The ’90s were a glorious and defining decade in the Valley’s rich musical history. But by now, the fables surrounding the Gin Blossoms, Meat Puppets, The Refreshments and other Valley acts who hit it big have been told and told again.
What about the other bands who made Tempe and Phoenix a musical destination? There were many that could have, and maybe should have, gotten their time on the national stage. Plenty of groups across town had the killer songs, deft chops, and charm and charisma to spare.
This writer should know: I was a regular on the scene, going out to hear these incredible bands several nights a week for years at a time. Additionally, I booked bands at Cannery Row (where I once allowed a 20-year-old Chester Bennington inside), put together multi-band benefit shows and wrote for a local publication called Blast. There was an amazing cluster of talent in town, and I feel privileged to have been even a thread in that magnificent tapestry…