Some fine Gin
This week's Thursday at the Square is something I have had circled on my calendar for a while. The Gin Blossoms, whose "New Miserable Experience" was a staple in the soundtrack of my formative years, are coming back to town.
For the longest time I considered the band sort of a guilty pleasure, but after coming to know its influences -- including power pop legend Tommy Keene -- I no longer feel the need to apologize for enjoying the group. Besides, the songs penned by the late Doug Hopkins are soaked with the sound of one of my all-time favorites, the Replacements.
Getting back to the soundtrack theme, though, I fondly recall leaning heavily on tracks like "Hey Jealousy" and "Found Out About You." One reason was because they were endlessly replayed on the radio (remember what one of those is?); the other was that they dulled the insecurity of those teenage years.
I used to think Hopkins relied on experiences from his youth to generate such angst-filled offerings. After pulling the album off the shelf for some prep listening this week, though, the obvious dawned on me: He and the band were in their 20s when they wrote this stuff and absolutely drawing from their present. It makes sense, because I sure don't have this place figured out yet and would argue I am exponentially further away from an understanding.
Soul Asylum, our own Goo Goo Dolls and the Grateful Dead are three other bands I relied upon then and still spin now (mostly the older stuff, but some of the new releases, too). There are others, like Green Day and the Offspring, that I probably have not listened to in years.
So what about you? Anyone else feeling somewhat nostalgic about the show? It should be neat looking around to friends, exchanging glances and smiles indicating this is our music, while some inattentive youngsters cluelessly wonder what all the fuss is about.
And what are some of the bands from your formative years that you either still enjoy (on your iPods) or are ashamed to cop to?
---Geoff Nason

Five twentysomethings will be sharing this blog. Molly Hirschbeck, a recent college grad, is looking for reasons to stay in Buffalo. Kelly Boquard enjoys attending local sporting events, checking out local restaurants and watching the New York Yankees. Evan Parker Pierce has seen towns he liked, but no place liked him back - until he met Buffalo. Lauren Mariacher, who just got her degree from Canisius College, appreciates the beauty of a Western New York day - snow or shine. Geoff Nason, a News sports copy editor, got a better feel for what Buffalo has to offer after being away for a couple years.

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