Uck.  Hangover Saturday.  The boys and I got into a bottle of cheap whiskey last night with the intent of jamming on some new tunes.  It was a lot of fun but right about now I feel like a complete useless sloth type creature, capable of not a whole lot except for some sitting and some inactive, non-participatory TV watching.

Alka-Seltzer you are my savior.

I just started getting into the show United States of Tara.  Have you seen it?  I like it.  The equally oddly unattractive and disarmingly beautiful, capable and highly likable Toni Collett stars as multiple personality mom of the year.  It’s pretty amusing.  It’s on Netflix.  

Another show I’ve recently discovered?  And I know I’m behind the trend here, but Portlandia?  Seen it?  Hilarious!  Produced, written and performed by SNL vets, the show runs shorts about various douchy, uber feminist, uber dietary conscious, farm loving, bird-art loving PTown community members all the while both mocking and basking in the town’s laid back, artistic, up and coming glow.  It’s pretty darn funny.

I been readin’ too.  The Game of Throne series to be precise.  I recently finished the series’ fifth book and am now one of the thousands waiting for Mr. George R.R. Martin to hurry up already with books six and seven.  They’re really, really good.  Knights, queens, kings, quests, lords, ladies, incest, evil plots, war, dwarves, giants, scary ghost like “other” beings, and even a dragon or two!

Hey speaking of which!  Happy year of the dragon y’all!  Did you know Mr. Brian Ballentine himself is a child of the Dragon?  I just found that out myself and, according to some Chinese horoscopers, ”the Dragon is said to be a deliverer of good fortune and a master of authority. Therefore, those people born in Dragon years are to be honored and respected.”

   <– Brian

    <– Dragon

Hey now!  We knew we loved our Mr. Ballentine for a reason.

So if you haven’t noticed from all my TV watching, book reading, internet browsing ranting above, I’ve had some extra time on my hands as of late.  The catering business is slow post holiday party/wedding boom season.  Money is tight as usual.  But it’s cool.  I’m kind of getting used to being broke.  And besides, Timmy, Brian, Jarrett, Banton and I have our super fantastic new house to chill out in in the meantime.

Soooo many rooms!  Three floors!  Good thing too cause if all goes according to plan come February 9th we’re gonna have a house full of visitors, mostly of the Sacramento breed.  They’re coming out to help us celebrate the release of our new album, The Sound.

Oh yeah, did I mention?  WE’RE RELEASING OUR FIRST, LIKE, SERIOUSLY PRODUCED ALBUM?????!!!!!!!!  (Can you tell I’m just a little bit excited?)

It’s pretty darn cool to finally have a product that aptly represents the culmination of the past year and half’s sweat blood and tears.  So many times we could have, and seriously almost did, throw in the towel, but somehow we managed to pull through.  We navigated through some pretty rough seas there at times.

Of course hard times are always there, sometimes but not always foreseeable; life’s bumps in the road, waiting and ready to pounce, trip, and befuddle you; making you question your actions, decisions, life; your very existence.  C’est la vie right?  I’m sure there will be more to come.

But for now we’re celebrating.  We’ve made it this far and this long, largely still intact; not the same as what we started out as but nevertheless ever changing and evolving.  I’m proud.  And thankful.  If not for the emotional, financial and sometimes critical assistance of quite a few, us Blvd Parkers wouldn’t have been able to accomplish all that we have.  So thanks guys.  I’m pretty sure you know who you are.

So come out to the CD release Thursday, February 9th.  Our old pals Creeping Time will be there with there AWESOME old-timey, folky, cactus grass tunes as well as the beautiful, harmonic, foot-stompin’ bluegrass of Seattle’s Nettle Honey.

It’s gonna be a real good time.  Plus you can get a copy of our hot new album while you’re there.  Yeah.

Album cover artwork by Ms. Molly Devlin of Sacramento, CA!

