August 9, 2007
I’ve heard older friends tell me these stories, about the big ton of bricks that hit them and make them feel like they’ve crossed the line from young to old. I was at the Taste of Peoria tonight. There were massive heads there to see the Gin Blossoms. I saw all these high school age kids, and I realized something…All these kids were like 5 when the Gin Blossoms broke big. They never saw the Allison Road video with the lead singer all long-haired and attacking the camera. All they know is the Gin Blossoms they hear now, and the show they saw tonight, with the lead singer looking all late 30’s. Am I alone here? Does anyone remember their videos, where he was early to mid-20’s, with long hair and vigor? How he rushed the camera in the waning moments of MTV, with his long hair? Christ. I remember early in high school, when I was listening to Metallica-esque mainstream hard rock and calling them pussies, and I remember when I started college in 1998, and got into Black Lab and Chalk Farm and Toad the Wet Sprocket, and started appreciating the sound they played. Man, I feel old.
As an addendum, Katie missed out. Sorry, girl, just had to rub that in.I DID leave you a nice voicemail of them doing the song you wanted to hear. 
August 9th, 2007 at 7:32 am
There are moments I feel old, too, especially when I realize that people born the year I graduated from high school are now (gulp) driving….
Didn’t one of the band members commit suicide? Not sure if it was the lead singer…. so maybe the late 30ish guy is a new guy?
August 9th, 2007 at 10:43 am
You feel old? I still have my Gin Blossoms cassette from college. I remember them on MTV when MTV actually played music videos other than hip hop. Feeling better yet?
August 9th, 2007 at 11:26 am
We’re not old, they are inexperienced
August 9th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
I REMEMBER the REAL Headbanger’s Ball, that was on MTV for two hours every Saturday night right through my awkward middle school years. Then, all of a sudden, it was gone. What a sad Saturday night that was.
And for the record, Riki Rachtman was WAAAAAAY better than Adam Curry.
August 9th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
Adam Curry was such a poser! I spent many a Saturday night watching the Headbanger’s Ball with my friends. I too mourned the loss of it. I think that was the beginning of the end of MTV as far as I was concerned.
August 9th, 2007 at 3:52 pm
The Gin Blossoms made me feel old this week too…
I really wanted to go see them – but they didn’t start until 9:30 (and on a weeknight)! Way past my bedtime.
If you would have told me even five years ago that I would pass up a concert for sleep, I would have laughed.
There is no rest for the wicked.
August 9th, 2007 at 9:38 pm
Try this on for size…
You know you are OLD when you realize that you will be graduating from college WITH your NINETEEN year old niece this December…
True story, kids…
Ok, now I have to go put a gun in my mouth while listening to “I Found Out About You…”
GRRRRR-
Jaded
August 9th, 2007 at 9:59 pm
Too hot….
August 10th, 2007 at 6:53 am
While at work one day our little department got into a discussion about New Kids on the Block. As each of us proclaimed our favorite, the 20-year-old of the group had a totally blank expression. I asked if she didn’t know what we were talking about. She responded that she had never heard of New Kids on the Block…what is it!?! What!!! Later in the conversation, the Chilli Peppers were mentioned and she had no clue what Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik was either. Good Lord, I felt old!
Jen- The lead singer of the Gin Blossoms did commit suicide, but he was kicked out of the band by their 2nd CD that had Hey Jealousy, Allison Road, etc. He was the writer of those songs, though. And I, too, still have that cassette.
Cory- Thanks for the pic and voicemail. It was very nice of you to think of me!
August 10th, 2007 at 8:49 am
well, i was in high school when they hit big, so i hope that makes you feel younger. i had almost forgot about “allison road”. i always liked “found out about you” but oh no, the radio has just been playing “hey jealousy” endlesslessly.
August 10th, 2007 at 1:49 pm
I understand about feeling old. Like when someone says he was just starting college in 1998 and I was almost finished with graduate school in 1998. That makes me feel old.
August 10th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
And to think…My 10 year high school reunion is next year. BWHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
August 10th, 2007 at 3:44 pm
Something just struck me…Anyone seen Mallrats? WHO’S YOUR FAVORITE NEW KID?!?!? CALL ME DONNIE!!! CALL ME JOEY!!
August 10th, 2007 at 10:25 pm
OMG!! I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time!! I had forgotten all about that and I love me some Kevin Smith. Too funny!
August 11th, 2007 at 9:57 am
You want to feel younger? I can help.
I saw Prince live BEFORE Purple Rain came out, AT 1st Avenue (the club they used to film the movie three years after I saw him perform there).
I interviewed Belinda Carlisle when the Go Go’s were just breaking out, and so was her youthful face.
I saw Bon Jovi live…with long hair.
When I was in high school, Foreigner, The Cars and Blondie came on the scene.
I’m so old, the first time I went to “buy a record” (we had these vinyl things with holes in them), I bought a 45 of the band Paul McCartney was in before Wings.
There, do ya feel younger now?
August 13th, 2007 at 8:52 pm
LOL…I still feel old…MY first record purchase was Leif Garrett…put your head on my shoulder.
Sigh…
And yes…it was a record, a vinyl, spinning, warped when you leave it in the sun- record.
And I have “I wanna hold your hand” somehwere in my basement as well.
That’s cool about Prince…I have always been a HUGE fan, he never gets out of style does he?
Said one geezer to another…
LOL
Jaded
August 14th, 2007 at 9:58 pm
I uhh…bought Phish and the Beatles as my first CDs. I owned a couple cassettes. George Jones anybody? I remember waiting for songs to come on the radio so I could record them on cassette. Does that make me old yet?!
August 15th, 2007 at 9:28 pm
I think BJ’s got everyone beat in the “old” department..sorry BJ!!
Katie–dont’cha hate how ignorant these kids are nowadays? “Kids on the Block?? What?? I’ve never heard of such a thing!!” I remember in 6th grade(about 1989, 1990)when this kid in my class had no idea who Elvis Presley or John Lennon were. I remember thinking, “WTF?!?!? How is that possible??”