For A Thrilling July . . . Annie Rose & The Thrillers' 1981 Concert Calendar
Annie Rose and The Thrillers were a mainstay in the 1980s in Seattle, Washington’s taverns, and this is their 1981 concert calendar.
After moving to Seattle, Washington from Norman, Oklahoma in 1972, Annie Rose De Armas (b. unknown) led the Country-Rock Band Rose and the Dirtboys with steel guitar player Chris Middaugh (b. unknown), bassists Rod Talley (b. unknown) and Guy Purdy (b. unknown), and guitarist Bill Gallagher (b. unknown) until 1975. De Armas is an openly gay singer known for performing with her dance band, Annie Rose and the Thrillers, at local venues including the University District’s Rainbow Tavern and Baby O’s in Pioneer Square, and throughout the Pacific Northwest from 1978 to 1984. Over the years Thrillers vocalists included Kristen Anderberg (b. unknown), Donna Beck (b. unknown), Susan Johnson (b. unknown), Denise Roselle (b. unknown), Judy Schnepps (b. unknown), and Patti Vincent (b. unknown), also a tenor saxophonist, along with Doug Reid (b. unknown) on alto saxophone. Drummers included Paul Black (b. unknown), Don Kammerer (b. unknown), and Carson Michaels (b. unknown), alongside bassists Dave Liston (b. unknown) and Gary Oldroyd (b. unknown).
The Rainbow Tavern, affectionately known as the “Fabulous Rainbow,” was a bar and music venue located in Seattle’s U-District, at 722 NE 45th. Steve Hudziak (b. unknown) opened the tavern in 1973, and a wide variety of traveling artists, such as the Ramones, the Neville Brothers, Big Walter Horton, and Buddy Guy, as well as Northwest bands such as Soundgarden, Jr. Cadillac, and Annie Rose and the Thrillers performed here. The tavern closed in 1986, and the space has since become a brewery, which still displays Rainbow Tavern memorabilia courtesy of Hudziak.
The Golden Crown opened in June 1972 at 1608 Times Court, serving Chinese food with the hope of also offering entertainment. In February 1973, owners George Woo, his wife Martha, and John Loui—also responsible for the Gold Coin Restaurant—added the Cabaret Theater, holding performances on the second floor. Danny Ward & His New Reality performed after the theatre performance from 11 pm to 4 am four days a week beginning in May 1973. The dinner theatre closed in 1974, and the owners hired pianist Bob Dudley to perform regularly until January 1975. By 1980, cabaret shows had resumed, now featuring drag shows instead of plays. Bands also began to perform, including local standbys Annie Rose and the Thrillers, the Cowboys, and Jr. Cadillac, but by 1982 many local new wave bands booked at the club, as well as national groups, including Snakefinger, Richard Hell and the Voidoids, and Chris Spedding. On February 19th, 1983, Golden Crown co-owner John Loui was killed along with 12 others in the Wah Mee Massacre, which marked yet another shift for the Golden Crown, which was renamed “The Crown” in January 1984, a name which stuck for less than a month, much like the Disillusion Lounge, which lasted from October to December that year. In 1986, the Golden Crown waws demolished to make way for the new Westlake Mall, so the club moved two blocks west to 1516 Second Ave and continued booking cabaret shows until its closure in December 1988.
The Buffalo Tavern was located at 5403 – 5407 Ballard Avenue in Seattle. The Portland Building, constructed in 1901 and located in the Ballard neighborhood, has decorative brick and many long-standing businesses, such as Cascade Drug, Halverson's Dry Goods, and J.C. Penney were located in this building on Ballard Avenue, now a national historic district. From the 1950s to the 1970s, the corner storefront was a tavern, known first as The Cedars and then The Buffalo. Jack and Connie Hughes owned the Buffalo Tavern from 1976 – 1980, and the bar’s buffalo head became iconic after Jack placed a joint in its mouth. Many artists, such as Robert Cray, Jr. Cadillac, The Skyboys, Big Momma Thornton, Kidd Afrika, and Annie Rose and the Thrillers performed at the Buffalo Tavern. The Portland Building was renovated in 1985.
In the 1970s, the G-Note Tavern was Located at 200 NW 85th Street in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood, featuring a red and white checkered wall outside, which has since been painted green. The tavern closed by the early 2000s, and the space became an all-ages dance venue
BB King onve performed here, and other featured musicians included Jr. Cadillac, Dynamic Logs, Skyboys, Sweet Talkin’ Jones, and Wheatfield.
