Rewinding to 1983 For a Sec...
This might become a ramble because I just found some old videos that I haven't seen in oh, about fifteen years, at least. My mind is alight with memories. In 1983, when MTV was about music and it was pretty much the coolest thing going, I'd turn it on before school, turn it on when I got home, and watch video after video until my eyelids hit my knees. For the most part, music sucked then. You had to wade through synth-pop, early hair bands, and your general treacly garbage. At the time, I was a budding U2 freak and all the time I spent in front of the set was time spent waiting, hoping, that I'd get to see their Gloria video, the song that literally jump-started my interest in music on a deeper level than just listening; the song that made me ask for a guitar for my birthday. (I got a cheap one, but it did the trick. I was hooked immediately.)
Looking at it now it seems only mildly goofy, mainly due to the hair. But most videos from 1983 are hilarious if not unwatchable, which is testament to U2's early and lasting coolness. This band, they were so different. Instead of the costumey garb and makeup that you'd see on every other band, they wore their regular street clothes. They had jeans on. Shirts. They didn't give the camera that pseudo-tough stare, or that "you know you want me" gaze. They just plugged their instruments into their amps and played out on a barge somewhere in Ireland. Now that was different. I couldn't take my eyes off of it. And that guitarist...he plays differently than I've ever heard before. How'd he do that?...and how's he playing that bit?
Anyway, it had a huge impact on my adolescence and taste in tunes and interest in the guitar. I found a used copy of their first album, Boy, and when I got home and played the first song, I Will Follow, I literally froze and grabbed my cheeks. It's that song. This is them! I had heard it on the radio once, but it was never identified so it was lost if not forgotten. Holy shit, this band is mine, I thought. This is the coolest song ever.
Then I learned that my friend Tyler's big sister Megan knew U2 quite well, and she even had their absolute latest album, the classic War.She made me a tape, and well, that was it. I had found my religion. I found my thing. Nobody my age really knew about these guys, but by the end of the week my locker was plastered with U2 shit. All I wanted to do was sit upstairs in my room with my tape deck and shitty guitar and plink plink plink my way through the songs, doing my best to figure out what the hell they were playing. I learned how to play guitar this way.
Anyway, this was the video that kick started that musical journey:
A short time later, in '84...I remember the moment vividly. I was lying on the couch vegging in front of MTV. JJ Jackson announced a band I had never heard of before. He said it slowly, R - E - M, as if to make sure nobody thought it was arreyem. The opening riff was like a dart to the YEA! center in my teen brain. I sat up and watched intently. Here was another band that avoided all things frilly and false. Zero pretense, just a band of guys with instruments and amps and microphones. I could even tell that he wasn't lip synching his part. (I later learned that Michael Stipe refused to lip synch at the time, and this was the first video of its kind in that regard.) This was a band I had to hear more of. So I did, and U2 and R.E.M. became my two favorite bands, and pretty much defined my teen ID. I broadened widely in college and beyond, but they pretty much remain pillars of my musical aesthetic.
Not that you asked.
But hey, it was kinda a big deal for me to see these videos again, and I had to spew about it. I had one of those memory floods where all sorts of things came back to me...
Here it is, South Central Rain:
Labels: commentary
8 Comments:
I remember when I was a sophmore in high school, U2 was going to come to Rochester. I couldn't find anyone who wanted to go, let alone knew who they were. So I said screw it, I'll go myself and bought a single ticket.
The show was cancelled. I was totally bummed, but at least I didn't have to ask my mom for a ride to a concert - alone.
5:53 AM
Wow, I can really relate to you on this one. I remember my jaw hitting the floor when I first heard I Will Follow and Out of Control. Totally hooked and needing more. But I paid a price, being shunned by every girl in 7th grade. My only ally was some weird french exchange student. But it was worth all the adolescent tears.
