In this epic exploration of the Pacific Northwest's esteemed garage rock traditions, Peter Blecha, Seattle's “rock 'n' roll archaeologist ” skillfully weaves together the untold tales behind the rise of the region's early dance halls, recording studios, record labels, radio stations, and 1950s rockabilly, R&B, and doo-wop groups. The result is a compelling saga about an isolated region of America that, against all odds, managed to win global acclaim by stubbornly making music merely to satisfy its own provincial pop needs. Illuminating the creative continuum that arcs between the earliest rockin' pioneers and more recent demigods, Sonic Boom! reveals how one backwater music scene could produce such disparate mega-talents as the Ventures, Jimi Hendrix, Heart, Robert Cray, Queensrÿche, Sir Mix-a-Lot, Nirvana, and of course the legendary garage stompers, the Sonics. The culmination of over two decades of research, Sonic Boom! benefits from the 500-plus exclusive interviews that Blecha conducted with trailblazing DJs, sound engineers, label founders, and the leading luminaries of Northwest rock, including such hitmakers as the Kingsmen, the Ventures, the Frantics, the Sonics, the Wailers, Paul Revere and the Raiders, Dave Lewis, Ron Holden, Merrilee Rush, Larry Coryell, Heart, Sir Mix-a-Lot, Nirvana, and Pearl Jam. "...an excellent and informative look at the birth of a music scene...Blecha knows his regional music history...an easy and enticing read." PopSyndicate.com "...an often surprising and entirely enlightening exploration of Northwest rock history... thanks to Blecha, the rollicking musical past of this corner of the country won't quietly disappear... the stories are skillfully compiled and thankfully told..." Seattle Sound "This is a great read, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in the history of Northwest rock and roll." Jet City Blues "Sonic Boom reclaims our region s dominance in rock annals and cements Blecha s reputation as its foremost historian." Seattle Metropolitan "Sonic Boom will remain as the source book for anyone interested in the rock of the Pacific Northwest." Expressmilwaukee.com "Blecha strikes a winning balance through a mixture of scrupulous research and genuine passion for his subject." Blurt Sonic Boom "was written exactly the way a book, or a song should be written ...it was hard putting it down, and I practically dog-eared every page for reference points." Jerseybeat.com "The Northwest musical influence on the entire rock culture has been overlooked for way too long. This is a great book for anybody who loves Rock 'n' Roll and its hidden history." Allan Handelman, Rock Talk radio "Blecha lovingly limns the history of rock music in Seattle and the northwestern U.S. ...and the predominant celebratory tone can be infectious." Booklist "...plain and simple, a highly enjoyable read... I say it stands up with Charles Cross's Hendrix bio as NW canon...." Tom Dyer, President, Argosy University " Blecha s angle is different. He pens the story from behind the scenes of the early radio stations, recording studios and record labels." Puget Sound Business Journal "Finally...this puts it all in perspective for those who thought Oregon and Washington were little more than places with a lot of rain." curledup.com "Seattle s unofficial curator of rock n roll charts the evolution of Northwest rock specifically the era book-ended by those two unmistakable riffs as told by the musicians, fans, promoters, scenesters, and label heads who lived it." Gibson.com "The deep rock 'n' roll history of the Northwest has finally been fully chronicled so grab your favorite flannel shirt and find the nearest Starbucks to sit down in and soak up the Sonic Boom." CMJ: --Various "The deep rock 'n' roll history of the Northwest has finally been fully chronicled so grab your favorite flannel shirt and find the nearest Starbucks to sit down in and soak up the Sonic Boom." CMJ: --cmj "The Northwest musical influence on the entire rock culture has been overlooked for way too long. This is a great book for anybody who loves Rock 'n' Roll and its hidden history." Allan Handelman, Rock Talk radio "Blecha lovingly limns the history of rock music in Seattle and the northwestern U.S. ...and the predominant celebratory tone can be infectious." Booklist "...plain and simple, a highly enjoyable read... I say it stands up with Charles Cross's Hendrix bio as NW canon...." Tom Dyer, President, Argosy University " Blecha s angle is different. He pens the story from behind the scenes of the early radio stations, recording studios and record labels." Puget Sound Business Journal "Finally...this puts it all in perspective for those who thought Oregon and Washington were little more than places with a lot of rain." curledup.com "Seattle s unofficial curator of rock n roll charts the evolution of Northwest rock specifically the era book-ended by those two unmistakable riffs as told by the musicia