Protesters have suggested they will “set ablaze effigies of non-fun blogs” around which they will “dance like goats” and make “goat like sounds”.

“We’re adhering to all fire codes and are in full compliance with the law,” says protest organizer Dhill Piggel. “We intend to fully exercise our freedom of speech and freedom from oppressive politically motivated bloggers.”

A nationally acclaimed local non-fun blog has become the bane of at least 37 people’s collective existence as not only a hyperlocal source for all things peninsular but also for providing an outlet for “nosy neighbor” types to publicly and anonymously vent frustration (known as “rants”) about neighbors, city officials, local businesses, and who advocate cross-species citizen coalitions with all manner of vermin including coyotes and raccoons.

Many local residents have become disenfranchised with blogs overall as evident by increased circulation and readership of West Seattle’s only newspaper, the West Seattle Herald, which has been in print since 1923 and online the past several years and continues to thrive as they bridge the gap between the old and new news frontiers. Recent studies suggest a “back to basics” movement, where people are taking the time to get up from behind their computers, stretch their legs, grab some fresh air, patronize local businesses, and quit worrying about minute by minute updates regarding the last coyote fart incident in Fauntleroy Park.

This Saturday’s protest is set to begin at 6:00PM. Sympathetic residents are encouraged to bring women’s plus size clothing and men’s earth tone corduroy trousers as well as copies of any and all non-fun blogs to include in the burning.

He’s domesticated like that.

Today Brent is chilling with friends, learning the fine art of making dill pickles.

The process illustrated by Brent in the following videos has been handed down by generation after generation of cowboy – verbally – and is considered a right of passage for all adult males of the breed.

Let’s watch as Brent and friend navigate their way through this precariously delicate process.

The Pickleduction

Stage Six

Brent Does It Now

Stay tuned to the West Seattle Funblog for future updates and for tips on what you can do to better manage your free time. We’ll find actionable ways for you to feel good about yourself at the end of the day.

Crispness, Flavor, Vibe

It’s easy to find bandwitch to leverage your core competencies and best practices that you bring to the table. We can circle back around later to validate buy-in.

Water Cleanses

This process is a critical path exercise with clear deliverables with no disincent. It’s clean.

Discharge

Once you drill-down and drink the kool-aid, it’s the elevator story of the enabler.

Quality Control And Assurance

Don’t be silly. We needed this face time to gain traction!

It’s In There

It’s a mission critical mindshare. No need to monetize, look at the next steps. Stay lock step with this operational paradigm.

What’s Eating Gilbert Grapeleaf

You know, it’s all about perception – and perception is reality! An action you can take is to proactively peel the onion just a little every day so you can ramp up and reach out in real-time.

The Double Boil

Do something fun for you today. It’s a seamless, scalable solution that will provide you with soup-to-nuts hands-down the best most world-class wetware you’ve ever experienced. It’s a win-win.

MAKE YOUR OWN FUN!

“I remember thinking, ‘now what?’” reminisces My Sister’s Machine drummer, Chris Gohde.

It was the beginning of the end for My Sister’s Machine, one of the bands that crested the savage shark infested wave of the early 1990’s Seattle music scene explosion that saw meteoric rise to fame for some and grim personal loss for others. The band broke up in 1994 and went their separate ways.

Jeff Gilbert was (and still is) involved in the Seattle rock scene and recalls his experience with My Sister’s Machine and the music industry that invaded the Emerald City:

“MSM were never really given the respect they were due, mostly because they were pigeon-holed as being a “grunge band.” During that stupid Seattle music gold rush, bands were being signed up literally on the spot with little thought given on how to market them. MSM was so much better than a lot of those other groups, but the record label either didn’t know it, or didn’t care as they were just looking to cash-in. The drag is if the label just would’ve gotten behind them, MSM would be still be out there making killer records, touring the world and keeping me employed as rock journalist.”

Flash forward to June 2009. The Infamous Joe Dredd starts talking about getting a couple bands together from back in the day, and decides My Sister’s Machine should reunite. “The idea was to do a Slaughterhaus 5 reunion with Tommy. Then I wanted to get another band to play with them so I started talking to the MSM guys and got that ball rolling,” says Joe. “So ‘yes’, it was my idea.”

Taking the suggestion to heart, Chris Gohde, Owen Right (lead guitar), and Chris “Ivan” Ivanovich (bass) began playing together, figuring the time was right. “We were like, ‘this doesn’t sound too bad’,” recalls Gohde.

In early 2010, Gohde, Owen, and Ivan – after several months of playing without a front man – reunited with vocalist/guitarist Nick Pollock. Pleasantly surprised, and with renewed enthusiasm for their past work, My Sister’s Machine was born anew.

