Artist Bootsy Holler joined Seattle's punk and grunge scene while it was taking off. Then, she documented the genesis of the “post-grunge” independent music boom of the early 2000s.

She photographed many of the bands that would go on to define the “indie” scene: like Death Cab for Cutie, Fleet Foxes, Gossip, Modest Mouse, Interpol and more.

Whether the bands are onstage or in a portrait, her photos are full of movement, life and quirk. When you see them, you feel like you can almost hear the microphone feedback and smell the sweaty crowd at the Crocodile or El Corazon.

Her new book is "Making It: An Intimate Documentary of the Seattle Indie, Rock & Punk Scene, 1992–2008".

Guest 

Bootsy Holler

Related links

Bootsy Holler’s photobook is a tribute to the golden era of indie rock (flying bassists and attitude included) - It's Nice That

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

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The animated short film ‘Tulip’ opens as many stories do - with "once upon a time."

The tale might sound familiar. It begins with a woman finding a tiny baby girl, curled up at the center of a blooming flower. Soon, Tulip climbs out her window and sets off on an adventure in her own backyard – meeting the many creatures that call it home as she tries to find her way back to her own.

The film is a take on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale Thumbelina. Each scene is awash in bright colors and textures. 

Every part of Tulip - from the characters to the sets and backgrounds - is made by hand, most of it in felt, and brought to life using the time-intensive technique of stop motion animation.

And the lush, green backgrounds may look familiar - the co-directors behind the film are based here in Western Washington.

Tulip was originally released in 2020. It screened at film festivals like the Annecy International Animation Festival and the Seattle International Film Festival.

Now, for the first time, anyone can watch the short on YouTube.

Guests:

• Andrea Love is a stop motion animator based in Port Townsend. She was co-director for Tulip, and also headed up fabrication & animation. 

• Phoebe Wahl is an illustrator and children’s book author based in Bellingham. She was the co-director, lead set and character designer, and script writer for Tulip.

Related links:

• Watch 'Tulip' on Youtube

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Federal lawmakers are returning from their Spring Break tomorrow, when the House goes back in session. And, what a two week recess it has been.

The President threatened Iran with destruction of its “whole civilization,” and then agreed to a cease fire. That cease fire is now in doubt after peace talks failed in Islamabad over the weekend and the U.S. military began a blockade of Iranian ships in the Strait of Hormuz. 

Meanwhile, congress is still battling over whether to fund the Department of Homeland Security with future pay for TSA agents and other workers in doubt.

And Cuba saw a brief respite from a U.S. oil blockade that has led to nationwide blackouts. My next guest says U.S. policy amounts to collective punishment of the Cuban people and she’s calling for formal negotiations to begin. 

Guest: 

Representative Pramila Jayapal

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Opponents of Washington’s new income tax on high earners are looking to fight the law on a couple of fronts: on the ballot, and in court.  

And last week, Citizens Action Defense Fund, a conservative nonprofit, filed a legal challenge to the tax in Klickitat County Superior Court, claiming the tax violates the state’s constitution. 

We talk to one of the attorneys representing the plaintiffs in that suit against the so-called “millionaires tax.” 

Guest

Rob McKenna, former Washington State Attorney General, 2012 Republican candidate for governor

Related Links

New lawsuit challenges constitutionality of Washington’s ‘millionaires tax’ - KUOW

Opponents sue to block WA’s new ‘millionaires tax’ - The Seattle Times

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

It’s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward.

GUEST: David Kroman

LINKS: 

• Seattle’s economic outlook is in choppy waters, but officials hopeful
• City Inside/Out: Inside Mayor Katie B. Wilson’s first 100 days
• Seattle, World Cup boosters say Trump’s actions likely to hurt tourism
• Mariners unveil broken Ichiro statue outside of T-Mobile Park

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’re just a few months away from the World Cup’s kick off. The United States is one of the host countries, along with Mexico and Canada. 

Host cities like Seattle are getting ready to welcome players, coaches, officials, families and fans from all around the world….. 

At least, the ones who are still comfortable traveling to the United States, which has taken a number of steps many see as unwelcoming to outside visitors. 

Travel bans, visa restrictions and expanded immigration arrests have left some people wondering if traveling to the United States right now is worth it… even to see their countries compete.  

Guest:

• Albert Samaha, a journalist who reported on how players are feeling about this year's World Cup in light of the Trump administration's immigration policies.

Related links:

• How World Cup Players Are Navigating Trump’s Immigration Crackdown | The New Yorker

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Let's get out & do something this weekend! Here are all the events fit to print!

HOST: Soundside producer Jason Megatron Burrows

LINKS: 

• Fin de Fest - Latin Film Festival
• MARINERS vs Houston Astros
• Seattle Cherry Blossom & Japanese Cultural Festival
• Spring Fair | Washington State Fair Event Center
• NW Model Hobby Expo
• SDFF 2026 - Deaf Spotlight
• WA State Toy Show
• 2026 Tea Festival - April 11th | Cascadia Tea Fest
• iDiOM Theater - “All Our Tragic” 4 part series
• Dungeons and Drag Queens Brunch Show
• SIFF 2026 Annual Volunteer Meeting

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The U.S. Forest Service says it’s going ahead with a major overhaul of the way it manages the nation’s forests. 

The plans, announced last week, include moving agency headquarters from Washington, D.C., to Salt Lake City, Utah. 

The Forest Service will close or repurpose its regional offices, including the Pacific Northwest one, and create 15 state offices. It will also close dozens of research facilities.

GUEST: Christine Peterson

RELATED LINK: Forest Service overhaul sows confusion, concern - High Country News 

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

It’s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward.

Guest:

• Jane C. Hu, a journalist and the host of City Cast Seattle. 

Related links:

• Latest ICE data shows surge in immigration arrests in WA • Washington State Standard
• Advocates praise WA for selling off $62M in Caterpillar bonds | The Seattle Times
• Why WA Sold Off Caterpillar Bonds, Measles in Seattle, and a Pro-Tax Millionaire - City Cast Seattle
• Why Did the Greenwood Fred Meyer Stop Offering Paper Bags with Handles? | The Stranger

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On occasion, we welcome field recordists from the area to share a sound they think is exemplary of the Pacific Northwest. 

Today, we have a sound from frequent contributor Gordon Hempton aka the Sound Tracker

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