Seattle Rock n Roll Weekend, 2013 (Day 3)

(It’s funny. People seem to think these trips are all about partying with the bands. It’s actually relatively low key for the most part. Fun, but low key.)

The morning was pretty relaxing, and then I headed over to the Bainbridge Island ferry to meet up with Before Cars. I’m writing a feature about this band, since they have a new record out in a couple of weeks called How We Run. Unlike most groups, where you can just match the players to their respective instruments, BC presents a bit of a challenge, because the musicians play a variety of them… acoustic and electric guitar, bass, drums, violin, keyboards, mandolin, and ukulele (I think that covers it, although there may be a recorder in there somewhere.) I had interviewed one BC member several years ago, Chad Channing, for my book since he was in this band you may have heard of (hint: it starts with an N and ends with an irvana.) Also in Before Cars: Paul Burback, Justine Jeanotte, and Andy Miller. (Below: taking the ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island.)

I’d never been to Bainbridge (referred to as “Brain Damage” by one person whom I will not identify), so taking the ferry there would be a treat. It’s pretty cool. You can drive or walk on (I drove), and then you relax for about a half hour crossing. I met the band in a cool little town called Winslow and we ventured over to Hale’s brewpub.

What a great group of people! We chatted over lunch and beers, and they all agreed with me that humankind’s greatest inventions are the brewpub and bread. Afterward, we wandered over to a coffee place (this is Seattle, after all) and talked some more about the new record and upcoming tour plans. I’ll get into specifics in my upcoming feature. (Below, hanging with Before Cars…from left: Senor Dorkinger, Chad Channing, Andy Miller, Paul Burback, Justine Jeanotte.)

After taking the ferry back to Rob’s house in Ballard, I realized I was in no shape to go out that evening. I had planned to head over to Capitol Hill to see a Rod Moody-recommended band called Atomic Bride. I felt so rundown, though…I never really recovered from that first day. So, I camped out on Rob’s couch and we watched great old-bad movies. He had found one called Don’t Knock the Rock or something. Bill Haley was in it. The whole premise revolved around a battle over how rock n roll had been corrupting ’50s youth. Some of the lines were like: “Gee, Mrs. Jeepers, you don’t have to be sore with us rock n rollers. Us kids just want to have a swell time.” It was great.

I fell asleep on the couch, and opened my eyes at 5 am, packed up and left. Rob was still sleeping, so I figured I’d message him good-bye and thanks and stuff. As I got into my car and started up the engine, Rob came frantically running out of the house wearing his Charlie Brown t-shirt to wish me off.

You see why I like these people? So long, Seattle.

UPDATE: Why Rob Morgan is my hero…

We’re hanging out watching TV, and Rob has a giant hole in his sock with his big toe sticking out. He looks at his toe says, “Ah, trying to escape, are you? Dumb shit. You’re attached to my foot.”

 

Seattle Rock n Roll Weekend, 2013 (Day 2)

Day Two was pretty relaxed, which is a good thing since I am still kind of wiped out from Day One (yeah, I’m old.) I chilled with Rob Morgan for a while at his house, watching a Darkness show he burned to DVD (Rob’s kind of a little bit of a Darkness fan…picture AC/DC meets Alice Cooper meets Queen meets who knows.)

Then, breakfast with Jack Endino and Leighton Beezer at Ballard’s legendary Vera’s. I usually check in with these guys on my Seattle trips, but I’ve never hung with both of them at the same time. Heard some funny Screaming Trees stories from Jack, while Leighton was hysterical just being Leighton.

After breakfast, I made my usual stop at Ballard’s Sonic Boom Records, picking up a Walking Papers CD (features Barrett Martin from the Trees/Skin Yard/Mad Season plus Duff McKagan from Guns N Roses.)

Later that day, I met up with friends Dave O’Leary (author of Horse Bite) and Clint Brownlee for happy hours. It’s always good to hang with those dudes and talk music. Clint’s been writing, while Dave’s spending time playing bass in Sightseer, a band which has been getting positive pub around Seattle. (Dave mentioned a hysterical Onion story about a groupie mistakenly sleeping with a bass player…I’ll have to check that out.) Then, it was time to check out the GUM at Darrell’s Tavern in Shoreline with my host, Rob.

