Local Flavor Inland Northwest Is Ripe With Great Recordings
In music, talent knows no boundaries.
The Seattle and Portland scenes, tucked into the northwest corner of the United States and ignored for years, proved this.
Since the Northwest’s discovery in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s thanks to Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Nirvana and Pearl Jam, a fertile crop of bands has been harvested from the region and planted into the mainstream. And today, the region, including the Spokane and the entire Inland Northwest, is still brimming with fresh, undiscovered talent.
This region has been home to many promising bands, including the Vampire Lezbos, the Studebakers, M’na M’na and Big Yuck Mouth in the ‘80s, though historically they’ve been overshadowed by the bands on the coast.
A plethora of musical genres are being cultivated here. There’s punk rock, new age, classical, country, industrial, reggae, the blues, garage rock, pop, jazz, contemporary Christian music and heavy metal.
Lately, there’s been a boom in local CD releases. And local music is beginning to become big business. Some of these albums outsell topselling titles.
“I think the best example would be Black Happy,” said Bob Gallagher, owner of 4000 Holes Records. “They’ve sold real well in the Northwest; they’re still selling well. It led to them getting signed (by a major label).”
The local sections in record stores grow by the week. Spokane talent can be plucked from the shelves of 4000 Holes, Vinyl Garage, Hastings, DJs Sound City and a number of other stores.
To meet the demand by musicians, a number of local recording studios have sprung up in the last decade. The list includes Larson Brothers, Jello Tree, Bop Tech and Firehouse. Most bands here turn to local studios to record and produce their work.
Several independent labels have also burst onto the seen, too. The list includes 4000 Holes, Nervous Wreckords, Beyond Productions, BopTone Records and Too Many Records.
These labels take the studio recordings and finance the cost of having them manufactured onto disc, tape or record. Then, they market and distribute the final product.
Too Many was started by David Hayes, who co-founded Lookout Records in Berkeley, the independent label that launched Operation Ivy, Green Day and Rancid (ex-Operation Ivy).
Since moving to Spokane two years ago, Hayes continues to release music by punk bands from across the nation as well as from here. All of his releases are distributed nationally. Many make it overseas.
His recent Spokane-oriented releases include the Flies’ “Alternatoid CD,” the “Lie Lack City” 17-band compilation, a Velvet Pelvis 7-inch vinyl record and a Big Comb 7-inch.
Some bands, such as the Fumes and the Makers, are signed to internationally-distributed independent labels outside of Spokane. Both bands have sold several thousand copies of their releases.
And then there are bands who have been courted by the major labels. Shoveljerk, which signed to Capricorn last February, and the Makers, which won’t sign to a corporate label under any circumstance, are two.
Hopefully, more and more people will look to local bands to quench their musical appetites. And maybe the Inland Northwest will become a highly touted scene.
In response to our request, The Spokesman-Review has been bombarded with local releases. Some of them are reviewed below. The rest will be dissected in upcoming weeks. Please, keep sending us your finished works.
Various Artists
“Lie Lack City” - Too Many Records CD
For many reasons, from retail price to the quality of songs, this is one of the best compilation albums to come out of the Inland Northwest. It features 17 Spokane punk bands and 31 songs. The CD clocks in at 73 minutes. What’s more, it retails for only $8. Now that’s a bargain.
Local punk favorites the Fumes, Velvet Pelvis, the Flies, Mother Load, Boycott, Big Comb, Fatty Lumpkin and Clabberhag contribute songs. If you want proof that Spokane has one of the best punk scenes in the country, give this CD a whirl.
The Makers
“All Night Riot” - Estrus Records LP
“Devil’s Nine Questions” - Estrus 10-inch
“Bust Out” - Rip Off Records 7-inch
“Yeah, Yeah, Yeah” - Dionysus 7-inch
“This Is The Answer” - Get Hip 7-inch
Spokane’s most active band, the Makers, belt out raw, unbridled, ‘60s-style garage rock. The band stays true to the genre of old not just by music, but by its retro album and 7-inch covers and stage clothes (all four Makers don suits). On all of these records, there are a couple of differences that separate them from garage rock pioneers like the Sonic, the Wailers and Them. The Makers are much rawer and confrontational. It’s the result of playing punk records back-to-back with garage rock (pre-punk) records. This fearsome foursome makes rock ‘n’ roll seem dangerous again. Viva la Makers!
