I got a call last week from someone that was putting on a remodeling and landscaping show here in Portland and they wanted to add local art to this years mix. I agreed to do it, three long days at the Memorial Coliseum starting the last weekend of January. You never know what may happen and I have been setting myself up for 2017 to do more shows that are not tiki related.

I am approaching this years' vending season with a make or break attitude and am adding two more events that are not tiki related in the hopes of selling a few more pieces. Art in the Pearl is a long running three day Portland event held on labor day weekend that I applied for, and although they have thousands of submissions for only 135 spots I am not even entertaining the thought of rejection. Also I would like to do a June show in Vancouver WA at Esther Short Park featuring recycled art that I hear-tell from other venders is a good one. Like all vending gigs I need to be accepted through a juried process, but should know on both in the first three months of the New Year.

To say that live music has been an influence on my life would be an understatement, but with the advancement of age the motivation to leave my home late in the evening to see a show on a Sunday night is rapidly diminishing. Gone are my experimental days, so I was happy I muscled up last night and saw Thee Oh Sees from Los Angeles at the new Revolution Hall. Part of the thrill for me are the undercards, and Alex Cameron from Australia featuring pre recorded music and a chatty David Bowie/Peter Murphy sounding singer while backed by a suave, velvet suited, soulful sax player, was a topper. Locals Lavender Flu opened with a dreamy, poppy, sludgy sort of set.

Someone looked at an older post from 2011 about my trying Facebook and deciding to abandon it as it was hard to talk about myself. Fast forward to 2016 and I am now not only on FB, but look at it every day and post once every week or so. After talking to others that use it I decided to give it another try and concentrate on the chance to advertise for free and get my work out to as many as possible. I cannot say that it has helped sales any, but I do enjoy seeing artists work that I admire from all over the world. This blogspot is still the one that gets all the latest work every Sunday, but I have to say I do enjoy the comments that I receive on Facebook, something that never happens here.

Besides the vending part of it (luckily I had two tikis pre sold as I did not sell a thing at the event) I had a terrific time at this years' Tiki Oasis. Thanks to Otto, Baby Doe and all those that work so hard to pull off this amazing show. The music was top notch again (except for Deadbolt, whose lead singer was so smashed he could not even remember the lyrics to his own damn songs) but my favorites were the Messer Chups from Russia. The people I meet and the great artists of all mediums make the time involved to drive all that way so worth it, and I look forward to doing it all again next year.

In a word I would call last night's Claypool Lennon show at the Roseland "Dull". As I dislike the Beatles I would not have gone without the great bassist Les Claypool at the controls, and with the addition of drummer Paulo Baldi and Beastie Boys' organist Mark Ramos "Money Mark" Wishita. I saw it as more money grab, no real chemistry, and the coddled Sean (son of John and Yoko) pissed me off more than once, although he had a beautiful, emerald colored, metal flake guitar that he knew how to play. I was not disappointed in the show, however, worth going to see and I very much liked the opening band Jjuujjuu, "alternative, ambient, electronic, post-punk psych from L.A."

I kid you not, numerous people at last nights' Sadies concert were wearing patchouli oil. Like tobacco, this needs to be a banned substance from all public venues. Anyway this Canadaian foursome consisting of two guitars, stand up bass and drums plays an alternative country rock and roll but adds gospel, punk, psychedelic, spaghetti western surf to the mix to really bring a different style that makes them so great. I do not like to recommend music, but you should check these guys out. Opening were another band from the Great White North, Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet, excellent dark, surfy instrumentalists. The Star Theatre where they played is a very nice place for music, I had a super time.

I had a great time at this year's Tiki Caliente in Palm Springs the past week. I was able to break even and also bring home some cool art from Norm Daniels and Michael Sbicca, plus all the great music and friends to see was superb. I have to say that the highlight was seeing Shags newest paintings that were on display in the hotel lobby...simply fantastic. Thanks so much to Si and Damian who purchased their fifth carvings from me, Cindy and Mark with their second, and Michael with his first. You are the reason I can keep doing this and it is greatly appreciated!

It had been a long time since I went to a show at the Roseland, but with the Japanese band Melt Banana playing with the Melvins I could not miss it. It was many moons ago when I first saw them open for Mr. Bungle and I was interested to see how much they have changed in 20 years. Now with only a "vocalist" and guitar, this noise rock band can still bring it. The female singer is still a firecracker, mixing screams, shrieks, barks and the like to mesmerize like the old days. The songs are now a bit more melodic and much longer than their first album, which was comprised of many 10, 20, 30 second snippets of sound, but was glad that they have evolved and not still doing the same thing. Of course the Melvins were fantastic, it seems they are finally getting some recognition for being one of the most influential NW bands of my time. The headliner was England's Napalm Death, not my cup of tea but still entertaining.

Well I'll be go to hell if I did not have another great time at the Wonder Ballroom last night. It is my least favorite venue in Portland but it seems like the shows I go to see are located there. I have witnessed the event known as the Reverend Horton Heat numerous times as they always work hard to please, yet never disappoint. This time they brought an excellent guest to play a handful of songs with them to spice things up and change the pace a bit. The Unknown Hinson is a vampire looking southerner that can kick major ass on the guitar and vocals, he was a great addition. Opening was a one man band called Lincoln Durham. I cannot imagine how I would feel being onstage all by myself and trying to please a hundred plus drunkin' fools who are not there to see you, but he pulled it off beautifully. Playing the guitar, banjo, cigar box three string and I think one string, pounding his foot on a bass drum, tambourine peddle, drumming behind his back while he sang, it was something to behold. The Legendary Shack Shakers were next with a HIGH ENERGY set that was the perfect setup to the main event. I needed a shower big time by the time I arrived back home at 1:30 AM.

Seeing Parquet Courts last night at the Wonder Ballroom reminded me of why I love live music so much. This New York based foursome was my favorite band that I had never seen live and they filled me with energy and inspiration, thanks dudes! Locals Wooden, er Woolen Men opened.

I signed up again for Tiki Caliente, May 12-15, in beautiful Palm Springs. It is my favorite of the three I do each year as this event is smaller, more intimate, and was my first tiki show that I vended at. Rory Snyder does a great job of putting on this party and has given me sage advise through the years on tiki culture in general. Can't wait. July will be Tiki Kon here in Portland, August Tiki Oasis, the big daddy of all tiki events, in San Diego.