College Times

Media Credit: Photos.com

Most self-proclaimed music experts from my generation would have you believe that their highly-refined taste in music is a product of both nature and nurture, that they were weaned on only the best – Tom Waits wafted through their nurseries, Sonic Youth was a fixture in their moms’ Astro Van’s tape-decks, they received a cassette of Nirvana’s Bleach on their third birthday and immediately declared grunge ‘old news’ – but I’m not one of them.

Hell, I’m hardly a music expert at all – I just happen to enjoy it, and possess the ability to write about – so whether it’s my novice stature in the music world or just my complete lack of shame, I’m willing to reveal the biggest musical influence of my childhood.

There’s something to be said for All 4 One and Boyz II Men, staples of my yearlong R&B kick in the early ’90s (and champions of both numerals of words and, in the case of the latter, the utterly extreme!!! Usage of the letter “z”), and I would be remiss to neglect Raffi, but there is one group that captured my heart more than any other: The Rock-afire Explosion.

For me, Showbiz Pizza birthday parties were my own personal Woodstock. Greasy pizza was my mind-altering drug. My knuckle-head friends were my dope-smoking hippie brethren. And a group of singing, dancing animatronic animals were my Sha-Na-Na.

Unfortunately, after Showbiz Pizza was bought out by Chuck-E-Cheese in 1991, it wasn’t long until the Explosion fizzled out.

Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon and Kurt Cobain were all right, but to see the likes of Billy Bob Brockali, Dook LaRue and Fatz Geronimo take the stage once again would be like a warm, comforting hug from the omnipresent arms of God himself.

So, imagine my shock and excitement when I learned of a feature-length documentary about The Rock-afire Explosion set to be released this Fall, a “where are they now?” kind of picture. I can’t adequately describe its glory – it’d be blasphemous to attempt to do so – so you’ll just have to watch the trailer yourself.
Not only that, but some awesome programmer is keeping the group alive, as The Rock-afire Explosion have recently performed songs like Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie”, MGMT’s “Electric Feel”, (who conversely featured the group in their official video for the song) Huey’s “Pop Lock and Drop It” and in inarguably the greatest video ever uploaded to Youtube, Usher’s “Love In the Club”.

Needless to say, I am indescribably excited to see more from this true super-group, and possibly (dreamers may dream) see Rock-afire Explosion in person once again. Maybe I’ll use and abuse my music press credentials to score backstage passes!

(In advance: Dear beloved girlfriend: nothing happened between Mitzi Mozzarela and I. We were just talking, I swear.)

Article Tools