Miki?

Well yes, Miki. I am a child of the last century and was all into skate rock and 80s punk and all that good stuff. When the early 90s rolled in, as you know music changed a bit. Skate rock was around but suddenly it was Hip Hop and Hip Hop infused Punk or something? (RapMetal?) I was really not into that, nor was I into the baggy pants and small wheels, etc. Not to take anything away from that stuff, it just wasn't for me.

I am fully proud to admit that I listen to a lot of different music other than the super fast, rad music that makes me grind pool coping. Yes, I was into the early Brit-pop or Shoegazer, My Bloody Valentine, Jesus and Marychain, Ride, psychidelic British invasion of the very late 80s and very early 90s. I say this because after '92 or '93 it started to suck... Sorry, I was never into Oasis... But I did like the first and second Blur albums. After that with the "Girls that like Girls, boys and whatever crap song that was, I was done.."

Anyway, back to Miki, like many a young lad or lady for that matter, who was in art school or whatever at that time probably owned a few CDs from the 4AD label... Maybe. I guess I got into the stuff because I was always into the girls that liked this stuff. The girls who had the part down the middle with blue hair, or the assymetrical bob-hair cut... Hell, I still like that stuff!!

Whatever, so I guess what I am getting at is that when seasons change, I get emotional. I begin to reflect on my life and remember things based on seasons and smells. Especially when we shift from Winter to Spring I get these bubbly feelings and start listening to my old cassette tapes whatever... This time it is Miki.

Miki Berenyi from the band Lush. Many of you know about them and won't admit it now. I liked them a lot, I think I saw them at least three times and actually met Miki and got an autograph! Ha! It was the most recent one, like '93 or '94 or something, they had a new album out and the sound totally changed. I wasn't really into it but I remember that they played all the old songs so that may have said something about what they thought about it too?

It was one of those moments one may never forget and when I think about it I still smile. I remember that I had an '87 Ford Escort with 140,000 miles on it. I was going to shows at least twice a week back then and I had this thing where it would make it all the way to Roosevelt and the Lake and then begin to over heat. So in the summer, I would have to roll down all the windows and blast the heater just to keep the engine at "H". I would usually get a spot to park by Belmont and as soon as I would pull into the spot, the water would just splash out all over the place!! As a precaution, I would always have a few milk jugs full of water for this very reason!!

I think this show was at the Vic, I was meeting my good friend Adrianna and maybe Erin for the show (big Lush fans). We stood in line for hours, it was really hot out but we made it to the shaded area just under the canopy at the entrance. About an hour before the doors opened, Miki walked up to the front door like it was a normal day in the city!! She was carrying one of those kids toys that looked like a big rubber bean bag with a handle that you would bounce up and down on... She must have bought it at the Ragstock around the corner or something...

So anyway, I got to meet her, chat a bit and get an autograph!! I was soooooo stoked on that.. I actually remember bouncing on the bean bag thing or something... It was a great day! We got to hear them warm up and do the sound check. As the doors open, I remember an old 70s van pull up to the alley and do the same thing, over heat and spill water out all over. It was the band that opened for Lush. I remember that they sucked and I hated them. But 2 weeks later the album exploded and everyone (not everyone) loved them. It turned out to be one of the more influential bands of the mid to late 90s but I still never liked 'em. It was Weezer... I guess that is why Miki did a guest vocal on a later Rentals album??

Anyway, as seasons change I always think about the past, what I could have done better or what mistakes I have made. I am glad I went to that show and met Miki and was there to witness all those great events... I got a little emotional this week because Wendy moved to Taiwan forever and Miki was a brief renewed crush to get me through. Thanks Miki!! You still got it and as all the fan websites out there say, record another album!! Maybe, better yet - thanks for contributing to music! I think she is playing it smart by not doing the stupid thing like the Stones or U2 or who ever - she is just living life. oh, Weezer still sucks!! (sorry, had to make my buddy mad) It all works.

I should also say that in researching/re-living Lush I noticed that the are featured on the annoying video game "Guitar Hero". Ugh. well, maybe the young people will get into good music.