Recent Stories with tag pigeonhed

If 2009 was an unusually nostalgic year in local music for certain wistful Seattle Gen-Xers, 2010 was the opening cymbal crash of an encore. Defunct old favorites reunited. Extant old favorites continued to soar. A tight-knit community that first rocked the world a quarter-century ago grew ever closer, through remembrance of lost friends and the sharing of new music. Here are five 2010 music-related events that tickled those Seattleites who’ve been listening all these years. (Part one here.)

 

5. Cameron Crowe Shoots Pearl Jam Film

Director Cameron Crowe’s relationship with Pearl Jam goes all the way back to 1991, when he shot Singles in town, casting Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament, and Eddie Vedder as members of local rock band Citizen Dick (wink, wink). In 2010, Crowe was shooting the band again, this time to commemorate its 20th anniversary. (He also directed the video for Backspacer single "The Fixer.") As reported in June, Crowe and crew were spotted in Madrona and Capitol Hill, presumably recapturing important locales from the band's past. Details on the film, Pearl Jam Twenty, are hazy, but it will see some sort of release this year. (Just in: said film will be accompanied by a soundtrack and book.) Stay tuned.

4. Pigeonhed Brings Back the Funk

Axeman Kevin Wood told me several years ago that if his Mother Love Bone-fronting brother Andrew was still alive, he’d probably be a "talk show host or a reality series panel judge." Even if he were a living TV personality, I suspect Andy would be appearing at the (original) Showbox on Wednesday, when the reunited Brad and Satchel, along with the remaining members of MLB, will take fans back two decades.

News of Satchel's return (including a new record) hit late last year, and after much local grassroots hype, the reunited trio rocked the Croc February 18. Though dissolved for 13 years between gigs, Shawn Smith, Regan Hagar, and John Hoag sounded sharp—and heavy.

A sardine-packed thirty- and forty-something crowd was all smiles and shouts throughout the night. Stuck On A Bus, a seriously talented School of Rock quintet featuring Hagar's daughter on vocals, induced the giddiness with Led Zeppelin ("Whole Lotta Love," "Kashmir") and Black Sabbath ("War Pigs") covers, among others. (The kids, who'll rock the High Dive on Friday, effortlessly outshined sandwich act With Friends Like These.)

And then came Satchel and its effects pedals. You haven't heard a true "wall of sound" until you've heard Smith and Hoag's axes duel. That and Hagar's pounding kit (and guest bassist Jeremy Lightfoot's groove) had everyone stomping. The band killed tracks from their 90s albums EDC and The Family, barely pulling punches for the latter's softer songs. (Smith did settle behind the keys and croon unaccompanied through several songs) At least half the nearly two-hour set featured heavy new tunes, presumably off Satchel's new record, Heartache and Honey. They've since played the Sunset, and will follow Wednesday's show with an April 30 High Dive gig.... (more)