There was a whole lot of whimsical swaying going on — and a bit of wild gesticulating — when the CHS Crow stopped by Capitol Hill art gallery and bar Vermillion for Seattle’s very own Belle and Sebastian Dance Party. Say hey to a transplanted Northern California radio DJ, a host who says he’d do it all over again and a music teacher and real-life indie rocker who were all there helping celebrate the lyrical Scottish melody makers’ particularly danceable new release.

Rebecca

Who are you?
I was a DJ character. … I’m trying to figure out who I am in Seattle.

… where were you a DJ?
In Davis, California. I had a radio show for four years there. KVDS. And that’s how [Carly — below — and I] met. Her band played on my radio show. And I ended up moving up here. And we actually live 10 minutes away from each other in the CD. So we know each other.

Are you still working in radio?
Unfortunately not. I’m hoping to get involved somehow up here.

Live on Capitol Hill?
I actually just moved to Central District today. I just moved from Wallingford.

… what drew you to the area?
I’m working out in Issaquah, so it shortened my commute, and I have more friends who live in the Central District and it just made more sense to be closer to Capitol Hill.

What do you like about Belle and Sebastian?
I like how whimsical their lyrics are, and how it’s all kinds of stories, different characters. It’s really fun.

If your life right now were to be encapsulated by one Belle and Sebastian song or lyric, what would it be?
I guess, “I Didn’t See it Coming.”

… what do you mean?
I don’t know, this whole year.

What do you have to say to the people here?
I guess watch out, ’cause I just moved to the neighborhood.

… are you gonna make some waves?
Probably not. Maybe make everyone watch Animal Odd Couples though.

Tal

Who are you?
I moved here from Philadelphia a couple years ago to go to school.

What brought you out tonight?
I threw the party.

And you’re a DJ?
Not really no. I can play music off my computer but I wouldn’t really call myself a DJ.

What did you study?
Library sciences.

… are you a librarian?
No.

What do you do now?
I’m a taxonomist for Nordstrom, the website.

What made you decide to throw the party tonight?
It’s a party they throw in Philadelphia. I used to have a lot of fun going to it so I threw it here. They have a new album out, so I thought it would be a good night to get together.

Where was the party at in Philadelphia?
It used to go around different places. It used to be at a place called National Mechanics. It was thrown there by a blog called Philebrity.

How’s it been going to far? How’s the response been?
People seem to be having a lot of fun. The floor’s cleared out a bit right now, I don’t know if people are taking a break or they left or what. But people seem to having a lot of fun.

What do you like about Belle and Sebastian?
I think the depth of their content, the variety of their style.

… why do you think people respond to their music so much?
I think it covers a lot of human emotional ground.

If you could describe your life right now in one Belle and Sebastian lyric, what would it be?
“If We All Went Back to Another Time I Would Love You Over.”

Referring to anything in your life now? Or in the past?
I just like it, just in general.

What does it mean for you?
That I would do a lot of stuff again.

… the same way?
Pretty much, yeah.

What are you doing after the show?
I’m going home. … I gotta work tomorrow.

Where’s home?
I live on Capitol Hill.

How long have you lived here?
I lived in Green Lake for three years. I moved here a couple months ago.

What do you have to say to the people of the neighborhood?
Keep it safe, go to bed.

Carly

Who are you?
I’m a music teacher in the Central District.

… cool, where at?
It’s called Meter Music School. It’s super close to here. On 21st and Union. And I teach guitar, ukulele, piano and voice. Full time, all the time.

And you’re in a band?
I play in a few bands. The band that I’m most active in is called Mandarin Dynasty. And it’s kind of R & B, but played with rock and roll instruments.

 … what do you play?
I play synth. And I sing.

What brought you out tonight?
I love Belle and Sebastian. And celebrating my birthday. I think it’s like a dream, where it’s an event where it’s one of your favorite bands, and they’re just gonna be playing that band all night. And you’re invited to drink and dance. It’s great. It’s rare that that happens, and it happened.

How’s the party going so far here?
Good. We kind of just got here, but they already played a song we were singing on the walk here, so that’s fantastic.

What B & S song ‘hits the nail’ for you?
There’s a song called “She’s Losing It.” And I’ve always love the lyric, ‘When the first cup of coffee tastes like washing up.’ … It just feels like a disorienting morning where you’ve made a cup of coffee but there’s still soap left in the mug and you’re just like, ‘What the f@!*?’

What are you up to after this?
Going home. Making Valentine’s Day cookies that are in the freezer — the Valentine’s Day dough is in the freezer. And yeah, and watching Animal Odd Couples. Or Parks and Recreation. Whatever is readily available on the Netflix.

I just turned 28 yesterday. So I feel like home baked cookies and Netflix is just kind of — I’m down with that vibe. I feel like I’m at the age where that’s what it’s time to do.

How long have you lived in the area?
I’ve been in Seattle for about a year and a half. Moved here for the job. I live in Central.

What do you have to say to the people of Capitol Hill? 
Keep fighting for all of the great venues to stay open. I know a lot of them have been closing down. People have put a stink, and I hope people will keep putting up a stink about it.

Pro bono tip: if you’re interested in throwing your own party at Vermillion, you can send a line to [email protected].