Constellation: A loving documentary in sound for those lost to gun violence 

On May 30th, 2012, a lone gunman walked into Seattle’s Cafe Racer and took the lives of 4 innocent patrons, and critically wounded one other, later killing a 5th victim at Town Hall Seattle on First Hill. This mass shooting was a milestone for the Racer Sessions and the broader Seattle community. In the days and months to follow, Cafe Racer was shuttered. We struggled to understand the profound pain in our hearts and the absence of those senselessly taken from us. But the community could not be silenced.  On the following Sunday, 4 days after the shooting, the Racer Sessions continued on, this time gathering in the streets outside Cafe Racer. To our surprise, we were met by hundreds of neighbors. Musicians, artists, and lay people of all walks of life gathered together to mourn. The group improvisation that took place that afternoon was filmed, recorded and later released as Constellation, a sonic documentary dedicated to the memory of those we lost.

With Constellation, Racer musicians created sound in defiance of gun violence and in celebration of the incredible power of love. All proceeds were donated to a financial fund directed to the families of those who lost their loved ones that May morning. To this day, many at the Racer Sessions continue to struggle with this moment in our organization’s history. For so many of us, time has not quelled the pain. In the wake of the shooting, the hashtag #caferacerlove was shared around the country. The phrase itself continues to be used at Cafe Racer, and in many ways represents the deep and heartfelt spirit of those in our community. Constellation stands to this day as a monument to those we lost.