What's Up! Magazine

Hi everybody, welcome to the humble April issue of What’s Up! magazine. Wait a second, humble? I meant welcome to the completely titular, spasm-inducing, melt-your-face-off April issue of What’s Up! magazine. Yes, that’s much better. Speaking of melting your faces off, I suppose I’m the last one on earth to hear about Gizoogle.com? In case I’m not, as you might have guessed Gizoogle is a search engine similar to Google only it allows you to translate web pages into Snoop Dogg vernacular. For example, when Gizoogled, the What’s Up website description becomes “Hip-hop, folk, punk, fizzay rock, techno ‘n mizzy. W-H-to-the-at’s Up! magazine is Bellingham’s scene mizzy witta bootylicious calendar ‘n old dogg archives. Bounce wit me.”

Yep, that about sums us up.

First off What’s Up! wants to extend an enormous thank you to Scott Rickey for redesigning the magazine. We are forever indebted to this fancy man for making us look so good. Oh, and if you’re wondering where Brent is, he called in drunk on college basketball so you’re going to have to put up with me for this whole edition of Le Beat. Get ready, I’ll wait.

So anyway, I suppose I don’t have to say that April is National Poetry Month, but more importantly April 9 is National Name Yourself Day. Guys, try to be responsible with this one, follow the Pale’s example. Although a bit early, the Pale has officially changed their name to the Pale Pacific to avoid copyright problems and various other unpleasantries. They’ve also finished mastering a couple of songs for a brand new EP called Rules Are Predictable that’s set to hit the golden streets of Bellingham on April 5. Be sure to go to one of their many CD release shows, including one at the VU during the first part of April, one on April 2 at the Crocodile in Seattle, and one on April 9 at the Vera Project. Check out the informative article on the Pale Pacific (see page 20) for more facts and outrageous quotes.

Speaking of new records, I hope you’ve heard the new No-Fi Soul Rebellion bombshell, Lambs to the Slaughter. A slick five-song album out on Wntage Records, it’s not only pink (which is my favorite color), but it’s five hits worth of hot rock that not one of you can live without. If the sold-out CD release show at the 3B in March wasn’t enough to convince you, how about the fact that it’s an enhanced CD that contains a very exclusive music video for the jammin’ number, “Let’s Get Nasty”? Pick it up around town at Viva La Vinyl or Paris Texas, it will slap you in the face until you beg for mercy make you very happy indeed.

That reminds me of what a little bird told me (okay he’s actually more medium sized and a fire-crotch to boot), that Jeff from Future City Fear has resurrected from FCF’s cold ashes, not unlike a phoenix, to start a brand new opus named The Mariana’s Anchor. They played their first show at the 3B with the incorrigible and good-looking Black Eyes and Neckties not too long ago and were met with many clapping hands and general expressions of pleasure and gladness. They play predominantly instrumental, melodic stuff and I noticed they have a xylophone. Two words: totally tough.

If hip-hop is more your bag, you’re in luck because local hip-hoppers The Wilson Project just finished up their second album, a full length to follow up their previously released EP. I’m betting this will be available locally once the finishing touches are complete, so set aside a couple dollar-dollar bills for that ya’ll.

If you’re not so into hip-hop but rather equines and boating, might I mention a little USS Horsewhip action? The indestructible fellows of the ‘whip have recorded a new album cleverly titled USS Horsewhip Wants You Dead for release on New Regard this month. I might have heard there’s a piano on this one, but I hear lots of things and only some of them are factual. While you’re asking them about the piano part be sure to get the scoop on their March tour with Racetrack, they should have at least one PG-13 story to tell, and maybe a few that aren’t.
Speaking of moustaches (weren’t we?) Federation X has recorded a new nine-song album called Rally Day that will be released by Estrus on July 12. Fed X is also embarking on a mini-tour with the Japanese hard rock, psycho-noise ruffians DMBQ. This journey is planned for mid-April and will take them caravan style from Bellingham all the way to Missoula, No-Fi’s old stomping grounds. Those kids won’t know what hit ‘em.

Last month marked two birthdays worth mentioning, and possibly others that I don’t know about. The first is the two-year birthday for the Carnelian Agency who runs booking services for several regional and national bands. The other notable birthday was that of yours truly, although weirdly at the exact time I’m writing this my birthday has not happened yet. I’m imagining the hopeful look you had on your face while reading this just fell into a curmudgeonly scowl now that you know I have zero stories of horrendous indiscretions or wild birthday gossip, like who jumped out of what cake, not yet anyway. Not YET my friend, but you can ask me about it later. Places that are not appropriate to approach me with questions about said birthday include the dentist office, the restroom, and while I am whooping Benjamin Penic’s ass at pool.

Well, from ass to responsibility, who’s up for a little organized involvement? Word around town is the Bellingham Independent Music Association will hold their 5th annual meeting on Thursday April 21 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Bellingham Cohousing. Check out www.bima.com for more details.

A few notes from the fine folks over at West of January Records, local frosty rockers Snow Cuts Glass are in the throes of working on a new three-song demo and will be debuting at least a few new snowballs during their show at the iDiOM Theater on April 6 with Ida rock icons, IDA. Sadly, the indie-orchestral Seattle moguls, Asahi, called it quits. Alternately, West of January’s ISOPAL plans to resume recording their new disc once the strapping audio-wiz Paul Turpin returns home from tour with the gentle lads of Idiot Pilot.

Hey, what are Bellingham’s gentle lads up to? March took them on some dates (playing shows, not going out to dinner) with These Arms Are Snakes and Big Business in Salt Lake City and Colorado Springs where the kids bought up every CD they had. Then I.P., with Paul Turpin in tow, headed to SXSW in Texas where the boys had some big time interviews including MTV2 UK (BBC Radio1’s DJ Zane can’t get enough of them) as well as, wait for it…filming an interview for MTV’s news feature “You Heard It First”. Fresh! After the boys were done wrangling armadillos they headed to Calgary, Vancouver, Everett, San Jose and Sacramento for the Taste of Chaos Tour in the company of such hot tickets as the Used and My Chemical Romance. Word is that the combination of Idiot Pilot’s Sahara-hot tunes and the barrage of floating teenage hormones in the air totally made the “B Stage” catch fire but they put the fire out with their own sweat. Okay, I’m embellishing. By the by, look for the boys’ new record on Warner/Reprise set to come out in May.

Speaking of new, does everyone know that the new coffee shop located where ye olde Stuart’s used to be is booking bands? It’s called Bay Street Espresso, be sure to check it out (see page 39 for their ad).

On the singer-songwriter front, Bellingham’s Matt Novak has won a prize, and not just for bowling or spelling. His song, “Leave me Love” was the winner of the Top Song in the Folk Category in Cooch Music’s 8th Amateur Songwriting Contest-not an easy feat for sure. Big ups to M.N.!

Well, moving on from something that excited Matt Novak to something that completely invigorated a young Brent Cole, let’s talk about the Accused. The Accused happens to be a Washington-based, snotty splatter rock band fronted by none other than Mr. Blaine Fartz, former front man of you guessed it, the Fartz. Though the show doesn’t come to the 3B until May 6 Brent still tugged on my sleeve to mention it because they are “one of the best thrash metal bands of all time.” High school Cole-approved, so you better check them out.

Well, I guess that’s about it so I’m going to get out of your way now so you can take a good look at the rest of the issue. As always, we appreciate our readers, advertisers and the bands whom are the fuel to our fire, the hip to our hooray and the wind beneath our wings. Seriously, you guys are fresh, now get on outta here.