Wow. Fun times. Despite being from Portland and a frequent visitor to Seattle I never got a chance to see Nirvana live and I've always regretted that. It would've been an unforgetful experience, especially when they were relatively unknown.
From what you described, it sounds like even then, Nirvana had that "something" that people could pick up on.
Yeah, this was the period when they were just one of a handful of bands doing a similar thing. The bass and drums were the first thing that separated them that night. To me. And the songs were so good of course.....
Did you notice that Boston bands somehow always fell short out of town? I count all of New England including Providence as "in town." I think the incredibly supportive, friendly, and even loving ecosystem of bands and fans in New England made those bands into hot house organisms that could not flourish in more hostile environments. Bands that absolutely KILLED on their home turf -- Neighborhoods, Lyres -- were somehow not quite the thing in Chicago. Chicago crowds dared the band to impress them, they stood with their arms folded and sneered. Classic tough crowd.
But still, bands from other places could come to Chicago and tear the roof off the place and get the crowd going. So it was not just out of town, it was Boston.
One example The Chesterfield Kings played a superb, powerful show to a packed room at Batteries Not Included (a great place, long gone) and whipped the crowd into a frenzy. I remember after the show, all the tables and chairs were tipped over and pushed into heaps in the back corners, the walls and ceiling were literally beaded with dampness from the sweat of the crowd, the floor was a sticky crust of spilled beer and cigarette butts and some broken bottles. My girlfriend's band opened, and they were packing up, so I was there after the crowd dispersed. The owner, Mark, a rock'n'roll soul from Haiti of all places, was standing amidst this shambles. I though he would be bummed about the mess he had to clean up. Nope. He just said, with a huge smile, "What a band!" That night, they were as good as it gets.
During my time back east, 1979-1983, I always thought the east coast bands were more "pop". And more retro. And in a way still trying to be the Beatles. Whereas west coast bands--especially California--were more aggressive, more "threatening" in the sense of trying to stake out the future (Black Flag). East Coast bands wanted you to like them. West Coast bands wanted you to fear them....
I once Krist Novoselix get into a taxi in Greenwood by that long-gone club in Greenwood. I once saw a bad check by Courtney Love hanging on the wall behind the cash register at a coffee joint in Madrona.
This is fascinating to me. Never got to see Nirvana live. I remember thinking I was cool and edgy because my first concert at 16 was Sonic Youth (Philadelphia 1994). This was obviously WAY after grunge had gone mainstream, but most people I knew only liked Pearl Jam or Metallica, so I felt superior.
I remember the opening act was a band called The Dirty Three. They played pure noise and were painful to sit through.
I love the touch about Olympia. My dad tells me the same thing. Up until not that long ago *everyone* knew that Olympia was the weirdo central of PNW, and Nirvana was one of their gods.
I know a few people who played in 80s and 90s Seattle bands. They're living regular Seatttle lives—marriage, kids, jobs. Some still play music regularly. Jam sessions with other 80s and 90s musicians. The occasional show in somebody's backyard. Dad Punk. Dan Grunge. Dad Power Pop. Some of them were in bands that almost went big. Had Pacific Northwest fame that threatened to become national fame. They shared stages with Nirvava and Pearl Jam. Good people. Good musicians. Maybe better lives than they would've lived if they'd gotten famous. Or just alternate lives. Married to an alternate spouse. Alternate children. The weirdness of existence. That kid wouldn't exist if that band didn't fail.
I moved to Seattle in early August of 1989. I went to the OK Hotel and saw the a terrible band that I don't remember the name of. Nirvana was up next, but I left early bc I had a headache. Regrets!
It was probably the Obituaries, but I can't remember for sure. All I know is that they gave me a headache and I didn't want to be out too late in an unfamiliar city.
I'm aware of three Nirvana shows at Satyricon. Opening for 1) Mudoney, 2) The Melvins, 3) Hitting Birth NYE show. What year was this show with the Lemonheads? Working on a Satyricon gig history site and have images of most of the calendars and many show posters. No Nirvana gig website mentions a show with The Lemonheads. I did see The Lemonheads open for the Obituaries in Seattle in 89 and at Satyricon in 92 or 93. Just trying to pin down what tour that might have been.
I don't remember when it was. It was Satyricon for sure. It must have been early, 89 - 90 or so. I could be remembering it wrong. I'd heard Bleach. But I'd never seen them before. I didn't know who was who in the band. Maybe they filled in for somebody who cancelled? For some reason I really think it was the Lemonheads. But looking back, would Lemonheads have played at Satyricon? Wouldn't they have played somewhere bigger? Also, I did see Gwar at Satyricon right around then. So I definitely saw that!
The Lemonheads played on the 25th and then Gwar played the next night on the 26th.
I was living in Seattle that summer and saw the Lemonheads open for the Obituaries at the Vogue on the 24th, Gwar on the 25th (COCA night) and Mudhoney/Nirvana on the 26th COCA night 2.