Recently, the Funblog had the good fortune to be invited along to check out My Sister’s Machine during rehearsal at Groove Universe where I listened first hand to the incredible synergy and power of their music. I was treated to not only one – but two – full iterations of the set for their upcoming reunion performance at the Layne Staley Tribute and Benefit Concert on August 21st.

“I think the songs sound better now” says Owen.

Gohde agrees, “We’re in a much better headspace.”

To say the least. These guys are completely casual, barely breaking a sweat in the sun soaked room as they worked through each song without interruption.

(The Blue Angels roar overhead outside the old Rainier Brewery. Everyone shuffles around to try and get a glimpse as they speed through the clear Seattle sky. America, Fuck Yeah!)

Also on hand for the rehearsal was Funky Monkey 104.9 DJ, Damon Stewart, who was checking out the band in advance of their guest spot on his Garage Monkey radio program and podcast (August 10, 2010 – Listen online: hour one | hour two). Damon was a fixture in the early 90’s Seattle music scene as a DJ with KISW.

“Damon did a lot for the music scene,” says Gohde. “He’s a huge supporter of Seattle music.”

From a fan perspective, this rehearsal delivered not a single detectable transgression. Everyone was on mark, the sound polished and tight as one would expect from musicians of this caliber. Nick non-nonchalantly reviews and sends text messages from his iPhone while belting out lyrics. Owen expressively shreds the solo. Ivan hammers the bass line as Gohde effortlessly produces pounding beats. The sheer volume of the fully equipped rehearsal left my unprotected ears ringing for hours and tender for days; a price worth paying for bearing witness to a piece of rock history.

Let’s shift gears and check out some media from My Sister’s Machine.

See if you can figure out which local lifelong West Seattle long-haired noble-faired leaping gnome is in this video shackled to a cedar stump (at 2:06):

Fun Fact: The “I’m Sorry” video was shot just off I-90 up on Snoqualmie Pass at the band’s favorite clear cut.

Now, listen to “Sunday” from their first album, Diva. Turn your speakers way up!

Come check out My Sister’s Machine perform live for the first time in 16 years at the Showbox Market on August 21st for the Layne Staley Tribute and Benefit Concert.

This show is going to make you feel like you did something extra cool this summer.

Photo: Seth Wonner

WEST SEATTLE, Washington, August 12, 2010 (WSFB) – On occasion, you hear music from outside the boundaries of your music collection that sparks interest and lends itself an inclination of further study. Many times, the investigation leads to a musical cold case. Not so when it comes to Lincoln Barr and Red Jacket Mine.

Lincoln’s lyrics are lucid without being pretentious. Brief, provocative scriptural overtones make ones ears perk up slightly as you listen to the musical homily. The tunes are melodic and sweet with an often ethereal tone seemingly designed to draw the listener into a dream-like state, where words cascade effortlessly through the soul.

We first met Lincoln back in April when his band Red Jacket Mine played a gig with Nathan Wade and the Dark Pioneers at A Terrible Beauty in Renton. These musical brothers-in-arms delivered a memorable performance, including an astounding cover of Pink Floyd’s Breathe.

The evening was not without ample injections of humor. Lincoln and Nathan passed around witty tidbits, with each feeding off the others innuendo. If memory serves, there were even a few exclamations of “bukkake!” slathered about the latter, post-cocktail consumption set. You can’t beat that with a damn stick.

Recently, Lincoln took some time to oblige the ol’ Funblog with answers to a few questions:

WSFB: Where do you draw your inspiration and motivation for songwriting?

LB: This may seem pathetic, but my sense of self-worth is tied pretty directly to songwriting. When the songs are really rolling, you feel like a golden goose…and when they temporarily dry up, it can leave you pretty low. But they always come back around when you need ‘em. In my clearest moments, I like to look at songwriting more like a trade, rather than a mystical thing – though it can certainly feel that way at its best. It’s more about putting in the time and making space for creativity.

It’s an endlessly fascinating exercise…since my songs don’t have a “message,” or even many stories to speak of, lyric writing seems to be more about fitting the puzzle pieces together and playing with language. I went to school for English, so I’m no stranger to syllable-counting and internal rhyme schemes. While I’ve got no desire to write a sestina ever again, it’s fun to make your own set of rules and set about breaking them.

Musically, I think I’m usually trying to suggest a mood with interesting harmonic choices…for instance, juxtaposing pop or soul/gospel melodies over dissonant chords. Having a band full of great musicians and working with wizards like Ken Stringfellow and Eyvind Kang certainly helps.

WSFB: That’s not pathetic at all. Our sense of self-worth is directly tied to funblogging. When did you first realize you wanted to pursue the musical path?

