Seattle’s Grand Archives emerged from the city’s perpetual drizzle and into the indie spotlight with an effortless cool that belied the meticulous craftsmanship behind their music. A well-timed Pitchfork nod for Sleepdriving put them on the map, and soon after, they were sharing stages with Modest Mouse and signing to Sub Pop for their self-titled debut.

The band’s chemistry felt organic, but the album itself was a labour of love, fine-tuned over months with producer Ben Kersten. Across three studios in the summer of 2007, they experimented with an eclectic mix of sounds—trombones, flugelhorns, pedal steel guitars—whatever it took to push their sonic boundaries. Even a humble ukulele got the full effects-pedal treatment. The spirit of playful invention reached its peak with Breezy No Breezy, a last-minute jam that somehow distilled the album’s eccentricities into one glorious, hour-long burst of creativity.

Bringing together a tight-knit crew of Seattle musicians, Grand Archives was never just another indie outfit—it was a gathering of kindred spirits. Mat Brooke (formerly of Band of Horses and Carissa’s Wierd) led the charge, joined by Curtis Hall, Jeff Montano, Ron Lewis, and Thomas Wright, the latter of whom graciously answered this interview under the influence of absinthe – perhaps explaining the unexpected fixation on P!nk…

The band went on an indefinite hiatus in 2012, with Mat Brooke shifting his focus to co-owning The Redwood, a bar and restaurant in Seattle.

1. The album I live my life by… P!nk “I’m Coming Out.”

2. The song I wish I had written… Allstate Commercial Jingle “We Bring Good Things to Life.”

3. The song I’m glad I didn’t write… Kiss “Beth.”

4. If I could stalk one celebrity rock star… Michael Jackson.

5. If I could resurrect one rock star it would be… John Lennon.

6. Celebrity Death Match Opponent… Mickey Rourke.

7. My best gig ever… Working at a gas station.

8. If I could get one band to cover one song… Grateful Dead to cover P!nk’s “I’m Coming Out.”

9. If I could wipe a music genre off the face of the earth… Indie Rock.

10. The first record I ever bought… Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Soundtrack.

11. On my iPod/mp3/Walkman device right now… >no batteries<

12. Superpower I wish I had… The ability to stop crying!

13. Does your musical style influence your underwear? If I wore any, no!

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For more information, visit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Archives
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This after concert interview was done in Berlin circa: 2010.