Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn will cap his inauguration week events Saturday (Jan. 9) by hosting a free concert at Showbox Sodo. The show looks to be both a fun way to celebrate the beginning of McGinn'ês four-year term and a thank you for the swell of support he received from club owners, promoters, and musicians.
McGinn'ês victory definitely didn'êt hinge solely on the votes of the music community, but its support didn'êt hurt his campaign. A few of McGinn'ês music and nightlife campaign promises that won him the music community'ês support included: Extending public transit (including light rail) to at least 3 am in an effort to cut down on drunk driving. Working with the state Liquor Control Board to encourage bar owners to stagger last call in an effort to reduce incidents after closing time. Increasing late-night police patrols in 'êhot spot'ê areas to help improve public safety around bars and clubs.
These and other music and nightlife platforms led to the establishment of a Facebook group called Seattle Music Community for Mike McGinn for Mayor during the election. And on Election Day the now defunct club The War Room served as headquarters for McGinn'ês camp when he celebrated his victory over Joe Mallahan.
Mayor McGinn is no stranger to the city'ês music scene, and his election is definitely a win for the music community. This win is being celebrated by four acts Saturday spread across several genres that represent some of the best from the city'ês music scene.
Headlining McGinnapalooza (not the concert'ês official name) is Wheedle'ês Groove, a collective of jazz, soul and funk musicians who were part of the city'ês music scene during the 1960 and 70s. Their music was brought back to the forefront last year with the record "Wheedle's Groove: Seattle's Finest in Funk & Soul, 1965-1975," which landed a spot on my list of the best local release from last year.
Also slated to appear is nine-piece country-rock band The Maldives (a group that played a pricey McGinn fundraiser at the Crocodile last year). The band has been a mainstay of the scene the past few years. However if the depth and quality of last year'ês "Listen to the Thunder" is any indication of their future, The Maldives might not be calling Seattle home for long. The third act on the bill are the vaudevillian indie-popsters of Hey Marseilles, a band that is managed by Fuzed Music, which is run by McGinn supporter and music scene power player David Meinert. Rounding out the night and opening the festivities will be
