THESE STREETS Oral History Interview #8: Carrie Akre

oin singer Carrie Akre (Hammerbox, Goodness) for a conversation in The Project Room Wednesday, February 20 from 6-7pm. And watch her oral history interview here:

About the Presenter:
In the early ’90s, Akre was the lead singer of Hammerbox, a potent alternative rock outfit with guitar hooks as sharp as Nirvana’s but without the record label push the group deserved. In August 1993, Hammerbox performed at Endfest in Washington State to an audience of more than 14,000 fans, sharing the stage with well-known college-radio favorites like X, Social Distortion, and They Might Be Giants. The group was dropped, marking the beginning of Akre’s difficulties with major labels, one that would motivate her to start her own label, Good-Ink Records. Akre formed the band Goodness in 1994 whose self-titled first album was first released on Y Records and then later re-released onLava, an imprint of Atlantic Records. Their second LP, Anthem, for Atlantic in 1998 was shelved after failing to produce a “single”. The label dropped the band soon there after. Goodness disbanded in 2000. In 1999, Akre joined the Rockfords with guitarist Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Rick Friel (bass), and ex-Goodness members Danny Newcomb (guitar) and Chris Friel (drums). Akre released her solo debut, Home, in 2000 (on GoodInk Records), Invitation in 2002 (on self owned My Way Records) and Last the Evening in 2007 (on Loveless Records).

The Project Room's Jess Van Nostrand and Gretta Harley interview Carrie Akre of Hammerbox and Goodness. THESE STREETS is both an original theatre piece, and a historical addendum about the nearly forgotten women musicians in Seattle during the famed grunge years. Created by Stranger Genius Award winner, theatre maker and actress Sarah Rudinoff; and rock musician, Cornish College of the Arts' faculty member and composer Gretta Harley, These Streets has brought together women through rocker girl dinners, cocktail parties and filmed interviews. The University of Washington will house the oral histories in their library. THE PROJECT ROOM is a gathering place and online platform dedicated to asking questions about contemporary life. Through a dynamic collection of artistic public programs that focus on works-in-progress, The Project Room presents work, ideas, and people that demonstrate the relevance of creativity in everyday life. projectroomseattle.org video by wes hurley

More events around The Making of THESE STREETS can be found here: