One of the most inventive and eclectic figures to emerge from the '90s alternative revolution, Beck was the epitome of postmodern chic in an era obsessed with junk culture. Drawing upon a kaleidoscope of influences -- pop, folk, psychedelia, hip-hop, country, blues, R&B, funk, indie rock, noise rock, experimental rock, jazz, lounge, Brazilian... [+] Read More

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Cool for August formed in Los Angeles in 1993 when L.A. scene vet Gordon Vaughn first teamed with Canadian expatriate guitarist Trevor Kustiak and drummer Shane Hills. After the addition of Maryland native Andrew Shives on bass, the group soon cut a demo tape, but fended off label interest until signing to Warner Bros. in 1995. A move to Atlanta... [+] Read More

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Live rose to chart success on the strength of its anthemic music and idealistic, overtly spiritual songwriting, two hallmarks which earned the group frequent comparisons to U2. Live first formed in the early '80s in their hometown of York, Pennsylvania, when future members Chad Taylor (guitar), Patrick Dahlheimer (bass) and Chad Gracey (drums)... [+] Read More

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After the breakup of Trip Shakespeare, Minneapolis natives Dan Wilson and John Munson joined up with drummer Jacob Slichter to form Semisonic in 1995. An initial EP, Pleasure, was released that year and the studio full-length Great Divide in 1996 on MCA. It was their sophomore effort, Feeling Strangely Fine, that was Semisonic's major... [+] Read More

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A novelty rock band in the same vein as Presidents of the United States of America, but with surf and garage influences instead of the Presidents' punk/thrash background, Smash Mouth found a hit in 1997 with the '50s-influenced "Walkin' on the Sun." The group was formed in 1994 in San Jose, CA, by vocalist Steve Harwell, a former rapper with the... [+] Read More

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Early in their career, Buffalo natives the Goo Goo Dolls were frequently dismissed by critics as mere imitators of the Replacements; however, the band refined and mainstreamed their sound enough to become of the most popular adult alternative rock bands of the latter half of the '90s, selling millions of records to audiences largely unfamiliar... [+] Read More

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Indie-punk subversives the Make-Up emerged from the ashes of the seminal Washington, D.C. outfit Nation of Ulysses, reuniting vocalist Ian Svenonious, guitarist James Canty, and drummer Steve Gamboa (who together also previously teamed in the short-lived Cupid Car Club, M.P. as well as the T.A.M.I. Show). Completing the lineup with bassist... [+] Read More

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Although many mistake alterna-ska punkers the Suicide Machines as being from California, where most of the genre's bands come from, they're in fact Detroit natives. Starting off in the early '90s, the quartet consisted of Jason Navarro (vocals), Dan Lukacinsky (guitar/vocals), Royce Nunley (bass/vocals), and Erin Pitman (drums) and released... [+] Read More

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Falling between Hootie & the Blowfish and Live, Third Eye Blind's catchy and melodic post-grunge made the group's first single, "Semi-Charmed Life," into a hit in the spring of 1997. The San Francisco-based quartet consisted of Stephan Jenkins (vocals), Kevin Cadogan (guitar), Arion Salazar (bass), and Brad Hargreaves (drums). After earning an... [+] Read More

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The acoustic jam band Vertical Horizon was formed in 1991 by Georgetown University undergrads Matt Scannell and Keith Kane; after graduation the duo relocated to Boston, and in 1992 self-released their debut LP There and Back Again. Non-stop touring followed, and soon the group was opening for bands like the Allman Brothers, Better Than Ezra and... [+] Read More

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