Get ready to rock out at an all ages concert that won't leave your ears ringing, and feel good about your contribution with all proceeds going toward the purchase of limiting sound equipment for the Kirkland Teen Union Building, to make it a safer listening zone. Join audiologists and musicians at the Kirkland Teen Union Building for a fun and safe evening of tunes at the third annual Turn It Down: an EAR-responsible Concert presented by Evergreen Speech & Hearing Clinic.

Musicians: Portugal. The Man, Kay, Kay Kay + His Weathered Underground, and Man Down Medic will perform. 7:30 doors. $8 admission.

All this is happening tomorrow: Saturday, May 17, 2008

If the music isn't enough to convince you to come, check this out:

-Free earplugs at the door

-Raffles throughout the concert of in-ear monitors, iPods with custom molded headphones, and custom molded ear plugs

-Ability to buy custom molded earplugs (and get the impressions done on site) at COST! ($88)

O.J. Mayo, former basketball guard for the USC Trojans has made headlines this past weekend for potentially violating NCAA rules.

Here is the full story.

Entering his first year of college he was the most hyped player coming out of high school since LeBron James. However, after one year at USC two players have surpassed him as the best players available in the NBA draft. The players are Michael Beasley and Derrick Rose. Beasley helped Kansas State upset USC in the first round of the NCAA tournament. While Rose took Memphis to the championship game.

Mayo did not dominate the game as people had expected, but his numbers were solid. With the NBA lottery a week away we will soon have a better picture of where these players will land.

Tonight, May 13, at the Showbox SoDo, Atmosphere will be performing songs from his new album, When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint that S*** Gold. Released mere weeks ago, the album has been receiving critical acclaim. The album is the sixth full-length studio production from Minneapolis hip-hop duo, Atmosphere.

I am stoked to see Atmosphere tonight and the Showbox SoDo is one of my favorite Seattle venues. The only other time I have seen Atmosphere was at Bumbershoot 2006 and it was an amazing show. I love the new album but look forward to hearing some old songs too. Knowing Atmosphere's usual performance style, I am sure audience members will be treated to a wide variety of tunes both old and new.

Unfortunately, if you don't have tickets already, you are out of luck. Like most Atmosphere shows, it sold out in advance. If you do have tickets, enjoy yourself. I sure will.

The Showbox Sodo is located at 1700 1st Ave S. Click HERE for driving directions. Doors are at 8pm and the show is all ages.

First of all, I don't know much about the hip-hop scene. So these are all observations and reflections.
Common Market at Vera Project this past Friday opened my eyes to an unfamiliar scene. The all-ages venue presented a dynamic audience, who all seemed excited to be there to support the EP release of Common Market's "Black Patch War." Kids' sitting on parents' shoulders was strange to see- perhaps because it reminded me more a festival environment. I think that all age's venues show the range of fans that a performer has- not limited by age etc. There was so much movement going on during the show. It was different than rock, electronic or indie shows. There was a strong feeling of support for Common Market by the crowd. The collective movements of the audience reflected the words more than the music- something unfamiliar to me.
In hip-hop, words take precedent over music and beats. The music is merely a back-beat to the performance. In rock and pop music the lyrics are downplayed by the music, perhaps because it is often more complex. Something about the delivery of the lyrics and the audiences' anticipation of them amplified the intensity of the show. The hands in the air moved like a force-field circumferencing the words spilling from Common Market's mouth. Interesting how these energies develop together to show the love to the local icon.

My oh my! When you're 10 games down, nothing feels better than a win. Kudos to Raul Ibanez and his two-run homer last night. It definitely put some wind back in our ballclub's sails and got things rolling for Ichiro, Yuniesky, Cairo and really the whole team for the rest of the game.

As I was saying before, it comes down to teamwork. Ibanez put it best saying "We know we all win together and we all lose together." Word.

As for myself, I'm looking forward to Friday's game and (knock on wood) another win. Finally some playing I can bob my head to.

I know, its hard to believe...but the Mariners are further behind than any other team in Major League Baseball. And it's not like the White Sox have been holding their own lately, either (their win Friday night was only the third in their last 10 games).

