Hangin' with the Gits Women Pt 1/Rock School Jam

Started out Weds. with an interview with “Rock School” crew. Karla talked to them too, so you’ll prob get more than you wanted from them on this blog…talked w/guitar prodigy CJ, teacher Paul Green, director Don Argott and producer Sheena Joyce! Whew! Was quick and easy though. I assured them they’d have a great screening that night, packed house, responsive audience, good questions. That seemed to relax them.

That eve met up with Kerri O’Kane and Jessy Bender, director and producer, respectively, of the “The Gits.” We met at Linda’s, where they’d never been. They were excessively pleased to see me, shouting, hugging, leaping all over me. Such fun. They plied me with beers, excessively, first a pitcher, then a drunken but nice young man offered us the rest of his pitcher as his group was leaving. I showed them the plug they got in this week’s Strangler, they’re a “Strangler Suggests” for Mon., when the film is a “Talking Pictures” presentation. Their Sat. screening is almost sold out.

They were excited to be in Seattle, had already visited the Hospitality Suite, had passes, party invites, etc. They did some press, they’re being taken out to dinner with other “Emerging Masters” at Compagne. Kerri wanted to know if they served margaritas, I suggested going for a fancy red wine. She wasn’t sure.

Then we headed off to the Rock School Jam at Neumo’s. They showed me the Mia and Gits graffiti in the sidewalk on Broadway kinda between the Blockbuster and the gas station on the corner. I’d never known it was there before. Arrived at Neumo’s, there was quite the line, the show was sold out. Saw Tara Morgan, SIFF membership person, I stopped to introduce the Gits women to her, which also helped us cut in line, ha ha. A fair number of SIFF staffers in attendance, actually, Gary Tucker, Brian Blue, Beth Barrett, Carl Spence, Andy Spletzer.… We tried to get in the VIP section, no dice. So we crammed onto the main floor, which was stuffed.

A bit too stuffed, actually, and very hot, every so often we’d have to duck out by the bar for some air. The kids opened with “Black Magic Woman,” did other numbers by Yes, Pink Floyd, Zappa. Paul Green was out front directing, everyone looked like they were having fun. The kids are great, CJ is awesome. Ann Wilson did a guest vocal, as soon as the opening riff began everyone started screaming because the song was — “Barracuda”! Whee! Def one of my very favorite Heart songs. It was a sizzling version too, compared very favorably with versions I’ve seen the real Heart do. Eddie Vedder was also on hand, did “I Wanna Be Sedated” and some other song, I think a Pearl Jam one (yeah, I’m a big fan). “I wasn’t going to play this,” he said, “but Paul the teacher told me I had to!” Everyone cheered and laughed.

Chatted some with Sean Axmaker, Andy S, Shannon Gee, all of whom were pleased to meet the Gits women, and vice versa. I was plied with more beers. Met a charming couple who work in the hospitality suite, forget their names now, they were lovely. Also the lovely Erin, an “executive” (that’s what her biz card says, though it doesn’t say executive of what!) at the newly refurbished Columbia City Theater, operated by the even lovelier Craig Dieffenbach. A great place to have a party, folks. Then it was last call and we headed off. Got a ride home, got some Gits swag, was able to check out a Gits screener. The film’s powerful, great footage of the band, good interviews, gives a sense of the development of Seattle’s music scene as well as the Gits, and the courtroom sequence choked me up. You’ll enjoy it, I promise.