GALLERY: ’90s makes a comeback at Grant Co. Fairgrounds

’90s Flannel Fest returned to the Grant County Fairgrounds for its annual concert. The festival had tribute bands including Green Day, Soundgarden, Nirvana and Pearl Jam.
NANCE BESTON/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD

Nick Stone, singer and guitarist for Nevermind, a Seattle tribute band honoring Nirvana, smashes his guitar during the final song of their set at ’90s Flannel Fest Sat. night.

During ’90s Flannel Fest, the three MC’s, MCAin’t, Mike Double D and BADRock, backed by a four-piece band & DJ, the White Castle Combo performed covers of Beastie Boys songs.

Superunknown, a tribute band to Soundgarden, lead singer points to the crowd during their ’90s Flannel Fest performance.

The crowd at ’90s Flannel Festival rocks hard to Nevermore, a Nirvana tribute band.

Nick Stone, singer and guitarist for Nevermind, a Nirvana tribute band, shreds his guitar on the floor of the stage during the opening song. During the closing song, the teal guitar was smashed.

Anthony Medici shreds his guitar on stage at ’90s Flannel Fest during the Superunknown performance, a tribute band to Soundgarden.

Grand Royale performs one of the last sets of the night during Sat ’90s Flannel Fest. Grand Royale is a tribute band to the Beastie Boys.

Travis Wolfe, from Nevermind, a Nirvana tribute band shreds his bass during the band’s ’90s Flannel Fest set on Saturday.

Grand Royale, Beastie Boys tribute band, dances and raps for the ’90s Flannel Fest crowd. They started the band around 10 years ago.

Washed in Black, a Pearl Jam Tribute band performs at the Flannel Fest special unplugged after-party set.

Members of Grand Royale, a Beastie Boys Tribute band, high-five crowd members after concluding their set.

Superunknown, a tribute to Soundgarden, rocks on the ‘90s Flannel Fest stage at the Grant County Fairgrounds Saturday.

Nevermind, a Nirvana tribute band rocks out during the ‘90s Flannel Fest Sat.

by NANCE BESTON
Staff Writer | October 9, 2024 3:30 AM

MOSES LAKE — Crowds of people decorated in colored flannels cheered as guitars were shredded and smashed, music blared and drinks sloshed at the third annual ’90s Flannel Fest.

The festival started Friday with Parabola, a Tool tribute band; Jar of Flies, an Alice in Chains tribute band; and Red Not Chili Peppers, a Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute band.

“It went extremely well as it usually does,” Fairgrounds Director Jim McKiernan said. “The performances were stellar; there was a lot of compliments from people about how good the bands were.”

Saturday festivities started at 2 p.m. and went on until the late hours of the night. Bands included Island in the Sun, a Weezer tribute band; Head Over Feet, an Alanis Morissette tribute; Fighting Foos, a Foo Fighters tribute band; 21 Guns, a Green Day tribute group; Superunknown, an ode Soundgarden; Nevermind, a Nirvana tribute band; Grand Royale, a Beastie Boys tribute band and Washed in Black, a Pearl Jam cover band.

Anthony Medici performed as a drummer for Island of the Sun, and guitarist and singer for Superuknown.

“It was a blast. It was great,” Medici said. “This is my first time here. It's beautiful.”

Nevermind performers Sean Ross, drummer; Nick Stone, singer and guitarist and Travis Wolfe, bassist said they had a blast at the festival.

“It was electrifying. I love it when they’re like bouncing on the barricade and it looks like it’s just gonna fall apart,” Stone said.

During the Saturday night performance, the band smashed both a guitar and a bass on stage during their final song. Wolfe said he had owned the bass since he was 14 and he doesn’t regret that it’s in pieces now.

“That was the first time we've ever smashed two on stage like that,” Wolfe said. “So, I loved it. That was really fun. I think the crowd was really digging us so we wanted to give them a finale they would remember.”

Grand Royale, a Beastie Boys tribute band is composed of the three MCs, MCAin’t, Mike Double D and BADRock, backed by a four-piece band including a DJ called the White Castle Combo.

“The crowds are always the best, so they think I'm pretty bossy when I'm up there, but they were pretty damn responsive tonight, so that was great,” Mike Double D said.

Grand Royale started about a month after original Beastie Boys member Adam “MCA” Yauch passed away May 4, 2012, from cancer according to Mike Double D. The three had been rapping together and saw an opportunity.

“And my thought was that, okay, we're lifelong Beastie Boys fans,” Mike Double D said. “Someone's going to make this tribute band, and there's a possibility they're going to screw it up, so we better do it first. So that's kind of where it came out of.”

The night concluded with an after-party performance from Washed in Black, a Pearl Jam tribute band.

“Please come out next year if you missed it,” Medici said. “You know, this is a great event. It's beautiful out here as locals already know, I'm sure. But hell, you know, this is a pretty special thing that we've got going here.”

Nick Stone, singer and guitarist for Nevermind, a Seattle tribute band honoring Nirvana, smashes his guitar during the final song of their set at ’90s Flannel Fest Saturday night.