New(d) Pics

Finally got the digital cameras rolling again!!!

Rockstar Orphans one with Fishlure, Licky & Duff.
Rockstar Orphans two with Fishlure, Woolfie & da Man.
Pink and Sapphire chillin'.
Pink and Sapphre in on the Leschi nude beach.
Sunrise in Leschi.
At the Bay in SF.
Building one in SF.
Building two in SF.
And an SF addition to the Jen Woolfe self portrait series.

If I were you....

(THURS APR 28 )
@ Marcus' Martini Heaven -
Ramiro spins an early downtempo set from 9-11pm, drop by & say hello!
Free (no cover).
dj Dakka (aka John Matthews) closes out the night.
Location: 88 Yesler Way (1st & Yesler)
http://www.marcusmartiniheaven.com

(FRI APR 29)
@ War Room
Ravergirl’s softball team fundraiser
Foxc Productions presents Swank - A woman's event with DJ Miss A.

@ See-Sound Lounge -
Jon Lemmon spins a 5-hr set!
Location: 115 Blanchard (bet. 1st & 2nd).
http://www.seesoundlounge.com


(SAT APR 30)
@ The Baltic Room
Halo (H-Foundation/Siesta/BlueM/Large - San Diego)
with local support from
Jon Lee (Tilted/Downlow Music)
and dj Venus
Location: 1207 Pine St (at Melrose)
http://www.thebalticroom.com

@ See Sound Lounge
1 year anniversary party
CARLOS DA SILVA
SIMON HOUSER
WENDALL
RECESS
DJ MB
BRYCE
http://www.seesoundlounge.com

Travelling 101

Travelling is like relieving yourself of a good poo. It’s easy if you go with the flow. If you try to plan where/when/how/who, you’re often left disappointed when you find bathroom. I haven’t traveled, I mean really traveled, in 10 years, when I was in Europe, and I’ve forgotten many things about it. Reading maps, mostly. I stared at one for 8 minutes before I realized the picture was pointed the opposite way. You forget things that you take for granted. Like you need money to get a train ticket going there and back. And that hotel rooms will put a hold on your credit card. And that deposits made on Saturday don’t go through until Monday night. I don’t have a credit card. I have a credit card bill. So when I was signed up for a last-minute training class in SF Friday (plane leaves early Sunday morning!) I applied for an Alaskan card on-line. Of course that doesn’t help me this weekend. A $150 dollar hold on my debit card doesn’t help me, either. I’ve had just enough money to get to where I need to go and even eat. But traveling is like that, really. If you go with the flow. If you smile at people and talk to them. If you ask questions without looking like a tourist. I feel like I’m putting on an old sweater that is slightly small and needs to be stretched out. Damm, my boobs look good.

I was on the Caltrain yesterday headed back to the city. My class is 45 minutes away on the train. A couple headed to the Giants game asked to sit in the seats facing me. I said cheerily, please do. They were talking baseball and a guy sitting across from us chipped in. They went on forever about players and stats and what team they came from, where they should go, why they were picked to play a position instead of another guy, and remember when the other guy was on the DL for tooth pain, and I can’t believe he hit that double to win the 15^th game of the 2^nd playoff for the little league world series when his cousin was traded for a green card, I mean, sheeze! I said my usual – ‘I stopped watching when the Mariners traded Omar Visquel to Cleveland’. That usually relieves me of having knowledge of anything recent but shows that I may have known a thing or two about some good players in my time. ‘Wanna beer?’ They asked. ‘Sure!’ I love traveling.

Things to remember when Travelling

- Don't bring a hair dryer
- Ask what the view from the room is.
- Bring cash for tips.
- Bring good quality speakers for your laptop.
- Send Pink a postcard the first day.
- Bring a backpack. Bags get heavy when carried up hills.
- Keep all your reciepts (mostly for business travel).
- Find an organic food store.
- The hotel will put a hold on your credit card.
- Bring a swim suit for the hot tub, workout clothes for the gym. And shoes.
- If you use public transportation, make sure you have enough cash to get back.
- Give a homeless person some food or a soy drink. That kinda shit always comes back.
- Smile at people and be friendly. You never know who might offer you a beer.

