The Fastbacks… man, they were one of my favorite live bands from the Seattle scene.
I first heard them in the early 90s when a friend played me “Wrong Wrong Wrong.” It was fast, catchy, and had this energy that just made you want to move. Kim Warnick’s voice and the way the whole band locked in together always felt right. There was something about them that just clicked.
I saw them live on May 5th, 1994 at Moe’s Mo’ Rockin’ Cafe. It was a tiny place and the show was packed wall to wall. They played with so much energy that night and the crowd was singing along the whole time. It was one of those fun nights where everyone left with a smile on their face. Pure good vibes.
They were a band with girls in the lineup — Kim Warnick on bass and vocals, Lulu Gargiulo on guitar and vocals — and they brought something different to the scene. A lot of the other bands were all guys, but The Fastbacks had this cool mix that made them stand out. They never got as famous as some of the bigger bands, and honestly, I think a lot of people outside Seattle never really knew how good they were. But those of us who were around knew. They were the kind of band that reminded you why you loved going to shows in the first place — no bullshit, just great songs and a ton of heart.
The band broke up a few years ago, but they left behind a bunch of really solid records. I still pull out Answer the Phone, Dummy or their older stuff when I want to remember the good times from back then. They always put me in a better mood.
The Fastbacks were never the biggest name in the scene, but they were one of the best. And for a lot of us, that was more than enough.