Seattle alt-rock singer/musician Carrie Akre takes the stage in Lake Forest Park’s Animal Acres Park Aug. 6, part of the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council’s annual Summer of Fun Concerts in the Parks series.
If the name is somewhat familiar to you, that’s because Akre is known for having fronted three seminal Seattle bands – Hammerbox, Goodness and the Rockfords.
Hammerbox came onto the Seattle music scene in the late 1980’s just as “grunge” was emerging as a “new” music genre. Akre’s ferocious vocals set the band apart from the mostly male-dominated groups of the time. The band recorded its self-titled debut LP for indie label C/Z Records in 1991. On the heels of other local bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden, Hammerbox signed their own major record deal with A&M Records, releasing Numb in 1993.
Akre moved on in 1994 to form Goodness with Danny Newcomb (lead guitar), Garth Reeves (guitar), Fiia McGann (bass), and Chris Friel (drums). They released their self-titled debut album in 1995 on Y Records, followed in 1998 by “Anthem” on Immortal/Epic and later “These Days” on Good-Ink. Two live albums were also released vin 2004. Goodness toured extensively all over the world, supporting such acts as Pearl Jam, Cheap Trick, and Oasis. They co-headlined a tour with Candlebox. (Goodness is reuniting. They will play a reunion show in Seattle at Showbox at the Market on Aug. 9).
Akre, Friel, and Newcomb later collaborated with Friel’s brother Rick and Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready to form the side-project band The Rockfords. The group’s self-titled studio album was released on Epic in 2000, and a live album and EP followed in 2003 and 2004.
Released in 2000, Akre’s first solo album, “Home,” sold an impressive 8,000 copies; 2002’s followup, “Invitation,” released on her her own label, My Way Records, sold over 5,000 copies. Her third CD, “Last the Evening,” is now available on Seattle’s Loveless Records.
Akre’s versatile voice moves through all musical styles — whether it’s performing rock on a Smithereen’s album, or full on gospel tinged solo material from her earlier solo releases, “Home” and “Invitation.” Using her ‘thunderous, wailful vocals,’ Akre has a way of pulling and attracting the listener to her. With her solo work she uses lyrics that focus on the day to day struggles with life and relationships. Akre attempts to relate to every listener with a style that is both catchy as well as all her own.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
