Send The Bugger Back

This morning I was given a lift to the 38th Annual Northwest Folklife Festival by a nice bloke from the hostel.

He is a SQL DBA (reformed from a weed dealer of 40 years after 2 and half years in the big house) so he grilled me for a bit of IIS advice with mixed results mainly due to my accent rather than any lack of technical knowledge.

The suggested donation on entry is $10 but we got in for nowt as my guide knew a sneaky entrance, such evils are necessary for travellers in the name of budget extension.

At the moment I’m watching a Seattle band called ‘Central Services’ who have a decent sound, somewhere between Grandaddy and Belle and Sebastian. But they are trying much too hard on the quirky front and the forced intellect does them no favours.

Shortly before that I watched a group of 4 bluegrass buskers called ‘Water Tower Bucket Boys’ who were briliant. I got me a CD for $5.

I’ve never seen such a wide variety of food available anywhere. I just ate a Philippine style BBQ Chicken combo which entailed a pork skewer, 2 lumpia (like spring rolls) and pancit noodles. Nicely washed down with a glass of strawberry lemonade from the Vietnamese stand.

Odd people everywhere. Loads of ‘em. The place is also full of unofficial muscians; some bad, some good, some great and some bloody awful. It makes for a very interesting festival and lessens the pain of missing out on Sasquatch!.

I don’t get all this hippy ‘free hugs’ business though. I may be but a cynical and miserable Brit, but I find it all very cringe-worthy.

Just watched another skiffle rag time sort of band called 2nd Street Rag Stompers, they were a bit rougher round the edges than the other lot but still very good. Like The Hokum Clones doing covers of Black Lips numbers. I bought their CD, this place is not good for budget extension. The pic is of them.

It’s absolutely heaving here now, baby steps all the way.

Next up was the most amazing yoyo(ist) you’re ever likely to see. This kid is 15 and the stuff he can do with a bit of plastic and string is stunning. I thought about showing him ‘walk the dog’ as it doesn’t appear to be in his repertoire, maybe he’s not ready yet though. Sterling Quinn is his name and he was runner up in the World Championship last year. No doubt he is on YouTube so have a look.

I’ve just left early as although it’s really good it can get a bit boring by yourself after 6 hours, plus it’s mega chocca now. I may have had a gourmet chocolate brownie on the way out.

I’ll probably go back tomorrow as there is some ska stuff on, plus I still need to go to the Space Needle and the Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum which are both right where the festival is.

Not much on for tonight unless something comes up. There is a mini cinema downstairs with a projector and 14 proper theatre seats so I might just watch a flick. Not hostel though which is one of the DVDs on offer. I’ve also bought some Blue Ribbon in which has become my American beer of choice; cheap and tasty.