The Fat Fridays


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ABOUT
THE
BAND
I was talking to a friend at a show recently who asked jokingly if we knew
any Rush; he knew that we didn't. I said, you know we play, um, softer rock.
He corrected me saying, "yacht rock." Really? Is that what we play? Turns
out a bunch of songs and artists from the official yacht rock list appear
on our song list. Who knew there was an official list? We play great songs
with deep grooves, sweet melodies, cool chord changes, and heartfelt lyrics by
Carole King, Paul Simon, Linda Ronstadt, Gerry Rafferty, Fleetwood Mac, Steely
Dan, Patsy Cline, James Taylor, Eagles, Marvin Gaye, Hoyt Axton, Bill Withers,
Van Morrison, and plenty more. We used to call it "jazz-infused rock and blues."
I think we play the "roots of yacht rock:" classic soft rock, folk rock, and country rock.
Whatever it's called, this band keeps listeners engaged and the dance floor
filled, with soaring three-part harmonies, world-class jazzoid soloists
on keys and horns, solid rockers on guitars and vocals, and the
tightest rhythm section in Western
WA.

ORIGIN
STORY
Established in 2014 by Mark Dodge with Andy Carr, The Fat Fridays began as a
recording project. With over 100 covers and originals "in the can," the band
began playing regular four-hour dance gigs at Angel of the Winds casino
in 2016. Originally conceived to play New Orleans funk and rock,
The Fat Fridays unwittingly evolved into a megaboat of dancehall
Yacht Rock, stepchild of Folk Rock, Country Rock, and Soft Rock.
2023 was a pivotal year; the band played three times
more gigs than average, and added a
dynamic vocalist who brought
a yachtload of
great new
songs.

BAND
BIOS
The newest Friday, vocalist Kelly Visten, was a founding member of
Mama Dirty Skirt, one of Skagit valley's favorite bands, and is well-known
in the local theater community. She recently was "Auntie Em" in a fabulous
production of The Wizard of Oz at the Lincoln Theatre in Mount Vernon, and
is co-star of Skagit county's annual "Always Patsy Cline" franchise. Kelly
adds new layers to our songlist, with sweet harmonic frosting. The band's
musicianship is outstanding, with Mark Kelly on woodwinds, a renowned music
educator and director of the Bellingham Youth Jazz Band, and always in demand
as a first-call jazz and rock soloist. Drummer Chris Leighton has won so many
awards from the Washington Blues Society, they gave up and named the award
after him. Bassist Tom Anastasio toured with Asleep at the Wheel and
appeared on their "Pasture Prime" album. Pianist Andy Carr is a world-class
accompanist and arranger for vocalists, choirs, big bands, musical theatre,
is a first-call jazz pianist, and a perfect-pitch vocalist. Guitarist
Mark Dodge is a veteran vocalist, multi-instrumentalist,
producer, first-call bassist, and former
full-time road warrior.

The Fat Fridays 2023
Everybody plays in other great bands too, so book weekends WAY in advance.

Featuring (left to right):

Mark Kelly on woodwinds is a Whatcom County icon, a renowned music
educator, director of the Bellingham Youth Jazz Band; a member of
The Atlantics, The Makedonians, The Alicia Dauber band,
The Holmes Shea Band; and is always in demand as a first-call soloist.

Mark Dodge on guitar and vocals is a veteran multi-instrumentalist
and former full-time road warrior who produces recordings in his Camano Island
studio, and plays bass in Fidalgo Swing, Spike Wilder and Swingnuts Jazz,
The Alan Hatley Band, and Mary Ellen Lykins and the C.C. Adams Band.

Kelly Visten on vocals is a founding member of one of Skagit County's most
popular bands, Mama Dirty Skirt. She is well-known in the regional theater community,
is the co-star of Skagit county's annual "Always Patsy Cline" franchise,
and of the very popular Joe & Kelly duo.

Chris Leighton is one of Seattle's best and most prolific working drummers.
Chris won the Washington Blues Society's Best Drums award nine times.
He toured the world with Bill Frisell, Ironhorse, and the Laura Love Band. He plays locally
with Rod Cook and Toast, The Usual Suspects, and a great many others.

Tom Anastasio played with Seattle's New Deal Rhythm Band back in
the day, as well as Austin, Texas' Asleep at the Wheel. He's a first-call bassist in
Bellingham, and plays with Cardova, the Alicia Dauber band, and others.

Andy Carr on keys and vocals, is a world-class jazz pianist, arranger, and accompanist
who performs with the A’Town Big Band, Whistle Lake Jazz Quartet,
Herding Kats Jazz Nonet, Joan Penney, Spike Wilder and Swingnuts Jazz, and more.

Fat Fridays Alumni:
Walt Burkett - bass
Don Kellogg - drums
Jack Stafford - woodwinds
James Clark - bass
Thomas Kemper - drums

- Past Shows -
A special event every time!

- 2 0 2 3 –

We released our fourth CD - Rise - in January 2023!

