SEAWEED Seaweed 1990

 

Discogs

 

Seaweed is a Tacoma, WA, USA based punk rock/grunge band formed in 1989 by high school friends Clint Werner, Aaron Stauffer, Wade Neal, John Atkins, and Bob Bulgrien.

 

Tracklist

1		Just A Smirk	2:15
2		Installing	2:25
3		Stargirl	2:40
4		Deertrap	2:57
5		Inside	2:43
6		Love Gut	2:42
7		Carousel	3:03
8		Patchwork	3:44

GARDENER New Dawning Time 1999

 

Discogs

Artist Biography by Heather Phares

The brainchild of Seaweed's Aaron Stauffer (vocals/guitars) and the Screaming Trees' Van Conner (guitars, keyboards, drums), Gardener's origins date back to the late '80s, when Stauffer missed a show by the Screaming Trees on his 16th birthday. He began calling the band on a regular basis, inviting them to play with him; eventually, he and the band became friends. Meanwhile, Stauffer formed Seaweed with drummer Alan Cage, bassist John Atkins, and guitarist Clint Werner.
As the Seattle scene gained worldwide prominence, Seaweed and the Trees found themselves touring together frequently. During a 1996 U.K. tour, the two groups finally collaborated, writing two songs that would appear on Gardener's 1999 debut album New Dawning Time. The new group added to their lineup when Conner recruited his brother Pat (sitar, drums) and friend Adrian Makins (bass, slide guitar).
Shortly after, Stauffer moved to North California to pursue a more rural, rugged life, penning more songs and incorporating more members -- including a tabla player and a flutist -- into Gardener. Their debut featured a more expansive, arranged sound than that of either the Screaming Trees or Seaweed, with flourishes of sitar, Mellotron, and flute rather than the charged rock sound of Gardener's parent bands.

Tracklist

1	Tamed	4:07
2	New Dawning Time	3:14
3	Backseat	3:57
4	Shakedown Cruise	3:07
5	Outside Looking In	3:07
6	(You Wear The) Raincoat	3:34
7	Canyon	4:11
8	Quay	1:51
9	End Up That Way	3:00
10	Struggle With Sickness	3:11
11	Come Again	4:14

SEAWEED

Weak

1992

Four

1993

Discogs

Artist Biography by Jason Ankeny

Punk unit Seaweed formed in Tacoma, WA, in 1989. Singer Aaron Stauffer, fresh off a stint in the little-known Spook & the Zombies, founded the band with best friend Clint Werner, who assumed guitar duties. After the recruitment of guitarist Wade Neal, bassist John Atkins, and drummer Bob Bulgrien, Seaweed began playing clubs throughout the Pacific Northwest, in 1990 releasing its debut four-song single on Atkins' Leopard Gecko label; "Just a Smirk" followed that same year, and in 1991 the band issued the excellent "Deer Trap" as part of K Records' ongoing International Pop Underground singles series. With their well-honed rhythmic hardcore approach, Seaweed proved an ideal fit for Seattle's Sub Pop label, signing to the company to release 1991's Despised EP, the band's first collaboration with producer Jack Endino.

With Endino again in the producer's seat, Seaweed delivered its finest record yet with 1992's full-length Weak, scoring a college radio hit with the leadoff track, "Recall." Four followed in 1993, and in the major labels' rush to cherry-pick from Sub Pop's roster, Seaweed accepted an offer to sign with Hollywood Records, working with producer Andy Wallace on 1995's Spanaway. Despite positive reviews, the album tanked and Hollywood terminated their contract -- Seaweed effectively dropped from sight, with former Quicksand drummer Alan Cage replacing Bulgrien in time for 1999's Actions & Indications, a return to form issued on indie Merge. The band nevertheless split later that same year. After Seaweed's demise, Stauffer teamed with ex-Screaming Trees bassist Van Conner in Gardener, which splintered in 2003 -- he then resurfaced in the Blue Dot.