DONALD'S HAIR

Do206 does an annual series where they ask members of Seattle’s arts and music community about the upcoming season for the Seattle Seahawks. 

Nada Mucho overlord (my editor), Matt Ashworth, contributed this year and I enjoyed it so much I thought I’d take a crack at a write-in.

WHERE WERE YOU WHEN IT HAPPENED? HOW HAVE YOU BEEN COPING IN THE OFFSEASON?

One of my best friends flew home from Denver for the Super Bowl and we watched at his parent’s mansion on Mercer Island, so the whole night felt like a giant celebration already. When it happened my friend’s dad, accustomed to Seattle sports heartbreak from years of watching the Mariners, simply said “Well that sucks.” The rest of us just let our hearts turn black and full of hate.

My coping mechanism has been to learn as much about our new players and rookies as I can because I believe the children are our future.

JIMMY GRAHAM - SAVIOR OR JUST ANOTHER FACE IN A LONG LINE OF TIGHT ENDS?

I don’t think you can legally be a savior if you’re named ‘Jimmy’ but, hey, there’s a first time for everything. I’m hoping to see Russ embarrass some secondaries by dropping dimes to Jimmy Christ.

IS THIS THE SEASON FOR CHRISTINE MICHAEL? OR WILL IT BE ALL BEAST MODE FOR ANOTHER SEASON?

Christine Michael is in that weird category of the worst best football players in the world. Percy Harvin is in there, too. They have the physical capabilities but, mentally, there are blockers. But I guess I can’t really complain now that he’ll be fumbling for Dallas from now on.

I do think Thomas Rawls, our third string running back, looks pretty explosive and seems like a reliable backup.

LYNCH TURNS 29 THIS SEASON, THE AGE WHERE MOST RUNNING BACKS SLOW DOWN - DO YOU SEE BEAST MODE SLOWING DOWN?

I don’t think he’ll slow down but only because we added Fred Jackson, the running back Marshawn played alongside during his time in Buffalo. I think the two will balance each other out, which will rule because they’ll have plenty of opportunities on the field and some added recovery time off the field.

Plus, Marshawn deserves to live forever.

RUSSELL’S LOCKED IN WITH THAT BIG CONTRACT - NOW THAT HE HAS INCENTIVE - WHO FROM THE RECEIVER CORE DO YOU WANT TO SEE HIT THEIR STRIDE?

I know the fashionable choice is Tyler Lockett, Seattle’s tiny new golden baby, but I have to say Chris Matthews. His Super Bowl performance was phenomenal and I would love to see how he fares throughout an entire season.

There’s just something really cool about watching an undrafted free agent rise from the Browns training camp and the Iowa Barnstormers (real thing) to making that clutch play in the NFCC game to get his team to the Super Bowl, where he scored his first NFL touchdown.

WE KNOW RUSSELL LIKES TO POST HIS PLAYLISTS TO INSTAGRAM - WHAT MUSIC WOULD YOU RECOMMEND HE LISTEN TO BEFORE THE GAME?

I’d like to sneak the entirety of Clipse’s Lord Willin’ into a playlist for Russ because maybe he’ll see the God word in the title and be down thinking it’s hymns or something. I’ll probably need to find a clean version because he’s not into the swears.

WHAT DO YOU THINK PETE CARROLL’S VERSION OF “CLEAR EYES, FULL HEARTS, CAN’T LOSE!” IS?

“JET FUEL, CAN’T MELT, STEEL BEAMS”

BIGGEST OFFSEASON DISTRACTION: ENTOURAGE MOVIE, T-SWIFT APPEARANCE, PRE-SEASON ABSTINENCE, OR PRE-SEASON HOLD-OUTS?

Unfortunately, I have to say Kam Chancellor’s holdout is the biggest distraction. I’m still trying to stay optimistic that they’ll find a way for Kam to come back without looking foolish.

I want to believe the team is secretly addicted to some esoteric 90s game like Gauntlet Legends and they get all pissed when Michael Bennett plays because he yells “YELLOW WIZARD NEEDS FOOD” the whole time. And, like, at a press conference Earl Thomas has to be like “Yeah, I was really distracted this game because we played Legends last night and SOMEONE *glares at Cary Williams* didn’t let me get ANY power-ups.” Wait, what were we talking about?

YOUR PREDICTIONS FOR THE 2015-2016 SEASON?

very hot take:

Talking Heads were the Hot Chip of their time.

favorite black + white photo:

favorite song:

I’m partial to “As She Was” because it’s the first song on the first LP of their’s I listened to in its entirety. I know it’s a big sloppy obvious fan fav but I’m only human, you know?

least favorite song:

Honestly, I’m not familiar enough with their discography to make this decision so I’m just going to pick one at random.

“Take Me To The River” is, by far, their worst song. It’s like, c’mon guys. What are you doing? smdh

have i ever seen them live:

I have NOT.

favorite band member:

I know David Byrne is the Justin Timberlake of the group but I’m throwing a curve-ball (my specialty) and going with Tina Weymouth. She was in Talking Heads AND Gorillaz! Very fire and classic career.

dream collaboration:

Courtney Barnett.

how many of their albums i have:

I have Little Creatures on vinyl and a few others in my iTunes. 

best merch:

I like the simplicity of this lil’ guy.

favorite album:

Gotta go with Little Creatures because it’s the soundtrack of polo shirts tucked into khakis. 

minion(s):

very hot take:

What a tough one. Kanye is one of the few artists that are impervious to hot takes. I could say he’s more important than Michael Jackson OR that he’s wild overrated. Either way I’m in the right.

To be clear, he is the most important artist of our lifetime. 

favorite black + white photo:

favorite song:

*Jay-Z voice* Yo fuck you, Ryo, first and foremost. For making me do this shit. Muh'fucker.

This really has to break down into a top 3 because Kanye’s career is storied. My favorite three are a chronological redemption tale told in three acts. In it, our hero is weighed down by his own ambition and overcomes his obstacles despite himself. He even finds love at the end.

“Can’t Tell Me Nothing”

“Runaway”

“Bound 2″

least favorite song:

I’m just going to say it once: We really didn’t need “Drunk and Hot Girls.”

have i ever seen them live:

When the Yeezus tour dates were announced I saw that Seattle was the opening date and knew I had to be there. 

I almost saw him once before back in, like, 2006 when my friend (now girlfriend) tried to persuade me to catch his set at Bumbershoot but I wasn’t interested. Yung Cam was an idiot.

favorite band member:

dream collaboration:

I would love to hear Yeezus team up with Zuse.

how many of their albums i have:

All hotel room bibles should be replaced with Kanye West’s discography.

I have them all, mostly on CDs. 

best merch:

It’s hard to pick from the entire Yeezus collection because it’s been out for like two years and it’s still hot. I love this sweatshirt because it promotes a major performance that a ton of people petitioned against but happened anyway and was transcendent. 

favorite album:

A valid argument can be made for each one but today it’s Late Registration.

minion(s):

Rations, my monthly music newsletter, is coming later today. This edition will include (among other things):

- Ryo’s Essential Best Coast playlist - My Top 15 Albums of the Year - Spotify playlist including the best albums, EPs, and mixtapes from May - Recommended Seattle shows for June

Working on the next Rations monthly music newsletter and I’m totally jacking the artistic direction of the new Yowler record (currently my favorite album of the year) for its tentative banner art.