Past Heck Fests
2002
Inaugural Heck Fest!
Originally we were just going to sell some KNW-YR-OWN CD’s at the annual Shipwreck Day rummage sale because we thought our music would fit in good with with all the junk (ha ha). A few weeks and a couple of double Americanos later we were hosting a bonafide music festival! Featuring Lois, Mecca Normal, Dub Narcotic Sound System, Little Wings, the Pounding Serfs and the usual Anacortes characters. Super sweet and intimate in the Anacortes Croatian Club of America.
2003
2nd Heck Fest. This was the year The Stranger called us “The Greatest Music Festival of All Time, Forever”.
Highlights this year included like Bobby Birdman and Anna Oxygen’s rap battle, Ritchey from the Badger King screwing up her ankle while stage diving, [[[VVRSSNN]]] spontaneously scrapping the planned setlist in favor of a legendary 20 minute cover of “I Want To Take You Higher” that culminated in the entire audience inexplicably chanting: “PIZZA! PIZZA!”, an intimate duo version of All Girl Summer Fun Band at the dinner show, Broadcast Oblivion rocking the Watertown ridiculously hard. This was also the debut of the City Hall and the Department of Safety as heckfest venues.
2004
Third Heck Fest! Squid Vs Shark in The Business backyard! Epic dinner show with Jason Traeger, The Weeds, Karl Blau, Woelv and Calvin Johnson! Owl & The Pussycat postcard jam! Landing mellowing everyone out on Sunday afternoon. Inagural reading at Causland Park hosted by Clear-Cut Press!
2005
FOURTH ANNUAL HECK FEST!
Featuring Alex’s car getting towed by the APD because of “Classic Car Day.”
Also featuring Krist Novoselic reading from “Of Grunge and Government: Fix this Broken Democracy”. Tigersaw in the park. Everyone seeing Tender Forever for the first time and freaking out. Full-rock-band Woelv with Phil, Alex and Carsten. Was this the year with Spectratone International at the reading? That was amazing.
2006
FIFTH ONE:
Thursday 7/13
2pm : Friendship Trail begins at Causland Park
6pm : Dept. of Safety : Group Art Show Opening- Ciel Blau, Kyle Field, Ariana Jacob, Phillip Ashlock, P.W. Elverum, Films by A.H.S. students & Alyse Emdur
7pm : Dept. of Safety : Opening Show- Burl, Homestyle, Run Chico Run, Squid Vs. Shark, Tender Forever, Anna Oxygen
Midnight : Dept. of Safety- Powerpoints by Universe and Aaron Flint Jamison
Friday 7/14
1pm – 4pm : Croatian Club- Liarbird, D+, Johanna Kunin
5pm – 8pm : Croatian Club “Sushi Show”- Amigo, The Poison Dart, Laura Veirs
8:30pm – 1am : City Hall- The Gift Machine, The Spoiled, Lonely Forest, Mount Eerie, Jason Anderson
9pm : Adrift- Lake, The Solvents
9pm : Brown Lantern- Mouseheart Factor, Viking Moses
9pm : Watertown- Fanny Alger, Spider and the Webs
Saturday 7/15
12pm – 4pm : Causland Park- 1985, The Oregon Donor, Yukon/International Falls, Ruth Allison, Angelo Spencer, Faerie Talk, Goodtime John
5pm – 8pm : Dinner at the ACCA- Dennis Driscoll, Rose Melberg, Calvin Johnson
9pm – 1am : City Hall- Thanksgiving, Karl Blau, The Blow, YACHT
9pm : Adrift- Bryan Elliott Band, Hornet Leg, Summit Avenue
9pm : Brown Lantern- To Spite Mike, International Falls, Darrin Matthies
9pm : Watertown- Velella Velella, Super XX Man
Sunday, 7/16
11am : Lemon Danger Fire Vs. Pink Sparkle Heart Project: A Junior Symposium and Breakfast Cereal Banquet at D.o.S.
1pm : Causland Park : Songshare
3pm : Causland : 3pm CAUSLAND PARK- Writers reading writing- Readers included: Sam Lohmann, Bret Lunsford, Matt Briggs, Jay Chilcote, Emily White, Phil Elverum, Claire Evans, Matthew Stadler, Rich Jensen, and members of the public so moved.
7pm – 1am : Dept. of Safety- Al Larsen, Kimya Dawson, Woelv, The Robot Ate Me, Watery Graves, films by Vanessa Renwick and Alyse Emdur
2007
THURSDAY: July 19th, 2007
(*NOTE*: In the gallery at the Dept. of Safety for the entire festival: WHITE RAINBOW)
at the Department of Safety
7pm to 12am:- Bryan Elliott, Lonely Forest, YACHT, Adrian Orange, Kickball
midnight: PEACE, Juice Team DJs
FRIDAY: July 20th, 2007
at the Croatian Club:
11am to 4pm Graves, Marston, D+, the Poison Dart, Be Gulls, Bobby Birdman
at the Croatian Club (“Sushi Show”):
5pm to 8pm- Lloyd & Michael, Mecca Normal, Rich Jensen, Nate Ashley
at the City Hall basement:
8:30pm to 1am- Oregon Donor, Bob Arellano, Alyse Emdur, the Blow, Calvin Johnson, Little Wings
SATURDAY: July 21st, 2007
The Shipwreck Day swap meet held downtown will test the addiction to junk vs. the need to slumber. It starts early.
