If you want to watch nothing but kick-ass video after kick-ass video of truly historic alt. rock bands from the mid-to-late '80s, head to YouTube and do a search for "live Cabaret Metro".
Then just start clicking.
The quality of the search results is a testament to Joe Shanahan's talent for recognizing greatness in bands - often long before anybody else. Shanahan's musical vision not only shaped the venue's rep as a virtual mecca for touring alt. rock bands for the past 30+ years, but the city's reputation as one of the best music cities in the country.
Buried among old clips of Nirvana, Screaming Trees, and Smashing Pumpkins is this October 7, 2003 clip of the Polyphonic Spree.This concert would have taken place right around the time that the band had been dropped by their label, 679 Recordings, but also after their music had later been used in a Volkwagen/iPod commercial that heightened the band's profile considerably.
As we catch up with the band, they're right in the middle of performing "Soldier Girl". The feeling that you've just arrived at a party that is already in full "anything goes" mode doesn't last for long.
As great as the band was, they could never make this writer stop thinking about how expensive it must have been to not only pay a 24-piece band, but cover their expenses to boot.
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soldier girl and more...