Honk If You Don’t Like Bumper Stickers

Honk If You Don’t Like Bumper Stickers

Doug and Smashley get ready for the long Independence Day weekend, going over some headlines, local business news, and arts arts arts!  The Washington Center for the Performing Arts 26/27 season calendar [https://www.washingtoncenter.org/] is out and there are five shows on our agenda. Notable Tig Notaro has a brand new show. MOMOX: Botanica promises to be a wildly unique, visual stunner. Compagnie Hervé Koubi will have amazing choreography and dance to remember in “Sol Invictus”. We’ll get to hear from local (Edmonds) treasure Rick Steves, “Travel as a Political Act.” The waiting is the hardest part.  The World’s Quickest Theater Festival is back! 14/48 promises to be a good time. The late show series pass is the best deal around: https://www.the1448projects.org/twqtf [https://www.the1448projects.org/twqtf]. I’m planning on going to the first weekend, July 10th and 11th, and if I survive the Lakefair 8k, Saturday the 18th.  This band is all up in my head! Man/Woman/Chainsaw - Get Up and Dance [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9xUTqsKENQ&list=RDN9xUTqsKENQ&start_radio=1] is another great song. It’s on the album Cannonball [https://manwomanchainsaw.bandcamp.com/album/cannonball], which is available for preorder on Bandcamp.  Here’s some nice music from Winter. Check it out! Winter - hollow (mixtape version) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78uFOv5Q0SM]   Olympia Blunders season recaps are on YouTube, with analysis by Trevor! https://www.youtube.com/@OlyBlunders [https://www.youtube.com/@OlyBlunders].

Special Drunken Futbol Edition

Allez les Bleus! Doug had a few beers while watching world futbol. What follows is on the record but not necessarily canon. Blame it on the delicious Three Magnets Scherler lager.  This song has been bouncing around in my mind since I first heard it: Man/Woman/Chainsaw - Nosedive [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5J3nZT--jBc&list=RD5J3nZT--jBc&start_radio=1]. It’s from the upcoming album Cannonball [https://manwomanchainsaw.bandcamp.com/album/cannonball]. Available on Bandcamp for pre-order with three songs to give a feel for the range of offerings on this album.  The sequel is out now but I still had yet to see the first one. Here’s the preview: The Devil Wears Prada [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX1A1ht-uOk].  Lynn Shelton is a legend in Seattle filmmaking. We miss her. I suggest going back and watching her film Laggies [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xep7s36qZL0&start=8].

Get Out There and Have Fun

Doug and Smashley get ready for summer solstice weekend! We have emerged from a desert of music! Three songs came out in the last few days but some of my favorites: Always nice and dreamy, with the breathiness that gets me: Hazel English - Phone Booth [https://hazelenglish.bandcamp.com/track/phone-booth?utm_source=track_release&utm_medium=email&utm_content=fanpub_fnb_trk&utm_campaign=hazelenglish%2Btrack%2Bphone-booth] This might not be something you listen to without headphones at work: Suki Waterhouse - When I Get Drunk (I Want You Boy) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKm3qgrs_wc].   Music flavored music, like beer flavored beer, hits the spot sometimes. I’m really liking how Blue Herons brings me back to The Popinjays, The Sundays: Blue Herons - Willow (Melancholia Version) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1KCn-u7Ehs&list=RDB1KCn-u7Ehs&start_radio=1]  This video is a genius of lighting and set design. They use lights to reveal, highlight, and obscure. It’s just absolute genius to go with a brilliant song. Arcade Fire - Creature Comfort [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzwicesJQ7E]  I’m only 2/3 of the way through this book but it’s been so fun and packed with relevant social commentary. I'm Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom by Jason Pargin [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203578812-i-m-starting-to-worry-about-this-black-box-of-doom].

It’s Glow Time

Doug and Smashley prepare for gigantic soccer by talking about politics in Peru, the low mortgage rate trap conundrum, ultraprocessed foods, and running.  Olympia Blunders Season Five signups close on June 16th. Get in there! Oly Blunders Season Signup [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScSUMJ8bH3JjOa9D5jqCbE5H50BryloQvQX2yiTfkPScHesFg/viewform]. Games start on the 18th. It’s amazingly well-coordinated.  The second single from Ambre Vallet’s album is out. It doesn’t have the infectiousness of the first one, but whatever, it’s still a fun listen: Ambre Vallet - Tant Pis [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqCShTrChpI&list=RDHqCShTrChpI&start_radio=1] she’s green is releasing singles, too! It’s a long song, ready for the longest day of the year which is coming soon. The full punch doesn’t hit until after the five minute mark, but when it does, it brings me right back to why I started liking this band in the first place. she's green - close your eyes [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9umN2klFoGc&list=RD9umN2klFoGc&start_radio=1] The chess night playlist changes often and is good every time! Chess Night in Olympia - The Playlist [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7kdPYdKbKX7Jf7U7EECFYO?si=5bf6fa6fc48549fa]  “I Saw the TV Glow” got so much buzz when it came out but I kept hearing about how scary it was so I was hesitant. I finally got up the nerve to watch. It’s unsettling in some ways but it didn’t freak me out. Haunting is a better word. There are definitely images that stick and some moments of “what the heck?” The style of filmmaking is fresh and unique. I’m happy I got up the nerve to give it a try. I Saw the TV Glow Trailer [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kymDzCgPwj0]

The Mystery Sack Also Rises

Doug is back in the U.S. and getting reacclimated, just in time for a birthday celebration. We finally talk about sunrises in mystery sack, skip business business, but go deep into Peruvian politics. The presidential carousel in Peru continues! Read about it in the New Yorker: https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/perus-politics-are-a-disaster-but-does-it-matter [https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-lede/perus-politics-are-a-disaster-but-does-it-matter]  Ladytron is a little more on the electronic side, but their past success keeps me listening: Ladytron - Secret Dreams of Thieves [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNfedJB7yHA&list=RDGNfedJB7yHA&start_radio=1] This one scores highly on the “Doug Music” scale: Shye - Are You Coming Home [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qI74ACLuXUs]. It’s definitely dream pop, but reminds me of The Verve and Oasis. Bringing that 90s britpop back! Indie films rely on mood, dialogue, and story. This one, “Things Will Be Different,” delivers it. Things Will Be Different Trailer [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4IkQCed2L0] Olympia Blunders Season Five signups are up and running! Can we get more participants than last season to keep that upward trend going? Be a part of it: Oly Blunders Season Signup [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScSUMJ8bH3JjOa9D5jqCbE5H50BryloQvQX2yiTfkPScHesFg/viewform]