08/23 Obituaries/Lemonheads - Vogue
08/25 Dickless, Tad, Dwarves, Gwar - COCA
08/26 Black Supersuckers, Catbutt, Mudhoney, Nirvana - COCA
It's entirely plausible to me that your memory is accurate. But memory is a funny thing. We often merge disparate memories into a single one. Maybe this will help.
And between 1989 and 1992, the Lemonheads played at least three times at Satyricon. I was at the '92 show with Julianna Hatfield and Now William. The one before that was with Steelpole Bathtub. The Mrs Robinson song came out in 1992, so Nirvana was way to big by then. The 89 show poster lists The Hangmen and Guests, but The Hangmen were on the calendar and had a poster for the night before as headliners as well. You certainly would have remembered the Nirvana NYE show with Hitting Birth differently. Nirvana also played with the Melvins at Satyricon and Mudhoney a different time. Trying to find some additional proof of this show. Will let you know if I do.
1: Not to mention, the Ziplocs opened the DOA/Dilso show and the Per Ubu show (the 1979 one - I don't remember where it was but some hipster room in NW.
2: I finally saw Nirvana at the Salem Armory in Dec. '93. They were great, particularly since they added Pat Smear late of the Germs on rhythm guitar and the place was so stacked with humans that the normally horrid concrete room sounded very good! I would have loved to have seen the '91 show but hardly ever went to Satyrican anymore - did Dave Grohl play in the band by then?
3: It's A Shame About Ray by the Lemonheads is perhaps one of the best songs ever written - offsetting their one-hit-wonder-ness (I discount covers).
To be fair to The Wipers the greatest band in my mind from the Portland area was the mighty Dead Moon. All the bands you mentioned are worthy though. And your synopsis of local scene dynamics was spot on. Funnily enough I bought the new Lemonheads single on Bandcamp this week and I think it's pretty good especially to these old ears - https://thelemonheadsmusic.bandcamp.com/album/fear-of-living-single
The WIpers 1st lineup was far superior in every way shape or form. If you never heard the 1st album and compared albums I could not blame you. If you saw the Wipers 1st lineup you too would think they were one of the greatest live groups every to have walked the earth.
I did see the original lineup, thanks to you taking me to see them! That was a life changing experience. To stand ten feet away from a band that was on a level with the best bands in the world. And they were from PORTLAND!
Wow. Fun times. Despite being from Portland and a frequent visitor to Seattle I never got a chance to see Nirvana live and I've always regretted that. It would've been an unforgetful experience, especially when they were relatively unknown.
From what you described, it sounds like even then, Nirvana had that "something" that people could pick up on.
Cheers
Yeah, this was the period when they were just one of a handful of bands doing a similar thing. The bass and drums were the first thing that separated them that night. To me. And the songs were so good of course.....
Did you notice that Boston bands somehow always fell short out of town? I count all of New England including Providence as "in town." I think the incredibly supportive, friendly, and even loving ecosystem of bands and fans in New England made those bands into hot house organisms that could not flourish in more hostile environments. Bands that absolutely KILLED on their home turf -- Neighborhoods, Lyres -- were somehow not quite the thing in Chicago. Chicago crowds dared the band to impress them, they stood with their arms folded and sneered. Classic tough crowd.
But still, bands from other places could come to Chicago and tear the roof off the place and get the crowd going. So it was not just out of town, it was Boston.
One example The Chesterfield Kings played a superb, powerful show to a packed room at Batteries Not Included (a great place, long gone) and whipped the crowd into a frenzy. I remember after the show, all the tables and chairs were tipped over and pushed into heaps in the back corners, the walls and ceiling were literally beaded with dampness from the sweat of the crowd, the floor was a sticky crust of spilled beer and cigarette butts and some broken bottles. My girlfriend's band opened, and they were packing up, so I was there after the crowd dispersed. The owner, Mark, a rock'n'roll soul from Haiti of all places, was standing amidst this shambles. I though he would be bummed about the mess he had to clean up. Nope. He just said, with a huge smile, "What a band!" That night, they were as good as it gets.
During my time back east, 1979-1983, I always thought the east coast bands were more "pop". And more retro. And in a way still trying to be the Beatles. Whereas west coast bands--especially California--were more aggressive, more "threatening" in the sense of trying to stake out the future (Black Flag). East Coast bands wanted you to like them. West Coast bands wanted you to fear them....
I once Krist Novoselix get into a taxi in Greenwood by that long-gone club in Greenwood. I once saw a bad check by Courtney Love hanging on the wall behind the cash register at a coffee joint in Madrona.
This is fascinating to me. Never got to see Nirvana live. I remember thinking I was cool and edgy because my first concert at 16 was Sonic Youth (Philadelphia 1994). This was obviously WAY after grunge had gone mainstream, but most people I knew only liked Pearl Jam or Metallica, so I felt superior.