A Rockstar is Born

Who knew my Rockstar weekend would land me in San Francisco – to rest? It was almost the perfect weekend in terms of music, really. A mellow launch on Thursday at the Showbox with Sound Tribe Sector 9, culminated to climax with Sasha at the Element on Friday, and a gracious descent with Brandi Carlile at Neumos on Saturday. The three best music venues in Seattle, all in one weekend. A last-minute training session for work (yes, I have a day job) put me on a plane to SF at 9am Sunday morning. Exactly on time. You see, San Francisco is where Jen Woolfe was born. The first Rockstar weekend began at the bay, when the crew came down to SF to celebrate Roseann’s 25^th birthday on March 31, 5 years ago.

We hit all the biggies that weekend – Ruby Skye, 1015 Folsom. We drove by the End Up and, upon seeing the huge line, decided to ride the morning out at the Pier instead, gazing at the bridge and smiling at the early morning fisherman in our club clothes and crazy hair. It wasn’t long after experiencing the vibe a crowd of hundreds brings with their hands up in the air piously towards Mark Farina, Chicago House legend and SF transplant, that I began to DJ. That weekend I found my gospel in haunting basslines, playful synths and rhythmic beats. Once I found my cadence, I found my moniker.

Jen Woolfe is not the name on my birth certificate. I’ve always hated the surname unto which I was born. Too structured. Too uptight. And unlike me, far too popular. I would receive random checks in the mail in college made out to me from people I didn’t know. Once my dentist pulled the wrong file and asked me how my jaw was doing. I was looking forward to a new last name when I got married, until I realized I was gay. I’d never felt close to my dad’s father’s name. Disappointed, I thought I was stuck with it forever.

Woolfe is my dad’s mother’s name. Lillian ‘Betty’ Woolfe. When my grandmother was 20, her uncle told her that America was for young people. She worked two jobs for two years and saved up enough money to catch a boat to the states. I’m very close to my grandmother in many ways, and far away from her in many others. She’s an old-school, conservative British-American woman who still asks me if I’ve found a nice boy.

Almost 10 years ago, I visited the birthplace of Lillian ‘Betty’ Woolfe. Manchester, England. Something else was born there, too. The foundation of Rave culture, Punk, a movement that would changed music forever.

I was 20 when I arrived in Manchester, my hair freshly cut to my shoulders and bags popping out at the sides. My dad’s cousin Patsy picked me up and showed me the scrawny town. I’d never been out of America. I’d never been off the West Coast. I grew up a lot in my 6 months in the U.K. But not nearly as much as I’ve grown since that weekend, 5 years ago, in San Francisco.

Roseann has always been the one friend that got me into the most trouble. I went to my first party ever with her the first week of college, and we’ve been amazing friends ever since. I never went to any parties in High School. Never drank. Never smoked. Not that I didn’t want to. I was just never asked. I was liked well enough, but was by no means popular. I was a band geek. Shy. I sat hiding in the corner wearing tennis shoes and baggy t-shirts, unnoticed. I liked it that way.

I’ve often said that I live a double life. Geek by day and DJ by night. But my worlds are colliding. The old party-girl has arrived at her birthplace, laptop bag slung over her shoulder instead of her vinyl case. And on Friday night at club Element, an old friend stopped by to entice another collision. ‘Hey’, he said. ‘Aren’t you Jenny Hamilton?’. I almost shit myself.

I never thought anyone from High School would recognize me. My hair is bleach blonde instead of brown. I was wearing thick black-rimmed glasses. And hey, now I have style. Despite my disguise, Sam Franks and all 3 of his brothers were standing between me and Sasha, smiling. ‘Wow’, he said, ‘I haven’t seen you in 10 years!’

We all used to play at the elementary school when I was ten. I had a huge crush on Sam for a while, until I secretly fell in love with a skater boy named Chase. ‘How come I never saw you at any parties in High School?’ he said. ‘I was never asked.’ ‘Really?’ he said. ‘I invited everybody’.

Maybe I forgot to check my everybody@shs.com email. But more likely, I just wasn’t ready. I was pretty bored in High School. I lost myself in books about other people’s lives. After high school, I decided to live a life worth reading about.

I’ve changed a lot in 10 years. Grown in ways I’d never thought to believe possible. I’ve seen outside this universe and inside myself. I’m not the shy girl anymore, hiding in the corner. But I haven’t lost her traits: her mind and her heart, her dirty sense of humor or her insecurities.

When I turn 30 in June, I’m legally changing my name to Jen Woolfe. I pass the explanation off as a Feminist thing, taking on my maternal instead of my paternal line. But I’m not really a feminist. It’s more about me and the person I’ve built out of my own imagination, through the process of aspiring to my own dreams. There’s the me that I was given and the me that I’ve created. I love both of them.