The opening act killed me…the Guardians, featuring the one and only Lee Lumsden.  Don’t know Lee? You should, if you have any interest in Seattle music. Along with a handful of folks like Jim Basnight, Neil Hubbard, and Rob Morgan, Lee essentially created the Seattle music scene out of thin air in the mid-’70s.

Rob had told me just how nervous Lee was before this performance, his first ever as a front man. (Lee drummed for the Meyce back in the day, a band that played some of Seattle’s earliest punk rock shows.) You’d never know it from watching Lee perform, though. He seemed totally comfortable and in the moment on stage. And the songs! That dude can write. Great hooks, and creative. I wish they could have played longer. Fortunately, Rob’s band followed. (Below, Lee Lumsden fronts the Guardians.)

The GUM nailed it as usual, playing a variety of covers…some well-known, some more obscure, as well some mash-ups (Rob calls them “mudleys.”) Sporting a jacket and bow tie, Rob held the audience in his hand, and proceeded to entertain us. Everyone had a good time. (Below, Rob Morgan and the GUM.)

I ended up chatting with a few folks during and after the show, notably Lee, Kyle Nixon (no making out this time…we’re just friends), Scott the soundman, the GUM’s Rod Moody, and some other folks who said nice things about my book. It’s always a cool thing to find out your work has touched someone.

So, yeah, a pretty mellow, but fun day overall…looking forward to tomorrow. I’ll be taking the ferry over to Bainbridge Island to meet up with the members of Before Cars. I’m working on a feature about that band, as they have a new record coming out in a couple of weeks. BC features former Nirvana drummer Chad Channing.

Seattle Rock n Roll Weekend, 2013 (Day 1)

It’s been a while since the last entry, I know. But I decided to head to Seattle to see Soundgarden, the GUM (featuring the Pudz/Squirrels’ Rob Morgan and Deranged Diction/Swallow’s Rod Moody,) and hangout with Before Cars (with Nirvana’s Chad Channing.) So I thought I’d write about this trip.

*****

Yesterday was a 24 hour day. As in I was awake for all of them. But it was a good thing.

I left Philadelphia at 1 am Pacific time, arriving in Seattle via Phoenix about 12 hours later. I decided to do this trip on the cheap, and fortunately my friend Rob Morgan allowed me to camp out on his couch for the weekend. I hung out with Rob in Ballard for a while, then headed over to the Paramount to see Soundgarden.

I’d never experienced one of Seattle’s “big four” bands live. I was supposed to go to a Pearl Jam show in Camden, NJ some years back, but I got tired of looking for parking and turned around and went home (although I have seen members of PJ play in bands.) So, Soundgarden would be it, and in their hometown at the iconic Paramount.

I bought a GA ticket, and got in line at about 5:30…doors were to open at 7, band on at 8. Fortunately, only about 100 folks stood ahead of me. Soon I found myself chatting with this dude next to me, Dana from Bellingham. That was good, because neither of us had anything do to for the next two hours (turns out they didn’t open the doors until 7:30.) Finally, we started to move and headed over to the venue.

As we entered the theater, we realized they had removed the chairs, so nothing stood in the way of us and the band. We poured to the front of the stage and waited.

After a couple of false starts, Soundgarden (there was no warm-up act…which was pretty cool by the way. That would never happen in Philly), finally appeared on the stage, opening with “Flower” from Ultramega OK. Amazing. It was like experiencing Soundgarden in a small club. Chris Cornell and Ben Shepherd were only a few feet from us. (Below from left, Chris Cornell, Matt Cameron, and Ben Shepherd.)

The band whipped through some classics early on, notably “Hunted Down” and “Nothing to Say” (from their first Sub Pop record), “Outshined” and “My Wave.” Chris Cornell, looking trim and fit, jumped around the stage. His vocals at times sounded strained, although at other times he exploded just like the old days. Guitarist Kim Thayil planted himself to Chris’ right.

Then there was Ben Shepherd. Watching him was a trip. He finished nearly every bass run by contorting himself and then pulling his hand away, with obvious force…made it look like he was trying to pull the guts out of his instrument. Then he would just level this death stare. Not at anyone in particular, just straight ahead mostly. It really looked like he wanted to kill someone. Then, every so often he would smile. Funny to watch. (Below, Ben Shepherd.)

