I’m busted. One of my earliest lasting contributions to the internet: my review of the 1996 Portland Cure show.

I had just turned 14 and it was my first time seeing a real show (I don’t count questionable Hood River local rock shows). The Cure was my favorite band, and they’re still in my Top 3 (though the exact position depends on the day). I was there with my best friend (Mayhaw), my girlfriend (Leslie) and my dad (Curt). It was pretty much the best group of friends I could have asked for.

That night was awesome then, and even though some may write off my excitement over it as silly teen follies, I still defend its awesomeness now. It’s one of the best shows I’ve ever seen, although I’m sure it’s mostly because of the time in my life that I saw it. Shows were just better when I was younger. And not to diminish anyone else’s show experiences, but growing up in Hood River and having to go to Portland to see them…it brings an extra element of exoticism to it. This was true for The Cure in July 1996, They Might Be Giants in November 1996 and September 1999 and maybe even the first shows I went to when I moved to Gresham in 2001 like John Spencer and various K Records shows at the old Meow Meow. It’s sad, but seeing shows just doesn’t have the same magic as they did in el days of yore. If I must blame someone for this tragedy, I blame Weezer.

However, I do think my review was pretty cool for a 14 year old. I actually criticized musical elements of the show. I wasn’t just some teen fan saying OMG!!!! (although if I had, I might have revolutionized the internet with that acronym). By then, I was already a Cure bootleg hound, so I knew my Cure shows. I didn’t know much about any other band except They Might Be Giants, but I at least knew my Cure more than anyone else in Hood River, except for maybe Shawn Ewers (who was also at that 1996 Cure show).

So yeah, July 31, 1996 is a day that will live in infamy in my world, and hopefully the few I know who experienced it with me.