Bands I Wish Would Reunite So Lucia Could See Them

It seems to be all the rage this decade for indie bands of the 80's and 90's to reunite for a tour and sometimes a record or two. These were the bands I saw live the first time around or at least on which I cut my indie rock teeth. I wish many of them would reunite in maybe five years so that Lucia could see them as well. I say five years because a concert at this stage would only scare her. She will bee rambunctious and ready to dance in five years by my estimates.

Here's my list of top 10 reunions I wish Lucia could see.

10. Coctails
Before The Sea & Cake and before there was a Chicago sound in indie rock, there was Coctails. This band brought jazz to indie shows and had a huge influence on independent music. This is a reunion I'd also be very excited to see happen. I saw them several times in the mid-nineties, including their last jaunt in '95.

9.The Velvet Underground
OK. So, if this reunion happened again in five years or so, VU survivors would barely be able to stand on stage much less sound like they did back in the day. But it would still be cool, wouldn't it? These are the grandfathers (literally and figuratively) of punk and indie rock. Lucia should see such an influence on her father's record collection.


8. The Breeders
I had to get some ladies on this list. Besides, what band knows more about reunion tours than The Breeders? My other hope is that the Deal sisters would be cleaner than they've been for years so that they would sound like they did in the mid-nineties. Lucia needs some strong ladies to look up to. The Breeders first broke through in a time when heavy, masculine music was dominating music and they didn't do it with acoustic ballads. No, The Breeders rocked and partied harder than any of their male counterparts.


7. Pixies
While I'm on Kim Deal and her many comebacks, Lucia should see yet another quintessential band in indie rock history. I already saw Pixies on one of their reunion tours, but another generation needs to witness their greatness. She should know where Nirvana learned that loud/soft aesthetic or where Isaac Brock found his growl. This band, like most on this list, have had an enormous impact on the indie landscape. I want Lucia to know some of that history. So, we'll be there for the Pixies' fifth reunion tour.


6. Dinosaur Jr.
This band has been on a perpetual reunion. They've even gone so far as to record two albums (one was a typically bland reunion album; the second is reminiscent of their best word) since returning to the scene. However, I bet they'll grow tired of each other and break up again, just in time to reunite for Lucia's sixth birthday. They'll have to play outdoors, though. I can't risk Lu losing her hearing at such a young age.


5. Archers of Loaf
I really don't understand why no one is talking about an Archers of Loaf reunion. People just don't understand how incredible this band was live. Lucia knows "Web In Front" as I used to sing it to her while helping her get to sleep sleep. She should also know the sheer power that is Archers of Loaf.


4. Nirvana/Brainiac/Elliott Smith
I realize that none of these acts are no longer active due to tragic deaths, but wouldn't it be cool if they could come back to life just to play a Zombiepalooza or something? In all seriousness, Nirvana, Brainiac, and Elliott Smith were three of the biggest reasons I spend so much time and money on records and rock shows. I was lucky enough to see all of them live. Sadly, Lucia won't be so lucky.


3. Uncle Tupelo/Neutral Milk Hotel
These are two bands that I never saw due to discovering them too late, but I imagine it would be great to see them for the first time with Lu. Uncle Tupelo made my third-favorite genre, alt.country (whatever that is), possible and birthed two of my favorite bands of the past 15 years in Wilco and Son Volt. Neutral Milk Hotel recorded maybe the greatest album of my lifetime not recorded by Pavement. Seeing them together would be the ultimate father/daughter experience.


2. Sleater-Kinney
Too much sausage in this list. Possibly my favorite grrrl band ever comes in at number 2. I only saw them a few times back in the day, but they were so, so good live. The first time I saw Sleater-Kinney was in Amsterdam. Maybe if they come back, I can tell Lucia all about that trip.



1. Pavement
I know there has been recent talk of a Pavement reunion on the internets, but this really needs to happen 2015/16. Lucia will need to see what all the fuss is about after listening to my reminiscence of all the great Pavement records with the guy yelling in the background and the nonsensical lyrics or the terrible shows that were regularly hijacked my inadequate drummers and forgetful guitarists. She needs to know Pavement power. She needs to hear SM manipulate the lyrics and phrasing to his every whim. Lucia needs to know that Mark Ibold was in a band before Free Kitten or Sonic Youth. She needs to know Pavement.

I think I have finally out grown alt.country

I snuck into Mojo's last night to see the new Foundry Field Recordings' lineup and to see whether Dr. Dog was all they're cracked up to be...by friends and acquaintances, not the 'Fork. I even recorded some of the festivities for all to see. (And by "all" I mean the 35-40 people who read lim regularly.)

The Foundry included two members of Bald Eagle and a new drummer as well as front man Billy Schuh. It was sort of strange to see BE's Danny and Justin play such tame music and appear to be rocking out a bit at the same time. Overall, the band sounded very tight, even professional. I only say this because so many locals are often a mess on stage. Of course, as I write this, I seem to remember a Bald Eagle gig last month that was positively rawkin' without sounding towny or amateurish. Although this town has a small rock community, it makes up for that lack quantity with quality.

Anyway, here are two songs from Foundry Field Recordings. The first is "On Wings of Gold and Bone" and the second is "Quiet Failures." I had heard demos for both songs previously and have to say they translate well live (although the sound quality of my video would dispute that claim). "On Wings..." will feature a few more layers of percussion, guitar, and strings once it's released. I really love the bass playing on the demo for "Quiet Failures," but it didn't come through live due to the questionable sound system. Either way, I doubt Dr. Dog will get too many sets from openers as good as this one was.
Foundry Field Recordings at Mojo's #1 07/29/08 from comoprozac on Vimeo.
Foundry Field Recordings at Mojo's #2 07/29/08 from comoprozac on Vimeo.

Now, I can get to the main point of this post: I think I have finally outgrown alt.country. I didn't think it would ever happen, but it sort of has. It may be the change in the genre that seems to value the Beatles more than MC5 or the fact that I just don't feel the same angst I did in the 90's. Alt.country bands used to look to Johny Cash or Merle Haggard as their influences. Now, they look to Wilco. Wilco's a great band, but they have drastically watered down the alt.country aesthetic. Gone are the days of cow punk and Uncle Tupelo. Today's alt.country sort of bores me.

Enter Dr. Dog. I have had people telling me for the past couple of years how great this band is, but I don't see it. Sure, they have an interesting sound and seem to be a fairly accomplished collection of musicians, but I'm just not feeling the alt.country vibe right now. Maybe it will return, but Dr. Dog just doesn't excite me.

As for last night's show, Mojo's was pretty packed for a Tuesday in July. Folks drove in from all around to cheer on the Dr. It's a testament to the band's prowess and fan base that the joint was so full of hippies and alt.country enthusiasts despite being 'forked. (I'm trademarking that one. With their terrible rating of 3.3 from Pitchfork, one can now close the book on The Black Kids. Consider the one-time blogosphere darlings 'forked!)

Even though my appreciation for alt.country is going under faster than No Depression, I did feel an obligation to film at least one song for a couple of my readers who could not be there. I appologize for the shitty camera work, but it got really crowded rather quickly...and I just wasn't in the mood. I hope that you can get the main idea.

Dr. Dog at Mojo's 07/29/08 from comoprozac on Vimeo.