at the Dept. of Safety:
12pm to 4pm- Jason Anderson, Dupond et Dupont, LAKE, Dennis Driscoll, Tender Forever
at the Croatian Club (“Dinner Show”):
5pm to 8pm- Guy Blackman, Your Heart Breaks, Privacy, the Crabs
at the City Hall basement:
9pm to 1am- Mt. Eerie, Vanessa Renwick, Valet, Karl Blau, Lucky Dragons, Tom Blood
SUNDAY: July 22nd, 2007
Al Larsen & Clyde Peterson present a film-making workshop for school-age kids in the afternoon at the Dept. of Safety
at the Department of Safety:
7pm to 1am- Geneviève Castrée, Old Time Relijun, James Sumner, To Bad Catholics, Well Done Dragon, Laura Veirs and Saltbreakers, Watery Graves
2008
(Thursday July 17th at the Dept. of Safety, not technically part of What the Heck Fest:
Burl, Tender Forever, Oregon Donor, Trampoline Team, Cock & Swan, International Falls)
FRIDAY, JULY 18th
Croatian Club
5pm – 8pm- D+, Sandman, Katy Davidson
at City Hall
8pm – 1am- Karl Blau, Lucky Dragons, The Moore Brothers with Owl & the Pussycat, Mt. Eerie, Calvin Johnson & Ian Svenonius
at Watertown Pub: ...WORMS, Love Tan
at Brown Lantern: Bryan, Frank & Bob, the Moondoggies
SATURDAY, JULY 19th
Causland Park
noon – 7pm- Caulfield & His Magical Violin, Desolation Wilderness, Bryce Panic/Better Bizness Bureau, Gift Machine, Nate Ashley, Lonely Forest
at City Hall
7pm – 1am- Photosynthesis, Graves, Angelo Spencer, Ô Paon, Your Heart Breaks, Little Wings, Kimya Dawson
at Watertown Pub: ザ ジョージ マイケルス バンド, the Coconut Coolouts, Triumph of Lethargy Skinned Alive To Death
at Brown Lantern: Yes, Oh Yes, TacocaT, See Me River
SUNDAY, JULY 20th
11am “brunch show” at Anderson’s Store on Guemes Island:
Real Live Tigers, Dennis Driscoll, Solvents!
at Causland Park
noon – 2pm- “Game Day” curated by the Blow
City Hall
2pm – 5:30pm- Mirah & Spectratone International performing “Share This Place”, Alyse Emdur (films), Stella Marrs (films), Oliver Orion-Miles, Honcho #1 (short film)
at Department of Safety
6pm – 10pm- A Rich Jensen Intensive, Al Larsen, LAKE
(also: Jib Kidder Chalk Space – an all day superchalking and boomboxing at Causland Park)
2009
Fri. July 17th 2009
3pm- Causland Park- pass pickup begins
4:30pm to 6:30pm- Croatian Club (“FRIDAY DINNER SHOW”)
1. “In The Yard, Havin’ Fun”
2. Calvin Johnson
4pm to 6pm- Port Warehouse
“Narrow Waters” curated by Stella Marrs and Al Larsen
featuring event tents by Eric Fleming, Ariana Jacob, Clyde Peterson, Marc Moscato, Eric Fredericksen and more
7pm to 10pm or something- Anchor Art Space
1. A Space City Intensive (Rich Jensen)
7pm to 11:30pm- Port Warehouse
1. Your Heart Breaks
2. Mecca Normal
3. Mirah
4. Mt. Eerie
5. Earth
BAR SHOWS: doors at 9pm
9pm- Watertown Pub (21+)
DJs Kevin Olson and Bruce Pavitt
9pm- Brown Lantern (21+)
Pain Field
Lonely Forest
Sat. July 18th 2009
11:30am to 4:30pm- Causland Park
1. Generifus
2. Vibrarians
3. St. Merman
4. Ship of Friends
5. Rose Melberg
6. Cryptacize
7. Casiotone For The Painfully Alone
4:30pm to 6:30pm- Croatian Club (“SATURDAY DINNER SHOW”)
1. Calvin Johnson
2. “In The Yard, Havin’ Fun”
4pm to 6pm- Port Warehouse
“Narrow Waters” curated by Stella Marrs and Al Larsen
7:30pm to 11:30pm- Port Warehouse
1. Katy Davidson the Jam Band
2. Ô Paon
3. Karl Blau
4. Vanessa Renwick
5. Kimya Dawson
6. Wolves In The Throne Room
BAR SHOWS: doors at 9pm
9pm- Watertown Pub (21+)
DJ Heather Dunn
9pm- Brown Lantern (21+)
Bryan, Frank & Bob
Nate Ashley
Sunday, July 19th 2009
10am to 11:30 am- Croatian Club
“Making It Happen” open discussion
11:30 to 5pm- Causland Park (“SUSHI SHOW”)
1. Photosynthesis
2. Angelo Spencer
3. Motorbikes
4. White Fang
5. Lucky Dragons
6. Oregon Donor
6pm to 11pm- Department of Safety
1. D+
2. Arrington de Dionyso’s Malaikat dan Singa
3. Grouper
4. Sheahan Drive
5. Tara Jane O’Neil
6. No Kids
7. LAKE
Teenage Angst: Thrashin' at the Depot (ancient history of the What The Heck spirit)
(Anacortes’ self-made music scene began circa 1981 with shows at The Depot at 7th & R; now a gallery and farmer’s market on Saturdays.)
