Seattle Sons, the Syracuse-formed grunge quartet who bill themselves as “Central NY’s Ultimate Grunge Tribute,” have spent eight years making the case that covering Nirvana, Pearl Jam, and Soundgarden rewards musicians who came up alongside the material and are willing to treat the songs as a living catalog rather than background. They bring that approach to Middle Ages Beer Hall this Friday for “Smells Like The 90’s,” sharing the bill with The Mid Daze in an evening that spans grunge and the broader ’90s alternative and pop-rock catalog.
About the Show
The evening pairs two Central New York tribute acts under the “Smells Like The 90’s” banner. Seattle Sons take the grunge half, drawing from the era’s full reach: Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Smashing Pumpkins, Foo Fighters, Audioslave, Hole, Temple of the Dog, and Mad Season. The Mid Daze cover the broader side of the decade, working through what the ticket listing describes as “alternative rock anthems and pop-rock favorites” from the ’90s and 2000s. The event’s own shorthand: “big songs. Loud guitars. Plenty of throwbacks.”
Seattle Sons formed in Syracuse in 2018, drawing members from regional acts including Stone Soul Foundation, Brand New Sin, Country Swagg, and Rattlebasket. The four-piece (Shane Stillman on vocals, Kevin Dean on drums, Gabe Infantino on bass, and Jake Bunger on guitar) carry a substantial collective résumé: among their shared credits are a Woodstock ’99 stage appearance, live performances alongside Heart and John Popper of Blues Traveler, and studio sessions with Greg Hawkes of The Cars and Liberty DeVitto of Billy Joel. A Central New York press feature on the band noted that “when you see them play live, the energy and joy is real.” The band recorded a demo at Moletrax, a Syracuse-area studio that works direct-to-tape; its owner, Jeff Moleski, has prior collaborative work with Smashing Pumpkins. Through 2026, they’ve played Buffalo Iron Works, del Lago Casino in Waterloo, and Slidin’ Dirty in Troy before returning to their home market for this date.
The show is all-ages; those under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian. Presented by Visions FCU.
Venue & Logistics
Middle Ages Beer Hall at 120 Wilkinson Street in Syracuse is a Central New York venue for the show. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.; the show begins at 8:00 p.m.
Tickets
General admission is $12.88 ($10.00 plus $2.88 in fees). Buy tickets