Holy Ghost to tour nationally

With a new album inspired by horror film soundtracks, British folk rock and “how evil the woods really are, especially here in the dark Northwest,” island glam-band Holy Ghost Revival is set to embark on their grandest national tour yet.

“We’ve already toured the whole U.S. twice and the West Coast more times than I care to mention, but this tour will be special because it’s at some bigger clubs, and we’ll be touring behind an album for the first time,” said singer and 2001 Bainbridge High grad Conor Kiley.

Holy Ghost Revival will kickoff their tour Tuesday at the Bainbridge Island Grange Hall along with other bands Hellen Killers and Saddle Creek recording artists Two Gallants.

Carrying on a near two-decade tradition of island glam rock, HRG served as mentors to the Gruff Mummies, a young band now making waves on Seattle radio stations and recently at Bumbershoot.

Kiley said the vein of British glam rock running through many Bainbridge bands is drawn directly from island society’s core.

“The ‘glam’ aesthetic, for me, comes from being surrounded by such wealth and people having some kind of ‘lefty’ guilt about it,” he said. “We decided to go against all that and be foolishly decadent.”

The island, he said, also serves as rich soil for blossoming bands.

“I think Bainbrige has been a pretty good place to us as a band and a music community,” he said. “I remember seeing shows at the Teen Center in middle school and those are among my finest, most inspiring memories.”

Kiley is quick to pass the spotlight to a new, up-and-coming island band set to open up for HGR on Tuesday.

“The band Bad Otis are a perfect example of kids who have the backbone and perserverance to do things their own way (and) aren’t afraid to work for it,” he said. “They are all, I believe, still in high school, but put on tons of the youth rock shows on the island. They hook up bands from all over the country with shows here and also go out and book their own tours. I just really dig them as kids (and) what they are doing for the local scene.”

While taking time off of college to tour the nation, Kiley said he and the band have already “made it” as musicians who make a career out of traveling the nation playing the music they love.

“We get off on making and performing music,” he said. “We obviously know that this is something that is extremely fulfilling to all of us. We are living our dreams right now, just as everyone should be.”

Holy Ghost Revival, Two Gallants, Bad Otis and the Hellen Killers will play the Bainbridge Island Grange Hall at 4 p.m. Sept. 20. Cost is $5.

– Tristan Baurick

Blown onto Bainbridge

Bainbridge Island’s first family of hurricane refugees arrives soon.

Kelly Samson and two partners registered a four-bedroom rental they own in Winslow at a website, www.hurricanehousing.org, for victims of Hurricane Katrina, with an offer of six-months free rent.

A 28-year-old mother with her four children soon contacted them; the familiy had lost everything in the hurricane.

By coincidence, one of Samson’s assistants discovered she had attended high school with the mother.

To prepare for the family’s arrival next week, Samson’s wife, Sally, sent out an email to friends Thursday morning, and within 24 hours received hundreds of calls responding with offers of household items, furniture and the loan of a car to fill the family’s major needs. The mother has even found a job.

“The response has been overwhelming,” Sally Samson said. “People have been telling me, ‘We sent our checks to the Red Cross, but at the same time we wanted to do something that was in more direct contact with someone who was affected.’”

Those wishing to help the family and other families in the community in need may contact Helpline House at 842-7621.

– Tina Lieu

Trust launches $400K drive

The Bainbridge Public Schools Trust launches its fourth year of fundraising for Bainbridge’s public schools with their third annual Wine Tasting and Auction from 4-7 p.m. Sept. 25 at the home of Kelly and Sally Samson, 4268 Tunnelwood Court on Bainbridge Island.

This year’s goal is to raise $400,000 in total to reduce classroom sizes throughout the district and fund the hiring of 5.5 full-time equivalent teachers in the district, the Title I program and other priority educational materials this school year.

Attendees will taste wines donated by 10 wineries from Walla Walla and be able to bid on unique and collectable wines from around the world.

Wine will be accompanied by food prepared by guest chef and islander Greg Atkinson with Kerrie Sanson and Pam Nelson.

Reservations are requested by Sept. 21 by calling the trust at 855-0530.

The trust helps remedy the funding challenges Bainbridge schools face in trying to keep their traditional level of excellence.

To learn more about the organization, see www.bainbridgeschoolstrust.org.

Schools seek parent help

The Bainbridge Island School District is seeking parents and other volunteers to participate in school district advisory and program review committees for the 2005-06 school year, which also include school staff and community volunteers.

Vacancies are available for the following committees:

• Instructional Materials Committee

• Title VII Indian Education Parent Committee

• Multicultural Advisory Committee

• K-12 Health and Fitness Program Review Committee

• K-12 Social Studies Program Review Committee

• Health Education Advisory Committee

• Special Education Program Council

• Technology Advisory Committee

• Highly Capable Education Advisory Committee

These district-level groups meet on a regular basis during the school year.

Volunteer applications are available at the BISD administrative office and all public school offices. Return completed forms by Sept. 30 to Faith Chapel at the BISD, 8489 Madison Ave., Bainbridge, WA 98110 or via fax to 780-1089.

For information, contact Judy Kornbau at 780-1071 or jkornbau@bainbridge.wednet.edu.