It might be onerous to discover a extra “Seattle” musician than Tomo Nakayama. Extra well-known? Positive. Extra prone to rep town by carrying a Sonics throwback on TV? In all probability. However actually no more entrenched within the metropolis’s arts scene, or extra attuned to the truth of day by day life right here. Nakayama, who grew up in Bellevue and attended the College of Washington, was the entrance man for 2 bands, Asahi and Grand Hallway, earlier than embarking on a solo profession. His music is melodic, empathetic, and considerate. Not too long ago, he recorded a canopy of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Younger’s “Our Home” for the opening credit of a Netflix present referred to as Home of Ninjas. It’s a testomony to his voice, and preparations, that he makes the track his personal. In September, he reunites with Grand Hallway for the primary time in a decade, to assist rejoice the thirtieth anniversary of the Tractor Tavern—one in all his many favourite venues on the town to play. That’s a theme with Nakayama. He has a variety of favorites.
Venues to Play
The Tractor for certain is one in all my residence bases. It’s the in all probability the venue the place I’ve performed essentially the most reveals in my life. And I additionally love taking part in on the Rabbit Field. It’s a very intimate listening room. They’ve executed a very lovely job, form of constructing it out, and it’s in Pike Place Market. It’s actually cool that there’s a venue down there now. I’ve by no means actually had a motive to hang around at Pike Place Market at evening. And the Triple Door is absolutely lovely. I suppose I just like the dinner theater vibe. I just like the Royal Room in Columbia Metropolis. They’ve pianos onstage which you could play, which is at all times a deal with. I simply did a present at City Corridor, which I used to be artist in residence at in again in 2013, and I at all times love taking part in there as effectively. I like the truth that they make it actually accessible for everybody in the neighborhood. A variety of their reveals are free for individuals underneath 21.
Venues to Go to
The Clock-Out is at all times cool for locating new native music. Sundown. The Neptune is a very lovely room. I used to work there for a very long time when it was a movie show, so I at all times get actual nostalgic after I go there—and it sounds actual good in there. The Moore is good. I like going to neighborhood bars like Tim’s Tavern in West Seattle. I’m at all times on the lookout for new bands, new music, and I like that these smaller venues live on. It’s getting more durable to search out in different cities, however Seattle has executed a fairly nice job of supporting our native venues.
Sports activities Staff
It’s gotta be the Mariners. I grew up watching baseball. As of now, they’ve been doing rather well, however I’ve been a fan lengthy sufficient to maintain my expectations in examine. (Editor’s notice: on the time of this interview they have been certainly doing rather well.) However I like going to the video games. I just like the ritual facet of it, going to the ballpark.
Restaurant
I like going to Maneki within the Worldwide District. That’s the oldest Japanese restaurant in Seattle. There’s a spot referred to as Issian in Wallingford that’s a very nice Japanese, izakaya-style restaurant. You already know what I attempted not too long ago is the Boat within the ID, the Vietnamese hen place. They solely do one dish, however they do it amazingly. I actually like that they solely do one factor and so they do it effectively.
Vacationer Attraction
I did a staycation not too long ago and simply frolicked on the Pike Place
Market, which you by no means do if you really stay right here since you don’t suppose to go down there until you reside downtown. However there’s so many issues to do and it’s only a actually cool vibe. I like strolling round in that space.
Report Retailer
Straightforward Road and Sonic Growth are must-dos if you’re in Seattle. There’s a brand new file retailer referred to as Royal Information in Queen Anne that’s actually cool. And Time Tunnel Information—that’s in Burien. I like that place. They’ve a variety of actually fascinating vinyl. And Porchlight Information. It’s additionally a espresso store. The proprietor, Zach, runs a label, and so they’ve put out all of my Grand Hallway and solo albums and stuff. That’s at all times been my residence base. They usually have a very good assortment of information and good espresso.
Park
Seward Park is at all times a favourite. A extremely underrated one is Jack Block Park in Alki Seaside. It’s type of hidden away, but it surely’s bought a very lovely view of downtown. Schmitz Protect in West Seattle is absolutely attractive, and Carkeek Park—that stroll by way of the woods. Oh, and the canine park at Golden Gardens. I like taking my corgi there.
Seattle Musician
That’s an inconceivable query. I suppose Nirvana is at all times going to be my primary. It’s form of cliche, I suppose, however form of for an excellent motive. The rationale I picked up a guitar was Nirvana’s Unplugged. Each time I play a venue in a city that they’ve performed it seems like leveling up, or like an enormous life accomplishment.
Place to Purchase Groceries
I like going to all of the little Asian marts in White Middle. Okay for W is my jam. The girl there’s tremendous good, and he or she’s at all times singing karaoke whereas she’s working. Maruta in Georgetown is a tiny little deli, however they’ve a very good choice of Japanese groceries, too. Uwajimaya, in fact.
Day Journey
I like going to Bow-Edison. It’s a cool little artsy city in the course of the Skagit Valley, solely an hour and a half north of Seattle. There’s actually good bird-watching and actually good meals up there, and it’s simply actually lovely.
Neighborhood
I’m based mostly in West Seattle, in order that’s my favourite proper now. I just like the slower tempo of life out right here. It’s extra my vibe. However I spent most of my 20s within the U District, in order that at all times holds a spot in my coronary heart as effectively. At coronary heart I’m nonetheless form of an Ave rat.
