CONCERT REPORT: The Third Mind @ Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA - 3/14/26
photo by Alan Grose
The Third Mind 3/14/26 @ the Tractor Tavern, Seattle, WA
I was fortunate to be at an incredible live show last night. Dave Alvin's "Acid Rock Supergroup" The Third Mind played a show in Ballard, formerly Swedish fisherman's turf.
Dave Alvin always plays "the Tractor" (as we call it) when he comes to town with his main bands. But the first Seattle show for The Third Mind took place at the larger Crocodile Cafe almost 3 years ago.
But now it's back to home sweet home at the Tractor for Dave Alvin as well as his incredible new supergroup project.
The Tractor is my favorite live music venue in Seattle. It is intimate & has good vibes all around. Dave Alvin always blows stuff up with his ferocious incendiary guitar attack. He has the masters touch with that Stratocaster.
He was the powerhouse creative force behind The Blasters, writing all of their songs. His older brother Phil Alvin was front man singer & rhythm guitarist.
In this new group, Mark Karan is the 2nd guitarist, playing strong psychedelic riffs. Jessie Sykes is on vocals & acoustic guitar. Victor Krummenacher on Bass & the incredible Michael Jerome on drums.
The band was born from an idea Dave Alvin had to record in an improvisational & spontaneous way in the spirit of Miles Davis' Bitches Brew!
Acid Rock was born in 1966 with Mike Bloomfield wrote East West with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. The Third Mind are disciples of Mike Bloomfield, may he rest in peace. He was the guitarist for Electric Flag & they did a song called "Grooving ' is Easy, Baby" that this band plays very well.
The show: Jessie Sykes sings sort of like Grace Slick, according to Dave Alvin. Together, they take songs that were R & B hits in the early 1960's and give it a psychedelic reboot. Acid Rock, improvisational & searing.
This show was a spectacular psychedelic voyage for all present in the packed tavern. And who should I run into again but some Thrasher's Wheat regulars, Bob & Bruce! Jake is Bruce's son who I also met at the Micah Nelson Particle Kid show with these guys. Jake & his friend Willy D were in good position at the front of the stage.
Jake told me that in his mind, his Dad & Bob are famous now since they were mentioned in the epic TW blog! It's all part of the TW community here in the real world, in person, at a stellar live music event! It was quite out of the ordinary!
We had talked about this show the first time I met them, so we met up again as planned. And once again, we crossed the rainbow bridge together, hitch-hiking our way through the finer music galaxy!
It was nearly religious experience for us all up close to the stage. Spiritual, life affirming, and also communal healing in light of the world we live in right now.
Bruce & Bob were in the rail, job well done guys! My friend Dave was my copilot that night as we blasted forward, witnessing the synergy of this powerful band. They covered East West, & In My Own Dream (both by Paul Butterfield Blues Band).
They played a few songs the Grateful Dead used to play: Dark Star & also the anti war, nuclear fallout classic, Morning Dew. The band spoke of these troubled days we are living in. When they played Morning Dew, I had streams of tears flowing down my cheeks for the entire song. I saw the Grateful Dead play that song quite a few times.
Dave Alvin sang a version of Highway 61 Revisited with some updated lyrics about a real estate developer gone bad! It was quite fitting & welcome.
Jake had some fine chocolate to share & ended up with a new nickname: "the Candyman." Friendliness & great live music makes for a rebirth of sorts.
The Third Mind is made up of professional musicians who get together for a mini tour when they can.
I highly recommend you check out this band live. Mark Karan shreds on guitar. VK is solid on bass! Michael Jerome is crazy good on the drums! They are all so talented, but synergy makes this a powerhouse band.
Go see them!
Your Brother Alan in Seattle
Thanks for the detailed report Brother Alan! Pretty cool that our TW readers connected at concert! All in very good company.
FYI, upcoming The Third Mind tour dates:
- March 24: Belly Up Tavern, 143 S Cedros Ave, Solana Beach, CA
More from "Your Brother Alan in Seattle " @ CONCERT REPORT: Particle Kid @ Sunset Tavern, Seattle, WA - Feb 6.
#KORITFW
by thrasher@PermaLink: 3/19/2026 10:22:00 AM
5 comments
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5 Comments:
Thanks again for the report Brother Alan!
Very cool that some of our TW readers connected at concert.
@ Bob & Bruce: Thanks for being there and supporting live music at a local, small venue!
Folks, this is how we stick to the Ticketmaster/Live Nation monopoly.
Live Music is Better!
@ Thrasher: Thank you so much for posting my concert review. Live music IS better, & a community of fans together gives a positive uplift, to ward off those worldly troubles!
A group of TW mates having fun together listening to live music (& having visions): there is something good happening in this world. It’s not all bad. Another flashing chance at bliss.
But yes, in the “real world” we still must stand & demand liberty, justice, & human rights for ALL! And health care for all too, while we are at it!
Where will we take our stand & demand? Everywhere! Look at the “No Kings” map. #NoKings : March 28, 2026 Saturday protest. Show up & participate!
