Tuesday, October 20, 1998
For goodness’ sake
INTERVIEW: Seattle band tries to make it big with rock ‘n’ roll
by moving away from local grunge scene
By Brent Hopkins
Daily Bruin Contributor
There is always a buzz about the latest rage in music. Everyone
wants to read about what’s new, what’s exciting and what’s hot.
Up-and-coming acts continually try to top one another with musical
innovation, so they can garner praise for their original and
different experimentation. With all this hype about finding what’s
new, sometimes the classic sound gets left behind. With Seattle
band Goodness, that’s not the case.
"We’re looking to cultivate a good rock show again, " says lead
singer Carrie Akre.
Goodness, which plays tonight at the Troubadour, is recapturing
the rock sound minted in the ’70s and giving it a ’90s twist.
Borrowing from the same bag of tricks that made Kiss rock and roll
all night, Goodness marries the dual-guitar harmony of countless
’70s arena rock groups with Akre’s throaty vocals for a vintage
sound rarely found in today’s scene. Rather than venture into new
territory, Goodness is sticking to the formula that has worked for
its predecessors.
"Nobody gets sick of old favorites, " Akre says, explaining the
band’s classic feel.
This isn’t to say that Goodness is stuck in the ’70s. Their
debut CD on Immortal, an independent label backed by Epic Records,
also tips its hat to New Wave and ’90s rock. Akre describes it as
being uplifting pop music, intended to motivate listeners. It’s
anything but generic pop syrup, however. None of the "Anthem’s " 12
songs are likely to become aerobic workout tunes, but it steers
clear of generic unhappiness.
"You can’t be depressed forever, " Akre says.
"Anthem " does have its somber moments, but they generally
resolve themselves. Akre, an able lyricist, is able to paint
unhappy scenes without sinking inescapably into bleakness.
"Pretender, " a guitar-heavy drive illustrates this well, telling
of a former lover who "left my heart/ in pieces of misery. " But
rather than wallowing in self-pity, Akre rights herself,
confidently continuing with "and now I have got to do/some livin’.
"
With this positive approach to songwriting, Goodness distances
itself from the dark quality so commonly associated with Seattle
music of late. Akre describes the band’s home as having "a really
healthy scene, " that helped spark her creativity. Originally a
native of eastern Washington, Akre hasn’t strayed far from her
roots, preferring to avoid the frenzy of Los Angeles for the more
laid-back Northwest.
"I like it, " Akre says. "It’s slow enough to write. "
Akre’s inspiration isn’t merely limited to geography, however. A
fan of "good singers, " she cites Elliot Smith, Björk and Kate
Bush as some of her favorite artists. Topping the list, however, is
a singer from a decidedly different genre: Edith Piaf. The
plaintive cries of the famed French vocalist are not the first
sounds to spring to mind when thinking of a rock singer, but she
and Akre both share a common enthusiasm for singing. Akre may not
sing in the delicate style that brought Piaf international stardom,
but she throws herself into the vocals of "Anthem " with just as
much energy as Piaf did in many of her standards.
Akre describes this latest project as being "a record to go on a
road trip to. " Keeping that in mind, Goodness is touring the West
Coast to promote "Anthem. " On this short tour, they will be
playing mostly small, intimate venues. They may not be filling
stadiums like their classic rock predecessors, but they will be
giving it just as much energy.
MUSIC: Goodness plays Tuesday at the Troubadour, 9081 Santa
Monica Blvd. Call (310) 276-6168 for time and prices.
Photo courtesy of Immortal Records
Retro band Goodness tries to hit a chord with the public with
their new album, "Anthem. " The group will perform Tuesday at the
Troubadour.
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