1993—The Year Dad Rock Cemented Its Legacy

Steve and Keith crank up the time machine to 1993, revisiting the year where grunge, alt-rock, and indie collided in an explosion of creativity. From late-night dorm radio at WGSU to the first season of Beavis & Butthead, they uncover the cultural threads that tied their formative music experiences together. This episode is packed with tales of Chapel Hill bands like Superchunk and Archers of Loaf, discovering Quicksand’s Slip alongside Helmet and KMFDM, and the unforgettable oddity of Ween performing on MTV Spring Break hosted by Pauly Shore.

The duo also dives into seminal albums from 1993 that continue to hold a special place in their hearts:

• In Utero by Nirvana, a raw and unfiltered masterpiece.
• Vs. by Pearl Jam, where rock met introspection.
• Siamese Dream by The Smashing Pumpkins, anthemic and lush.
• Slip by Quicksand, blending post-hardcore and alt-metal.
• Boces by Mercury Rev, a kaleidoscopic psych experiment.

They touch on genre-defining moments like Rage Against the Machine’s politically charged fury, the rise of Beck’s Loser, the enduring mystique of Tom Waits’ The Black Rider, and Phish’s Rift. They also review the latest from The Cure: Songs of a Lost World.

Tune in and take a trip back to 1993, when dad rock was evolving, and The New Dad Rock was just beginning to take shape.

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In Episode 92 of The New Dad Rock, Steve and Keith take a deep dive back into 1992, a year that arguably defined the dawn of dad rock. This was the year that grunge hit mainstream radio, MP3s were born, and Lollapalooza was the place to be, with acts like Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Ice Cube, and Ministry. As they journey through memories of late-night concerts and cheap beers in Central Park, they reflect on iconic moments and albums that shaped the era.

Steve and Keith remember wild concerts like GWAR’s chaotic "America Must Be Destroyed" tour and the second Lollapalooza. They relive the sounds of bands like Nirvana, whose rise was unstoppable, and reflect on albums that have become dad-rock staples like Automatic for the People by R.E.M., Eric Clapton’s Unplugged, and Dirt by Alice in Chains. They also touch on lesser-known gems: The Afghan Whigs’ Congregation, PJ Harvey’s Dry, and Sonic Youth’s Dirty.

With their usual banter, Steve and Keith bring the sounds and vibes of ’92 back to life, giving a tour of the soundtrack of their youth—when Pavement, Radiohead, Beck, and Rage Against the Machine were just beginning to shape the musical landscape. So, pop in your earbuds and take a trip back in a time when rock was raw and dad rock was just getting started.

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In this episode of The New Dad Rock, Steve and Keith are joined by special guest Bryan to dive deep into the transformative year that was 1991. The trio revisits the incredible six-week period that birthed classics from Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and uh Garth Brooks

They take aim at the beginnings of the grunge movement, starting with Temple of the Dog, the supergroup that paid tribute to Mother Love Bone's Andrew Wood and united future legends like Chris Cornell and members of Pearl Jam.

As they revisit key albums like Pearl Jam's Ten, Soundgarden's Badmotorfinger, and Red Hot Chili Peppers' Blood Sugar Sex Magik, they also touch on U2’s Achtung Baby, R.E.M.’s Out of Time, and Smashing Pumpkins’ debut Gish. Bryan shares his unique insights on Temple of the Dog and how 1991 set the stage for what would become a monumental era in music.

Other highlights include discussions on the first-ever Lollapalooza, the dominance of Queensrÿche’s Silent Lucidity, and how A Tribe Called Quest’s Low End Theory redefined hip-hop. The episode also pays tribute to the music legends we lost that year—Steve Clark of Def Leppard and Freddie Mercury of Queen.

Tune in as Keith, Steve, and Bryan reminisce about 1991, when college radio stations like 89.3 WGSU were spinning the sounds of a new generation, and the world witnessed the meteoric rise of Nirvana and Nevermind.

Let us know what’s up.

Support the show

Did you know that The New Dad Rock has swag? Coffee mugs, pillow and t-shirts in a multitude of colors and arm lengths.