Satchel

Just about every rock & roller nowadays lists '70s rock as a major influence, but few rockers are down with the misunderstood genius <a href="spotify:artist:5a2EaR3hamoenG9rDuVn8j">Prince</a>. Unlike others, though, Satchel has no problem admitting their worship of the Purple One (vocalist <a href="spotify:artist:0tdxLKLEwjcl1wlD4TmJeQ">Shawn Smith</a> in particular, who explores his <a href="spotify:artist:5a2EaR3hamoenG9rDuVn8j">Prince</a> fixation even more in his two-man side project <a href="spotify:artist:7C5dkQXLoTE3OFE5qBTrBB">Pigeonhed</a>).

Satchel's roots lay in the band <a href="spotify:artist:0aYY5NNI8EKnvLckbACC8x">Brad</a>, which was originally put together as a one-shot side project for <a href="spotify:artist:1w5Kfo2jwwIPruYS2UWh56">Pearl Jam</a> guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:6AaWik9LKRViQFnIK2PSI9">Stone Gossard</a>. It was essentially an excuse for a group of friends to unwind and make music for the sheer fun of it. After releasing the album Shame in 1992, <a href="spotify:artist:6AaWik9LKRViQFnIK2PSI9">Gossard</a> returned to <a href="spotify:artist:1w5Kfo2jwwIPruYS2UWh56">Pearl Jam</a>, while drummer Regan Hagar and singer <a href="spotify:artist:0tdxLKLEwjcl1wlD4TmJeQ">Smith</a> decided to form a permanent band. After hooking up with guitarist John Hoag and bassist Cory Kane, the newly named Satchel (originally called Bliss) secured a record deal with Epic Records. Their debut, EDC, was released in 1994, and was an unfortunately overlooked masterpiece. The band toured relentlessly, and soon bassist <a href="spotify:artist:6futYSDVulYR2PktBjTB5W">Kane</a> exited, with his replacement being <a href="spotify:artist:1c6r7GQYhOl3Wqj3k6brAV">Mike Berg</a>. The album didn't sell in vast quantities as hoped, so the band regrouped and began writing their next one.

<a href="spotify:artist:6AaWik9LKRViQFnIK2PSI9">Stone Gossard</a> was signed on to co-produce their next album, and the resulting The Family (released in 1996) was a surprisingly mellower affair than the debut. Satchel again embarked on a long tour, and again their album went unnoticed (even an opening slot on an <a href="spotify:artist:7IDrRpDz0cOuUVC32c8PKD">Afghan Whigs</a> tour didn't help). By tour's end, <a href="spotify:artist:6AaWik9LKRViQFnIK2PSI9">Gossard</a> expressed interest in re-forming <a href="spotify:artist:0aYY5NNI8EKnvLckbACC8x">Brad</a> with <a href="spotify:artist:0tdxLKLEwjcl1wlD4TmJeQ">Smith</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:1hXjTjJzZTXDZ75AclOo6N">Hagar</a>, and in contrast to <a href="spotify:artist:0aYY5NNI8EKnvLckbACC8x">Brad</a>'s debut, this time they would tour. The group accepted, and Hoag promptly quit Satchel. <a href="spotify:artist:0aYY5NNI8EKnvLckbACC8x">Brad</a>'s superb Interiors received glowing reviews upon its spring 1997 release. And although the album wasn't a smash, the group obtained a loyal fan base, who made the tour a sold-out success. <a href="spotify:artist:0aYY5NNI8EKnvLckbACC8x">Brad</a> bassist <a href="spotify:artist:1aH1XTozXuGinGzdNWzyrt">Jeremy Toback</a> was unable to tour (even though he played on the record), so Satchel bassist <a href="spotify:artist:1c6r7GQYhOl3Wqj3k6brAV">Berg</a> stepped in for the duration. This left the future of Satchel up in the air, along with Hoag's exit and the fact that many fans felt <a href="spotify:artist:0aYY5NNI8EKnvLckbACC8x">Brad</a> should become a permanent band, putting out albums and touring on a regular basis. ~ Greg Prato, Rovi