Ep. 285: Under The Grunge Part 7

·1 hr 27 min·5 clips

A sixth-grader sings a System of a Down song at a talent show, making her dad tear up with 90s nostalgia.

The episode begins with casual banter about house staging and a pool party before shifting to the main topic. Kevin shares a story about his daughter's school talent show, where middle schoolers performed songs by System of a Down and The Cranberries, wearing 90s band t-shirts. This leads into a discussion of the summer of 1992 and the emergence of grunge. The hosts then dive into obscure grunge bands, starting with Green River, considered by some the first grunge band, and detailing how its members split to form Pearl Jam and Mudhoney. They cover the Nymphs, a band managed by Keith Morris whose lead singer's on-stage antics led to their breakup. Next is Dig, an LA band that had a minor hit and appeared on cartoon cover compilations. Mammoth Volume, a Swedish stoner-grunge band from 2000, is highlighted for its Soundgarden-like vocals. Tripping Daisy, a Texas band with a neo-psychedelic pop rock label, is discussed alongside memories of 90s Atlanta. Coffin Break, a punk-leaning Seattle band featured in the documentary 'Hype,' is played. The episode concludes with Smash Adams, a new Swedish band explicitly reviving 90s grunge. Throughout, the hosts analyze grunge's musical elements, recording quality, and cultural impact, interspersed with personal anecdotes and humorous tangents.

As heard by us

Kevin and Robert Harrison revisit Green River, hair bands, and one host's memories of listening in northwest Florida in 1987.

What did Green River sound like before grunge had a name? Kevin and guest Robert Harrison take up that question on In Obscuria, placing the band alongside the rise of hair bands and playing "Swallow My Pride" from Rehab Doll.

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Why you'd press play

You want to hear Green River's "Swallow My Pride" against the hair-band world the hosts remember from 1987.

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