Surging Sister Psychic Has A Seattle Sound Of Its Own

MUSIC PREVIEW

Sister Psychic with Grin and Her Fault, at the Weathered Wall, 1921 Fifth Ave., tonight, 9:30 p.m. $6. 448-5688.

The last time Sister Psychic played a live gig - about three weeks ago at the Crocodile Cafe - drummer Peter Lansdowne hit the rim of his snare drum so hard on the last beat of the last song that he splintered his stick, half of which flew into his face and embedded itself in the underside of his jaw.

"I didn't even know it had happened," he says. "I got up and was vaguely aware that something was hanging from my face. It was my stick! Hey, I saved it. You wanna have a look?"

The last time Sister Psychic played the Weathered Wall, it snowed.

"We were the only band stupid enough to show up," remembers guitarist Andy Davenhall.

"Yeah," adds bassist Christian Fulghum, "us and three other people, and I think they were just homeless and looking for someplace to get warm."

But rough as it may sound for the Sisters Psychic, between the snow and the broken sticks the band has had a stretch of good fortune. Their first album, "Fuel," done as a three-piece band about a year ago, received terrific response locally and nationally. With the addition of ex-Stumpy Joe guitarist Mark Hoyt, they've fleshed out their sound and are hard into the follow-up recording.

"Fans insisted we get a guitarist who could actually play," jokes Davenhall, "so we got Mark. He's an old friend. And we've known Peter forever as well." The mix seems to be working well, if only six months old, well enough to engage in a marathon recording session.

Working with ex-Screaming Trees sound man Martin Feveyear as producer, the band recently put in 20 straight days of recording.

"We were recording 14 hours a day, plus working our day gigs," says Davenhall.

"Basically what we did was 17 songs on a 10-record budget," continues Fulghum. The company (Reckless Records) couldn't believe it."

"They freaked hard," chuckles Davenhall, "but they dug it. They've been really curious as to where we'd go next. But they've been really good letting us work with Martin, who they knew nothing about."

"The new album has certain logical extensions from the first work," Feveyear says, "but there are a lot of surprises as well. If there's a next manifestation of a `Seattle Sound,' I think Sister Psychic are very much part of it."

Much of the first album's favorable reception was due much to Davenhall's songs and voice. His singing is at once as melodious as it is raw. And his songs combine clear, well-conceived lyrics, decisive melodies and rhythmic composition with a nicely serrated edge.

The band is looking at an EP release in October, with the full CD coming out at the beginning of '94.

"Our company has a new distribution deal with Warners" says Fulghum, "which is a real plus. And when we get out on tour, it won't be against big guns like U2. You can really get lost."

The band adds they'll be showing off some of the new material tonight at the Wall, a bit of a tease, although they really want to do more.

"But I'm just happy to be given the money and the opportunity to do a record," says Davenhall, quietly plunking at a mandolin in the overly lived-in front room of a genuine band house. "It's like having a kid, like giving birth."