January 9, 2008
Mark Lanegan, Have You Played Seattle Since December 2003?
Has it really been over four years since you've taken a stage in Seattle, Mark? We could be wrong, but your late 2003 Showbox show—a great one, by the way—is the last we heard about. (QOTSA appearances don't count.) Assuming we're right, that's just silly.
It's not like you haven't had albums to support. Your 2006 pairing with Isobel Campbell was a gorgeous, syrup-and-sour-mash treat—but did you two share any live love outside of Europe? Now there's this awesome Soulsavers album, with slow beats, gospel flavor (that's "Revival," above) and a classy retooling of your "Kingdoms of Rain"—but the closest you're coming with that act is San Francisco.
Next up, the fruits of your musical labor with former Afghan Whig Greg Dulli: The Gutter Twins. There'll be a record in March, and a tour...but again, you'll get no closer than San Fran. What gives? Sub Pop's releasing the thing, for God's sake.
Stop hating on Seattle, Mark. Whatever it is that's kept you away from your Screaming Trees-era home, get over it already. Seattleites miss your tough intensity. Your melodic, molasses growl. Our collective wintertime despair hasn't ached as sweetly since you began to favor UK stages.
There's a big Sub Pop bash here this summer, and damn it, we expect you to show up. With Greg Dulli or all by your lonesome—whatever. You, your voice, and your brooding-brick-wall stage presence. For what it's worth, we'd be happy to provide whiskey and smokes.
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He had a show booked for the Showbox in October, 2004. After keeping us around long after the painful openers (Nick Oliveri solo acoustic was not good), someone got on stage to announce that Mark was sick and the show was canceled.
Those of us unlucky enough to have paid at the door stood around to put our names on a list, with promises of a ticket to his makeup show (they might have said within 6 months; it's been so long I can't remember. Regardless, some time period was promised.). It's been three years and counting, and I've yet to receive a make-up show or my money back. Whenever I'm on the fence about a show at the Showbox, I think back to how they wouldn't just return my $20 and take a pass.
dude probably has some memories he doesn't like re-living.
He showed up at the last Twilight Singers show at Neumo's (in 2005/6) for the last few songs. And by "showed up", I mean "walked on stage, sang 3 songs with eyes closed, and walked directly off."
To be fair, the last Showbox show that he actually performed at was incredibly hard to follow up. "Do I come down to the 7-Eleven and unplug the Slurpee machine while you're working?" Genius.