At one point, Chris announced the band would play “Been Away Too Long” from the latest record, King Animal. He said the song title had a dual meaning: one related to Soundgarden’s nearly dozen years of inactivity, and other had to do with his return to Seattle.

The audience behaved itself for the most part. For the most part. The majority of the crowd was comprised of middle aged rock fans, just wanting to see a good show. But some folks have not grown up yet. Every so often, an asshole—old enough to know better—would crash into bodies and force the crowd to surge this way or that. I didn’t like it, nor did some of the folks around us. A couple of dudes almost came to blows. Another guy began making hay by knocking over both men and women indiscriminately. It pissed some people off around me, and they began to shove the moron away, which only seemed to please him. I found myself getting angry. I grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and told him to knock it off. He smiled.

Meanwhile, the band continued to play on. (Just watch Matt Cameron play drums. Just do it sometime…for five minutes. That’s all I ask.)

Matt’s son, a guitar player, joined the band on stage for one number. Next, Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready played dual leads with Kim Thayil on another (yeah, I can’t recall either song…feel free to chime in [UPDATE: see set list at the end of this post.]) (Below, Chris Cornell.)

The band finally exited the stage around 11, then came back and did an encore with “Rusty Cage.” It was then that I realized just how freaking tired I was…on my feet for several hours after an all-day trip, all on zero rest. I secretly hoped this would be the only encore.

It was. I walked out, wished Dana fairly well, and headed back to Rob’s couch in Ballard, tired but happy.

Update (Courtesy of Matt Brown), last night’s set list: Flower. Nothing To Say. Outshined. Jesus Christ Pose. Spoonman. Hands All Over. Gun. By Crooked Steps. Rhinosaur. Taree. My Wave. The Day I Tried To Live. Been Away Too Long. Worse Dreams. Hunted Down. Drawing Flies. Matt Cameron’s son playing guitar on Eyelid’s Mouth. Blow Up The Outside World. Fell On Black Days. Live To Rise. Mike McCready playing guitar on Tighter And Tighter. Non-State Actor. Ty Cobb. Rowing. Encore: Rusty Cage. Far Beyond The Wheel.

(Below, Ben Shepherd.)

 

Seattle Rock n Roll Weekend: Day Two

Woke up around 9…pretty good since I fell asleep at 3. Headed down to my favorite Seattle breakfast place: CJ’s in Belltown. As I sat down, I took off my Philadelphia Eagles cap and placed it on the table. The host walked by, pointed to it and said, “Nick Foles!” Foles would be making his first start for the injured Michael Vick that day…so of course we had a conversation about how badly the team sucks this year. The host apparently hails from South Jersey.

As I left CJ’s, talking more Eagles football with the host, a couple overheard us and said, “Hey, we’re from Philly.” Apparently, they’re from Lansdale, PA, my old stomping grounds. Weird. Anyway, I headed from CJ’s over to Ballard to meet up with my third contact, Cat Butt’s James Burdyshaw. Burdyshaw, a huge fan of ’60s Motown and Soul (actually ’60s anything), has formed a group called the Soulvation.

I arrived at James’ apartment around 11. He still had to finish getting ready, so he asked me if I’d like to hear some music while I waited. “Sure,” I said. “Any requests?” he asked. “Anything except hip hop and country,” I responded. He put on some old Motown. That sounded great to me, especially after the hip hop and country barrage I usually hear at home.

We headed over to the band’s rehearsal space in South Seattle. (Sort of funny…we drove around for what seemed like forever, ending up under the highway in an area filled with warehouses and little else. I asked James if this was going to be a mob hit. He laughed.) After we arrived at the space and met the rest of the band, I inserted earplugs and waited. Like Rob Morgan’s GUM, the Soulvation does covers, but they concentrate on James’ ’60s Motown/Stax fascination. I bopped around as the Soulvation played, taking photos along the way. One song with a killer riff (I’m a sucker for a great riff) really did it for me, and I asked James about it. “Love’s Gone Bad,” was done first by Kris Clark, and then covered by the Underdogs…both for Motown. The Soulvation played it the Underdogs’ way, which features that driving riff that could work in a rock, garage, or soul format (afterward I found the song and added it to my iPhone…that riff could go on forever as far as I’m concerned.)

