SHOW CHIME SHOW JANUARY 2021 From Katie Williams, Rockin’ Yule AMP Board Member January 2021 I am Katie, the newest board member of AMP. My first draft of this letter was Bizarre 2020 about highlighting the exciting things AMP has been working on for the Surreal, but Somehow Satisfying upcoming year—our instrument lending Photos, screenshots, and words by Joel Askey library, online and perhaps in-person What else would we expect out of 2020? It’s like Tonight)”. The Opines submitted a very electric workshops, collaborations, our big the whole year was directed by David Lynch, version of “Carol of the Bells”, complete with dream for an indoor space. It was a very circa the Eraserhead period. Our cherished a great video. A highlight was a diverse set positive note because we are working on Rockin’ Yule Bizarre tradition did not escape the from local hero Karl Blau, including selections something essential for our musicians cold clutches of COVID-19 conformity. Thus con- from Tchaikovsky and Run/DMC, all the way and cherished by our community. strained, our friends at AMP live streamed our from Philly. Lamplit backyard versions of “Blue Ultimately, I felt compelled to offer some holiday music fest on YouTube on December 19. Christmas” and “Hazy Shade of Winter” were optimism in a time when optimism is not provided by The Enthusiasts. A duo from Fanny First, how about VJ Santa Todd (Young), bring- on the forefront of anyone’s mind. This Alger kicked off the show with “Christmas is ing back 1980s public access cable show vibes? past year has sucked. I can’t get past it. January Cover Artist Coming”, framed by a waterfront backdrop. As all right-minded folks would agree, this is Even the most positive of the positive Jacques Moiteret a high-level compliment. Kudos also to Doug Nearer to the end of the show, Whisky Fever’s people I know are burned out on this Born and raised in Seattle WA for his first 55 Cassidy for putting together the disparate video Jack Mattingly showed off his overweight cat new normal. Even my dog is on Prozac at years, Jacques Moitoret has dedicated his performances into a seamless whole, in his tech- and performed “Grandma Got Run Over”. This this point. No joke. A lot of our beloved life to the craft of fine oil painting as well as nical production capacity. The evening’s events was followed by a taped performance of the full musicians are on a creative hiatus. It’s sculpture and design. His work is sought after were emceed from a living room set, complete band playing “Feliz Navidad”, taped in pre-so- understandable. The downtime for internationally, working on commissions from with raffle drawings and socially distanced elves. cial-distancing times. Mariah Erken sang “Jingle creativity we thought we needed back various points of the compass. He lives humbly Bells”, accompanied by Glen Desgardins on the when things were “normal” was given to A fine set of musicians were willing to share in Old Town, Anacortes, helping care for his two Lincoln Theater organ. She preceded that with a us in the worst way. The world halted and their talents with us on this evening. Each set best friends, Judy and Anna. The piece on the solo piano performance of a Paul Williams song. understandably, so did local music. was a taped performance, followed in many cover, a stamp of Annie Curtis, is an oil paint- cases by a short live interview with Todd. This Katie Williams and Andrew Velin closed the The question I ask myself is, how do we ing currently in the artist's possession (2'x4'), interview segment was a nice touch. show with “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christ- get back to where we were with the designed in consultation with Bill Mitchell. mas” in the main living room broadcast set. constraints we face? Is it impossible? Karl Blau spoke with Jacques about his life as The individual songs ranged from the sacred to On the whole, this was the best possible ex- Do people stop loving familiar music an artist and how he ended up in Anacortes. the raucous. On the softer side, we heard from perience under the difficult circumstances, because it is virtual? The release of the John Van Deusen (In the Bleak Midwinter), Marlo When asked how he made it to Anacortes and a welcome diversion for all. Covid vaccine gives me a glimmer of Cooley (Love is Christmas), Jeff Vogel (Christmas and out of Seattle, Jaques Moitoret respond- hope for some normalcy, like hugging my in Prison), Pearl Tottenham (River), and Allyson Thanks to all the performers and production ed "uh, well, it was exile from Seattle. I lived favorite people without fear. That hope