Name: Screaming Trees. Home: Ellensburg, Wash. Lineup: Bass-drums-guitar-vocalist. Sound: Heavy, riff-fuelled guitar rock. Personal references: Pearl Jam, Mudhoney, Nirvana.
If this looks like a quintessential grunge resume to you, that’s understandable. But the Screaming Trees’ brawny, hard-driving rock has proven surprisingly label-resistant.
“When we started out 11 years ago,” recalls bassist Van Conner, “people said we were psychedelic. Then, when we signed to SST (in 1987), people compared us to Dinosaur, Jr. After we put out a record on Sub Pop and Nirvana hit it big, we were tagged as grunge. I’m waiting to see what the next big thing is, ’cause I’m sure we’ll be compared to it.”
The Screaming Trees are about to release the long-awaited followup to their 1992 breakthrough record, “Sweet Oblivion.” The new album, “Dust,” considerably broadens the Trees’ sonic palette. Though the marrow of the band’s sound remains tuneful hard rock, it’s now girded with sitar-doused psychedelia (“Halo of Ashes”), unabashed pop (“Make My Mind”) and the occasional touch of a mellotron.
“We’ve wanted to try some new things for a while,” says Conner. “So, this time around we kind of indulged ourselves.”
It was also rumored that the new record might include a previously unrecorded Kurt Cobain song, though that isn’t the case.
“A year or two ago,” says Conner, “Courtney (Love) had a couple of Kurt’s songs, and she gave one to our lead singer, Mark (Lanegan). We were going to release it as a single and donate the proceeds to charity. But after we started working on the song, Mark felt kind of weird about it. He and Kurt had been really close. It may get recorded some day, but I think Mark may save it for a solo project.”
The Screaming Trees headline Saturday at the Metro. 3730 N. Clark St. 312-549-0203.
Individual listings are by Rick Reger unless otherwise noted.
The Dave Matthews Band, Friday at the World Music Theatre, Tinley Park: While the music industry preaches the gospel of niche marketing, the Dave Matthews Band rides eclecticism to the top of the charts. This interracial quintet plays a syncopated acoustic pop that mutates into mild funk, fiddle hoedowns and lite jazz at the drop of a hat. Though the music on DMB’s wide-ranging new record “Crash” is rhythmically complex, the melodies and harmonies are familiar and blandly pleasant. I-80 and Harlem Avenue, 312-559-1212.
Johnny Cash, Friday at the Hemmens Cultural Center, Elgin: Cash’s last opus, “American Recordings,” confirmed that he’s one of the most distinctive and riveting songwriters and singers in American music. Rather than churn out glittery, rhinestoned hits, Cash has used his own tumultuous experience and spiritual yearning as grist for songs that are sometimes harrowingly real. He’ll be joined for this performance by June Carter and the Carter Family. North Street and North Grove Ave. 847-931-5900.
The Tragically Hip, Thursday at the Riviera: Though this Canadian quintet’s new LP is titled “Trouble at the Henhouse,” the music isn’t likely to ruffle any feathers. Typically, it’s a platter of tuneful, moody guitar rock that’s a bit more subdued than previous outings. While you can knock the Tragically Hip’s music as middle-of-the-road, it’s more catchy and well-crafted than most of its radio playlist bedfellows. 4746 N. Racine 312-559-1212.
Dwight Yoakam, Thursday at the Rosemont Theatre, Rosemont: In recent years, more than a few country cowpokes have grafted rock and pop mannerisms onto their music in a bid for crossover success. Yet few have done so with the unerring musical instincts of Dwight Yoakam. Where most such efforts sound crass and unconvincing, Yoakam’s blend of pop hooks, rock sizzle and country twang is natural and unforgettable. 5400 N. River Rd. 312-559-1212.
Come, Friday at Lounge Ax: Led by indie scene vet Thalia Zedek, Come ignites a volatile mix of bluesy riffing and throbbing rock grind that throws off some real sparks. Beneath Zedek’s ragged snarl, the band rumbles through dark yet alluring songs with formidable power and precision. Come’s new record, “Near Life Experience,” is its best, most nuanced effort. 2438 N. Lincoln 312-525-6620.
The Posies, Friday early show at the Metro: Unrepentant pop revivalists, the Posies rummage through rock’s catacombs for inspiration. Though the band likes to rock out, it’s sound is ultimately distinguished by sighing harmonies and a classic pop lyricism that evokes the Beatles, Nazz and Cheap Trick. At their occasional best, the Posies deliver a ’60s-style hook-gasm; at their worst, they’re still better than your average punk-pop half-pint. 3730 N. Clark St. 312-549-0203.
Larry Garner, Tuesday at B.L.U.E.S.: Swamp blues for a contemporary audience. That’s the spicy dish that Baton Rouge guitarist Larry Garner serves up, a delicious blend of crisply concise guitar, well-seasoned vocals, and some of the most imaginative original material around. Garner’s 1995 “You Need to Live a Little” was packed with striking performances blending Louisiana blues with soul and even a tinge of pop to create a sound all his own — no small feat in this era of generic blues. 2519 N. Halsted St. 312-528-1012.
Bill Dahl
Magnapop and Local H, Saturday at the Double Door: While the name Magnapop suggests big things, this Atlanta quartet delivers more of a mezzo-pop payoff. Neither supremely catchy nor torridly rocking, Magnapop is a middling success. On its “As Good as Dead” record, Local H mocks Eddie Vedder in song even as it slavishly adheres to the grunge formula Vedder helped create. While Local H claims Vedder is “as good as dead,” the band’s own derivative Nirvana-isms are as spontaneous as roadkill. 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave. 312-489-3160.
Jesse Dayton, Thursday at FitzGerald’s, Berwyn: Texas native Jesse Dayton is a one-man musical crossroads. His songs glide fluently between western swing, honky-tonk, trad country, rock and blues, yet Dayton is no mere dilettante. A great singer, a stellar guitarist and a songwriter with more hooks than your granddad’s tackle box, Dayton can do it all. 6615 Roosevelt Rd. 708-788-2118.
Karate, Friday at the Fireside Bowl: While Karate’s two guitar-bass-drum lineup may look standard issue, the Boston quartet’s sound is hardly commonplace. With a spare, mid-tempo attack that recalls Slint, Karate handles gentle pop melodies and discordant riffs with equal aplomb. The band’s debut is an ear-catching outburst of good tunes and offbeat explorations. 2646 W. Fullerton Ave. 312-486-2700.
Jerry Jeff Walker, Thursday at Whiskey River: Neither a great singer nor a consistently brilliant songwriter, Walker became a legend by penning one certifiable classic (“Mr. Bojangles”), recording the definitive cover of another (“L.A. Freeway”) and hanging out with C&W outlaws like Willie Nelson. He brings his band to town for a rollicking set of shot-and-a-beer honky-tonk and Texas-style rock. 1997 N. Clybourn Ave. 312-528-3400.
House of Large Sizes, Friday at the Empty Bottle: This Iowa power trio has been carving out thick slabs of riff-heavy rock for almost a decade. Though HOLS’ ’70s-style attack is decidedly out of fashion in the “post-rock” ’90s, it offers a fairly savory feast for anyone famished for good ol’ meat and potatoes rock ‘n’ roll. 1035 N. Western Ave. 312-276-3600.
