I’ve long held a special affection for The Rentals, and in particular, their 1995 debut album, Return of the Rentals. (Which, by the way, ranks among my 50 favorite albums of all time.) So when I came across this 30-year-old VHS recording of the band performing a stripped down set at a Philadelphia HMV, watching it was a given, even if I was up waaay past my bedtime.
Yes, the performance — which includes “Please Let That Be You,” “Waiting,” and “Friends of P” — is a treat, as is the appearance of Maya Rudolph on vocals. (Rudolph sang and played in The Rentals for several years prior to becoming an SNL cast member). But the video as a whole is a delightful time capsule that makes me want to track down some Chuck Taylors, a pair of Dickies, and a flannel or vintage striped sweater. (As one commenter put it, “The 90’s: When rock stars looked like late night 7 – 11 customers.” Those were indeed the days.)
And yes, at the risk of sounding like a cliché, there is something really nostalgic and refreshing about seeing a crowd of people watching a band perform with nary a phone in sight.