Dude. I MISSED it.

So, I just heard that the Gin Blossoms were the featured musical act yesterday at the "Taste of Peoria."

Now, I've done the "Taste" before, and it was pretty good -- but, with work and rehearsals ganging up on me this week, I figured I could probably take a pass on it this year. Too many other irons in the fire. But then, we get a visit from one of our station reps this morning, and she's asking about it (I guess there were brochures in her hotel room last night.)

Now, I'll confess up front that I wasn't cool enough to have been a fan "back in the day." I couldn't be bothered at the time with something as common-denominator as popular music. But I vaguely remember hearing some of their songs during my irregular stints as a Triple-A host in my first radio job, and some of their stuff has turned up on collections and compilations I've picked up in the last few years. I don't know that the Gin Blossoms are my FAVORITE band, but I love their sound: the upbeat tempos, the messy guitar sound, the angsty lyrics. It's good stuff, and I'm kicking myself for not having paid more attention when I could have.

I figured I'd missed any chance of actually hearing them, since as far as I knew, they'd been borken up for a while. Turns out that's not the case: They got back together about five years ago. There's even a new album, released last year. And, judging by their website, they're still touring regularly -- playing bigger gigs than just food festivals in Peoria, too.

Had I known that they were going to be in my freaking back yard, I would have made a point of catching the show. I would have bailed on rehearsal, if necessary. ("Uhhhh, yeah. It's Nathan. I'm sick.... I think it's one of those 24-hour tumors that's been going around. See you tomorrow night.")

But I missed the boat on this one. Dang. On the other hand, it looks like they're playing a gig in Minneapolis the weekend I'm supposed to be there. Maybe I'll get another shot.

But for now, I may have to suck it up and shell out for the CDs.