Where did I ever put those Doc Martens?

I went to “Mixtape: Boston’s Year in Rock” series on Saturday night at the Rosebud in Davis. Great show, great concept–it was an all-around good time.  The show was held at the Rosebud Grill, which is  behind the diner.

The venue is reminiscent of your parents’ basement: dark wood paneling, tiled ceiling, and high-pile red carpet. But that only added to the garage-band charm of the night.

The concept is to have a few bands play cover songs only from a particular year. For its inaugural night, the organizers chose 1993. A year which is unofficially recognized as one of the best–if not the best–year for rock music.

As a point of clarification, the song could have been released in 1993 OR made its way on to the charts in 1993.

A lot of people dressed up for the occasion. There was a lot of plaid, Doc Martens boots, and I even saw one guy with a Lollapalooza t-shirt from 1993. He wins.

Four bands played, including onw that included my best friend’s boyfriend. I thought they were the best because they had two chicks in the band and they did Liz Phair’s “Fuck and Run.”Even when I was tweleve…

Other songs were Soul Asylum’s “Runaway Train,” “Loser” by Beck, “Heart-Shaped Box” by Nirvana, “Plush” by STP, and “Hey Jealousy” by the Gin Blossoms.

Songs that you used to love and forgot about. Songs that you played while reading Sassy and between watching “Real World” episodes (when it was just slightly more real).

It was practically a sing-along; everyone in the place yelling out the words to their once-favorite songs all together and mostly out of key–as it should be.

There were also a few surprises. One band, fresh from playing some Pearl Jam, jumped right into “Gin and Juice” with a skinny, white, nerd boy busting out Snoop Dog’s lyrics.

Totally awesome.

And there was a rendition of Snow’s “Informer” late in the evening.  If you don’t recognize the title or the artist, just click on that link. You’ll recognize the hook. Check out his shirt in the video too.

The organizers are promising another Mixtape show soon, though the year has yet to be determined. Wherever it is, I’ll be there.

Here’s a list of the bands that played:

• The Luxury
• The Rationales
• St Helena
• Exile in Somerville