Bob Schwenkler is an important force behind Olympia’s music scene. From founding Bicycle Records while a student at Evergreen, to recording some of the Northwest’s best bands, Schwenkler now helms K Record’s legendary Dub Narcotic studio. Schwenkler has made a lasting impact on the music Olympia listens to and the […]
Sem II Cafe Replaced by Einstein Bros. Bagels
For the first time in its 44-year history, The Evergreen State College will have a brand-name licensed store, Einstein Brothers Bagels. The bagel joint will be replacing the Seminar II (Sem II) Café plans to be open on September 30. “The perpetual problem with the Seminar II Café is that […]
Album Review: LAKE – Circular Doorway
The first of two new LP’s from K Records staple LAKE displays the band at their most laid-back and groovy. Circular Doorway continues the band’s nearly decade-long journey into the land of ‘what if Fleetwood Mac were hip locals living on Olympia’s west side?’ Funky keyboards and percussion drift through […]
Album Review: Sawtooth – Sawtooth II
The duo of Steven Smith and River Nason honed their array of talents in numerous musical projects around Olympia. When they’re not jamming in bands like Camp Wisdom, Land Mammals and Generifus, or organizing shows at The Guest House, they’re crafting the immediately likeable folk pop tunes displayed on Sawtooth […]
Education First
American Nightmare “I saw a sign in the street for EF (Education First). So I parked my car and went to the office,” Ahmed Masih explained about his first steps to changing his future. Working as an attorney in his home country of Egypt, he finally decided he needed to […]
Improlympia: Burger Poetry and Dick Jokes?
Comedy is naturally subjective, so no two people are going to find the same things funny. That said, I didn’t feel like Saturday’s lineup for the Improlympia comedy festival held up to my expectations for a comedy night, even by small-town standards. Opener Barbara Holm, named one of […]
Slamspeare, Not as Corny as It Sounds
It’s surprisingly easy for Shakespeare to fall flat; everyone has their own ideas on how certain characters should be played, how specific monologues should be delivered. Toe the line and actors risk fading into dusty caricatures of roles hardly worth recollecting. Stray too far from the source material, and […]
The Mediocre “Gatsby”
As required reading for most high schoolers, The Great Gatsby is a story many people know or have at least heard of. My initial reaction at the great American novel getting the silver screen treatment was skeptical and remains that way after shelling out $9 to watch it in theaters. […]