(James Burdyshaw, left, and two other members of the Soulvation. The bass player, center, [forgot his name] is also from Philly.)

Following the practice, I took James back to Ballard and we had a coffee before saying good-bye. I had scheduled a dinner with producer Steve Fisk (whom I had interviewed twice over the phone), and we met at a little Thai/Vietnamese place in the neighborhood. Steve said some complimentary things about the book…although he mentioned he had found a couple of mistakes. He said he’d get back to me about them (I will fix them for the tenth anniversary edition.) I told Steve I couldn’t stay too long since I was about to go see Alice Cooper with Rob and Kevin from the Squirrels. Steve said something to the effect that they were the perfect guys to go to that show with.

After finishing my meal, I headed over to Rob Morgan’s place a few blocks away (apparently, all the cool Seattle people live in Ballard.)  We got into Kevin’s car, and he drove us down to Tacoma to see Mr. Cooper.

Alice was amazing…but I think I enjoyed Rob’s reactions most of all. When Alice took the stage, Rob smiled and clapped his hands like a kid who had just met Santa for the first time. I think he grinned the entire show. At the finale, as Alice’s band finished up amidst explosions and confetti, Rob exclaimed, “That’s how it’s done!”

(An admittedly horrible cell phone shot of Alice Cooper in Tacoma, WA, November 18, 2012.)

I’ll leave you with one more random story from this trip. I had an early flight home the next day, and took the train back from the airport. As my stop approached, I asked the gentleman sitting next to me to get up so I could exit. He basically said not to worry since he was getting off at the same stop. I said, “Ok, but you’re not going to change your mind and make me climb over you, right?” He said no, and then we both had a good laugh over what could become good sitcom fodder. We then talked a little Monty Python before he told me I should see Silver Linings Playbook, which apparently features the same quirky humor. What a great way to end a great trip.

Seattle Rock n Roll Weekend: Day One

(Given it’s Thankgiving and I feel like crap sitting in my hotel room…I figured I’d make myself useful and post something about last weekend.)

Now that my book has been out for over a year, I admitted to my wife that I would find other excuses to visit Seattle. So when I found out my friend Rob Morgan (Pudz/Squirrels) had formed a new band along with Rod Moody (Swallow, also was in Deranged Diction with Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament) and Damon Titus (the Enemy), I knew I had my excuse. Calling themselves the GUM, Rob’s band would debut on Saturday, November 17 at Darrell’s Tavern in Shoreline, WA. This collective would cross the early Seattle punksters with the later grunge kids. And, since Rob would front the GUM, I knew they would place fun at a premium. As an added bonus, Tom Price’s (U-Men) Desert Classic would play the same bill.

My plane touched down late Saturday morning, after a six hour flight from Philly. I love Seattle, but this is what you get here in November: rain, cold, followed by more rain…and chill. After picking up my bag and rental car, I headed to Belltown to meet up with fellow writer Dave O’Leary at the legendary Two Bells Bar & Grill. Dave wrote a semi-autobiographical novel called Horse Bite. Told in the first person, Dave’s book takes the reader on a life-discovering journey, with Seattle’s bars and coffee houses serving as backdrops. In any event, Dave’s friend and editor Clint Brownlee joined us for a few beers.

After Clint left, Dave and I ordered up some awesome burgers at Two Bells and continued to talk…and the beers kept coming. (Memo to self: you are now old. You cannot drink more than a couple of beers in the middle of the day—especially after a cross-country flight on little sleep—and expect to function later. Repeat. You are now old.) Dave is working on a new novel, as am I (a non-fiction-fiction tale about a fictional band.) I said farewell to Dave, then headed back to my hotel in the University District.

My head hit the pillow around 3. I think I woke up at 7…I’m not sure. Ever sleep too long during the day and wake up not having any idea where or when you are? After shaking the cobwebs and realizing I was not in nineteenth-century Stockholm, I headed up to the gig at Darrell’s, located about 15 minutes north of the hotel.

