4 ’90s bands you ought to love (before they die)

Aside from teaching us to love our culture, Francis M. also taught us that waiting for someone to die before showing them your love is a pretty stupid way of doing things.

With spending power now in the hands of our generation, expect an upsurge in manufactured nostalgia for anything ’90s in coming months. If the Eraserheads proved anything with their recent Final Set reunion concert, we will willingly give up our left nut  (or P3,000) for a chance to relive our youth.

Here are some bands to rediscover before every Facebook user claims to love them the most.

Moonpools & Caterpillars

Known for:



Based in California, Moonpools was not, strictly speaking a Pinoy band. But their songs (or song) captured the vengeful yet sappy side of ’90s heartbreak so well that they opted to disappear soon after, sort of like the JD Salingers of the music scene. Either that, or we just forgot about them because we’re ungrateful bastards who are only out for the Next Big Thing.


What Happened To Them?

They’re on MySpace, so I guess they never really went away. Either that, or I missed out on a lot of online things back in 1997 (Damn you, AskJeeves!) The album they have displayed is still the same one we remember from back in high school, so I guess thay haven’t been all that prolific. Still, maybe if there’s enough of a clamor,they’ll pretend to break up and then have a reunion concert.

Chances of a reunion concert:

Zero, but only because they’re still together.


Siakol

Known For:



Siakol was the young, poor adolescent’s  answer to Moonpools, and a major argument that fuck you, emo kids, we were sad way before you were. They were not pop in the way that Eraserheads were pop, but they still tapped a nerve in the Philippine baduy crowd. Their songs are short on musicaity and studio polish, but long on the heart-crushing honesty of being penniless and in love.


What Happened To Them?

They’re touring Canada, apparently. Which makes it seem like FM radio is just one big conspiracy to play songs based on market forces, and not actual kickassness. On the other hand, the Porkchop Duo had a pretty long run on the Las Vegas circuit, so maybe there’s something to migrating to First World countires. Greener pastures or something.


Chances of a reunion tour:

Most Siakol fans are probably as poor as they were in the ’90s, so unless it’s some sort of charity gig, we probably won’t able to get the big bucks together to bring these boys home.

P.O.T.

Known for:

Once asked by a fan how he came up with the band’s songs, POT front man said “I take a lot of drugs.” Said fan then promptly passed out, but not before resolving to follow suit despite having no musical inclinations or talent. This was the power of POT, the band that, despite having just one album to its name, touched so many people that fans banded together to buy Karl Roy a new heart or something. Twice! Who knew potheads had that much money (or initiative?)

What Happened to Them?

Burnout, probably. Or, given the amount of drugs that seemed the norm back then, it’s more than possible that they just got really, really high one day, and, you know, totally forgot that they were in that particular band. The POT guys are pretty much alive, but have moved on to other bands while waiting for the coming of a day, a day unlike any other, when Earth’s mightiest heroes and heroines find themselves united against a common threat. Or, possibly, stoned out of their gourds.

Chances of a reunion tour:

Don’t expect a stadium concert, but having them play a few gigs at some seedy dive is highly likely, and the band likely high.

The Youth

Known For:



The ’90s was a different time, and aside from angst, drugs and heartbreak, it was marked by a strong and embarassing  culture of homophobia. Perhaps best known for their song documenting, or perhaps personifying, this outdated way of thinking, The Youth also wrote other songs with biting social commentary. Those who can remember them, however, probably remember them for Multong Bakla.

What Happened To Them:

We suppose that The Youth eventually became The Middle-Aged Men. Or something. Much like all ’90s bands not named Parokya Ni Edgar, the band eventually just disappeared. But some say that when the moon is full and the witching hour approaches, one can still hear the baleful “hoy-hoy-hoy-hoy” of the Multong Bakla.

Chances of a Reunion Tour:

The trouble with socially-relevant bands, or socially-relevant anything, really, is that even though social issues probably won’t change, public perception towards the medium and the message probably will.

Remember how fired up you used to be when listening to Rage Against The Machine? Popping Evil Empire in your CD player and then cranking it up will seem sort of ironic now, especially if you’re making a living in the very corporate system that you used to rage against.

Also, gay rights, dude.

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