I know what I like, so I generally go to shows with bands or artists I’m pretty familiar with, but tonight’s show was different. All I knew about Mudhoney was they were a pioneer in Seattle’s grunge movement, and of course I was familiar with ‘Touch Me I’m Sick’ and a few other songs. Pissed Jeans I was not at all familiar with. So this show was an amazing, delightful rock surprise. 

Pissed Jeans are from Pennsylvania and have been playing for about thirteen years. They are a three piece with a Tasmanian Devil of a singer, Matt Korvette. They follow a punishing noise rock formula shaped by bands such as The Jesus Lizard, Scratch Acid, and Metz. To this they add a much cleverer lyrical bent, they are a very smart band trying to play dumb. These guys are not youngsters, but from the get go they unleashed pummeling slabs of rock and didn’t quit, Korvette all over the stage and clowning the crowd.  Here’s an example of Korvette leading the crowd: 

Korvette: “Hey!” 

Crowd: “Hey!” 

Korvette: “Whoah!” 

Crowd (louder): “Whoah!” 

Korvette: “I Have A Small Penis” 

Crowd: “silence” 

My pal Chuck opined that Korvette may have gotten some things from The Meatmen’s Tesco Vee. Songs like ‘Ignorecam’ and especially ‘The Bar Is Low’ got the crowd going. I loved this band. They made a new fan tonight. 

 

 

Mudhoney are the pioneers of Seattle’s grunge scene, still with three original members, singer/guitarist Mark Arm, lead guitarist Steve Turner, and drummer Dan Peters. New guy bassist Guy Maddison has only been with them since 1999 (!).  Mudhoney took the stage and destroyed. Very little banter, just rolling out one rocker after another. Arm’s voice was abrasive in the best way and and his scream a punk rock thing of beauty. I’m sure Mudhoney get tired of this, but I do hear in them everything that Nirvana took. 

Anyway, Mudhoney had a bit of a psychedelic feel, occasionally referencing the MC5, often sounding like a smarter Stooges. They had a lot of killer songs and many great riffs. Standouts were, of course ‘Touch Me I’m Sick,’ ‘21st Century Pharisees,’  and an amazing ending with ‘Fix Me’ from Black Flag (see our Flag Podcast tinyurl.com/zubflag). Mudhoney, after all these years, is a fearsome rock machine. The crowd tried to form what felt like an obligatory pit, but being Asheville, it was more a friendly pushing circle. 

What a great, surprising evening: two bands that I wasn’t too sure about completely rocked my world. Let’s hear it for Sub Pop! 

----Steve McGowan