You Was there Weekend
Friday: Langano Lounge and Macadam Grill
Saturday: Grapedrink for The Wanteds, Mission 5, and Throwback Suburbia
Sunday: A little quiet time with Fernando Viciconte at Type Foundry

(Aug. 10, Langano Lounge) OK, My weekend started off a little slow, handing out a hundred dollars to the winner of the Monkey contest to Molly D. I streamed that for you here:

Molly put out a few songs, mostly just for me and the Wailers out there, but it was nice. As she played, the place magically started filling in, almost like they were waiting. Oh well. I’m gonna offer this contest thing one more week before I give it up. This bird has flown, but it was oh so nice to hear Molly play.

Over the river and through the woods to Macadam Grill to catch Chris Baron, our last weekly contest winner. He put out two sets with guests and they are here: and

Thanks for the invite, Señor! Between you and Molly D, I heard some really great solo music.

Grapedrink

Ok, for all of you who do not know where Grapedrink is, have never been, and can’t seem to find this place: I say, “Good!” If you have never been and don’t want to go, that’s OK, the place is better kept a secret. Nothing I love more than coming to a show where the people there really, really, really want to be there.

Inserted rant - One thing I detest as a music lover is people who come to the show, pay the cover, and yak away while the show is going on. I know you paid your money, but I’d rather you paid your respect. - Rant End

Grapedrink isn’t just a hip place to hang out, I saw a lot of love for the performers and the audience from their staff. The place is made for a happening.

You approach through a ramp and enter via the roof. The stage and bar is set behind sliding glass doors with the Willamette river visible through the trees. They have a green room style lounge off to the side where the yakkers can hang out, plus a pool table next door. Nice touch for those that want to get out of the scene and talk.

The sound is excellent. Whether out on the patio roof or in the lounge, you are gonna hear the music come through great, guaranteed.

Love this space, folks. Love it.

Before the show, I ordered up some grub. What a delight. I ate like a 12-year-old boy (or maybe a stoner). You can order a hot pocket and a chocolate pudding from their menu. They call it Grapedrink, and yes, they even have a grape drink that does a body good.

The last time I talked about a club and its eats and layout was Chez Machin. Well, it’s a good thing they are separated by a river and a quadrant, because it would be hard to pick which place I would rather see a band. Chez Machin has the food and the attitude, but Grapedrink has the hospitality and the service, plus a delightfully bizarre menu (think ‘grown up sleepover’) that will keep me coming back.

Grapedrink management delivered on the music too, booking three diverse acts that somehow went together like an ultimate party Chex Mix.

The Wanteds

Coming to the stage, for the first time ever, was The Wanteds. They kicked things off like a blast from a 105 Howitzer, shooting shrapnel through my brain, waking up bits and pieces of punk past I didn’t even know I had. The Wanted could not have been hotter if they played flame throwers. The energy, the wit, the high impact and the ear splitting sheer punk rockness of the thing…

They are really new, but this groupa three is one band I hope to see again soon. You don’t believe they sound like punk rock should? Take a listen:

Mission 5

Before and after the show, I got to hang out a bit with Steve and the gang with Mission 5, plus all their adoring fans. Got to learn a little bit more of Mission 5 and how they started. What consummate rockers they are, and I hope they stay that way. If you want to see a band with heart, and artists that are as happy to be there to play as you are to see them, you gotta catch Mission 5.

Never mind all the rock star shenanigans that take place before and after the show with beautiful women and Sharpies, just open up your earholes and check ‘em out.

Mission 5 performed a lot off their 2006 record and peppered the hour with earlier works too, even including a stellar Who cover. A nice crowd of people that were cool enough to find Grapedrink were rewarded with a tight, fun, and lively performance by a truly stand-out band. If you are lucky and get a chance to pick up a re-release of their “Search For A Perfect Life” you won’t be disappointed.

If you don’t believe Mission 5 cooks the bacon, then listen:

Throwback Suburbia

All right, I told ‘em I was gonna write this, and I will. It comes out of Stonewailer 101. It is a fact (A la Cliff Claven) that there are three things a band can do to demonstrate it rocks before it plays a single note:

1. It can have a kick ass name. You know that if you call yourself Big Ass Truck, or Tool, and you don’t rock, there will be a riot.
2. You can dress the part. If you come dressed the right way, we know you mean business, and you better rock.
3. You can bring lots of incredibly hot women to your show. I don’t need to tell you the rest of Letterman’s Top Ten to know that’s number one.

Throwback Suburbia dresses like the modern equivalent of the band in “That Thing You Do” and by that I mean, they dress like they took Jasmine Ash to the prom, and that is frickin cool. They are slick, man. They look the part.

Then, there are all these gorgeous women (who do their makeup, I hear) in the front row cheering before they even get on stage. I mean, a lot more than just the band members girlfriends. They can really attract an attractive audience. Wow!

A Throwback Suburbia show reminds me of what music was like when I was young and a lot less jaded. They put out solid, rocking, even danceable music. It’s about time someone started making music that honkeys can dance to.

Some might compare them to The Caesars, but they mostly reminded me of a little known east coast band called Rip Dizzy in their intensity and presence. It would do your body good to get out there and shake it. Throwback Suburbia can mix it up and they can turn and burn on you, so take my advice: Look them up and get down when they come to town.

Here’s a stream of their set. They have a four song EP out, and their first number is off of that record. I honestly thought their live version rocked even more than the one on the CD, and that is saying a lot.

The Wanteds, Mission 5, and Throwback Suburbia… It’s been a great run. The last three Saturdays I’ve covered music that I loved and discovered new, rising stars among my old loves. I wish every Saturday could be like the ones I have spent with Fernando, Mission 5, and Moonshine Hangover.

Eventually I will cover some stuff I don’t like and can’t stand. Sitting on the patio, sipping on a grape drink, at Grapedrink… It’s Saturday… I’m not exactly on the road again, but I’m seeing things that I may never see again, and life is good.

Tomorrow, I am invited to see Fernando at Type Foundry. He’s mixing his latest album there. You Was There will be there, but I shall not report. What an honor it is to be among these great artists. I know I’m going to enjoy my time with Mike, Fern, and Adam, but, in the words of Captain Miller in Saving Private Ryan, “those memories, those memories I keep for myself”.

- By Rob Lewis for The Stonewailer

p.s. You Was There keeps showing you all the best places to enjoy your weekend, and I can’t help wondering if you are checking these people out. Do me a favor. If you see a show by an artist we covered, tell us how they were and what you think. I’d really like to know. Do you know where I need to be? All those ears out there, someone has got to have a good idea of where You Was There should go next. Tell me. After all, we are in the listening biz.