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Friday
July 14, 2017 |
![site index [Picture of
the Day logo]](../images/cammicro.gif)
  Wow, what a night! Best ever Seattle
Process, with Elmer
Dixon telling first-hand what it was like to
be targeted for assassination by the US government
as founder of Seattle Black Panthers. When asked
to compare now and then, he said armed
confrontation won't work against today's
militarized police. Mayoral candidate (and current
state legislator) Bob Hasegawa hammered home the
benefits of a municipally-owned
bank, an idea which should become a plank
for all progressives' campaign platforms. The gang
of regulars--Emmett, Travis, Brett, Galaxie (and
her mom!)--brought the warmth and wit we've come
to expect from this first family of funny in
Seattle's political scene. Jahzilla capped it on
high note. I got a good vibe walking from NWFF,
down into SLU, up to Eastlake, where the house
next door to the venue for show I was going to
looks like it was built in the 1890s. I got there
early and hungry so went next door to Victory
Lounge where a band that reminded of Suicidal
Tendencies tore it up. Too loud to hear, the
doorman held up eight fingers ($8 cover); I
gestured to my mouth, chomp chomp. He let me in
and I ate a chili dog at the bar, just enjoying
the pounding sound, shouted harmonies, and the
general scene. Long live rock and roll! Casey, a
friend of Steph Ashby, came up and said hi. He had
nice things to say about ARTisANAL, which made me
feel good. Next door at Lofi, the band reunion was
mirrored by reunion of fans, the diehards, hardly
dying, same faces I used to see almost twenty years ago--who
says the scene is dead? There's always room for
new blood and, in this case, resurrection--Very
Special Forces reuniting from across the
land--Seattle, LA, Utah--after 15 years of
diaspora. Such immense talent and energy married
to witty lyrics and overall infectious sense of
humor. Their encore consisted of a lilting melody
accompanied by an endless list of thank yous to
their corporate sponsors, improvised by the band
and suggested by audience, a call-and-response
community commentary on capitalist enslavement.
IBM! 3M! M&M Mars! Days like today give me
hope for Seattle...
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