Thursday, July 24, 2008

Seattle/CreationWest '08

It's been a crazy-busy week!!! This is a big one.

We spent a few days in the Seattle area, and it was beautiful! Hawk Nelson's first 2 records were recorded here, so we've spent plenty of time up here. It was actually a little weird to know my way around a city I've never lived in.

On Monday we spent the day with some radio folks, other bands, and friends from our label. We all went on one of those duck tours of the Seattle area. It was a tour that takes you on one of those amphibious buses, and shows you sights both on land and water. I've seen them drive by in various cities before, and I always said... "Geez, what a gimmick. Tourists will spend their money on anything!" Well, folks.... I guess I spoke too soon. It was actually a really good time.


This was our guide. The hair is a wig. He laughed really loud, ran tons of red lights, and cussed like a sailor (would a floating bus driver qualify as a sailor?). He actually made the tour for me. I was never quite sure what he would say next. At one point he pretty much parked the bus in an intersection and blocked traffic... suggesting that we should give anyone that honked the New York salute. Not quite sure what that means :). Ok I do know what that means.


This was the view from the bridge down towards the water's edge. Seattle has a ton of waterfront, and it's all pretty much gorgeous.


From down on the lake we could see downtown in one direction, and little houses and houseboats in nearly every other direction.


It was quite far away, but the little houseboat on the right in this picture was the houseboat in "Sleepless In Seattle". It is currently up for sale for $2.5 million. Yikes.


A pontoon plane landed right next to us as we were cruising around the bay.


We drove by the Seattle Space Needle, and the Experience Music Project, which we took the time to visit. There was a lot to see at this independant Music Museum, but this took the cake...


This was a 3 story high tornado of guitars and other instruments. It's impossible to convey the scale of this thing in a picture. It was MASSIVE.... and there were 6 guitars built into the display that each had 1 string connected to a computerized strumming apparatus.... and those 6 single-string guitars came together to reproduce songs that you could listen to in headphones. Complicated, I know... but very cool.


At this point in the day, I'm exhausted from all the walking around.


So is Daniel.

The next day Daniel, myself, and a couple friends of ours walked down to Pike's Place Market, and up to Capitol Hill. I probably walked 6 or 7 miles that day.


This is the first starbucks ever, and the only starbucks to still display the original (and sometimes controversial) logo in the front window. The lines were out-the-door today, so no coffee was enjoyed at this location, but I've had it before.... It's still starbucks. :)


This is the view from the walk up to Capitol Hill, looking back down at the waterfront. Paramount Theater is on the left side there.


Although it doesn't look like much on the outside, this is the studio where we recorded our first 2 Hawk Nelson records. We've all spent many weeks here.... I wonder whose car was getting towed?!


That night we went to a Seattle Mariners game! Our friend Mike knows the Mariners pitcher who started that night, so we were able to all get in for free. It was a great game, although the Mariners came up short.


Tyson really likes me... I mean a lot. Look, he's even dressing like me. Ok, I dress like him. So what? There's nothing wrong with that.

The next day brought us to the Gorge Ampitheatre in central Washington. This is one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. You can see for miles and miles, and the stage is set on the edge of a giant canyon. Although it's not the GRAND canyon, it's still pretty freakin grand. This is one of my favorite shows of the year, and this year we got to play in the dark on main stage, with a great crowd and a fun light show.

This is the ampitheatre before doors opened.


This is Justin's perfect world. He's watched David Matthews Band Live at the Gorge more times than you can shake a stick at, and he finally got to play the same stage as his hero Carter Beauford. Perfect world.


This is our soundcheck. I didn't take any pictures of the show... because... well, I was busy. I'm hoping to get some from somebody, somewhere. I heard the show was being filmed... but if I believed everything I heard, I'd still think Bret Michaels had talent.



This is me with Jack Higginbotham of Paul Reed Smith Guitars. I had just finished playing a super fun show, so that's why I've got such a stupid grin on my face! Jack and I hung out a bunch yesterday... We talked guitars, music, family... all kinds of stuff. I can't say enough good things about Jack, Bev, and the team at PRS. I am so very blessed to be working together with the most dedicated, talented, and hardworking guitar company in the world.

* Jack set me up with a new MIRA model PRS to check out. A full detailed review will be forthcoming in the next few days!

I've had a great time in the Pacific North-West this week. It's one of my favorite parts of the country, and I always enjoy my times there. We'll be back in Portland next month for a day, playing a Louis Palau CityFest Event.... I'm looking forward to it!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

That guitar tornado was awesome... I wish I could have something like that in my bedroom, but that's never gonna happen..

Jenny said...

ha you seen the house from sleepless in seattle. oh. cool. haha.

yes, the guitar tornado.. awesome.
.. and other instruments. haha.

Nick said...

Dan's face in the picture. Hahaha that's so good. Looks like you guys had a lot of fun up there.

Anonymous said...

I like the water pictures:-) And that guitar/instrument thing looks really awesome...

Anonymous said...

Hey Jon! I'm in Seattle right now! I arrived last Wednesday for my cousin's wedding. I guess I just missed you guys! Did you guys play at the gorge? My Aunt was just telling us how amazing the music sounds there. Haha we did some of the same tourist stuff as you guys yesterday including the duck ride and Pike's market. Too bad I missed you I would have loved to have said hi in person! Well take care!

Katey