The current Mrs. Brand, when she was but an object of my capering, introduced me to Sign O' The Times. First time I kissed her was to the strains of Terence Trent D'Arby's Wishing Well, as we waited out the rain in my car parked in front of her apartment.
My cassette of Judas Priest...Live! alienated many an acquaintance, and Document ended my disdain of R.E.M. A Momentary Lapse of Reason kickstarted the resurgence of Pink Floyd and led to the first Roadtrip Date with the aforementioned Mrs. Brand.
I saw U2 in what was really their last stripped-down tour and their first real arena tour that year. It was the year the True Believers toured with Los Lobos, culminating in a ridiculous Austin Aqua Fest that included Jason and the Scorchers, the Ramones, the True Believers, Los Lobos, and if I'm remembering correctly, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Roy Orbison among many others. It was also the first SXSW, and the Chronicle Music Awards that year featured a guest performance of Ooh La La by Ronnie Lane, backed by the True Believers with Richard Lloyd. It was not recorded, so it is now only a memory for those of us who were there.
