12
SOUND CHECK
MAY 18�25, 2022
WHAT’S PLAYING AROUND
THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST
Minnesota’s Bad Bad Hats plays live in Baker City
Concert on May  24
will also feature
The Ophelias
By Lisa Britton
Go! Magazine
AKER CITY — The fi rst
livestream for Bad Bad Hats
was out of pure boredom.
That was in 2020. The band
had been on tour, but shows
were cancelled and they were
stuck in a motel room.
Lead singer Kerry Alexander
remembers saying “I guess
we could do a livestream on
Instagram.”
So they did.
“We did an impromptu con-
cert in the motel room,” she said,
laughing at the memory.
That lead to weekly
livestream shows of cover
songs chosen by themes.
“I needed that busyness in my
life,” she said.
(In concerts, they play all
original music — not covers.)
They went from livestream
B
1124 Adams Ave
La Grande
541-624-3113
Zoe Prinds-Flash/Contributed photo
Minnesota-based band Bad Bad Hats playing at Churchill School May 24 in
Baker City.
concerts to playing in empty
venues to performing at drive-
in theaters.
“People would honk instead
of clapping,” she said.
Now, two years later, the Min-
nesota-based band is on tour
once again and their West Coast
route includes Churchill School,
3451 Broadway St., on Tuesday,
May 24. They are touring with
The Ophelias, a four-piece band
that formed in 2015 and has
released four albums.
“We haven’t done a West
Coast tour since October of
2019. We’re excited to come
back,” Alexander said.
Doors open at 6 p.m., and
the music starts at 6:45 p.m.
Tickets are $10 in advance at
churchillbaker.com, or $15 at
the door. Proof of full COVID-19
vaccination or negative PCR test
taken within 72 hours is required
for entry. Admission is free for
fully vaccinated youth age 15
and younger who attend with a
ticket-holding adult.
Bad Bad Hats, founded in
2012, is the trio of Alexander
(vocals and guitar), Chris Hoge
(bass) and Con Davison (drums).
The name is inspired by the
“Madeline” children’s books,
most notably “Madeline and the
Bad Hat.”
“I read those books a lot when
I was little,” Alexander said. “The
‘bad hat’ is the troublemaker.”
Her musical background be-
gan with violin lessons.
“I bombed every single violin
recital,” she said.
She started writing lyrics in
middle school, and by eighth
grade was playing the guitar.
“Having people hear and
enjoy my songs — that was my
dream,” she said.
She’s glad to be back on-
stage, with a live audience.
“Music is a very personal
experience — to be close to the
person who made the art, and
the one who is appreciating the
art,” she said.
Pre-pandemic, Bad Bad Hats
would tour the East Coast, the
West Coast and the Midwest. She
keeps a map, marked with pins, to
track all the places they’ve played.
“We’re excited to add our
Baker City pin,” she said.
They released their most
recent album “Walkman” in
September 2021. Learn more at
www.badbadhats.com.
Bluemtnoutfitters.com
Mon-Sat 10-6, Sun 12-4
11am-8pm Tuesday-Saturday