The 1990s was a simpler time in the world. Before the internet was huge, and before everyone had a cell phone. Before apps, downloading, WiFi, and streaming. The rock music seemed a bit more genuine in the post Nirvana second half of the decade especially and even the bands with hits, didn’t have a hard time being sincere while making catchy rock music for the masses. For four years the annual Summerland Tour has been the traveling home to this party tour that still knows what you did last summer, and every time. Summerland 2016 featured all returning bands from previous tours, each one capable of headlining this show any day: Sugar Ray, Everclear, Lit, and Sponge. Sponge opened the proceedings and had the shortest set, but they have always been one of the best and most underrated live acts to come from that era. Lit followed with their infectious pop-rock and closed with their biggest hit, ‘My Own Worst Enemy’. Everclear has led this tour several times and the depth of their set list always proves their credibility to this day. Led by Art Alexakis, the band plays hit after hit and still goes pretty hard nightly. Smash radio hits (when radio was radio still) may have softened the fury that Sugar Ray once had in their youth. But you can’t deny the catchiness of the majority of their songs or the fun they bring. Even though they eschewed some of their stronger originals for some odd covers on this tour (EMF and The Ramones) one can’t deny that this music just smacks of warm nights, cold beers, and good memories. Caught and captured for Ghost Cult in Las Vegas by Jesse Lambert of Arch Angel Studios, you can see why year after year the Summerland Tour still packs em in!
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