Every time I head to Seattle, I have to check in with a few people. Rob makes one, and I would soon say hi to him. Then I located number two sitting at the bar: one Leighton Beezer. Leighton, like Rob, has his place within Seattle music mythology. His Thrown Ups helped define the essence of grunge with free improvisation mixed in with sludgy, loud guitars. That band also, at times, featured Mudhoney’s Mark Arm and Steve Turner. In any event, Leighton and I chatted as we waited for the bands to start.

After the opening act, a sort of artsy post-punk band called Aaiiee, the GUM took the stage. Now if you know Rob, his band will play covers, and you also know he will entertain you…that is, if you let him. Don’t expect cool Soundgarden songs. He will play stuff that hipsters would sneer at…the Monkees, Shaun Cassidy, whatever. His Squirrels would mash up “Silent Night” with Black Sabbath’s “Black Sabbath,” for example. So, everything’s fair game…make sure to bring your sense of humor and leave your pretense at the door.

Wearing a bright red Monkees shirt (of course), Rob bounced around as the GUM began to rock out. I started bopping up and down as I scanned the crowd. Smiles all around.

(From left: Rob, guitarist Damon Titus, drummer Vic Hart, bassist Casey Allen, guitarist Rod Moody.)

During the set, my third Seattle contact, Jack Endino, came over and said hello. Then, I turned next to me and said hi to Lee Lumsden. Don’t know Lee? Read my fucking book, please. Lee, along with Rob, Jim Basnight, Neil Hubbard, and a few others, essentially created Seattle’s punk rock scene back in the ’70s. As we chatted, Kyle Nixon of Solger stopped by. I was not prepared for what would happen next.

At first, Kyle talked about wanting to blow off some steam given a family member’s serious health issues. Then, he kissed Lee on the cheek. Then he kissed me on the cheek. Okay, no big deal. Then, came the unexpected. He grabbed my head and planted one on me…apparently that’s what Kyle does. I had no idea. I felt like Jerry Seinfeld, after he had just been kissed by Kramer. (So, I kissed a guy. And it sucked. After I complained about it on Facebook, Jack Endino commented: “Getting kissed by Kyle Nixon is part of the deal, Steve. You gotta suck it up.”) See my list below of things I would rather do than kiss Kyle Nixon.

After filing sexual harassment charges online, I proceeded to enjoy the rest of the GUM’s set. This band…we found ourselves singing along to tunes like Frankie Avalon’s “Muscle Beach Party,” (watching Rod Moody play and sing that was priceless…reminded me of Richard Gere singing while dancing down stairs in Chicago.) and the Bay City Rollers’ “Saturday Night.” Trust me, only a band with Rob in it can pull this off. Mr. (no longer Captain) Morgan jumped around the stage, then ventured out into the crowd as he sang. Rob was clearly in his element.

(Rob Morgan directs the GUM in front of the stage while Damon plays guitar.)

(Rod travels to another dimension during the GUM’s finale.)

The audience, consisting mostly of middle aged punk rockers, showed its appreciation for the GUM with rousing applause. One more band to go. Nobody could possibly follow that, right? No band could, unless it happens to be the Tom Price Desert Classic. Playing a bluesy version of Sonics-inspired garage rock, the Desert Classic flat out rocked.

(Ladies and Gentlemen: the Tom Price Desert Classic)

After saying good-bye to everyone, and picking up my spiffy GUM shirt, I headed back to the hotel and hit the sack around 3 am. Day One…a success.

10 Things I’d Rather Do Than Kiss Kyle Nixon

1)      Watch the Disney Channel for 24 hours straight, having my eyes propped open with toothpicks.

2)      Go to a One Direction concert.

3)      Use an airplane bathroom after a heavyset man emerges, when he had previously consumed an egg salad sandwich and bean burrito.

4)      Go to Disney World.

5)      Root for the Dallas Cowboys…no scratch that, I’d rather kiss Kyle Nixon.

6)      Grade papers.

7)      Watch any of the Twilight movies.

8)      Eat vegan.

9)      Eat a hot dog with ketchup on it.

10)  Sing Christmas carols.

11)  Fondle Richard Nixon.

