What's Up! Magazine October 2009 cover

Wow. I mean… WOW! You are all absolutely amazing. Last month we put a call out to readers, fans of the magazine, letting everyone know our financial situation, which is not very good. We had hoped that by telling fans of the magazine what was going on, some of you would come forward and help us get through these lean times. We want to keep going and we hoped you wanted us too.

Well, so far so good! I was blown away by the response, primarily from bands and people directly related to the music scene (though not exclusively thanks Greg!). Bands I’ve known for years and bands I barely know have offered to help out, either by taking out advertising or playing at one of the two benefits we have scheduled for October (I’ll get to that later). In one month, we went from being in the tank to being about where we need to be for this month.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods yet not by a long shot. While the short-term income has help stabilized the ship, we haven’t picked up the long-term contracts from businesses that we need to survive. Until we have more businesses commit to advertising over long periods of time, the ship will be wobbly. So, as I said last month, if you know of a business or own a business, let us know or at least give us a chance to talk to you about advertising. We know you’ll like what you hear.

One of the keys to getting more bands in this month was an advertising special we decided to run in mid-September 25 percent off for local bands or local shows. The magazine is for the bands and fans, we felt cutting bands a break seemed like a good idea. So, we’re going to continue the special for the November issue. If you’re in a band, not only will you get the base rate (between $40 and $300, depening on sizes), we’re going to give you an extra 25 percent off. Think about it. For example, if you take out a quarter page ad, that’ll only be $60 an incredible deal if you want to promote a show. On a three-band bill, each band would only pay $20. Seriously, $20! With a $5 cover, all the ad has to do is bring in 12 people and its paid for itself… 13 and you’re making money. Plus, you get to support the magazine. It’s win, win!

As for the magazine benefits, the first one is at the Wild Buffalo on Oct. 19. It’s a special Monday show will Snug Harbor, Vaughn Kreestoe, Sugar Sugar Sugar (hopefully), Dog Shredder and at least one more band, all along with DJ Triple Crown. The suggested donation is $5, but we obviously would love it if you gave a little more. The second will be at the Nightlight on Oct. 24 with Ghost and the Grace, Rooftops, “hopefully” So Adult (as of press time waiting back to hear from Mr. Awesome Joe Olmstead) as well as acoustic sets by Boris Budd with Shawnee Kilgore and the mighty Femme Ukes (a band that has won me over. If you haven’t seen ‘em, you’re missing out!). Again, the show will be a donation of $5 per person, and again, we’d love it if you threw down a little more. Look for more benefits to be booked in November one at the Rogue and another location to be announced.

Before I wrap up the What’s Up! news, I’d really like to thank you all for your support. It was beyond tough asking for help, but the kind words and support vindicated our announcement. As I said before, I love my job and I love this magazine and more than anything, I love this area. I’ve been active in the music scene since 1995 when I first started booking shows. Working with local musicians brings me an unbelievable amount of joy. It can obviously be frustrating sometimes, but there isn’t a place on earth that’s like Bellingham so much talent, so much good music in a town and county of this size. It’s simply amazing.

Wow, okay, enough gushing let’s get to the music! There’s A LOT going on this month, more than we can post here. The calendar is full of good times.

COMINGS & GOINGS

A couple bands have decided to call it a day (continuing on from last month’s unfortunate theme). Megatron played their final show at the end of September to a packed house at the Wild Buffalo. The boys decided to focus on family, travel and other things in life. As one of Bellingham’s longest standing and incredible funk bands, they’ll be greatly missed.

Another band closing up shop is Serious Black. I have fewer details concerning their break up, but I assume it’s because Logan is focusing his energies on becoming a contestant on “America’s Got Talent.” You laugh, but the dude shreds like Yngwie Malmsteen think there’s a big future for this kid.

Plus, as everyone and their mother knows, Black Eyes and Neckties will call it a day at the end of the month. Before they’re done, they’ve got a show in Seattle opening up for Bad Brains as well as their infamous Halloween show at the Nightlight. They’ll play their final all-ages show on Oct. 30 at the Old Foundry with the likes of Horror Business and Scary Monster and the Super Creeps, a great David Bowie cover band. Wow. I’m sorry to see the band go, but at least they’re doing it in style!

