Lutz Vipinderwoman , I was'nt on the GPHO from the very start , because I was'nt on the internet, yet. I first joined , around 2008. I was'nt knocking the Hideout , then or now , and I said nothing about or against Kopp , either. It's entirely believable that St. Louis has /had a more "Solid" garage scene than Chicago. Gonn played there , I know. I also know that would have never happened , here (Though I tried to make it happen a few years ago.). I'm not putting down your local bands , if most of them had the right gear , and the right attitude , that's great. It just so happens, here in Chicago , even our best Garage or Garage - oriented bands of the past 25+years got very little local support. But , I've seen other bands that were terrible , and , generally , they've been very well - liked , in spite of having virtually no 60's influence at all. This is what passes for "GARAGE', here. There is'nt much interest for this kind of music , from local or national acts.
THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS , of course , The Gories sold out a two night stand ( I opened the first night.) , it was their first attempt at a two - nighter since reforming. But , when I first saw them , here , in 1990 , I was the only person in front of the stage , while the rest of the crowd were cowering in the very back. In recent years , I've seen The Fleshtones (Whom I first saw in 1984 , and I may have missed three times , since.), Cynics (Whom I've missed probably twice in 28 years.) and The Woggles (With whom I've been friends for many years. I've missed them once since about '94 , only because I was playing on a Norton Records/Hurricane Sandy relief benefit show.) , all these bands and others who deserve better , I've seen play for 30 - 50 people at times. I've seen all the bands you mentioned either two or three , or several , times , with the exception of The Mummies.
I followed labels like Get Hip , Sympathy , and Goner, Crypt (Though I was only a fan of some of their new bands.), from the late 80's on. Also Voxx/Bomp and Midnight before them. We still owe Greg Shaw a debt . When most people talk about the 90's Garage movement , they mainly mean Estrus. I followed them , too , but , with the exception of The Brood,Woggles ,Waste Kings and maybe a couple of others , I'm not so into 'em , now , but , they got things done.
I've been into this stuff since 1980. I did go to THE CAVESTOMP THREE YEAR IN A ROW. Same for The Ponderosa Stomp. Others , like The Vegas ROCKAROUND , I did at least once. I've always been very supportive of the original Garage bands. Moreso than most. I've interviewed several , and even become friends with quite a few of them. Cavestomp , to their credit , also procured current and 80's era bands that delivered the goods.only seen a couple . So , no , I DON'T THINK IT IS , OR WAS , A TRENDY THING AT ALL. BUT , IT BECAME MORE OF A BANDWAGON - HOPPING THING , LATER. But , that could all change.
.... I DID'NT INTERPRET YOUR ORIGINAL COMMENT AS BEING NOSTALGIC , BUT , IT'S GREAT TO HAVE ZINES , WEBSITES , AND THE LIKE , TO REFER TO A TIME THAT WAS DIFFERENT , NOT NECESSARILY BETTER , THAN NOW. CHICAGO JUST DOES'NT HAVE THE SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR THE REAL STUFF , LIKE DETROIT , SAN FRANCISCO , ATLANTA , AND , I BELIEVE YOU WHEN YOU SAY , ST. LOUIS. I've done my bit to get the word out. I've DJ'ed , promoted shows, played out , written articles. I don't knock others , if they're just getting into this stuff , now. Why would I? I was'nt trying to be cocky. I genuinely enjoy this music , as anyone who knows me will attest.
I'm not here to argue with anyone. I could get on Facebook if that's what I was after. I was just trying to offer you some feedback Take care , John.