Thee Emergency

Back in the early 1960's, before grunge, before Heart, before Hendrix, there was an energetic noise called the "Original Northwest Sound." Seattle music historian Peter Blecha puts the recipe this way: rocking R&B packed with big riffs, grunting saxes, electric organ and blistering guitar. The four housemates known as Thee Emergency keep the flame burning for that original wild sound. Soul drips from every cut on their most recent album, Solid (2008). "Call 911" is a breakneck call to the dance floor. Who else opens -- opens -- a song with a minute-and-a-half drum solo? No navel-gazing here, folks, just a whole lotta hip-shaking. When Dita Vox (vocals), Matt "Sonic" Smith (guitar), Nick Detroit (bass) and Tom T. Drummer (drums) bring their build-and-release energy explosion to the club stage, even the iciest scenesters have trouble maintaining their too-cool-to-rock stances. But don't misjudge the band a one-trick pony. On "I Need No One To Be Home," Thee Emergency ply a melancholy tune (complete with fiddle and brass) that could find a home in the best country-western juke joint. As Vox laments her lonely state, the band lends soothing, warm backing vocals. That's Thee Emergency ideal, both within the band and with the audience. Everybody gather 'round, 'cause we're gonna rock, we're gonna cry, and we're for sure gonna do it all together.