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🌊 Take your sea shanty obsession to the next level
Plus: This band was the soundtrack to Seattle's summer of protest.
By Grace Madigan
Happy Friday!
We’re not going to beat around the bush: Today’s newsletter is packed.
Scroll on for the headlines, a story about the band that gave CHOP its soundtrack, and — for Evergrey Extra members — some ideas on how to spend your weekend.
The world may be crazy but there will always be seagulls. 😅 | Tag @the_evergrey or use #theevergrey to be featured in our Instagram of the Day. (📸: @dannyngan)
What Seattle is talking about
Take your sea shanty Tik Tok obsession to the next level. The Maritime Folknet is a Seattle-based organization that works to preserve the nautical history of the PNW. If you feel like singing some yourself, Northwest Seaport holds monthly Chantey Sings; the next (virtual) one is Feb. 12. (Seattle Met)
Need a job? Seattle Public Library is here to help. Your Next Job is a service that gives folks free one-on-one assistance in their job hunt. They’re focusing on helping those who have a barrier to finding work, like limited English proficiency or a disability, but the program is open to everyone. (The Seattle Times)
Good news for Georgetown’s Jules Maes Saloon. After the saloon shuttered for six months, it’s reopened under new ownership and is taking to-go and delivery orders. (Eater Seattle)
💿 The soundtrack to CHOP
L to R: Evan Robertson (Big Pink), Marshall Hugh, Josh Richins (Shred God), Marty Thordarson (Metal Marty), Mercy Lewis, and Matt McAlman (The Hospitality). (Photo by James Gerde)
The Marshall Law Band released their album "12th and Pine" back in October following a summer of protest that they helped provide the soundtrack to. We talked with lead vocalist Marshall Hugh about his story, the band’s story, and what happened at CHOP. Today the band premieres their music video for Reel News on Afropunk, which you can check out here.
The following interview has been edited for length and clarity, for the full version of this article visit our website.
Follow Marshall Law Band on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
How did you get into music?
In high school, I would rap like any other kid, just messing around at the lunch table. I remember in eighth grade, me and my friend, Sam Miller — the other Black kid — did the freestyle battle thing and it was all light-hearted, but it was my first time rapping and performing in public. It wasn't anything I took seriously until my freshman and sophomore years of college.
You said you went to Carnegie Mellon to play both basketball and football. What happened in college that made you focus on your music?
No longer playing for a state championship or trying to become a professional athlete didn't really do it for me. Meanwhile, I started freestyling at parties with my friend who was like a real rapper. He would start dropping bars at the party, referencing something that he learned in history class. No one else would freestyle with him except for me and a couple of other friends. That just gave me the bug because people were like “yo, Marshall, you're actually super sick too.”
This guy is synthesizing information in real-time and freestyling and controlling the party and the vibe, and the people are listening. I started emulating that, and the rush I used to get with sports, I started getting with music. And that same feeling that I used to get when I would give speeches in middle school and stuff, I started getting not only while I was performing but while I was rapping.
Can you talk about playing at CHOP over the summer?
We went out there just to see what was going on and feel the vibe of the people. And something about it — it just didn't align personally with my mission of unity and love. I came home feeling drained, feeling exhausted, and my throat was hoarse. The next day, I stayed home, and I watched Omari Salisbury live stream on his personal Facebook and he got tear gassed for like the fourth night in a row on the frontlines, and he was screaming, “Where's the leadership?” And honestly, it just felt like a direct call-out.
The performances started going from just like a performance in the middle of chaos to an educational platform where people who maybe didn't feel comfortable on a bullhorn did feel comfortable coming up and having the Marshall Law Band play quietly behind them, and speaking on the issues from their heart.
And then can you talk about the album "12th and Pine" and how that came together?
We had two songs already written: “Dolla Dolla Bill” and “Kleos.” But it really grew on the streets. As soon as CHOP was broken down, we had all this energy and we were like what do we do with it? We decided we're going to go on a retreat and we’re going to record this album.
What is it about music and protest that goes together?
Music is just a reflection of life. And any emotion, any stance, any situation you ever find yourself in in life — I promise you there's a song about it. So if we can translate our experiences into something that brings someone some sort of solace, or some sort of new understanding, I say that's a win. If we can do that, for one person, it was worth doing. Music just has that unique ability to do it for the masses.
😮 You're missing out!
Yesterday, we gave Evergrey Extra members a guide on books by local authors and today we’re giving them some ideas on how to spend their weekend. Become a member today so you don’t miss out on next week’s member content!
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📓 Are you a high school STEM teacher? Join our virtual workshop to learn how to incorporate COVID-19 curriculum into your classes, and earn 3 clock hours while you’re at it.
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Things to do
Submit your events to our calendar.
Today
🖼️ Browse an online youth art exhibition and hear from local artists (Online)
🎨 Learn how to make money selling art in this free SPL workshop (Online)
🎶 Kick back and enjoy some entertainment from Ballard High School musicians (Online)
Sunday
🎺 Tune in to a special livestream fundraiser featuring Seattle solo artists (Online)
Tuesday
✔️ Break down your to-do list in this intuitive business workshop (Online)
🏔️ Stitch up some tiny PNW mountains in this embroidery class (Ballard/Online)
Wednesday
📸 Look back on the year in pictures with Seattle Times photojournalists (Online)
Thursday
🇺🇸 Explore topics surrounding democracy, liberty, and citizenship with author and speaker Eric Liu (Online)
🌱 Learn all about plant starts with the Tilth Alliance (Online)
🎭 Go behind the scenes with Seattle Rep's Plays in Process (Online)
One more thing...
Here’s a picture of the putting green in our living room in case you didn’t believe in the impulse purchases made by my roommate and me. Not pictured is the matching wrestling singlet I'm wearing while I write this, that my roommate also got.
Have a nice weekend, stay warm and we will be back on Tuesday!
— The Evergrey
