Online Documentary: Pictures, Stories, and Video clips from the road.
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Saturday February 2, 2008
After being sick for a week and a feeble attempt to get out of the house yesterday, I hit the street with a new fervor as opposed to a fever. I ran into many other street performers, buskers, and artists. Here is an overview of a fabulous day:
I hit up Bauhaus, my home base coffee shop, on Pine and Melrose. After being adequately caffeinated I grabbed my guitar and two hula hoops and headed down the hill into the heart of Seattle. First stop, Pacific Place Mall, where I found Craig Way on the accordion performing for the first time with David Montague on the violin.
This spot was taken so I rolled along. Half of a block later at the entrance to the bus tunnel under Nordstrom I ran into Hannah and Brett performing with guitar and djembe`. When I approached at the end of their song to say hello Hannah beat me to the punch saying that she remembered meeting me a year ago when she was visiting from Denver Colorado. It didn't take long before I soon remembered our entire conversation and got to offer an official, “Welcome to Seattle!”
That spot was taken so I kept on… at the next intersection… Michael Mays! Yeah! www.myspace.com/musiquentertainment
I first met Mike performing in Pioneer Square outside of the clubs five years ago. I always noticed his very giving and loving spirit in the way in interacted with everyone around him. I really love his new set up and I know he has been working diligently on some new recordings.
Another block done the Pine street on my way to the market I encountered the Incan guys playing their music from the Andes.
Andes Music www.incasite.com
Finally in Pike Place Market, right where Pine street ends I ran into the guys I had met the day before but didn’t get to see play… WOW!
Pete, Tom, and Mac Ain't Dead Yet
I had one more block to go to get to my regular performance spot outside of Local Color on the corner of Stewart and Pike Place. This is where I ran into Nellie Eve
Just before I took over the corner I met "Popcorn" who came by with a boom box in his back pack hooked up with a microphone and was singing along with all kinds of great old soul songs!
Finally, I had my turn and played for the next hour. All types of insanity ensued. I'm not sure what. It's hard for me to remember sometimes... all that spinning in circles and such. It was a good time and I was happy about making enough money to go buy some gloves. Unfortunately the military surplus store closed before I got there and I had to wait. Although, because of that I had the pleasure of running into... Rory Morris on violin, Travis Eli on guitar, and Shaggy who stopped in to add some lead guitar. They were outside of the coffee shop below Bon Macy's.
A couple of more blocks and I happened upon Pasquele Santos pasquelesantos @ hotmail.com this is his email if you want to book him for a show or something. We have been sharing corners for several years now. I remember when he got those fabulous dogs.
I got to Pacific Place and the spot was taken by a little old man playing the harmonica. He had no money in his container and I asked how long he might be playing. He said he was leaving and I asked if I could take his picture... he said no =( so I didn't. I gave him a dollar and thanked him for letting me take over the spot. Not soon after I started playing a man showed up, quite intoxicated, I'll call him Mississippi Mike (MM). He heard the tune I was playing, "Keeping Cool", and started dancing. He was really into it! Shaking his butt, head back, eyes closed and loving it. He did not care for one minute what anyone thought. At the point of tears he told me that that I was the MAN! This went on to the point that it was a little uncomfortable for some but I didn't stop his dancing. Security showed up to keep an eye. We did another song and then he wanted me to sing one, so I vamped on a blues riff. He proceeded to sing the most passionate heartfelt song about Mississippi, with tears just streaming down his face. My friend Sage showed up and gave some support joining in. When we finished he was ready to leave and started into the mall. When I realized what was about to happen I ran up and redirected him to his bag and the other direction. Security was ready to not be quite as nice as I was. I told Sage that I would be done around 8:30 so he left also to come back later. I kept performing but I had forgotten to eat and was running out of energy FAST! Especially with both hula hoops going. I quit a little early and was hoping to run back into my friend
Sage
Sage is an incredible performer himself, a physical clown, stilt walker, magician, just to name a few. Please, check out his site, he definitely lives up to his name. I've performed with him on a few occasions to include the Pumpkin Prowl at the Woodlin Park Zoo. Anyway, he came back and saved my day with some chips and beef Jerky. Come to find out he also saved our friend Mississippi Mike's day randomly running back into him and guided him safely to the detox center. We rolled to Ballard to Mr. Spot's Chai House for it was Tommy Dean's ( www.myspace.com/ramblindean ) birthday/show.
Also performing was Jamie Dewlen, and
Todd Davies. The show was produced by Jamie Hunsdale.
There were over 50 people there for the show and a formidable gathering of the West Coasts who’s who of authentic traveling buskers carrying the torch of modern day minstrel, bard, and troubadour.
There was apparently an “after party” at Neumos on Capitol Hill. On the way Sage and I ran into an old friend of mine, Rufio. Rufio was one of the break dancers in West Lake Center downtown that performed with Jeremy the drummer that would pull up in his red van and unleash the beats. This was seven years ago when I first moved to Seattle and began taking my “guitar walks”. These guys were a big inspiration to me and are part of who I’ve become.
The after party wasn’t going to work for Sage and I. It was another full on show that we really didn’t have money for. So we went to another venue where I knew the door guy, who got us in, Sage knew the manager, who got us drinks. There was this girl there that was out of control in the best of ways. Apparently this was her first time to a dance club and she wasn't drunk. I had to ask and when she told me that I wasn't sure if she was being sarcastic or telling the truth. She was telling the truth! I was so entertained by how she danced! There was no movement out of bounds, everyone one them demonstrated a connection, the intelligent flow from mind to motion, responding to lyrical content, bass, melody, and the other fabulous noises that the train wrecking dj continued to provide. She was there with a group of friends that were all professional dancers or something.
Then the night was over Sage and I walking back to the church continued with our story telling, finding solace in the similar issues we’ve had to face as performers. We passed another bar that was letting out and some guy leaving threw his hands into the air with fingers horned yelling, “Hail Satan!”, so I stopped abruptly, went straight to him looking into his eyes and replied, “You Called?”…. you should have seen the look on his face. I guess you kind of had to be there.
Thursday September 27th, 2007 In Pike Place Market
Video taken by my friend Marc Mollan This video was recorded in "The Moment" October 1st, 2007.
It is a new song called, "Keeping Cool".
Some of my fellow Buskers