It’s 1939 Germany. What would you do to stop the many horrible actions & events from happening?
Civil disobedience & peaceful protest! Our only hope!
https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/map/?tag_ids=29581&utm_source=moveon&utm_campaign=ads.middleseat.fb.%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D.%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D.000&fbclid=IwZnRzaAQpMWdleHRuA2FlbQExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR6YUfc7H7_17IUPXz1yyVArw9L8Uq1OmaOmy7UsN9jdLoxxHfisNtPvWvUXEg_aem_JYqru7iW6omLP31zhgEpfw
_________________
Low key detail to add to my concert review: I got to have another good conversation with the guitarist for Soundgarden at The Third Mind show. He is a very nice guy & down to Earth. He is still out there living amongst his fans. Kim Thyill: I forgot to tell him I ordered a hard cover copy of his book coming out, signed. But I have had him sign album covers already. Mostly I was just glad to tell him “Thanks for the music!”
I was a huge fan of Chris Cornell as a singer. I recently bought a replacement copy of their last album “King Animal” that had gotten some scratches. This time I got the deluxe version with extra versions of 3 songs.
The music on the album has aged well. I would say it is superior to their first 2 “albums” (/EPs) prior to Loud Love).
I followed Chris Cornell’s albums for 25 years before he died. It really hit me hard when he died, much worse than when Mark Lanegan passed away (who I am a huge fan of also). He had kids & was very active & productive. It killed me and a lot of fans when that morning came when we heard.
When I talk with Kim I never bring up his former bandmate, of course. Chris Cornell was a rock God with the heart of a lion & the voice of an angry angel. But there was a lot more to his music than anger. Happiness, Pain & Love were in there too.
Thanks again to Thrasher & Thrasher’s Wheat! Sponsored by no one. No Ads. The only true forum for free speech?
“Let them Love.” As grandpa used to say.
Your Brother Alan in Seattle
@ Thrasher: Thank you so much for posting my concert review. Live music IS better, & a community of fans together gives a positive uplift, to ward off those worldly troubles!
A group of TW mates having fun together listening to live music (& having visions): there is something good happening in this world. It’s not all bad. Another flashing chance at bliss.
But yes, in the “real world” we still must stand & demand liberty, justice, & human rights for ALL! And health care for all too, while we are at it!
Where will we take our stand & demand? Everywhere! Look at the “No Kings” map. #NoKings : March 28, 2026 Saturday protest. Show up & participate!
It’s 1939 Germany. What would you do to stop the many horrible actions & events from happening?
Civil disobedience & peaceful protest! Our only hope!
https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/map/?tag_ids=29581&utm_source=moveon&utm_campaign=ads.middleseat.fb.%7B%7Bcampaign.name%7D%7D.%7B%7Badset.name%7D%7D.000&fbclid=IwZnRzaAQpMWdleHRuA2FlbQExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR6YUfc7H7_17IUPXz1yyVArw9L8Uq1OmaOmy7UsN9jdLoxxHfisNtPvWvUXEg_aem_JYqru7iW6omLP31zhgEpfw
_________________
Low key detail to add to my concert review: I got to have another good conversation with the guitarist for Soundgarden at The Third Mind show. He is a very nice guy & down to Earth. He is still out there living amongst his fans. Kim Thyill: I forgot to tell him I ordered a hard cover copy of his book coming out, signed. But I have had him sign album covers already. Mostly I was just glad to tell him “Thanks for the music!”
I was a huge fan of Chris Cornell as a singer. I recently bought a replacement copy of their last album “King Animal” that had gotten some scratches. This time I got the deluxe version with extra versions of 3 songs.
The music on the album has aged well. I would say it is superior to their first 2 “albums” (/EPs) prior to Loud Love).
I followed Chris Cornell’s albums for 25 years before he died. It really hit me hard when he died, much worse than when Mark Lanegan passed away (who I am a huge fan of also). He had kids & was very active & productive. It killed me and a lot of fans when that morning came when we heard.
When I talk with Kim I never bring up his former bandmate, of course. Chris Cornell was a rock God with the heart of a lion & the voice of an angry angel. But there was a lot more to his music than anger. Happiness, Pain & Love were in there too.
Thanks again to Thrasher & Thrasher’s Wheat! Sponsored by no one. No Ads. The only true forum for free speech?
“Let them Love.” As grandpa used to say.
Your Brother Alan in Seattle
Sometimes I wonder how our friend Alan can afford to attend all these shows, but then I remember that "protesting" pays pretty good these days. Not as much as running a homeless advocacy department, but still pretty good.
That is pretty funny. Nobody needs to pay anybody to protest Trump. We do it gladly for free.
I have been fortunate recently with a string of live shows. But these shows have mostly been cheap. Particle Kid was $28. I favor small venues & they can be a lot cheaper as well as way more intimate. Big Arena shows are less special to me, except for all those good times I had in them! Old Princeton Landing ruined the big venues for me! That’s ok!
Your Brother Alan in Seattle
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