Asymmetric Memory ::: Emily Joesph

We're pleased to extend the experience beyond music-and into the realm of visual art- with Asymmetric Memory: An Exhibit by Emily Joesph, in the Musicquarium, for the month of January. Emily Joesph captures the recollections of her past, and their environments, through intricate geometric grids and colors schemes based on hues of hair, eyes and flesh. 

We interviewed Emily to skim the surface of her experience as an artist. 

The Triple Door: What inspires you to create?
Emily Joesph: That is one of the hardest questions to answer, because I really believe that the inspiration to create comes from something innate, a need to create. I am so inspired by people, places, objects, and experiences everyday. I enjoy looking at the works of other artists to inspire me to develop my own visual language, yet looking at old photographs, walking around the city, or listening to memorable music can inspire me to draw, paint or design new works.

TD: Who's artwork are you diggin' right now?
EJ: I have been influenced by so many amazing artists, but I am really loving the work of Francesca DiMattio and local painter, Mary Iverson, at the moment.

TD: How long does it take for you to complete a piece?
EJ: Completion of a piece varies widely between my work. The larger the work, the longer it takes, definitely. There are a few paintings I have spent several months working on, layering, until I get to the point that I think the piece can exist on its own for a while. I like to let the work rest and step away for a while before I really decide if it is complete. Most of the smaller pieces, including the printmaking, develop more as a fluid experiment with new ideas.

TD: Do you listen to music while you create? Do you choose music to fit your artistic mood, or do you choose music to create an artistic mood?
EJ: I do listen to music while I am working. I usually pick something to fit whatever mood I'm in when I get to the studio, but generally, if I want to get a lot of work done, I have to pick a long and cohesive playlist. I don't like stopping to change the song because it is something that has pulled me out of the moment.

TD: What is your favorite gallery/museum in Seattle? The world? Why?
EJ: In the Seattle art scene, I am really loving the Henry Gallery. They have had some really great contemporary work come through, usually intermingled with more classic work through a common theme. I thought the Jeffrey Mitchell show was fantastic! Out of the museums and galleries in the world, that might be an impossible task to pick a favorite... Going to museums and galleries is one of the best feelings, spending time quietly by yourself or discussing the experience with a friend. I am really lucky to have traveled quite a bit- visiting a lot of the big museums and galleries- I have a soft spot for Mass Moca, because it is one of the first contemporary museums I ever experienced as a young girl.

Join us for our First Thursday Art Opening w/ Asymmetric Memory: An Exhibit by Emily Joesph on January 3 at 5PM, with extended happy hour specials until 9PM {21+}. RSVP here>> 

A note from Emily: "Windows are used as a means of observation, a way of looking in or out of a space in a specific place and time. The foundation for my work is built upon a succession of windows formed through fragmented portraiture and recollections of the past. Each image is an intricate geometric grid based on hues of hair, eye, and flesh. The grid itself forms an abstracted visual system for displaying memories from the past that have been fractured and re-remembered over time. Figures and their environments are pared down and woven into a lattice of tonal color. Formally, through the systematic de-construction of images and the layering of the basic chromatic components, I aim to pull selected hues from the body and its environment out into columns in space. Geometric grids developed out of his practice form stratified windows that systematically frame the memories form my personal history."

A lil' Q&A ~ Barbie Anaka

With a clear, fresh voice, jazz vocalist Barbie Anaka will bring sophisticated songwriting, deep emotions and smooth jazz to The Triple Door this January. Joining Barbie Anaka will be a 10 piece band, including former Kenny G percussionist Tony Gable, for a night of solid grooves, seductive soul and pure Northwest contemporary jazz perfection. We interviewed Barbie, via email, to ask the light-hearted questions not all are prepared to answer. 

The Triple Door: Who are you currently listening to?

Barbie Anaka: I'm listening to Donyea Goodman's "Groovin' at Sunrise". He's a gifted producer/multi-instrumentalist/composer like George Duke.

TD: Name your biggest guilty pleasure, musically?

BA: Teena Marie

TD: Nina Simone of Ella Fitzgerald? 

BA: Easy one. Ella. She's influenced me a lot.

TD: What's the song to your life's soundtrack this year?

BA: "Win" by Brian McKnight.

TD: If you could play with any musician, living or dead, who would it be?

BA: Prince!

TD: Who would play you in a movie about your life?

BA: I would like to see J.Lo play me.

TD: How would you describe the perfect day?

BA: Having no agenda and no schedule, no interruptions... with sunshine through the windows and a view of the ocean... being free to create.

TD: What's your most embarrassing on stage experience? 

BA: I don't have very good spatial ability or depth perception, so in tight spaces on stage with my band I've been known to knock over or run into things (I always warn my band members I flail sometimes... meaning I sing with my hands, too). One night while playing at The Edgewater Hotel, I bent down to pick up my water glass, which was on the ground... not realizing the drummer's cymbal stand was sticking out, and it virtually stabbed me in the backside! It was incredibly painful, but the song had already started, so I had to grin and bear it. It became a serious purple and black bruise later on.

TD: What inspires you to play music?

BA: God definitely inspires me and keep me going on this path. I'm inspired by people who enjoy my music and come see us play live, too.

