June 17, 2012



BOSTON - You know you’re getting old when you hear yourself saying things like “the music just isn’t as good as it was when I was a teenager.”

Yeah, well, you know what? It’s true for my generation. (Yes, another thing people say when they’re getting old.) I’m talking about the early ‘90s, the era that gave us grunge, Britpop, industrial and alternative rock. An era ruled by bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, REM, Nine Inch Nails and The Pixies. These bands literally took over the entire decade. And I was more than a fan ¬– I was completely obsessed.

And I’m also obsessed with this trend of the ghosts of my early 90’s Indie rock past, coming back around for their midlife crisis tours; I’m happily attending them all.

And now I can add Matthew Sweet to the list. He’s back, not only with a new album, Modern Art, but to also remind us apathetic early ‘90s Indie rockers that we’re getting old.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of his seminal 1991 album Girlfriend, Sweet will be playing it in its entirety at the Paradise Rock Club on Tuesday, June 19th.

I know what you’re thinking: “It’s been 20 years already? Are you serious?!”

Yes, I’m serious. Feels like it was just yesterday that I was sneaking into the living room late one Sunday evening/early Monday morning to watch MTV’s 120 Minutes, and being mesmerized by the song "Girlfriend", let alone the introduction to anime. That video never made sense to me, but I didn’t care. I went out the next weekend and bought the tape.

That’s right; I said tape. CASSETTE tape. And I devoured and shared it with every boyfriend I had in high school. (Mostly, I recorded a copy for them and inevitably threw it at them when we broke up. Oh, the irony, considering the album is about a relationship that’s ending.)

I can’t wait to rekindle the memories. Tickets are $20 – a small price to pay to be back in the arms of a good friend. Visit Paradise Rock Club for more information.

Image caption: Matthew Sweet (photo by Matthew Sweet)