"Everyone Has A Fucking Beard Here" - The Rainn Wilson Interview

George, WA -- I found Rainn Wilson to be a Gooseninja.com kind of guy. Not only does he have ties to Eastern Washington, but he's into Ninjas (I'll get to that) and seemingly everywhere at once. Like the small biplane circling the Gorge hour after hour, signage for his latest film The Rocker streaming behind, Mr. Wilson's brilliant, over-the-top acting presence has become omnipresent. As Rainn and I hung out on the side of the Sasquatch Music Festival's Mainstage in, we couldn't help but notice the small plane circling around and around. "I wish they would shoot that plane down…(He fires me a no-shit, but playfully exasperated look) It's too much, don't you think?" He said it, almost adopting the classic self-depreciating spirit of any great indi-rocker, and saving me one complaint. I agree these festivals have become over-saturated with marketing departments and promotional street teams, though instead of asking Mr. Wilson his take on the Fleet Foxes (who were performing as we chatted) I had to inquire about his next (ninja) picture, Bonzai Shadowhands.

"Imagine…Just Imagine the most fucked-up version of Karate Kid. That's Bonzai Shadowhands." Sold. The Fox Searchlight film will be directed by Jason Reitman (Juno, Thank You for Smoking). Gooseninja.com will keep you update as to the progress of this dark comedy about a depressed former master ninja.

Gazing upon the miles of God's golden country, we discussed The Office star's thoughts on Eastern Washington. "If Yakima is the armpit of Washington State, then Wapato is like the infested mole encrusted within that armpit." One should point out Rainn's wife (Author Holiday Reinhorn) hails from Wapato. The two met at the University of Washington's Hutchinson Hall in '85 and still frequent their vacation cottage in Sisters, OR. Surrounded by the malnourished and dehydrated, I found it refreshing to hear they still kick around our native Eastern Washington.

"Everyone has a fucking beard here." And he was right. These apathetic neo-hippies have no hygiene, no manners. Shave? Fuck, how about a shower! After a night of spreading herpes from tent to tent, these hardcore red-state rockers reak of BO and bud. Many of them are sporting red and white bandanas adorning the former SNL host's film The Rocker. For the role, Mr. Wilson worked with drum coach Stewart Johnson in LA.

As for real rockers, The Flaming Lips were at the top of the list for Rainn. He also professed a love for the Cold War Kids, whose show Mr. Wilson caught later on the sidestage. You could see he was completely into their set and engaged with their music. I think Rainn Wilson loves music, community, and people in general. Rolling Stone tapped him to blog for them (read it here) and interview Rogue Wave. Gander On!

Beastie Boys bigger than Sasquatch

George, WA -- The crowd was swaddled in Easy Street sweatshirts, North Face fleeces and garbage bags on this blustery Sunday Night. Anything to keep warm. Thankfully, the Beastie Boys brought the heat. As soon as the Bboys picked up their instruments and the first licks of "Gratitude" kicked in, everyone was up on their feet. The gorge was rocking. The Beastie Boys may have aged, MCA sports a silvery mop and Mike D looks like Dustin D now more than ever, but tonight they proved they can still rock the mic and the jam.

They peppered this evenings performance with extended instrumental tracks off their new album, The Mix-Up, and kept people on their feet with classics like "Body Movin'". It was amazing to see Mike D man the drums for one song then run out to rock the mic for the next. The energy never waned and the crowd only got wilder as the night went on. Supplementing the on-stage action was Money Mark on the keys who, when not playing, would pop up all over the stage and Alfredo Ortiz on percussion. And just when you forgot about him, Mix Master Mike would change things up with a new sample or a crazy scratch routine.

Halfway through their set, the winds died down and all that was on stage were Adam, Adam and Mike. They tore through a punk song then slowed it down and got funky with some new shit. They played and played and just as my mind was about to wander they crank it back up with the classic bass line from "Root Down". Everybody's on stage now doing what they do best. They seamlessly move into "Pass the Mic" and end with a rowdy version of "What'cha Want". The lights go out and the crowd goes nuts. This shit ain't over. The crowd knows this and begins to chant "Beastie Boys. Beastie Boys. Then we hear the familiar "chk chk chk" of Mike's turntables and a lone spotlight on him.

A few scratches later, we hear the familiar beginnings of "Intergalactic" and it's on. The crowd goes nuts. I look back up the hill and everybody's on their feet. They play three more raucous songs and end the night with "Sabotage". They'd given the crowd two nights of insanity and their work here was done.

Check out The Mix-Up in stores July 26.


Gander On!