WEST SEATTLE, Washington, August 18, 2010 (WSFB) – It’s 1993, and My Sister’s Machine is rockin’ out full throttle on tour. While in upstate New York, the tour manager pulls the band aside to let them know the record company dropped their contract and that they have enough money to do two more shows before they have to head home.
“I remember thinking, ‘now what?’” reminisces My Sister’s Machine drummer, Chris Gohde.
It was the beginning of the end for My Sister’s Machine, one of the bands that crested the savage shark infested wave of the early 1990’s Seattle music scene explosion that saw meteoric rise to fame for some and grim personal loss for others. The band broke up in 1994 and went their separate ways.
Jeff Gilbert was (and still is) involved in the Seattle rock scene and recalls his experience with My Sister’s Machine and the music industry that invaded the Emerald City:
“MSM were never really given the respect they were due, mostly because they were pigeon-holed as being a “grunge band.” During that stupid Seattle music gold rush, bands were being signed up literally on the spot with little thought given on how to market them. MSM was so much better than a lot of those other groups, but the record label either didn’t know it, or didn’t care as they were just looking to cash-in. The drag is if the label just would’ve gotten behind them, MSM would be still be out there making killer records, touring the world and keeping me employed as rock journalist.”
Flash forward to June 2009. The Infamous Joe Dredd starts talking about getting a couple bands together from back in the day, and decides My Sister’s Machine should reunite. “The idea was to do a Slaughterhaus 5 reunion with Tommy. Then I wanted to get another band to play with them so I started talking to the MSM guys and got that ball rolling,” says Joe. “So ‘yes’, it was my idea.”
Taking the suggestion to heart, Chris Gohde, Owen Right (lead guitar), and Chris “Ivan” Ivanovich (bass) began playing together, figuring the time was right. “We were like, ‘this doesn’t sound too bad’,” recalls Gohde.
In early 2010, Gohde, Owen, and Ivan – after several months of playing without a front man – reunited with vocalist/guitarist Nick Pollock. Pleasantly surprised, and with renewed enthusiasm for their past work, My Sister’s Machine was born anew.
Recently, the Funblog had the good fortune to be invited along to check out My Sister’s Machine during rehearsal at Groove Universe where I listened first hand to the incredible synergy and power of their music. I was treated to not only one – but two – full iterations of the set for their upcoming reunion performance at the Layne Staley Tribute and Benefit Concert on August 21st.
“I think the songs sound better now” says Owen.
Gohde agrees, “We’re in a much better headspace.”
To say the least. These guys are completely casual, barely breaking a sweat in the sun soaked room as they worked through each song without interruption.
(The Blue Angels roar overhead outside the old Rainier Brewery. Everyone shuffles around to try and get a glimpse as they speed through the clear Seattle sky. America, Fuck Yeah!)
Also on hand for the rehearsal was Funky Monkey 104.9 DJ, Damon Stewart, who was checking out the band in advance of their guest spot on his Garage Monkey radio program and podcast (August 10, 2010 – Listen online: hour one | hour two). Damon was a fixture in the early 90’s Seattle music scene as a DJ with KISW.
“Damon did a lot for the music scene,” says Gohde. “He’s a huge supporter of Seattle music.”
From a fan perspective, this rehearsal delivered not a single detectable transgression. Everyone was on mark, the sound polished and tight as one would expect from musicians of this caliber. Nick non-nonchalantly reviews and sends text messages from his iPhone while belting out lyrics. Owen expressively shreds the solo. Ivan hammers the bass line as Gohde effortlessly produces pounding beats. The sheer volume of the fully equipped rehearsal left my unprotected ears ringing for hours and tender for days; a price worth paying for bearing witness to a piece of rock history.
Let’s shift gears and check out some media from My Sister’s Machine.
See if you can figure out which local lifelong West Seattle long-haired noble-faired leaping gnome is in this video shackled to a cedar stump (at 2:06):
Fun Fact: The “I’m Sorry” video was shot just off I-90 up on Snoqualmie Pass at the band’s favorite clear cut.
Now, listen to “Sunday” from their first album, Diva. Turn your speakers way up!
Come check out My Sister’s Machine perform live for the first time in 16 years at the Showbox Market on August 21st for the Layne Staley Tribute and Benefit Concert.
This show is going to make you feel like you did something extra cool this summer.
