Seattle Kraken and the soundtrack of a hockey game
How do you create a playlist for a hockey game?
That’s what Seattle’s new National Hockey League team the Kraken is trying to figure out with some help from Seattle music station KEXP.
Most hockey teams use '80s arena rock and classics like "I Wanna Drive the Zamboni" and "The Good Old Hockey Game" by Stompin' Tom Connors, which includes the timeless chorus: "Oh the good old hockey game, is the best game you can name and the best game you can name is the good old hockey game."
The Kraken are trying to create something more original with a Seattle focus, and they’re turning to KEXP for help.
Kevin Cole is host of KEXP’s Drive Time show.
"We've been storyboarding significant moments in the game," Cole said. "There’s so many opportunities with the emotional ups and downs of a game. It could be from the take the ice song to the returning from intermission."
Jonny Greco is the Kraken's Vice President for Audience, and says the playlist will have a local focus.
"If we're not playing Kenny G, Sir Mix-a-Lot, Jimi Hendrix, Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Macklemore — we have to do that!"
And Greco says there are certain moments in a hockey match that can be intensified with the right soundtrack.
"When you score a goal. That is an incredible opportunity where I'm high fiving strangers, I'm cheering; compounding that unadulterated joy with a great clappable song that's this representation of pure joy."
But it's not just music that's going to make the Kraken experience. You also need a good announcer.
That will be Everett Fitzhugh — the voice of the Kraken. He’s the only Black play-by-play announcer in the National Hockey League. Fitzhugh says he's been driving his fiancé a little crazy roaring "Release the kraken" around the house.
Along with classic Seattle legacy bands, KEXP DJ Kevin Cole hears new Seattle bands in the Kraken mix: The Polyrhythmics, True Loves, Thunder Pussy, Taco Cat, and Black Tone. Also Deep Sea Diver, which was KEXP’s listeners' number one album last year.
And for the power play, Cole says there's a song by a new local band Beverly Crusher that will really energize the crowd; it's called "Gimmie the power."
"When you hear it, just trying to envision what that would be like in [an] arena full of people that are psyched for their team on the powerplay," Cole said.
The Kraken are considering a live band performance as a pre-game activity, and they may even adopt a house band for the hockey team. But it’s all up in the air at the moment. They’ll be trying out music during their exhibition season to see what works. That begins Sept. 26 at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena. The home opener at the new Climate Pledge Arena at Seattle Center is Oct. 23 when the Seattle Kraken face the Vancouver Canucks.
Fans ages 12 and up will have to be fully vaccinated for entry.
