People have said for years the Young Street Bridge is an international tourist destination. They’ve talked about how fans from across the globe visit Aberdeen with the hopes of taking the same steps as the late Kurt Cobain, the Aberdeen son who helped build the Grunge music scene with the band Nirvana.

Late Monday morning, it proved to be one as musicians from England and Canada arrived in Aberdeen specifically for the first of two shows in Aberdeen. The first show starred Tim Holehouse, a London guitarist and singer. The pair also showed up to see the other Cobain landmarks, such as the home where he grew up — 1210 E. First St. — and the Young Street Bridge, which is where Holehouse performed for anyone who cared to listen.

Holehouse played an outdoor show full of three Nirvana songs — “About a Girl,” “Something in the Way” and “Pennyroyal Tea,” plus an original song, to an intimate group. Holehouse’s audience included locals, his good friend Greg Rekus, from Winnipeg, Canada, and a couple of tourists from Seoul, South Korea.

Holehouse rocked out with his acoustic guitar underneath the bridge, where in addition to nailing his setlist in the cold weather he also earned applause from the audience.

A longtime fan of Cobain, for whom the bridge is known, Holehouse was quite happy to play underneath the bridge.

“It’s a dream come true to play here,” Holehouse said to the crowd in between songs.

Holehouse also played his new song “Year” which is off his new album “Year,” which released Jan. 1, according to Apple Music. Holehouse’s album can be heard through the other streaming services as well.

The performance added to a day when Grays Harbor Conservation District (GHCD) came to the city to “stabilize the muddy banks of the Wishkah today,” according to Aberdeen Mayor Doug Orr. More than 25 volunteers helped plant more than 1,000 Sitka willow trees on the muddy banks of the Wishkah, near Kurt Cobain Memorial Park, according to The Daily World.

Holehouse seemed to love what the volunteers were up to outside of Young Street Bridge.

“This is amazing,” Holehouse said. “What they’re doing today, the work, it’s really incredible they’re keeping this place up. I think that’s really important.”

The fact it’s related to a musical hero of Holehouse made it even better.

“And in the memory of a great musician who, for me, personally changed my life,” Holehouse said in reference to Cobain. “This is the guy who was like, he made me feel like he was one of us. ‘You can do this.’ That inspired me to do music, which is what I’ve done for a living for nearly 20 years. To have memorials like this in his hometown is very important. And what the volunteers did here today … he was such an important figure in music. And for the local community to keep his memory alive, I think is very important.”

Stellar impression

The Englishman couldn’t have made any clearer his fondness for Aberdeen, even if it was a brief stop on his and Rekus’ tour. He opined about Aberdeen and its friendly atmosphere.

“It’s a tiny little town in the Northwest, in Washington state,” Holehouse said. “It’s wild to think, you know obviously the musical history from this place, but also everybody’s been very friendly. Everybody’s been so nice. Some lady asked if I needed to warm up in her house. That was very sweet of her. Everybody’s been very friendly. It’s cool. And I’m looking forward to play the show tonight, definitely. I hope this isn’t my first and last time (here). I hope to come back.”

International tour

Holehouse said Rekus booked the shows for their tour. Rekus had played in Aberdeen — at The Loading Dock, 202 E. Wishkah St. — a while back. While both Holehouse and Rekus have been on the West Coast before, this stop on Grays Harbor was a welcomed change.

“It’s nice to see new places, which is kind of what I’m a lot about, is touring around and seeing new places,” Holehouse said.

Aberdeen was a special trip for Holehouse, who later played Monday night at The Loading Dock

“To see a place where a lot of my influences grew up, not only Nirvana but also The Melvins — huge Melvins fan — I got into The Melvins before I got into Nirvana. I got into Nirvana because they were, ‘oh, this is The Melvins’ little brother’s band.’ And when they taped me a copy of Bleach I fell in love with the record. I bought the vinyl. I don’t have the record anymore. It paid my rent one time. I was broke and it went for 500 pounds.”

While Holehouse never got the chance to meet Cobain, he’s met two of Cobain’s Nirvana bandmates — Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic, also from Aberdeen. He said Grohl is “a very nice chap.” He also spoke about meeting Novoselic, as well. He called Novoselic a “really sweet guy. Really funny.”

Randy Beerbower, a local historian and music fan, gave a quick plug about Holehouse’s positive experience on Grays Harbor.

“As he said before his performance, it was a dream come true for him,” Beerbower said. “Both Tim and Greg shared with me what a wonderful day they had in Aberdeen. They were invited by Curtis Thorfinson of the Tangerine Tree record store to stay the evening in his Air B&B for the evening. When I spoke with Tim this morning, he said they had a restful evening and they are energized to head to Olympia to perform this evening.”

Beerbower also added his thoughts on Monday’s day event.

“I was so proud of everyone in Aberdeen that helped with yesterday’s event,” Beerbower said. “Everyone had the right attitude. Chuck stepped up and gave a wonderful tour to the two gentlemen from Korea. Mayor Orr showed up to welcome Tim and Greg to town. It was just a perfect day.”

The South Korean travelers, Kanghyun Bu and Ryle Lee, both from Seoul, enjoyed seeing Cobain’s house and then Holehouse’s performance.

“It’s my first time in Aberdeen,” Bu said as he stood outside Cobain’s old home. “(The house) looks cozy. It’s nice.”

Lee, Bu’s friend, said it was his first time in Aberdeen, too. He first saw the Cobain house on YouTube.

“I thought if I had a chance, I’d come and visit it,” he said.

Chuck Meskimen, who helps with the Nirvana Talk, Walk and Ride tours, shared information about Cobain’s life in Aberdeen — the kid who banged on the drums on First Street — and how as a teen Cobain and his friends would slip underneath the bridge in order to hang out there. He seemed to only add to the experience.

Orr hopes Monday wasn’t an aberration.

“These are things we need more of in the city,” Orr said.

Contact Reporter Matthew N. Wells at matthew.wells@thedailyworld.com.

Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World Kanghyun Bu, from Seoul, South Korea, traveled to Aberdeen Monday to see the late Kurt Cobain’s old haunts, including Cobain’s old house and underneath the Young Street Bridge. He seemed to rather enjoy his trip with his friend Ryle Lee, also from Seoul. “We’re not hardcore fans, but we grew up listening to Nirvana,” Bu said.

After Tim Holehouse’s performance underneath the Young Street Bridge, he shared his favorite graffitied writing. “Wish you would have stayed with us longer. But I understand why you left,” the message reads, in reference to Cobain’s death at 27, in 1994. (Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World)