Getting Monday up and running with a set by The Charlatans – recorded at the Reading Festival – on August 28, 1992 and broadcast over BBC Radio 1.
Always a perennial favorite, and the band I routinely cite as game changers which started as the 80s were winding down and set us up for the 90s and yet another explosion of musical directions.
Carefully noting that every generation, as well as every decade, offers it’s own directory of game changes where music is concerned. Much as you would like to think, Contemporary music and Pop Culture don’t stay in one place, but is always moving and changing shape.
It’s hard to convince people whose musical milestones existed in a specific period of time and ceased being relevant when a particular decade ended that contemporary music continues to be vital and evolving. But we do all know those people who were at Ground Zero in the 60’s, 70s, 80’s or 90’s (or even now between 2000 and 2020), being convinced that not everything after them is crap.
Probably explains a lot of attitudes and bears evidence that having an open mind requires a lot of effort and a little faith.
All that said – The Charlatans came along and got people back in record stores and clubs and a lot of sighs of relief were heard.
This gig from 1992 is especially good. The band is tight, committed and at the top of their game. It’s a pleasure to listen to and to listen to loud.
And that’s why I included it today, being Monday and all.
Face it – we need all the upbeat we can get right now – and The Charlatans fill that bill very nicely.
So grab lunch – grab a seat and hit Play. And like magic . . .
