Never Judge a Group by its Cover
Now, you'd think that a fellow would learn. I mean, there are SO MANY
aphorisms out there that we just won't pay attention to - "Look before
you leap." "A stitch in time saves nine." "Never try to barbeque a warthog
while it's still alive."
But we just don't listen - at least,
I don't. Even after I've learned, I forget.
Sometime in 1993, while we were living in Alabama, Ethel brought home a
CD that she'd borrowed from someone at work - the Gin Blossoms, "New
Miserable Experience". Me, I just looked at the cover (above) and decided
that I probably wouldn't like them. I mean, look at this kid smoking a cigarette!
Doesn't he know that that's not cool anymore? (Ethel and I had quit smoking
in 1991). I gave the disc a cursory listen, but wasn't really paying attention, since
I already knew that I wouldn't like them.
In 1995, my friend Ken talked me into listening to the Crash Test Dummies;
I found 'em different and delightful. Ken's email .sig at the time included a
line from the Gin Blossom's song "Lost Horizons", and I saw that line and
figured that it was just more teenage cigarette smoking rebellious angst:
"The last horizons I can see
Are filled with bars and factories
And in them all we fight to stay awake..."
...but, having enjoyed Ken's recommendation on the Dummies, I decided
to give the Gin Blossoms another whirl (gee, aren't I open minded? Might
as well eat sushi, drink bottled water and vote Communist now).
Then began a love affair that lasted much longer than the band did. I found
that the sweet harmonies and melodic pop stuff that the Blossoms turned
out was infested with dark and delightful turns of phrase and images written
by a man who died of active alcoholism; that there were currents and eddies
in this music that would keep it on my all-time play list.
The Blossoms broke up a few years later; I followed lead singer Robin through
the Gas Giants and the Poppin' Wheelies, and enjoyed all that - but the two
main CDs of the Gin Blossoms have never been out of my car player for long.
Now, nine years later, I just got off of the dreadmilll watching the 20th Century
Masters DVD video collection from the Blossoms, and that music still makes
me tingle. Funny thing - I found this DVD at the grocery store for ten bucks; if
it had been on sale for fifty, I still would have bought it right away, and dealt
with Ethel's righteous wrath later. I'm not a concert-goer; I don't care for the crowds,
staying up late, not being able to hit the "pause" button so I can go to the men's room.
But if the Blossoms came within driving distance, I'd go see 'em.
I suppose I'm a "fan", with all of the mindless devotion that the word entails.
And the first time I saw their first CD, I dismissed it out of hand. "Don't wanna
listen to these guys - look what a bunch of stupid punks!"
You'd think a fellow would learn.
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