Seattle Bands I’ve Seen Live

(Yep, just stalling for time here until I find something more substantive to write about…)

-The Tom Price Desert Classic

-Mudhoney

-Green River

-The Baseball Project

-Valis

-Wellwater Conspiracy

-Built to Spill (Yeah, I know Doug’s from Idaho, but I’m counting them)

-The Squirrels

-The Fags

-The Spooges

-The Young Fresh Fellows

-Empire Vista

-Unnamed Leighton Beezer collective

-Love Battery

-BRAD

-The Fastbacks

-Thee Sgt. Major III

-Robert Roth

-Coffin Break

-Lamar

-Capping Day

-Down With People

-Walkabouts/Beezer jam session

-The Cops

-The GUM

-Soundgarden

-The Guardians

BRAD at the World Cafe, Philadelphia, May 21, 2012

Who is BRAD?

You could list BRAD under the “another Seattle side project” category, but this band is deeper than that.  Consisting of Malfunkshun’s Regan Hagar on drums, Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard on guitar, singer Shawn Smith, bassist Keith Lowe, and guitarist Happy Chichester, BRAD embraces the eclectic.

This band, I think, embodies what I call the “Spirit of ’88,” a moment in time when Seattle’s music scene had reached creative maturity before the commercial frenzy obliterated it.  At that point, everyone was in more than one band, whether you’re talking about Soundgarden’s Matt Cameron moonlighting in Couch of Sound; Skin Yard’s Jack Endino playing drums in Crypt Kicker 5; or Mudhoney’s Mark Arm forming parody side projects like the Wasted Landlords and Beergarden.  Northwest musicians are kind of antsy, and I mean that in a good way.  Stone could rest on his Pearl Jam laurels and call it a day, but he has a need to stretch his chops, to explore more of the musical spectrum…hence why he has recently played gigs with Green River, Barbara Ireland of the Fags, and others.

So what about this band?  I downloaded six BRAD songs for the train ride down to the World Cafe in West Philadelphia.  That would be the first six BRAD songs I’ve heard.  And I enjoyed them.  A lot.  Their early stuff sounds almost jam-bandish…and worked perfectly as a soundtrack for my trip.

I met my friend Joe at 30th Street Station after somehow missing the train he was on…(don’t ask, I have a train disability.)  We walked over to the World Cafe and had a beer before the opening act took the stage.  If you’ve never been to this venue, it’s kind of like “rock for adults.”  You can sit at a table, have a meal and a drink, watch the show, and then go home to your family and your job.  So, no moshing, crowd surfing, or fist-fighting with drunk patrons…which is cool with me.  To paraphrase Sergeant Hulka: “I’m getting too old for that shit.”

We chatted with a couple people sitting near us, both huge Pearl Jam fans.  I mentioned this show would be the second time I’d seen Stone play, but I’d never been to a PJ show. “What?!” they said in disbelief.  (I almost made it to a PJ show a few years back, but that’s a boring story for another time.)

Soon the opening act, Happy Chichester, took the stage.  Happy, according to a patron sitting across from us, previously played the role of BRAD roadie.  He came out alone and parked himself behind the keyboard.  You might figure that’d be boring.  (Game show buzzer.)  Think of a voice that sounds like a cross between Randy Newman and Howlin’ Wolf.  BRAD came on about 15 minutes after Happy finished his set, the keyboard player now taking on second guitarist duties.

BRAD soared through their various song structures, some of them ballad-oriented with Shawn on piano, some raucously Pearl Jam-ish with Stone blowing out jagged bluesy riffs, and some more in the jam band vein, with Keith kind of setting the tempo, playing a walking bass line in bare feet.  After the band completed its set, we of course demanded an encore.  Shawn came out alone initially, sat behind the keyboard and played Mother Love Bone’s “Crown of Thorns” for us.  The rest of BRAD soon followed, playing a rocking encore set.

Joe and I were blown away by how good these guys were…and by their variety of material.  I will dig into their catalog, especially the more riff-driven songs.

Pics to follow.

Walkabouts (etc) Jam Session, April 29, 2012

Sunday, April 29: final day in Seattle before heading back to Philly.  I had some errands to run…returned my rental bike, shipped some unsold books back home (that will I will unload via enforced sales to my students this fall.)  Fortunately, I would not have to worry about filling my time on this day.  The Thrown Ups’ Leighton Beezer invited me to a jam session that afternoon at the home of the Walkabouts’ Carla Torgerson.