-DuhFaz
1:18 PM
Wow, U2 and REM...two of my all-time favorite bands. Sort of sad that I only got to see both bands in concert only once. The first time I saw U2 was during my freshman year ('87) at R.I.T. in the frigid month of October. A group of us young freshman got tickets because one of the girls was really into U2 and so we had a ride to Silver Stadium. I remember sitting in the stands with a winter coat and a blanket wrapped around myself drinking hot coco, but still freezing my ass off. :) The concert was still stellar and I'll never forget it. One of my fond memories of college. Unfortunately, that was the last time I saw saw them in concert. Sort of like the time my friend Sean and I camped outside the War memorial in October to get tickets for the Rush 'Roll the Bones' tour. Another frigid night that was survived through consuming copious amounts of alcohol. :)
I saw REM in the Spring of '89 at the War Memorial in Syracuse. This concert was a most memorable concert, since Sean had consumed a whole bottle of Rumplemintz prior to even leaving to drive to Syracuse. Needless to say, it was going to be a fun night. :) We arrived at the show and went searching for our seats. Sean said that he found our seats, but then two other guys walked over and said that the seats were theirs, so Sean and the two guys started arguing. Eventually, one of the ushers came over and asked for our tickets. When Sean went to show the usher his ticket (btw...did I mention that obscenities were spewing out of Sean's mouth the whole time) he dropped it and it fell to the floor. Both he and the usher immediately dropped to the floor and both were scrambling to get ahold of the ticket. At this point I couldn't contain myself and burst out just rolling with laughter. I think Sean got his ticket back and we took off looking for our real seats. Sean really pissed off the usher and when the usher saw him again he had security kick his ass out the door to the streets. Even in his drunken stupor, Sean managed to walk to the other side of the War Memorial and got back into the show using his ticket stub. One of the most memorable times that still makes me laugh when I think about it today.
Brandon, thanks for taking me back to all my fond memories of college. Btw, the new U2 album that came out last year is awesome.
P.S. What ever happened to all the occupants of 91 Argyle Ave. I remember some of the parties back in '97. Brandon, do you still keep in touch with Flaco?
2:12 PM
Wow. Ian. I remember you. I think I remember you. I remember you, right? Ian and Sean, right? Friends of Daniel Engel and Flacco and Leanna? Am I getting this right? I keep in touch with Leanna out in yonder Norway, but I haven't heard from anyone else from that era. I'd love to hear how Daniel is doing. I always liked that guy and his wife. Sweet people. You in touch with 'em?
10:08 AM
Brandon, Yes, Sean and I used to hang out with Daniel and Flacco along with a bunch of foreign exchange students from Spain (which we commonly dubbed the Spainards). I haven't spoken to Daniel since about '97. We all had a falling out of sorts with him due to the fact that he talked Flacco into joining the Marines (remember that?). Flacco and his brother Antonio live down near DC, but I haven't spoken to him in about 5 years. Need to get his number at some point. I remember Leanna as well. Wasn't she one of Flacco's girlfriends at one point? Long dark hair, very pretty, into electronic music.
Sean is still in Rochester. He works at R.I.T. now teaching computer science classes. I have been living in Phoenix for the past 8 years now, working in the semiconductor industry. Phoenix is okay, but Rochester has a very special character to it, not to mention great food. Are you still in Rochester? If so, we should meet out at one of the pubs (Old Toad, Bug Jar, Jeremiahs,etc) for a pint or two with Sean and catch up on what is going on. I am coming back into town July 1st-11th. As far as that 'era' is concerned, I think I had the most fun during that period. Some very fond memories and memorable parties. :)
Take care,
-Ian
4:33 PM
So Ian...how did you know this site was me? And how did you happen upon it?
And yes, that's Leanna all right. Except I didn't think she was THAT into electro. Always thought she had good taste in tunes.
She might even read this - she checks in from time to time. Leanna? Care to confirm or deny that you were into the big beat techno machine?
8:29 PM
Oh, and yea...look me up and I'll meet you guys out.
8:30 PM
"So Ian...how did you know this site was me? And how did you happen upon it?"
Brandon, I was feeling nostalgic one day and did a search on Nick Tahou's. One of the sites that came out of that search was a page that I remember from the twogoons website with your buddy Todd's adventure to Nick's one night. I then did a search for your name and 91 Argyle Ave. and this site popped up. After reading the article about the Sabres and reading some of the comments with Todd referring to you as Brandon, I knew it must be you guys. The power of the internet. :)
So how do we get in touch with you when I come into town? I don't remember your last name. Here is my email address (ionman5@cox.net). Send me an email so we can get in touch with you.
-Ian
P.S. I remember Sean and I saw Leanna out at the Meat Beat Manifesto concert at Waterstreet Music Hall back in the Fall of '96. Wonder if she remembers that show.
11:44 AM
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