A new Pulse showcase series has begun! Music and art fans can come out to the Blue Rooster the last Wednesday of each month for great live music and entertainment, art, dancing and meeting people who enjoy the same things. The kick-off to this showcase was Wednesday, Feb. 25, and the turnout was great, with many types of people bringing different things to the table.
Everyone was smiling and happy, mingling with different ethnic backgrounds and enjoying the VIP room, where artists’ tables were set up for showcasing local talent, including abstract artist Aaron Raitiere and his series of “dudes;” curiously shy paintings by Abby Horne; the invisible John R. Schramlin with his well-placed, all-over-the-place art; and the locally well-known Jeff Bertrand, returning with new stylistically recognizable, yet with a nouveaux 1950s-newspapery twist, work.
If all this wasn’t enough, I just love when music makes an impression in a town where there is so much going on with music. It’s easy for bands to get lost in the clutter when you live in a recording-industry town. Yet, Penguin rocked the house first and got everyone excited (they are a stimulating band, ya know), and then S.J. and the Props did an acousticky set in the middle. For those of you who remember The Katies, you were pleasantly surprised when bass player Gary Welch got on the stage! He was joined by soul-singer Louisa, an earthy-yet-stylish lovely lady who obviously enjoys what she does.
To top off the night, Ribbonpigeon finished the showcase with their ’70s style rock ’n’ roll feel. The violin was an especially nice touch. Upon mingling with the very-excited audience, I learned that some felt the vocals sounded like a better version of Bruce Springsteen mixed with a John Cougar Mellancamp-esque groove, yet they added their own unique eccentricity which made the showcase a success. All of the people involved came together as a collective energy of happy-good times.
Thinking of the next showcase makes me smile, so check it out at the Blue Rooster on Wednesday, March 25, to see the Screemin’ Boweevils, Seafood Hotline and Laser Flames on the Great Big News.
If you want to know more about any of these bands, do the myspace thing. You know.
