4 Mudhoney Annihilates at Neumos

October 13th, 2009 - Mudhoney, Brothers of the Sonic Cloth, Unnatural Helpers @ Neumos

“Grunge” was the word of the hour last Friday evening at Neumos in celebration of a new book of rock photography by Michael Lavine. Lavine is a prominent photographer who while working for Sub Pop in the early 90’s captured many of the era's great Seattle bands in their heyday. Michael’s book "Grunge" highlights the 90’s punk and grunge scene, and while it heavily showcases the likeness of Kurt Cobain, it also features some of the notable figures on the night’s bill, as well as a few of the spectators in attendance. (Soundgarden’s Kim Thayil was one such notable spectator)

While the book is cool and everything but I was interested purely in the rock. The killer sounds of a stellar local lineup consisting of Unnatural Helpers, Tad Doyle’s Brothers of the Sonic Cloth, and the incomparable Mudhoney is what I wanted and rock I did receive.

Having the opportunity to see Tad Doyle’s Brothers of the Sonic Cloth for a second time in just over a month was everything this heavy music fan could ask for from a Friday evening. It was especially great to see the band upgraded to a bigger venue than normal as well as playing for a very enthusiastic, and much deserved larger audience.

It’s amazing what an expensive sound system can do for a band, as 'Brothers' sounded more massive than anytime previous. The difference between the crappy systems of the Comet and Sunset Taverns compared to hearing them on one of the Seattle’s premier venues’ system was night and day and jaw droppingly crushing. The distinction not only reiterated my championing of the band, but actually boosted their current heavier than a brontosaurus status in my book as well. Brothers of the Sonic Cloth played a 45 minute set consisting of the material off their new 10” split with Mico De Noche as well as their CD-R demo, and the crowd ate it up. Tad didn’t say much between the riffage but had the quote of the night when he asked “How many people are worshipping Satan right now?” The cheers and horns brought the amusing response “May the flamey horny one show up in your life in a big way”, and then the heavy music overlord continued the pummeling.

On a side note: When Tad plays, his face says it all-- the proud as hell ‘I play music heavier than a Mack truck and am detaching your ear drums’ look always brings a smile to my face.

‘The Mud’ as I occasionally like to refer to one of Seattle’s greatest and most important rock bands delighted, and actually ignited the packed Neumos showroom. Starting it off right with Fang’s “Let the Money Roll Right In” was a sure sign that the night would be something beyond just some book party featuring Mudhoney. This was going to be Mudhoney leaving everything they had onstage, while showcasing a very nice cross section of the songs that have gained them worldwide respect throughout their 21 years of existence.

I have seen the band more times than I can count, and many times since they returned to Sub Pop in the early 2000’s. Many of these performances had been heavy on new material from whichever record that happened to be released at the time. This show was different and started with only a few songs off 2008’s triumph “The Lucky Ones”. The rest of the set was a greatest hits barrage that stirred the crowd into frenzy, complete with quite a few crowd surfers and a number of drunken shoving matches. A rowdiness rarely seen at Neumos possibly due to the bookings, security was caught a little off guard, opening the doors for a nice little pit circa 1991. Beer was spilled with wreckless abandon and the crowd rocked hard to the classics “You Got It”, “Suck You Dry”, “Sweet Young Thing…”, and of course “Touch Me I’m Sick”.

One point of interest at least for me was it was great to see Mark manning a guitar. The recent records have featured a lone Steve Turner on guitar, and most of the recent shows from my memory were heavy on the newer material leaving a very limber Mark Arm with nothing to do but channel Iggy Pop. Another highlight of this one was the inclusion of a couple from “My Brother the Cow” including “Judgment, Rage, Retribution and Thyme” and a personal fave “What Moves the Heart?” ‘My Brother the Cow’ was my first Mudhoney record back in 1995, and though I have heard the songs live before it’s always great to hear the ones that are near and dear.

According to the superb fansite Mudhoney: Tourbook, this was the longest Mudhoney show to date not only by length which hit the 2 hour mark, but also by shear amount of songs played, which reached 27! I don’t know what was in the air last Friday, and I don’t know what had gotten into the normally stagnant Seattle concert crowd but the show pure magic. The strong bond between Mark, Steve, Dan and Guy and this city is something that is amazing to partake and awesome to behold. This may have been my favorite Mudhoney experience to date.

The Unnatural Helpers opened the night with a little bit different lineup than the last time I had the pleasure of seeing them perform. Normally manning the bass is the Dutchess Kimberly Morrison of the Helper’s Hardly Art labelmates The Dutchess and the Duke. I have to say while taking nothing away from Kimberly, this particular lineup made Unnatural Helpers sound like a completely different band. The ultra fuzz garage rock that poured from the Neumos stage not only conveyed the humble beginnings of the scene depicted in Lavine’s book, but was a rock and roll breath of fresh air.

Mudhoney’s setlist:

The Money Will Roll Right In
I'm Now
The Lucky Ones
Next Time
Inside Out
You Got It
Suck You Dry
Oblivion
Blinding Sun
Inside Job
What Moves the Heart?
Sweet Young Thing Ain’t Sweet No More
Let it Slide
Judgment, Rage, Retribution and Thyme
Good Enough
Touch Me I'm Sick
F.D.K.
This Gift
Hardon for War
When Tomorrow Hits/In 'N' Out of Grace
Hate the Police