Walrus Performs on New Radio Show in Bellingham

My favorite classic rock band, The Walrus, was selected to perform on the first “Chuckanut Radio Hour.” The new variety show will be aired Feb. 4 and Feb. 11 on KRME-102.3 in Bellingham.

The Bellingham Herald’s Dean Kahn writes about the taping of the upcoming show in his column today, saying the Walrus pleased the crowd with several classic rock tunes, including one off the new CD and “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Dean detailed the two hours it took to tape the one-hour program, writing about the Walrus’ last song of the show:

“6:12 p.m.: The Walrus plays Queen’s operatic rock classic “Bohemian Rhapsody.” The band performs the challenging piece admirably, winning the evening’s biggest round of applause.”

The crowd of about 70 people at the taping last week also loved Joe Young’s “Hold Your Hand,” a tune off the new CD, Uncovered. The Beatles knock-off is a short dance number.

The new radio show is being put together by the American Museum of Radio and Electricity and Chuck Robinson, co-owner of Village Books in Fairhaven. Robinson hosts the show and is a big fan of the Walrus. (Robinson says the Walrus is one of only two local bands who he has on iTunes.) The Walrus will continue to be the “house band” for the variety show, which features poetry, jokes, music (classic rock) and interviews with authors. The next taping of the “Chuckanut Radio Hour” will be Feb. 13 and will feature an interview with Seattle author and journalist Bill Dietrich.

The inaugural show will be aired at 3 p.m. Feb. 4 and Feb. 11 on KRME 102.3 and features an interview with Erik Larson, author of “Thunderstruck” as well as some more classic rock by the Walrus. The station’s signal can only be heard in the Bellingham-Ferndale area of Whatcom County, Washington.

New Walrus CD Called a “Gem”

Yes, it certainly is the Year of The Walrus.

The new CD by Capt. Kathy’s favorite classic rock band is called a “gem” by The Bellingham Herald in today’s “Take 5″ section.

“The band is as solid a cover band as you’ll find,” the article says under the headline:

Walrus releases an ‘Uncovered’ local gem

“Uncovered” takes an unusual approach in that the songs are all originals, yet they gracefully acknowledge their obvious influences,” the Herald review states. “Singer/guitarist Joseph Michael Young, who wrote seven of the 11 songs, has a way with soaring harmonies and clever lyrical phrasing, best evidenced by the opener “Abbey Road.”

“The CD sounds great, thanks to Chip Westerfield of Bayside Studios, and the band is as engaging on record as it is in person. Members of The Walrus have played with probably 90 percent of the musicians in town.”

The review goes on to describe my first mate: “Guitarist/vocalist Chuck Dingee is the ubiquitous performer who runs open mics at The Fairhaven Pub & Martini Bar and Main Street Bar and Grill in Ferndale.”

The Walrus is performing Friday, Jan. 5, at the Wild Buffalo.