Looking forward to 2012! ~ Tek

Psst!  The album is available for listening and downloading here: http://blvdpark.bandcamp.com/

Blvd Park album release: Thursday, February 9th @ The Tractor Tavern, 5213 Ballard Avenue Northwest  Seattle, WA 98107-4809.  Show starts at 9pm.  $6 cover.  21 & up.

To purchase tickets in advance: http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail?dispatch=loadSelectionData&eventId=4158095&pl=tractor

www.blvdpark.info

Read on for news of the most recent Blvd Parkian adventures….

December 30th, 2011 @ the Conor Byrne Irish Pub, Ballard, WA:

God’s Favorite Beefcake never disappoints.  Circus, gypsy, old-timey, weirdness.  Especially love the way the fiddle, accordian and clarinet play off and compliment one another.  Finally got to see Dru’s legendary nail and fork up the nose, followed by sword swallowing bits.  Experienced complete awe and partial gag reflex simultaneously.

We played next and without meaning to come off as a braggart I have to say that this night was one of our better, if not best sets.  Everything flowed.  The vibes were there and they were allll good.  Really good.  God I love what I do.

Also – We are enjoying the company of hometown, “Midtown Famous” pals Teresa, Flanagan and Dready who were at the Byrne and are spending the next several nights disc golfing, cooking, domino playing, and catching z’s on our spare couches.  We love you guys!

December 16th:

Marked our first local television debut with an appearance on Seattle Channel show Art Zone hosted by Nancy Guppy.  Played two songs, talked a little bit.  Had a blast!  You can check it out here: http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=3351135

The album is coming along!

Tomorrow we head in to take a listen to the mixes.  Then it’s off for a little mastering and….. duplication!  Can’t wait to pop that little baby into my car stereo.  Imagining it playing in other folk’s car stereos and, dare I say it?  On the radio?  :)

Some stuff that’s coming up:

This Thursday:  Jarrett, Brian, Banton, Timmy and I move into our new house!!  Pictures to follow shortly.

January 18th:

We’re looking forward to heading to Americana, gypsy-jazz, folk, old-time scene Laurel Thirst with soul/gypsy/folk/jazz band Jobo Shakins.  Ought to be a fun time!

February 6th:

Live with Marty Riemer!  Not sure if we’re doing his podcast or popping into his show on local radio station The Mountain…will keep y’all posted.

February 9th:

It’s been a long time coming.  Lots of stress, sweaty sweaty pits, and seriously hard work have gone into the making of our new album, The Sound.  We take great pleasure in the fact that we’ll be presenting it to you Thursday, February 9th at the always pleasurable Tractor Tavern!  The night will include kick-ass Seattle bluegrassers, Nettle Honey and TBA.

More show dates and info available on our website at: www.blvdpark.info

Happy New Year friends!

Lottsa love,

Tekla

Why?

1.  People are becoming regulars.

2.  We are starting to all know each other by name and greet one another by such not unlike the classic TV show “Cheers”.

3.  It’s forcing me to practise guitar and learn new songs.

4.  Long-time Skylark Cafe bartender Roger is there Tuesday nights.  He’s cool.

You should definitely maybe come check it out.

(3803 Delridge Way Southwest  Seattle, WA 98106 (206) 935-2111.  1st, 2nd, 4th Tuesdays sign-ups 7:30pm all ages until 9pm ends at 11pm.  Hosted by Brian Ballentine and myself, Tekla Waterfield.)

We’re getting along (for the most part)

Brian Ballentine, Timothy Conroy, Banton Foster and I (Tekla Waterfield) are all still living together in our (very) humble Columbia City abode: taking up the main floor of a house otherwise filled to the brim with all of our landlord’s wordly possessions.

After two months of near inseperable life on the road, living and breathing in each other’s space on a daily basis as roomies for the past several months, somehow we’re all still getting along pretty well (for the most part).

There is talk of the band relocating so our fifth member, the very handsome Mr. Jarrett Mason can move in.  Mandolin/back up bassist Dune Butler won’t be moving in anytime soon. He’s currently quite content in his U-District college boy party central digs.

