Left Hand Smoke

Left Hand Smoke's first release in 1999 signaled that one of the nation's strongest unsigned acts had arrived. The punchy lead guitar of Will Mish combined with the soul-styled shouting and keyboard work of his older brother Ben to drive the group's organic grooves, which quickly resonated among Seattleites seeking crisp, well-executed rock & roll that rejected the prevailing local indie rock hipster ethos. Ben Mish and guitarist Ronan O'Mahoney formed the band in late 1997 while both attended the University of Washington; by 2000 Left Hand Smoke had taken command of the Seattle club circuit, shattering attendance marks and sparking fervent word-of-mouth anticipation that the Pacific Northwest's next breakout act was at hand. After the self-produced debut album Left Hand Smoke earned broad regional airplay when the Allman Brothers-inspired rocker "Blues Eyes Shinin'" appeared on the hit television series ER, the band scored a second local hit with the ballad "Step Outside," whose understated groove proved still more popular. Original bassist Chris Jensen departed in April 1999, prompting the group to tour with hired players for the remainder of the year until bassist Andrew Scaglione and drummer Andrew Cloutier joined as the permanent rhythm section. With success seemingly imminent, the second album So Many Faces arrived in February 2001 and drew strong reviews.