Yogoman Burning Band are out on one hell of a tour! Beginning on Oct. 7 at Boundary Bay, they’ll be heading down the West Coast, hitting spots like Monterey, California, San Francisco, Los Angeles and even Coos Bay, Oregon. While in LA, they’ll spend three days recording their next album at Killon Sound, the studio of Sergio from Orgone. Look for Burning Band to be back home around Oct. 26. And for those uber fans, they’ve got two songs you can download off their myspace site at myspace.comyogomanburningband.

A couple new bands to watch for are Vantage, which includes the mighty Chris Vita, John Garrett, Ryan Farrow and Aaron Guest kind of an all-star line up. The other is Baltic Cousins, which features Brad from Black Eyes and Neckties on guitar and vocals, Shawn from the Russians on drums and Nika from Cheetah Speed on violin. Brad says it’s in the Wooden Wings vibe, but with new material. As bands break up, new bands come around good stuff.

The Ground Floor is no longer doing “loud” shows, so I’m not sure what the future holds for the venue.

And, you’ve been going to McKay’s on Thursdays for music? You should.

RECORDS & RELEASES

The Boss, Biagio Biondolillo, will be releasing his latest efforts on Oct. 2 with a special show at Everyday Music. From there, he’ll be heading out on a tour, taking him down to San Francisco and back, finishing up with a show at the Temple Bar.

Amber Darland will be heading down to North Carolina at the end of October to perform at the North Carolina’s Songwriter’s Competition in Carrboro, NC. Though she’ll be south at the end of the month, Amber has a few shows this month, including Oct. 2 at the Underground Coffeehouse. The wonderful folk artist also has a new CD out which will be reviewed in the next issue, so watch for it!

Snug Harbor had a phenomenal CD release party at the Wild Buffalo in mid-September. The boys have continued to build a strong following, bringing in more and more fans each time they hit the stage. Hopefully, if they’re not too chicken, they’ll be giving the magazine their CD for review.

Another band looking to release more music is Bluebird, one of the fantastic bands in the Que Viva Collective. If you haven’t checked the band out (they haven’t played an abundance of bar shows), you should as soon as possible. They’re interesting, ya know… not in the “interesting but lame” way, more in the catch-you-off-guard type of interesting. I love ‘em, think you will too.

One of my very, very favorite bands, So Adult, are working on a new EP. Their CD release show will be held at the Old Foundry on Nov. 21 with No-Fi Soul Rebellion confirmed on the bill. The EP will be released on cassette (I’m hoping on old copies of Billy Joel recordings) as well as by download. If you liked the late 80’s Soul Asylum, Replacements, Husker Du sound, you’ll love So Adult. Plus Joe Olmstead is in the band and he’s, ya know, a great dude.

GOOD TIMES

On a completely different note WWU’s Community Coalition and Hospitality Resource Alliance is launching an educational campaign called “Bellingham Nightlife… Advice on Tap.” According to their press release, “The campaign is a local effort to reduce disruptive alcohol-induced behaviors among 21- to 25-year-old bar patrons in downtown Bellingham.” To paraphrase, the effort is on to make some of you drunk assholes less drunk and less assholeish. You’ve been warned.

Finally, I’d like to congratulate my good friend, James Gillies on receiving the 2009 Howard Harris Lifetime Peacemaker Award from the Whatcom Peace and Justice Center. He shared the honor with Bill Distler. Having gone through the horrors of Vietnam, James has spent his life advocating and fighting for peace. To know James is to love him and I am proud to say that he is a close friend and one of the most amazing people I’ve ever met. He is an inspiration to those around him and selfless to a fault; he’d give the shirt off his back to a total stranger in a blizzard if they needed it. It’s an honor to be your friend, James, and I’m so proud you received the award. I love you, brother, yer a good man.

Also, I’d like to send out a special thanks to Django Bohren, owner of Merch Bot and friend. He bailed us out on a last minute problem and we really appreciate it. Speaking of Merch Bot, they’ll be celebrating their anniversary this month by having a sale from Oct. 23-25, with 20 percent off everything in the store as well as free special edition Merch Bot anniversary t-shirts for anyone who spends $20 or more (while supplies last). They’re open from 10-7 every day.

Well, that’s about it from here. Thanks again for all the support and please keep it coming! We need you all to stay around!