The 2012 Knucklehead The Dog calendar is almost done

We’ll be sending it out to our Kickstarter folks who contributed $75 or more by the end of December.  You know who you are.  We hope you guys love it.

All hail the mighty Gary Mula!!

Why?

1.  Gary Mula (producer and engineer) is a God.

Why?

1.  He has an amazing ear, eye for detail, offers great input, never forces; simultaneously finessing and caressing both art and ego as he goes.  Highly recommend him.

Next there’s the mixing/mastering, completion of the album artwork (hopefully by none other than our beloved Molly Devlin of Sacramento, CA) followed by duplication, press if we can find someone willing to write about us and radio airplay if we can get someone to play our stuff.  Once all that is finished, we’ll be set for our planned CD release show Thursday February 9th at the Tractor Tavern…(!)  After that…..world domination baby.  Yeah.

So as not to overwhelm, exhaust and bore ourselves by too much of a good thing, we’ve slowed down on playing as much.  It’s been a nice reprieve.

We are however playing this Sunday, December 4th at the Tractor Tavern in Ballard

With Minnesota “all-original hard-driving string band” Pert Near Sandstone http://www.pertnearsandstone.com/ and Port Angeles “foot-stompin’, ol’ timey traditioners” Abby Mae & The Homeschool Boys.  http://www.abbymaeandthehomeschoolboys.com/  Six bucks at the door.  Show starts at 8ish.  We’re on second.  Hope to see you there!

We taped a live performance on local TV program Blues To Do on Halloween night.

We’re looking forward to watching ourselves on TV.  Are we egotistical or what?

Will keep you posted as soon as we know when it will air.

Photo courtesy Troy Kimura

Blues To Do-TV airs Friday’s at 7pm on ch.23/77 on Comcast in King Co./Seattle or ch. 23 on Broadstripe, AND repeats Saturday’s at 8pm, AND Monday’s at midnight, and it airs on ch. 3 & 12 in Kitsap Co./Bremerton area on Friday’s & Sunday’s at 10pm, AND on ch. 77 in Snohomish Co/Everett/Edmonds/Marysville/Hwy 2, Tuesday’s at 4:30pm, plus live streaming at www.seattlecommunitymedia.org , plus pod casting at www.bluestodo.com (FREE on itunes) and soon airing on public access stations all across the state of Washington!

YAHOO!

Today Tim and Banton will punch in their parts.  Brian, Knuckles and I are here mainly for support.  We will work until around 7pm when it typically starts to get noisy because of the close proximity of the Bourbon Bar next door.  Tonight Brian and I head to our third open mic night at the Skylark Cafe.

Here are a few pictures from the later part of yesterday and this morning….

THANK YOU KICKSTARTER BACKERS!!!!!!!

You have helped us to record and produce a really great album.  We can’t wait to share it with you.

Love,

Blvd Park

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1322835220/blvd-park-is-recording-their-second-album

(Tuesday, Sept. 13th)

The Shook Twins

…..have filled out the appropriate forms but am now at the mercy of California’s infamously slow moving process turnover time.  Unfortunately I opened my mouth about my loss to the manager at the White Eagle Saloon and therefore spent the portion of the night when I was not on stage performing or loading our equipment in, slouching and pouting in the van.  (I’m almost 30 dammit!)  Luckily I had a bottle of Jameson to keep me company.

The Shook Twins have hosted a monthly Tuesday night gig at the Portland based McMenamin joint for over a year and have gathered quite a following.  Sept. 13th was a Tuesday but you wouldn’t have known: the place was packed!  If you haven’t seen this fun, harmonic, dynamic up and coming act you can, and soon.  They’re at the Gypsy Cafe in Fremont this Friday night.

