Toody Cole, of Dead Moon and Pierced Arrows, played a past meets present meets future bill at the Tractor Tavern last weekend with Acid Tongue and Matt Cameron’s Is This Real? Dead Moon, which was composed of Toody, her husband Fred Cole, and Andrew Loomis (now both deceased), has a secure place in the hearts of many old school rockers, both locally and internationally. They are fondly remembered and often mentioned by many musicians who have gone on to much fame and some fortune. I know that Kurt Cobain was a fan, as are the members of Pearl Jam, Melvins, Soundgarden, and many more. Toody was accompanied at the Tractor by Chris March and Kelly Halliburton, both current members of the equally fine Portland band ‘Jenny Don’t & the Spurs’.
Acid Tongue, representing a slightly younger demographic, middled with an equally fantastic and well received set.
Speaking of Pearl Jam, that band’s drummer (shared once upon a time with local legends Soundgarden) opened the show with a well-played and exciting set of Wipers covers. Seeing all 3 bands onstage in one evening was an insightful and inspiring glimpse of where we’ve been and where we’re headed. When I look back at 2024 I have no doubt that this show will be one of the brightest highlights.