Some of my friends don’t like Jen Woolfe. They call her my sidekick and tell me to grow up. They are sad that I’ve lost the ‘old Jen’. But what they don’t understand is that I haven’t lost anything that wasn’t real. I’ve simply dropped the traits I didn’t like and merged the two together. The old Jen started writing many stories, but never finished the first chapter. With her sidekick, she’s created a persona in order to express herself. And why sit shyly in the corner when the main character is having so much fun?

Rockstar Tough!

(Fri Apr 22)
Sasha @ Element!


(Sat APR 23)
Elletee parties with VAIN @ Mirabeau Room -
http://www.themirabeauroom.com

Uniting Souls @ Trinity Nightclub
MARQUES WYATT - Deep / Om - L.A.
with JEROMY NAIL (Uniting Souls, Sea)&
guest AJDA (Uniting Souls, NYC)

In the Formosa Card Room...
MISS KICK http://www.Aural-Fixations.com (Barcelona, Spain)
and QUAZAR (Uniting Souls, Santa Cruz)
21+9pm-5am, free before 10pm $15 after
http://www.trinitynightclub.com


Brandi Carlilie @ Neumos

(Sun Apr 24)
Tegan & Sarah @ Neumos

Check out Sound Tribe Sector 9. Saw them last night at Showbox. Brilliant!

I know it for a good cause....

I say 'dammit all' to the incarnate anguish that is our monthly burden. How difficult it is to cry for equality when I am doubled over my desk in pain.

Who's in for a Threesome?

Three BIG girl nights to fill your every fantasy (except sleep)!

(Thur Apr 14) LICK @ Chop Suey
w/special guest dj MICHIKO from IQU and DJ’s ANNA OXYGEN Master StanFagolisSappho

(FRI Apr 15) CHERRY @ War Room
DJs Amateur Youth, Colby B, and the lovely Julia.

(SAT Apr 16) G4G @ Premier
Hitgirl’s Miss Funk and Julie Herrera

Anyone looking to get Beatz?

(Fri Apr 15) Decibel Festival & Neumo's proudly present
ALBUM LEAF (Sub Pop)
ASPECTS OF PHYSICS (Imputor?)
PLASTIQ PHANTOM (Imputor?)
MANUOK (Album Leaf, Loud and Clear)

DJ Icon & Naha @ - Trinity Nightclub

(SAT APR 16) - Doubledown Recordings Tour @ The Baltic Room
DIZZY (San Diego) & PETER CHRISTIANSON (LawnChair Generals)
with guest JOSH CLEMENTS (Swaylo)

Nigel Richards [Philadelphia] @ Trinity Nightclub

Anyone up for a good Folk?

(Tue Apr 19) Meagin Donnovan @ Conner Byrne Pub
Just Plain Folks Spring Showcase

http://www.barbarabuckland.com/events.html

Have fun kidz!

Double Duty

I always wondered how DJ's could pull off two gigs in one night. I've had to do it a couple of times, and last Saturday was a good example. Last Supper Club was looking for an opener at the last minute. I was already DJ'ing Monaco's bday party a block up at the Double Header, so with Shieny all decked-out with his Final Scratch and Liz to keep his drink on, I headed down to LSC to open for DJ Jordan. Last Supper is a pretty good place to DJ once the crowd is moving, but, man, it's hard to get those kids to get comfortable enough to shake it! I played from 10 to 11 without ONE person dancing. I text'd Pink at the Double Header in a panic 'Nobody is Dancing!'. (I also always wondered how DJ's could do text messaging while they were playing, too). About 5 minutes after I did that, Sokolicky waltzed through the door, ready to show those LSC party people how it's done. She took off her coat, stocked up on a few drink tickets and pulled some of the more self-conscious types onto the floor with her masquerade magnetism. Pink & crew showed up not 10 minutes after my text and wondered what all the panic was about. They joined Sokolicky on the floor, shaking their heads and asses. With such amazing friends as those, I suppose I had nothing to worry about. :)

Tonight's a big night for House Producers

(Fri Apr 8)
Felix da Housecat @ Element
House DJ/Producer legend.
http://nwtekno.org/vb/showthread.php?threadid=85606&eventid=19889

