What's Up! Magazine

December 2009 Cover by “Mighty” Mitch Vega

Aaaah, December, my favorite month of the year. It’s cold as hell outside, we all get to celebrate the holidays and vote on the What’s Up! Awards nothing but good stuff.

As always, we’ll touch on a little What’s Up! before the music scene goods. The big news of the month is the What’s Up! awards ballots are ready to go! Visit our online ballot and vote for your favorite album, live band, new band as well as 11 other categories. (Remember, we can tell if you are ballot stuffing.) It’s a new system this year, and many thanks go to Django, owner of Seatthole and Merch Bot, who created the site and has been extremely patient with this process. He’s a great asset to the community and I’m just damn glad he’s on my side. Check him out for your shirts and stickers needs and if you want to give a damn good Christmas gift, go to Merch Bot!

This year, there will be not one, but two pre-awards shows, both on Friday, Jan. 29 the first at the Underground Coffeehouse with Council of Lions and the Bellingham Free Choir followed by a huge show at the Viking Union. Four of the best local bands… who, you might ask? Well… that’d ruin the surprise! Keep checking to the What’s Up! website, facebook and myspace pages for the big announcement.

Then, the next night, Saturday, Jan. 30, we’ll hold the 9th Annual What’s Up! Awards Show at the Wild Buffalo. Performing bands include Femme Uke, Pan Pan, The All Nighters, Dog Shredder, Acorn Project, GNS and the Reparations, The Dirty Bird Cabaret, DJ Postal and more! And once again, the night will be hosted by the beautiful and infinitely sexy Poops. It’s looking like the night will be the biggest and most extravagant awards show to date. Get there early, because things will be wild right from the get go gotta trust me on this one.

As if that wasn’t enough, the poster for the 9th Annual What’s Up! Awards Show will be created by Nat Damm, drummer of Akimbo and designer extraordinaire, who has done posters for bands such as Death Cab For Cutie and KISS, and events like Missoula’s TotalFest, just to name two. Nat has been gracious enough to lend his talents to What’s Up! It will be epic.

While we look forward to bringing you the Award Show weekend, it’s not the only big news for the magazine. Next month, we’re going to make a major, major format change one that has been in the works for awhile, something we are unbelievably excited about. What’s Up! Magazine will move away from the smaller format to what’s known as a “tabloid” format, like The Stranger, for example, and Seattle’s old music publication The Rocket. There are several reasons we’ve decided to make this format change. First and foremost, it’s a style of publication that I love and have flirted with doing for many years (since the mag’s inception, really), and will make it possible for us to include more content. We’ll bring you all the current music content and more, as well as other entertainment features. This move also makes more economic sense in the long run. It’s kinda of a win-win-win situation. Look for the new issue to hit the stands the first week of January, as well as new shirts and stickers.

Finally, What’s Up! has teamed up with Black Market Boutique for a cool series we’re calling Supporting Artistry Through Community. Each month, we’ll publish a piece of original art from a local artist in an effort to showcase some of the incredible talent in town. For more information, check out page 35 for guidelines and submissions. We look forward to seeing what ya’ll create!

COMINGS AND GOINGS

The Rogue, a venue that has been the breeding ground for the local music scene for several years, will no longer be putting on live music. Due to changes to laws about sprinkler systems in establishments, Rogue decided to stop the music because the cost to fix or replace the system was far more than the bar could endure. The owner of the Rogue, Steve Duthie, has been a great asset to the music scene and we all owe him a debt of gratitude. The booker and soundman, Bucketz, also deserves an unbelievable amount of credit for his devotion to the music scene.

And now for some good news. Bucketz, along with four partners, will be opening the Plan B Saloon at the old Factory space on State Street. There are still several hoops they need to jump through before everything is official, but look for a potential opening in early 2010.

Doug Krebs, an old friend of mine and others, has made his way back to town after stops in Cincinnati, Portland and New Orleans. Doug was the old sound guy at the 3B, had a great studio and played in the Lago Volunteers (along with Eli from Black Breath). He’s back in town, doing some mastering, filling in at the Nightlight and playing music again this time in a new band called Antenna Eleven with members of the Sugar High Mustangs.

While it’s great Doug is back in town, a couple long time Bellingham residents are moving on. DJ Velveteen and Paul Chandler will be moving to the Bay Area. We’ll miss you guys you’ve been incredible contributors to the scene.

The Cheeps are a band again! One of the most epic bands to ever reside in Bellingham were so inspired by their Halloween show that they’ve decided to reform. That’s the good news. Bad news is half the band still lives in Leavenworth so don’t expect a ton of shows.

A band to watch in 2010 is Four Players, which features Shea from Sweaty Sweaters and Karate Kitchen. He’s joined by John Everett Allis, Karen Kunkel and Nathan Oglseby in what they call “freaky folk opera.” I just call it damn, damn good.

RECORDS AND RELEASES

Candysound has just released a new EP. Singer Teo Crider (in my estimations) is one of the coolest singers in the scene right now. Something about his vocals just blows me away.

The Love Lights will be recording with Jackson Long at Two Sticks in January. It’ll be the first badass studio time for the band, so expect the quality to jump from an already amazing level. No word on when the new album will be out, but hopefully they’ll get it to me, and the last one. (Rob… I’m looking in your direction).

Sexy Sexy Robert Blake is back in town this month playing a weekly Monday night gig at the Green Frog Acoustic Tavern. Ya know how much I respect Robert and I’m not going to lie I’m glad he’s in town instead of being out on the road. The quality of music in this town goes up a notch when he’s playing live in town.

WELL WISHES

Once again, I’d like to plug Carnelian Agency, a huge supporter of the magazine and a great resource for this town. Their posters are top notch and the best prices around (they are the only place we go to for posters including those for the benefits last month) and they’re the best deal you’ll find for short run CDs. Their services are affordable, and it’s easy to work with this good, local company. So, bands, do the best thing for you and a cool company, go through Carnelian. All you have to do is e-mail them your poster and they’ll turn it around that day! For more info, e-mail Teri Cruzan at tericruzan@carnelianagency.com.

Congrats to Steeb Russell and Libby Chenault on the arrival of beautiful little Franklin Sparrow, who entered the world on Dec. 2 at 3:20 a.m. We’re so happy for you guys. Can’t wait to meet you little man!

Happy holidays!

–Brent