I remember the time that I was over at Carol’s and they had I Mother Earth: Scenery and Fish playing (a kickass album) and I didn’t think too much of it. I don’t know what was with me but back in those formative years of the early 90s, I didn’t really care to listen to much that was POPULAR. I think this stemmed from two things – one, I didn’t feel like being part of the mob of people following the same popular bands, two, I wasn’t that popular to begin with and I think I had some weird thought of if I listened to what was popular (or wore clothing which was popular, or read books of what was popular), then I would look like I was TRYING to be integrated into that scene and people (those harmful high school cliques) would point me out of a crowd and yell POSER!
Anyhow, back onto the music (I love how my memory posts go on random tangents encompassing everything I was feeling at the moment) – the last track of the album (Earth, Sky and C) started up and wasn’t too into it until the fateful guitar solo came screaming out of the speakers and I was blown away. Turns out that this was their homage to Carlos Santana, whom I picked up their greatest hits album but never really got into it.
That day changed my musical direction and made me realize that I should give everything a chance. I was automatically dismissing I Mother Earth, Our Lady Peace, all these great bands coming out of the woodwork around the time of the mid-90s because of how I felt about the whole subject of ‘hopping on the train’. This day changed me in many ways in terms of my views towards music and the hundreds of albums along my walls proves that it’s been a long journey. I remember getting into a slew of more music back then. It was mainly the popular stuff on MuchMusic and whatnot – the alternative scene was my scene.
When I hit college, things changed as I had access to something different in the land of music – radio. Sure, some of you are saying “Wha? You didn’t have any radio stations?”. Well, sure we did, but they didn’t have any GOOD radio stations. I think when I left Kapuskasing, it was a country station whereas now it’s a Top 40 station. Hitting up Ottawa, I was introduced to a variety of new rock, but more importantly – OLD rock. Classic Rock. Who were these bands I had only read about but never really listened to: The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Clapton? Even now, I slowly get myself introduced to these bands as I like to saturate myself into them. I don’t like picking up a Greatest Hits album and saying “Alright, that’s what Clapton is all about.”. If I did that, I would not be impressed considering his latest greatest hits album is all his newer mellower stuff.
It’s been a long and winding road in the land of music, but I’m glad that I have an open mind to listen to anything, whether it is heavy metal, jazz, rock, hip-hop (heck, alright, there are a few tunes that are catchy but you won’t see me going all out and solidifying my hip-hop CD collection here. That’s just wrong.), or anything that comes my way. Having an open mind towards anything in life, as well as trusting your friends when they toss an album your way can open up the doors to better places.
Where was I going with this? Oh yeah, anyhow, that was just a random memory I had last night when the radio was playing ‘Another Sunday’ by I Mother Earth and then I thought back to the time I was introduced to them.
5 replies on “Memory: I Mother Earth and the Poser Scene”
Deep, my friend, very deep.
I remember back in high school in the ‘couve’, (that’s Vancouver) we used to hit up the big concerts in the summer time, like edge fest, and check out all the popular bands of the times. I remember IME, OLP, Blink, even Green Day, but I think my fav was the local canadian talent. Most of these shows they would have two stages: the main stage where the big artists would perform, and the smaller, secondary stage. I remember rockin out at the smaller stage to Age of Electric. I frickin used to love that band back in high school. Now, anytime I hear one of their tracks, I am instantly transported back to grade nine and the PNE, learning to crowdsurf, avoid big guys in the mosh pit, and pay my dues to the gods of ROCK.
I swear I randomly heard an Age of Electric tune on the radio the other day and was wondering if they had some new material coming out.
I don’t think there’ll be new material from them, I’m pretty sure they broke up.
However, the band Limblifter, which is comprised of 2 original members of age of electric is still alive and kicking.
Their music is pretty good too.
How can you forget all the bands at Barrymore’s?
That is one of my favourite albums of all time, with unquestionably my favourite song (Shortcut to Moncton) and it’s so sad the band never lived up to it.