Chris Ballew, Dave Dederer, Jason Finn. Photo: Gillian G. Gaar
Attendees at the “Battle For Seattle” fundraiser at Seattle’s Crocodile Café on September 30, got a nice surprise at the end of the night — a reunion of the original lineup of the Presidents of the United States of America.
The event was a joint fundraiser for the campaigns of Mike McGinn (for mayor), Dow Constantine (for King County Executive), and Pete Holmes (for City Attorney). Each candidate spoke forcefully about their desire to help Seattle prosper as a music city, Constantine pointing out that aspiring musicians all yearn to play here.
The Maldives were the first to take the stage, playing ‘70s-style rawk that had them headbanging with abandon (there was a banjo player, but he couldn’t be heard). Their new album is appropriately titled Listen To The Thunder.
After a short break, the Presidents appeared, lead singer/basitarist Chris Ballew leaping around the stage as is his wont. Then former Krist Novoselic was welcomed to the stage, a Hello Kitty guitar at the ready, and he shredded his way through the Dick Dale classic “Miserlou.” The group then tackled the Ventures’ “Walk Don’t Run.” And the good time Presidents briefly morphed into a surf punk band.
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Chris Ballew, Krist Novoselic, Hello Kitty. Photo: Gillian G. Gaar
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Chris Ballew, Krist Novoselic. Photo: Gillian G. Gaar
The show was expectedly filled with some of the Presidents’ best known songs; “Kitty,” “Peaches,” and their take on “Video Killed The Radio Star.” During the second set, the lights went out and then came back on to reveal original guitbassist Dave Dederer on stage, and the band stormed into “Lump” (with current guitbassist Andrew McKeag on stage throughout). Further hilarity ensured, with the Presidents leaving their audience happy and exhausted.
Related story: Lounge Acts 2009
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