Bands You Wish You Were Into "Back Then" (1 Viewer)

[mad sweeney]

The thread about songs at the credits of movies got me thinking about this. i wouldn't go near a Jesus and Mary Chain album in high school, despite the fact that they're serious precursors to indispensable bands in my library (Pixies #1 among them). I've just downloaded their greatest hits, and I know I like a lot of them already. So what were the bands that you passed on in your youth?

In addition to JnMC, I would have to put Public Enemy up there. At the time, I just lumped them in with NWA and 2LiveCrew, as a 16 year old white guy in Phoenix with severe white man's issues in a fairly racist state. Their message, however, couldn't be more opposed to the gangster/pre-thug rap. Whether or not those "bands" have positive influences is another issue. I'm sure I'll think of a few more soon enough. I was pummeled by country by my parents and tried top 40 when in Jr Hi and HS, so a lot of classic rock came later, but I won't count those. I would also put Buzzcocks in there, and maybe even The Clash (my #1 band of all time), because they weren't "current" punk that I was listening to in HS (Black Flag, SD and ST chief among them. I could also list Grateful Dead simply for the social connectiveness that their music offered.

What was your biggest "misses" that you wish you were into at the time?

 

[Nigel Tufnel]

My window was the '90s, pretty much, so I'll go with Pavement and Guided by Voices.

 

[Disc Shark]

Sublime.

 

[Herb]

Good thread topic. Ironically, JnMC is one of mine, as I didn't know who they were until someone told me that one of my favorite Pixies songs (Head On)was a JnMC cover. Still not sure which version of that song is better, both are amazing and totally different.

Pink Floyd would be mine. I knew who they were but really only got into them after Division Bell came out. Granted I was too young to have been into a lot of their earlier stuff, but wow... what a band. Lots of punk/ HC bands from the mid-80s thru the early 90s fit that bill too. Would have liked to see some of those bands live when they were still around (Ramones, Dead Kennedys, MDC, Black Flag, Naked Raygun, Misfits, etc)

 

[Luke Skywalker]

King's X. Didn't know anything about them until probably 98 or 99. They were doing post-grunge before grunge even went mainstream. A band way ahead of their time.

 

[mad sweeney]

King's X. Didn't know anything about them until probably 98 or 99. They were doing post-grunge before grunge even went mainstream. A band way ahead of their time.

Post grunge before grunge? That's ultra-hipster!

 

[kutta]

Back in 1987 a few friends of mine tried to convince me to go to see U2 at Arizona State University. I wasn't really into them at the time. This was the show that they used for the recordings on Rattle and Hum - and I missed it.

That's probably my biggest music regret.

 

[Apple Jack]

My window was the '90s, pretty much, so I'll go with Pavement and Guided by Voices.

You know that the classic GbV lineup are back together, right? New record coming in January, another coming behind that and rumblings of more touring next year. I saw six of the shows from the reunion tour and every one of them was an all-timer. All of them. They're firing on all cylinders. From the last show of the tour, which I saw in Raleigh in September:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IinfLwdBw8I didn't catch on to Pavement until Terror Twilight and only got to see them once. Wish I could have seen them more. I was late to the party with Radiohead, so missed them playing smaller venues. I would have loved to have seen Neutral Milk Hotel on that '98 tour. I got into the record right the '98 tour wrapped so I missed that. So close. I missed Uncle Tupelo. Would have loved to have seen the Smiths, but I was too young. I can't thank of anybody else. My friends and I are all pretty big music nerds and not much gets by us collectively and we're good about making sure to clue each other in.

 

[Fullback Fro]

Would have like to have seen more Dead shows.

 

[wazoo11]

Mud Honey for sure.

 

[jwb]

Phish - wish I was there in the mid 90's.

 

[Apple Jack]

Phish - wish I was there in the mid 90's.

I stopped seeing them in '96, but the energy they had in clubs was ridiculous. Like nothing I've seen before or since.

