Every local music scene separates into two camps: Bands that produce original music and those that do covers. 

Original bands claim the artistic high ground, but cover bands fill the seats. 

To serve both types of artists, Embassy Theatre created the Down the Line series as an annual showcase for local talent to perform on a historic stage. They fill the seats by holding the bands to a central theme. 

For the 18th installment, the theme is ’90s Grunge: Seattle Sound on Saturday, Feb. 24, with The Craig Guy Band performing Soundgarden, The Snarks performing Hole, Octopussy performing Alice in Chains, and Pink Droyd performing Pearl Jam.

Change of Pace

Pink Droyd is an interesting selection although they’re Down the Line veterans, having performed the music of Styx in 2018. 

They normally play as a Pink Floyd tribute band, so they’ve got a ton of experience interpreting other artists’ music. But they’re covering Pearl Jam, a band with very different production sensibilities than you will find on The Dark Side of the Moon or The Wall. 

“Yes, this music is quite a departure from the soundscape and progressive compositions of Pink Floyd,” lead singer and guitarist Kevin Quandt said. “Stepping away from the large production, airy scenes, and arena-pounding guitar solos and ‘grabbing for the flannel’ to pay tribute to the music I grew up on is quite a pleasure and challenge.

“As a teenager in the ’90s, these grunge songs were the anthem of our youth and were part of our daily lives.”

Bassist Trevor Krall is in the same boat as Quandt, growing up with such albums as Ten, Vs., and Vitalogy, as well as singles “Jeremy,” “Alive,” “Daughter,” and “Better Man.”

“I have always loved Pearl Jam,” he said. “Growing up the son of an ’80s and ’90s rocker, it hits in a lot of different ways. I love the energy and emotion, and certainly love the wide spectrum of styles of songs they play. It takes me back to sitting in the corner of band practice, still too young to play, but fully aware that the music completely rocked.”

While they love the music, it’s a far cry from what they’re used to playing with Pink Droyd, which also features Daniel Fisher (keyboards), Jim Sizelove (drums), Phil Schurger (lead guitar), Ashton Morris (tenor sax), Evan Sturzenberger (vocals), Lisa McDavid (vocals), and Jill Jugloff (vocals).

“Well, it’s straight-on rock that can be performed with four or five musicians,” Quandt said. “I love playing Pink Floyd, but this a ton of fun, too. 

“Truthfully, Pink Floyd wrote a good deal of their music while vinyl was still a strong form of music proliferation. Radio play was certainly important, but long exposition and building a vibe and theme was normal for song construction and vital for many artists in the ’60s and ’70s. Grunge was definitely the opposite. While the music is very well-crafted, it is (generally) more direct in song exposition and outline. Pearl Jam bucks the traditional song writing form with many of their tracks, but you won’t hear us perform any 17-minute opuses. This allows us to bring more great material from the PJ catalog in our short set.”

While there are noted differences, Quandt said that are also some similarities between Pearl Jam and Pink Floyd.

“While Pink Floyd may be better known for their grand landscapes of music and ethereal sounds, they have quite a few songs that are straight-on rock n’ roll,” he said. 

“Additionally, the Pearl Jam compositions have surprising depth. The lyrical content and instrumental construction is really interesting as we peel away the layers.”

While they undoubtedly look forward to changing things up with Pearl Jam’s music, there are some learning pains — literally. 

“Well… Pink Floyd music has never made me bleed all over my fretboard,” Krall said. “Pearl Jam achieved that feat with a quickness as I dove into the material. And I’m happy for it!”

Quandt has found his own challenges.

“What are the different layers? How do we cover all the guitar parts? While we are continually learning the Pink Floyd methodology of song construction and instrument/part isolation, learning a new artist is always a new challenge,” he said. “Our goal isn’t to just play the song, but pay it tribute. So, the small and large details matter to us.

“I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the vocal differences. Yeah, this is quite different than most Floyd. Eddie (Vedder) has a really great vocal tone and approach. His growl, squeals, and grunts are all part of his instrumentation.”

Taking on Alice in Chains

Forming in 2001, Octopussy are a power trio of John Reuille on bass and keyboards, Eric Bair on guitar and keyboards, and Jason Bair on drums and vocals. 

While they all take turns behind the mic, for Down the Line, Octopussy are keeping it in the family and adding Jason Diamond for lead vocals.

Ten years ago, some members of Octopussy played in Down the Line as Little Green Me, playing the music of Van Halen.

I chatted with Eric Bair by email and got his thoughts on playing Alice in Chains.

“We’ve all been playing Alice in Chains music in every cover band we’ve all been in,” he said. “Really, it’s just understanding the music, the core parts, and executing them properly and close to perfectly.”

And which of those songs are they working on to execute properly?

“Every song, if you’re an Alice in Chains fan, is a well-known song,” he said. “For me, I really enjoy ‘Down in a Hole.’ Many goosebump moments!”

Getting the right sound

For The Craig Guy Band, taking the Embassy Stage will be something their namesake has been dreaming about for a while.

“This show was something I’ve been waiting to do for years, was super-happy to be asked to do it,” Guy said. “Soundgarden was a big part of my early 20s.

Accompanied by Phil Henschen on drums, Travis Brown on bass, and Nate Shultz on guitar, lead singer and guitarist Guy feels this group is as good as any he has been in.

That cohesion should shine on such Soundgarden hits as “Black Hole Sun,” “Rusty Cage,” and “Spoonman.”

“We are all from pretty well-known bands over the years here in the Fort Wayne area,” Guy said. “The one thing we all agree on is that this band is probably our favorite and tightest band we’ve ever been in.”

Digging out of hole

The last time we talked to The Snarks, they were planning their farewell show over the summer at The Brass Rail.

Well, it appears the band of lead singer Kendra Johnson, bassist Dan Kinnaley, guitarist Zach Kerschner, drummer Dan Arnos, and guitarist Elizabeth-Marie Helms are not quite finished yet.

This group will put their hard-rocking ways to good use by singing the music of Hole, known for such songs as “Violet,” “Celebrity Skin,” and “Malibu.”