TD: What is your superpower? 

BA: My intuition. Sometimes I know what people will say before they say it.

TD: Who is your musician crush?

BA: Besides Prince?? ADAM LEVINE! 

See Barbie Anaka on January 6 at 7:30. Tickets here>> 

A lil' Q&A ~ Dudley Manlove Quartet

The Triple Door welcomes back an all time favorite, and one of the most universal cover bands in the Northwest, Dudley Manlove Quartet for an evening of funky-pop fun this New Years Eve! We interviewed all 5 members of the quartet, (yes, a 5 member quartet- this only opens the door to their off-the-wall humor) in hopes to find out what goes on behind their song selection. Take a gander...

What are your favorite songs to play in Dudley Manlove Quartet and why?
Stefan Mitchell (vocals): I don't really have a favorite song, but what I love is the variety. It is fun to watch people respond to us playing Frank Sinatra and Barry Manilow and the Ah-Ha. And that is all about playing with a group of fantastic musicians.
Jeff Mosier (drums): More Than This by Roxy Music and Don't Change by INXS are a couple of my favorites right now. We've been doing Suspicious Minds by Elvis for many years, but I never get tired of playing it because it has such a great energy and it's a lot of fun to sing. We did a bunch of Elton John songs for our Halloween show, so we'll probably play a couple of those on New Year's Eve. That's the stuff I grew up playing, so it's a treat to do songs like Philadelphia Freedom and Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting.
Steve Okimoto (bass): Copacabana is the one song that has lasted from the beginning that we still play to this day! It is great to see that some are still surprised and shocked that we do it. Try as they might they can't resist and hit the dance floor every time! I also really like Video Killed the Radio Star; brings back fond  memories of watching MTV for hours and hours when they actually played music videos. Also, I love that the arrangement and the tempo is great for parading around onstage! :)
John Hendow (guitar and vocals): More Than This by Roxy Music. I love the texture of this song with the classic 80's guitar and keyboard tones and it really shows off Stefan's voice. Don't Change by INXS. New wave synth rock is a blast to play and this one is always a crowd pleaser. Piano Man by Billy Joel. I had to learn to play harmonica when we added this to the set list. DMQ throws some musical curve balls and I love it that we take on challenges with humor and musicality. I Wish by Stevie Wonder. This song has a wicked funky bass line and Steve Okimoto delivers it in a big way.
Chris Joss (keyboards) **: Anything that features me on the keyboards. I try to stay humble  but it's not easy when you combine the virtuosity of a Rick Wakeman with the fashion sense and showmanship of a Liberace. I've taken to wearing a glittery cape onstage and have recently purchased a large and very attractive candelabra, which I have to duct-tape to my synthesizer to keep it from falling off.

What contemporary song or songs are you into right now?
SM: I generally don't listen to what is popular on the radio. My tastes are a little more in the area of IDM or Glitch music. Some of my favorite artists currently are Alva Noto and Lackluster.
JM: Although they're both a couple of years old, I guess Kissing Strangers by Cherry Ghost and Everybody Needs Love by Findlay Brown would qualify. I'm a sucker for sad songs with a great melody and melodramatic strings.
SO: Oooooh well I get most of mine from going to the gym. Have to say that Move like Jagger was stuck in my head for weeks on end! Love those catchy numbers!
JH: I am a big fan of Tony Levin. His recent album with the band Stick Men is terrific. The Aquabats album Charge!! is brilliant, silly fun. Tom Waits Bad as Me is great. Tom Waits paints a dark playful picture with his music. Ok, I'll let you in on a well-kept secret: I love rock music. The latest Rush album Clockwork Angels is a winner. The return of Soundgarden is a thrill. And, for the record, my mom was wrong all those years ago when she told me I'd grow out of my teenage love of KISS and Led Zeppelin.
CJ: I'm a big fan of Austin Moon from the Disney Channel hit series Austin and Ally. His energy is infectious, and I think his hair is really cute. My friends tell me it's kind of unusual for a single 40-something male to watch a show like his that's geared more towards, let's say, a younger, more female demographic, but they just don't understand. No one understands Austin the way I do, not even Ally.

If you could add one song to the DMQ repertoire, what would it be, and why?
SM: Freebird... because I get so tired of hearing people ask for it. In all honesty, the great thing about this band is that few things are off limits. We generally make an effort to let everyone have input into what we learn. I am leaning more and more towards songs like After The Lovin, because you just get that extra slice of cheese with your entree.
JM: It's hard to choose one, so I'd have to say either Breakfast in America or The Logical Song by Supertramp- flip a coin. I can't believe that in almost 18 years we've never done a Supertramp song.
SO: Hey Ya by Outkast. Fun, funny, funky, danceable and catchy as hell! I've also been known on occasion to shake it like a Polaroid picture!
JH: Tear the Roof off the Sucker by Parliment. Just listen to that groove! Steve and Jeff would put the hammer down on that percolating funk. Plus, I favor any excuse to wear platform shoes.
CJ: Anything by Austin Moon would be dreamy. Musically speaking, that is. Gosh, I'm sounding like a broken record aren't I? Let's move on.

