90s Live Now - #2 Archers of Loaf

One of the main goals I have for this blog is to explore not only what the music (and other stuff) of the 90s meant to me then, but also what it means now. We're about 15 years removed from the peak of the Alternative Revolution, an interesting time to explore the legacy that this era has left behind. With a little bit of a history lesson, too.

Tonight, I saw a reunited Archers of Loaf, playing to a sold out crowd at the Troubadour in Los Angeles.

I knew little of Archers of Loaf back in the 90s; they had appeared on a few compilations and soundtracks (Mallrats and My So-Called Life among them), but I loved their 1993 hit "Web In Front". I use hit loosely, since it never got any airplay on any of the alternative stations I grew up with, but the song stands as their biggest single, and in my opinion, one of the best tracks of the 90s.

Archers of Loaf then.

Because of the derth of new bands in the 1990s, it was easy for a band whose music wasn't as accessible as most to get lost in the shuffle. Bands like Pavement, Superchunk and Guided By Voices weren't irrelevant, but hardly got the attention that more radio-friendly groups like Everclear and The Smashing Pumpkins did.

However, now that we've put some miles between then and now, it's easier to see what the better music of the decade actually was. As much as I like Everclear's Sparkle and Fade album, it feels more like a guilty pleasure now than it did when I bought it in 1995. Perhaps it's the indie/hipster aesthetic that came with the emergence of The Strokes, or perhaps what became of Everclear post-Sparkle that has caused this shame. I'd like to think it was more of the latter, as their albums got progressively worse and worse. Not to pick on Everclear, but to me they represent the most middle-of-the-road of mid-90s alt rock. Them and Better Than Ezra.

So the question becomes, would Everclear be more highly regarded if they had stopped after their third album? Hard to say, but it certainly didn't hurt Archers of Loaf in retrospect.

Which brings us back to tonight. Archers broke up in 1998, but have recently reunited (obviously) and are touring (still obvious). As evidenced by the crowd tonight, Archers legacy was never tarnished by increased attempts at the mainstream in order to make money, and has instead held intact as a respected and beloved group that is equal parts experimental noise as melodic rock.

Archers of Loaf tonight.

Tonight, the melodic rock side of Archers won out, with the rock weighing heavier into the equation. the band took the stage and tore into "Audiowhore" from their 1994 EP Vs. The Greatest of All Time. They continued the set with "Lowest Part is Free!" from the same disc.

As the show continued, I was surprised at how many songs I had managed to find a spot in my mental jukebox. And I wasn't the only one. When the band launched into 1995's "Harnessed In Slums" (their 2nd biggest hit), nearly the whole crowd was singing along, something that only increased as the night went on. By the time they played "Web In Front", around the 40 minute mark of their 45 minute set, the audience was raucous, yelling back at the band with fervor.

One thing I've noticed while seeing these reunited bands is that they don't show any signs of wear or age (except for The Cars, but since they were defunct for the 90s, they won't find their way onto this blog). In most cases, they're a better band than they were back in the day. With age comes wisdom and learning from your mistakes. Just like Buffalo Tom, Archers were tight and played with enthusiasm, something that is no doubt a by-product of not having to play the same songs night in and night out for the last 15 years.

I've often said that I think bands should resolve to stay together for a decade. Put out as much or as little music as you want, but after 10 years you have to make a choice: break up or tour only as a nostalgia act. There's always exceptions, but a band's creative output suffers greatly around the decade mark. Think of Weezer if they had stopped at Maladroit (we'd still have the green album, but that would be the worst of it). Or Metallica if the Black album was the last they'd put out. Their legacies would not be tarnished and their fans would not have to wish they had the "old Weezer" back. As I do so very often.

So because of their breakup, which came as a result of creative stagnation, Archers of Loaf never suffered through the post-decade garbage years and have instead re-emerged as relevant examples of the highest quality alternative music released in the 90s and can still put on an exciting - and cool - show.

Whatever.