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Artist Ticket Picks: A Sinful Tour of Portland, Dance in Ann Arbor, Musical Legend Linda Perhacs and more.

marys-club-225x300Welcome to this week’s Artist Ticket Picks! The Artist Ticket program gives our customers a way to donate to causes that we care about.

If you’re an event producer, you can allow your ticket buyers to purchase limited-edition tickets printed with original artwork in your event settings. The ticket buyer will pay a small, additional charge of $0.25 and receive a limited edition, collectible ticket imprinted with original artwork. The current charity of our choosing will receive 100% of the additional charge. Physical tickets must be enabled on the event.

If you’re a ticket buyer, you can check to see if the limited edition ticket is available to you at the beginning of the ticket checkout process or by visiting the Artist Ticket page. You receive a small piece of collectible art and support a valuable cause just by checking the box in the Artist Ticket widget when you’re purchasing your tickets!

See a full list of events carrying the tickets on the Artist Ticket page, as well as find out more about the beneficiary for the current run of Artist Tickets.

So, without further ado, here are this week’s Artist Ticket picks:

Saturday, March 15 I Portland Sinful Walking Tour: Shanghaiers, Saloons & SkullduggeryPortland, Oregon

As a nexus for labor and shipping in the Pacific Northwest, Portland often had the repute of a rugged, rough and tumble town, more than willing to allow the miners, loggers, and fishermen an opportunity to part with their hard earned cash in whatever debaucherous manner they chose. In addition to the shanghaiers and con men, always on the prowl, saloons, gambling halls and bordellos also thrived in “Whitechapel,” “The North End,” or Old Town, as we know it today. Some of these storied establishments have come and gone, but others have survived, and many say that Portland, or “Strip City,” still has that vulgar and rugged reputation to this day.

Join Historian Doug Kenck-Crispin as he visits locations of famous saloons, bars and bordellos, card rooms and gambling dens, some of which are still in operation today! The tour will meet at Thirsty Lion Pub (71 SW 2nd Ave.). Feel free to stop by early for a pint and grub! Walk-ups are always welcome! The tour will “end” outside of Mary’s Club, one of Portland’s most hallowed strip clubs*. At the conclusion of the tour, you can join Doug inside for an adult beverage!

*This tour is best suited for those 21+
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Mid- Week Beat: New Orleans & the Birth of Jazz

2368151299_10901a5dae_zThis week is a big one for New Orleans and the authentic American art form it spawned: jazz. As we all know, next Tuesday is Fat Tuesday and the streets of the Crescent City are currently loaded with brass bands filling the air with the sweet music that only a city with such a diverse and turbulent history could create. But Mardi Gras isn’t the only reason this is a notable week in New Orleans music.

On this day, in 1917, the first jazz record was recorded for the Victor Talking Machine Company in New York. The group was The Original Dixieland Jass Band and the song was “Livery Stable Blues” with the B-side of the 78 rpm record being “Dixie Jass Band One Step.” The record is steeped in controversy as it was recorded by a group of white musicians who billed themselves as “The Creators of Jazz” and claimed authorship over jazz standards that had been played by African-American musicians for some time prior to the first recordings. In fact, musicians like Jelly Roll Morton, Buddy Bolden, King Oliver, Sidney Bechet and Kid Ory had already popularized jazz as a musical form in New Orleans long before The Original Dixieland Jass Band took their versions up north.

Most of America, however, was unaware of the musical developments happening in New Orleans and for many, “Livery Stable Blues” was their first exposure to this wild new sound. The record was a surprise hit and its release ushered in what would become known as “The Jazz Age.” So, while the record is indicative of the racism of the times, it did bring the wild and wondrous sounds of New Orleans into the homes of more Americans than ever before and, in its way, helped white audiences to appreciate this African-American music as the sophisticated art form that it was. Without the success of this record we never would have heard the wonderful strains of Louis Armstrong’s cornet in King Oliver’s first recordings for Okeh and Gennett just a few years later, when the jazz boom was in full swing.

So, this week, in honor of New Orleans, Mardi Gras and the birth of recorded jazz music, we’re going to feature some upcoming jazz concerts that pay tribute to the Crescent City and the early years of jazz.
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Tuesday Tease: Mardi Gras with a Side of Southern Fried Burlesque

20140131223844-1669879_283701681793257_1260797718_oIs it that time again? Can you believe that Fat Tuesday is just a week away? Things have been raging in New Orleans since the 15th but in the rest of the country, this is the week for Mardi Gras madness.

This week I thought I’d highlight some Mardi Gras events happening both north and south of the Mason Dixie line. I also wanted to feature some great burlesque events happening in the South itself, the American home of the Mardi Gras. We all know that Southerners know how to party and this week you can be sure they’ll be strutting their stuff.

