On most Friday and Saturday nights, KW Miller and Jack Parker will be rocking some stage with the high-powered local southern rock and bluegrass band The Rocky Point All Stars.
But on Thursdays, you’ll find them each with an acoustic guitar in hand, jamming on a laid-back, almost conversational-style set at the Manette Saloon as an unplugged duo called The Dubbs.
It’s nothing new for Parker and Miller. The Dubbs have been playing around the county for quite some time now — on First Fridays at Hi-Lo’s Cafe and Wednesdays at Ammirato’s to name a few — taking advantage of the opportunity to play more live music. But for the Manette, featuring these no-cover nights of acoustic music is another way in which the musical saloon is aiming to “change things up a bit,” club co-owner/booker Kimm Anderson said.
It’s one more piece in The Manette’s transformation from being Bremerton’s former home for rowdy, raucous rock-and-roll to becoming a more laid-back, upper-class atmosphere. It all began with last fall’s addition of The Side Bar, a wine and martini lounge located adjacent to The Manette proper.
On a recent Wednesday night, a few couples were shmoozing in the Side Bar while local-by-way-of-Seattle musician Alan Davis slung out a solo set of original blues jams on stage. In the show room, it was a leisurely scene — a table was finishing up dinner and wine while a few ladies were knitting on the sofa and a small cadre of boisterous drunks were joking around at the bar.
“We’ve always had some kind of acoustic on Thursdays, but now for Wednesdays we’ve started rotating in other performers,” Anderson said. “And it’s been amazing.”
Late in 2007, The Manette began bringing free acoustic music to its Thursday nights, providing the stage for singer/songwriter-type solo acts (like the young Hunter Stroud) as well as a spotlight for a different side of musicians who jam around in local rock bands (like Endo from the band Ramona Come Closer).
Early into 2008 as The Dubbs were commissioned for the regular weekly gig on Thursdays, The Manette expanded the idea to showcase even more acoustic acts on Wednesday nights as well, in effect replacing the former open mic night.
“There’s so many great musicians around, we don’t have enough days to show them all,” Anderson said.
Featuring cats like James Hunnicut (of the rockabilly band James Hunnicut and the Revolvers), Alan Davis (of the Seattle band Sterno) and tunesmith Bret Phillips (of Seattle’s Old Man Winter), these acoustic Wednesday nights are now providing to that end.
Coming up…
Wednesdays
• James Hunnicut rocks it out tonight, April 23
• Bret Phillips jams April 30
• Bub Pratt takes the stage May 7
Followed by:
• Endo — May 14
• Alan Davis — May 21
• James Hunnicut — May 28
Thursdays
• The Dubbs (KW Miller and Jack Parker of The Rocky Point All Stars) are slated to throw down every week of the month. WU
Music starts around 8 p.m. each night, no cover at The Manette, 2113 E. 11th St. in Bremerton. Info: www.myspace.com/manettesaloon or call (360) 792-0801.
