Pop Beloved
Toland emailed me this past Thursday to let me know The Reivers, one of my all-time favorite bands, were reuniting for a one-off reunion show in Austin on February 9. Tickets went on sale the next day and I am proud to say I am one of the lucky ones to have purchased one (the show sold out within 24 hours). Toland and BB might be out of luck, unless they move the show to a bigger venue - rumor has it the show might move to Stubb's. Checking out the band's MySpace page - http://www.myspace.com/thereiversofficial - it looks like some folks will be coming from places like Seattle and Philadelphia.
The last time I saw The Reivers was in September or October 1991. Unfortunately, the band called it quits around that same time. Words cannot describe how much this band meant to me - they had incredible songs and an even more incredible singer in Kim Longacre. I was lucky to hang out with them at Fitzgerald's one night and it was like being with old friends. It's always a dicey proposition to meet a band you like (what if they're complete jerks?), but these were truly down-to-earth folks and extremely nice.
Toland put the reunion into perspective for me. He said this is the first time a band, in its original incarnation, has reunited and truly means something as a fan. Sure, one might see The Who in concert today, but Keith Moon and John Entwistle are long gone. I'll never have a chance to see The Ramones - three of the four members are dead - and the death of Joe Strummer killed (literally) any chance of a Clash reunion.
It seems The Reivers never let harmful vices befall them - singer/guitarist Kim Longacre is a mother of five (!) children, drummer Garrett Williams was last seen managing a Luby's ten miles down the road from me, singer/guitarist John Croslin is still in demand as a record producer, and bassist Cindy Toth still plays gigs around Austin.
This will be one of the highlights of the new year!
**********
I need to add another song sorely overlooked on my list - "Can't Hardly Wait" by The Replacements. Any song with lines like "Jesus rides beside me/He never buys any smokes" is A-OK with me.
The last time I saw The Reivers was in September or October 1991. Unfortunately, the band called it quits around that same time. Words cannot describe how much this band meant to me - they had incredible songs and an even more incredible singer in Kim Longacre. I was lucky to hang out with them at Fitzgerald's one night and it was like being with old friends. It's always a dicey proposition to meet a band you like (what if they're complete jerks?), but these were truly down-to-earth folks and extremely nice.
Toland put the reunion into perspective for me. He said this is the first time a band, in its original incarnation, has reunited and truly means something as a fan. Sure, one might see The Who in concert today, but Keith Moon and John Entwistle are long gone. I'll never have a chance to see The Ramones - three of the four members are dead - and the death of Joe Strummer killed (literally) any chance of a Clash reunion.
It seems The Reivers never let harmful vices befall them - singer/guitarist Kim Longacre is a mother of five (!) children, drummer Garrett Williams was last seen managing a Luby's ten miles down the road from me, singer/guitarist John Croslin is still in demand as a record producer, and bassist Cindy Toth still plays gigs around Austin.
This will be one of the highlights of the new year!
**********
I need to add another song sorely overlooked on my list - "Can't Hardly Wait" by The Replacements. Any song with lines like "Jesus rides beside me/He never buys any smokes" is A-OK with me.


I'm probably out as far as seeing the Reivers goes. I have been to the Houston area twice in the last month. I'm due to head down again later this month when my father turns 60, and I just think that consider that a semester is beginning and my life is a bit lopsided in general at the moment, I'll have to pass, sadly.--BB
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Have fun at the show, Bruiser!
-Amanda (Comment this)