If you’re in the North, party like you’re in the South. If you’re in the South, just do what you do and show that Southern pride.

Friday, February 28 to Wednesday, March 26 I The Mason Dixie Burlesque TourVarious Cities  The Mason Dixie Burlesque Tour brings you the hottest vixens from both sides of the Mason-Dixon! In the spring of 2014, these four award-winning ladies will be crossin’ state lines, eight pasties at a time!​ Starring: Deanna Danger (Richmond, Virginia), Üla Überbusen (New York City), Porcelain (Raleigh, North Carolina) and Hazel Honeysuckle (New York City)​. Co-producers Deanna Danger and Üla Überbusen bring you a show that’s got class, sass and a whole lotta ass!

Shows being ticketed by Brown Paper Tickets are Washington D.C.; Charleston, West Virginia; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; St. Louis, Missouri; Wichita, Kansas; Gainesville, Florida and Orlando, Florida.

Also, check out this great interview we did with Deanna Danger last year on the Tuesday Tease too! She offers some great advise for touring burlesque performers.


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Arts >

Artist Ticket Picks: Archival Activism, Gypsy Punk and Zombies Battling Pro-Wrestlers

9932773b4829ae8ecd53b7945b6b928aWelcome to this week’s Artist Ticket Picks! The Artist Ticket program gives our customers a way to donate to causes that we care about.

If you’re an event producer, you can allow your ticket buyers to purchase limited-edition tickets printed with original artwork in your event settings. The ticket buyer will pay a small, additional charge of $0.25 and receive a limited edition, collectible ticket imprinted with original artwork. The current charity of our choosing will receive 100% of the additional charge. Physical tickets must be enabled on the event.

If you’re a ticket buyer, you can check to see if the limited edition ticket is available to you at the beginning of the ticket checkout process or by visiting the Artist Ticket page. You receive a small piece of collectible art and support a valuable cause just by checking the box in the Artist Ticket widget when you’re purchasing your tickets!

See a full list of events carrying the tickets on the Artist Ticket page, as well as find out more about the beneficiary for the current run of Artist Tickets.

So, without further ado, here are this week’s Artist Ticket picks:

Starts Friday, March 14 I Vic + Flo Saw a BearSeattle, Washington

Winner of the 2013 Silver Bear (Alfred Bauer Prize) at the Berlin International Film Festival, Quebecois multi-hyphenate talent Denis Côté’s seventh feature tells the darkly mysterious tale of two lesbian ex-cons, Victoria and Florence, trying to make a new life in the backwoods of Quebec. Seeking peace and quiet, the couple slowly begin to feel under siege, as Vic’s probation office keeps unexpectedly popping up, and a strange woman in the neighborhood soon turns out to be an increasingly menacing shadow from Flo’s past. With its collection of complex and eccentric characters, unexpected plot twists and unsettling humor, Côté has created an original film that is traumatizing, uplifting and utterly breathtaking.

** WARNING! This trailer contains language that may be offensive to some viewers. Discretion is advised. **


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Film >

The Mid-Week Beat: Vinyl Rules

big_vinyl_rules_1Today is an important day in history for all lovers of vinyl records. On this day in 1878, Thomas Edison patented the phonograph and unwittingly created the “record business” as we know it today.

Previous inventions had succeeded in recording sound, but Edison’s phonograph was the first device to be able to reproduce sounds. The original phonograph recorded sounds onto a tinfoil cylinder, and could both record and reproduce sounds. In the 1880s, Alexander Graham Bell made improvements on Edison’s original phonograph by introducing the use of wax-coated cardboard cylinders, and a cutting stylus that moved in a “zig zag” pattern across the record. It wasn’t until the turn of the 20th century that Emile Berliner introduced gramophone records: flat, double-sided discs with spiral grooves, the early ancestors to today’s vinyl records.

The vinyl record dominated the market of recorded music until the mid-1960s when 8-track tapes were introduced to the public. These would be followed by cassette tapes and eventually compact discs, which almost succeeded in eradicating vinyl records all together but luckily hip hop DJs and turntable enthusiasts kept the vinyl market alive until today, when we’re seeing a resurgence in vinyl production and consumption. Part may be due to nostalgia but many argue that digital formats like CDs and mp3s are unable to recreate the “warmth” that vinyl gives to a recorded piece of music.

I know for me personally, my favorite songs always sound better on vinyl, pops and hisses aside. I admit that part of this is nostalgia and the fact that putting a piece of vinyl on a turntable somehow makes that music seem more special than something I double-click in iTunes. There’s a ritual involved and a sense of tangibility that will never exist with digital files.

So, in honor of the record, I’m featuring some events that center either around vinyl itself, famous record labels, classic albums that are synonymous with vinyl or styles of music that rely heavily on vinyl.

