In this edition of our First, Last, and Favorite column we’re happy to introduce the team behind Seattle’s new Northwest focused music video show VIDEO BEBOP! It’s currently airing on the Seattle Channel and streaming on YouTube. The show is hosted by Cedric and Eva Walker who, aside from being incredibly charming VJs, make up The Black Tones, one of the hottest new bands in Seattle right now! (Cobain and Cornbread was our number 2 local best seller of 2019!)
Video Bebop plans to be an outlet for the Puget Sound’s up and coming artists. The first episode gives you the thrill of discovery with a naturally wide range of sounds from under-exposed artists of the region. Old heads might get some of that vintage 120 Minutes / MTV thrill, seeing new videos you’d never find out about otherwise. Its an absolutely great development for those of us would prefer passionate homegrown curation to an algorithm for the new music we get exposed to. Watch here:
Host Eva Walker and producer Jake Uitti both took a little time out of their days to talk records with us! We love finding out a little more about the tastes of those who help guide our tastes! Both let us know a little about a first formative listen, the last thing they’ve been rocking, and an all-time favorite.
FIRST
Eva: Alanis Morissette Jagged Little Pill
First album paid for with my own money was a tape I got for Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette. I listened to that record everyday after school from beginning to end. I think my interest in her started when I saw "Ironic" on MTV as a kid. I loved that song so much!
Jake: Bruce or Bart
It's honestly hard to remember, it was either "Born In The U.S.A." by Bruce Springsteen or Simpsons Sing The Blues. I also remember Aerosmith's Greatest Hits in there. My brother and I would have sock wars in the upstairs hallway between our bedrooms to Bruce. And I'd listen to the other two on road trips to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan when we'd go every summer. I was, like, 7-years-old. But the first record I bought in young adulthood would be Dave Matthews. I love him.
Last
Eva: Kraftwerk Minimum-Maximum
Last album I listened to that recently became my favorite would have to be Kraftwerk's Minimum-Maximum Live Album. I fell head over heels for this band when I first heard "The Robots" which was the first song I had ever heard from them. Then "Autobahn", "The Man-Machine" and "Pocket Calculator". There's something about Kraftwerk's sound that's nostalgic and sentimental even though I hadn't heard them before 3 years or so ago. I'm a very sentimental person and Kraftwerk hits my heart strings in the right places.
Jake: Warren Dunes Welcome To Warren Dunes
Jeez! Lately, I've heard the new Tame Impala record, Nathaniel Rateliff, Son Little, Kanye West and they're all so good. I know I have to narrow down one, so I'll say: Warren Dunes. They're local and their latest EP blows my mind. Them and The Black Tones, of course!
Favorite
Eva: Herb Alpert’ Tijuana Brass Whipped Cream and Other Delights
Another one of my favorite albums of all time is Herb Alpert's Whipped Cream and Other Delights. I bought this record by mistake because I kept seeing the album in almost ever vinyl bin in thrift stores and would just pass it up, although I really liked the cover. Then an article came out about the woman on the cover of the record, and finally I saw a mural of the album artwork, I think it was in Wallingford. So this had to be a sign to just finally buy it right? So the next time I ran into this record at a thrift store, I bought it. Took it home, put it on that night and listened to it everyday for about 6 months, NO KIDDING! It is one of my most favorite records of ALL TIME. The songs are perfectly arranged, written and executed. Herb Alpert is a genius. I also have always had a VERY special place in my musical soul for vintage (60's/70's) Elevator/Lobby music as I call it. Or vintage Mall/Grocery store music, same era. Most people wouldn't consider that a good thing, but I think that only comes from folks who have never actually listened to those songs. Herb Alpert gives me that vibe and feels of nostalgia like Kraftwerk does. Also the music on that record reminds me of my maternal grandparents who loved to dance and are very special people to me. Miss them everyday.
Honorable mention: V/A The World Ends: Afro Rock & Psychedelia in 1970s Nigeria
[And] I have to shout out The World Ends: Afro Rock & Psychedelia in 1970s Nigeria. This is some of the best collection of music that exists, EVER.
Jake: The Dave Matthews Band
I'll get back on my Dave Matthews High Horse here (does that sound weird?). I hold my tongue most of the time, but there's so many people in this city who bash him. I get it, he's an easy target. But the level of malice levied at the man, to me, speaks more to the levier than Matthews. Anyway, I adore him. If it wasn't for him, Video Bebop would not exist. Chew on that!