Medicine Hat (band)

Last updated
Medicine Hat
Origin Seattle, Washington, United States
Genres Rock, alternative rock
Years active1991–1995
LabelsCollective Fruit
MembersSean Bates
Ed Bechard
Jason Legat
Ben McAllister
Jason Thomson

Medicine Hat, was an American rock band from Seattle, Washington and was active between 1991 and 1995.

Contents

History

The bandmembers all went to Edmonds Woodway High School together, and while at Shoreline Community College in 1991, formed a band and started playing shows around 1992 and averaged about 10 shows a month. [1] [2] The band got their name when the drummer Jason Legat talked to a venue who demanded a name for the poster and he randomly picked 'Medicine Hat' from a long list of names. The name has no connection to the town from Alberta, Canada. [1] The group preferred performing all ages shows because the attendees were there for the music and not just drinking. [3] The singer Sean Bates was pictured in the Rolling Stone magazine on a spread of the Seattle scene, [1] and was noted that he managed a local record store while expressing concern about Seattle's new found hype: "I don't mind that the whole rest of the world thinks that Seattle's so big, but I really mind that Seattle thinks that Seattle is so big." [4] Eventually, the band was managed by Dean Zelikovsky [5] after their former manager Judy died from a stab wound inflicted by her ex-boyfriend. [4]

Pandemonium magazine described the band's music as progressive, with a tight and intricate rhythm section, and compared them to King Crimson. [1] Another article notes they've been compared to Fugazi, Primus, The Police, and Jane's Addiction. [2] The group recorded their first 3-song demo at Bad Animals studio in Seattle with Don Gilmore, who recorded Pearl Jam, Temple of the Dog and Sweetwater. [1] McAllister described the band's songwriting process as "nothing is ever brought in finished. It's usually music first, then we leave the lyrics up to Sean." [3]

One memorable show involved the band playing in Yakima, Washington at the Knights of Columbus hall. There was a lot of underage drinking and eventually the promoters said they couldn't pay the band. The band members stood their ground and apparently intimidated the promoters just enough that a rumor spread that they beat them up. [1]

Post Medicine Hat

Many years after the band dissolved, Bates and McCallister got together in 2005 and formed the band C'mon C'mon that did well locally before coming to an end in 2011.[ citation needed ] McAllister then formed the band Wizard Prison with Scott Colburn, and John Vallier. Since 2017, McAllister plays in an electric guitar ensemble called Guitar Cult,[ citation needed ] and briefly played in the group Rosso Viti before the COVID-19 pandemic made that unfeasible. [6] McAllister's brother Andy was involved in the group Conrad Ford. [7] Sean Bates now does vocals for Halloqueen, a Queen cover band that performs only on Halloween.[ citation needed ]

Discography

Studio albums

Other releases

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alice in Chains</span> American rock band

Alice in Chains is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington, formed in 1987 by guitarist and vocalist Jerry Cantrell and drummer Sean Kinney, who later recruited bassist Mike Starr and lead vocalist Layne Staley. Starr was replaced by Mike Inez in 1993. William DuVall joined the band in 2006 as co-lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist, replacing Staley, who died in 2002. The band took its name from Staley's previous group, the glam metal band Alice N' Chains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grunge</span> Genre of rock music

Grunge is an alternative rock genre and subculture that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American Pacific Northwest state of Washington, particularly in Seattle and nearby towns. Grunge fuses elements of punk rock and heavy metal, but without punk's structure and speed. The genre featured the distorted electric guitar sound used in both genres, although some bands performed with more emphasis on one or the other. Like these genres, grunge typically uses electric guitar, bass guitar, drums and vocals. Grunge also incorporates influences from indie rock bands such as Sonic Youth. Lyrics are typically angst-filled and introspective, often addressing themes such as social alienation, self-doubt, abuse, neglect, betrayal, social and emotional isolation, addiction, psychological trauma and a desire for freedom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Runaways</span> American rock band from Los Angeles