Dudley Manlove Quartet is all about guilty pleasures, but are there any songs that you love that are too far over the line for you?
SM: Freebird, Brick House, Stairway to Heaven.... we really must have some standards even if they are quite low.
JM: Both the songs I just mentioned (Breakfast in America or The Logical Song by Supertramp) probably straddle that line, but part of the joy of being in this band is allowing yourself, and the audience, the freedom to surrender your cool to the allure of cheesy pop songs.
SO: Give it to me Baby by Rick James. Awesome hom sections, slamming bass line, funky as hell! Rick James talking dirty could be seen as over the line, but I'm ready to dance right over it baby!
JH: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper. It's a silly joyful song, which is very much in the DMQ spirit. Unfortunately, I don't think we could pull it off without some professional wardrobe consultation.
CJ: I keep telling the other guys in the band that nothing is too far over the line; that certain artists have a much wider appeal than one might think, just because they're on the Disney Channel. But do they listen? No. No, they don't.

Join us and quintessential party band, the Dudley Manlove Quartet,  in bringing in 2013! 

TWO SHOWS 

7:00PM (all ages) $100 Dinner Package - includes cover charge, a sparkling wine toast, and $49 in food and beverage credit, tax and gratuity.

10:30 PM (21+) $70 Dessert Package - include cover charge, a sparkling wine toast, and $27 in food and beverage credit, tax and gratuity.

Tickets here>>

** Note from Jeff Mosier- Keyboardist, Chris Joss, was too slammed with other obligations to answer these interview questions, so I generously offered to supply his answers for him. 

The Early Years

The Embassy Theatre originally opened its doors, during the roaring 20's, in the basement of the historic Mann building on the corner of Third and Union in downtown Seattle.

The guys and dolls of Seattle spent their evenings out at the ritzy Embassy Theatre during the last few years of the Vaudeville era. In the late 20's, with the rise of motion pictures, the theatre was transformed to showcase projected films. It maintained the title as an A-list theatre well into the fifties, but slowly lost popularity in the sixties when the Embassy became an adult film theater. In 1983, as business dwindled, one of Seattle's last venues for projected adult film closed its doors.

For over a decade, the venue that once was the house of Seattle's hotsy-totsy entertainment stood vacant. In 1999, Rick and Ann Yoder, of Wild Ginger, bought the space to fulfill their dream of creating a music dinner theater. Renovations to improve the quality of the space began three years late, in the fall of 2002. 

With the simple goal of creating an intimate, comfortable space that would connect performers to their audience, every effort was taken to preserve the ornate qualities of the old theatre. The original stage proscenium and ceiling fixtures were restored.

Rich fabrics, plush seating, and state of the art sound completed the renovation process, and embellished the grand vintage space for a new generation of entertainment. 

In September 2003, The Triple Door opened its doors as a premier music venue in Seattle with the goal of providing the best in sound, lighting, atmosphere and hospitality. Today, our venue hosts numerous national, regional and international artists showcasing an eclectic mix of live music and performances hearkening back to the original years as The Embassy Theatre.

Bridging the gap between the artist and the audience, each performance is unique in nature. Join us to venture beyond the familiar and to share in the thrill of discovery. 

The Burlesque POP-OUT show

In conjunction with the illustrious spectacle of glitzy, glam at the beloved Land of Sweets: The Burlesque Nutcracker, we're pleased to showcase the visual wittiness of Kelly Portfolio Illustrations in the Musicquarium for the month of December. To celebrate, join us for The Burlesque POP-OUT show opening on First Thursday, December 6th, at 8pm in the Musicquarium. 

We chatted with Kelly Brownlee, creator of Kelly Portfolio Illustrations, to see what inspires some of Seattle's most playful burlesque illustrations. 

The Triple Door: What part of the burlesque culture inspires your designs?

Kelly Brownlee: Visually, of course, I am drawn to the amazing costumes and vibrancy these women and men bring to the stage. They put an incredible amount of thought and energy into creating a wonderful show. But to me, it's also about identifying with the performers and what they create on stage. A few years ago I saw The Shanghai Pearl perform. I had never seen burlesque before. I remember feeling, for the first time, that I could relate as a woman, as an artist, to burlesque. There was beauty, strength and humor that was front and center in these acts. These performers exuded confidence and grace, being immersed in everything womanhood can represent. Loving your body. I became an instant fan of burlesque and boylesque. There's a playfulness and power in burlesque that inspires me. And who doesn't love copious amounts of sparkle?

TD: Describe Seattle's Burlesque scene in 3 words:

KB: Sparkle, beauty, humor

TD: Describe your work in 3 words:

KB: sexy, candy, wit

TD: What are some of your other artistic outlets?

KB: Collecting vintage dresses and antique furniture. I also got into playing the banjo last year and fell head over heels in love with the instrument. Cooking, making delicious pastries with my daughter. Making greeting cards and jewelry from my illustrations. 

TD: Being a music venue, this questions must be asked: Do you listen to music while you create? If so, who?

KB: Always. It depends on what I'm creating. If I am creating something with a vintage feeling. I listen to Julie London, Anita Goodman, Marilyn Monroe and old swing jazz. If I am in a time crunch and I need to work fast, I listen to 80's metal or The Pogues. I also really enjoy the banjo music. No one can be sad while playing or listening to the banjo, in my opinion. My musical tastes are all over the place and I don't rule anything out, but in general, I love to match my music to whatever I am creating. 