LB: I’m still not sure I have much musical talent, but I’m so good at the between-song banter, I’ve had to cultivate a bit of musicality to accent my comedy routines. I first picked up the guitar at 13, and started tinkering with writing my own songs in high scool. In college, I finally bought a four-track and started committing my heavily Guided By Voices-influenced pop creations to tape, and shortly thereafter, Red Jacket Mine was born.

WSFB: What holy scripture do you derive your lyrical ecumenical references?

LB: I grew up in what they call the ‘mid-South,’ splitting my time between the Missouri bootheel and northwest Mississippi, where religion is an undeniable part of mainstream culture. I was raised in the Pentecostal church, and while I’m by no means a religious (or even ’spiritual’) adult, I can’t deny the influence the language and imagery of the Bible has had on me. All fairytales and dogma notwithstanding, it’s a serious piece of literature.

That said, my personal holy texts are Robert Gordon’s It Came From Memphis and Big Star’s Third/Sister Lovers.

WSFB: Aha! So you spent a little time straddling the Manson / Nixon line. That’ll build character! What’s are your top 3 Seattle live music venues?

LB: The Crocodile, the Tractor Tavern, and for pure divey splendor and unflagging hospitality, the Sunset Tavern. Neumos is also quite nice.

WSFB: Ah yes, those places on the other side of the bridge. Good venues all! If you could light an instrument on fire at the end of a performance – other than a guitar – what instrument would that be?

LB: I’ve always wanted to see Clarence Clemons playing a flaming saxophone. I’d also love to torch the Dave Matthews Band guy’s fiddle…at the beginning of a performance.

Have a listen to Red Jacket Mine!

Don’t (Settle Your Debts On The Phone) from the album Hello, Old Cloud:

FUNBLOG BONUS! Free download of Red Jacket Mine’s Fascinated from the album Lovers Lookout – HERE.

Lincoln Barr performs solo this Saturday night at Shadowland in West Seattle (9:00PM, 21+ – FREE!).

Come enjoy some adult beverages, delicious food, soothing atmosphere, and a musical performance by this remarkable singer-songwriter.

Tell ‘em Funblog sent you and receive a blank stare.

info@westseattlefunblog.com

Photo Courtesy lineout.thestranger.com

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Brent Amaker reports from a sleep deprived state somewhere in Portland, OR:

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Brent Amaker reports from the road to Portland, OR for the West Seattle Funblog:

Several hundred jobs will be filled, from assembly to facilities, from logistics and materiel, to office administration and production / technical support. Low-end wage starts at 14 Loonies per hour for production, topping out at 32 Loonies per hour for management.

In addition to competitive wages, RIM jobs offer excellent benefits including affordable family healthcare and individual life insurance.

“The last RIM job I had back in Canada took pretty good care of me and met my family’s needs,” says Pierre LaFoote. “I’m looking forward to applying – and hopefully getting – a new RIM job down in Provo, eh.”

There will be a RIM job fair on August 22nd from 10:00AM – 4:00PM in the cafeteria of the Provo plant location.

While awaiting final approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission, Craigslist will begin seeding Facebook with its most predominant social networking entities known as “escorts”. These entities have already begun full scale operations on the now 500-million+ user strong Facebook and have friended family networks in an effort to solidify their future customer base.

“When I first received the friend request from Hannah Hotpants I went through our list of mutual friends,” says Yvette Nordstrong of Enumclaw, Washington. “Since we were both friends of Dave Blank, I figured this person was okay to add as a friend.”

Some individuals have been alarmed by the recent surge in unusual friend request and suggestion activity, citing many provocative and borderline racy photographs potentially unsuitable for younger users. Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, assures the user base that this is “just another chapter in the growth pattern of social media” and that “with great growth comes a little discomfort.”

Bassist for Bullitt County and Seattle music promoter, Ted Walker took the time to field a few questions from the Funblog on behalf of the rest of the band. This interview might result in Big John Hamhock (founder, lead guitar) piledriving Ted off the back of a flatbed truck while Earl Haikka (guitar) and Ray Pena (drums) watch, but that’s a risk he’s willing to take.

Belly up to the rail and shotgun some of what Ted’s cookin’!

WSFB: Tell our readers about Bullitt County; when / how did the band get together?

TW: This incarnation of BC has been together a couple of months now. Big John was scanning the King County Jail release records one day as he’s prone to do, and noticed the three of us all made bail on the same day and figured it was a sign.

WSFB: On Bullitt County’s MySpace page there’s a defining passage that reads, “..the bastard offspring of rednecks and punks, of hillbillies and headbangers…” – sounds like our family (Mom’s side is all Okies and Arkies, crazies, boozers, dopers, preachers, and cowboys). Is there a difference between rednecks and hillbillies? If so, what’s the defining feature?

