Unsigned, Inflatable Soule Happy To Be Going On Its First Tour
For the last couple of years, Inflatable Soule has been waiting for its golden ticket to the big time. Major labels have been biting and the band has come close to signing.
However, Inflatable Soule remains unsigned and singer/guitarist Peter Cornell couldn’t be happier.
“In the last three weeks, not one person from the band has called me up and said, ‘Hey, have you heard from so and so at such and such label?”’ said Cornell. “It’s a nice break now not to have that happen.
“I think that everyone got a little too possessed by the signing thing.”
Instead of gazing toward the future, the three-year-old band has decided to focus on its present situation, such as embarking on its maiden tour.
“We were waiting for something to come to us instead of bringing what we have to everyone,” said Cornell. “It’s just a matter of acting instead of reacting.”
Inflatable Soule, which recently purchased a tour van, is anxious to get out of the Northwest and road test its songs in places the band’s never been to before.
“I’ve always felt like there was one little piece missing and I assumed it was the record deal,” Cornell said. “There’s a bunch of stuff tentative, but we realized there was this big hunk of growth that we hadn’t achieved because we hadn’t been on the road yet.”
Since its inception, Inflatable Soule has been highly touted in the Northwest. The band’s initial following can be attributed to the fact Peter Cornell and his sisters, Suzy and Katy, are siblings of Soundgarden front man Chris Cornell.
Inflatable Soule never sounded like Soundgarden Jr., so the early hype quickly blew over in the Northwest. And the band gained a foothold in the Northwest scene on its own merit.
Despite not jumping the sludgy bandwagon, Inflatable Soule’s own sound, a melding of acoustic folk, rootsy rock, riveting harmonies and strong songwriting, still sparked the interest of numerous major labels. The band continues to draw interest today.
Independently, the six-piece released a wave of demo tapes and a CD titled “So Sad.” All have been regional successes. Inflatable Soule has a new CD in the works.
Seattle’s Thistle and Spokane’s Buddha Leadbelly open. Music starts at 9:30 p.m. The cover is $5. Bring ID.
Elsewhere in the night
The almighty Schlong, the genre-blasters from Pluto (Actually, the band’s from Berkeley), will descend upon the Big Dipper Thursday.
Schlong is proprietor of such aptly titled efforts as “Waxy Yellow BuildUp,” “Punk Side Story” and “Tumors.” A CD titled “The Unessential Schlong,” compiling songs from recent vinyl-only releases,” will be out in a month.
Spokane’s Crudlers, featuring members of Velvet Pelvis, Guitarded and Nice World, open.
Noise at 9:30 p.m. The cover’s $3. Bring ID.
Chicago rockers the Mean Reds play Ichabod’s North tonight along with Malicious Mischief. Cover’s $3. Bring ID.
Saturday at the Big Dipper, Z-Rock will give away 300 tickets to the cyber-thriller “Strange Days.” Seattle’s Lazy Susan and Spokane’s Maha Reeb will be on stage. Show’s at 9. Cover’s $5. Bring ID.
Wenatchee singer-songwriter Michael Dickes, whose new CD is called “Loose Ends,” will play a number of dates in the Inland Northwest this weekend and next week. He’s at Bugatti’s Pub in Sandpoint tonight and Saturday, Cafe Espresso Delizioso on Monday and the Beanery in Moscow on Tuesday.