TD: If you could have a drink with any visual artist, living or dead, who would it be?

KB: Maurice Sendak- hands down

TD: What would you ask him?

KB: What he likes to eat for breakfast. And what inspired him daily. Artists have an ability to channel inspiration from somewhere and I am always fascinated by where people draw their inspiration from.

TD: What is your favorite historical artistic movement?

KB: I love pop art. I would have loved to have lived in NYC in the 80's. I'm also a fan of the Rococo, Neoclassicism, and Romanticism movements for the decadence and color palate. 

TD: What is your favorite color?

KB: Red. I love it so much I wear the same red lipstick and nail polish daily.

RSVP for The Burlesque POP-OUT show on Facebook here>> 

a little holiday cheer...

A lil' Q&A ~ The Shook Twins

Identical twins, Katelyn and Laurie Shook, add an endearing quirkiness to the old-timeliness of folk music- a true reflection of blending generations- with each song they play as The Shook Twins. Joined by Kyle Volkman, to form the core trio, The Shook Twins have musically pranced their way all over the Pacific Northwest. We chatted with Katelyn and Laurie Shook to see what goes on behind this gem of a harmonizing geminate production.  

The Triple Door: What was the first album you ever purchased? Do yo still have it?
Katelyn Shook: Most likely it was New Kids on the Block! They were our first concert as well, when we were 6. I don't have their album (or tape) anymore.. sadly.
Laurie Shook: Maybe the Free Willy soundtrack. I remember listening to that a lot!

TD: What's your music guilty pleasure?
K: I'd have to say the same here, New Kids on the Block for nostalgia mostly. Also, some Tiffiny and Janet Jackson, for sure.
L: New Kids on the Block

TD: Name the number 1 song listed on you iTunes' "25 Most Played" playlist?
K: Skinny Love by Bon Iver, but I don't know how accurate that is!
L: All is Full of Love by Bjork

TD: What was the first song you ever sang?
K: Couldn't tell you the first song I EVER sang, but the first documented song is probably us singing Sinead O'Conner's version of Nothing Compares to You on camera in the backyard when we were 6. First song I ever played, on the guitar, was Waiting on an Angel by Ben Harper.
L: When we were tiny girls, we used to sing a song we made up every time we drove to our Grandma's house. These were the lyrics: " we're on our way to Grandma's house, it's not too buzz, it's not too buzz" still don't know what that means!!

TD: If you could play with any musician, living or dead, who would it be?
K: Ani Difranco
L: Ani Difranco or Andrew Bird

TD: What was the best concert you ever attended?
K: The Flaming Lips
L: Bjork

TD: Describe you sound in three words:
K: quirky ambient folk
L: quirky loopy folk

TD: What's your most embarrassing on stage experience?
K: Don't really have one...
L: One time Kyle dropped his upright bass on me after trying to spin it and missing the catch!! but that was just more hilarious than embarrassing!

TD: What inspires you to play music?
K: Everything, but mostly because it's a unique opportunity to make others happy.
L: Because it feels right, and it makes me feel like I'm accomplishing something I was meant to do.

TD: What hidden talents do you have?
K: I can purr
L: Purring like a cat

TD: Who is your musician crush?
K: Andrew Bird and Feist
L: Elephant Revival



See The Shook Twins with Dan Rodriguez from Elephant Revival live on November 8 at 8:00 pm on The Triple Door Mainstage. Purchase tickets here>>

A lil' Q&A ~ Susanna Hoffs

It's not everyday an album, combining the sounds of 1960's simplicity with 2012 sophistication, delivers authentic, feel-good vibes. However, with the debut of Susanna Hoffs' long over-due newest discography addition- Someday, this is the case. We chatted with the honey-voiced songbird, and Bangles member, to get a backstage look at what goes on behind the melody.

The Triple Door: What was the first album you purchased? Do you still have it?
Susanna Hoffs: Deja Vu, Sweet Baby James, Let it Be and Tapestry. Yes.

TD: When you're not playing music, what are you doing?
SH: Working on my tweeting skills and watching Mad Men.

TD: What was the first song you ever learned?
SH: "Hang Down Your Head, Tom Dooley" was the first song I learned on guitar.

TD: If you could play with any musician, from the past, present or future, who would it be?
SH: George Harrison

TD: Name your biggest guilty pleasure, musically?
SH: "Jive Talkin'" by the Bee Gees

TD: What was the best concert you ever attended?
SH: Patti Smith at Winterland in 1978

TD: If you could perform in any city in the world, where would you?
SH: Here, there, and everywhere

TD: What's your most embarrassing on stage experience?
SH: On one of the Bangles first tours of Europe, we played a hot, sweaty packed club in Hamburg. I got carried away by the excitement of it all, and did a crazy rock move, crashing head first into Vicki's guitar. Stunned and bleeding, I stumbled off the stage mid-song.

TD: What inspires you to play music?
SH: I love music. Always have, always will.