The Runaways were an all-female American rock band who recorded and performed from 1975 to 1979. The band released four studio albums and one live album during its run. Among their best-known songs are "Cherry Bomb", "Hollywood", "Queens of Noise" and a cover version of the Velvet Underground's "Rock & Roll". Never a major success in the United States, the Runaways became a sensation overseas, especially in Japan, thanks to the single "Cherry Bomb".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat Smear</span> American musician and film actor (born 1959)

Georg Albert Ruthenberg, better known by his stage name Pat Smear, is an American musician. He is best known for being the lead guitarist and co-founder of Los Angeles-based punk band The Germs and for being a rhythm guitarist for grunge band Nirvana, which he joined as a touring guitarist in 1993, and Foo Fighters, with whom he has recorded six studio albums. After Nirvana disbanded following the suicide of its frontman Kurt Cobain, drummer Dave Grohl went on to become the frontman of rock band Foo Fighters, with Smear joining on guitar. He left Foo Fighters in 1997, before rejoining as a touring guitarist in 2005, and has been a full-time member since 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike McCready</span> American guitarist

Michael David McCready is an American musician known for being a founding member and lead guitarist of Pearl Jam. McCready was also a member of the side project bands Flight to Mars, Temple of the Dog, Mad Season, and The Rockfords. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a part of Pearl Jam in 2017 alongside the three other founding members, and former member Dave Krusen.

Candlebox is an American rock band from Seattle, Washington. Since its formation in 1990, the group has released seven studio albums, several charting singles, a compilation, and a CD+DVD.

Green Apple Quick Step, often abbreviated as GAQS, is an American rock band from Seattle. Their sound was described as hard-edged, post-grunge rock. The band began as Inspector Luv and the Ride Me Babys in Tacoma, Washington before becoming Green Apple Quick Step, in Seattle, by 1992. The initial lineup under the new name consisted of lead vocalist Tyler Willman, guitarists Daniel Kempthorne and Steve Ross, singer-bassist Mari Ann Braeden, and drummer Bob 'Mink' Martin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kim Thayil</span> American guitarist and songwriter

Kim Anand Thayil is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist of the Seattle-based rock band Soundgarden, which he co-founded with singer Chris Cornell and bassist Hiro Yamamoto in 1984. Cornell and Thayil remained as the original members of the band until Cornell's death in 2017, and the band's subsequent split in 2018. Thayil was named the 100th greatest guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone in 2010, and the 67th greatest guitarist of all time by SPIN in 2012. Thayil has won two Grammy Awards as a member of Soundgarden.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Minus 5</span> American pop rock band

The Minus 5 is an American pop rock band headed by musician Scott McCaughey of Young Fresh Fellows, often in partnership with R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Posies</span> American band

The Posies were an American power pop group. The band was formed in 1986 in Bellingham, Washington, United States, by primary songwriters Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Inez</span> American bassist

Michael Allen Inez is an American rock musician best known for his role as the bassist of Alice in Chains since 1993. He is also recognized for his work with Ozzy Osbourne from 1989–1993. Inez has also been associated with Slash's Snakepit, Black Label Society, Spys4Darwin, and Heart. He is of Filipino descent. Inez has earned seven Grammy Award nominations as a member of Alice in Chains.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pentagram (band)</span> American heavy metal band

Pentagram is an American heavy metal band from Alexandria, Virginia, most famous as one of the pioneers of heavy metal, and the sub-genre of doom metal in particular. As such, they are considered one of the "big four of doom metal," alongside Candlemass, Saint Vitus and Trouble. The band was prolific in the underground scene of the 1970s, producing many demos and rehearsal tapes, but did not release a full-length album until re-forming in the early 1980s with an almost completely new line-up. Throughout the band's history, the only constant member has been vocalist Bobby Liebling. The revolving line-up of Pentagram has featured many well-respected musicians in the local doom metal scene, with members spending time in other acts such as the Obsessed, Place of Skulls, Internal Void, Spirit Caravan, among many others. The band's current line-up consists of Liebling (vocals), Matt Goldsborough (guitar), Greg Turley (bass), and "Minnesota" Pete Campbell (drums).

