Dude, there is good music out there

A really fantastic tour rolled into Chicago last Friday, and thanks to a wonderful little class called Z302, and this more wonderful little thing called "Iliad," I couldn't go. But, I'm digressing. \nThe show consisted of Cave In opening for Sparta. When I saw those two were touring together, I was awestruck. I had the opportunity once to see Sparta, but seeing as the show was the night I got home from Europe, I passed. And I promised myself that if the band was around again, I'd go. \nAt the Drive-In was an insane band. Fantastic live (trust me). So, seeing as three of the dudes from Sparta were in At the Drive-In, you'd think it would be a good show. Right?\nAnd then, Cave In was the opener. One of the best bands in America. I'm not joking at all.\nFunny thing, though: no one has heard of the band. I mean no one. How many of you reading this have ever heard of them? It used to be a hardcore band. Gladly I said "used to be" because a couple of years ago the musicians figured out they could write real songs and were actually good at it. So now, Cave In sounds like a real band -- an actual good band.\nI actually realized something: there's good rock music out there. I don't know about you, but I can't handle Weezer anymore. The band's first album was good, and Pinkerton was honestly one of the best rock albums of the '90s. But I can't handle Weezer anymore.\nI really like the Strokes, though. I know I shouldn't, but I can't help myself. I've seen them live -- it was the worst show I've ever been to. But I can't stop listening to their record, though. It's so amazing.\nBut back to where I was originally going… there's a legitimate underground rock scene happening in America. Thank God, right? And finally, it's starting to get some attention.\nRemember At the Drive-In. The musicians were like gods of the rock scene forever, and all of a sudden they started getting popular. And then the band broke up. But, as a result, there are two excellent bands: Sparta and De Facto. Ok, I don't really like De Facto either, and I do wish At the Drive-In hadn't broken up either, but I'm just saying.\nThen there are bands like …And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead and the Icarus Line who are starting to get major attention from record labels, especially the latter, whose label, Buddyhead, has all of a sudden gotten cool. Who would have guessed?\nThen you have bands like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club that are one song away from being the biggest band in the world. When you open up for Oasis and Neil Young in the same city (London even) less than a month apart, and right after selling out consecutive European and UK tours, you know something right is happening. Even more exciting is the fact that the musicians are working on new songs as you read this. \nThen there's Cave In, the little band I discovered on a rainy night in Switzerland, and then have obsessed over since. The only band I listen to more than it right now is the Beatles, and that is only because I'm taking the Beatles class. All summer I tried to convince my friends (or anyone who would listen) that Cave In was it. And I actually converted one person. \nAnd, the band just signed to a major label. I'm not really into the whole "selling out" thing. Isn't the point to sell out? I mean, why not get paid to do the one thing you truly love? If someone wants to pay me to sit around my house and watch TV and play video games, sign me up. Is anyone hiring for that? I need a job come May.\nBut this whole thing really has no point. I know that. If you learn anything from this (which I know you won't), just know there's actually good music out there. You just need to look hard (and if you're looking in Bloomington, check out John Wilkes Booze -- that band's bueno).