The Old Edison Inn-

(Saturday, Sept. 10th)

…rocked!  Teeny tiny Bow, WA sure does appreciate live music!  Nearly everyone in attendance, young and old, got up and danced at least a little, even simultaneously geeking out and freestyle dancing on the breakdown in “That FN Thing”.  Oh they vibed off of us.  And we sure vibed the hell off a them.  Plus with Timmy still in CA, our classically trained violinist friend Descie Svennungsen stepped in on “Delta Blues” and “Rattlesnake” for a little solo action.  Lovely!

We’ll be back Bow!

Open mic at the Skylark Cafe-

(Ongoing!  Tuesdays 7-11pm)

…..hosted by Brian Ballentine and myself, takes place weekly on Tuesdays except for the 3rd Tuesday of the month.  7-9pm all ages are welcome.  9-11pm we kick the youngsters out.  Bring your art, craft, poetry, monoglogue, comedy routine etc etc.  Every artform is welcome!  Come!  The Skylark Cafe:

3803 Delridge Way Southwest
Seattle, WA 98106
(206) 935-2111

www.skylarkcafe.com/

Spaghetti Feed at Conor Byrne-

(Friday, Sept. 16th)

Jeff & Sasha @ the Byrne

What fun!  Fed at least 70 people; one platter of vegetarian spaghetti, one with meat; plus salad, garlic bread and brownies.  I think they liked it.  :)

The Dodgy Mountain Men

The music wasn’t bad either: The Dodgy Mountain Men from Missoula, MT

started the night off with a mostly bluegrass, but some jammy Americana flavored, (and tasty!), rock.

The Defibulators

Visually striking and ear-pleasing Brooklyn based The Defibulators brought the honk and the tonk.  Good times were had by all.

Personal evening highlight: tequila in the girls room. Jackie, Stephanie and Helen, you know what I’m talking about!

The 10th annual Pike Place Busker’s Festival-

(Sunday, Sept. 18th)

…..sleepy and exhausted from back to back late night gigs at Conor Byrne

Artis the Spoonman

followed by Doyle’s Public House in Tacoma, we arrived about halfway into the day-long festival, just in time to catch Baby Gramp’s set followed by the OMG’s (Oh My Goddess’), Pickled Okra and Artes the Spoonman.  The Pike Place Busker’s Festival is all about showcasing buskers, aka, folks who perform their craft live on the streets allowing for unfiltered interaction with the audience.  Pretty neat little festival particularly considering it is organized and produced by a bunch of musicians and volunteers with little to no outside help.  http://pikemarketbuskers.org/

KBCS-

(Monday, Sept. 19th)

Live set on 91.3 KBCS

….so close!  But no, we weren’t on time.  We were extremely late in fact.  After fighting for an appearance on Scott Farley’s Monday afternoon program, The Outskirts, in which we promised not to mention our Kickstarter fundraiser, we almost didn’t make it in.  Just a few blocks away from Dune’s house in the University District, an unhappily hot and smoky van had us stuck on the side of the road.  A little coolant later, we managed to get back on the road, swoop back to our house in Columbia City to acquire a forgotten banjo, and make it to Bellevue for a quick live on-air performance.  Flustered and rushed, we made it, but I’d have to say wasn’t our best performance ever.  Ah well… some you win, some you lose.

Kickstarter-

(Ends October 1st)

….nine days left and we’re just over the halfway point.  I’ve already sent out multiple emails pleading and cajoling friends and family members to consider making a small contribution toward the creation of our next album.  I won’t bore you with more of that.  If you want to donate, please do.  And know that we are extremely grateful.  If not, don’t.  We understand how lame being broke is.  Here is the link: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1322835220/blvd-park-is-recording-their-second-album?ref=users

Timmy’s sweat is green-

(Ongoing)

…have you noticed Tim has been losing weight?  It’s part of his detox diet consisting mainly of chicken salads, multi-vitamins and an uber green breakfast drink concoction consisting of Spirulina a “human and animal food or nutritional supplement made primarily from two species of cyanobacteria: Arthrospira platensis and Arthrospira maxima”.  I took a photo of a shirt Tim wore during one of our gigs and subsequently sweated profusely in.  It is literally green sweat.  Ew.

