Photo By Emily Reiman
You might want to get up for this one. Today’s Song of the Day isn’t exactly fer sittin’ or lying down. It comes to us from the legendary Seattle act Mudhoney, who’re playing the Mohawk this Sunday. The song’ll rattle, shake, and squeeze the mid-week blues outta ya, but more on that in a bit.
For the uninitiated, Mudhoney–along with The Melvins–was instrumental in the birth of the “Seattle sound” (or “grunge” as the flacks and fashionistas took to calling it–and we promise that’s the last time the word’ll be used in this post) that fused amateurish, snotty punk with the aggression and menace of metal. The band’s first single as Mudhoney, 1988’s “Touch Me I’m Sick” put the band, and a little fledgling indie label in Seattle called Sub Pop, on the map. The bands the masses usually associate with the sound–your Nirvanas, your Pearl Jams and Soundgardens–looked to Mudhoney for inspiration. They’re just about 33 years from the days when then-teenaged frontman Mark McLaughlin (better known as Mark Arm) started the punk “band” Mr. Epp and the Calculations (they couldn’t play–naturally), and almost 25 since the took their name from a Rus Meyer flick, but Mudhoney is still releasing outstanding records.
Case in point: Mudhoney’s latest record Vanishing Point—the band’s ninth overall. Released last spring, it brings all their razor-sharp wit and lead-heavy attack to bear. Arm’s assault on white wine backstage at shows is as ferocious as it is funny (“You’re the soccer mom’s favorite sipper, but I can’t think of nothing sicker. Get the f#$% out of my backstage. I hate you Chardonnay,” screams Arm). “I Like It Small” is all Stoogey sludge. And today’s song of the day, “The Only Son Of The Widow From Nain,” is big, dumb, finger-shredding, guitar rock fun in all its rabid glory. The protagonist curses Lazarus for getting all the press, and he rages–hard. The freaky fun (emphasis on the freaky) video premiered earlier this week at Esquire.com. At first blush, the resurrection themes in the song may seem apt for a band that’s been around for so long. But when you think about it, Mudhoney didn’t need no stinkin’ resurrection. They’re still here, stronger’n ever.
A quick note: The song has a couple of four-letter words in it (i.e. it may be inappropriate for kids or blaring really loud at work).
