It's hard to believe that a band conceived from a Jimi Hendrix song has become something of a legend themselves. When Sky Cries Mary takes to the Nuemos stage on Saturday, Aug. 9 - their first Seattle gig since February - the six-piece psychedelic trancers will be just a few months shy of their 20th anniversary.
Though Sky Cries Mary has seen its fair share of personnel changes since 1989's "Until the Grinders Cease" - though its current lineup has been constant since 2004 - the group has inspired a culture of musicians and bands who prosper within the genre.
With two new releases in three years (rounding out a list of 10), SKM is hardly back for one more go-around. As singer-founder Roderick Wolgamott Romero puts it, the band is back to its old habits.
"It's a true Sky Cries [Mary] show, not a reunion," Romero said. He and his wife and bandmate, Anisa Romero, have since moved to New York. But: "Everyone's back and starting to write again."
Sky Cries Mary took a three-year hiatus in 2001 after enduring a tough stretch that saw label and scenery changes. Two records into a seven-record deal with Warner Brothers, the band was dropped by the major label in 1997 and subsequently released 1999's "Seeds" on, Collective Fruit Records, an indie label.
The band then pursued individual efforts after making their separation public. Keyboardist Gordon Raphael left altogether, and went on to produce The Strokes. Guitarist Michael Cozzi, too, found a home in the production world, opening his own recording studio on Capitol Hill. Wolgamott joined up with ex-Nirvana bassist, Krist Novoselic for his film project and Romero explored canvas artistry.
The decision to reunite came after the band earned the rights to their master recordings. Shortly after 2004, a series of local gigs brought the band back to the stage for shows at the now-defunct Fenix Underground and Bumbershoot, inspiring "Here and Now" - a two-disc live album produced by Cozzi.
After struggling to find a permanent home for much of their career, the group reassembled and birthed their own record label, HooDooH Music in 2005 for their most recent records. Utilizing Cozzi's Mosscozzi Studios, Sky Cries Mary recruited guitar/keyboardist William Bernhard to fill Raphael's vacant spot behind the keys.
"We never got hooked into the pressure of making the same records and sound," said Cozzi, a Welsh-native who joined the band in 1994 after leaving the legendary British band Shriekback. "We've enjoyed trying everything over the years, though it does end up sounding like a Sky Cries [Mary] record."
Though, at this juncture the members of SKM are more actively involved in their individual efforts, the band plans to reconvene for a lengthier tour in the winter. Romero - who has since founded Romero Studios, specializing in constructing high-end, ecofriendly luxury tree houses around the world to clients like Sting and Donna Karan - seems genuinely excited to be reviving his 20-year-old-and-plus habits.
"You never think that far ahead when you start playing music," said the frontman, who's still sporting his long, signature braids. "I was just trying to pay for grad school by selling tapes to record stores."
Originally, Wolgamott wanted the band to be named Grinder Cease, and sought soon-to-be-Posies anchors Ken Stringfellow and Jon Auer for a 13-track debut LP recorded in Seattle. After recording, he headed off to Paris to follow a lead with the French label, New Rose Records. When it came time to ink the deal, a misunderstanding led to question over his choice of band name.
"They misunderstood 'Grinder Cease' and so I quickly wrote down 'Sky Cries Mary'," laughed Roderick, who admits he misidentified the Hendrix song title "The Wind Cries Mary" but still went with it. "They said, 'We love Jimi Hendrix!' and that was that."
Wolgamott and Cozzi expect to play a number of old favorites on Saturday, while mixing in newer material from 2007's "Small Town" during their planned two-hour set. Preceded by Tacoma's Civita and psychedelic co-conspirators, Voyager One, the doors open at 8 p.m.
Sky Cries Mary plays at Neumos, 1325 E. Madison St., on Saturday, Aug. 9. Tickets are still on sale $13. The show is 21+. For tickets, visit www.ticketswest.com. For more information on Sky Cries Mary, visit www.skycriesmary.com or myspace.com/skycriesmary.
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