The Rockfish Grill - Sat, Feb 4, 2023, 7:30-10:00pm Anacortes
Crossroads Market Stage - Fri, Mar 10, 2023, 7-9pm Bellevue
Angel of the Winds casino - Thu, Mar 16, 2023, 11am-3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds casino - Mon, May 1, 2023, 11am-3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds casino - Mon, May 15, 2023, 11am-3pm Arlington
Third Place Commons - Fri, May 26, 2023, 7:00-9:00pm Lake Forest Park
Angel of the Winds casino - Mon, May 29, 2023, 11am-3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds casino - Mon, Jun 12, 2023, 11am-3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds casino - Mon, Jun 26, 2023, 11am-3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds casino - Mon, Jul 10, 2023, 11am-3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds casino - Mon, Aug 7, 2023, 11am-3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds casino - Mon, Aug 21, 2023, 11am-3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds casino - Mon, Sep 4, 2023, 11am-3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds casino - Mon, Oct 16, 2023, 11am-3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds casino - Mon, Oct 30, 2023, 11am-3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds casino - Mon, Nov 13, 2023, 11am-3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds casino - Mon, Nov 27, 2023, 11am-3pm Arlington
The Shelter Bay Yacht Club's Commodore Ball - Sat, Dec 2, 2023, 8pm LaConner
Angel of the Winds casino - Mon, Dec 11, 2023, 11am-3pm Arlington
The Rockfish Grill - Sat, Dec 23, 2023, 7:30-10:00pm Anacortes
Third Place Commons - Sat, Dec 30, 2023, 7:00-9:00pm Lake Forest Park

- 2 0 2 2 –

Crossroads Market Stage - Fri, Mar 4, 2022, 7-9pm Bellevue
Third Place Commons - Fri, Mar 11, 2022, 7-9pm Lake Forest Park
Blast from the Past - Fri, Jun 3, 2022, Noon-2:30pm Sedro-Woolley
The Skagit County Fair - Fri, Aug 12, 2022, 6-8pm Mount Vernon
Crossroads Market Stage - Sat, Oct 1, 2022, 7-9pm Bellevue
Third Place Commons - Fri, Oct 14, 2022, 7-9pm Lake Forest Park

- 2 0 2 0 / 2 0 2 1 –

We released our third CD - Brainshadow - in June 2020!
Some other stuff happened.

- 2 0 1 9 –

Angel of the Winds Casino - Mon, Jan 28, 2019, 11am - 3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds Casino - Mon, Feb 11, 2019, 11am - 3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds Casino - Mon, Mar 4, 2019, 11am - 3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds Casino - Tax Day: No Taxation Without Recreation! Mon, Apr 15, 2019, 11am - 3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds Casino - Mon, May 6, 2019, 11am - 3pm Arlington

- 2 0 1 8 –

We released our second CD - Maybe Wednesday - in 2018!

Angel of the Winds Casino - Mon, Dec 10, 2018, 11am - 3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds Casino - Mon, Nov 26, 2018, 11am - 3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds Casino - Halloween Costume Party! - Mon, Oct 29, 2018, 11am - 3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds Casino - Celebrating two years at the Angel - Mon, Sep 24, 2018, 11am - 3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds Casino - Mon, Aug 13, 2018, 11am - 3pm Arlington
Sedro-Woolley Summer Concert Series - Sun, Jul 29, 2018, 6 - 8pm Sedro-Woolley
Angel of the Winds Casino - Mon, May 7, 2018, 11am - 3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds Casino - Mon, Feb 12, 2018, 11am - 3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds Casino - Mon, Jan 8, 2018, 11am - 3pm Arlington

- 2 0 1 7 –

Angel of the Winds Casino - Mon, Dec 18, 2017, 11am - 3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds Casino - Mon, Sept 25, 2017 @ 11am - 3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds Casino - Mon, Aug 28, 2017 @ 11am - 3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds Casino - Mon, July 31, 2017 @ 11am - 3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds Casino - Mon, Jan 2, 2017 @ 11am - 3pm Arlington

- 2 0 1 6 –

We released our first CD - Never on Tuesday - in 2016!

Angel of the Winds Casino - Mon, Dec 12, 2016 @ 11am - 3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds Casino - Mon, Nov 21, 2016 @ 11am - 3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds Casino - Mon, Oct 24, 2016 @ 11am - 3pm Arlington
Angel of the Winds Casino - Mon, Sept 19, 2016 @ 11am - 3pm Arlington
Pub 282 - Fri, Sept 2, 2016 @ 7:00 Camano Island
The Skagit County Fair - Wed, Aug. 10, 2016 @ 3:30 In concert on the main stage
Pub 282 - Fri, June 17, 2016 @ 7:00 Camano Island
Pub 282 - CD release celebration - Fri, April 15, 2016 @ 7:00 Camano Island

- 2 0 1 5 –

Private Party - Sun, July 7, 2015 @ 1:00 The Grand Willow, Mount Vernon


Released January 2023: The Fat Fridays CD, RISE
Released January 2023: The Fat Fridays CD, RISE




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