By Don Yates for WWU’s Klipsun Magazine, May 1985
Everyone is now waiting for the last band to play, Color Me Gone. Color Me Gone is another of the newer Anacortes bands, and one of the youngest. Color Me Gone evolved from another Anacortes band, Malcontent. Mark Madenwald, Tami’s 15-year-old brother and lead guitarist for Color Me Gone and Malcontent, explained, “We never got along. There were always arguments during practice.” Stan Bennett, 16, and lead singer for Color Me Gone and Malcontent, added, “We kicked the old drummer out and got Chad about three months ago.”
Chad Channing, at age 18 the oldest of the band, has lived all over and had played for many different bands before becoming a part of Color Me Gone. Channing had few kind words for the comtemporary music scene: “I’m not a computer whiz or anything. It seems like all you need to get on MTV is to plug in some electronic keyboards and have a weird voice.” Bassist Doug Cassidy, 15, rounds out the group. When Cassidy’s parents are mentioned, the band’s mood darkens. “My parents suck so bad. They’re trying to close my eyes to the world after I finally got ‘em open,” Cassidy said. “His folks hate the band,” Madenwald explained. “They don’t want him to be a rock and roller.”
The group’s enigmatic name was lifted from the wall of Ballard’s Graffiti Room. Color Me Gone was inspired by another Anacortes band. “Public Service was the reason I was getting into it,” Madenwald acknowledged. Public Service was the first Anacortes punk band to surface after Spoiled, and they owe a lot of their precursors’ music: many of their early songs were covers of Spoiled tunes. One of the more-idealistic bands, Public Service jumped on the Ethiopia benifit band wagon by staging a December fundraiser that packed the Depot. But the show didn’t make any money – a brick was tossed through a window, and the money raised for Ethiopia instead went to pay for the broken window.
The young musicians of Color Me Gone are as dedicated to their music as the older Anacortes bands. “I’m not doin’ it for fame and fortune – I’m doin’ it because I like it, ” Madenwald said. Cassidy agreed: “All I want to do is play music and live.”
“I want to be filthy, stinking rich, ” Bennett interjected. “You’re a fascist,” Cassidy added. Color Me Gone – like Malcontent – argue a lot among themselves. Sometimes, it seems they wont’ last out the week. “Doug’s too temperamental, ” Bennett said. “And you’re so egocentric,” Cassidy replied. “But we get along”, added Bennett.
It’s now about 9:30 PM, and Color Me Gone takes the stage. Their first-ever gig, no one quite knows what to expect.
Rumor has them a tight, hardcore band. As soon as they rip into their first song, it’s apparent the rumor is reality. Bennett, with his bright-red hair, flaring eyes and husky build, looks fierce and sounds even more fierce. Murderous. “This is ‘Small Town Attitudes,’ ” he snarls with a scowl. “You guys think about this one.” Behind him, the band sounds like The Apocalypse. Channing, a long, silver earring dangling from his left ear, furiously pounds his drum kit with the precision of a veteran, while Madenwald, looking cool and collected, plays a very credible hardcore trash guitar, and even adds an ominous, psychedelic touch to a couple of songs. Meanwhile, Cassidy plays the part of the unimpressed bassist, laying down a solid underpinning while seeming a bit bored with the pandemonium surrounding him. The ferocity of the band leaves the audience stunned. They can handle punk when the connections to the great protopunk bands of the past are made explicit, but this band seems to have nothing to do with the past.
The audience begins to dwindle. Heavy metal fans, aghast at a band so fast and tight, begin heckling the band: “Let’s hear some Metallica!” “Ozzy!” A pint-sized metalhead grabs Bennett’s mike and shows off his heavy metal eloquence: “I say you all suck my fuckin’ penis!” Bennett takes it all in stride. He takes the mike back and Color Me Gone launches into another frenetic, trash tune with renewed anger. The bands looks discouraged with the audience response, but they keep up the furious pace. Only about 20 people are left when the band attacks its final song, a kiss-off to all the band’s detractors, “I Hate You.” After the song’s 60 seconds of primal, vindictive trash, the show is over. The lights go on and the crowd slowly filters out of the Depot. Color Me Gone, The Few and The Larrys leave the Depot for some beers.