I came here to correct him on this and yes, Father of Mine and I Will Buy You A New Life, the definitive Everclear Divorced Dad/Deadbeat Dad anthems are both on So Much for the Afterglow
"It would be cool if young people wanted to revive Gen X’s hatred of rampant consumerism. Or its devotion to authenticity and disdain for selling out. But instead they just want the t-shirts. No one cares about the part about being against Corporate Rock Whores, just the part that says Nirvana."
Young people are absolutely doing this, just in a different way to Gen X. Leftist politics are soaked into so much of underground music, engagement and awareness is a must now. The idea that younger generations are in any way apolitical or unengaged with regards to consumerism or capitalism just isn't true.
But it looks different now. There's no money left in the corporate machine for developing artists to siphon off. Even if they wanted to sell their entire artistry to The Man. What does Selling Out mean now? Getting you on a couple of Spotify playlists?
So they adopt a workman like attitude to the industry. If you gotta get on TikTok to get paid, you take it, if you need to turn to Patreon or brand deals to get paid, you take it. That's not Selling Out, it's sink or swim, either do what you can to make money in the industry or just accept you're a hobbyist. That's why they don't fall in line behind the same slogans and mantras as Gen X did, because it makes no sense in the light of 2025.
There's no robust, healthy parallel alt music industry for younger generations now like there was in the 90s, so they do what they must.
Something about your interview with them has me correcting my thoughts about Everclear. I wasn’t a hater and have enjoyed their radio hits since their release, but I guess I never considered them….Artists. Which really makes me kind of a-hole. Listening to their albums in the last month, and I can definitely hear the punk in the music.
This isn’t the first time I feel better about a a band I had kinda passed off for mediocre pop fun. Holy shit, maybe the next level of nostalgia is….respect/appreciation/reverance? I can’t think of the right words. But it’s something about understanding.
In 7th grade I got a Nirvana shirt at Target or a similar store. That wouldve been probably 1997. It was not the cool one, it was a white t-shirt with a black and white photo of the band, which I settled for because it was the only option in the big box store, and I was in 7th grade.
Everclear was my original favorite band. I’m happy some cool artists like Kevin Morby, Waxahatchee, and Liquid Mike have covered their songs/shouted them out in interviews the last few years. I actually saw Liquid Mike a few weeks back while wearing the Everclear shirt I bought at their show in the summer of 2001.
I used “pale green stars” as a username on the early internet for many years. “Summerland” is still so fucking good. What a record.
Father of Mine was on Afterglow wasn't it
I came here to correct him on this and yes, Father of Mine and I Will Buy You A New Life, the definitive Everclear Divorced Dad/Deadbeat Dad anthems are both on So Much for the Afterglow
Interesting piece as always Dan.
"It would be cool if young people wanted to revive Gen X’s hatred of rampant consumerism. Or its devotion to authenticity and disdain for selling out. But instead they just want the t-shirts. No one cares about the part about being against Corporate Rock Whores, just the part that says Nirvana."
Young people are absolutely doing this, just in a different way to Gen X. Leftist politics are soaked into so much of underground music, engagement and awareness is a must now. The idea that younger generations are in any way apolitical or unengaged with regards to consumerism or capitalism just isn't true.
But it looks different now. There's no money left in the corporate machine for developing artists to siphon off. Even if they wanted to sell their entire artistry to The Man. What does Selling Out mean now? Getting you on a couple of Spotify playlists?
So they adopt a workman like attitude to the industry. If you gotta get on TikTok to get paid, you take it, if you need to turn to Patreon or brand deals to get paid, you take it. That's not Selling Out, it's sink or swim, either do what you can to make money in the industry or just accept you're a hobbyist. That's why they don't fall in line behind the same slogans and mantras as Gen X did, because it makes no sense in the light of 2025.
There's no robust, healthy parallel alt music industry for younger generations now like there was in the 90s, so they do what they must.
Great read!
-a Josh from the 90s
Something about your interview with them has me correcting my thoughts about Everclear. I wasn’t a hater and have enjoyed their radio hits since their release, but I guess I never considered them….Artists. Which really makes me kind of a-hole. Listening to their albums in the last month, and I can definitely hear the punk in the music.
This isn’t the first time I feel better about a a band I had kinda passed off for mediocre pop fun. Holy shit, maybe the next level of nostalgia is….respect/appreciation/reverance? I can’t think of the right words. But it’s something about understanding.
Also, ‘Plowed’ still kicks ass.
In 7th grade I got a Nirvana shirt at Target or a similar store. That wouldve been probably 1997. It was not the cool one, it was a white t-shirt with a black and white photo of the band, which I settled for because it was the only option in the big box store, and I was in 7th grade.
"Future of the past." Love this phrasing. Great read. Thanks.
Everclear was my original favorite band. I’m happy some cool artists like Kevin Morby, Waxahatchee, and Liquid Mike have covered their songs/shouted them out in interviews the last few years. I actually saw Liquid Mike a few weeks back while wearing the Everclear shirt I bought at their show in the summer of 2001.