Alternative Rock Nostalgia Buzz

Nowadays, David Barbe has become a well-known producer working with artists including R.E.M., Vic Chesnutt and Drive-By Truckers. But back in the mid '90s, he was the bassist for Sugar, a loud, driving alt-rock band fronted by the legendary Bob Mould. Sugar were not around long but in their brief lifetime, they created music that has stood the test of time and is only now beginning to be rediscovered by artists and fans alike. Recently, David took time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions. When did you first become interested in music? My parents were both musicians, so it was always in my life. Loved it as far back as I can remember When did Mercyland come together and how was that experience like? Mercyland got going in 1985. I had been in other bands, but none that I thought were really anything special. I knew the other guys from other local bands and kind of bided my time until they were available. The Mercyland album 'Spillage' has some pretty lengthy li

Forgotten Songs of the ‘80s: The Smithereens The Smithereens are one of the greatest rock/pop bands of the last thirty years and it’s only been recently that they’ve gotten the credit and recognition they fully deserve. The band have been going strong for just about thirty years now and are still kicking as much ass as they did back in their heyday. One of their strongest and least played songs came off their debut album. When Especially for You came out in 1985, it took some time for the band to gather steam but once people heard “Blood & Roses,” everything clicked and from there, the band began to grow with each successive record until hitting their sales peak with 1989’s 11 and their commercial peak with 1991’s Blow Up . But one song off Especially for You became one of the best-known songs while still getting the least amount of play: “In A Lonely Place.” The song gets off to an amazing start with an intro courtesy of dynamo drummer Dennis Diken, then dissolves into a bossa no

No one expected swing music to make a comeback, especially in the 90's but bands like Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Cherry Poppin' Daddies and The Brian Setzer Orchestra proved it could be popular again, at least for a time. One band however, North Carolina's Squirrel Nut Zippers stood above and beyond the rest with their freaked-out sound and interesting take on melody. The band is most known for the 1997 smash "Hell" written by guitarist/co-vocalist Tom Maxwell. As interviewed here, no one had any idea it would go so bad so soon. When did you first become interested in music? At the age of eleven. That's when I got turned on to my older brother's Beatles records, which were revelatory, and started learning how to play the alto saxophone. When did the Squirrel Nut Zippers get started and was there much of a scene to support you when you got started? The Zips formed in the spring of 1993, and I joined in January of '94. There was a very supportive scene--but n

Forgotten Songs of the ‘90s: Earth to Andy You may have noticed by now that there are more forgotten songs from the ‘90s than in any other decade listed on this blog. That’s because, to me, the ‘90s were the best time for music and a time when the record labels released so many albums that more than a few were bound to be forgotten. In 1999, Giant Records signed Earth To Andy, out of Charlottesville, VA and positioned them to be one of the great white hopes for rock music. They definitely had their chance but the label didn’t push as hard as they should have so now I am trying to rectify that situation by trying to introduce people to the music. “Still After You,” the first single from their major-label debut Chronicle Kings is one of the loudest and coolest rock songs of the last half of the decade. The song kicks off with one of the greatest guitar licks of the century and it just goes from there. When frontman Andy Waldeck comes in with a gravelly tone, you know it’s on. The rhythm

Forgotten Album of the Month: Infectious Grooves Infectious Grooves will always be known as the kid brother of Suicidal Tendencies but that’s not the way it should be. Infectious should be looked upon as their own separate entity and with the release of 1994’s landmark Groove Family Cyco , this will be entered as the first piece of evidence. The major thing to talk about when mentioning Groove Family Cyco is the rhythm section: Robert Trujillo, also pulling double duty in Suicidal and a teenage Brooks Wackerman, years before he joined Bad Religion. At the time of recording, he was about 16 or 17; once hearing the record, it’s impossible to think that Trujillo had played with any other drummer, the two are in the pocket the whole time and never let up. From the very beginning, with “Violent & Funky,” inexplicably edited when the rest of the record isn’t, the band is at the top of their power and also picking up the weaknesses from the previous albums and strengthens them. Gone fro