The boys are back: Brain Drain, Old Gold, Howling Gods return to the Grange

By Luciano Marano • July 29, 2018 11:30 am
Photo courtesy of Andrew Crane | BrainDrain, one of three bands made up mostly of Bainbridge musicians set to share the stage at The Grange Hall at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3.
Photo courtesy of Andrew Crane | BrainDrain, one of three bands made up mostly of Bainbridge musicians set to share the stage at The Grange Hall at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3.

Three bands, all featuring island musicians — many combined years of Bainbridge-based performance experience — will converge and share the stage at The Grange Hall at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3.

BrainDrain, Old Gold and Howling Gods are all set to play. Admission is by donation ($7 suggested).

It’s actually a reunion of sorts, said event spokesman Andrew Crane, member of BrainDrain.

“My band … has two members from Bainbridge Island, myself and our drummer, Jeremy Young, Class of ’02,” he said.

“We grew up playing music together on the island and now we both live in Seattle and still play together.”

Now an elementary school teacher, Crane has a purebred island music pedigree.

“I grew up playing in bands on Bainbridge Island such as Holy Ghost Revival, Broken Nobles, Wildildlife, as well as playing in various jazz combos all over the Island,” he said. “As I was booking this concert I was contacting a lot of bands [and] friends I know from Bainbridge Island, and many said the underground music scene was sort of dwindling. I found this rather alarming as I know there is such a rich history of outstanding musicians from the island and I really wanted to remind people, mainly the youth of the island’s amazing underground musical history.”

Old Gold, from California, also features a member who grew up on Bainbridge, Crane said. Gavin Toler graduated in ’97.

“They are doing a short little Northwest tour, and Gavin was interested in performing on Bainbridge Island as part of the trip,” Crane said. “Gavin grew up playing in bands on Bainbridge called PUD, Cold Way Walking, Salvation, Blessed Light and his music has had a profound impact on my group of musician friends from the island, so it’s pretty special that he ventured back to Bainbridge to play again.”

Lastly, Howling Gods feature two members from Bainbridge (Bradley Tatum, Class of ’02. and Larry Jackson, Class of ’97).

Both are still very active in the local music scene, both teaching and organizing events for youth, Crane said.

“Another sort of charming things about this concert is that all of us grew up playing concerts at the Grange Hall,” he added.

“Possibly the first concert I ever played was at the Grange, and I think it’s neat that it’s still available for this sort of thing, and hopefully people continue to organize underground music events there.”