Far too much of the time in life having fun gets put on a back burner in favor of “more important” things — like money, jobs, responsibilities, and even rigid ideals.

Screw that noise.



No matter how noble your cause, if you’re not having fun in this world, what’s the point? Call it irresponsible if you must, but seriously, if you’re not enjoying life, what is the point?



That moment of preaching herbal-jazzy wisdom from this hack journalist was inspired by the band Wow and Flutter, who will play McCoy’s in Olympia Saturday, Sept. 15.

Over a 10-plus-year career, Portland’s Wow and Flutter have been many things. They’ve changed lineups and swapped instruments. They’ve been gray and doleful. They’ve been weighty and winding. They’ve been a band not known for fun.



Until, that is, somewhere around 2006. After a number of events and surrounding circumstances (best described in a blog entitled “not the same as it ever was” by Wow and Flutter’s front man, Cord Amato, on the band’s Myspace page — Wow and Flutter have, by all accounts, gone in a happier direction — at least using the band’s music as an indicator. Recent Wow and Flutter material has been known to include male/female a capella action and beats you can actually tap a foot to. 



Compared to the Wow and Flutter of 2000, it’s quite the difference. They were good before. Now they’re even fun. — Matt Driscoll



[McCoy’s Tavern, with Ax, Saturday, Sept. 15, 9 p.m., $2, 418 E. Fourth, Olympia, 360.352.0696]