Sunspots have faded

Radio Seattle are back in action in a couple of weeks’ time. We’re at the Fiddler’s Elbow on Thursday 15 June for the next instalment in our “Grunge is NOT Dead” series, and we’ll be joined by Almagram and Sick Joy.

Chris Cornell 1964-2017

I never wanted to write these words down for you… Desperately sad and incomprehensible news today, to hear of Chris Cornell’s tragic passing, aged only 52. To his family, bandmates and friends, my deepest condolences.

You can’t be neutral on a moving train

Riot Act turned 14 earlier this month, along with its immediate predecessor Binaural a somewhat underrated album in the middle of the Pearl Jam pack.* Both albums were critically acclaimed on release, but over time their lustre has seemingly dimmed for many (though not for me; they remain strong personal favourites). Unsurprisingly, perhaps, it’s the early albums, along with the more overtly straightforward rock contained in Yield, that continue to have find more favour generally, as evidenced by this Rolling Stone readers’ poll from July 2013.**

It’s already been sung, but it can’t be said enough

Embed from Getty Images

Pearl Jam are touring South America this month, so a chance to share a few songs from the tour, along with the posters.

How far away we all are now

Mad Season back in the day (l-r): McCready, Saunders, Staley, Martin.

Mad Season are gigging at the end of the month, as part of the Seattle Symphony’s Sonic Evolution series; the event is taking place at Benaroya Hall on 30 January, and will feature orchestral and solo arrangements of some of their songs.*

I don’t mind stealing bread

Soundgarden and Pearl Jam both played at this autumn’s 28th annual Bridge School benefit concert (keeping Matt Cameron fully occupied)*, and the opportunity for a Temple of the Dog reunion was too good to miss.

Wakin’ up the reindeer

Today (6 January) is the 12th day of Christmas, so it’s my last chance until next December to get this post written whilst maintaining a veneer of topicality. We took down the Christmas tree this evening; doesn’t Christmas whizz by these days?!

In recent years (since 2009, as you’ll soon figure out), Becky has put her innate cracked-but-crafty* talents into practice by making me Pearl Jam-related Christmas cards, and this seems an opportune moment to present a gallery of her mighty fine creations, in reverse chronological order.**

2014 Christmas card

I feel a strength

 

 

 

Further to my recent post about next weekend’s Bridge School concert, here are Pearl Jam playing ‘Walk With Me’ with Neil Young at  the 2010 concert.

It’s the lead-off song on Young’s 2010 album Le Noise (his thirty-first studio album, apparently), and the video’s from The Kids Are Twenty, disc two of the PJ20 deluxe edition.

Black with starlight

Pearl Jam and Soundgarden will be performing at the 28th annual Bridge School benefit concert this year (25-26 October 2014).

There’s always a strong line up to support Neil and Pegi Young’s school – Brian Wilson and Tom Jones are playing this year! presumably not together (though why not?) – which uses innovative means to educate children with severe speech and physical impairments. Florence + the Machine, Puss n Boots (Norah Jones’ new band) and Band of Horses are also playing this year.

If nothing is everything

I recently found this video of Eddie Vedder playing ‘Gone’, from 2006’s Pearl Jam (the avocado album), live in the studio; part of the AOL Music Sessions (whatever they were). Matt Cameron ably provides backing vocals on the outro.