As I’ve mentioned previously in this blog (and in the book), Leighton has a very specific approach to his playing.  No songs, no practice…entirely improv.  He puts together musical ensembles, usually at the last minute, leading to un-charted experimental creative waters.  I’ve seen him play a few times, and it never ceases to amaze me.  I remember going to a Philly gig last summer featuring a band of his called Empire Vista.  Unlike past Leighton shows, however, EV sounded different.  They played hooky arrangements with defined vocals—in other words, they played songs.  “You thought they were songs?” Leighton later corrected.

I arrived at Carla’s place around 3:30 that afternoon.  Even though her home sits fairly close to I-5, it feels like the country, with a long driveway that extends maybe a hundred yards from the street.  In addition to Leighton and Carla, this collective would also feature keyboardist (and Walkabout) Glenn Slater, singer John Conte (from the Living) and drummer Scott Schickler (from Swallow, the Thrown Ups, and the Limp Richerds.)  After enjoying some lunch, we all headed to Carla’s studio.  Her space is something to behold, with a wall of acoustic and electric guitars, as well as a banjo emblazoned with a Sub Pop sticker.  (And, if you look hard enough, you’ll see a photo of the Fastbacks’ Kim Warnick with Eddie Vedder.)  The studio also includes two keyboards and a spinet piano.

Scott and Glenn sat behind their drum kit and keyboard, respectively.  Leighton stood with his guitar next to Glenn, with John seated on the bench in front of the piano.  Carla also played a second keyboard, standing near Scott.

The whole improvisational/non-verbal communication thing between musicians fascinates me.  Nobody says, “Okay, let’s start with such and such a song in B, then go back to A three times, blah blah blah.”  Instead, somebody just starts playing, Scott finds a beat, and the other players settle into a groove.

Since no one manned a bass, Glenn provided the low end parts.  John would add some soulful improvised vocals, not constantly, just when he felt the urge.  Each “song” lasted maybe 10 minutes or so, ebbing or flowing depending on what everyone felt at the moment.  At one break, Leighton mentioned how the musicians “talked” to each other through notes, or riffs…someone might hear what another player is doing and then “answer” him or her with a note combination of his/her own.  Then, the original player would hear that, and then would respond with something else.  The musicians listened to themselves and each other at the same time.  For a bad guitar player like myself, I find the experience beautiful and mystical.

I found myself watching Scott most of the time, as he either responded or drove the band with his steady, precise drumming.  He also managed to take several swigs of beer without missing a beat.  He’d lay one stick down, pick up his beer and drink, while hitting the snare and cymbal with his free hand and bass drum with his foot.  Later, after I told Scott how impressed I was with that, he mentioned how back in the day, drumming prodigy Greg Gilmore (Living, 10 Minute Warning, Mother Love Bone) would actually light a cigarette during gigs.  He would literally pick up a pack, pull out a cigarette, and ignite it without losing his place.

For the last piece, Carla switched to acoustic guitar.  At one point, she started playing a riff that began in B-Flat, I think, then would venture out and circle back to the original chord.  Leighton played his own thing, but would meet Carla back at that B-Flat each time.  Glenn then added a bass fill, and magic happened.

As the session ended, I was a little sad, but mostly it felt like the perfect way to end this trip.  I headed back home, knowing I would see my friends again soon enough.

Squirrels/Young Fresh Fellows/Roy Loney Show (4/28/12)

I told my wife I would head to Seattle if any of the following bands would play/reunite: Red Dress, the U-Men, the Squirrels, and the Young Fresh Fellows.  Well, fortunately for me (and a whole lot of other people), the latter two bands gigged on one evening…last night at the Sunset Tavern in Ballard.

After my Sonic Boom signing earlier that day, I had a couple of hours to kill.  As I was stumbling around Ballard trying not to look too pathetic, I ran into writer/musician Dave O’Leary.  Dave wrote a semi-autobiographical novel called Horse Bite which came out around the same time as Strangest Tribe.  If you haven’t read it, please do.  Dave does a wonderful job taking the reader from bar to bar in Seattle, in search of permanence.  In any event, I enjoyed talking writing with Dave over a couple of beers.  Following that, I headed over to the Sunset.

