1997 Presidents Of The United States Of America PUSA gigs

The Backstage in Ballard, one of Seattle's longest running and respected live music venues, took its final bow last night.

It was a party; it was a wake. But as senior sound man Irish McKinney, an 11-year veteran, said during his opening benediction, a wake is a celebration. "We celebrate what has gone before, we celebrate the future. A toast to the Backstage!"

Five hundred fortunate fans, some of whom began lining up at 11 a.m. for an 8 p.m. door, raised their beers in kind and cheered wildly.

Ironically, probably half the mostly twentysomething attendees, had never been to the Backstage. Ryan

Rogers, the first person in line, has been coming to the Backstage for three years, but for his friend Pace Evvesen, recently moved here from San Diego, it was a first. It was the same for many who waited in a line that wrapped around the block, eating pizza and talking on cell phones. But in the end, nearly 400 got in, new and old fans alike.

"I've been coming here since it opened in 1983," said Pat Wickline. Asked where he'd be going with the Backstage closing, he said he no longer plans going to shows. "There's no other place where the stage is so low and close. Where else could you stand right in front of Robert Fripp? Besides, it was nice not having to go downtown. You felt safer."

Besides the first-come-first-serve guests, all of whom got in for free, there was also a considerable guest list of friends, former employees and local musicians. It was an impressive showing of those who had enjoyed the club and the hundreds of artists who played it over the years

"We wanted a party," said Lora Gastineau, the promotions director who had started at the club five years ago working the ticket window. We didn't want to just shut the doors and go away without making some noise. We all needed it. It's sad enough to have to say good bye. We had to do something."

Unfortunately, the very thing that was closing the club, a lack of funds, seemed to be in the way of getting anyone to play. "We couldn't pay anyone," said Gastineau. "All we could do is ask people to play, offer some free beer and hope they'd donate some music. But for weeks nothing happened."

But Gastineau eventually contacted Dave Dederer of the Presidents of The United States of America. Dederer thought there might be a scheduling conflict, but they'd think about it. For days, Gastineau heard nothing.

"Then out of nowhere," she said, "Chris Ballew (the President's bassist and lead vocalist) called. It was so funny. He said: `Hello, this is Chris Ballew of the Presidents of The United States of America and my friend Dave told me you need a band for a party.' That was it."

"We love to play parties," Ballew said later. "That's how we started. And playing clubs is always fun. It's just something we really like."

Through local publicist Barbara Mitchell, Gastineau also got singer/songwriter Marc Olsen and pop quartet Micro Mini. Then Dederer brought in The Cowboys, a popular Seattle band during the New Wave era of the early '80s who had recently re-grouped.

It was like the completion of a cosmic circle. Two members of the Cowboys - keyboard player Paul Brownlow and drummer Mark Gunther - had played in the Lonesome City Kings, the first band to play the Backstage.

"It was the first week of 1983," said Gunther. "They were still sawing things as we were setting up. I don't remember what the audience, but the beer was free."

At 9 o'clock, the Cowboys kicked off the evening with a mix of hard rock and reggae. Though many were unfamiliar with the band, they responded warmly. Micro Mini got the house on its feet and dancing and Olsen quieted things down a bit before the headliners.

The Presidents were at their bouncing best, starting off with their biggest hits "Lump" and "Peaches," quickly taking requests and throwing in some unexpected numbers, too. There was no encore. It wasn't necessary. Gastineau eventually took the empty stage and smiled at the satiated crowd.

"Thank you all for coming, we really appreciate it," she said adding, "you don't have to go home yet, but you can't stay here.

"Good night, everybody," she finished. "Good night, Backstage."

THE PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

1997 - Concert Dates

The Presidents Of The United States Of America (PUSA):