Shawn Smith's career spans a myriad of bands. Clicking each band below will give you an overview of and links to the project.
Formed in 1992, Brad's original lineup was Shawn Smith, Stone Gossard: guitars (Pearl Jam, Mother Love Bone), Regan Hagar: drums (Satchel, Malfunkshun) and Jeremy Toback: bass (Chop Love Carry Fire). Many people were introduced to Brad by checking out the side project from Stone Gossard of Pearl Jam. Most of those people became Brad fans when they realized that the band offered much more than a place for their favorite guitarist to get his kicks. Shawn's distinct vocals and piano connected immediately with listeners, and the deep, funky grooves of the band's rhythm section - Jeremy Toback and Regan Hagar - were irresistible.The band intended to call itself Shame, but another musician, Brad Wilson, held rights to the name. An monetary offer was made for the naming rights, but when Brad Wilson discovered who was in the band, he demanded an outlandish sum of money, believing he'd struck gold. Instead, the band simply dubbed itself Brad - an obvious jab at Mr. Wilson - and hitched the Shame tag to its album title It's worth noting that Brad Wilson has a terrific sense of humor about the situation.
Brad's debut album was written and recorded in just a couple of weeks. It's remarkable that the songs can sometimes sound like a bunch of guys just improvising in the studio, yet, at the same time, sound so complete and compelling. Brad's follow-up, Interiors, was much more polished, exploring the sounds Shame had to offer and discovering new elements along the way. Interiors included the band's most well known song, "The Day Brings." The song features guitar work by Mike McCready, Stone Gossard's bandmate from Pearl Jam and has been featured on an incredible number of compilations; it's even been on Muzack roation since at least 2006! The band's third album, Welcome to Discovery Park, has been described as a record by Shawn Smith featuring Brad. Perhaps this is because many of the standout tracks seem heavily influenced by Shawn, or because the band members jumped around playing different instruments, breaking through established roles (with Shawn's vocals being the one constant), but a run through the album reveals that it feels undeniably like a Brad record. Brad's fourth full-length album, Best Friends?, which was originally recorded between 2003-2006, was finally released in 2010 through Pearl Jam's Monkeywrench label. Brad signed with Dangerbird Management in 2011 and has recorded material for their 5th studio album, due out in early 2012.
Personnel changes: Jeremy signed off to pursue a solo career after recording the band's sophomore release. Mike Berg took over bass duties and recorded with the band through the Best Friends? sessions. Keith Lowe was introduced as Brad's bass player during support for Best Friends? and has become a permanent member of the band. * Brad's official website * Brad's Facebook * Brad's Twitter
"Prior to 1992, I was a solo artist and it wasn't going so well. I felt I needed to be in a band to learn what it was like. In December 1991, I started Satchel with Regan Hagar. I spent 5 months playing shows, but things weren't going so well. The opportunity to record a record with Steve Fisk came up and I chose to do it. Thus, Pigeonhed was created. That record took the summer to make. Then in October we made the Brad record. This brought some life back into Satchel, and in 1993 I made the first Satchel album. So, that's how it happened. There was no plan or problems with commitment. The opportunities arose in 1992 and I took them." - Shawn Smith, June 2001 (interview with Robert Pally)Satchel released its first studio album. EDC (1994) with Shawn Smith, Regan Hagar: drums, John Hoag: guitars (Water Fae) and Corey Kane: bass (Devilhead, From the North). EDC runs the gambit from hard rock to piano ballad and is glued together will dialog samples from the film Reservoir Dogs. Satchel's follow-up, The Family (1996), which was produced by Stone Gossard, is considered by many to be one of the finest releases of the 90's. Satchel disbanded shortly after the release of The Family. Prior to the break-up, the band had released a couple of singles, was featured on a handful of compilations and recorded a song for the Strange Days soundtrack. In 2005, four previously unreleased songs were featured on the Brad vs Satchel compilation, put together and released via The Establishment Store by Regan Hagar. Satchel reconnected in 2010 to release Heartache and Honey (2010)!