TW: I see where you’re going with this line of questioning “Luigi”, and frankly I’m a little disappointed in y’all. We don’t label people anymore. We treat both the rednecks AND the hillbillies equally, that is to say as long as they show up to the shows, buy our CD’s, and shower us with rounds and rounds of good whiskey, then they are our brothers. [sometimes literally]…By the way, how is Your Mom? Tell her I said hi.

WSFB: So the Cornbread Ball is coming up and Bullitt County is on the bill. How did the band get involved in this event?

TW: Big John lost a bet. Best to leave it at that. Actually Big John has a big heart, and the Cornbread Ball is a way for folks to give back to those who may have been hit hard by the Bush Recession, and could use a little help with supper right about now.

WSFB: While I’m writing this email I’ve got “Two Bottles of Tequila” playing in the background. Is it just me, or am I detecting a little Hunter S. Thompson influence in the lyrics? Nobody sings about LSD or salt shakers full of cocaine anymore. Is HST a literary influence for Bullitt County? Has the band ever had a “Fear and Loathing” experience?

TW: The Good Doctor is indeed one our biggest guiding influences. We spent many a night at Owl Farm learning the finer points of overindulgence and blowing up things. The fact that Hunter checked out on my birthday really pissed me off though. He never could just give me that one day to myself. He HAD to upstage me again.

As to the second part of your question, I simply refer you back to the previously mentioned bail hearings…..

WSFB: If Big John Hamhock was a vegetarian, what would his nickname be?

TW: Did PETA put you up to this? Since when did the West Seattle Funblog become a mouthpiece for the fringe left?…. That’s just silly. Everyone knows the only vegetable Big John has ever met was some corn in his sour mash. Unless we’re counting that time he was introduced to Ronald Reagan

WSFB: If Bullitt County could run over any other band with their van / car / truck / bus, what band would that be? Would you take their equipment and use it, or would you sell it all to get hookers and blow?

TW: That’s easy. GUNS OF NEVADA. Those bastards have been a real burr in our saddle since day one. They get all the cool gigs, and they beat us out of our Grammy last year. In fact Guns of Nevada kept us from solving world peace as well as convinced the Florida Supreme Court to stop the recount in 2000. They’re bullies who steal our beer money and make out with our wives while we’re onstage. Crosswalk or not, there wouldn’t be a skidmark in sight.

WSFB: Tits or ass: which is more useful?

TW: Not sure yet, I’ve seen your tits but we got sidetracked before I could get a good look at that moneymaker of yours.

You better not miss Bullitt County at the Cornbread Ball this Saturday. You’ve been warned.

Want to know about fun shit happening in your community? Visit the Events and Funmanship page and stay regular.

info@westseattlefunblog.com

Sometimes we have to be told there’s something wrong with our patient. This is one such case.

Leigh Bezezekoff, Manager for Brent Amaker and The Rodeo, sent  us this message over the funwire advising of the Save Tiny Dancer benefit concert coming up August 14th:

In a bizarre and unprecedented turn of events Brent Amaker and the Rodeo guitarist Tiny Dancer was injured in a segway accident over the Fourth of July holiday which resulted in a broken leg and subsequent surgery. Details are murky at best but we are told that Tiny Dancer may have been “sexting” at the time.

Like many musicians, Tiny Dancer does odd jobs to pay the bills between touring and does not have health insurance. It is likely that he will receive some money from the state of Washington to help cover medical costs but Tiny Dancer has to be off his feet for three months to recover from a serious tibial fraction and won’t be able to work to cover rent and other expenses.

We have encouraged Tiny Dancer to apply for assistance through the MusiCares Foundation which helps musicians in times of need. One of the tenants to be eligible for this is to be a credited musician on widely released material for at least five years. Tiny Dancer’s tenure with the Rodeo (who have released albums in the US and Europe and have completed several North American and European tours) should qualify him along with his prior work as bassist for the Boss Martians; but his previous bands The Levitations and Stagger Lee did not yield completed albums despite their regional success.

We here at Camp Rodeo are grateful for The Sunset Tavern, poster artist Simon Young, BAR’s label Spark & Shine Records, The Stranger and of course the bands donating their time and showing their support for Tiny Dancer during this difficult time. Please join NighTraiN, The Young Evils, Daniel G. Harmann & The Trouble Starts, and Lady Krishna’s Peppermint Lounge at The Sunset for a night of great music we hope will get Tiny Dancer back on both feet and dancing again.

Until then,

Please Stand By

Brent Amaker and the Rodeo will be performing at the 40th annual Bumbershoot Music Festival on Monday September 6th featuring Tilson (The Saturday Knights) and “Nurse” Bunny Monroe who will attend to Tiny Dancer. Their album release party will be Friday October 22nd. Details forthcoming.

You can find all the details surrounding the August 14th benefit here on the Funblog’s Events & Funmanship page.

Support your Tiny Dancer!