Making it with The Makers Sporting 70s wide lapel button downs, tight bright pants and cowboy boots, The Makers do not look like your typical Seattle grunge band. In fact, they’re not a grunge band at all. They make "explosive, end-of-the-world rock n’ roll" and have been cranking it out since 1991. They have been called the gods of trash rock and "Garage-Punk Kings"—key reasons why they are revered by discerning fans the world over. The fact that they also sport those tight pants and look so good in them are a couple other key reasons why us female fans have taken such a shine. But THE reason to love The Makers has nothing to do with labels or lapels, it’s because they are one of the best live acts out there and are not only original but ever-changing and evolving. From garage to glam, The Makers blend high powered wah wah with blazing drums and pack a stinging stage punch. Mike—or Michael, as he prefers—knows how to work a crowd, how to swing a mic, and how to swivel his hips! He fronts a power quartet that mesmerizes audiences from Tokyo to Tucson with an irresistible blend of showmanship and non-stop talent. To put it simply, The Makers KICK! We saw them at Club Mesa in Costa Mesa, California along with fellow SubPop band, the Vue, last Sunday night and were blown away. I was feeling a little lopey from a long weekend and downing the Pepsi to keep my lids open but the moment The Makers hit the stage I tossed the soda aside. Like a shot of adrenaline, The Makers infused that room with the power of rock and roll, with Michael sprinting around the bar—and on top of it!—and had everyone hopping and rocking to their shredding sounds. The guitarist ripped, the bassist bugged, and, as I alluded before, the drummer just killed. Michael’s star presence perfectly rounded out the band and sent it—and us!—over the top. Now that’s rock n’ roll. Before the band took over, we had a chance to chat with Michael on camera. He loved our little Cool Grrrls zine (keeping it in his back pocket all night) and dedicated a couple songs to all the Cool Grrrls—thanks, Michael! We’ve got a clip of the show coming soon—this is just a little preview to whet your whistle. Stay tuned and prepare to be rocked! To get the latest Makers CD, "Rock Star God," surf to: www.subpop.com d-grrrl photos by frank