All posts in: Ground Zero Teen Center

20 Jun 2010

All-Ages Movement Project

The All-Ages Movement Project won the $50,000 prize in the Pepsi Refresh Everything campaign earlier this year. As a result, The Vera Project in Seattle hosted a show today from 1-3:30 PM featuring Zephyrs, Naomi Punk, and one of my favorite Seattle bands of all time Minus the Bear. MTV productions were also be present along with Suchin Pak to record footage for a special MTV presentation that will air at a later date.

The All-Ages Movement Project exists in local venues that showcase hip-hop, indie, and punk music. These venues are open to all young individuals of all ages who enjoy seeing live music and performing music. They offer opportunities to learn new skills through internships with the venues, showcasing their art in shows, and recording music through their own recording studio. I have been involved with the all-ages movement since I was 15 years and old and I cannot even begin to express how much it has done for me and the impact that these venues have had on the local Seattle music scene. These venues include the Kirkland Teen Center, The Old Redmond Firehouse, Ground Zero Teen Center in Bellevue, and The Vera Project.

What Seattle bands have had their start through all-ages teen centers?

  • Death Cab for Cutie
  • Common Market
  • Brite Futures (formerly known as Natalie Portman’s Shaved Head)
  • Danger Radio
  • The Scene Aesthetic
  • Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground
  • Minus the Bear

At the end of the show, I had a few minutes to catch up w/ MTV correspondent Suchin Pak who filled me in on the Pepsi Refresh Project.

Basically the project has $1,300,000 that they give away to people with great ideas and the All-Ages Movement Project won their $50,000  grant back in February so they’ve been traveling for three weeks visiting their recipients and documenting footage to be shown on channels like MTV, VH1, Comedy Central etc. Seattle was their last stop!

To learn more about the project click here

To learn more about the all-ages movement click here

14 Jun 2010

Seattle Music Commission

Today, Mayor Mike McGinn has announced the 21 members of the music commission that will lead the Seattle music scene in the right direction. The goals and decisions made by this commission will hopefully guide the Seattle music scene to a stronger and more prominent future.

Those appointees are:

Mayoral Appointments
– Jason Finn – Musician, Presidents of The United States of America
– K. Wyking Garrett – Director, Seattle Hip-Hop Summit Youth Council/UmojaFest P.E.A.C.E. Center
– Kyle Hopkins – Head of Music Acquisitions, Microsoft X-Box/ On-Air DJ, KEXP.org
– Megan Jasper – Executive Vice President, Sub Pop Records
– Alex Kochan – Vice President, AEG Live (Showbox Venues)
– Marcus Lalario – Entrepreneur / Nightclub Owner
– Tom Mara – Executive Director, KEXP 90.3 FM/KEXP.org
– David Meinert – Owner, Fuzed Inc./National Trustee: The Recording Academy (Grammys)
– Larry Mizell, Jr. – Writer, Musician, On-Air DJ at KEXP.org
– Griff Morris – Principal, Content Licensing and Vendor Management, Amazon MP3
– Marcus Womack – Product Management, iLike Inc./iLike.com

Council Appointments
– Kate Becker – Co-Founder, Vera Project/Director of Development, Seattle Theatre Group
– Elena Dubinets – Vice President of Artistic Planning, Seattle Symphony
– Holly Hinton – Content & Online Product Manager, Starbucks Entertainment
– Jason Hughes – Co-owner, Sonic Boom Records/Owner, Sonic Boom Recordings
– Ben London – Executive Director, The Recording Academy Pacific Northwest Chapter
– DeVon Manier – CEO, Sportn’ Life Records
– Mike Meckling – President, SNMA/Co-Owner, Neumo’s and Moe Bar
– Jon Stone – Executive Director of Festivals, One Reel
– Annette Taborn – Executive Director, Pacific NW Blues in Schools
– Vacant

Commissioners will meet at least nine times per year and serve terms for three years.

To read more information on the Stranger click here

The goals stated seem a little bit vague, but I’m excited that their is a council now to handle these issues. To me, and not just because I grew up here, I have always believed that Seattle was the city of music. We created a whole entire movement [grunge period] based on the music of that time. In regards to keeping it alive, and working with business leaders, educators, and politicians that’s just great. It’s nice to work with others and gauge different perspectives, but what about the youth? Seattle music spans throughout the Eastside at teen centers too: The Old Redmond Firehouse, The Kirkland Teen Union Building, Ground Zero. It’s important that we make sure these centers have funding. I also don’t understand why shows have to be restricted to 21+. Music is enjoyed by anyone and everyone and there doesn’t need to be an age limit on it. To put it simply, there just needs to be more all-age venues then and better opportunities for musicians to reach out to their young fans and support for young musicians trying to get started in this industry. If Seattle is going to be the city of music then you better have your resources. Not only do you have to make Seattle music consistent and cohesive with what is going on now, you have to be ready to make room for newcomers.

10 Oct 2009

Out on the Town: 10/10

My dear friend Lizzie Huffman, Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground and the Keaton Collective will be performing tonight at the Ground Zero Teen Center in Bellevue.

Tickets can be purchased at the door for $7

Lizzie and Kay Kay are some of my Seattle favorites

Check them out 🙂

31 Jul 2009

Seattle Music Update

Seeing Lizzie perform last night was amazing. She has such an incredible voice, it’s just always nice to hear and see her as well! It had been what feels like almost a year since I last saw her. We actually left the venue and took the show outside to the park for a more intimately summer setting.

Her show was at the Ground Zero Teen Center, the same place I attended my very first show when I was fifteen. The place has changed SO much. It just looked like a great place with all the young teenagers running around there. It brought back some great memories especially seeing the framed pictures on the wall of  fliers of sold out shows back in the day.

For some reason, being at a show, seeing old friends… it always feels the most comfortable, like my home away from home.

So! I’m going to get to news.

Lizzie will be releasing her album soon. More details will be released later on when I find out.

Tom Pfaeffle’s memorial concert will be on August 13th at the Moore Theater. The time and performances have not been released, but I do know that Kay Kay and His Weathered Underground will be performing I believe.

– My dear friend Matt Bekker will be performing tomorrow at the Edgewater Hotel. I went to see him last week and posted, so if you are interested in what you have seen go check him out.

Check out the event here

Andrew and Eric from the band The Scene Aesthetic are recording in California right now and every so often they will have uStream shows, in which they answer questions from fans or give you a glimpse of their recording sessions. You can find more information about those from their Twitter so become a follower!

The Scene Aesthetic Twitter

28 Jul 2009

Lizzie Huffman

This Thursday, the most lovely person on the entire west coast, Lizzie Huffman will be performing a FREE show at the Ground Zero Teen Center in Bellevue.

Lizzie is an incredibly talented artist who I have admired since I first saw her performing at this same venue four years ago. Since then, I have seen her play countless shows and grow musically. She even performed at the very first concert I put on and it was a pleasure working with her and her other band Man in the Blue Van.

The concert is starting at 6:00 PM or 7, I’m assuming 6 because shows start earlier in the summer. Other performances that night will include Chad Bucklew and Call Om Ie (Kyle Craig.)

To listen to her songs, visit her Myspace