Howdy, folks! Sorry about the absence of update last week. On Monday morning I found that some joker discharged an entire fire extinguisher through a slightly open window in my truck. So instead of writing I was forced to spend six hours vacuuming. I never really got a chance to make that time back up. If the person who did that little prank was a friend…good one. Seriously, that was a hell of a prank. If it was someone who was just being a jerk, come see me. I know a great place to get new teeth.
But this week I have had no such bad luck. In fact, my newly detailed truck is quite nice. So let’s talk about this week, shall we? First, the liquor business is running amok, so if we run out of a few things, they’ll be back soon. Also, please don’t blame the bars if prices go up. All of us are incurring a minimum of 20% increase. I want to do whatever I can to keep them the same, but we also need to keep the doors open. Margins are there for a reason. And I’m sorry if anyone thought prices would go down. That was just never going to be the case.
We do have a bunch of fun beers on tap that you might like to try. The Split Shot Espresso Milk Stout from Elysian is quite nice. Scrimshaw Pilsner from North Coast is just fantastic. And I know that it doesn’t look quite right on our tap list, but this bar was built with cans of Modelo Especial in our hands (the original Frog, that is) and it is a delight to have a pint of Modelo with a lime out on the deck. There are also 27 other choices for your quaffing pleasure and we would be delighted to make sure you are happy with whatever it is you choose.
I have a very exciting piece of news to tell you. I have confirmed a performance by a true legend. On July 12 we will be proudly hosting RAMBLIN’ JACK ELLIOTT at The Green Frog! The man who was the bridge between Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan will be right here in this room! As a matter of fact, Dylan’s first show was billed as “Son of Ramblin’ Jack.” There is some really amazing music history in this man. I cannot wait. I’ll be putting tickets on line for pre sale soon. Get them while you can, they will be limited.
Ok, so for this week, I’ve got a lot in store for you. As always, I’m excited, but hey, if I wasn’t none of this would ever get done, right? I just hope that you all get excited with me. Here we go:
Monday, June 4: The City of Lost Children. 9:00pm. FREE!
I have made no bones about my love of sad songs, nor will I ever do so. When this project came to my attention and it was described as an act put together so that the sad and creepy songs that other bands didn’t want to do had a home, I had no choice but to agree to a residency of Monday nights.
This was originally assembled as a theatrical/musical offering for the Idiom Theater. It is an 8 piece ensemble of local folks who sing pretty. What more can I ask for, really? If you enjoy vocal harmony then this is your show. It’s also really fun to have a bunch of people I consider friends on stage all at once. Yay!
Tuesday, June 5: Soul 2 Sole with DJ Yogoman. 9:30pm. FREE!
What to do with a Tuesday Night? I’m sure you have a hard time answering that question from time to time, but instead of bowing down to the pressures of Fox and watching American Idol, you should come out and have a beer with DJ Yogoman spins some tasty soul records! We sell all our pints for $3 on Tuesdays so there is really no reason to not enjoy them!
Wednesday, June 6: Pretty Little Feet CD Release. 9:30pm. $5 entry or $15 with CD.
On May 24th the Pickford Cinema released the film The Mountain Runners, the story of America’s first adventure marathon, which took place right here in Whatcom County in 1911. They used modified cars, train, and a 28 mile run in waist deep snow to reach the summit of Mt. Baker and then ran back to win a purse of $100. They weren’t professionals, just proud men racing for their townships.
Pretty Little Feet (Matt Novak and Allegra Ziffle) were selected to record the soundtrack for the film, and are now releasing that work in CD form to all of you! It’s a fantastic collection of old time songs that capture the early 1900’s perfectly. They tell the stories of people a hell of a lot tougher than we are today, without any of the conveniences that we all take for granted. They lived and worked hard and this music conveys that struggle. It will be a treat to hear the songs live and to reflect on what it took to get us where we are today.
Thursday, June 7: The Grown Ass Poet’s Society. Featuring Buddy Wakefield, Jack McCarthy with Ron Hardesty, Robert Lashley. Hosted by Jessica Lohafer. 7pm. $10.
