My Current Party News & 2 Live Shows As "Bonus Tracks"

Hokay, let’s start at “The Gits” premiere. So I got there extra early, and Steven, whom I met up w/the previous night at “Punk: Attitude,” kindly held my spot in line. Kerri and Jessy arrived, Kerri hugging me to distraction as usual. Not that I mind; hey, get it where ya can, baby! Jessy eventually gave me some $$ to take Kerri off for a drink so we went to Bill’s Off Broadway. “Have her back in 10 minutes!” said Jessy, very much in her role as ace producer.

Kerri had a Stoli (she’d asked for tonic but they gave her soda), and I had a beer. She was very nervous; it was the very first premiere of her life, after all. But the house was fully on her side. Met Mia’s mother, Donna, who’d flown in for the screening, and Mia’s sister, who I’d seen at the sentencing of Mia’s killer. Said nice to meet you, not sure what else to say…great to have the film finished, and a celebratory night, but still, the subject matter made me sad on many levels. Kerri’s sister and Jessy’s family were all on hand. Lotsa folks I knew…Carla DeSantis of Rockrgrl magazine fame, Charley Cross of Rocket magazine fame (and books), Selene and Val from 7 Year Bitch, musician Gretta Harley, many more. I limited myself to saving seats for two people, music attorney David Osgood (he’s worked w/the Gits), and music fan Tam Johnson (she and her husband have a house that’s like a mini-EMP, it’s got so much cool rock memorabilia).

So the film was good, as mentioned previously, and afterwards there was lots of applause and cheering. K&J took a few questions, but Kerri was too nervous to answer much. So we all headed up to the Elysian. On the lower level, a table had been set up with food, I remember hummus and baba ganoush. I guess there were free drinks, but I didn’t find out until later. It was crowded, being a Saturday, so people weren’t totally sure where the “regulars” ended and the “party” began. K&J were busy rushing around, attending to their many admirers. I chatted w/Selene and Val, I used to see the Bitches all the time. Val is still in the health food-related biz and does massage, never quite got what Selene does, they’re in LA. Liz Davis, another Bitch, is in SF, married I think. And Rosin Dunne is in Seattle. Chatted w/Git Steve Moriarty, he’s a co-producer of the film, likes it, but did confess that after Mia’s killer was sentenced he felt it was time to move on. He’s now in the Bay Area.

Various SIFF staffers turned up, arriving from that Sat’s gala party (at the Moore, I understand; the food did not get raves). Helen L was given two Gits wristbands by K&J (most folks only got one). A guy in a wheelchair was there who I much later realized was one of the “Murderball” crew, so I missed my chance for a chat, though I hadn’t seen the film yet either, which would’ve helped as far as making conversation. He got a nice shoulder massage from Helen which he undoubtedly enjoyed more anyway. At last call Kerri stuffed my hands w/tokens, presumably to be used for drinks, but it was too late! I decided to not overdo, and went home. K&J went back to their hotel and stayed up all night chatting w/Selene and Val I later learned. Apparently they were a mite noisy as well. Sorry I missed it.

The next day I ended up at a party at Barca, at the civilized hour of 3 pm, but I don’t know what this party was for; Fly Films or Seattle Filmmakers I think? Who should I see standing outside, but Helen, or, as I like to call her The Divine Ms. L. Even with what I thought had been cautious drinking I’d still felt very queasy in the morning, so I passed up on her suggestion to partake of the food spread inside. Instead, I thought a beer or two might be okay (it was) and there were many interesting folks. Good ol’ Todd Pottinger, co-director of the Richard Peterson doc “Big City Dick” from last year, he’s still working to generate interest in it. Once he heard we still had our siffblog, he asked, “Might I be mentioned in your blog?” Well, of course. Always a pleasure. I’d just located the very first press release I wrote, for Richard Peterson’s second album; Todd said Richard’s working on his 5th album and has “about 10 more” left in him. Something to anticipate. He was smoking, was pleased to see I wasn’t; “Good for you,” he said. I’ve had enough of all that. Also saw Kay Ray who I’ve known for eons. She’s put together a most fascinating documentary, “Lady Be Good,” a history of women in jazz. I just saw a rough cut a month or so ago, and it’s pretty impressive, I do hope she gets sufficient funds to finalize it, you’ll love it and learn a lot. Really. Also talked w/Rebecca Fisher, who used to work at SIFF and was here with “Missing In America,” which I didn’t see. We ended up talking a lot about Elvis, because she works on the Don’t Knock The Rock film fest. She likes LA but misses Seattle. Of course. They had wristbands for that film as well, but not as nice as the Gits ones!

On Memorial Day I somehow ended up seeing “The Gits” again, sitting w/K&J, who proved to be more talkative w/the audience after this screening. Then up to the Capitol Hill Arts Center for that party, in the downstairs part. Jessy had pizzas delivered from Piecoras, appropriate as that was a Gits hangout. Selene was there. She said she hadn’t seen the 2nd screening, it was intense enough to get through the first one. She said I did well in my film appearance, nice of her to say as she’s in it far more than I am. She’s in a new band now but didn’t want to say too much as they hadn’t done much. Talked again w/Steve, and Andy Kessler from the Gits, who said he hadn’t been at the screenings, he was still waiting for the final cut. Both K&J have said they want to “tighten” the film a bit, Seattle was lucky in that we got to see a lot of music performances which may be trimmed somewhat. Ben London also there, he’s been in many bands, worked for EMP, and is now w/Seattle NARAS (the Grammy people). Jessy’s family was there, very proud of their daughter’s work of course, and passholder Joe, who had a long chat w/Selene about the various times they’d crossed paths over the years. Had some beers. Kerri demanded I buy her one, and heck, that’s only fair after the ones they’d bought me, so I complied. Once it was 9 pm, we headed for the Comet. I gather the Gits women had another late night w/Selene. I saw them briefly the next day in between appointments for final farewells. Good luck you two! Helen said of them, “They were both lovely.” What further endorsement do you need?

Just to keep going, I saw Sleater-Kinney 5/31. Most excellent. Between songs a woman shouted “Janet [Weiss] you rock harder than John Bonham!” Another girl near me literally shrieked like a panther. And of course there were the expected calls of "Carrie, I love you!" The new stuff (the album “The Woods”) is so strong, it was an awesome awesome set, on “Entertain” I think Carrie sang harder than I’ve ever heard her. For the encore, they came out and Carrie said, “Now we’ll play the oldies,” and it was like hearing the Beatles doing White Album-era stuff suddenly go back to “I Want To Hold Your Hand.” Still fun though. Their tour has just started, so see them if you can! With luck, maybe they’ll do another Seattle show at the end of their tour.

Then, 6/1, caught a new act in town, HenryBeNoone, at least I think it all goes together like that. They were playing at the Rainbow, where I haven’t been in eons. They’re a most unusual trio. Nate looks like a ‘70s glam rocker and plays sax. Greg has that kind of Euro look that makes you think he’d have a foreign accent (he doesn’t) and “plays” the computer, which spits out various effects and percussive sounds. The very fetching Bee plays guitar and sings; she was looking quite Angus Young in shortish pants, boots, and a shirt and tie. Not sure how to describe the music, sorta alt-rocky, bluesy, and w/a sax, and they do a cover of “I Put A Spell On You.” Bee had a cold (though she belted out songs during the set well enough), so we left soon after they ended and headed for…the Comet, where I noticed “The Gits” film poster that had been up was already gone! Pinched by a devoted fan, perhaps? No, it wasn’t me.