This Week in the Mercury
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Let's Talk About... The Vaselines Phenomenon
Posted by Maranda Bish on Thu, May 7, 2009 at 1:49 PM
Chances are that the first time many people of our generation heard The Vaselines was on Nirvana's Unplugged, when Kurt Cobain attributes their name to the cover of "Jesus Wants Me For A Sunbeam." It's no secret that Kurt loved the Scottish group dearly, going so far as to name his daughter after female vocalist Frances McKee, and convincing the band to reunite for a tour with Nirvana shortly before his death.
This isn't the first time I've brought up Nirvana and influences on this blog; it should be known that i'm not a major Nirvana fan, but I am incredibly interested in the Kurt Cobain/grunge myth that's developed over the years, and the way it has shaped how music is made and listened to in these modern times.
Case in point: Sub Pop, the label built around and for the Northwest music scene, has reissued the Vaselines' small catalog (one studio album and two EPs) as Enter The Vaselines, and is heavily promoting a reunion tour that will have the band playing to venues and audiences far larger than any they encountered during their original active years.
For one of only eight US tour dates, the band will be playing the Doug Fir next Wednesday, May 13. As is the trend with the slew of reunion shows taking place in recent years, it's a chance to see part of music history in living (if slightly older) color. My question: Is there a point when history should be just that? Or will the cycle of worship/death/resurrection continue to play out as this era of music fans age?
LISTEN:
The Vaselines — "Jesus Wants Me For a Sunbeam"
The Vaselines w/the Dutchess and the Duke; Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside, Wed May 13, 9 pm, $19-20
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