From the roof of Sub Pop HQ, we just watched the most unlikely of events. At 12PM sharp a flag bearing the venerable Sub Pop logo was hoisted by man and beast up the flagpole on the Space Needle! Not a pewter replica, mind you, but the actual building!

Apparently, they’ve also painted the top of the needle like a 7-inch stamp (much like this). But I’ll believe that when I see it. Anyone have a helicopter?

I’m not going to get so distracted by our sweet flag that I forget to remind you to come out to the festival this weekend, though. While both the comedy show and Saturday at Marymoor are sold out, there are still tickets available for Sunday’s show in the park. Get ’em while you can!

Follow this link for more info.

If you live in Seattle and are attending the SP20 Festival at Marymoor this weekend be aware that the 520 bridge will be closed ALL weekend. Plan accordingly!

Info from WSDOT

Alternate Routes:

Seattle to Marymoor via 90 directions are here.

Seattle to Marymoor via 522 directions are
here.

MOJO is on newsstands this week with a big fat Sub Pop cover, a free CD (Sub Pop 300!) and lots more about the grunge days from these folks who filled out my silly questionnaires.

What Susan Silver (Grunge Band Manager Extraordinaire) Had To Say

1. * What is your current occupation?* Band Manager and Mom
2. * Do people ever come up to you and ask for your autograph?*
   It has happened, which schocked the hell out of me. Japan and Spain are my biggest fan bases.
3. * What do you think of the current state of music?*
   Well…I think the current state of music is totally reinvigorated. The focus seems to be off the “prize” more now and back to expression. State of music business—not so good but that is what’s helping fuel DIY again.
4. * Name five albums you’ve been listening to lately.*
   1. Thievery Corporation
   2. Mark Pickerel demo
   3. Clay Ballard
   4. Manu Chao
   5. Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus
5. * When you meet new people, do you find that all they want to do is talk with you about grunge? Are you tired of talking about grunge?*
   No to both.

What Charles Peterson (Grunge Photographer Extraordinaire) Had To Say

1. * What is your current occupation?* Photographer (freelance)
2. * Do people ever come up to you and ask for your autograph?*
   No
3. * What do you think of the current state of music?*
   Depressing for a photographer (1st three songs, no flash, and all that B.S.)
4. * Name five albums you’ve been listening to lately.*
   1. The Clash Sandinista
   2. M.I.A. Kala
   3. LCD Soundsystem
   4. Wolfmother
   5. Big Youth Screaming Target
5. * When you meet new people, do you find that all they want to do is talk with you about grunge? Are you tired of talking about grunge?*
   Sometimes (and it almost always involves Kurt Cobain). Yes.

Whimsical pointillist flower drawing by Susan Silver.

Here is the second installment of the results from Grunge Summit 2008. I thought Tad Doyle (of TAD) and Chad Channing (of Nirvana’s early days) would be a good pair since I’m doing this in twos. Tadchad!

What Tad Doyle Had To Say

1. * What is your current occupation?*
   I am a bookkeper for Flux, Inc. I occupy space and displace air or water depending on where I am.
2. * Do people ever come up to you and ask for your autograph?*
   Yes they do. Sometimes they know who I am.
3. * What do you think of the current state of music?*
   Love it. There is always plenty of fresh new bands to keep a guy like me busy and listening for a lifetime.
4. * Name five albums you’ve been listening to lately.*
   1. Middian Age Eternal
   2. YOB The Unreal Never Lived
   3. Christ Punchers Psalms For A New Dark Age
   4. Celtic Frost Monotheist
5. * When you meet new people, do you find that all they want to do is talk with you about grunge? Are you tired of talking about grunge?*
   I usually direct the conversation to other subjects.

What Chad Channing Had To Say

1. * What is your current occupation?*
   musician/dad/landscaper 2 days a week
2. * Do people ever come up to you and ask for your autograph?*
   yup
3. * What do you think of the current state of music?*
   I think some of the best music being made will never get heard. Big labels buying out the little guys is killing music. Something has to give…just hope I’m around to hear/see it. Not sure what I think anymore.
4. * Name five albums you’ve been listening to lately.*
   1. Portishead P3
   2. Amon Amarth Odin At Our Side
   3. MIA’s second record
   4. TATU’s second record
   5. Ween (anything)
5. * When you meet new people, do you find that all they want to do is talk with you about grunge? Are you tired of talking about grunge?*
   Not really. Breifly if anything. Sometimes.

Hand and pen, drawing by Tad Doyle. House/car/stick figure/unidentified fly ing object by Chad Channing.

In May, a wonderous event occurred, informally known as Grunge Summit 2008. On a cloudy Seattle evening, Jack Endino, Bruce Pavitt, Jonathan Poneman, Megan Jasper, Mark Arm, Susan Silver, Chad Channing, Charles Peterson, Tad Doyle, Jeff Ament, and Kim Thayil all convened at the Sub Pop headquarters for the purpose of a MOJO interview, the result of which will be featured in the August issue on newsstands in early July. With so many grunge greats in one room, we decided to make use of the opportunity by handing out questionnaires and making them take photobooth pictures. In subsequent weeks, expect Grunge Summit 2008: Parts II through V.

What Jack Endino Had To Say

1. * What is your current occupation?*
   Noisemaker (professional)
2. * Do people ever come up to you and ask for your autograph?*
   Yes, if rarely.
3. * What do you think of the current state of music?*
   It seems to be plentiful.
4. * Name five albums you’ve been listening to lately.*
   What are albums?
5. * When you meet new people, do you find that all they want to do is talk with you about grunge? Are you tired of talking about grunge?*
   Yes and yes.

What Bruce Pavitt Had To Say

1. * What is your current occupation?*
   unemployed
2. * Do people ever come up to you and ask for your autograph?*
   various bill collectors
3. * What do you think of the current state of music?*
   lacking social engagement
4. * Name five albums you’ve been listening to lately.*
   1. Mudhoney Superfuzz Bigmuff
   2. Bassnectar Underground Communication
   3. Goddess Alchemy Project demos
   4. Shimshai live demos
   5. Band of Horses (various albums)
   6. Midnite (various)
5. * When you meet new people, do you find that all they want to do is talk with you about grunge? Are you tired of talking about grunge?*
   No. Yes.

Heart drawing by Bruce Pavitt. Music note by Jack Endino.

Emily Khong of Vancouver couldn’t think of any “profound words of wisdom” for Sub Pop on it’s 20th birthday, so she enlisted the help of some 1st and 2nd grade kids. She gave them the assignment to redesign some of our band logos (is she trying to say that our art department isn’t good enough?). Anyway, I’m going to assume that it wasn’t Emily’s fault that a Death Cab For Cutie drawing was included in the package. I’ll let it slide if it was the simple mistake of a 1st or 2nd grader. Regardless, the birthday drawings made my mail-sorting task a little more interesting. Keep those cards coming!