Text: Fusion Staff | Photo: Courtesy of KLAQ
The longest running street festival in town is back and taking over the streets of downtown once again for another summer of fun. The El Paso Downtown Street Fest takes place June 26 and 27 and will feature 5 stages this year. The music usually gets rolling with that local flavor, but always closes out with some big names on the main stage—Queensryche, Cheap Trick, Bush, All American Rejects and Three Days Grace have all been part of the festivities and provided blow out performances. This year, rock giants Weezer and Rob Zombie take over the headlining spots, guarantees another memorable pair of nights for downtown El Paso—get ready for crowd sing a longs and the sea of endless devil horns at the main stage. The festival has been an El Paso staple for many years and is always on point when it comes to awesome outdoor partying.
So much new music and fresh sounding bands were breaking into the mainstream in the 90s and an influx of good bands respectively became rocks tars. With the help of MTV (they used to show videos kids!) popular videos for “Buddy Holly” and “Black Sunshine” helped define the sound of 90s—which was all over the place and could be as unique and weird as you wanted to be. The 80s were gone with its hairspray and neon lights, and the 90s were in full swing—it literally felt like a new era. The 90s had so many new genres and people were helped to a buffet of variety.
With 9 albums under their belt and a Grammy for best music video in 2009 for the song “Pork and Beans,” Weezer have come a long way and are still shredding after all these years. Originally from Los Angeles, CA, the band took off after their self titled album, often referred to as the Blue Album, came out in 1994 and was part of that post glam-rock era that was murdered by Nirvana a few years before that. The current line-up for Weezer has been together since 2002’s Maladroit when bassist Scott Shriner joined the band—previous bass player Mikey Welsh was in the band long enough to only be on Weezer’s 3rd album from 2001 often referred to as the Green Album; original bass player Matt Sharp was in it for the first 2. The bands last album from 2014 called Everything Will Be Alright In the End shows they still have that special magic and the songwriting is still strong. Did you catch their headlining spot at Burgerama this year? Don’t miss their set at the Street Fest.
Rob Zombie is a veteran rocker that started out with his band White Zombie in the mid 80s and broke into the mainstream in the 90s due to the success of the bands 3rd album La Sexoristo: Devil Music: Vol. 1 and its skull crushing lead single “Thunder Kiss ’65.” The song’s heavy guitar intro became an instant head bopper and everyone knew what to do when the drums kick in—rock out hard. It’s one of those songs that is instantly recognized. Zombie’s obsession with cool old flicks is undeniable borrowing quotes off the movie Faster Pussycat! Kill! Kill! Fir the bands 1st single. As a solo artist Zombie continued to bust out dark heavy rock anthems such as “Dragula” off of his debut solo album Hellbilly Deluxe. His last album from 2013 Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor and its lead single “Dead City Radio and the new Gods of Supertow” continues on with that traditional heavy sound Zombie is known for filled with creepy tones. Zombie’s contribution to rock music in the 90s definitely cements him as one of its most icon figures providing consistent rock radio hits to this day.
Don’t miss out on this year’s double dose of 90s alternative rock. Rob Zombie plays on Friday the 26th and Weezer the following day, both under a night sky filled with fireworks.