Busking-

(Ongoing)

Busking outside the EMP

….um fun?  Yes definitely.  Meeting new people, getting out and about, running into friends and other busking musicians.

We are particular fans of the Ballard Farmer’s Market and the friendly and welcoming folks we’ve encountered there.

Busking at the Ballard Farmer's Market

Musically yours,

Tekla J. Waterfield

& the Blvd Park crew

Biiiig stretch.  Arms overhead.  Neck twisting side to side.  Big breath in and out.

Sigghhhhh.

All is quiet and calm.  Computer rests gently on my lap.  Legs are wrapped up in one of those oh so comforting fuzzy blankets.  Knuckles is passed out at the foot of the bed doing a good job of keeping my toes warm.  I can hear Brian’s breath softly rising and falling.  Moments ago I heard the sweet sound of the banjo wafting through Banton’s closed door.

Silence.  All is still all around.  I feel an overwhelming sense of this is all right.  This is all meant to be happening.

My senses are deliciously heightened so much so that on the ride home just now the music coming from my car radio seemed more beautiful and expressive than ever.  I just knew that the traffic sign indicating a narrow part in the road was actually a simple line drawing of a woman’s waist; graceful and elegant.

All is beautiful all around.  Oh yes.  I am feeling extremely sappy right now.

What is it about spending time in the company of genuine people that makes one see the world as a much more beautiful place?

Tonight I had the pleasure of spending the evening with a new group of intelligent, motivated, positive, active Seattle lady friends.  It was amazing.

And so was last weekend’s trip to Portland, Sacramento and Lake Tahoe.

Ahhh…. the sweet sensation of coming home!  And to such amazing, creative, talented, supportive, friendly people who welcome us with arms open wide!  Oh Sacramentoans.  We love you so!

Our Harlow’s show went off without a hitch.  We performed there once before, two years ago opening for Split Lip Rayfield, an alt-country, high energy bluegrass band from Wichita, Kansas.  You should have seen us then!  Stiff!  And oh so young!  What a different story this past weekend was.

The night before was a show at the Ash Street Saloon in Portland.  With a four band (too many!) lineup on a Wednesday night, at a not so happening venue; we weren’t expecting a whole lot by way of attendance or pay.  So when, lo and behold, over 70 people made their way through the door throughout the night, we were quite pleasantly surprised.  That and we were offered a possible gig at Camp Cascadia’s Rain Dance Festival near Portland this October.  Nice.

To top off a beautiful weekend, our dear friends Alexa Chizek and Patrick Parnell were married in Lake Tahoe, Saturday, August 27th.  You can bet your butt we were there to help them celebrate the occasion!  Us plus two bottles of Jameson.  After the ceremony of course.

Oh lord.  I love my life!

And I wouldn’t want to live it any other way!

Travel.  Celebrations.  Performing.  Creating.  Inspiring.  Doing something that affects others in a positive way.  It’s all so good!

Today we launched our 30 day “raise money to record our second album” kickstarter campaign.  To enhance the site, Brian and I spent an entire day shooting various clips; mostly of us goofing off and being silly; combined that with some photos, music and clips of the rest of the band and made a little 4.40 minute video.  I think it turned out pretty darn great.  Let me know what you think won’t you?

Things are happening.  I am grateful.  All is well.  Until next time my friends….

Love,

Tekla & the Blvd Park family

Our Fundraiser site:  

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1322835220/blvd-park-is-recording-their-second-album

The video we made:

http://youtu.be/9Ec4ooYYXPA

Footage our friend Lance Lucore took this weekend at Harlow’s:

(photos) http://sunmoonimages.wordpress.com/2011/08/26/1727/

(video) http://youtu.be/U9WYQeOARck

(video) http://youtu.be/HduLx0ldKeE

Great article titled “Don’t just buy the record — help make it”:

 http://www.salon.com/news/music/index.html?story=%2Fent%2Fmusic%2F2011%2F09%2F01%2Ffan_funded_albums

I am waay overdue for some blog writing.  Sadly, now is not really the opportune time.  I have spent the last two days staring at my computer both as I hash out the details for our Kickstarter fundraiser and working on putting together a video for said fundraiser.

