A couple weeks ago while messing around on Facebook I ran across a post from an acquaintance that announced that day was the 20th anniversary of the release of Attention Please, the 2nd major label release from Caroline’s Spine.
My first thoughts were those of disbelief and denial as there was no way I was that old. At the time of the Attention Please‘s release I had already lost count of the number of Spine shows I’d been too. I had pretty much memorized all of the stage banter and I was firmly entrenched in the Wisconsin branch of the “Spine Family”.
This was the era when cell phones were newish, digital cameras did not exist and social media was in its infancy with online bulletin boards and AIM (America Online Instant Messenger). No Twitter, no Facebook and MySpace wasn’t even a thing. There was a Spine Board were my friend Cathy and I got to know other people and our core Spine family expanded. We planned to meet up at shows and discovered we had a lot more in common than just liking the same band. We handed out fliers, hung posters and we were active in the street team. There were sound checks, late night shenanigans and much hanging out during the downtime. Lots and lots of hotel rooms and many, many miles on the road. Sleep was a luxury. Copious amounts of caffeine required.
Many of us became friends beyond “the band”. We’d plan get togethers and each other’s homes and we’d go see other bands when Spine was not around. Today, I’m still good friends with many of those I met 20 years ago. We’ve been there for each other during hard times, even if because of distance, its just a comforting word or two. I know with certainty when the 30th, even the 40th anniversary rolls around we will all still be friends, rocking out to Spine, just with more wrinkles and walkers.
Caroline’s Spine will always hold a place in my heart. I know it might sound trite when I say I love them, but it true. Those years were…good.
Yesterday's Tomorrow Today 