 

[pantherclub]

Phish - wish I was there in the mid 90's.

I stopped seeing them in '96, but the energy they had in clubs was ridiculous. Like nothing I've seen before or since.

Phish in the early 90's was something that music had never seen before. I agree the energy was off the charts. It was indescribable. It started shifting in 97-98 into more of an arena type deal. While it was good, and still is nothing comes close to the early buzz on this band. For those who were there know what I am talking about and for those that were not totally do not get it.There was nobody that ever saw a show pre 96 and didnt come away with their mind totally blown. If I was a newbie to phish I would listen to the fall 95 tour and work my way back. Then I would hit the Island tour in 98 and go from there. 2 totally different bands

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

Phish - wish I was there in the mid 90's.

I stopped seeing them in '96, but the energy they had in clubs was ridiculous. Like nothing I've seen before or since.

Phish in the early 90's was something that music had never seen before. I agree the energy was off the charts. It was indescribable. It started shifting in 97-98 into more of an arena type deal. While it was good, and still is nothing comes close to the early buzz on this band. For those who were there know what I am talking about and for those that were not totally do not get it.There was nobody that ever saw a show pre 96 and didnt come away with their mind totally blown. If I was a newbie to phish I would listen to the fall 95 tour and work my way back. Then I would hit the Island tour in 98 and go from there. 2 totally different bands

I saw them in 1994. meh.

 

[mad sweeney]

Back in 1987 a few friends of mine tried to convince me to go to see U2 at Arizona State University. I wasn't really into them at the time. This was the show that they used for the recordings on Rattle and Hum - and I missed it.

That's probably my biggest music regret.

I I went to that show! Joshua Tree tour. It was postponed a week I think, Bono had strep or something. But it was my first "adult" concert (up to them my folks had taken me to Mac Davis and Kenny Rogers). It was a huge step for me at 13. Lone Justice was the opening band, with their "hit" Shelter. That was the 13 year old that dumped me!

 

[AcerFC]

It wasn't that I missed it, I was just too young to know anything about it or be allowed in but I would have given anything to go to a Sunday matinee at CBs with Youth of Today, Gorilla Bisucits, Judge, Underdog and Bold. Add Token Entry in there and it's a sXe dream

 

[Major]

Phish - wish I was there in the mid 90's.

I stopped seeing them in '96, but the energy they had in clubs was ridiculous. Like nothing I've seen before or since.

Phish in the early 90's was something that music had never seen before. I agree the energy was off the charts. It was indescribable. It started shifting in 97-98 into more of an arena type deal. While it was good, and still is nothing comes close to the early buzz on this band. For those who were there know what I am talking about and for those that were not totally do not get it.There was nobody that ever saw a show pre 96 and didnt come away with their mind totally blown. If I was a newbie to phish I would listen to the fall 95 tour and work my way back. Then I would hit the Island tour in 98 and go from there. 2 totally different bands

I saw them in 1994. meh.

 

[Aquaman]

King's X. Didn't know anything about them until probably 98 or 99. They were doing post-grunge before grunge even went mainstream. A band way ahead of their time.

Come on down to Houston. They still play on a pretty regular basis and are as good as ever.

 

[Nigel Tufnel]

Phish is a good one. Didn't see them until '98. Never got to see the Dead.

 

[PIK95]

I wish I saw Arcade Fire Funeral "tour". That must have been great. Radiohead is another I wish I caught earlier. I wish I saw A.I.C. live too.

 

[zamboni]

It's always the Dead for me in these threads. They didn't really click for me until after Jerry passed. Saw them once in 1994, but wasn't a big fan yet - wish I had liked them when I was younger.

