Bush -- Whatever You Think Of The Band, It's Worth Catching In A Live Show

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Bush, Veruca Salt and Souls, 8 p.m. Tuesday, KeyArena; $25, 206-628-0888. -----------------------------------------------------------------

Have you seen him?

Gavin Rossdale reportedly is already in town, and has been for more than a week, in advance of his band Bush's concert Tuesday in KeyArena.

Seattle, you see, is one of Rossdale's favorite cities.

The last time the band played here, in April last year at the Tacoma Dome, the singer-guitarist-songwriter came to town early to visit his friend Courtney Love and enjoy the city he had come to know during two previous tour stops, in August 1995 for "Endfest" and seven months earlier for a show at Moe.

"I love it," he told me last year. He talked of "going down the Market every day, having coffee, looking at the water and the mountains." A connoisseur of good food and fine wine - and he can afford it - he sampled our best restaurants. "You have great food here," he said, "great restaurants."

Of course, for some, Rossdale's interest in Seattle smacks purely of exploitation. Bush is notorious as the British band that watered down the Seattle sound for commercial purposes.

Almost immediately upon the release of its debut album, "Sixteen Stone," in November 1994, and the instant success of the LP's first single, "Everything Zen," the band has been viciously slammed for ripping off Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Chris Cornell of Soundgarden slagged off the band in interviews, as did Dave Grohl of Nirvana (now with the Foo Fighters).

Rossdale just made it worse when he said that seeing a Nirvana concert in London was a life-changing experience for him, and doubly so when he struck up a close relationship with Kurt Cobain's widow, Courtney Love. (Currently it's "Everything Gwen" for Rossdale - he's dating No Doubt's Gwen Stefani.)

"Sixteen Stone" eventually yielded five hit singles and sold more than 7 million copies. Rossdale hired Steve Albini, who produced Nirvana's "In Utero" album, to work on Bush's sophomore LP, "Razorblade Suitcase." That really riled the British rock press, who heaped more scorn on Rossdale. British rock radio has virtually boycotted the album.

Ironically, the second album hasn't been a mainstream smash, but has become a staple of modern and alternative rock radio. The first single, "Swallowed," got a lot of radio play, as have two other cuts from the album, "Cold Contagious" and "Greedy Fly" (its ambitious video, inspired by Rossdale's favorite films, "The Shining" and "Jacob's Ladder," was an MTV "buzz clip").

The album has sold 2 million copies, but isn't considered a big commercial success. Maybe the naysayers will have the last laugh after all.

Meanwhile, whatever you think of Bush, the band is worth seeing live. The edgy, screechy, feedback-heavy style of guitarist Nigel Pulsford is even more galvanizing live, and Rossdale is a fascinatingly manic performer. A pinup on the magazine page, he's almost scary onstage.

Also on the bill is Veruca Salt, the Chicago band headed by Nina Gordon and Louise Post that's become a role model for aspiring female rockers. Its current single, "Volcano Girls," as well as other songs from the "Eight Arms to Hold You" album, combine the harmonies and musicianship of bands like the Go-Go's and the Pretenders with the punklike energy of the Riot Grrrl movement. "Volcano Girls" contains a sly reference to the group's earlier hit, the intense "Seether," from its million-selling debut, "American Thighs" ("the seether's Louise," sings Gordon).

Opening is Souls, a punky Swedish band signed to Bush's label, Trauma/Interscope, at Rossdale's suggestion. It has just released its debut album for the label, "Bird Fish or Inbetween" (its debut Swedish album was produced by Albini.) Featuring lead singer Cecilia Nordlund, the band is loud and energetic, but its lyrics are weak and shallow. ----------------------------------------------------------------- LOVE . . .

Top Ten reasons to love Gavin Rossdale:

1. He's so damn cute.

2. He's a nice guy.

3. He's smart.

4. His songs have a lot of energy.

5. His lyrics are intriguing.

6. He doesn't believe Elvis is dead.

7. He makes fun of himself and his image.

8. He gives lots of credit to his band.

9. He's got a sense of humor.

10. He's confounded all his critics. ----------------------------------------------------------------- . . . HATE

Top Ten reasons to hate Gavin Rossdale:

1. He's so damn cute.

2. He's got Gwen Stefani and you don't.

3. Nirvana's gone and Bush is not.

4. He dated Courtney Love and emerged unscathed.

5. The worse his songs, the more popular he gets.

6. He's been on the cover of every rock magazine.

7. Women love him.

8. He's nothing in his native England, a big star here.

9. His songs are on the radio every 10 minutes.

10. Money, money, money!