• Superdrag
• Nada Surf
• The Gravel Pit

In the Post-Grunge days that was the mid 90s, we started getting inundated with some very strong power pop. The bands we saw on this faithful day were no different and fit this mold perfectly.

Now, I'm just gonna lay it down right here. I remember fuck all about The Gravel Pit. I honestly can't recall their set whatsoever. They must've had chops, 'cause they were playing with some good up and coming rock bands. Nada Surf were gaining a lot of momentum with their high school hit, 'Popular'. Very catchy tune and perfect for our already angst-ridden, cynical teenage minds. Funnily enough, the lyrics to the verses of the song were taken from a 1950s dating book. Which makes it that much better.

I love their first record, and it's funny because 'Popular' is by far not the best song on the album. I could listen to that album now and just get transported right back to that time. We wore that album out. I hate that they got pigeonholed as a one-hit wonder, because over the years they have made (and are still making) great records. I will always have a special place in my heart for this band. And I would definitely put High/Low in my top 20 favorite albums, might be higher if I really think about it.

These shows were so long ago that I really don't have a lot of memories from them. I can just recall snippets. Luckily, there are YouTube videos of Nada Surf and Superdrag from this show. So, it's cool to go back and be reminded. I do remember watching Matthew Caws ripping the pages of lyrics from his music stand during 'Popular'. I also remember that song being later, but after watching the video, it was actually right about the middle of the set. And they sounded good, too. Real good. We were right in front of Daniel Lorca the whole show in anticipation of Superdrag. Also forgot that he sang a bunch of the early tracks, as well. It was cool to watch this bass player the whole show. Very energetic!

I can talk about Superdrag 'til I'm blue in the face. Growing up in Louisville, TN, I was fairly close to Knoxville. And the mid 90s was a good time to live close to Knoxville. Not only were most national acts coming through, K-Town was producing some homegrown power pop of its own. Enter Superdrag. They'd been playing around quite heavily (I assume), then they released 'Regretfully Yours'. A very, very Rock/Pop piece of beauty. Then we started seeing our boys on the television. They were getting a ton of airplay on MTV, and we couldn't be happier! Rumors spread around school that they were local kids, and that was just dandy. And, if I recall correctly, most of us became a little obsessed. I remember we had these compilation cassettes from Knoxville bands and Superdrag was always on them, we couldn't get enough of them. We found out that their new tour with Nada Surf was coming to a trash venue near us. We were fucking ecstatic! (Again, I have no clue how we got tickets but we sure as hell did!)

The day finally came and we loaded up the car. I know for certain it was me, Daniel Smith, and Curt Kiser. I know there were more people with us, because the Pontiac 6000 was packed tight. So, were we all about 16-17 years old and we weren't very adept at directions and driving. I guess Curt had been driving for a little over a year. Well, driving in Knoxville was already  pretty confusing to say the least. It's even more confusing when the place you want to go isn't super easy to find, too. We must have gone to several gas stations asking for directions. I was getting worried and started pitching a fit about not being able to find the place. Dashing my dreams of sucking out the feeling. Finally found The Electric Ballroom and made our way inside.

All I can say for certain is that it was one loud fuckin' rock show. Superdrag really just came out with guns blazing, it was really nonstop. And to this day any time I see John Davis play music, he is just as intense now as when I saw him twenty years ago. That dude was born to play loud, amazing music. I honestly don't remember too much from that night at all. But the look on my face at the beginning of the Superdrag set leads me to believe I had a pretty rad time.

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/nada-surf/1996/electric-ballroom-knoxville-tn-2bdd302a.html

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/superdrag/1996/electric-ballroom-knoxville-tn-3bdd3034.html

Don't get too popular living in your treehouse while you're sucking out the feeling on a rocket

josh

If you look real close at the very beginning of this video, you'll see me. Curly-haired and big ass glasses.

*These videos come from the YouTube channel FatElvisRecords. That channel has all kinds of great nuggets like these. Check it out!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzXHXQD6iZtin0vheBIxHfw