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Mudhoney’s Caustic Tunes Rekindle Grunge Love in DC

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It’s a shame temperatures crept close to the triple digits last night (June 8) in Washington, DC, rendering any flannel shirt too stifling to don to Mudhoney‘s show at the Rock and Roll Hotel, for the Seattle-based grunge stalwarts rocked with the vengeance of the genre’s early ’90s heyday.

Introduced by Cynics frontman Michael Kastelic as “possibly the greatest band in the world . . . and definitely the nicest band,” Mudhoney didn’t really bother proving the second proclamation, but seemed quite intent on living up to the first. And it was a piece of cake; Mark Arm and co. urged a crowd of true believers — some with awesome Bad Brains and Dead Milkmen T-shirts — to flaunt devil horns and form friendly moshpits with the intention of communal dancing, as opposed to pummeling each other in sea of churning flesh.

And for the most part, Mudhoney proved why — at least for a time — Nirvana was considered the “other” band in Seattle, as they pounded and punished the tiny stage. Arm moaned and writhed like a gentler Iggy Pop, and the band built up and broke down beautifully behind him as they rushed through new material off The Lucky Ones, including the bass-heavy, wildly riffing “The Open Minds,” plus mixed in plenty of old monsters like “Suck You Dry” and “Touch Me I’m Sick.”

With a punk rock efficiency and urgency, Mudhoney — notably guitarist Steve Turner — shredded any of the band’s genre’s disdain for virtuosity as he cut tight, fuzz-covered riffs. In the end, though, what mattered was the energy — the howls, blasts, and pure screeching noise. It’s what kept ears ringing well after the show, and why, for a night, Seattle ruled once again.

We asked:: Mudhoney serve as the godfathers of the Seattle scene. But aside from the band, what’s your favorite thing from the Pacific Northwest?

Read the fans’ answers >>
More photos from this show >>

We Asked: Mudhoney serve as the godfathers of the Seattle scene. But aside from the band, what’s your favorite thing from the Pacific Northwest?

Back to the story >>
More photos from this show >>

MUDHONEY / Photo by Nestor Diaz

MUDHONEY / Photo by Nestor Diaz

MUDHONEY / Photo by Nestor Diaz

MUDHONEY / Photo byNestor Diaz

MUDHONEY / Photo by Nestor Diaz

MUDHONEY / Photo by Nestor Diaz

MUDHONEY / Photo by Nestor Diaz

Back to the story >>
Read the fans’ answers >>