Happy Tuesday! Happy Birthday, Robby!
Impersonality (The Dragonfly, 2/4/95)
Full Forever (Electric Factory, 11/6/98)
Stand Alone (unreleased)
Burnin’ Up (Detroit, 3/7/07)
Road To Salinas (Chicago, 1993)
Hey (Tacoma, 4/26/96)
Different Light (Live At The Carwash, 6/3/93)
It’s a party up in here!
I chose this version of “Impersonality” because John makes a really sarcastic remark at the beginning about how they’re a corporate rock band, except this was in 1995 before “Name,” so it’s a really interesting way to hear him being disparaging.
Nicole: “do not let that asshole john steal robby’s thunder today”
FINE. It’s difficult, though. He’s very needy.
I chose this version of “Impersonality” because Robby is AWESOME, and he says he wrote it for his little sister, and that’s cute. And then all the assholes in the crowd start chanting for “Up Yours.” Look at that, Goo Goo Dolls fans have always had entitlement issues.
“Full Forever” is probably the song of Robby’s I most miss hearing live. It’s one of my favorite tracks off Dizzy, period.
“Stand Alone” was originally supposed to be included on A Boy Named Goo, but it and George were dropped simultaneously. “There was a time I felt like dying / Now I’m glad that time has gone / ‘Cause tonight we’re gonna live forever” is one of my favorite lines anyone in this band has ever sung. Even if you’re one of those people who is all, “Oh I don’t like Robby’s songs because he isn’t all dreamy and sensitive like Johnny and his infinitely deep soul of passion and swoon swoon swoon,” I would recommend giving this a listen anyway. It’s weird, because if this song had been included on ABNG, it would have been one of the softer songs on the album. There’s no point in playing hypotheticals, but I really do think this song could have been a neat follow-up single to “Name,” and if that had happened, it would be a whole different ballgame, brother.
“Burnin’ Up” is a recent rendition of an older song, which is something I dig. I like that sort of anachronism, hearing a song you associate with one era performed in another.
“Road To Salinas” is maybe my favorite song Robby has ever sung. It is sometimes my favorite song the band has ever released. Here is a live version.
“Hey” live in Tacoma. Great audio quality, and Robby and that other dude whose name I forgot sound good when they sing together.
And “Different Light,” because I want to hit lots of albums with one NMT-shaped stone. Can you tell that I’m really over Gutterflower? It’s been a long month.
And then a wonderful two-part interview that Nicole recorded off WBNY back in August. This interview is great because Robby talks a lot about his radio past, and he and the DJ discuss mutual friends and experiences and all sorts of other stuff I haven’t heard him talk about before. And they talk about other stuff that I don’t remember because I haven’t listened to this since August, but we can all listen together tonight, and it will be awesome. :)
Happy Birthday, Robby! I love you a lot, even if I named my domain after someone else. Your dedication to your hometown makes me desperate to live somewhere I am fiercely passionate about, your myspace messages saved my life, and you give great hugs. Keep on keepin’ on. We appreciate it, dude.
Note: I only post songs that are live, unreleased, not in finished form, or no longer available to be purchased new anywhere. Please support the band by buying all available recordings as you are able to.