Gabriel Mintz
Gabriel Mintz
About a month ago, I was sitting in a South Downtown sports bar enjoying a burger and a couple pints of Manny’s while watching the World Series. At about the same time that officials called the World Series game due to a torrential downpour in Philadelphia, a young man, heavy with guitar case, walked through the door. Not yet done with my second pint, I sat and listened as he played, surrounded by Seattle sports memorabilia (casting a uniquely dreary shadow on the whole thing).

Loose but consumed with a frenetic energy, he introduced himself with a great goofy grin. “Hey, my name is Gabe Mintz. Thanks to Joe for letting me come over and play a few songs for everyone. Thanks for coming out.” Joe is the owner of the bar, the Hawk’s Nest. “Everyone” was about seven people, five of whom appeared to be SoDo townies who were incredibly familiar and affectionate towards the singer. He began playing and the room was suddenly painted as his world, a dark place shot through with a fluid, somehow playful beauty. His voice ached and crooned and his fingers skipped and ran down his fret board. For two hours he played and I sat, in the middle of the near-empty bar, mesmerized. When I left, I was drunk.

Last night I sat down with Mintz at his work space, which happens to be right next door to the bar I found him in a few weeks before. I asked him some questions for a piece that will be published in the January Sound. You’ll have to wait until then to read his story (though I will tell you that the first song he ever wrote is an existential quandry that involves toy trains and Ronald Reagan). After the interview, he agreed to play a couple songs for my recorder. Enjoy.

“I.S.O.”

“Love is the Message of the Sun”:

Mintz will be playing Wednesday, Dec. 10 at the Hawk’s Nest; Saturday, Dec. 13 at the Blue Moon; and Tuesday, Dec. 16 at the Can Can.