Sweet Water’s Love Of Playing Helps It Survive Ups And Downs
Sweet Water was almost made bitter by major-label politics.
When the Seattle combo signed to Atlantic in 1992, it was told to alter its music to sound more like Pearl Jam and Stone Temple Pilots.
It’s true.
The result was the band’s metal-tinged, self-titled debut. On it, singer Adam Czeisler sounded like a cross between the Cult’s Ian Astbury and STP’s Scott Weiland. Fortunately for the band, the album went unnoticed, so they weren’t branded a copycat.
Following that mild falter, Sweet Water changed directions and recorded an album of blistering power pop.
Atlantic wasn’t impressed with it, though.
So when Wendy Berry, the artist and repertoire representative who signed Sweet Water to Atlantic, moved over to East West/Elektra, she took the band with her.
Just as Sweet Water’s relationship with the major label began, a new regime of management took over and fired most of the staff, including Sweet Water’s A&R rep. All of Berry’s signees, including Tad and Clutch, were dropped as a result. To its surprise, Sweet Water was not let go.
The label issued the band’s second album “Super Friends” in the summer of 1995. But while the first single, “Superstar,” was gaining momentum at radio, the band was dropped without warning.
“They put it out there and it was doing great,” said singer Adam Czeisler during a phone interview this week. “On radio, (“Superstar”) was like No. 20 nationwide. We were all psyched. All of the sudden, a month into it, we were dropped.”
Czeisler blames corporate politics. After all, rarely do labels fire bands with new albums on the market.
“In retrospect, things were set in motion way before the record was released,” Adam says. “They had no intention of keeping us. I think (the president) just wanted a new roster.
When it comes down to it, Czeisler says, the label employees worry about their individual careers, not the artists who make those careers possible.
“They don’t care about (the album) bringing in money, so they weren’t really interested in it succeeding or not succeeding.”
Still, with very little promotion, Sweet Water sold 40,000 albums, an incredible feat in light of the fact 90 percent of all major-label bands sell 10,000 albums or fewer.
Following that setback, the quartet was leery about signing with another label. The band, which hadn’t even reached its peak, almost decided pack it in.
“We kind of went through a period there,” Czeisler says, “as we were getting dropped, it was like OK, ‘What are we in this for? Do we just want to break up? Was it just the contract keeping us together? Or do we really love to play?”’
Sweet Water chose the latter.
Tom Zutaut, an A&R rep at Geffen who signed Elastica, Guns ‘n’ Roses, Veruca Salt and Enya, listened to the “Super Friends” at a play station at a Tower Records in Washington D.C. He was so impressed he contacted the band and said he was interested in signing them if they were ever without a contract.
At the time, Sweet Water was still locked in at East West. But as soon as they were relinquished, the band called Zutaut.
Zutaut inked the band to a new label that he started called Enclave, a division of Capitol/EMI.
Once again, Sweet Water has re-entered the unstable world of corporate rock. This time the band has a two-album deal.
The band will record its first album for Enclave in upcoming weeks. Look for it early next year.
Petting Zulu opens at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $8.
Where East meets West
When your Sunday drive is complete, wheel on over to Ichabod’s North to have your day of peace and harmony obliterated by Zeni Geva.
Japanese sonic terrorists Zeni Geva are primed to splinter many a skull with their metallic grind and thrash.
Zeni Geva possess a sound that could wake a comatose patient. They’re brutally primal. But they’re not just about making noise. Zeni Geva constructs clever hooks and rhythm patterns and introduces erratic melodies into barrage.
The trio is among the handful of unmarketable, schizophrenic bands signed to indie marvel Alternative Tentacles.
The band’s latest album, “Freedom Bondage,” recorded by Steve Albini, is its third release for the label. The lyrics are in both Japanese and English.
In a span of eight years, Zeni Geva has whipped out a startling 23 releases. Many of which haven’t made it into the U.S.
If you’re tired of waiting for Neurosis to revisit Spokane, give up, and go see the next best thing.
Don’t let the language barrier deter you from going. Even if they did sing, well, growl, in English, you still wouldn’t be able to understand them.
Nodge and Boycott open at 9:30 p.m. Sunday. The cover is $3.
Veteran guitarist at the Shed
Pat Travers made a name for himself in the early ‘80s with the song “Boom Boom (Out Go the Lights).”
Today, if you listen to classic rock radio, you’d get the impression that that’s all he’s known for.
Yet, Travers, who plays the Shed tonight, has long since been an innovative guitarist. He has 20 albums and hundreds of shows standing in his corner.
Travers, now in his 40s, is pleased with his contributions to music. But he isn’t altogether satisfied. That’s one of the reasons why he puts out new albums every year.
The guitarist has had a case of the blues on his past four efforts, including 1995’s “Halfway to Somewhere” and “Blues Magnet.” On his new album, “Lookin’ Up,” Travers still has the blues but he also has ants in his pants as this album picks up and rocks.
“It’s a real good one,” Travers said in a phone interview this week. “We’re really pleased with it. It’s got some very powerful material.”
Travers says fans have been particularly responsive to the new songs at shows.
“If we had a huge record company with a big promotional budget, we’d probably have a huge hit on our hands. As it is, we’ll just have to hope we win the rock’n’roll lottery and just get some airplay.”
Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12.
Funking around
Two of the Northwest’s great funk combos, Rubberneck and the Super Sonic Soul Pimps, will descend down from the mothership for a fistful of funkified shows in the area.
The Supersonic Soul Pimps, from Seattle, play the Zoo tonight and the Northern Corner Saturday.
Portland’s Rubberneck plays Outback Jack’s on Tuesday.
Cover charges and opening bands were not available.
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo
MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: Nightwatch picks Best bets at area clubs: TONIGHT: Sweet Water at Outback Jack’s; Pat Travers at the Shed SUNDAY: Zeni Geva at Ichabod’s North TUESDAY: Rubberneck at Outback Jack’s