MUSIC | VINTAGE
HALLOWEEN at the MARKET
“PUNK PIONEERS,” CONTINUED... ing the sound of Gregor’s band, Sweet Madness, to a new level. The band practiced every night of the week, writing more than 55 songs in just three years. Still, they had to beg for gigs. Bars only hired bands that played cover sets. “There was no new music scene at the time. None,” Gregor says. “So we were really inclusive, we had to build a crowd.” They didn’t promote their shows just as concerts, but as can’tmiss dance experiences. Once their shows started to attract 150 to 200 people, Gregor says the band insisted that any opening acts play only original music too. “There were initially no other bands. So people would come to our shows and hand me a tape afterwards,” he says. “There were bands that formed just to open for Sweet Madness; the upcoming gig gave them a reason to write songs and practice.” Gregor and Robison laugh when asked if Sweet Madness will ever play again. “Ohhh … who wants to listen to old men?” Robison says. “It is good music — not debating that. We just want people to have fun listening to it and enjoy it as much as we do.” They both admit anything can happen. But right now, with their record hitting stores around the globe and people praising the work they made when they were just kids, Gregor says Sweet Madness is getting more attention than it ever has. He’s happy they toiled in obscurity for 30 years and now — bam! — brand-new fans they were never expecting. “I think we were better off with total obscurity than one or two hits. One or two hits means you might keep going even if you really shouldn’t,” he says. “Total obscurity means we got on with our lives and did other things.” leahs@inlander.com
COSTUME CONTEST PUMPKIN CARVING LIVE MUSIC 3-6PM GREAT FOOD TRICK OR TREATING & A FISH TANK FOR THE KIDS THE MARKET IS OPEN ALL YEAR LONG DOWNTOWN AT 2ND & BROWNE (24 W. 2ND AVE) THUR-SAT, 10AM -6PM, SUN 11AM-5PM SPOKANEPUBLICMARKET.ORG
Listen to Sweet Madness’ Made in Spokane 1978-1981 at sweetmadness.bandcamp.com, or purchase it on vinyl at lightintheattic.net
WAY musical ng BROADW the groundbreaki
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November 22s &Cen23 ter INB Performing Art
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86 20TH ANNIVERSARY OCTOBER 24, 2013
13220 ANG WA MDPL Inlander_5.5x5.4in.indd 1
9/5/13 4:14 PM