There's a taste of Mudhoney in Monkeywrench

If you're a fan of Mudhoney, chances are very, very good you're going to like Monkeywrench. But if you've had your fill of Mudhoney, or if the Seattle rock pioneers were never your cup of sludge, you'll probably want to pass on this one.

The reason: Monkeywrench features the dark wailings of Mark Arm, the Mudhoney singer who pretty much defined the early-'90s Seattle sound. And the familiar-looking bass player is Steve Turner, Arm's left arm in Mudhoney.

Tonight at the Crocodile Cafe, Arm and Turner launch a Monkeywrench tour that will take them to England where they will open for Pearl Jam.

Please note that Monkeywrench-ing does not necessarily mean Mudhoney is finished. Talking about the band's reported breakup, Arm sounds a bit like the Monty Python character who cries "I'm not dead yet!"

Regarding the rumors, Arm says, "People keep telling us that. They've been telling us that for nine years. We took a break from touring in 1991, and people said, `Oh - they broke up!'

"Right now we're a three-piece - we don't have a bass player, so right at this point Mudhoney is a studio-only band. I'm not sure what the future holds for (Mudhoney)."

Arm says Mudhoney bass player Matt Lukin quit the band after a recent tour. "It was really apparent Matt was unhappy with the band - he was unhappy being in a band, he didn't enjoy going on tour anymore, he didn't enjoy working on songs anymore . . ."

This is a stark contrast to Arm's philosophy of living: "If it was up to me, I'd be touring all the time . . . Because I like playing live. I like to rock out," he adds, with a characteristic chuckle; Arm is never one to take things - particularly himself - too seriously.

Instead of waiting for Lukin to return to Mudhoney, Arm and Turner returned to Monkeywrench, a five-piece side project that recorded an album back in 1991. The other members of Monkeywrench are Poison 13 guitarist Tim Kerr, Gas Huffer and U-Men guitarist Tom Price and Lubricated Goat drummer Martin Bland.

Monkeywrench just released a second album, "Electric Children," on Bellingham's Estrus Records. "This album seems to have more of a psychedelic trip to it," offers the soft-spoken Arm.

Though he realizes his voice alone will draw Mudhoney-Monkeywrench comparisons, Arm insists "there's a big difference" in the two bands' sounds. "Steve and I play guitar in Mudhoney, and in Monkeywrench neither of us do. Tim and Tom's guitars have distinct sounds - and Martin is very different from Dan (Peters, the Mudhoney drummer), he's got more of a jazz thing going."

Still, several songs could have fit snugly on the last Mudhoney album. The best example is the Gothic "Thirteen Nights," with Arm sounding rather unwell:

"Been 13 nights since I last slept

and I'm not feeling so gooooood . . .

This ain't between the devil and God

it's much bigger than that."

How did the sinister song come about? "Steve came up with a riff, he started playing it, and things just started flowing out of me."

Which is probably how many Mudhoney songs were birthed.

But don't expect a "Mudhoney's Greatest Hits" set at the Crocodile. Arms says Monkeywrench now has an arsenal of nearly 20 original songs.

Monkeywrench will play two sets, at 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. The early show is an all-ager, the later a 21-and-over concert. The cover for both shows is $8.

Meet The Makers

The Makers have been rocking almost as long as Mudhoney, though from a vastly different angle. This Spokane band started playing around Seattle in 1991 - flying in the face of grunge by playing punk and new wave.

Led by charismatic singer Michael Shelley, the Makers found an underground audience, touring often and releasing five small-label albums. Now, Shelley and company have finally signed with Sub Pop Records, which is releasing the new Makers' album "Rock Star God."

This is a wonderfully inventive album, ranging from garage to glam - with even a dose of country rock. It's a subtle salute to '70s rock, with Shelley at times sounding very Bowie. There are hints of classic Stones and Kinks - and is it just me, or was that a Boston riff hidden in there?

The Makers have their CD-release show at the Crocodile next Thursday ($7 cover, show at 9:30 p.m.).

Tom Scanlon can be reached at tscanlon@seattletimes.com or 206-464-3891.