TD: Who is your musician crush?
SH: The Beatles

TD: Describe your sound in three words:
SH: Baroque garage pop



See Susanna Hoffs on November 18, at 7:30, on The Triple Door Mainstage. Purchase tickets here>>

Third Dimension ::: Marianne Maksirisombat

Seattle artist, Marianne Maksirisombat, believes in bold, rich color and this is demonstrated in her work. Marianne captures the essence of color, as an independent form instead of an attribute of another object, through three dimensional canvases. The Triple Door chatted with Marianne Maksirisombat to gain insight into her artistic mind.

The Triple Door: Where do you find inspiration for your art?
Marianne Maksirisombat: I travel a lot. The colors, and forms, of earth I have experienced directly affect my art product. The three dimensional canvas is usually a reflection of hills and valleys I have seen, presented in an abstract way and paired with the colors of the region I have been to.

TD: If you could have dinner with any visual artist, living or dead, who would it be? What would you ask him/her?
MM: A visual artist I admire, but whom was also an architectural genius, is Antonio Gaui. I would ask him how he communicated nature so well with so little, as well as how he approached creating load bearing structure with organic lines and no right angles. That is my goal, and he did a magnificent job with it.

TD: Describe your work in three words:
MM: Color, Form and Flow

TD: What is your favorite historical artistic movement?
MM: Art Nouveau

TD: What are some of your other artistic outlets?
MM: I play the violin, guitar and piano, but have also done trash fashion runway shows and I currently have been doing album covers for local bands.

TD: Who do you listen to while you create?
MM: I am greatly influence by music. I am voracious for it. If you are on spotify.. check out my mix grittie indie and you will see exactly what kind of music I listen to while I create. Some favorites are The Black Angels, Led Zeppelin, Black rebel Motorcycle Club, WU LYF and Brian Jonestown Massacre.

TD: What is your favorite color?

MM: Anything deep and rich

TD: Describe Seattle's art scene in three words:MM: Lively, current, and graphic-focused

Marianne Maksirisombat's Third Dimension exhibition will be in the Musicquarium for the month of November with an opening party on November 1 from 5-8pm. RSVP on Facebook here>>

ABBA Costume Contest :::

Calling all fab Dancing Queens and Fernandos... take a chance!

Come dressed in your best ABBA inspired attire on October 1st and 2nd and receive 50% off your tickets to ARRIVAL: The Music of ABBA on the The Triple Door Mainstage. When purchasing your discounted tickets you're automatically entered into our ABBA Costume Contest. Party begins at 6PM, enjoy themed specialty cocktails in the theater while eyeing your competition. Contest is held in 6:30PM on the Mainstage. Winners will be chosen by audience applause, and the Winner Takes It All...

Four lucky finalists will be upgraded to VIP front row seating for the night's performance. One Grand Prize winner will also receive a pair of tickets to any upcoming Triple Door show, plus a Triple Door gift card in the amount of $100!

RSVP for our ABBA Costume Contest here>>

  

we're all mad here

Last weekend The Triple Door's Mainstage was transformed into The Looking Glass- a swanky and brazen night club with Eat Me and Drink Me as the snarky hostesses.  The party guests? You, plus the magical, seemingly discombobulated characters of Alice in Wonderland.

The wonderment of meeting new party guests can be excitingly daunting, and with the help of the savvy White Rabbit guests made an acquaintance with the frenzied Mad Hatter, the defiantly sassy Red Queen, the graceful and logically illogical Caterpillar, and of course, the mischievous Cheshire Cat.. just to name a few.  

We're counting the days until we meet the sexy crazed characters at The Looking Glass again.

The mad buzz for Through the Looking Glass: The Burlesque Alice in Wonderland at The Triple Door:

Seattle P-I ~ SassyCityGirl Part 1 and Part 2 
Examiner
**Photos courtesy of Karen Ready Photography

A lil' Q&A ~ Saul Williams

Last year, the multi-faceted poet, actor and musician Saul Williams put a call out through social media for poets to send in their writings. After reviewing over 8,000 poems, 100 were selected then fused into one voice and Chorus: A Literary Mixtape was born.  The Triple Door asked Saul a few questions to get an idea of the sound of his internal mixtape. 

The Triple Door: What did you have for breakfast?
Saul Williams: Nothing yet, I'm still sleeping. Typing, walking, as I look for coffee.

TD: What inspires you to create?
SW: Good coffee. Good films. Good books. Good music (but I prefer great music). Great conversations where we connect dots, take shots for every epiphany, dismantle some long held suspicion, confirm the unbelievable, and laugh laugh laugh (in that order). I also like nature.

TD: Who inspires you to create? and what would you say to them if they were standing in front of you right now?
SW: They are standing here right now and they won't let me type it.

TD: Do you believe in "writer's block"?
SW: No. I believe there is a time and place for everything and that 'everything' includes not writing. There's a time to make music and a time to make love, a time to write poetry and a time to just dance. In fact, there's a lot of time.

TD: You've mentioned, at the end of the day, you're a performer. What do you love most about performing?
SW: I love the challenge of being put on the spot and the only escape is to create- to free yourself from your fears and just go there.