 

[Apple Jack]

I wouldn't go nearly as far as panther. Plenty of other great bands have their own energy. I was just referring to the energy of the CLUB shows I saw, which was something that ended in '93. The venues got bigger in '94. I remember coming back east for Christmas that year and seeing the show in Philly and being put off by the size of the venue and how different the experience was. I lost interest. After that, I only bothered to see them at Red Rocks. Clubs were a whole other thing and considering the crowd they were starting to inherit, the payoff wasn't enough for me to deal with it. But their thing largely revolved around tension and release, winding the place up and then letting it go and in such close quarters it was pretty overwhelming. All that said, they probably don't even crack my top 10 favorite live acts.

 

[Tiger Fan]

Phish. Didn't get into them until after grad school.

My biggest musical regret was not travelling to go see Pearl Jam (my favorite band) during summers of college. I was an overachiever with a brand new girlfriend and just didn't do it. I regret that now.

 

[mon]

I lived in Germany circa '82 when U2 played at a castle there. I could have easily gone, but didn't. I wasn't in to them until '84. Didn't get to see them until the Joshua Tree tour.

Also had tickets to Queen in '81, but the wife got sick so we didn't go.

 

[Short Corner]

Boingo. Didn't get into them until 92 and they used to come thru our town every year.

 

[Ilov80s]

Boingo. Didn't get into them until 92 and they used to come thru our town every year.

As in Oingo Boingo?

 

[Short Corner]

Boingo. Didn't get into them until 92 and they used to come thru our town every year.

As in Oingo Boingo?

Yep

 

[PIK95]

I also regret eating some Pink Floyd Division Bell tics to go to an awards night for my future wife. When I was like 7ish my cousins were gonna take me down to India Point park to see Quiet Riot but I passed to watch cartoons or something. Some dude fell/jumped off a light tower into four feet of ocean and died during the show. That would have been a memory. At least I saw John whats his name from the Oh God movie there a couple of years later. That was cool. Rocky Mt. high and shizz.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Glenn Miller

 

[The Royal Jack]

Glenn Miller

sans orchestra?

 

[Luke Skywalker]

King's X. Didn't know anything about them until probably 98 or 99. They were doing post-grunge before grunge even went mainstream. A band way ahead of their time.

Come on down to Houston. They still play on a pretty regular basis and are as good as ever.

Finally saw em in Katy around 2004. They did a 20-minute version of Over My Head that was practically a religious experience.

 

[kutta]

Back in 1987 a few friends of mine tried to convince me to go to see U2 at Arizona State University. I wasn't really into them at the time. This was the show that they used for the recordings on Rattle and Hum - and I missed it.

That's probably my biggest music regret.

I I went to that show! Joshua Tree tour. It was postponed a week I think, Bono had strep or something. But it was my first "adult" concert (up to them my folks had taken me to Mac Davis and Kenny Rogers). It was a huge step for me at 13. Lone Justice was the opening band, with their "hit" Shelter. That was the 13 year old that dumped me!

Very cool! I was 21 at the time, prime time for going to a show like that.Well, at least I got to see them at America West Arena about 10 years ago. Not quite the same thing though...

 

[Apple Jack]

Back in 1987 a few friends of mine tried to convince me to go to see U2 at Arizona State University. I wasn't really into them at the time. This was the show that they used for the recordings on Rattle and Hum - and I missed it.

That's probably my biggest music regret.

I I went to that show! Joshua Tree tour. It was postponed a week I think, Bono had strep or something. But it was my first "adult" concert (up to them my folks had taken me to Mac Davis and Kenny Rogers). It was a huge step for me at 13. Lone Justice was the opening band, with their "hit" Shelter. That was the 13 year old that dumped me!

Very cool! I was 21 at the time, prime time for going to a show like that.Well, at least I got to see them at America West Arena about 10 years ago. Not quite the same thing though...

The Elevation Tour? That tour was astonishingly great, and both Bono and Edge have called it the best they've done. Get the Slane Castle DVD from that tour for a refresher and hold onto your hat. It might just be the greatest live music DVD there is. I don't say that lightly.

 

[kupcho1]

I had tickets t see the Who but had a conflict with an exam in college. Figured I'd catch them next time

Then Keith Moon died

 

[flapgreen]

Phish - wish I was there in the mid 90's.

