Music Writing
When Bloomsbury Academic's 33 1/3 series honchos greenlit my pitch for Pearl Jam's "Vs.," I set off to corral input from band members, mine deep personal knowledge, and conduct fresh research.
I'm extremely proud of the resulting mini tome, and hope readers feel it’s worthy of both the book series and the band’s career-defining effort. (Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament said it didn't suck!)
Click to order from Bloomsbury.
A mid-pandemic release date was not ideal, but I did have several opportunities to sign the book, thanks to Seattle's legendary Easy Street Records. When owner Matt Vaughan hands you a Sharpie and a beer, you accept.
Click to order from Easy Street.
I interviewed Eddie Vedder for a Sound Magazine cover story on Pearl Jam’s formation and how the band approached recording their debut record, "Ten." Rolling Stone later referenced the story, which was icing on an already decadent cake.
As Pearl Jam was enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, I argued in Seattle Weekly that PJ's five drummers had paved the band's way to timeless notoriety.
Click to read the article (PDF).
I met with Chris Cornell to talk about sidestepping expectations when his "Scream" collaboration with hip-hop producer Timbaland was released. We chatted well beyond our allotted time, and I think we both felt seen by the time the rock star was needed elsewhere.
Click for the story. (Excuse the terrible images.)
Chris Cornell's passing was an existential gut-punch. When Seattle Weekly asked me to write 2,500 words of remembrance, I felt both obligated and honored to mourn his death—and celebrate his life—on behalf of the city. I turned in 3,500 words and the paper made the piece a cover story.
Click to read on the Weekly's site.
Learning that revered vocalist Mark Lanegan was performing on the island I call home, I jumped at the chance to preview the show in the community newspaper. It was (rightly) deemed front-page news.
Click to read the story.
