Malicious Mischief Returns For One Gig
On today’s episode of “As the Bands Turn,” we bring you a tale of intrigue, unfaithfulness and a whole lot of Malicious Mischief.
It was the late 1990s and an angry group of young Spokane men were blowing out windows and eardrums playing aggressive, hard-edged rock at clubs around town.
But then the magic ended.
The group’s singer (gasp) STARTED ANOTHER BAND.
“Being in a band’s almost like being married,” scorned drummer Brandon Harrison says. “We all looked at this like, `This is our wife cheating on us.’ … I felt like they stole my girl.”
With singer Jason McKinney gone (he went on to start Distorted Silence and is now with the highly successful Civilized Animal), the rest of Malicious Mischief disintegrated.
About 18 months ago, several of the members formed News A.D. (short for New School Anger District … cheery, no?)
But when McKinney stopped by a recent News A.D. practice, the former bandmates realized the old spark was still there.
Guitarist Paul Soto played some Malicious Mischief riffs and the rest of the guys joined in.
“After three years, it was impressive we even knew it,” Harrison says. “We’ve always looked back on what we used to do as Malicious Mischief and how much fun we had.”
So they’re reuniting. But just for one night. And they may even bring some copies of their sold-out album, “Infinite Midnight” for those old-school head-bangers who didn’t get a copy the first time around.
Malicious Mischief will play Saturday at Ichabod’s North. Music starts around 10 p.m., but don’t expect the guys to go on until around midnight. Upperclass Racket, Elderstar and Subtle will also play. Cover is $5.
As for Harrison, he has no regrets about the breakup:
“Bands change, bands move on,” he said. “If you don’t move on in life musically, you’re going to get stuck in a rut.”
Homecoming
It’s been nearly two years since BeeCraft sought refuge in the bigger audiences and more plentiful clubs west of the Cascades.
Band members hoped to find a wider market for their unique fusion of rock, jazz and funk.
And they say they’ve found it, but that doesn’t mean they can’t come home again. They’ve been crossing into Eastern Washington once a month or so to make sure their fans don’t forget them.
“Over in Spokane, we just have a really good base following of people that have been coming to our shows for a long time,” says keyboard player Don Goodwin. “Over here, it’s been a matter of playing enough to get people kind of into understanding what we’re trying to accomplish.”
They’ve learned a lesson from other Spokane bands that have crossed the Cascade curtain, Goodwin says.
“Seattle kind of sucks everybody up, you get lost,” he says. “There’s tons of bands here and lots of clubs. It’s been a matter of us being persistent.”
BeeCraft will play tonight at Mootsy’s, 406 W. Sprague, starting at 9:30 p.m. Cover is $5.
Blues
They’ve received just about every award that can be bestowed on a regional act, and are planning an album for release this spring.
But you can catch Too Slim and the Taildraggers tonight at the Fort Spokane Brewery.
The trio has made itself famous for branching into the unconventional while keeping its bluesy roots. The group’s seventh album, “King-Size Troublemakers,” is scheduled for release June 6.
“It’s not the blues, it’s not rock, it’s in between,” drummer John “Midnight” Cage says. “That’s kind of how this record’s going to be.”
Get a preview of some of the tracks off the new CD tonight. The show starts at 9:30 p.m. at the Fort Spokane, 401 W. Spokane Falls Blvd. Cover is $6.
Around the clubs
DJ DonnyD keeps the all-ages crowd dancing tonight at the D-Zone in NorthTown mall. Music begins at 9 p.m. and it costs $3 to get in.
Spokane three-piece The Other Way plays original rock and covers at Spanky Magooz in Coeur d’Alene tonight and Saturday starting at 9 p.m. All for just two bucks.