Annie Bartholomew, KTOO

Admit it – you’ve secretly fantasized about being a rollergirl, or possibly just dating one. The skates, the glitter, the fishnets… what more could you want? Maybe watching your friends and neighbors hip check each other at Centennial Hall on a Saturday night. That’s what I did at Skate to the Heart: League Mashup, the Juneau Rollergirls first bout of the year. The teams, Brute Roses and Cupid’s Crushers, entered the  arena ready to win. These ladies know how to rock and they’re looking for new recruits. Roller derby is much more than women skating around in hot pants, they donate five percent of the ticket sales to community non-profits like SAIL. So stop hatin and start skatin!

Before the match 360North commentator (and Excellent Radio superstar) Andy Kline developed a bad case of the Bob Costas pink eye. Don’t get too close people.

Nothing says “don’t mess with the U.S.” like a man on roller skates circling to the National Anthem. The Juneau Rollergirls dare to be that patriotic.

For these roller chicks, it’s all about getting low and backing it up.

Here’s Andy with co-host Patti Kalbrenner demonstrating the way to move your opponent. Use your butt to lean in and knock them off balance.

The truth is, roller derby is kinda complicated. There are lots of rules, and even with detailed descriptions provided in the program, most of us were still scratching our heads. The best way to describe the game is similar to football. There are blockers who devise plays to make room for their scoring player to pass through, while simultaneously trying to block out their opposing team’s scoring player, the jammer. What’s a jammer? It’s the player whose job is to lap the opposing team’s players, who hang out in a big ten foot clump, to score points. You can recognize her by the fabric “helmet panty” with a star on it. As jammer you take a lot of abuse and get tired real fast. Every two minutes or so, they’re exchanged for new jammer.

Here’s MVP jammer April Mayhem whizzing by in her pink sparkly shorts. She so fast it’s a blur.

If you’re not interested in the bumps or bruises there’s still other cool ways you can participate – like these referees Miso Nasty, Rackula, and Sol Grrr. These ladies keep the game rolling.

Ben Lyman and DJ Manu keeping it classy on the microphone. DJ Manu played dub step Bob Marley remixes, while Ben wore Manu’s jacket.

At half time I checked in with teams. Back in the locker room, Brute Roses talk strategy.

Cupid’s Crusher’s have their own pep talk.

Bitter Glitter smiles with her mouth guard in. Gotta protect those pearly whites.

Skara U Knightly showed me her crazy bruise. It looks way gross in real life.

It takes a village to have a great derby bout – and they want you.  Email recruiter@rollergirls.com to learn how to get involved.

The next bout is on March 22 against the Fairbanks Rollergirl All Stars, derby with a “heart of cold.” See you there, Juneau.

What do ya know, we went to another Open Mic. Thursday was a particularly huge night for the 40+ crowd. Just because you have kids doesn’t mean you can’t have a second music career once your kids graduate. Open Mic is calling.

Tonight we made the rookie mistake of showing up at 9:00. The trick is, if you really wanna have a good time – don’t show too early. Just don’t do it. The hour between nine and ten is limbo at the Alaskan. You could just as easily walk out as you could order a beer. It’s a fine line between what am I doing with my life back at the Alaskan, on Thursday, again, and I’ve had a rough week. Thursday’s the new Friday. I really wanna wear this new tunic top. I deserve this. 

But you’re not gonna walk because this is Open Mic, and you’re about to have a really, really great time (after two beers.)

Chad helped sweeten the pot with a round of free beers for the ladies.

Brian kicked off Open Mic for the night beginning his set with the Dr. Hook song Sylvia’s Mother. Without fail this guys opens every Open Mic at the Alaskan with the same songs. Sometimes electric, sometimes acoustic, and sometimes with his parrot named Winter (this guy actually has a parrot.)  Before ending his set he claimed, “I know more cover songs than the Grateful Dead!” We believe him. That beard has stories…

You won’t catch these cool cats having a bad time. Giono, Kaley and Travis keeping it real in the back section.

They call him the general manager,  but we all know he’s king of Open Mic. C. Scott Fry is one bad mother on the guitar. If you like what you hear, there’s always more country blues songs on his radio show, Fry’s the Limit, from 3-5 on Saturday. What else would you listen to when you drop off your recycling? Duh.

And lucky us! A harmonica player hopped onstage. This guy gave Scott a run for his money.

