Updated Book Autographs

Signers, Left Page: James Burdyshaw (64 Spiders); Kevin Crosby (Squirrels); Jeff Gilbert (metal writer); John Leighton Beezer (Thrown Ups); Jim Sorenson (shirt designer); John Conte (Living); Scott Schickler (Swallow); Joey Kline (Squirrels); Carla Torgerson (Walkabouts); Martin Bland (Tom Price Desert Classic).

Signers, Right Page: Rob Morgan (Squirrels); Glenn Slater (Walkabouts); Tom Price (U-Men); Tad Hutchison (Young Fresh Fellows); Joe Kilbourne (TPDC); Scott McCaughey (Young Fresh Fellows); Scott Vanderpool (Room Nine); Chuck Carroll (Young Fresh Fellows); Jane Brownson aka Jane Fag (Fags); Jack Endino (producer); George Romansic (3 Swimmers); Larry Reid (art gallery proprietor); Duff Drew (My Eye);  Jim Sangster (Young Fresh Fellows).

Pics From Signing, 4/28/12

(Rob Morgan and Matt Brown)

(Rob and Scott McCaughey)

(Scott with Leighton Beezer in the foreground)

(Scott and some poser wearing a Pudz t-shirt)

Book Signing, Sonic Boom Records, Ballard, 4/28/12

So apparently the Seattle Weekly had a blurb about my signing yesterday, where it mentioned Scott McCaughey accompanying me with an acoustic set, but had nothing about the show later that evening where he would play with the Squirrels, Young Fresh Fellows, and Roy Loney.  Weird.

In any event, we had a good crowd over at Sonic Boom last night.  (Note: in addition to the Fellows and Squirrels, Scott has been in R.E.M, the Minus 5, the Baseball Project, Tired Pony, and others.  He has been on Letterman with his various bands so, needless to say, I was extremely fortunate he agreed to play.)

The Squirrels’ Rob Morgan joined Scott for the opening number (“I’ll Never Get Over You” by Johnny Kidd & the Pirates, I believe.)  Following that, Scott played some Fellows songs, including an acoustic version of “Rock n Roll Pest Control” (one of my faves.)  After mixing in a new Minus 5 number, he took requests.  I of course yelled out for “Amy Grant,” and Scott happily obliged. (If you haven’t yet heard “Amy Grant,” find it and listen to it NOW.)

Attendees included the Thrown Ups’ Leighton Beezer, 3 Swimmers’ George Romansic, and the Squirrels’ Kevin Crosby.  The signing became the perfect prelude to the show to follow. (Pics of the signing coming up, as well as of the Fellows/Squirrels/Loney show.)

Sonic Boom Signing Event, Seattle, April 28

http://www.sonicboomrecords.com/

Seattle Signing Event Update

Some exciting news.  Instead of the usual boring routine where I tell you how great my book is, Scott McCaughey will accompany us with an acoustic set.  He may be joined by other members of the Young Fresh Fellows and/or Squirrels.  The time and date have changed to accomodate this performance.  Needless to say, I’m pumped.

Location: Sonic Boom Records, in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood

When: Saturday, April 28, 5 pm

What: Scott plays, I sign books.  Maybe I read some?

New Seattle Signing Event!

Where: Sonic Boom Records, Ballard

When: Sunday, April 29, 3 pm

Why: I will have seen the Squirrels and the Young Fresh Fellows play the Sunset the night before, and I will need to stay happy.

Autographs (from some of the folks in my book)

Signed the night of my book launch party, October 18, 2011, at Jeff Gilbert’s Feedback Lounge, West Seattle.

Signed by the U-Men’s Tom Price, along with the other members of the Tom Price Desert Classic, Rob Morgan (Pudz/Squirrels), T-shirt designer Jim Sorenson, Scott Vanderpool (Room Nine, etc., etc., etc.), Jane Brownson aka Jane Fag (the Fags), Jeff Gilbert (metal dude), Duff Drew (the Trids, My Eye), and Sir Larry Reid.

Give the Gift of Grunge (I didn’t make this up…)

From the December 2011 issue of Seattle Magazine.

The Strangest Tribe: How a Group of Seattle Rock Bands Invented Grunge (Sasquatch Books; $18.95)
Philadelphia historian Stephen Tow searches for the earliest roots of the grunge emergence, tracing local influences from the late 1970s through the ’80s, and ending his timeline—constructed via hundreds of interviews—just as grunge goes mainstream in the early ’90s. This is grunge before grunge was grunge.

http://seattlemagazine.com/article/lifestyle/shopping-and-style/give-gift-grunge

Rob Morgan, the Squirrels, and Baby Cheevers

I read an excerpt about the Squirrels and Cheevers at the Elliott Bay Book panel on 10/19/11, and Rob takes it from there.  On this panel next to me (and for some reason I reversed everything with this really crappy software I used to edit the video), from left: Leighton Beezer (Thrown Ups); Tom Price (U-Men); Rob; Jack Endino (Producer.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gS03YEy-UL0

Jack Endino discusses the Deep Six Compilation

In 1986, Chris Hanzsek and Tina Casale put together a compilation of six “heavy” bands then traversing Seattle: Green River (which would later split into Mudhoney and, eventually, Pearl Jam); the Melvins; Skin Yard (Endino’s band); Soundgarden; and the U-Men.  The record, called Deep Six, arguably represents the first document of what later would be called grunge.  Endino discusses in the clip below:

http://youtu.be/PFaOt0hSiFw