SEATTLE For a worthy cause, Soundgarden’s remaining members are getting back together on a well-known Seattle stage.
This month, the Seattle rock stars will return to the Showbox to perform at the 13th annual SMooCH event, which will support the uncompensated care fund at Seattle Children’s Hospital. In addition to Sub Pop alumni Sebadoh, Doug Martsch of Built to Spill, and Seattle’s own Duff McKagan, Soundgarden members Kim Thayil, Matt Cameron, and Ben Shepherd are performing under the anagram alias Nudedragons, just as they did on the same sacred stage during a legendary 2010 reunion.
The Nudedragons’ presence is described as a quick encore performance on the SMooCH website.
The fundraiser event sponsored by Nordstrom on December 14 is completely sold out.
Since frontman Chris Cornell passed away in 2017, this is the second time Soundgarden’s three members have come together in their home state. The lads performed Black Hole Sun and Searching With My Good Eye Closed with Brandi Carlile at the Gorge Amphitheatre three years ago. Cornell’s vocals were handled by Carlile. A star-studded 2019 memorial event in Los Angeles marked the band’s previous reunion.
Shaina Shepherd, another Seattle favorite and true vocal powerhouse, will join the Soundgarden (er, Nudedragons) members this time around. The big-voiced, multi-talented singer-songwriter is a natural pick and has the range and skill to cover for the unique Cornell. In 2020, Thayil and Shaina Shepherd got together for MoPOP’s virtual performance honoring Alice in Chains, two of their common hometown idols. Before concentrating on her solo work in recent years, Shepherd fronted the grunge-indebted rock group BEARAXE. Their performance of Alice’s “It Ain’t Like That” stunned an online audience.
With support from the Seattle music community, SMooCH, an acronym for Seattle Musicians for Children’s Hospital, was started by Pete and Brandy Nordstrom in 2012 and has grown into a highly anticipated holiday concert tradition. KEXP’s John Richards and Sub Pop CEO Megan Jasper usually host SMooCH, which frequently features local talent. Previous nights have featured performances by Sir Mix-A-Lot, The Head and the Heart, and Modest Mouse.
Despite Seattle’s stellar reputation, this year is sure to be remembered.
Rietmulder, Michael, The Seattle Times
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