Various Artists
“Inland Northwest Compilation CD Volume 1” - JF Productions CD
“INCC” mainly documents the area’s metal bands, but also includes some other rock genres. Because of its generic title and bland artwork, this CD won’t exactly grab consumer interest. The music is a lot better than the cover indicates. Standouts include Distorted Silence and Mykey’s Outrage (though the vocals bear some striking similarities to Paul Hemenway of Shoveljerk and Layne Staley of Alice in Chains). Most of these bands, however, could use a little brushing up on their lyrics, which are often ridden with predictable, done-to-death cliches.
Homeward Bound
“More Than Once” - BopTone Records CD
Now that traditional country music has made a resurgence, local country band Homeward Bound might soon be heading to Nashville with a recording contract. This band, featuring the Clouse family, eludes cheesy, forgettable country pop conventions on its debut and stands by the traditional, folky aspects of the music. “More Than Once” will definitely appeal to the country music fans who could care less about frills.
What’s especially impressive on this album is that the members of Homeward Bound penned eight of the nine songs. Most country bands and singers rely on songwriters to do all of the writing and that isn’t art.
Keon
“Free The Anger” - self-released CD
Singer/guitarist Keon churns out moody, synth-drenched, pop-rock, with a dash of Boston progressive rock commonly heard on the airwaves about 10 years ago. Is it outdated? Maybe, maybe not. However, Keon’s good at it. There are plenty of hooks, tight harmonies and strong guitar work to compel listener interest. The 10 songs deal with spiritual enlightenment and personal freedom.
The Flies
“Alternatoid” - Too Many CD
The title is not a description of the Flies’ music but a slam to the millions of grunge-and-punk-dressing, bandwagon-jumping kids in America who suddenly discovered punk rock. The Flies packs a whopping 20 songs on its third release, most of which are new. The rest are updated recordings from prior releases.
Some tunes, including “Queen’s Parade,” “Baby Jane” and “Let’s Kill Kenneth,” spit venom and sarcasm in the face of the listener. Others, such as “Midnight Soldier,” “Mimi” and “Austrian,” beat the punk fan into a state of nirvana (not the band). Overall, the music’s hooky and strong enough to satisfy the even the most blase of punk fans.
Black Happy
“The Last Polka” - Capricorn Records CD
Black Happy’s swan song album was originally slated for release back in March. Eight months later, it’s finally here. “The Last Polka’s” 16 songs (two of which are hidden) draw from a live concert, studio out-takes and the band’s first 7-inch, the out of print “Go Off.”
Although the CD as a whole doesn’t disappoint, the eight live tracks are its strength. This is because it was in the live element where the Coeur d’Alene band thrived. The live songs, such as “Three Day Weekend” and “Up The Faith,” are executed with tremendous force and vigor.
Among the out-takes is a song called “One Time,” which was recorded during the “Peghead” sessions. The band felt it didn’t gel with the rest of that album. Truth is, “One Time” sounds better than much of the material on “Peghead.”
“Mambo Jambo” has historically been one of Black Happy’s live favorites. The version here comes from the band’s first recording session ever. As you might expect, “Mambo Jambo” lacks the magic it had on stage. What’s funny is that I know there’s a better studio version of this song out there. Guess we’ll have to wait for the bootleg.
A cover of Aerosmith’s “Toys In The Attic” and “Hitting The Floor” were recorded during Black Happy’s final session. They’re good songs but not Black Happy songs. They happen to be among the songs that caused the final rift in the band, leading to the break-up.
Today, three former Black Happy members comprise Shoveljerk. Its song “Killing My Buzz” on the “National Lampoon’s Senior Trip” soundtrack was originally recorded during Black Happy’s final session. Like “Toys In The Attic” and “Hitting The Floor,” this song, scheduled to be released on Shoveljerk’s debut album in February, is a guitar-based song, not a horn-driven one.
Nancy Lynn Allen
“Seconds” - self-released CD
Nancy Lynn Allen is a Spokane singer/songwriter and there’s really no genre you could pin on her. On her debut CD, she employs a number of styles, such as country, folk and honky tonk, to tell her tales of love, dreams and individuality. The songs are well-arranged, well-played and well-recorded. And the lyrics are especially interesting. Seek this one out.
Terry Nicholson
“Starting Out” - self-released CD
Terry Nicholson writes in the note that accompanies his CD that he hopes to make music his career. Don’t all musicians? As far as his music goes, Nicholson has a long way to go before he can quit his day job. There are just four songs on “Starting Out” and two of them are covers, the Beatles’ “I’ll Be On My Way” and John Lennon’s “Imagine.” Like his major influence, obviously the Beatles, Nicholson can whip up quite a sugary pop song as indicated by the two originals “Rock Me Over” and “Honey Honey.” However, he needs some work in the lyrics department. On “Rock Me Over,” he sings: “I love you/you’re so beautiful.”