I don’t think that I have ever told the story of how I got into booking shows, so I’ll let you in on that now. When I was at Whatcom Community College I was writing a story for the student paper. I needed to do an interview and arranged to meet the subject of that interview at Stuart’s Coffee Shop on a Monday night. Little did I know that Monday was Poetry Night and that I would soon have the way I listen to words changed forever. The interviewee never showed, but before I could make an escape from what I felt was terrible poetry, a man named Buddy Wakefield took the microphone for a featured performance. And I sat, glued to my seat, enthralled by the way he used words to raise the hairs on my neck, lift the corners of my mouth, sink my stomach, and generally manipulate my senses effortlessly. His performance floored me. It is a night that I will never forget.
I quickly started researching performance poets. I wanted to share with everyone the feeling that I had experienced. And so I booked a poetry series over a series of months. The school gave me thousands of dollars to put them on and it was the first time I booked Buddy Wakefield, Jack McCarthy, CR Avery, and many others. It literally changed my life.
On Thursday I am very proud to be back in the poetry biz by starting a monthly gathering of word-loving folks, collectively The Grown Ass Poets Society, hosted by none other that Jessica Lohafer. One of my favorite people on Earth, Robert Lashley, came up with the idea via a Facebook group some time ago, but this will be the live version. And the features are incredible. Buddy Wakefield (National Slam Champion, World Slam Champion, general poetry baddass), Jack McCarthy and Ron Hardesty, and Robert Lashley will be on hand to keep things interesting. This show will never happen again. It’s a one time thing.
Buddy doesn’t really do this anymore. He spent 12 years driving around the country to spread his works, and that was enough. He is coming because we’re friends, pure and simple. Just the fact that he was willing to make the trip is testament to a decade long friendship, and you all are the recipients. This is an early show, it’s open to all ages, but the content is for grown ups. I can’t impress upon you enough that for poetry lovers, this is going to be amazing. And if you’re not a poetry lover, I bet you will be at the culmination of this event.
Thursday, June 7: Country Dave and the Harmonson Family Band. 9:30pm. $5.
Just because we fill your ears with a bunch of words early in the evening doesn’t mean that we will shirk our duties of relaxing you with music later in the night. Country Dave, Seattle’s country music legend, and his sons, Aaron and Jesse, will be playing through the night, bringing us songs from the wonder years of Country music. They played a month or so ago and even though my expectations were pretty high, I have to say that they were surpassed by the actual performance.
Friday, June 8: Dave McGraw and Mandy Fer with Lisa Harmon. 9:30pm. $5-10 suggested donation.
It’s been a couple years since Dave has come through the Green Frog, but from the sound of the album he put out with Mandy Fer, that time was not wasted. They have come up with an Americana sound that is familiar, yet new and a bit raw. It’s the way I like music. With his local roots, I’m assuming that many of you know him and will be here anyway. I mean, it’s the right thing to do, but for those of you that don’t know him, aren’t familiar with his music, or are just on the fence on what to do on a Friday night, come out and take a chance. I don’t think there is any way to be disappointed by that choice.
Lisa Harmon is a local folk singer who has some history with the Green Frog. I haven’t heard her in a long time, but it’s always nice to have a refresher. We’ll see you then, right?
Saturday, June 9: Lumpkins, Ganges River Band, The Swearingens. 9:30pm. $5.
It seems like nothing is more fitting to a Saturday night then good old Honky Tonk Country music. And this is one of those nights. There will be lots of chances to drink beer and whisky as well as two-step around the dance floor. There will be songs of love and loss. Whisky and beer. And lots about women, both enamored and regretful. It will be a magical evening that will be reminicant of the Texas honky tonks of the 70’s. Well, minus the fights and long neck bottles of Lone Star, anyway. Check out the links, they are well worth a listen!
Sunday, June 10: Slow Jam. 4pm. FREE!
I’m low on time if I’m going to talk Justin into sending this out today. So…you know what’s up. Play together and have fun.
Sunday, June 11: Open Mic. Sign up at 7:30. Music at 8:00. FREE!
Misty Flowers will once again roll you through another week of what has quickly become a great open mic. The talent is crazy in this town. It’s a heck of a listen, but we encourage you to come play too!
Well, there you go, folks. I am going to shoot this off to the amazing Mr. Smith and you should all have it soon. I’m looking forward to seeing you all soon. The deck should see some sunlight pretty soon, but we’re still rockin it indoors no matter what the weather brings.
Cheers!
James
