Musicians reflect on colorful decade

By Joshua Maloni

GM/Managing Editor

@joshuamaloni

I’m old enough to remember a time when teenagers ruled the world.

And so are you, since that time is now – at least as it pertains to pop culture and entertainment.

For many a streamer, TV show, movie and record company, the age 14-24 demographic is the largest content mover and most coveted demographic.

This is not a new trend, of course, but it is reminiscent of another time when youths totally and radically presided over the performing arts.

The 1990s.

Neon’s favorite decade began with “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Saved by the Bell,” MC Hammer and Vanilla Ice; jumped to Biggie, Tupac, Nirvana and Pearl Jam; and ended with “Titanic,” Shania Twain, NSYNC and Britney Spears.

Musically, it was a time – like today – when the genre du jour changed about as fast as you can scroll through YouTube. Seattle, grunge, alternative, ska, R&B, rap, country, pop, boy bands – each took a turn dominating the airwaves.

While “TRL” has now given way to URL, there’s no denying the ’90s still hold a place in our hearts.

Not only have the series and stars of that era returned to our living rooms (or debuted on our phones), but many of the most popular musicians have teamed up for successful co-headlining concerts and tour dates.

Artpark & Company’s season is about to feature a string of artists that emerged in the 1990s, including Gin Blossoms, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Blues Traveler and Bush.

Interim President Dave Wedekindt said, “These bands and their smart, catchy yet melodic songs, formed the soundtrack for many people who came of age in the late ’80s and ’90s. They were college / indie rock at heart, but also enjoyed crossover success and their songs have held up well. And in many ways, they are now the ‘classic rock’ of this generation, who enjoy seeing them in part for the nostalgia of their younger days.”

So, what can fans expect from this colorful decade and its hit-making acts?

For Bush lead singer Gavin Rossdale, “I hope it means that you would get lost in the music. I mean, I don't know if the show in 1990 is different from the show in 2010, in a sense that, if you go out and you connect with a crowd, and people lose their minds – and they really do lose their minds – it's like such an elevated, exalted state. It's so loud, and so wild, and people are extremely primal, you know? So, I think that's what it is.”

He added, “We’ve got better lighting now!”

Bush tour photo courtesy of 2b Entertainment

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There are many similarities between the ’90s and today, and some extend beyond music and the arts.

Toad the Wet Sprocket frontman Glen Phillips said, “Things move cyclically. And, you know, as new generations come in, I don't think the kids are rejecting our generation’s music in the way we might have rejected our parents’ music.”

He added, “It's good music, and nostalgia follows certain predictable time cycles. I think some of it is merely that.

“But I would also say there's something about the disillusionment of the ’90s. It was a time when media had opened up in a way where we were seeing kind of the cracks in the system, things that weren't functioning. We were watching a particular kind of decay and dysfunction. And we were upset about the possibilities for the future. And I think it was maybe a first wave of that. And it was a reaction to that, that wasn't the flower child, you know, ’70s reaction of, ‘We're going to evolve our way past it all. This is the new age.’ It was more like, ‘Dammit, you guys messed up the world for us,’ like, ‘How do we fix this?’ ”

“And I know people are feeling that way again, in a really profound way. Wondering how we got here, how we allowed ourselves to get here, and wondering if there's a way out. And if there's a parallel in the vibe between the ’90s and today, I think it's that.”

One big difference, especially for musicians is, “In some ways it’s definitely harder today, because they don't have the avenues and the machinery that we did” to rage against the machine, Gin Blossoms guitarist/vocalist Jesse Valenzuela said. “Today, there's not record companies handing out record deals quite as easily as they did back in the ’90s. I'd say that kids are really much more DIY and they make it on their own, and go out and tour on their own without tour support, without record labels.

“I think that the kids today, the ones that are out there doing it, have a lot of heart and a lot of guts, and I’m happy for them. I think they're brave. There's no radio setup like there was in the old days.

“We got lucky, getting signed to A&M Records, and received tour support to go out and get in a van and go across the country a bunch of times.”

Though there are many things that make the ’90s special, Blues Traveler drummer Brendan Hill said, “A couple that come to my mind are the people that are sort of my age, that grew up buying cassettes and records and popping them in their car, listening to a whole album, and having that kind of experience, when they’re like graduating from high school or going to college or doing a road trip with their friends – that kind of thing is instilled in people's psyches. When they hear a band is coming through, they're like, ‘Oh, man.’ You know, it brings them right back. That music group brings them right back. Kind of like John (Popper's) lyric in ‘The Hook’: ‘The hook brings you back.’

“So, I think there's a lot of that kind of nostalgia for those days when you had bootlegs, or you had cassettes or records that you would play over and over and over again of your favorite band.

“I think, also, people like myself that have kids that are now in their late teens who are interested in live music and, of course, we've got the Taylor Swifts, the Beyoncé’s, all the big mega-tours, but, bringing your kid to a concert where it's like a live a band performing and doing kind of like a (Grateful) Dead set, like without a net kind of thing, that kind of jamming and rocking out and having fun is unique to a lot of bands that came out in the ’90s. It was like sort of a little bit of an edge to it – a danger.

“And so, I think, people my age who have kids, want to expose their kids to that, saying, ‘This is what I was listening to.’

“I do see a lot of young people now at our shows that are either with their parents or without, and it's really cool to see a new generation that appreciates not only songs that they may recognize, but also getting into a band and knowing who the different players are, and if they're good at guitar, drums, bass – whatever it is – because I think a lot of music today is very singer/songwriter-orientated, where it's like the focus is not so much on the band, or how they play together. It's more about the song and the lyrics – which are obviously very important – but having a band that can play, and can elevate or take you someplace else, just with the music alone, is special. I think a lot of people realize that.”

For Artpark concert tickets, or more information, visit www.artpark.net.

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See also >> Bush at Artpark: Gavin Rossdale still striving for success & connection with crowds

See also >> Q&A with Toad the Wet Sprocket's Glen Phillips

See also >> Q&A with Gin Blossoms' Jesse Valenzuela

See also >> Q&A with Blues Traveler's Brendan Hill