I was reminiscing over the Seattle music scene the other day, and wondered what happened to some of our local hero’s from the 80’s and 90’s. I know a lot of people are still playing gigs around town in cover bands, and some are still doing their original stuff. But, one band that stood out for me was War Babies. To me, their debut album is right up there with the best of them.
I remember seeing War Babies sometime around 1989-ish in Lynnwood at the then Raintree Lounge. From my recollection it was a slow night there (then again it was never really that busy, even on a busy night lol) but on rare a occasion it the place could draw a good crowd. In fact as a side-note, it was on another one of those slow nights at the Raintree that I managed to catch a show by a band called ‘Man In A Boat’ with members of 2013 Hall of Fame inductees, Heart.
Any, back to War Babies. These guys weren’t signed at the time when I first saw them play, but by the time they hit their 3rd song, I said to my friend that these guys will be signed within 6 months- and they were.
I had seen a number of other up-and-coming Seattle bands during that era, but War Babies with Brad Sincel and his vocals really stood out. More so then when he was singing with another big Seattle band, TKO. I don’t know, it may have been something to do with the powerful catchy tunes that War Babies had. But, whatever it was, it was like a steamroller hitting me! Sad things, like all things, everything comes to an end. The end was too soon coming for the guys in War Babies as the band called it quits a year after releasing their 1992 self titled debut album, ‘War Babies’.
Some say it was due to bad timing of the late release of the bands album. Even with it’s hard edgy sound, a lot of people deemed it too glam rock. And with the changing of the music scene in Seattle and the subsequent rise of local independent record label Sub Pop and its artists, and the grunge scene, it all spelled doom for success to the hard working, kick-ass sounds of War Babies.
It’s a good thing that we have recordings, because I get the chance to relive songs like ‘Blue Tomorrow’ (a song dedicated to showman and singer Andrew Wood most known for being in Mother Love Bone) and other songs like ‘Hang Me Up’, co-written by Tommy McMullin and Paul Stanley of Kiss.
So, where is that voice of Brad Sinsel? Well, he’s still singing from what I have heard and seen, and his voice hasn’t changed a bit. Check out some of his newest stuff and share what you think.