Seattle’s Punk Music Scene is Alive and Thriving
By Sophie Flamoe
Amid the hustle and bustle of preparing for the release of Hinton’s next novel, The Sylvan Hotel by Frannie James—a heartfelt, exciting, and raw coming of age story set in Seattle in the mid-90’s—I am reminded of the significance, and prevalence of punk and grunge culture in Seattle at that time. Specifically in its music, fashion, and political activism. From Nirvana and Pearl Jam, to The Battle of Seattle in 1999; the Emerald City has always seemed to be at the epicenter of social and cultural change. But is this reputation still accurate?
Short answer? Yes.
At last months’ Sylvan Hotel Genesee Park event, we invited local indie band, All Friends Here to perform an acoustic set for us. Though not self-identified as a grunge band, All Friends Here has a strong catalogue of music, which delves into the same kinds of themes, issues, and complexities as many other notable grunge bands have, including another local band, Zookraught. Zookraught is “a band that refuses to conform to musical norms. Their sound is a chaotic blend of dance-punk, angular rhythms, and experimental noise, creating a sonic landscape that is both exhilarating and totally original.” according to their Bumbershoot profile. As a Seattle native, I say this with no shortage of pride, both bands (and many more) have been able to crack it in the industry; with All Friends Here gaining local fame within the grunge and indie scene, and Zookraught as their profile suggests, rising to play at one of Seattle’s biggest music festivals, Bumbershoot.
In typical grunge, and punk fashion, both bands have also used their music, and their platforms to promote social change, and speak on a variety of local and global issues. Between performing at shows for Palestine, and Trans rights, participating in Seattle-wide protests, and using their platforms to share current social and cultural issues, it is clear that these bands can go the distance as staples of the Seattle cultural and political sphere.
And they are not the only ones. Seattle’s grunge, punk, and indie musical underbelly has not gone away since the days of Nirvana, but rather, gotten stronger.
Popular amongst Seattle's youth, the next wave of the Emerald City’s musical prowess can be found in venues like Chop Suey, Funhouse, and in “house shows” which are like they sound: houses (often the houses of college students or adjacent) which are converted into music venues on the weekends, featuring primarily local grunge, punk, and indie bands on their come up. Given catchy names like Martha’s Vineyard, Evil House, and The Bakery, these venues have truly become a highlight of the Seattle music scene, offering today’s youth the chance to be a part of a community, and to continue Seattle’s legacy at the forefront of art as resistance.
You can listen to both bands on Spotify
Zookraught: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5lL3ndBEhlTm6TtjldQ3s1?si=83sZha-TQs2gciUxYpk2iQ
All Friends Here: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0SIrK1ab2tZ5hf6SAUhpUP?si=glcccZrgSq2SKJmcl8Z3Bw
Zookraught at Bumbershoot: