Pet Shop Boys in da house!

Did you hear that? Yeah, that's right. The techno body-pump in the heart of Seattle last night at The Moore Theatre. Pet Shop Boys back in town with their Pandemonium Tour. Was it the base-line pumping brick and mortar or was that my soul remembering days when?

As a child of the '80's I was rushed back to an awkward seventh-grade dance at Franklin Junior High School, Yakima, Washington, circa 1984 or so dancing to West End Girls in the tiny cafeteria hoping a boy would ask me to dance. A time of swatches, crazy hair, spandex and of course, techno music. Last night brought it all back. The stage set with white boxes in all shapes and sizes as the screen for digital video. Men in hard hats and white clinical coats arranging them to suit the next set of songs. Back up dancers dressed in primary color spandex with boxes for heads and angles jutting out from beneath their costumes. A stage show for the digital and electronic lover in all of us. The Pet Shop Boys took us into the future and we liked it.

However, ninety degree angles didn't steal the show. Choreographed dancers added an element of surprise during their slow-song segment where Neil Tennant, lead singer and Chris Lowe, the mix master extraordinaire donned a disco ball jacket. For 25 years, the Pet Shop Boys have remained a mainstay in the techno scene inspiring and influencing electronic musicians across the globe and last night, they performed songs that spanned their career in all of its wonder. Their music transcends generations. People of all ages attended in anticipation of what they hear on the albums. Pet Shop Boys did not disappoint. They sound just a good live as they do on disc.

Their latest release, Yes, Pet Shop Boys, debuted on March 23 earlier this year and the hits just keep pumpin' their way up the charts. It didn't matter that I was sitting alone at the concert. My daughter, now 14, sat a few sections away with a friend and even her generation can't help but love what they saw. The Pet Shop Boys, now into their 50's, can still sing about love, life, heartache and still get the party started.

A Season Upon Us

Fall is my favorite time of year. I get a soft scent of it in the mild September evenings. I look forward to watching the leaves slowing turn colors of red, orange and yellow. People seem to change a bit too. New haircuts, softer tones, a new attitude. Slowly, light jackets come out of the closet and your favorite sweatshirt makes it's way back. Football traffic picks up and a subtle scent of savories in the air makes it very exciting. The sun is waning earlier each and every night. I love it.

For most knitters, Fall tends to be opening season. Although an all-season knitter myself, I thoroughly enjoy starting a Fair Isle or a cabled project and airing out all my sweaters to be worn through the rainy season. I recently finished a Fair Isle hat called Selbu Modern. I used Mini Mochi and a Dale of Norway yarn. I'll take a photo of my finished hat and post later.

Fall also invokes a sense of mystery. I think it's the most prominent season of change and the wonders of what this earth can do is astonishing. And in a short period of time. Everywhere I look, I see images of things I want to re-create with yarn and fiber. Although holding fast to my Pink Martini project, I can't help but see a lovely array of wall hangings of how I see this season.

Mentioning the project: I haven't gotten as far as I would have liked. A new job, a busy schedule with my daughter isn't conducive to sitting at home and making art. Sometimes, well more honestly, most times, I wish I didn't have to work at all for a few years and use the hiatus to create all that I can muster. Maybe someday that will happen. I get few and fewer moments of clarity, making creating harder and harder to do. But I digress...I will not give up. My first piece should be done soon and then moving on the next.

Pink Martini is actually coming to The Pantages in Tacoma next month, but tickets are so expensive, so I have to resign myself to the fact I will likely never see a performance. But I can enjoy the music at home and the art created from their inspiring lyrics and melodies.