in Seattle

Because, as Blogger statistics inform me, not everyone who reads this is in Seattle (or even in the United States), there are a few misconceptions about this city's musical life that probably need to be rectified. First and foremost: Grunge is dead. Has been for a long time.

I only mention this because, while Seattle has moved on from the explosion of flannel that devoured mTv, it's pretty much the only music people associate with this town. Even though that association was formed back when mTv actually featured music, it still seems to function as the world's indelible image of Seattle. Even now, an out-of-town review of a Seattle band is likely to call that band some version of grunge or compare them to Nirvana, Soundgarden, or Pearl Jam... not because of how they sound, just because they're from Seattle.

For as long as I've lived here, Seattle's local music has provided myriad examples of its variety: there are thriving scenes and cultures around metal, hip hop, garage rock, punk, electronica (everything from dubstep to IDM), funk, jazz, bluegrass, and “indie rock.” If you read Seattle press, you'd probably assume indie-pop/rock/folk (or anything else beginning with “indie”) was all this town had to offer, but the taste-makers don't control what's actually being played in the city.  Almost everything is on offer in Seattle; as far as I can see, the only music not featured in Seattle is grunge.

Pearl Jam at the Key Arena, Seattle, in 2009. As relevant musicians in Seattle
as Christopher Cross concerts are to musicians in San Antonio
There are several reasons for that, and it will probably change as taste for 80s nostalgia evolves into the already-forming 90's nostalgia craze (coming soon!), but in spite of the rest of the country's associations, grunge doesn't win any favor with Seattleites. Bands in Seattle haven't aspired to grungedom in years; active Seattle bands don't play grunge, want to sound like grunge, or be compared to grunge. Touring bands: If you want a Seattle audience to go cold on you, cover a Nirvana song.

Of course, there are arena and reunion shows: if you want to drop $60 or more to see Pearl Jam in an arena, that's an option open to you... but that doesn't have anything to do with musicians in Seattle.  Paying big stadium prices for a band that got famous 20 years ago will absolutely get you into a massive show populated by the well financed and middle aged, just like seeing Neil Diamond or Metallica.  If you want music that actually has something to do with Seattle musicians (ones that don't live in mansions), just spend $5 at The Funhouse.
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