There's been a lot of speculation as to what the M's game-losing issues are, maybe we're thinking a bit too hard and missing the obvious. They aren't playing AS A TEAM! Sure you can count on certain guys having their moments, like Beltre with his single Friday night, and Ichiro's tactical steals, but when you have guys like Silva pitching without a plan and Sexson charging the mound (seriously!?), winning is out of the question.

Hopefully the M's haven't caught the Sonics' losing style. If I didn't know better, I might start thinking incompetency is contagious. All I can hope for now is that the M's will clean up their act by next Friday when I'll be at Safeco for bobblehead night. Even though top-heavy figurines of J.J. Putz are pretty awesome, I'd much prefer a win.

There hasn't been much to be happy about regarding NBA basketball since the playoffs started. This weekend could be big for a player that made a name for himself in the 4A South Puget Sound League. Rodney Stuckey, former Kentwood High School basketball star, is the likely starter at Point Guard for the Detroit Pistons in game four Saturday afternoon.

The Pistons' Chauncey Billups is still questionable for game four.

In Billups' absence Stuckey put up decent numbers in the game three loss to the Orlando Magic, but he'll have to be better to get the win.

So I blessed y'all with Baby Huey's brilliant cover of the classic "A Change Is Gonna Come" by Sam Cooke and then I hear that a young lady sang it on American Idol. I've never watched the show but I heard a kid cover "Billy Jean" not too long ago so I figured I would see what was up.

Well, I listened ... and I'm ridin' with Randy all the way on this, although him trying to save face at the end = lame; stick to your guns mayne! The girl might have a voice (still ain't nothin' compared to Mr. Cooke) but like I mentioned back when I reviewed that group Pinback I need me some soul when I hear singing.

Where's the emotion? Where's the pain? Sam Cooke made this song during the civil rights era speaking about the change that our society needed (and still needs today) and here is this chick relating it to her life and the changes she has gone through? Please, we all go through changes, but don't use one of the most important songs of the '60s to express your "growth" while on a TV show!

Listen to the tracks and let me know what you think:

Sam Cooke "A Change Is Gonna Come"

Syesha Mercado "A Change Is Gonna Come (Live)"

And as a little bonus here is my favorite song that samples the Sam Cooke joint:

German Lugar "Can We Peace"

Here is what is said about the Ki Gottberg written and directed piece by lead actor Damian Peterson:

"An adventure yarn and comic fable, The Hairy Baby spins the tale of Claire and Michael. When a somewhat mysterious child emerges in their young marriage, everything they both hold dear is called into question, including their love for each other. Traveling individually through fantastical realms peopled with clowns, artists and other strange types, the couple seeks the truth of their love. Highly theatrical and full of surprises, The Hairy Baby will enchant the most weary of hearts with her shenanigans."

Claire........................... Molly Tomhave
Michael......................... Damian Peterson
Thezda/Blaze/Teller.......... Elizabeth Kenny
Monster/Doc/Voice/Clown... Charles Leggett
Mary/Z......................... Phoebe Hopkins
Delpha/Xeena................. Cozy Josephson
Deek/French Clown/Bill...... Casey Fern
Head/Bevo.................... Sean Shannon
Muse "Charm"................. Elspeth Walker
Muse "Splendor".............. Michael Stock
Muse "Grace".................. Ji Eun Kim
Musical Accompaniment...... Brendan Hogan

In conjunction, SU welcomes NW Playwrights Alliance and Dramatists Guild (NYC) as they team up for a two-day conference about new play development (May 11 & 12).

Thursdays & Fridays @ 7:30pm
Saturdays @ 2:30pm & 7:30pm
Sunday 5/11 @ 7:30pm, Sunday 5/18 @ 2:30pm
Lee Center for the Arts; $6 students $8 faculty/staff $10 general
206.296.2244

I'm going tonight to photogragh the performance--stills coming soon!

Baby Huey's "A Change is Gonna Come." (Just a little somethin' to set the mood.)

Hey, I'm not here to get all political but given the recent Sean Bell verdict, I can't help but put this out there for people to think about. The cops get off in N.Y., then this from the Philly PD.

Is a change gonna come ... ?