Foster (Christmas Song). These hit exactly the staff for a Herculean effort! The live stream can in a fortunate strain of cheap, art houses and is tough to think about without bringing right tone of searching for joy in dark times. be viewed at http://anacortesmusicproject.org. ■ around 1999 that came to an end. I was living on tears because we have experienced so in a little, old, farmhouse surrounded by the To counterbalance the acoustic tunes, local much disappointment in 2020. Below: Santa and his socially-distanced elves deliver city of downtown Seattle in the shadow of the favorites The Mosstones performed the Ra- raffle prizes. Left: video stills from Yule Bizarre musical My resolution for the New Year is to focus Space Needle, literally. It had been $100 rent mones’ “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight perfromances. All images courtesy of Joel Askey. once again on the music. Let’s give our for 30 years. I inherited it from an artist who community a chance to stop filling their inherited it from another artist." When that voids with online shopping, stiff drinks, deal fell through, suddenly Jacques found and Netflix. Let’s give our local musicians himself walking the streets of Seattle, homeless the love they need to write again. To play "wising up to how expensive it is." again. To sing again. He landed on his feet shortly thereafter. Fol- Anacortes is special. The healing that lowing a brief stint as groundskeeper at writer comes to our community from familiar Richard Bach's house in Stanwood and after voices and music is deep. Even though spending time in Anacortes with his friend I am a resident freshman to the board, I Judy, Jacques noticed that a certain house have been a long-time supporter of local in old town wasn't selling and kept getting music. I want to bridge the void I feel. If cheaper upon subsequent visits. Suddenly it you are a musician, when you are ready, became within reach. AMP will be waiting with our support and Throughout the Seattle years Jacques was our enthusiasm. We will be nodding our creating posters for music shows—in the 60s heads, tapping our feet, smiling. We will it was "surf" posters, in the 70s, psychedelic, share your music with the community and then punk posters in the 80s. His work is and we will never stop appreciating you. featured in a coffee table quality art book of We can do this, and it will be okay. CHIME SHOW Seattle psychedelic posters called Split Foun- tain Hieroglyphics. Now known for showing up with a pair of shakers wherever need be, Jacques Moitoret radiates a facet of NW culture unto himself. His artistic works burst with flair and pizazz, like a pair of shakers showing up in an otherwise docile art gallery. For inquiries, please email [email protected] and we will Ringing the Bell for Anacortes Music /// Brought to you by Anacortes Music Project by you to Brought Ringing the Anacortes Bell for Music /// help you get in touch with Jacques. ■ AMP As the Pandemic Continues, Announces Local Venues Struggle by Katie Reyerson Instrument With the arrival of the vaccine, there seems to be a light at the end of going to the movies outside of your living room for months to come. I the tunnel for pandemic fatigue—but brace yourself—the tunnel is lon- humbly urge you—resist the temptation. It’s now more important than ger than it looks. Unless you’re a frontline worker or at high risk, you’re ever that you continue to give back and provide for our local centers Lending Library unlikely to receive the vaccine until spring or summer. And even after for the arts. by Clarity Miller and Laurie Racicot that, life will go on but it won’t go back to normal. Unsurprisingly, all of Since July, the Lincoln has been running a membership drive to encour- our local venues are still subject to the same restrictions that have all One of most exciting projects currently in the works at AMP is age patrons to become members, or to renew or upgrade their existing but halted normal operations since March—especially now, with the our instrument lending library. Imagine being able to borrow memberships, fittingly titled Lather, Rinse, Renew 2020. During the arrival of the predicted winter “super-wave.” musical instruments and equiptment for free, right here in campaign all new, renewing, and upgrading Lincoln Theater members town. Think you want to learn the Trombone? You can try it out The Lincoln Theater, our Mount Vernon neighbor and local hub for the will receive additional perks on top of the standard membership benefits. to see if you like it! Need an extra amp for a special event? We arts, is no exception.