Giant music fest marks EMP opening Bob Mackin News Reporter bmackin@nsnews.com A weekend festival of Woodstock proportions will herald the opening of Seattle’s Experience Music Project next month. The $60-million U.S. interactive museum celebrating cre- aiivity in American popular music goes live June 23 at the foot of the Space Needle on the grounds of Seattic Centre, site of the 1962 World’s Faiz. EMP is funded by Microsoft founder/biilionaire Pau! Allen and designed by Toronto-born master architect Frank Gehry. Allen amassed the largest collection of Jimi Hendrix memora- bilia (including guitars) and originally envisioned EMP as a shrine to the hometown hero. Though Hendrix remains central to the concept, the 140,006 square-foot EMP promises to be one-part muscum ; charting historic musical innovations (with an emphasis on ” Pacific Northwest musicians) and one-part hands-on theme park where musical illiterates will be able to make music (thanks to technology). - The grand opening kicks- off three days and nights of music by chart-toppers and innovators of yesterday, today and tomorrow. . Next door at Memorial Stadiums mainstage are Metallica, Kid Rock, Filter, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dr. Dre with :Eminem and Snoop Doggy Dogg on June 23 (Tickets $59.50); June 24 brings the reunited Eurythmics, Beck; Alanis Morrissette, No Doubt and Matchboxtwenty ($40 to $150). It winds down june 25 with a local bill featuring Screaming Trees, Heart’s Ann and Nancy Wilson, Built to Spill, .-” Fastbacks, Young Fresh Fellows, a tribute to the Sonics and ” Subset ($15). . -. = ~A number of outdoor stages around Seattle Centre will - come alive with free concerts by the likes of Patti Smith, Junior Brown and Bob Mould (Friday); Neko Case and Her -Boyfriends, Bo Diddley and Taj Mahal (Saturday) and Murder ty Deviis, Bratmobile, che Kingsmen, Ventures, Fabulous Wailers and Paul Revere and the Raiders (Sunday). It could be your last chance to catch the Kingsmen, "Ventures and Fabulous Wailers on the same stage. Don’t be . Surprised if Allen straps on a guitar and rocks out with some - of the aging Northwest garage rockers, just as he did at EMP’s groundbreaking ceremony three years ago. For: more information on tickets and showtimes, go to com or r cal 206-EMP- LIVE (367-5483). THE Melvins were a major Influence on Kurt Cobain’s musical education. The band wera in town last week for a show at the Commodore. Pink’s r&b soul on fi John Goodman Tdis Week editor fgoodman®@:: COM & kkkexe Pink — Cant Take Me Home (BMG/LaFace). The 215 area code is on fire again according to the Philadelphia Weekly — and it’s about time. The city’s premier street weekly documented the resurgence of Philadelphia as a centre of musical activity in a special issue Soul on Fire in April — go to their Web site to read afl about the sound: Philly International, Schooly D, Cash Money, Jeff and Prince, and The Roots all get their due. When discussing Phil today you can ’t get too far ding: ¢ Chandeti Lamps: ® Lighting Fixtures © Shatles « Outdoor Light wwe to our Light Kits '° Tables. and Mirrors without mentioning Pink's debut produced by L.A. Reid and Babyiace. _ Get past the pink hair gimmick quick and listen to the mt music. “No first-time jit- ters here as the girl establish- es herself as a contender trom the opening track on down. Twenty-year-old Aiccia Moore lists Whitey Houston and Mary J. Blige as influ- ences but the R&B pop world she creates is alt her own. Pink had a hand in writing most of the tracks including the first single “There You Go.” LaFa. ¢ brought in the usual suspects to help out with production including Kevin She’kspere Briggs. Most of the tracks were taped ire in TLC’s Adlanta stomping grounds. A must-have for contemporary R&B fans. @ xxk* Deathray — Deathray (Capricorn). Ex-Cake man Greg Brown embraces an Anglo pop sensi- bility with his new (wave) group Deathray. The Sacramento, California indie band run through their repertoire of - melodic tunes as if it was still 1985. Is that so wrong? Not with singer Dana Gumbiner as frontman. They would make a great double-bill with Elvis Costello and the Attractions at Holiywood High. See CD reviews Page & @ The Melvins ac The Commodore, Wed., May 17. Dilatory metal, heavy and loud, not just oud — painful- ly loud. Slow, methodical rhythms, powered by a for- ward groove that moves. The Melvins are originally from Montesano, Washington. If you are into metal, they will placate. B Joe Satriani at The Vogue, Sat., May 20. Satriani licks his fans with choice guitar driven rock. Joe and his band, Jeff Campetelli and Stewart Ham on bass, performed tunes off of his latest release Engines of Creation. An excellent per- formance all around: light- ing, sound, acoustics and PICK Hits: Fink’s Philly. - . groove and Deathray’s new wave dab?