Hot Laundry

January 18, 2007

Contact: Pipo Bui, Development Director, EarthCorps
206-322-9296 x203
pipo@earthcorps.org

Local Bands and EarthCorps Kick Off 2007 as the "Year of the Volunteer"

Hot Laundry and The Cricks Want to Get their Fans Dirty

Seattle, WA -- Seattle's forests and streams need a helping hand, so when local jam bands Hot Laundry and The Cricks approached EarthCorps about cooperating, it was music to the environmental service organization's ears.

"We want to do what we can to help raise environmental awareness in our community," explains Craig Handzlik, lead singer and guitarist for Hot Laundry. “We’re creating a range of ways that the average person can get involved – they can volunteer with EarthCorps in a local park, they can donate, they can come to our show and know their ticket will benefit EarthCorps, and they can learn about why it is so important to keep urban habitats healthy.”

"Seattle is renowned for its majestic natural landscapes and for great music, so why not bring these two things together?" said Chris LaPointe, Volunteer Program Manager for EarthCorps, and a performance musician himself. “This is a great way to kick off The Year of the Volunteer.”

Year of the Volunteer Kick-Off

As part of the effort to engage more local residents in meaningful and fun service to their local parks, EarthCorps will hold a special volunteer work-party on Saturday, January 27 in the Beacon Hill neighborhood.

Saturday, January 27, 10 am - 2 pm
Jose Rizal Park, Beacon Hill
For more information or to register to volunteer online, see www.earthcorps.org

Hot Laundry plans an impromptu serenade to thank volunteers for their service, and hopes to see many of them (after a shower!) later that evening at Tommy's Night Club on The Ave in the University District. 25% of the night's proceeds will go to support EarthCorps.

Saturday, January 27, 9 pm
Hot Laundry with The Cricks
Tommy's Night Club
4552 University Way NE

EarthCorps will be present at the show to sign up volunteers and share information about habitat restoration. EarthCorps holds over 200 volunteer events annually in Seattle, King and Pierce counties.

About EarthCorps

EarthCorps is a Seattle-based nonprofit with a mission to build global community through local environmental service. EarthCorps promotes strong communities, healthy habitats and young leaders, while working with thousands of environmental service volunteers. www.earthcorps.org

About Hot Laundry

Craig Handzlik, Lincoln Ballard, Jason Gray and Rick Isotalo take fans on vivid improvisational odysseys through textural and dynamic jams. Founded in 2005, HOT LAUNDRY plays catchy, radio friendly original tunes. The band is known to spring obscure and recognizable cover songs onto their unsuspecting fans. No song is ever played the same way twice. The musicians include a former radio host, a Ph.D. student, and a U.S. Navy Nuclear Engineer. HOT LAUNDRY has played before audiences at Seafair, The NW Folklife Festival, The Olympia Harbor Days Festival, The West Seattle Nature Conservatory and just about every club on the Seattle circuit. www.hotlaundry.net

The bands and EarthCorps are available for interviews or performances.
Contact: Pipo Bui, Development Director, EarthCorps
206-322-9296 x203
pipo@earthcorps.org

Pipo Bui
Development Director
EarthCorps
6310 NE 74th Street, Suite 201E
Seattle, WA 98115
206-322-9296 x203
pipo@earthcorps.org
www.earthcorps.org

EarthCorps: Local Restoration - Global Leadership - Earthcorps

Friday, January 26, 2007

SeattleNoise: Hot Laundry

WHAT: Seattle-based jam band featuring Craig Handzlik (guitar and vocals), Lincoln Ballard (guitar and vocals), Jason Gray (vocals and bass) and Richard Isotalo (percussion). Handzlik is a former radio producer and co-host at KBKS-FM (KISS 106.1), and Ballard is a current University of Washington School of Music Ph.D. candidate. Gray is a U.S. Navy nuclear engineer, and Isotalo is a U.S. Navy combat specialist. (Handzlik's dad, Jan Handzlik, starred as the young Patrick Dennis in "Auntie Mame" in 1958.)

BAND DEBUT: Seattle, 2005. The band has play at Seafair, the Northwest Folklife Festival, Olympia Harbor Days and many Seattle clubs.

SOUND: Rhythmic, groove-oriented, improvisational rock, featuring Handzlik's steamroller vocals. In additional to original songs, the band plays obscure as well as popular cover tunes and prides itself on never playing any song the same way twice.

QUOTE: "Hot Laundry has a little something for everyone interested in shaking their bones," Handzlik says.

"Hot Laundry's primary objective is composing interesting, yet accessible original music that translates into entertaining, energetic live shows for everyone to enjoy. We just put the finishing touches on an original tune (more like an opus) titled 'Way to Cactus,' which touches on blues, funk, Latin, reggae and calypso music -- all in 30 minutes!"

WHERE TO LISTEN: hotlaundry.net (biographies, downloads, photos, "swag," guest book and contact information). Or myspace.com/hotlaundry (more downloads, biographical information and performance dates).

NEXT SHOW: Saturday night at 9 at Tommy's Nightclub, 4552 University Way N.E. Admission: $5. The show is a benefit for EarthCorps' "Year of the Volunteer" program. (Pearl Jam recently donated $100,000 to the organization, whose Web site is www.earthcorps.org.) Opening act The Cricks go on stage at 8. Information: www.tommysnightclub.com

-- Gene Stout

- Seattle Post Intelligencer