TD: What was the first record you ever bought?
SW: Spoonie Gee- Spoonin Rap

TD: Describe your art in three words:
SW: Pure Punk Rock

See Saul Williams and Chorus: A Literary Mixtape on September 17 at 7:30 on the Mainstage. Tickets here>> 

Quiet Observations: New Photography from Cameron Nagashima

Quiet Observations: New Photography from Cameron Nagashima will be showing for the month of September, with an opening night rendezvous on Thursday, September 6 from 5pm-8pm in the Musicquarium Lounge. Join us!

We had the pleasure of sitting down with Cameron Nagashima, Seattle photographer and overall delight, to briefly see the world through his lenses.    

The Triple Door: Where do you find inspiration for your art?
Cameron Nagashima: I am inspired by what I see. Time, place, light, subject, and mood, all have an effect on why I take any given picture. Also, the creative people around me keep me inspired to continue taking pictures. Their motivation motivates me and I like to believe it is the same for them.

TD: If you could have a drink with any visual artist, living or dead, who would it be? What would you ask him/her?
CN: Dali or Robert and Shauna Parke-Harrison. I'd rather enjoy the drink and ask how they are, and then see how the conversation evolved. Especially would love to hear about the Parke-Harrison's process, such a rustic elegance to their surrealism. I'd also love to go backpacking through Europe with Henri Cartier-Bresson.

TD: Who is your favorite artist?
CN: Visually, Gustav Klimt takes the cake as far as subject and composition. But, I do love the work of Robert Frank, Andre Kertesz specifically Distortions, Sally Mann's opinion on critics, and Connie Imboden's Reflections. I'm also a huge fan of local artists such as Redd Walitzki, Carl Faulkner, and Jeff "Weirdo".

TD: What is your favorite historical artistic movement?
CN: Hard to say, there are so many with such great art from each. I love surrealism, but my favorite has to be our generation. Call it the Contemporary Renaissance.

TD: What are some of your other artistic outlets?
CN: Drawing, dancing, painting, Sushi

TD: Do you listen to music while you create? If so, who do you listen to?
CN: During my post-production and most of the day, while creating or relaxing, I am listening to music. I enjoy electronic music while working the most. It allows my mind to move freely through my work as I find patterns in my pictures. Some of my favorites are Amon Tobin, Trenemoller, Bonobo, Deru, and Diagrams of a Suburban Chaos. I don't listen to headphones while out in the city though. I like hearing the beat and orchestral compositions created by my surroundings and some sounds will draw my attention or push me down a different path.

TD: Describe Seattle's art scene in three words:
CN: Small, Growing, Original

TD: Your work conveys a parallel between nature and the human condition. Can you elaborate?
CN: That notion is a consistent theme in my photography and is hard to avoid while living in the Northwest. With trees and parks, mountains and oceans, we in Seattle have a beautiful connection to nature. As much as I am for the preservation of Earth, I'm not making a statement on the relationship of man and nature, but I am observing that it exists and documenting my observations.

TD: Let's chat more about your artistic background. When was the first time you realized your love for photography? 
CN: I was drawn to photography at an early age. When we would visit our grandparents in Kirkland, Wa from Spokane, I loved looking through their slides of old images of my family with the slide viewer. Years worth of photos never printed. I would hide under the stairs, like Harry Potter, and look at them for hours. The idea of time and place, and the captured moment of my family standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon, or wherever, was interesting. It was a visual family history and I liked that.

TD: What is your favorite color?
CN: Plaid

Find more information on, and RSVP for, Quiet Observations: New Photography from Cameron Nagashima here>> 

A lil' Q&A ~ Blanche Barrow

We interviewed outlaw, and Barrow Gang member, Blanche Barrow (from the perspective of Amber Rose Cutlip) to get an idea of what it was like being a part of one of the most short lived, but notoriously relentless gang in history. 

The Triple Door: You were in prison for 10 years, what 3 items do you wish you had with you while you were locked up?

Blanche Barrow: Actually, it was five and a half years, thank you. I wish I'd had my dog 'snowflake', my lipstick and radio.

TD: Who is your favorite musician?

BB: Bing Crosby

TD: What was your first impression of Buck Barrow?

BB: "Well, if he ain't cool as a cucumber.."

TD: If you could have a drink with any author, living or dead, who would it be and why?
BB: I'd prefer a magazine, thank you.

TD: Whiskey or Gin?
BB: Don't much care for neither, but Whiskey if I had to choose.

TD: What would you do with all the money in the state of Texas?
BB: I'd put a bible on every door step, build my Dad a big ol' house with folks to cook and clean for him, buy a nice new dress and head for vacation in Florida.

TD: What was your first impression of Bonnie and Clyde?
BB: I was a little nervous, but I immediately found Bonnie was real nice, and Clyde; what a character. They were a hoot.

TD: Share you fondest memory of your experience with the Barrow Gang:
BB: Bonnie and Clyde and Buck and me had a dance competition in a field after a picnic once. I remember out hands were sticky from eating peaches, and me and Buck won.

