Review: Krist Novoselic and New Band Giants in the Trees Play a Sold-Out Album Release Party

It’s a few minutes before 11 p.m. on Saturday night and Krist Novoselic is backstage at the Sunset Tavern in Ballard. The 52-year-old former Nirvana bassist is gearing up to play the album release show for his new group, Giants in the Trees, and jokes about texting his fictitious life coach. “He’s telling me things like, ‘You can do it’ and ‘You deserve it,’” Novoselic smiles.

Saturday is the first time Novoselic has played the Sunset. “But I’ve seen a show here before,” he offers as guitar and drum techs move around amps, stringed instruments and cymbals. It's also the first sold out show for this band, he says. There was a healthy buzz leading up to this night, and the venue—historically an important stepping-stone for new and promising local groups—is packed with fans old and new, curious about what the legendary musician has in store, and treated to opening sets by by Seattle rock bands Dirty Dirty and Electric NoNo(playing their 200th show).