And, be sure to thank Edison for all the great recorded music we’ve enjoyed for the last 136 years.

52a8fd08967a9.preview-620Friday, February 21 I Respect Yourself Screening and Book Signing with Author Robert Gordon Atlanta, Georgia

Some of my favorite records to spin on a Saturday night are old Stax Records sides like Otis Redding’s Live In Europe or any of the amazing records by Booker T. and the MG’s, Stax’s house band.

At this event in Atlanta, music historian and Memphis native Robert Gordon will be signing copies of his book Respect Yourself after a screening of the documentary with the same name about Stax Records. The book tells the story of a white brother and sister who build a record company that becomes a monument to racial harmony in 1960’s segregated south Memphis. Stax defined an international sound and their story is loaded with epic heroes in a shady industry. It’s about music and musicians–Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Wilson Pickett, the Staple Singers, and Booker T. and the M.G.’s and the legendary sound that they helped forge.

After the screening Gordon further discusses his work with The Bitter Southerner‘s Editor-in-Chief Chuck Reece and resident “soulologist” Nelson Ross.


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Music >

Artist Ticket Picks: Alien Boy, Stripped Screw Burlesque, Mason Jennings and more.

ALIEN-BOY-FILM-POSTER-TN1Welcome to this week’s Artist Ticket Picks! The Artist Ticket program gives our customers a way to donate to causes that we care about.

If you’re an event producer, you can allow your ticket buyers to purchase limited-edition tickets printed with original artwork in your event settings. The ticket buyer will pay a small, additional charge of $0.25 and receive a limited edition, collectible ticket imprinted with original artwork. The current charity of our choosing will receive 100% of the additional charge. Physical tickets must be enabled on the event.

If you’re a ticket buyer, you can check to see if the limited edition ticket is available to you at the beginning of the ticket checkout process or by visiting the Artist Ticket page. You receive a small piece of collectible art and support a valuable cause just by checking the box in the Artist Ticket widget when you’re purchasing your tickets!

See a full list of events carrying the tickets on the Artist Ticket page, as well as find out more about the beneficiary for the current run of Artist Tickets.

So, without further ado, here are this week’s Artist Ticket picks:

Starts Friday, March 7 I Alien Boy: The Life and Death of James ChasseSeattle, Washington

Early in its musical history, the Portland punk scene saw the emergence of a magazine, the Oregon Organizm, written and edited by an influential band member of the time, James Chasse. With a close friend performing as lead singer of The Wipers, an influential punk band that made an impact on groups like Nirvana, James became a well-known member of his society.

In 2006, tragedy struck, when James died during a highly controversial arrest by Portland police in downtown. Following the case, many people looked into the history of James Chasse, from his early punk years to his mental illness and the effects it had on the musician and his community.

This documentary follows his musical rise, decline and tribulations, along with a modern perspective on a police case increasingly relevant today.


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Arts >

The Mid-Week Beat: Music for Lovers

r2eValentine’s Day is this weekend and I’m sure the significant others out there are frantically thinking up plans for showing their special someone how much they love them. Sure, there’s flowers, dinner, chocolates, etc. but personally, I relish the times when my wife and I have gone out and enjoyed some good music. Whether we be dancing or just swaying to the beat, music has a transformative quality that makes us feel that we’re the only ones in the room and that the musicians are playing just for us.

So, this week, I’m going to highlight some musical events that are sure to get you in the mood for love. Doesn’t matter where you’re at or what kind of music you dig, I’m sure there’s something here for everyone.

Valentine’s Day – Friday, February 14

Loves Me- Presented by Marco CollinsSeattle, Washington   Get your romance on with an intimate evening curated by Marco Collins showcasing a cross section of diverse NW artists. Featuring live performances from: Shelby Earl, Shaprece (with IG88), Shawn Smith (Brad/Satchel), Maiah Manser and Mark Shirtz.

Always… Patsy ClineConway, Washington   Ria Peth Vanderpool and Kelly Bohon reprise their roles as Patsy Cline and Louise Seger, respectively. The musicality and humor of the two on stage is a can’t miss! Join them at The Conway Muse, the perfect venue for such a show. The show opens on VALENTINES DAY, and runs Friday and Saturday evenings for six weeks! Dine before the show in the restaurant, or bring your dinner and drinks from the restaurant into the theater with you! The laid back atmosphere of the theater is perfect for a special date night.
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Music >

Tuesday Tease: Love and Pasties – Valentine Burlesque

7deac8d54c157ffb60e86be3864f6960I know burlesque has a bit of a rowdy reputation but this week on the Tuesday Tease, we want to focus on the softer side of the shimmy. While certainly burlesque can be raunchy, funny, weird, ironic and topical, it can also be sensual, sensitive and très romantique!

