Everclear May Resurrect Force Of Northwest Music

With the ascent of three California music scenes - San Diego, Orange County and East San Francisco Bay - attention paid the Northwest waned.

However, three bands have the Northwest buzzing again. They include Seattle’s Foo Fighters and the Presidents of the United States of America, and Portland’s Everclear, which plays an all-ages show at Playfair Race Course Auditorium on Saturday night.

With its explosive second album, “Sparkle and Fade,” and a contagious first single, “Heroin Girl,” the three-year-old Everclear just might be the first of these bands to pierce the mainstream.

“I have a lot of people asking me ‘How are you going to handle it if you have a big hit?’,” said bassist and former Spokane resident Craig Montoya in a recent phone interview. “My only answer is to just take it as it was anything else.”

“Heroin Girl” can be spotted on the MTV video programs “Alternative Nation” and “120 Minutes.” The single has also taken to the airwaves in several large markets throughout the states.

“Yeah, it’s great to have a song that everybody likes,” said Montoya, who played in the Spokane band Soul Hammer before moving to Portland. “But all you can do is … keep in perspective of why you play music in the first place.”

“Sparkle and Fade,” released seven weeks ago, calls to mind another brilliant second album spawned by a Northwest band, Nirvana’s “Nevermind.”

Everclear’s sophomore release opens with a repetitive chiming guitar motif foreshadowing the explosive songs forthcoming, which is similar, but not totally like what Nirvana did with “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”

Once the opening chords erupt into “Electra Made Me Blind,” a string of exhilarating and cathartic anthems follow, just like “Nevermind.”

But, “Sparkle and Fade” is by no means a rip-off. Everclear and Nirvana exist on two different planes in the sense of style and especially song-writing.

Singer-guitarist Art Alexakis’ stark lyrics stem from daily experiences and vivid memories of his past, such as addiction and death. Whereas Kurt Cobain’s often indecipherable songs originated from self-absorbed introspection, angst and depression.

Where Nirvana nods to Scratch Acid, the Melvins and Sonic Youth, Everclear stands by Husker Du and the Replacements.

So far, “Sparkle and Fade” has enjoyed strong sales.

“We’re real happy with the way it’s going,” said Montoya. “It’s been selling real well in Midwest areas like Chicago and Kansas City. It’s basically selling out on the West Coast, as well.”

Interspersed with a feverish road schedule, Everclear will play several large-scale radio festivals including the annual End Fest in Seattle, which draws about 15,000 fans.

Saturday’s Everclear concert features supporting acts Shoveljerk, the Fumes, Boycott and Pigweed.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Everclear Location and time: Playfair Race Course Auditorium, Saturday, 7 p.m. Tickets: $6 at Vinyl Garage, 4000 Holes and Village Toys, $7 at the door