TD: Describe your life in three words:
BB: persevere, scratchy, believer

See Amber Rose Cutlip, as Blanche Barrow, at the modern vaudeville adaption of the historical story set to original music by Coffin Varnish. The Deadliest Instruments runs August 20-22 at 8pm. Use speakeasy code "coffin wash" to receive 1/2 price tickets. Tickets can be purchased here>>

A lil' Q&A ~ Kasey Chambers

Australian singer-songwriter Kasey Chambers has her hands full! The mother of three has a new album set to release in September, PLUS she is currently in the midst of a US-to-Australia tour. She couldn't pass through Seattle without stopping by The Triple Door mainstage, right? We interrupted her musical mayhem with a lil' Q&A...

The Triple Door: Name the number 1 song listed on your iTunes' "25 Most Played" playlist?
Kasey Chambers: I don't do iTunes... I buy CDs, so my answer is Dave Rawlings: "A Friend Of A Friend."


TD: Name your biggest guilty pleasure, musically?
KC: Listening to '80s Hit Compilation CDs


TD: When you're not playing music, what are you doing?
KC: Looking after three children


TD: What was the first song you ever played/sang?
KC: "Time After Time" by Cyndi Lauper


TD: If you could play with any musician, living or dead, who would it be?
KC: John Prine.. but if I ever got the chance I would actually freak out.


TD: What was the best concert you ever attended?
KC: I saw Lucinda Williams, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Rosanne Cash at age 14 and it changed my life.


TD: What's your most embarrassing on stage experience?
KC: There are too many to pick just one. I have tripped over and fallen off chairs, had bra and guitar straps break.


TD: What inspires you to play music?
KC: The fact that I possess no other skills means I have no other choice, but I have been playing music all my life.


TD: Who is your musician crush?
KC: Dave Grohl and Kate Miller-Heidke





See Kasey Chambers with Ali Marcus live on August 5 at 7:30 on the Mainstage. Tickets here>>

amazingly nutty & brilliantly unconventional

Don't let Holli's fairy-esque-jaunt allude you, she's a ball of fire. It only takes a few minutes to notice this gal has a keen sense of imagination and is not afraid to show it.

With a reduce-reuse-recycle mentality, Holli never buys a new canvas- she prefers to paint over works bought second hand. More often than not, she doesn't use brushes or your typical artist tools, instead she is known to use old socks, twigs, and her "chubby fingers" to paint. We sat down with Holli Pappan to take a glimpse into her amazingly nutty and brilliantly unconventional mind.

The Triple Door: Where do you find inspiration for your art?
Holli Pappan: I am inspired mostly by the sunsets, my time in the woods, and the fear of alien attacks.

TD: If you could have a drink with any visual artist, living or dead, who would it be?
HP: I would combo up with Dali- because he was so wack, Van Gogh so I could tell him it's gonna be okay, and Pollock because the man was a wicked drunk and I'm sure we could get down.

TD: Who is your favorite artist?
HP: My favorite artists are Van Gogh, Theodor Geisel (Dr. Suess), and Bob Ross.. high as a kite Bob Ross.

TD: What is your favorite historical artistic movement?
HP: I find the most interesting and artistic movement to be when cinema went from silent to audible, or
"talkies" as they were referred to. Chaplin refused to when everybody else jumped right on the bandwagon. Chaplin's silent films are still heavily sought after today, it's awesome!

TD: What are some of your other artistic outlets?
HP: I take turns with my artistic outlets, I have gone from painter to stand up comedian, and vica versa for years. I am a bit of a lyrical gangster... word.

TD: Do you listen to music while you create? If so, who do you listen to? 
HP: I am a stupid fan of the mix tape, I listen to it all. Big fan of the oldies while painting, not so much The Cure. Listening to The Cure while painting would be like playing Russian Roulette with a teenage waifs sadness.. I keep it light and happy.

TD: Describe Seattle's art scene in three words:
HP: Seattle's art scene in one word is flooded. In two words, very flooded, in three words... I LOVE IT.

TD: What is your favorite color?
HP: Everything teal/turquoise/aqua.... and rusty orange forever!

Holli Pappan will be presenting a series of paintings inspired by the seasons. To accurately capture the visual brilliance of nature, each piece was created while physically immersed in the elements of the corresponding season: spring, summer, fall and winter.   

"I paint as unconventional as I live, and it's the simplicity in my life that allows me to paint so freely," says Holli. "I respect the classic approach to painting, drawing, and all things fine.. but I prefer to go caveman on my works."

See Holli Pappan's work on the Musicquarium walls at The Triple Door for the month of August. Join us for First Thursday on August 2nd for extended happy hour for 4-7pm.

A lil' Q&A ~ Sarah Jarosz

Sarah Jarosz' supple vocals and old-timey ballads are the kind that make you feel like your sitting on your front porch steps, on a hot summer day, with a cool breeze kissing your face as you eat a jar of honey, they're THAT sweet. We interrupted Sarah's Western Tour with a lil' Q&A....

The Triple Door: Name the number one song on your iTunes' "25 Most Played" playlist?
Sarah Jarosz: Tangled Up In Blue - Bob Dylan

TD: What is your biggest musical guilty pleasure?
SJ: Listening to N'Sync as a kid...

TD: When you're not playing music, what are you doing?
SJ: Cooking, hanging out with dogs any chance I get, reading, going for walks, watching movies

TD: What was the first song you ever played/sang?
SJ: I think the first documented song was "You're a Grand Old Flag" when I was 2...

