BY KATHLEEN WILSON

I kinda had an idea of what to expect when I arrived at the Crocodile Friday night for Blundershoot, because my cell phone had been ringing constantly with folks dying to find out if Pearl Jam was the secret headliner there. I was not prepared, however, for the tenacity of the devoted fans who refused to believe Pearl Jam wasn't playing. Sure, C Average was second to last, and everybody with a subscription to Rolling Stone has read all about their side project with Eddie Vedder, but when someone tells you the band isn't going to play, it ain't going to happen. Go home! Of course, just when the crowd started to disperse, a rumor that Eddie was spotted down the block at Shorty's spread like wildfire, and it was a mob scene again at the door. This time the looky-loos didn't budge until well past last call, when it was blatantly obvious that the Fastbacks were the final headliners of the evening. The next night I got no less than five calls inquiring whether Rocket from the Crypt was headlining the Croc, and three wondering if I'd heard anything about Pavement doing a surprise show. Rocket was in the house, but appeared way too lit to play. Pavement was nowhere to be seen, but we didn't think Steve Malkmus would have the balls to show up to a Stranger-sponsored event after trashing us during his band's live set. How thin-skinned indie rockers are, and we at The Stranger take great pride in knowing we can get under it. Superdrag, anyone?

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Back to Pearl Jam: The band is back in the studio working on their seventh album, to be produced by Tchad Blake, producer of artists as diverse as Soul Coughing, Crowded House, and the Master Musicians of Jajouka. As far as live appearances go, the band has confirmed that they'll be playing Neil Young's upcoming Bridge School Benefit.

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Thanks a lot, Sub Pop, for making the new Murder City Devils/Glucifer split single a big-hole 33. Not irritating or anything.

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Who knows how to throw a record release party? The folks at Will Records, it would seem. Their stylish celebration for the Souvenirs last Saturday night at the Tractor Tavern included a delicious taco bar, buckets of icy cold beverages, and free tins of pomade. Musical entertainment was provided by a spicy tejano band complete with cutie-pie, pre-pubescent drummer. Later that evening over at the Breakroom Peter Parker celebrated the release of their new disc, Migliore!, in decidedly less splashy fashion. Probably because Harvey Danger was the big cheese that night, debuting lots of new material that had more than a few of their radio-play fans looking puzzled. Which, for the band and the rest of us, is probably a good thing -- though possibly not for the label.

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No Seattle week would be complete without a benefit for an ailing friend, and this time it's local roadie "Nordic Joe" Norcio who needs help. A blood clot landed Norcio in a Los Angeles hospital for six days, and the Fastbacks, Jon Auer, No. 13 Baby, Ken Stringfellow, Skyward, and a special surprise guest that I'm hoping is the Posies, will play a fundraiser for him on Wed Sept 22 at ARO.space.

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