{Allo Darlin' photo by Steve Louie}

We always been in awe of David Schmader for being such an amazing talent; he's good at just about everything: writing amazing works of art, producing and performing one-man plays, and emceeing events (just to name a few). And, we've always loved him because he's a super generous and friendly guy... and now we have another reason to adore him: 

He shares our love of Allo Darlin' and heartily recommends their upcoming show, next Friday (5/11) at the Vera Project!!!

David astutely wrote in The Stranger's Suggests column: London’s Allo Darlin’, led by escaped Australian Elizabeth Morris, who plays ukulele, writes songs about diagnosing relationships via Woody Allen’s cinematic archetypes and making chili, and is brilliant.

We couldn't agree more! We also couldn't be more honored by his kind words about the Allo Darlin' / Wave Pictures show, which also happens to be the first show in our 10th Anniversary celebration series.

Next time anyone crosses paths with David, tell him how brilliant he is (and buy him a beverage, at the very least).

Don't forget, there's still a couple days left to enter to win tickets to the Allo Darlin' show! Enter to win tickets before noon on May 3!

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On Wednesday, The Stranger gave out cakes to the artists they selected, as they have done every year since 2003, as Geniuses. This years recipients are filmmaker Lynn Shelton, author Sherman Alexie, arts organization Implied Violence, playwright Paul Mullin and visual artist Wynne Greenwood. The award comes with $5,000 and is chosen arbitrarily by the staff at The Stranger.

No disrespect intended to the other Geniuses but Greenwood's selection is the one that pleases me the most. She's probably best known for her brilliant and hilarious Tracy + The Plastics - a DIY electro-pop band that has Greenwood playing the parts simultaneously of frontwoman Tracy, keyboardist Nikki and drummer Cola.

The last thing I knew she did was another musical project called Libber, who I remember seeing open for Team Dresch's reunion about 2 years ago but wasn't sure what she was up to these days.

In a post on Slog today that came pretty damn close to making me tear up, theater editor Brendan Kiley wrote:

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Special big thanks to Megan Seling for this quotable, which made me start giggling in fits in the midst of my dayjob work meeting (mostly on the inside, though it was hard to keep it contained!).

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I couldn't help but feeling like he served up the reviews with an extra smattering of vitriol because the bands played at a Weekly showcase.

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We're so glad we're friends!!!

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Saturday Knights + Top Pot + Competition = Amazing YouTube!

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Trent Moorman at the Stranger has posted a great blog to Line Out: it's a short bio on Jim Anderson, soundguy extraordinaire at the Crocodile.

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Through Saturday (May 20th), select Seattle music venues will be hosting shows (including tonight's Kristin Hersh show) that will benefit the homeless and poverty advocacy and organizing non-profit Real Change.

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