Breeders Violinist Carrie Bradley Praises Kim and Kelley Deal's 'Inspiration'

This weekend, Breeders violinist Carrie Bradley will go back to her roots -- the Boston alternative rock scene of the late '80s. Bradley's first band, the quirky folk-rock act Ed's Redeeming Qualities, retired in 1997 but is reuniting and returning to Boston for a one-off show at TT the Bear's club on Saturday, Jan.22.

The event celebrates the release of the group's first two albums -- an eponymous debut and 'Ed's Kitchen,' which both featured the original line-up -- on CD. The recordings were previously only available on cassette, but, despite that, led the band to considerable popularity, eventually earning then college hits such as 'More Bad Times,' which was later adapted by the Presidents of the United States of America, 'Lawyers and Truckers,' 'Driving on 9,' which the Breeders covered on ' 'Last Splash,' and 'Lawn Dart.'

"It was the great days of DIY," Bradley tells Spinner of the fertile '80s Boston scene that gave rise to the Pixies, Dinosaur Jr., the Lemonheads and Aimee Mann's 'Til Tuesday. "I started with the Breeders in 1989. I still play with them occasionally, whenever a show inspires them to bring out the violin-friendly set. This often involves a rehearsal period at [their] home in Dayton, where we all get to catch up with lots of chat between go-rounds on the songs. I get to visit with Kim and Kelley's parents, too, whom I love. I played with them at two recent All Tomorrow's Parties, the one they curated at Butlin's in Minehead, England, in 2008, and last summer at Kutsher's in Monticello, N.Y."

"Kim and Kelley and the whole lineup have always been a huge inspiration, and very welcoming and supportive of me and my particular way of playing the violin," Bradley adds. "My experience with them has been one of the greatest gifts of my musical life."

For now, Bradley is focused on this one-off gig with Ed's. "No more Ed's shows planned, but the response to [this one] has been so great, you never know," says Bradley.

Ed's Redeeming Qualities Perform 'Lawn Dart' in 1994