Random Signage

This made me laugh out loud.
























Did you know that Sleater-Kinney has a street named after them up near Seattle? How cool is that? Wonder who made THAT happen.













Things are good over here. I am in Bend, OR at the moment. Had to drive through a scary freaking snow blizzard on the way here though. Was driving around 15mph at parts and couldn't really see the road. Was also on the side of a mountain. NOT fun at all. It's sort of a psychedelic experience driving through a blizzard against the wind at night. Almost like you are in a space ship going at warp speed or something. I don't get how people can drive 50 through something like that.

Cuffs

Went to a hardcore leather bar after the show named Cuffs - really random but fun. Befriended 2 fantastic people named Michael and Bubba today. Very real, down to earth, and OPEN. Bubba changed his name at about 16, I believe, from Michael to Bubba... just to paint a picture - he is a very boyish skinny white kid from Montana. Did it as a lark and kept it up. Also said he has never lived in the same city for more than a year since he was 16 (21 now). Bubba rocks.

The bartender there, Christopher, had the raddest tattoo i have seen in AGES. A Freddie Mercury quote.

Don't you love it? He was a lot of fun to chat it up with.

There was all this talk about how Seattlites are passive aggressive. How they'll snub you out of nowhere. I thought it was funny. Everyone here seems very real and unpretentious to me - but that is coming from my LA standards perhaps? I still just can't get over how beautiful the city is. Can't wait to get back.

Seattle Show - El Diablo

Had a sweet show at El Diablo tonight in Seattle. Isn't the sign fun? Sort of linking Satan to Pan (the whole pagan smear campaign by the Christian Church thing - like how the triton became the pitchfork, etc). That's how I see it anyway

Met some really lovely folk tonight. (Mr. Brandon Shea... if you get those pics, email them to me so I can post them - mine never came out)
















That's KC to the right. A real sweet guy. Dropped by to see me play on just a days notice.




















A man named Quinn Hubbard was really wonderful to take some cool pics of me tonight. Accountant by day, music photo journalist by night. :)
Thanks man!

Seattle

Seattle is freaking cool. Love it up here. My first impression is it's a mixture of San Francisco liberalism and New York grit. The Public Market is lovely There is a real sense of community to it - nothing corporate. They kept it very mom and pop - handmade crafts, etc and I completely appreciated it for that. Lots of people going about their day, doing business. Did not have a hint of tourist trap to it (to me anyway).

I feel like people wear more knitted stuff here than anywhere else I've ever been.

Starbucks headquarters is disturbingly huge. I think the city has a love/hate relationship with it. There isn't one Starbucks ANYWHERE near the Public Market (which I found telling).

It's cold, foggy, and rainy here - very Seattle - and I love it.

I met Jean Claude Van Damme's son. He's short, overly polite, a little paunchy, and has a strong Belgium accent. His father's name came out of his mouth about 2 minutes into the conversation :) I watched a hooker accost him in the lobby of my motel. She kept asking for his autograph... and could barely stand up straight. She wouldn't leave him alone after he mentioned his father. He tried to escape, but last I saw - she was still on his tail. It was pretty hilarious :)