31 Days of Music -- Day 30

Song/Album that brings up a certain time in your life 

Mom's boots were rock-n-roll. And Dad's hair.

I'll name a few that are really strong in my memory.  First, I was about three or four years old when we lived on SE Ramona. By rights I probably shouldn't remember much from then but with music as aid to my memory, I recall quite a bit. I particularly remember an afternoon spent with my dad and "Uncle" Mark, making paper airplanes and drinking Coke, *right* from the bottle. It was a hot, summer day and the doors and windows were open so that music could float from the house to the front yard. In fact, this song must have always been playing at that house because every time I hear it, I think of those year:

 

I call this one, "eye brows"

Fast forward to the late 80's.  I was an awkward middle-schooler with seriously big bangs and an equally serious love of MTV.  We were the only family in the cul-de-sac with cable and many afternoons were spent with my BFFs, Nicki and Teri (why are they not on Facebook?!), eating mud-pies and dissecting the dance moves of Janet, Miss Jackson if you're nasty:

They airbrushed my face.

Moving on to the 90's - my hair has been somewhat tamed; still working through the eyebrow issues, though.  This is about when my mom decided to cancel cable TV and all sugary treats were banned from the house.  Probably because by now, my brothers' friends Tommy and Seng were living with us nearly full time and the food and entertainment budget had to be cut drastically. Also, it was a rough time for the boys what with all that extra testosterone in the house, they were bound to get in to trouble. Luckily I had Natalie Merchant along for the ride that last year of high school, first year of college. I especially remember an ill-advised camping trip in the middle of winter, wherein I converted April in to a 10,000 Maniacs fan:

This picture is pre-digital. Post beers.

Then in the late 90's, I was going to school and working at Camelot Music where I made lots of new friends and went to lots of shows (see Day 27).  Twice, I went to see Tori Amos with my buddy Jaimee and every time I hear Raspberry Swirl, I think of her and the many beer soaked nights we spent in my little apartment, playing Tekken 3 until the wee hours.

BC, the Battle Axe and us

Any tribute to the late 90's needs to include a trip to the Gypsy, the retro bar where Janie was working and where we spent a lot of time, but not a lot of money (that girl could sweet talk the bartenders somethin' fierce).  I especially think of driving there in Heidi's purple car, listening to this song by Depeche Mode (oddly, I don't hardly ever remember the rides home):

Yes, gray even then.

Of course, one of my fondest memories happened in August of 2002.  When ever I hear When I'm Sixty Four, I think of the amazing day we shared and the awesome party that our family and friends put together for us and I am reminded fondly of my husband who's hair will be really, REALLY gray when he's 64.

Good times on Fremont Street.  And fully clothed.

In 2004, the gang went to Vegas for Halloween.  Obviously, there are a ton of songs about Vegas but the album that comes to mind and brings back vivid images of driving around on the strip is Green Day's American Idiot.  Probably because it was one of the few CDs the whole group could tolerate.  Also, it was a fun album to get ourselves revved up for drinking and acting a fool in the hot tub.






Obviously, I could go on and on but I fear I'd run out of room.  Besides, I want to hear YOUR musical memories, too!