The Fumes
“Spine Tingling Excitement” - eMpTy Records 7-inch
The Fumes have downshifted a couple of gears on its new four-song vinyl platter. The band is more deliberate in its punk rock assault. Songs don’t just smack the listener in the chops and quit before they even start, like previous efforts. Instead, the band takes its time, escorting the listener on a mid-tempo joyride. All four songs are stellar. “Muscle Cars, Rocker Chicks And Cigarettes” is probably the best piece of satire ever written about this town.
Cringe
“Dark Wishing Well” - Nervous CD
Cringe is a brooding three-piece that blasts out post-punk noise. For those brave ears who like extra noise and dissonance on their musical dish, you’ll eat Cringe up. Skull-chiseling and deafening guitar and bass noise (fuzz, distortion, feedback) endlessly oozes out the band’s music. And as eerie as Cringe often makes it sound, the noise isn’t this album’s selling point. Buried beneath everything are smartly crafted pop sensibilities that prevent the 11 songs from derailing. Further, “Dark Wishing Well” is also a very emotionally affecting album and reveals the naked truth about its writer, singer/guitarist John Salvo.
Big Comb
“Big Comb” - Too Many 7-inch
This is perhaps the best packaging on a 7-inch in quite some time. A real oversized comb sits proudly in the pocket of the illustrated guy on the cover. Musically, this trio blazes through four cranky and disjointed punk rock songs, sometimes resembling NoMeansNo. Big Comb’s four songs sound like the result of caffeine overload. They’re very edgy, almost overwhelming. And that’s the point. A great addition to your vinyl collection.
Slim Pickins
“Slim Pickins” - Nervous Tape
Naturally, the band’s name is meant to deceive the listener. The eight songs on this tape, however, aren’t the result of slim pickings. Northwest angst rock has definitely shaped this group. Yet the band presents it so it doesn’t sound overwrought. So don’t label them scrunge rock. Also evident on Slim Pickins’ debut is the band’s inclination for squealing guitar noise, which it adeptly layers and fuses to the music, giving many of the songs an atmospheric edge. Indeed a worthwhile release, especially for a debut.
Cry Manna
“Cry Manna” - self-released CD
Cry Manna is a local contemporary Christian pop band with a strong regional following. Thanks to garnering airplay on local Christian radio station KTSL and opening shows for nationally known Christian bands, this band’s popularity is growing. Its debut CD can also explain the band’s ascent. The album easily stands up to all of the big-budget, nationally distributed Christian music albums on the market. The singing is distinctive. The harmonies are tight. And the music is inspired. The message is pretty typical of the genre but that’s why people like these bands. Who knows, maybe one day Cry Manna will get a recording contract.
Circle of Knots
“Circle of Knots” - self-released CD
The members of this Pullman band surf through a refreshing mix of styles (calypso, jazz, rock, etc.) on their debut album. The players are well-studied. It’s especially nice to hear two lead vocalists, one male and one female. Circle of Knots needs to focus now - not on diversifying further but on writing stronger hooks. A couple of the songs just float by. Overall, it’s a good album.
Meredith Griffith
“Face In The Stream” - Shadow Well CD
Griffith goes searching for himself, love and a few other things on his new CD. On his trip, he not only learns about himself but also digs up some exotic instrumentation. Throughout the album Griffith sings atop a wire-strung harp and a mountain dulcimer. “Face In The Stream” is a folk-minded album, equally contemporary as it is rootsy. Griffith hails from Elk and he’s probably the only one in Elk, strike that, all of the Inland Northwest, indulging in this kind of music.
Rickety Ethics
“Rickety Ethics” - Nervous tape
Did the Newport band come up with its moniker because it pilfers angst rock from Pearl Jam and Candlebox? On stage, the band, mainly due to the vocalist, has the Eddie Vedder schtick down. If you’re looking for a good local Pearl Jam alternative, Rickety Ethics is your band.
MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: LOCAL MUSIC REVIEWED Today marks the beginning of a new feature in the Sunday IN Life section - capsule reviews of local music. If you have recorded a CD, LP, 7-inch or tape and would like it included in this column, please send a copy to: Local Music, The Spokesman-Review, Features Dept., P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210-1615.