Was never into hippie music but I remember the first time I heard Icculus. I was stoned out of my mind and thought I was losing my mind. I couldn't wait until that dude told me who wrote "The Helping Friendly Book." Tell me dammit!!! Tell me!!!!! I remember feeling such relief when he finally said who wrote that stupid book.

 

[cstu]

The Smiths and The Cure. Hated them at the time ( ) but that's who I'd like to go back and see.

 

[Goat Herders]

The Smiths and The Cure. Hated them at the time ( ) but that's who I'd like to go back and see.

I basically made fun on anyone who liked the Cure from 4th grade until my junior year in hs. My youth minister gave me and a buddy tickets to see them on the "wish" tour and said, "it's free. Best case, you have fun. Worst case, I got you out of having to study on a school night". One of the three or four best shows I've ever been to.

 

[ffldrew]

Bob Marley and the Wailers - I was into them but in retrospect I should have done more sooner to see him live - I had tickets to see him but sadly he passed away before the date and like a dummy I went and got a refund.

 

[cstu]

Phish is a good one. Didn't see them until '98. Never got to see the Dead.

I do wish I could go back and see them just to see what the fuss is about.

 

[Mister CIA]

 

[Zasada]

The Smiths and The Cure. Hated them at the time ( ) but that's who I'd like to go back and see.

I basically made fun on anyone who liked the Cure from 4th grade until my junior year in hs. My youth minister gave me and a buddy tickets to see them on the "wish" tour and said, "it's free. Best case, you have fun. Worst case, I got you out of having to study on a school night". One of the three or four best shows I've ever been to.

Definitely The Smiths for me. Made fun of people who liked them "back then" and every time I hear one of their songs now, I feel like I missed something.

 

[Tiger Fan]

My window was the '90s, pretty much, so I'll go with Pavement and Guided by Voices.

You know that the classic GbV lineup are back together, right? New record coming in January, another coming behind that and rumblings of more touring next year. I saw six of the shows from the reunion tour and every one of them was an all-timer. All of them. They're firing on all cylinders. From the last show of the tour, which I saw in Raleigh in September:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IinfLwdBw8

Saw them at Deluna Fest this year. Probably one of the worst bands I've ever seen live. Admittedly, they're not my style of music...and I looked them up so I know they're respected..but they were pretty damn bad.

 

[McGarnicle]

Mud Honey for sure.

Saw them open for Pearl Jam in Seattle 10 years ago. Couldn't name one song before then and came away a believer. They could have been huge if they really pursued it.

 

[McGarnicle]

I really wish I had bugged my mom to take me to see Zeppelin at MSG in '77, even though I was only 6 years old.

 

[Flying V]

It took years for Kiss to grow on me, but Kiss Alive is one of the greatest live rock albums ever. Sorry I never saw them in concert back in the day.

 

[Standing Hampton]

I am 47, so the 80's were my time and I would say The Church. Alternative before alternative.

 

[jamny]

Morphine

David Bowie

 

[ericttspikes]

I was into Def Leppard in 83/84 and not the Clash. Saw the Pyromania tour, which was cool but now I wish I was into the Clash back then and was able to see them live.

 

[Amused to Death]

Zappa. Even though I was old enough to see him in the 80's, I didn't start to appreciate his genius till after his death.

 

[Amused to Death]

King's X. Didn't know anything about them until probably 98 or 99. They were doing post-grunge before grunge even went mainstream. A band way ahead of their time.

Come on down to Houston. They still play on a pretty regular basis and are as good as ever.

Finally saw em in Katy around 2004. They did a 20-minute version of Over My Head that was practically a religious experience.

I've seen them 3 times with mixed reviews. In order it was kick-###, pretty good, and not so good. In fairness the not so good was on their "XV" tour opening for Porcupine Tree. Short set, kinda rushed. I felt disappointed. It was a dream ticket for me as I love both bands. PTs always awesome