Personnel changes: Mike Berg (Brad) replaced Corey for the band's second record in 1996. Satchel re-formed in 2010 and released its third full-length album, with several people handling bass duties. Jeremy Lightfoot joined the band in 2010 for live shows and has become a permanent member. * Satchel's official website * Satchel's Facebook * Satchel's Twitter
"Pigeonhed was the idea of Jonathon Poneman, the owner of Sub Pop Records. He thought Steve and I would be a good combination. He gave us some money to rent gear to record." - Shawn Smith, June 2001 (interview with Robert Pally)Considering that it was the heyday of the Seattle "grunge" scene when Pigeonhed formed, Steve Fisk had worked with Nirvana, Soundgarden and Screaming Trees, among many others, and Shawn Smith was recording with Brad and Satchel, the obvious assumption would be that Pigeonhed was essentially a grunge supergroup. But if it was so obvious, what would have been the point in doing it? The beauty of Shawn Smith and Steve Fisk is that they're unpredictable and unafraid to take risks; though I doubt either of them would consider it a risk to make the music that they feel inside. Still, there were certain labels put on artists from Seattle, and there were expectations that followed, but Pigeonhed seemed unaware of both the labels and expectations. So unaware, in fact, that contributions from "grunge" legends, including Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains, Kim Thayil of Soundgarden, and former Pearl Jam drummer Matt Chamberlain, fit perfectly into Pigeonhed's vast musical soundscape.
Trying to describe Pigeonhed's sound is an effort in futility since their records pull from so many influences and each song is unique, but, in the words of Fisk, "it's a post-modern deconstruction of '70s and early-'80s popular music, specifically with a R&B and funk focus, but it doesn't sound like anything from that time. It sounds like something you'd make 20 years later. It's very 'feel'-based, but it's also very self-conscious."
Pigeonhed released two studio albums and several singles between 1993 and 1997. Also in 1997, the band's label, Sub Pop, issued a remix album; largely without the band's cooperation. Ironically, Pigeonhed realized their greatest level of success as a result of this album, with a remix of their song "Battle Flag" by the Lo Fidelity Allstars. The song has has been featured prominently in several televisions shows and movies, as well as countless compilations. The LoFi Allstars also included the song on their debut album and several singles. Pigeonhed had planned to release their third album in the Summer of 2001, but disbanded shortly after releasing the promotional EP known as Ph.
In 2010, Shawn and Steve re-formed Phed for a handful of concerts and followed with recording/remixing throughout 2011. The band issued a new single, "Rollin' Through Oakland," and plan to release their "lost" album in 2012. * Pigeonhed's landing page, with free download!
After a couple of personnel changes to Shawn's From the North project, in Fall 2007, the band settled in with Mike Hommel and Rob Day on drums and bass, respectively. It was only a matter of weeks before this potent lineup began working on original compositions.Because From the North was built around the very specific concept of bringing Andrew's lyrics to life, the band felt it needed a new name for the new project. Then, it happened...one night at a show, a fan told the band that they were "Seattle rock royalty." All Hail the Crown was born. * All Hail the Crown's official website * All Hail the Crown's Facebook
Longtime collaborators Shawn Smith, Greg Dulli (Afghan Whigs), and Happy Chichester (Howlin' Maggie, Royal Crescent Mob) founded The Twilight Singers in 1997 and proceeded to record a demo forElektra Records, which also housed Dulli's Afghan Whigs. Greg became unhappy with his Twilight bandmates and soon took on the project as his own. Meanwhile, Afghan Whigs and Elektra had been having difficulties with each other and it seemed inevitable that the band and label would have to part ways. Suddenly, the Twilight Singers demo appeared on the trading circuit, leading to speculation that Elektra had actually leaked the music. The Afghan Whigs and Twilight Singers signed to Columbia in the aftermath of the Elektra squabble, and Columbia quickly issued what would be the Afghan Whigs final album, 1965. All hope seemed lost for the Twilight project until Greg hooked up with the Fila Brazilia production team. This unlikely pairing saw Greg and the Fila boys rework the original demos into what became Twilight as Played by the Twilight Singers (2000). The album became mostly a Greg Dulli affair, with sparing vocal contributions from Shawn and Happy. Greg and Happy reconciled shortly thereafter, but Greg and Shawn wouldn't work together again until reuniting for Greg's 2007 two-night Triple Door concerts.
* Twilight Singers official website