The James Radio Hour was having a good time too. Remember when the Flaming Lips played the Gorge in ’93?  We don’t, but James does better than anyone. He has every one of their live albums, making his show the perfect pre-game to Open Mic Thursdays from 7 to 9. Don’t miss it.

Open Mic may have been a man’s world last Thursday, but when Teri Tibbett got onstage she was the queen. This lady is Open Mic Royalty, and we suspect she’s been playing the Alaskan since the late ’80s. Teri’s a pro. Also fun fact: She has Ferrets. Which made us think of this story.

Maybe you’ve heard these guys on the radio? Here’s DJ Taco Todd and Kit, KTOO superstars. Todd is one-half of Alaskan Scorcher who will be taking over the Alaskan this weekend for a ska, rocksteady and soul music party on Valentine’s Day reminding you that love is all about the fire.

We can’t wait to get older because we know we will soon be able to afford sweet instruments like this guy’s guitar which sounded really expensive. We watched him tune it for a half hour. Did we mention his deep voice? Like a fine wine, it was aged to perfection.

And then there’s Joe Emerson. He’s quiet and understated, but easily the best guitarist in the bar.

And.. then there’s the bar close, single guy round-up. They’ll be back tonight ladies, will you?

Find Jessie on Instagram @messyjessiehh and Annie at @annibalaska

Wearable Art is the biggest, most over-the-top arts and culture event happening in Juneau. The annual fundraiser and fashion show is the Juneau Arts and Humanities Council’s best attended event with more than 1,600 guests at the Saturday and Sunday shows. In its fourteenth year, Juneau pulled out all the stops, possibly making the 2014 event the greatest Wearable Art Extravaganza ever. So naturally, we were delighted to put on our best heels and swing backstage to meet the artists and models bringing it to life.

 

By 6:30 Kathy Karshner was adorning her models April Mayheim and Amber Leach with zip ties for Tie Me Up. The performance felt very Black Swan onstage. Kathy’s outfits would have definitely made Natalie Portman proud.

Here’s Laraulye Miko getting her model Amy George ready to win Saturday night’s #2 People’s Choice award for Tech-eggcolor Par-eggdise. Amy’s looking pretty Fierce .

Model Nicole Skeek gets ready to pop it like it’s hot – (just kidding), but her outfit is titled Poptabulous by Jessica Hood and Amy Romne. The dress, and an additional one worn by Jordon Cottingham, was made from over 20,000 aluminum can tabs. We’re guesstimating they didn’t really drink that many, but we’re having fun imagining all the parties and canned beverages.

Mackenzie Merrill and Kat Palmer were Chromatic Schematic! Though they didn’t make the top 3, they were still our favorites.

Backstage Director Carl Brodersen was looking super official with his headset and clipboard. We’d definitely be ok with letting him order us around.

Here’s artist Kathryn Grant Griffin making a statement with her felted wool eyeball dress. It made the audience feel like somebody was watching…

We found this lady hanging out in the loading dock. To our surprise her name was actually James, and James Hoagland was AH-MAZ-ING. Bonus points for his song reference to Willy Wonka. Pure Imagination finished #2 on Sunday night.

This chick looks like she wants to rock. Erin Lawrence wearing Airless Translucency with help from Julie Moe.

We could have made a lot of green eye mask jokes here (Green Lantern, Green Goblin, Robin, Poison Ivy…) but humor aside Public Health Message made a very serious fashion statement promoting safe sex through their outfits made from condoms, syringes, and other medical supplies.

Here’s artist Beth Geiger after performing what we like to call a “tango explosion.” The detail on her dress was just as impressive as her dance moves. We then asked her about her yoga regimen.

And check out these hotpants! Here’s Wearable Art Set Design & Creative Director Jason Clifton. We’d be rocking those pants too if we’d just won 3 national interior design awards in addition to transforming Centennial Hall into the Technicolor dream it was. Jason and Jeremy Bauer of Bauer Clifton Interiors did a great job setting the scene.

Dana Hernandez looking fabulous. She helped hosts Andy Kline and Shona Strauser look great by custom tailoring their outfits. Here she’s helping them transition into their second outfits of the evening.

Here’s DJ Manu pumping up the jamz. His musical landscapes really made us feel like we were sitting next to uber famous celebrities at New York fashion week. “What’s that Kanye, you don’t like the neckline of that dress?”

Amy Dresel looking superfly with her 35mm film afro. Stay groovy Amy!

Until next year – thanks Juneau.

