Crucial Music (Volume XVIII: Del Fuegos)

Unless you're seeking some sort of Rolling Stones-like longevity and fame, it would be pretty hard to argue with the career arc of The Del Fuegos.  Their entire career lasted less than a decade: they made some critically-acclaimed records on cool Indie labels, did the requisite beer commercial, did some high-profile tours, broke up amicably, lived, and later got name-checked in an Indie pop song and all lived on to amazing 'second acts'.

They broke out of Boston, signed to Slash Records (home to X, Fear, Faith No More and Violent Femmes) and with their second album--Boston, Mass--reached critical mass.  Lead single "Don't Run Wild" didn't sound like much else in 1985 and people like Tom Petty praised them, probably because they were spiritual cousins.  In a move that a few purists bristled at (before the music/advertising line was regularly crossed and people like Neil Young wrote songs decrying it) they did a series of ads for Miller Genuine Draft. I, for one didn't mind and despite being six years away from legal alcohol consumption made it my 'unofficial' beer of choice.  If The Replacements endorsed a beer, I probably would have drank that as well.  Subsequent albums Stand Up and Smoking in the Fields had ample charms but lacked the spark of Boston, Mass.  I always enjoyed "Breakaway" from Smoking.  And while it was a great 'depth cut' from Boston, Mass, I didn't fully appreciate "Night On The Town" until it was used in the short-lived (and brilliant) TV series Almost Grown.  Of course the creator of Almost Grown would also go on to an amazing stretch later in his career, more on him in the next paragraph.

The band split up in the late 80s but, as I mentioned, all four members not only lived but thrived in second careers.  Lead singer/guitarist Dan Zanes stayed in the game so to speak, he just aimed for a different, less mature audience: kids, his children's records are a perennial favorite with kids and parents and have netted him one Grammy so far.  Dan's brother Warren (guitar) earned two Masters Degrees and a PhD for good measure and works at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Bassist Tom Lloyd also earned a PhD and drummer Woody Geissmann founded a recovery program for musicians and artists.  Oh, and that television producer who used a Del Fuegos song in his fantastic (and therefore cancelled) TV series was David Chase, whose show The Sopranos would go on to brillantly match under-appreciated music with gripping drama.

Comments

[jean b]

I loved the Del Fuegos AND Almost Grown. I wish they'd put it out on DVD... I wonder how it would hold up. I didn't realize it was a David Chase show.

Please don't stop blogging. :p

[ken]

Let's make a deal, Jean: we inform each other if we ever see Almost Grown on DVD. Tim Daly was in it and he'd great in everything. That said, thirtysomething recently came out on DVD.

[jean b]

Besides a lack of interest by anyone but you and me, I wonder if a DVD release would be hindered due to music rights? I remember an awful lot of tunes (e.g. Elvis Costello) in this show. Maybe the cost for the rights to these songs will preclude this series ever appearing on DVD.

And speaking of elusive 80s dramas on DVD: if you ever see Reckless on DVD (Aidan Quinn, Daryl Hannah, Romeo Void prom/black carnation interlude), please track me down immediately. Gracias.

[Brian]

I was a big fan of the Del Fuegos. And that made me like Juliana even more when she dropped them into "My Sister".

Speaking of Dan Zanes, as a parent of a Disney Playhouse kid, it is great to hear some of my favorite bands from high school and college showing up in the shows - Dan Zanes, Los Lobos, and They Might Be Giants.

[Joel]

Dan Zanes has made a huge impact in my house -- simply because my daughter can't stop listening to him. Without a doubt, it's her favorite music, bar none. We saw him in concert, and it was amazing. (Also loved "Don't Run Wild," too.)