Introducing “The Insider” – A New Music Column by Ed Maloney
- Ed Maloney
- Aug 6
- 4 min read
By Ed Maloney, Music Editor
I’ve humbly accepted the role of Music Editor here at Seattle Means Business magazine. It was suggested by the powers that be that I have the inside scoop on the current state of Seattle’s music scene. The column, appropriately titled The Insider, will explore and celebrate all aspects of that scene. You’ll hear about artists working underground as they forge communities of musicians and music fans alike—communities that will soon fill our clubs. The music currently being written in basements and garages across our town will soon pour from Seattle’s stages, spill onto its streets, and represent our city on national and eventually global platforms. I’ll use the resources and access I have to present this evolving scene to you fine folks reading this column.
Respectfully, we here at Seattle Means Business will represent artists, fans, photographers, DJs, promoters, producers, studios, and specifically marginalized artists throughout the PNW—those who work tirelessly to support every genre, from jazz to death metal, that I intend to highlight here.
That being said, let’s get on with the music, my friends.
Many years ago, I had the good fortune of meeting and befriending Mark Pickerel (Screaming Trees, Truly, Mark Pickerel and His Praying Hands). Our friendship has grown tighter than one of his guitar strings. Over two decades of collaboration and performances throughout the city have brought me into the orbit of iconic musicians who helped define the early ’90s. You remember—back when Seattle was still a town and artists could afford to live here.
Through these relationships, I’ve found myself in a curious place: musicians I admire seem to dig my ear for sound and my approach to producing and promoting live music in the unique forms I envision. Trust me, I’m flattered. In many ways, I’m still that high school senior from Boston in 1991, clambaking in my car on the way to school with Soundgarden, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Alice blaring—my buddy Jimmy Gallagher riding shotgun, both of us just rockin' out kid. (Note: “Clambaking” was Bostonian slang for smoking weed in your car with the windows rolled up. True story—I did this most mornings, and we cranked it up, kid.)
Fast-forward to 2025. I’m now the founder and producer of a live entertainment production company, traveling the wickedly fun journey as Creative Producer. I’m proud to give readers the inside scoop on an exclusive show you won’t want to miss.
Saturday, September 13: Blue Velvet Entertainment presents an evening with Matt Cameron, Hiro Yamamoto, and Ed Roth.
The show features two standout acts: Is This Real? and the Ed Roth Revue.
Is This Real? is a tribute band formed by Matt Cameron, legendary drummer for Pearl Jam and founding member of Soundgarden. He assembled an all-star group of Seattle talent to honor the Wipers, a Portland-based punk band whose influence rippled through the Seattle explosion of the early ’90s. On drums with commanding force is Will Andrews (Walking Papers/Ten Miles Wide), on bass is Shane Smith (Karmic Unrest/Ten Miles Wide), and rounding out the band on guitar is the mighty Caspian Coberly—one of the Sound’s most respected players.
The Ed Roth Revue is a four-piece Jazz, Funk, Groove, and Soul ensemble that’s sure to blow the roof off the joint just minutes before Cameron’s punk outfit takes the stage. Ed Roth is a Los Angeles–based keyboardist, arranger, producer, and music director who has recorded or performed with 12 Grammy Award recipients. His credits include Robby Krieger and John Densmore of The Doors, Ringo Starr, Chad Smith, Joe Walsh, Coolio, Tom Morello, Annie Lennox, and Rob Halford—just to name a few.
On drums is Ben Smith (Heart/Roadcase Royale), with Andy Stoller (Heart/Tracy Chapman) on bass. Holding down guitar duty is Seattle’s own jazz, groove, and soul legend Danny Godinez—formerly of Michael Shrieve’s Spellbinder and now blazing a solo career that continues to surprise and delight.
Special guest for the night is Hiro Yamamoto, founding bassist of Soundgarden. After leaving the band, he joined Truly with Mark Pickerel, Chris Quinn and powerhouse songwriter/vocalist Robert Roth. Under the genius that is the songwriting of Robert Roth, Yamamoto and Pickerel are currently breathing new life into Truly, recording fresh material and rereleasing old gems. Yamamoto is also a founding member of Stereo Donkey, a surf-
punk outfit based in Bellingham that performs throughout the PNW. Stay tuned for upcoming PNW dates.
All this magic takes place just weeks before Soundgarden is inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Snag a ticket while you can, raise a glass to our hometown heroes, and revel in a night that honors the soul of Seattle music before it hits the global stage—again.
I’ll leave you with one last piece of badassery, my new friends of Seattle Means Business: a guy with a wicked sense of humor, killer style, and a funny accent called up a few buddies in the Seattle scene and invited them to the show. You never know who might show up or sit in. That 18-year-old version of me we talked about? He’d be proud—and probably buying me a drink at the show.