My eyes hurt!

I don’t know how you office folks do this kind of thing day in and day out!

So…. I came here to tell you that I plan on getting all the juicy details of last weekend’s trip up here ASAP.  Like, tomorrow.

Until then my friends,

Tekla

I just spent the better part of an afternoon chatting with a lovely new female acquaintance.  Ahh…. estrogen… something that has been SORELY lacking in my life as of late.

AND!  Tonight we welcome a new fiddle playing friend to our rehearsal!  Who is ALSO A GIRL!

YAH HOO!  Ms. Descie will be filling in for a particular gig this coming September 10th in Bow, WA.  Tim’s accordian and trumpet playing self will be in Sacramento for a wedding so we figured we’d get our new friend Descie to fill in with some fiddling action!

(Could things progress further with Descie’s fiddle playing and Blvd Park??  I don’t know.  Time will only tell.)

BUT!  That is not what I came to this here bloggy blog to write about.  So…. why don’t I quit blabbering and get to the point?

What I came here to tell you is…….

Brian and I are starting a new open mic night!!

That’s right!  Beginning September 7th, our open mic night will run Tuesdays at the very awesome Skylark Cafe in West Seattle.

I’m so excited!  I enjoyed our open mic night at A Terrible Beauty in Renton a lot a lot.  I’m extremely excited about getting another one rolling.

With that said, I’d like to take this opportunity to expound upon our goals for said epic new open mic night:

1.  Keep it acousic/mellow.  (That’s right all you ragers: no Stairway to Heaven!  Acoustic only!)

2.  Broaden the definition of “open mic”.  By that I mean we wish to welcome singer/song-writers, instrumentalists, local and touring bands (that fit in with our acoustic vibe), comedians, poets, spoen word-ers, aspiring actor/actresses, dancers, choreographers, playwrites etc, who are welcome to sing, dance, read poetry, shout spoken word, try out new jokes, give weird art performances, practise a monologue, present a short skit and so on!

3.  Create an environment that is fun, supportive and welcoming to ALL!  And by all I mean the youthful and starry-eyed to the old, bitter and crusty.  That’s right you old fogies: come on down!  :)  It’ll be all ages 7-9pm and 21+ 9-11pm.

Super stokked!

As for other events on the Blvd Park horizon, we’re looking forward to our gig this Friday at the Columbia City Theater with….

Americana/Goth eight piece ensemble: Bat Country (http://youtu.be/ORz8pNJbryQ),

Portland based haunting singing of Eliza Rickman (http://youtu.be/4Ri7CCPJSEo),

And operatic cello vaudevillian Ashia Grzesik (http://youtu.be/w7JAZm7EZzQ)…..

……..Ahhhh.  To borrow an expression from my musical counterpart, Mr. Brian Ballentino: Let the weirdness (and awesomeness!) roll!

Tah tah for now,

Tekla

P.S.  If you haven’t already (and heck, even if you have!)  Please consider donating to this very worthy Lungevity fundraiser event by awesome amazing singer/coffee maker/barist/social sciences/chef/friend/wine enthusiast/music maker & appreciator/Seattlelite going back to Chicago who will be sorely missed; Ms. Leah Bresenski.

Celebrating six tobacco free months, honoring her grandfather whom she lost to lung cancer, and the coming of her 30th year on this earth, Leah has chosen to raise $1000 via Lungevity as a way to mark these momentous occasions.

With only three days left, she’s reached 77% of her goal.  Let’s help her hit 100% folks!

Please visit: http://events.lungevity.org/site/TR?px=1656499&fr_id=2942&pg=personal