Chocolate Starfish is an Australian rock band formed in 1992 and disbanded in 1998. Their self-titled debut album, issued in April 1994, peaked at No. 2 on the ARIA Albums Chart. It was followed in October 1995 by their second album, Box, which reached No. 6. Their highest-charting single, "You're So Vain", was a cover version of Carly Simon's 1972 hit. It peaked at No. 11 on the ARIA Singles Chart in September 1993. They had another hit with "Mountain" in March 1994, which reached No. 12.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Darling Buds</span> Welsh alternative rock band

The Darling Buds are an alternative rock band from Newport, South Wales. The band formed in 1986 and were named after the H. E. Bates novel The Darling Buds of May – a title taken in turn, from the third line of Shakespeare's Sonnet 18: "Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May".

The Rockfords were an American rock band formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1999 by Carrie Akre, Chris Friel, and Danny Newcomb of Goodness, Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, and Rick Friel of Jodie Watts. The group served as a side project for its members, who had already tasted success with their respective bands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cynic (band)</span> American progressive metal band

Cynic is an American progressive metal band formed in Miami, Florida in 1987 and later re-formed in Los Angeles, California in 2007, where the sole surviving member, Paul Masvidal remains to this day. Cynic incorporates elements of progressive rock, alternative, and metal.

Lori Goldston is an American cellist and composer. Accomplished in a wide variety of styles, including classical, world music, rock and free improvisation, she came to prominence as the touring cellist for Nirvana from 1993–1994 and appears on their live album MTV Unplugged in New York. She was a member of Earth, the Black Cat Orchestra, and Spectratone International, and also performs solo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Nichols (composer)</span> American composer and dramatist

Mark Nichols is an American playwright, composer, and lyricist, best known for his musicals Little Boy Goes to Hell (1988), Joe Bean (2003), and How to Survive the Apocalypse (2009). He is also known in the northwestern United States for his work with Fred Jamison for whom he arranged 20 Northwest Coast Native songs for orchestra, girl choir, and rock band, performed by the Seattle Symphony in 1996.

Pandemonium was an American heavy metal band from Fairbanks, Alaska, United States, that moved to Los Angeles, in the early 1980s. The band released three albums on Metal Blade Records, and was featured on the first Metal Massacre record with Metallica, Ratt, and Steeler. Lead singer Chris Resch died of a heart attack in 2007.

Jolly Mon, also stylized as Jollymon, is an American rock band currently based in Portland, Oregon, but has been described as a mixture of reggae, 70s atmospheric Pink Floyd, and hard rock.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Thomson, Kevo (1994-02-01), "Under the watchful eye of knights of columbus alumni Ed Bechard, the members of Medicine Hat and Pandemonium writer, Kevo Thomson gather in their Queen Anne rehearsal loft to discuss, among other things, Mountain Dew", Pandemonium Magazine, p. unknown
  2. 1 2 Wilson, George (1993-04-16). "Medicine Hat: Cranking it up to 'Super Moist'". Seattle Times . Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  3. 1 2 Phalen, Tom (1994-11-04). "Strong Medicine Hat Rock Plays to All-Ages Audience". Seattle Times . Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  4. 1 2 Schoemer, Karen (1993-03-18), "Normal Weirdness in Seattle", Rolling Stone , no. 652, p. unknown
  5. ↑ Nelson, Sean (2004-05-27). "Living the Dream". The Stranger . Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  6. ↑ "About". Rossovitirocks.com. Retrieved 2021-03-31.
  7. ↑ Levin, Hannah (2008-11-18). "The Art of Making Movies with Guitar and Vocals". Seattle Weekly . Retrieved 2021-03-31.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.