I remember the opening act was a band called The Dirty Three. They played pure noise and were painful to sit through.
i remember The Dirty Three. lol. yeah. terrible
I love the touch about Olympia. My dad tells me the same thing. Up until not that long ago *everyone* knew that Olympia was the weirdo central of PNW, and Nirvana was one of their gods.
https://blakenelson.substack.com/p/evergreen-state-college-olympia-wa
I know a few people who played in 80s and 90s Seattle bands. They're living regular Seatttle lives—marriage, kids, jobs. Some still play music regularly. Jam sessions with other 80s and 90s musicians. The occasional show in somebody's backyard. Dad Punk. Dan Grunge. Dad Power Pop. Some of them were in bands that almost went big. Had Pacific Northwest fame that threatened to become national fame. They shared stages with Nirvava and Pearl Jam. Good people. Good musicians. Maybe better lives than they would've lived if they'd gotten famous. Or just alternate lives. Married to an alternate spouse. Alternate children. The weirdness of existence. That kid wouldn't exist if that band didn't fail.
I moved to Seattle in early August of 1989. I went to the OK Hotel and saw the a terrible band that I don't remember the name of. Nirvana was up next, but I left early bc I had a headache. Regrets!
It was probably the Obituaries, but I can't remember for sure. All I know is that they gave me a headache and I didn't want to be out too late in an unfamiliar city.
I'm aware of three Nirvana shows at Satyricon. Opening for 1) Mudoney, 2) The Melvins, 3) Hitting Birth NYE show. What year was this show with the Lemonheads? Working on a Satyricon gig history site and have images of most of the calendars and many show posters. No Nirvana gig website mentions a show with The Lemonheads. I did see The Lemonheads open for the Obituaries in Seattle in 89 and at Satyricon in 92 or 93. Just trying to pin down what tour that might have been.
Am guessing it was August 25th, 1989? Gwar played the next night at Satyricon.
I don't remember when it was. It was Satyricon for sure. It must have been early, 89 - 90 or so. I could be remembering it wrong. I'd heard Bleach. But I'd never seen them before. I didn't know who was who in the band. Maybe they filled in for somebody who cancelled? For some reason I really think it was the Lemonheads. But looking back, would Lemonheads have played at Satyricon? Wouldn't they have played somewhere bigger? Also, I did see Gwar at Satyricon right around then. So I definitely saw that!
GWAR!
I'm presuming this show was August in 1989.
The Lemonheads played on the 25th and then Gwar played the next night on the 26th.
I was living in Seattle that summer and saw the Lemonheads open for the Obituaries at the Vogue on the 24th, Gwar on the 25th (COCA night) and Mudhoney/Nirvana on the 26th COCA night 2.
08/23 Obituaries/Lemonheads - Vogue
08/25 Dickless, Tad, Dwarves, Gwar - COCA
08/26 Black Supersuckers, Catbutt, Mudhoney, Nirvana - COCA
It's entirely plausible to me that your memory is accurate. But memory is a funny thing. We often merge disparate memories into a single one. Maybe this will help.
https://satyriconcalendars.com/months.php?yearmonth=198908
And between 1989 and 1992, the Lemonheads played at least three times at Satyricon. I was at the '92 show with Julianna Hatfield and Now William. The one before that was with Steelpole Bathtub. The Mrs Robinson song came out in 1992, so Nirvana was way to big by then. The 89 show poster lists The Hangmen and Guests, but The Hangmen were on the calendar and had a poster for the night before as headliners as well. You certainly would have remembered the Nirvana NYE show with Hitting Birth differently. Nirvana also played with the Melvins at Satyricon and Mudhoney a different time. Trying to find some additional proof of this show. Will let you know if I do.
Well done. Reminds me of my PNA life.
Thanks for this blast from the past! Had completely forgotten about so many of these bands and what they used to mean to me. Time is a peculiar thing.
This is a fantastic article. Thanks for sharing all of those stories.
Thanks!
1: Not to mention, the Ziplocs opened the DOA/Dilso show and the Per Ubu show (the 1979 one - I don't remember where it was but some hipster room in NW.
2: I finally saw Nirvana at the Salem Armory in Dec. '93. They were great, particularly since they added Pat Smear late of the Germs on rhythm guitar and the place was so stacked with humans that the normally horrid concrete room sounded very good! I would have loved to have seen the '91 show but hardly ever went to Satyrican anymore - did Dave Grohl play in the band by then?
3: It's A Shame About Ray by the Lemonheads is perhaps one of the best songs ever written - offsetting their one-hit-wonder-ness (I discount covers).
yeah, I think it was Grohl on drums.
To be fair to The Wipers the greatest band in my mind from the Portland area was the mighty Dead Moon. All the bands you mentioned are worthy though. And your synopsis of local scene dynamics was spot on. Funnily enough I bought the new Lemonheads single on Bandcamp this week and I think it's pretty good especially to these old ears - https://thelemonheadsmusic.bandcamp.com/album/fear-of-living-single
Thanks for the link. Yeah I loved Dead Moon as well. I was briefly in a band with Andrew Loomis. RIP.
RIP Fred Cole too. At least Toody is still here.
The WIpers 1st lineup was far superior in every way shape or form. If you never heard the 1st album and compared albums I could not blame you. If you saw the Wipers 1st lineup you too would think they were one of the greatest live groups every to have walked the earth.
I did see the original lineup, thanks to you taking me to see them! That was a life changing experience. To stand ten feet away from a band that was on a level with the best bands in the world. And they were from PORTLAND!