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we are going to focus on some burlesque shows that are sure to provide the perfect appetizer for whatever romantic main course you and your significant other have in mind.

Friday, February 14 – Valentine’s Day

Wine & ValentineSeattle, Washington   Seattle’s Tasting Room is thrilled to invite Nickey Bourbon and her troupe of performers back to the Pike Place Market for another show! This special Valentine’s production will feature: Octavia Sexton, Alexa Perplexa, Queen O’Hart, Lana MilknHoney, Ms. Audrey Rugburn & Lesley Rialto. A special wine pairing menu is optional and will feature: Taylor Shell Fish Oyster paired with Treveri Bubbles, Beecher’s Cheese paired with Wilridge Vineyard’s organic white wine blend, Fabrique Delices pate paired with Harlequin Wine Cellars Syrah,  Salumi Salami served with Nota Bene Cellar’s Cabernet and the Symposium red dessert wine from Willis Hall Winery paired with Theo Chocolate.
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Arts >

Artist Ticket Picks: Getting Back to Abnormal, Roxy Music, Body Painting and more.

getting_back_to_abnormalWelcome to this week’s Artist Ticket Picks! The Artist Ticket program gives our customers a way to donate to causes that we care about.

If you’re an event producer, you can allow your ticket buyers to purchase limited-edition tickets printed with original artwork in your event settings. The ticket buyer will pay a small, additional charge of $0.25 and receive a limited edition, collectible ticket imprinted with original artwork. The current charity of our choosing will receive 100% of the additional charge. Physical tickets must be enabled on the event.

If you’re a ticket buyer, you can check to see if the limited edition ticket is available to you at the beginning of the ticket checkout process or by visiting the Artist Ticket page. You receive a small piece of collectible art and support a valuable cause just by checking the box in the Artist Ticket widget when you’re purchasing your tickets!

See a full list of events carrying the tickets on the Artist Ticket page, as well as find out more about the beneficiary for the current run of Artist Tickets.

So, without further ado, here are this week’s Artist Ticket picks:

Sunday, February 3 I Getting Back to AbnormalSeattle, Washington

New Orleans’ long history of political dysfunction gets a new lease on life when Stacy Head, a polarizing white woman, wins a seat on the city council after Katrina. Four years later, she needs to get black votes to be re-elected. Getting Back to Abnormal follows the odd couple of Head and her irrepressible political advisor, Barbara Lacen-Keller, as they try to navigate New Orleans’ complicated political scene. Featuring provocative commentary from New Orleans cultural figures like David Simon (Treme, The Wire).

** WARNING! This trailer contains language that may be offensive to some viewers. **


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Arts >

The Mid-Week Beat: Long Beach Rehab, Post-Folk in Davis and the Zoo Music Awards in Missoula

Long-Beach-RehabSo, no grand plan this week on the Mid-Week Beat. Just thought I’d share some of the cool upcoming shows we got coming up: Long Beach Rehab on tour in Washington State, a “post-folk” show in Davis, California and a local music competition in Missoula, Montana. If you’re near any of these events, get out there and see some music!

Tonight, Wednesday February 5 to Sunday, February 9 I Long Beach RehabMultiple Cities in Washington State

Long Beach Rehab was put together by Qball of Sublime LBC and Bad Brains singer Isreal Joseph. They added Smash Mouth guitarist Greg Camp, Matt Myers, Paget and Derek Hooks into the band and have toured the US, Japan and Mexico performing hits from Sublime, Bad Brains as well as original compositions.

Qball has a long history in California punk rock. He and partner Monk ran the record label that released the first three Social Distortion records and he was also half owner of Fenders Ballroom in Long Beach. This is where Qball and Bradley (Sublime) first met and started working on songs during late night party sessions in Long Beach. In 2002, after the break up of the Long Beach Dub All Stars, Qball decided to tour paying tribute to his friend and late Sublime singer Bradley. Qball found Matt Myers and they took the music of Sublime to over 30 countries, touring for ten years as Sublime LBC to crowds reaching 90,000 fans.

These days Long Beach Rehab uses both former Bad Brains singers Derek and Isreal for the Bad Brains songs, while Matt Myers sings all the Sublime songs. LBR perfoms all the best songs from Sublime, Bad Brains as well as new songs.

This week they’re doing a short tour of the Pacific Northwest hitting five cities in five days. Here are the dates and just click on the club name to get tickets.

TONIGHT! Wednesday, February 5 I Jazzbones in Tacoma, Washington

Thursday, February 6 I 88 Keys in Seattle, Washington

Friday, February 7 I Hub City/Aerie Ballroom in Centralia, Washington

Saturday, February 8 I Culpeppers in Graham, Washington

Sunday, February 9 I Rock N Roll Lodge in Tacoma, Washington


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