 

Find Jessie on Instagram @messyjessiehh and Annie at @annibalaska

 

Juneau musician Dan Kirkwood stopped by KTOO on Friday for Juneau Afternoon and a quick chat with Annie-On-the-Spot. His debut album Kill Olympia is out now and available for download.

He will be performing tonight at the Rookery at 7:00.

 

 

 

Spot Check is Public Radio’s web review series capturing the colorful perspectives of Juneau’s art and culture scene as experienced by the station DJs.  

 

Words and photos by Jessie Herman-Haywood and Annie Bartholomew

 

The Rundown: Thursday, January 30th

We’ve all heard about it: Open Mic at the Alaskan. Juneau’s best and worst music scene. It’s free, everyone can go, and anything can happen. This makes for Juneau’s most amazing live performances like Liz Snyder unexpectedly serenading the crowd with some new tunes she’s been cooking up in her genie lamp. It also gives that random guy the courage after five PBRs to sing another live version of Wagon Wheel. You’ve been there.

By 10:00 we knew how the night was gonna go. The bar was medium full, with a handful of people filtering down from Sarah Conarro’s show at Rookery, “A Nice Looking Time.”  The rest were there just like us, hoping that tonight would be the party of their lives.

 

There’s Scott Fry, the Master of Ceremonies. This guy can make or break your singer-songwriter set. Just make sure you buy him a drink first and he’ll plug in your guitar.

Look at these beautiful hippie chicks – the night is young and Ryan’s just getting started.

Gene might surprise you looking like a misplaced dad, but trust us, you seriously don’t want to miss his Pixies covers. His set list is right on, full of classics and the occasional nod to current music. We’re glad he tucked his kids in early to play for us.

The electronic rock duo Tiger Pilot made an appearance midway through the night. Everyone put down their drinks to dance when Morgan and Nick took the stage. The boys delivered a fun, punk-influenced indie rock set. The kind of music that will make you wanna quit your job, get a tattoo and grommet all your denim — and then quickly remember about that 5 a.m. wake up call (which they actually do, six days a week.)

As you can tell, Bryce really enjoyed the music. Along with the company.

Ryan Cortes onstage in true form. His friends were nervous for him, but Ryan wasn’t. He played the only Johnny Cash number of the night. Like most things he does in life, it was surprisingly awesome.

And then this guy got onstage. One part of Juneau’s own Flight of the Conchords duo. They are die-hards, never missing an opportunity to rock Juneau with their matching shirts, mostly adult contemporary tunes and some of Roger Miller’s Oo De Lally slipped in there.

 

Find Jessie on Instagram @messyjessiehh and Annie at @annibalaska

 

 

It seems like no matter where you go these days, you can’t escape it: people plugged into their devices. At the gym, at the store, white cords dangling from their earlobes. Even at the community ski area, folks can’t resist having their own experience set to their own personal soundtrack. So I went to Eaglecrest to find out what exactly they’re listening to.

Snowboarder Sunny Pittman was just coming off the mountain.What’s playing in his earbuds while he rides?

Tin Man, Future Islands. It just sounds really good when I’m snowboarding. – Sonny Pittman, Snowbaorder

I walk past parents enrolling in mid-day ski lessons, and people buying afternoon passes and stop at the rental shop for a tune up.

Eaglecrest rental tech Edward Rivera waxes a snowboard.

 I don’t really listen to music as I’m skiing but I’ve got music playing in my mind. And it’s on one song. -Edward Rivera, Skier

That song is “Call Me”  by Nikka Costa, a Blondie cover song from the Zoolander soundtrack.

Up in the lodge, Dylan Stuart takes a break to a different vibe. What’s next on his ipod?

Looks like Toots, Bob Marley, Jimmi Hendrix, DJ Shadow more Bob Marley, there’s a lot of Bob Marley. I kinda just have a lot of music and I just put it on shuffle. -Dylan Stuart, Snowboarder

Back outside 15-year-old Nancy Barnes is getting ready to snowboard in her neon pink snowpants.

 I listen to Skrillex and dubstep.  I don’t know I just like it when they drop the bass . -Nancy Barnes, Snowboarder

I’ve never been a huge Skrillex fan – but I’m not much different from Nancy. I turn up the volume on my own iPod  and blast Seven Days of Funk.

To find out what else people are listening to at Eaglecrest, check out Excellent Radio’s newest weekly feature called Shred Tunes at kxll.org.