Blast from the Past: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones Let's Face It

Does anyone listen to the radio anymore? Now I'm not talking about clicking on WOXY while you're sitting at your computer, I'm talking about tried and true terrestial radio. Are you all doing the whole iPod or CD thing in the car now? Do you ever really listen to what they're selling us on commercial radio?

I listen to the radio fairly often, every time in the car at least, and when I'm not listening to WFMU (a listener supported station) I generally tend towards this new station in New York known as WRXP (101.9 for those searching the dial at home). The new station's boast is that they are "The New York Rock Experience" playing popular rock bands and local New York bands like the up-and-coming MGMT or Grizzly Bear. I shit you not this is what they peddle and they seem really proud of it. Matt Pinfield or Nick Carter are truly boastful when they play a set of local artists who they are trying to "break" in the mainstream.

Now the thing is, they don't even play these artists very often instead we get to hear the mainstays of 90's alternative radio like Fastball or Jimmy Eat World or The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. In fact for the past week it has seemed like every time I get in the car I am treated to a rousing rendition of "The Impression That I Get". And I truly loved that song back in 1997 when it was played every 10-minutes on MTV and every radio station in the world. I loved it so much that I bought the album Let's Face It and saw The Mighty Mighty Bosstones a couple of times and they were a fun ass band to see live. People danced like I have never seen them dance at a concert before. But that was back in the last revival of ska music, a time most of us look back and scoff at. It was fun but it probably should have stayed there.

The problem is everyone is too scared to try news things these days. Instead of pumping the latest single from Grizzly Bear they will play the new tune from Green Day a thousand times which, if you pay any attention to the internet and music criticism, you would know is a big mistake! Indie music is thriving in the same way alternative music thrived in the 90's on smaller labels that tried to move a few thousand units instead of a few hundred thousand units. Now they are getting people to buy tickets to shows and download tunes from paid for services like eMusic.

If only radio could catch up to this, and the funny thing is WRXP probably represents the best bet in the biggest market for the change. They have started playing some acts occasionally like Vampire Weekend and Miike Snow that are not your conventional artists but they need to shift more. Bands like The Mighty Mighty Bosstones are okay to be played during a novelty show or once every six months for the rest of the time leave the air time to something fresh and new and you'll witness some good things happen.
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - "Te Rascal King"
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - "The Impression That I Get"
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - "Another Drinkin' Song"
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones - "1-2-8"