The Squirrels, led by singer Rob Morgan, took the stage first. Accompanying Rob was drummer Tad Hutchison, guitarist/keyboardist Chuck Carroll, bassist Scott McCaughey, and guitarist Jim Sangster.  Rob may be the most entertaining front man you’ll ever see, so if you ever get the chance to watch him perform, put it on your must-do list.

I saw the Squirrels rehearse the night before, so this set would be an extra treat (before I forget, at rehearsal the band had been working on a song called “I Hate Getting Up in the Morning” by Johnny Kidd & the Pirates.  Rob decided to rename it “I Can’t Get It Up in the Morning” as befitting the 2012 version of the Squirrels.)  Needless to say, Rob and the guys killed…and there’s this one Johnny Kidd song they did, and I can’t find the name of it, but I totally love it…Rob, please help.  Has this dramatic riff, like DAH DAH DAH DAH-DAH DAH-DAH. (Update: it’s “Restless.”  Thanks, Rob.)

At the end of their set, the legendary Roy Loney (of the Flamin’ Groovies) joined the band for a few songs.

Between the Squirrels and the Fellows set, I said hi to some folks, including Dawn Anderson (my favorite Seattle writer); author Charles Cross, and Mudhoney’s Mark Arm, who apparently is a big Loney fan (this was of course after the Seattle Weekly decided to print my book quote where I say Mark “wasn’t cute enough.”  Ugh.)

Then the Fellows took the stage, joined by the incomparable Kurt Bloch on guitar.  The Fellows without Kurt?  Awesome.  The Fellows with Kurt?  Take “awesome” and add 5-Hour Energy.  Despite being past fifty, Kurt has more vigor than most of us put together.  I loved every minute of it of course, especially when I got to hear “Rock ’N’ Roll Pest Control” for the second time in one day.

After the Fellows’ set, I stepped outside and chatted with Rod Moody (the Fuzz, Swallow, Deranged Diction), as well as Rob Morgan and some other folks.  Then, it hit me.  After bouncing around for three hours, I was completely spent…and I had my bed on speed dial.  So, I went home and missed out on the Roy Loney & the Longshots set.  (Yes, guys, I know I suck.)  Regardless, the show was well worth the trip.

Squirrels Practice, April 27, 2012

Sorry about the long delay between posts…I’ve been, you know, “busy” (gee, that excuse isn’t overused or anything.)

Anyway, I arrived in Seattle late Thursday, getting ready for the Squirrels/Young Fresh Fellows/Roy Loney show tonight.  My friend Rob Morgan, who of course fronts the Squirrels, invited me to a practice session last night…and yeah, I have to use the word “amazing” to describe it.

I’ve never been to anything like that before, I mean, I’ve been to jam sessions, but never to a rehearsal per se.  It felt like my own private show.

I picked up Rob in Ballard and drove him to the practice space in Fremont, where the rest of the Squirrels awaited.  This version of the band, called the Mighty Mighty Squirrels, has not played together–literally–since 1984.  At that time, the Squirrels consisted of Rob fronting the Young Fresh Fellows.  (Within six months, Rob formed his own version of the Squirrels.)

So to introduce last night’s players…we have: Rob Morgan, singer and front man; Scott McCaughey, bass; Chuck Carroll, guitar and keyboards; Jim Sangster, guitar; and Tad Hutchison, drums.

As a bad semi-musician, it’s amazing for me to watch real players interact.  It seemed so effortless as they worked through various versions of covers.  The band would play through a song, and then someone would offer a suggestion…Tad might want to change his drum intro, or add a roll or something; Jim might defer to Chuck to add a solo; Rob might come up with a different finale; Scott might suggest Chuck play a different keyboard part.  I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to watch musicians work together like that.  For not having played together–as the Squirrels, anyway–for over 25 years, it felt so comfortable.  And they laughed and enjoyed themselves the entire time.

I got Tad, Scott, Chuck, and Jim to sign my book (Rob autographed it last fall), and then I began taking photos…and they’re coming up shortly!