Travis Shook's Blog

New CD due out late-October, 2011

tshook — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 13:31:52 +0000

I have a CD coming out, Travis Shook – Trio – putting on the final touches right now. In addition will be in Seattle on Oct. 28th and Oct. 29th, and Olympia on Oct. 27th – Click here for the performance page with detailed venue information

Thanks everyone for your support!

- Travis

The Amazingly Awesome Monkey Wreath

tshook — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 02:34:27 +0000

My mom got this for us about 5 years ago, and me and Veronica liked it so much it’s become our Christmas tradition to open our presents under the monkey wreath. I’d like to think it has magic powers.

Hamlet 2

tshook — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 15:54:29 +0000

This movie called Hamlet 2 is on HBO – second time I’ve seen. Brilliant comedy – Paul Coogan as the lead is awesome. Anyone in the arts I think can relate to some of the frustrations and insecurities of his character. He also has a general geekiness which speaks to my inner geek as well.

I’m not going to go on and on – I’m not really the profound type – just thought it was funny is all and, well, I haven’t updated this blog in I don’t know how long.

Travis Shook Trio in Olympia, WA on December 12th

tshook — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 00:46:59 +0000

Hey all -

I’ll be giving a very special, one-time only (or until the next time) performance in Olympia on Saturday, December 12th at the United Churches (110 11th Ave SW) – tickets are $15 at the door

this is shaping up to be a very cool event so hope to see you there

with me will be:
Phil Sparks, bass
Matt Jorgensen, drums

http://www.meetup.com/OlympiaJazzCentral/calendar/11917323/

Read an article about the gig (and I guess me in general) in the Daily Olympian:

http://www.theolympian.com/2009/12/06/1060944/a-soul-for-jazz.html

Bob Crane looks like The Wishmaster

tshook — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 00:25:38 +0000

I was watching Night Gallery last night, and Bob Crane (from Hogan’s Hereos) was playing a husband who was plotting to murder his wife. He had a very sinister look on his face and looked exactly like the guy from the horror flick Wishmaster. Just felt a need to share that with everyone.

As it is above, so it is below

tshook — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:55:45 +0000

We’re adding a door to the music room in the basement. To do so I needed to build an extension to the wall coming down from the ceiling. The extension I built is about 10″ wide by 2′ long. I’ve been working on it for a week because I have no idea what I’m doing. Everytime I put the joint compound on, I sand it all off again just so I can put more on.

It reminds me a little bit of Spinal Tap when the mini-Stonehenge was lowered from the ceiling. Kind of like that. In a way I’m building a really big wall, only smaller. If anyone needs me to build them a teeny tiny house I’ll know how to do it.

To tweet or not to tweet

tshook — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:41:40 +0000

I have been refusing to sign up for Twitter for the longest time – to me (and a lot of people I know in my age group) that’s really just going too far – myspace, facebook, ok – even those sites don’t come naturally the older you get, but Twitter is just beyond the pale.

However, this guy tempts me to sign up - these are really funny. They’re just daily tweets from a guy named Justin of stuff his 73-year-old dad is saying day in and day out. Be forewarned, lots of cursing, etc.:

http://twitter.com/Shitmydadsays

For the love of god, people, please wash your hands

tshook — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 17:02:30 +0000

Ok, I’m going to bring up a dirty little secret about men and restrooms that most women probably don’t know about (although I’ve heard women can be just as bad about this). Men don’t wash they’re hands in restrooms about 1/2 the time. What the ???. You’re gonna catch swine flu and if I have to shake your hand I’d like to know you’re hand has been disinfected with soap and water after you just finished shaking something else. For the love of god, please wash your hands after being in the restroom. It’s disgusting. Oprah did a special and said you’re supposed to soap your hands for 15 seconds to make sure they’re clean. You think you’re getting away with it but God knows – and Oprah knows. I know too – I’ve seen it. And don’t think you’re fooling anyone by splashing some water quickly on your hands and then dashing out of the bathroom…

Travis Shook Trio in Seattle September 9th, 2009

tshook — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:33:08 +0000

w/ Essiet Essiet, bass
Matt Jorgensen, drums

Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Sets begin at 7:30pm and 9:00pm.
$15 cover.

Tula’s Restaurant and Bar
2214 2nd Ave
Seattle, WA 98121-2017
(206) 443-4221 (call for reservations)

Writing an arrangement

tshook — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 18:22:04 +0000

I’m so happy to be writing an arrangement of I’ll Be Seeing You for piano/pipe organ – a good friend of mine, Ron Lenz, from Washington invited me out to do a church gig – I’m doing some classical music as well – which is stretching my boundaries a bit – I’ve played classical all my life for fun, but never in public since high school days.

Anyway, I’m digging this whole piano/pipe organ thing – of course, problem is if I put out an album like that as usual the critics/radio stations won’t get it – it’s a little frustrating sometimes, but everybody’s in the same boat so I don’t complain

update: I just realized I could call the album “Travis Shook - Hitting the Pipes” except that I’m probably the only one that would find that funny