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1/12/07, 5:45 pm EST

Assignment One Finalist: Chrys Buckley on Orcas Island, Washington

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Note: This is not an official Rolling Stone article. What follows is a submission to the “I’m From Rolling Stone” writing competition.


ISLAND ORCASTRATIONS

by Chrys Buckley
Age: 25
To get to Orcas Island in Northwest Washington, you have to take a ferry. Many of the 4,000 year-round residents come from the fringes of society—hippies, ex-hippies who settled down and had “indigo children,” drug addicts, recovering addicts, organic gurus who live off the grid and prepare for Peak Oil, retirees, healers, felons, millionaires, artists, and other assorted misfits and runaways. In 57 square miles there’s not one record store or regular concert venue, but music on Orcas permeates the atmosphere and is as soft around the edges as its characters.

At solstice parades, local ceremonies and the Farmer’s Market, performers range from saxophonists and a cappella groups to a World Fusion band called Orcatraz. In summer, there’s “Music in the Park” every Sunday night and “Brown Bag Concerts” on the green every Wednesday at noon. Both feature insipid feel-good fare. There’s always reggae at the Oddfellows Hall, where local dances and holiday festivities happen. And now, for the second winter in a row, the island is having its own Orcas Idol contest.

Moving away from the center of town, people are scattered throughout the horseshoe-shaped island. In these patches are drum circles, spiritual gatherings with sacred singing in foreign languages and bonfires with jam music and more reggae. Don’t forget to show off your dreads.

It can be heartwarming to see all this music come out of such a remote place with such a small population. We’re rich in reggae, in hippie, in save-the-whale soulful songwriting but we’re lacking in the hardcore, hard-hitting passion and vigor of rock, rap and metal. For a rocker chick like me, when it all gets too heartwarming and happy and wholesome, I think about unknown patches and have faith in the felons.

-- Rolling Stone

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Comments

Asnlypxp | 7/13/2009, 10:45 pm EST

W4tdb5

chrys | 12/3/2007, 7:02 pm EST

susks

Adamstarr... | 10/23/2007, 8:41 pm EST

Chrys…. ssshhhh! …

Get it?

big LUV ::: adam…

Charlotte | 1/30/2007, 12:07 pm EST

Hey rocker girl,

I remember when we watched the Bob Dylan docu on my tv after driving up from a weekend of writing at Esalen. Your piece was wonderful and I wish I was there.

sohail butt | 1/26/2007, 10:38 am EST

i like the listening music and visiting the papular place also like to see movies& pictures i should be visit or setteled in washington,if i can possible.

Chelsea Loves Her Home | 1/25/2007, 9:52 pm EST

I’VE LIVED ON ORCAS MY WHOLE LIFE AND IT’S THE GREATEST, THANX FOR WRITTING ABOUT IT.!!!!!

BabaOreally | 1/23/2007, 2:52 pm EST

this is sooooo cool. REALLY.HA. We are here in Michigan where the economy is blistering..and popping, and depressing…and this Old Hippie and his wife are empty-nested and thinking about our next move… and we are concrete-footed when it comes to moving… and I’ve been focusing on the NorthWest for several years. And now this GREAT article.
3 DEEP breath’s.Thank You, Chrys.

Chrys | 1/19/2007, 12:58 pm EST

Well thanks for the comments guys. I see some people I know and some I don’t, so, rock on : )

Dolly | 1/18/2007, 7:37 pm EST

that seems like a pretty cool place actually.

Dare To Hear A Fool | 1/18/2007, 1:10 pm EST

i dont know… this piece seemed just as boring to me as the place seems; maybe that was intentional?

Trish E | 1/17/2007, 5:39 pm EST

Chrys, You nailed this one on the head! Props from a NW girl!

Crustayshis Kev | 1/17/2007, 5:04 pm EST

Knowing AuthorChrys’ musical tastes from MySpace, she’d better hope those patches are electrified. Somehow I’ll bet she doesn’t relish the idea of seeing Jones on mandolin, Keenan slappin’ his knees, playin’ the spoons and doin’ some yodelin’, Carey on a couple a upturned five-gallon buckets, and Chancellor and d’Amour blowin’ sideways into empty moonshine jugs.

Seattle Guy | 1/17/2007, 2:02 pm EST

Orcas is very cool. Rock on Chrys.

Stillreign | 1/13/2007, 1:15 pm EST

A colorful vantage point in a not-so-typical situation. Sounds like an interesting place and and oasis where even the unexpected can happen from time to time. –Well done!

Sloane | 1/13/2007, 9:43 am EST

What a great story! Thanks for sharing it!

Shawnte | 1/13/2007, 8:20 am EST

I especially enjoyed the ending.

evlyn | 1/13/2007, 5:37 am EST

Great job Chrys…..
hugs

twan_deeth_ree | 1/13/2007, 12:10 am EST

Sounds like an interesting place filled with interesting people. You painted quite a picture there, Chrys!

Jennifer | 1/13/2007, 12:05 am EST

This is a really thoughtful and well written article. I’ve never been as far north as Washington (I’m down in Texas, y’all), but I could really visualize what the music scene is like on Orcas Island. The artical invoked some great imagery, and I could just imagine hearing those drums. Makes me want to visit and relax with the island rhythm for a while.

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