I had multiple people come up to me on Saturday night just to mention my age. It was honestly a little awkward. Things like “Wow! You seem too young to be here” and “What era of music do you usually listen to?” The truth is, I was in my element on Saturday night. I was born in 1989 (you can go ahead and do that math) and grew up in the 90s. The ’90s alt-rock scene was the soundtrack to my childhood. I call it Holiday Pool music because of all of the summer days spent at the community outdoor pool with my mom, soaking up the rays (as much as a ginger can) and taking in all of the sounds. I wasn’t as obsessed with music back then as I am now, but clearly, it left a lasting impression on me. When I’m having a rough day or a day where nothing fits music-wise, I often put on a ’90s playlist, and it brings me a sense of calm and comfort. I was thrilled to see that whole era of my life unfold on a stage that feels like home to me these days.

Sponge, the first band to take the First Avenue stage on Saturday night, has gone through a bunch of line-up changes since their start in 1992, but their overall sound has not changed. It was an instant trip back to the ’90s. Their blend of alt-rock with a slightly hard-rock-inspired edge was the perfect way to get the sold-out audience warmed up for the night. I’ll be honest, I didn’t recognize any of the songs that they played, which was a bummer for me as I was definitely at this show seeking the comforting feeling of nostalgia, but I loved how just their sound alone transported me back to when things were a little simpler. Sponge’s set was nothing short of engaging. Vocalist (and sole original member) Vinnie Dombroski brought a high energy throughout the set, but made sure the music was the focal point, not him, and I appreciated that. Sure, I didn’t know any of the songs and couldn’t sing along like many in the audience were doing, but I felt like I had been listening to this band my entire life, making this the perfect way to kick the night off.

Although I recognized two songs from the next band to take the stage. I’m not sure if that’s because I’ve seen them a couple of times over the years or because I recall them from my childhood. Either way, Local H is one of those bands that always leaves me lost for words when I see them live. A duo consisting of Scott Lucas and Ryan Harding (Scott being the sole founding member left), there’s no ignoring the power that these two men bring to a stage. They command your attention and win over your heart with their energy within just a song or two, even if they are not the band that you came to see. Saturday night was no exception to this. Their set felt like a fight in a way —that’s how much power they had and how intensely both men were performing — but, at the same time, it all felt natural. Part of me wants to say that this band came off like they had everything to prove, nothing to lose, but that’s not the perfect way to describe it. Honestly, the only way I can really describe a live Local H show would be to say that it’s like watching two men doing what they were put on this planet to do. They have fun on stage and with the audience, but you quickly catch on to the fact that it is all business with this duo. They didn’t miss a single note and seemed to blast through no less than eighty-seven songs throughout their quick set because they just never stopped. I don’t know where these two get their energy from, but I would love to figure that out.

Both Sponge and Local H were great. They absolutely held their own on stage and had the entire audience lost in a cloud of nostalgia, but I was most excited for the headliner of the night, and there was no hiding it. Everclear is one of those bands that just gets me. Or maybe I just get the band. Either way, I love Everclear. Sometimes I feel like that’s a guilty pleasure of a band, especially when talking to my friends who seem to think the only good music out there is intense music, and let’s be honest, Everclear is far from intense. That being said, there’s really nothing to feel guilty about when it comes to loving this band. They have stood the test of time and have music that, for the most part, radiates positivity and love but comes with an infectious hook that can only be described as ’90s alt-rock perfection or, in my world, the best Holiday Pool music that was ever made.

Saturday night was part of a tour celebrating 30 years of Everclear’s album ‘Sparkle and Fade.’ Let’s think about that for just a second– thirty freaking years. I’ve already alluded to my age in this article, so let’s just state it outright. Thirty years ago, I was six years old. Thirty years ago, this band was making the album that I heard in full on Saturday night. I don’t know why that’s such a hard thing for me to wrap my head around, but it is. Songs like “Santa Monica” and “Heartspark Dollarsign” have been a constant in my life for literal decades, yet when you think about the age difference between me and this band, it’s almost like I shouldn’t have such a strong connection with these songs and this band. Okay, I’m going in circles here, and this may be something only I am feeling as one of the youngest ones in the audience on Saturday, aside from a few kids who had been brought by their parents, but it added something special to the night for me.

As mentioned, Everclear played through ‘Sparkle and Fade’ but threw in some surprises along the way. Some of those surprises were predictable, such as playing “So Much for the Afterglow” and “I Will Buy You a New Life” as part of a three-song encore, but other surprises were just that– surprises. My favorite surprise of the night was when Scott Lucas (the vocalist and guitarist of Local H) came back out onto the stage to help Everclear with an absolutely amazing cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Rock and Roll.” That definitely wasn’t a song I had on my Bingo card, as far as covers that Everclear may do. I loved how this cover not only showed the sheer talent that Everclear has (proving they are more than just a few-hit-wonder ’90s band) but also the playfulness that they still have. Sure, Everclear has been playing this album in some part for the past thirty years, and I’m sure they are kind of over some of these songs at this point, but they still have fun on stage and throw twists and turns into their sets like this Led Zeppelin cover to keep the spark alive.