Gunk pop. That’s the phrase Nicolle Swims\u2014lead singer, guitarist and songwriter for Seattle band Black Ends<\/a>\u2014coined to describe the group’s distinctive ruckus, which builds on Seattle’s alternative rock history but signifies a new and more diverse era for Seattle rock music. “I feel like my voice is kind of gunky,” Swims explains. “My guitar pedals can be pretty gross and weird sounding too.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Comprised of Swims, as well as bassist and keys player Ben Swanson and drummer Jonny Modes, Black Ends released their most recent EP, Stay Evil,<\/em> last summer. Swims says the band is currently working on a new music for an LP they hope to release and tour with soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The resemblance between gunk pop and grunge can’t be denied, and sure enough, Black Ends\u2014who play one of their first shows back since quarantine at Fremont’s Substation<\/a> this Saturday\u2014spring from the same twisted sense of humor that fueled the genius of Kurt Cobain and several decades of white-dude Nirvana copycats. While Swims cites Nirvana as her favorite band of all time, there’s nothing clich\u00e9 about Black Ends. Swims expands the definition of the Seattle sound simply by being herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n