TD: If you could play with any musician, living or dead, who would it be?
SJ: It's so hard to choose just one! I feel so fortunate because I've already had the chance to play with a ton of my heroes, but I have to say it would be amazing to play with Paul Simon or Johann Sebastian Bach.

TD: What was the best concert you ever attended?
SJ: I've seen so many amazing concerts... It's too hard to pick just one! There are a lot of memorable Telluride and RockyGrass sets that stand out in my mind as being incredibly epic.

TD: If you could perform in any city in the world, where would you?
SJ: Right now in my life, I'd have to say Paris or Rome

TD: What inspires you to play music?
SJ: Listening to, and playing with, great musicians... poetry, art, and nature

TD: What hidden talents do you have?
SJ: I can hula hoop really well

TD: Who is your musician crush?
SJ: George Harrison




Catch Sarah Jarosz and the Shook Twins on July 30 at 7:30 on the Mainstage. Purchase tickets here>>

Burlesco DiVino: Wine in Rome

The Triple Door's Summer of Riesling Burlesco DiVino: Wine in Rome show will take the audience on a wine-soaked adventure through two eras. The first, a harvest celebration that calls forth the God of Wine himself in the time of the Roman Empire, and the second, the story of an intrepid reporter determined to photograph a reclusive diva in Rome during the swingin' Sixties.  

Inspired by the great costume epics, Quo Vadis and Satvricon, as well as mid-century visions of Rome, this show mixes classical and jazz music with the traditional music of ancient Rome and Italian go-go rock. Costumed by the illustrious music of Daniel Hellman, arcane priestesses, paparazzi, Vespa-girls, fire dancers, and fashionistas all take their turn in the spotlight. This "party through time" mixes belly dance, go-go, and ballet with comedy, song, striptease, and glamour for an orgy that lasts 2,000 years!

Featuring burlesque superstars Lily Verlaine, Inga Ingenue, The Luminous Pariah, Paris Original, Trojan Original, and Jasper McCann, with rising starlets Laurel Bordeaux, Tory Tiara, Holly Pop, Persephone Illyri, and the fusion belly-dance trio Tribella, the show will leave you punch-drunk in delight! Burlesco DiVino: Wine in Rome is the intoxicating theatrical burlesque mélange that you've come to expect from Verliane, McCann, and company.

There are five chances to become intoxicated in ecdysiastic pageantry at the Summer of Riesling Burlesco DiVino: Wine in Rome show on Wednesday, August 8 at 8:00 p.m. (17+), Thursday, August 9 at 8:00 p.m. (17+) and 10:30 p.m. (21+) and Friday, August 10 at 8:00 p.m. (17+) and 10:30 p.m. (21+). Ticket prices range from $25-$35 and can be purchased here>>

A lil' Q&A ~ JR Cadillac

Over 40 years ago, 5 local Washington musicians gathered in Ned Neltner's basement for a jam session that would quickly spawn into Jr Cadillac. The Triple Door jumped on the opportunity to interview the man whose basement was the key to unlocking 42 years of rock 'n roll.  

The Triple Door: You've been playing music for over 40 years, how has the music scene changed for you?
Ned Neltner: For Jr. Cadillac, the music scene changed when we started playing taverns hereabouts. Previously, there had been no live rock 'n roll in the bars. We started that monster.

TD: Name your biggest guilty pleasure, musically?
NN: I am a huge ELO, Jeff Lynne fan.

TD: What was the first song you ever played/sang?
NN: First song was "Ready Teddy" at the Franklin Jr. High "Blue and White Revue" in Yakima back in the dim unlit past.

TD: If you could play with any musician, living or dead, who would it be?
NN:  Well, since he is an idol of mine, Ray Charles... but he is so intimidating it might not be that much fun.

TD: What was the best concert you ever attended?
NN: We opened for Fleetwood Mac in Anchorage right when the "new" band with Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham released, "Fleetwood Mac". I heard that album first time at sound check and again that night. Unreal good band.

TD: Sounds surreal. Where and when was your most memorable show? What makes it so memorable?
NN: There have been literally thousands.. so that's hard to say. We had a great time opening for the Beach Boys and The Kinks at Memorial Stadium... backing Chuck Berry 15 times was an experience, believe me!

TD: What's your most embarrassing on stage experience?
NN: Oh maybe peeing my pants...

TD: When you're not playing music, what are you doing?
NN: I live in Mexico in a little beach town called Barra de Navidad. The ocean is always swimmable, I ride my bike a lot, garden, and I have a home recording studio where I have made 13 albums.

TD:  What an inspiring environment, what else inspires you to play music?
NN: I just always have. As a babe, I sang with my mom playing piano. I can't stop!

TD: What hidden talents do you have?

NN: You'll have to ask my gal that one.

**Pictured left to right: Jeffrey Beals (baritone sax). Steve Flynn (piano, organ, vocals), Ned Neltner (guitar, lead vocals), Les Clinkingbeard (tenor sax), Don King (bass, vocals), Brian "Tito" Steiner (percussion), George Rudiger (drums)

                   

See the guys behind Jr. Cadillac on August 18, at 8pm, on the Mainstage. Tickets here>>