banana.

What are you doing this frisky Tuesday night? Why not come out and make a difference in the future of the world at the Beats for Obama Benefit in Fremont at Nectar Lounge?

Beats for Obama is no boring yada-yada schmoozefest fundraiser; this is a get-downathon featuring local deejays spinning their favorite breaks, dubstep, drum and bass, and hip-hop. Join DigDug, Slantooth, Futuredub (Shapeshifter and Contents), and Vendetta Kane as they spin the night away: fun with a purpose! Spoken word talent Verbal Oasis will be in the house as well and prizes to be auctioned off include two lift tickets to WhistlerBlackcomb, Barackawear hoodies, teeshirts, and lots of other goodies. This benefit is just in time to throw some support to the Obama campaign before the Pennsylvania primary on April 22; Pennsylvania has more delegates at stake than any other upcoming primary or caucus and thus is extremely important in securing the Democratic presidential nomination.

So why beats for Obama, as opposed to jazz or easy-listening or guitar riffs? I asked benefit organizer Karen Johanson who replied that the music selection tonight reflects the fact that Obama is fast becoming the delegate of the youth of America, if he isn’t already.

“Obama has proven his capacity to unite divergent personalities and communities and to mobilize America’s youth to become involved in the political process in a way I have not seen with others,” Karen says, and I agree. Race and gender seem to be the big talking points in the country concerning the two major Democratic presidential hopefuls; however age is just as important of an issue (to all of us youngsters, anyway). Obama, like dubstep and that damn boom-boom music, simply connects with youth in America better than his competition. To me, Clinton is old news and represents another generation, a group of people who are out of the loop, whose interests revolve around Social Security and medical benefits. My friends are more concerned with saving our environment, creating a peaceful world, and getting a job that pays the bills (ah, the ideology of youth!). I am a young white female and I feel that Obama is better suited to understand and address the issues that affect me and the youth culture today- and we just happen to be the future of this country and the world, you know.

You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one. The Beats for Obama Benefit represents the connection with young people that the Obama campaign is fostering and running with; if you agree with me then put your money where your ideology is and come out to Fremont tonight. Doors at Nectar open at 8PM; suggested donation is $7 although bigger donations are certainly welcome. Come for a night of sick bass beats, undulating dubstep and fat raps; leave with the knowledge that you made a difference, however small, in the future of our America- and you did it by having fun.

I saw the Los Angeles based Punk band X at the Showbox (at the market) last night. It was a great show, I loved it! Boy, times sure have changed since they started in 1977.

video courtesy of bert2099

Here are my top 5 changes at an X show since the 1977
1. 1977 - one out of every four people have eye liner on vs. 2008 - one out of every four people have an iPhone
2. 1977 - if you want to see X you have to go to a show like everyone else vs. 2008 - if you want to see X, you can find them on youtube.com. But you should go see them live you loser!
3. 1977 - guitarist Billy Zoom is a legend vs. 2008 - guitarist Billy Zoom is a legend
4. 1977 - you mostly see 21 year old males with slick black hair in the crowd vs. 2008 - you mostly see 45 year old males with not a lot of hair in the crowd
5. 1977 - John Doe, Exene, D.J. Bonebrake and Billy Zoom are ahead of their time vs. 2008 - John Doe, Exene, D.J. Bonebrake and Billy Zoom are ahead of their time.

Okay, so some things don’t really change!

Find your next Punk Rock event at CultureMob.com

The brewing controversy in Seattle over noise regulations, decibel meters, rock and roll, and quiet people came to a head this morning when Mayor Greg Nickels announced that all music over eighty-five decibels would be completely banned in every venue within the city limits. Eighty-five decibels is about as loud as a train whistle; club owners must obey the new regulation immediately or have their liquor licenses revoked as soon as this weekend.

“There are a lot of wealthy people now living in popular nightclub areas of the city,” Mayor Nickels announced. “Belltown, Fremont, Ballard, Capitol Hill, downtown…these people want to relax in their condos in peace and not be bothered by young ruffians out ‘having fun’- drinking, grouping together and laughing, singing, dancing…hell I even heard there is an epidemic of pillow fights in our city! These kids out on the town every night disturb residents of the neighborhood who feel that the proper function of life is to accumulate things like fancy dishwasher and Beamers, not to go out and “party”. These hooligans are upsetting condo owner’s entire belief system, and well, when the rich folks aren’t happy, I am not happy.”

Bands will still be able to play in clubs and bars as long as they keep it quiet. “This won’t affect the Seattle music scene at all. I’ve got my Kenny G concert tickets already” Mayor Nickels asserted. Club owners have another opinion.

“It’s total bullshit,” says Jason Rothman of the new King Cobra club on Capitol Hill. The Seattle Nightlife and Music Association goes even further. Spokesperson Jenny Magoo announced shortly after the Mayor’s declaration, “we will be staging a protest today at Pike Place Market. Seattle is music. Of course our city is modernizing and becoming more urbane, like the rest of the world, but a vibrant nightlife scene does not equal violent riots of litter-prone music lovers. We will fight this.”

The protest will occur at 7PM rain or shine, this evening: April Fool’s Day.

Enjoy life! It’s Tuesday and the sun is shining! Get out there, Seattle.