Kenny Hawkes at SeeSound Lounge
House DJ and producer from Groovetech London and Music For Freaks
http://nwtekno.org/vb/showthread.php?threadid=86280&eventid=20119


(Sat Apr 9)
MEAGIN DONOVAN 9pm at the Trabant Chai Lounge (1309 NE 45th ST). Folk singer Kim Ruehl will be starting off the night at 8pm. NO cover

SHAMELESS An elektro, techno, disco, punk extravaganzaWith Residents...Recess DJ Scorpio Live Visuals and MCing...FOC:EYEAnton Bomb (Club YES!)
http://nwtekno.org/vb/showthread.php?threadid=85985&eventid=20017

Sheiny, Fishlure and Jen Woolfe @ DOUBLE HEADER for Monaco's bday! 7pm No Cover!

Grand Opening of Trinity Nightclub!!
David Morales (LA), DJ Sol (SEA), Jacob London (SEA), Mr. Supreme (NYC), Citizen Kane (NYC), Cosmo Baker (NYC), Ms E (LA), DJ Inanna (LA), Tamara (SEA), Eva (SEA), BPM (SEA), The Saint (NYC)

Alternative Energy Sources

Despite the general accessiblity of comfort and health, I think the United States is the leading producer of negative energy. So much, in fact, that I'm surprised we don't find a way to fuel vehicles with it.

Some Fuel for Midweek

Any Seattle-lite that has ever visited the midwest made a bee-line to Milwaukee's infamous Fuel Cafe! Now we have our very own that opened March 31st!

www.feulcoffeeseattle.com

Dani Cone, favorite barista of Cafe Vitta, opened Fuel Coffee today on Seattle's Capitol Hill. Located at 610 19th Avenue East, just two doors down from the renowned Kingfish Cafe, Fuel Coffee is the newest fabulous cafe to start your day, work your wireless, or meet for pastries and coffee.

(Wed Apr 6)

Midweek Beats @ Element
Warm-up Session from 7-9pm
DJ Chronus (from 9-11) Playing progressive, tribal and breaks.
Reggie Watts and Brandy Westmore (11 and up)
Brandy Westmore playing deep and soulfull house, along with Reggie Watts on vocals. Most of you know Reggie as a solo artist and the front man for Maktub, a sweet sweet local band.
Eduardo MendozaAt last but not least... Eduardo, playing Brazilian percussion during Chronus' and Brandy's sets

Drink Specials: $1 Domestic Drafts, $5 Stoli Double
@ Element, located on 332 5th Ave North

JEROMY NAIL @ the Chapel Bar
Sexy, loungey beats courtesy of Mr. Nail at Capitol Hill's newest hang out.
Free (no cover), 9pm-1am, 1600 Melrose Ave (at Pine), Seattle.

(Fri Apr 8)

APRIL 8 Kenny Hawkes Music for Freaks, UK (SeeSound)
Kenny used to play one of my fav weekly shows on Groovetech London!

Reggie Watts again with Maktub @ Neumos
Smoosh
Slender Means
an All-ages show for those with the dough....

NEXT GIG: Monaco's Bday Bash @ Double Header!

Double Header
407 2nd Ave South,
Seattle,WA View Map
When: Saturday, April 9, 7:00pm

DJ's Shieny, Fishlure, & Jen Woolfe!

Monaco doesn't remember her last birthday so let's try again. Come dance, drink and spoil the birthday girl. DJ's Jen Woolfe and Sheiny will be spinning hot tracks until they kick us out or until Monica passes out!!!!!!!!

Celebration of Damp

One more thing to do this weekend. Thanks to ZachP for the info!

March 30 - April 10

The 2nd annual Moisture Festival returns with a Comedy/Varietè showcase of local, national and international artists. Acrobats, dancers, musicians, clowns, aerialists, comedians, magicians, jugglers and more will inaugurate the new performance venue - Hale's Palladium at Hale's Brewery. Built among the kegs, the Palladium is a wonderfully relaxed theater space where you can have a drink, eat well and enjoy act after act of the world's finest Comedy/Varietè performances.

Also a giveaway of 2 Burning Man tickets and a Utilikilt!

Low on money? Tuesday night April 5 is pay what you can!You can receive a 20% discount on tickets for the festival! When you attend one show at full ticket price you can buy tickets for other shows at 20% off. These discount tickets can only be purchased at the door at Hales Palladium before or after the shows.

http://www.moisturefestival.com/