Featured Image: (Pacer Graphic / Sophia Philips)

Recently, there’s been a resurgence in nostalgia for older interests. Retro games are popular amongst gamers who became fans of the franchise long after it began. Older movies are being remade or re-released for crowds who enjoyed the original. In the same way that these topics are cherished by their fandoms, garage bands are cherished by the millions of listeners that they made happy over the years.

Garage rock really got its beginnings in the early ’60s, following the domination of Rock n’ Roll in America. After the Beatles and the Rolling Stones swept the nation with their British Invasion, the influence that they left behind would change American music forever. 

Bands like the Sonics, the Castaways and the Stooges would use the impact that the British Invasion left in its wake to climb the ranks and dominate the garage rock scene in America. This type of music would become popular with the younger generation of Americans. As such, it would thrive through the ’70s, despite other genres like pop rock and disco that became increasingly popular as well. 

While garage bands were riding high for years, the ’80s would see the slow decline in the interest of the genre. This would be the case for over a decade. That is, until the end of the millennium came fast in the late ’90s.

The late ’90s and early 2000s would see a resurgence in garage band rock. With bands like the White Stripes, the Strokes and the Killers bringing the genre back, it was clear that this time it was here to stay. With newer technology to make music, these neo-garage bands were able to create new and varying sounds that gave a unique twist to the revived genre. 

This is likely the era that people remember most when they talk about how they miss garage bands. The style of these bands would be what many teenagers at the time would attribute their clothing and attitude to. Older brothers and sisters that were fans of this music would likely show their younger siblings these groups and influence them in the same fashion that they were. 

Garage bands are really a gateway to the past for these fans in their later years. The familiar sounding music reminds them of simpler days when their worries were miles away. In a way, it’s soothing and almost transformative. This is understandable, as at some point we all yearn for the years when we had little to no cares about the days ahead. 

People likely miss garage bands because of the freedom they felt during their youth when they listened to their tracks for the first time. By showing this kind of music to their children, they’re spreading the love that they had for it once upon a time. Listening to it in the current day can make them feel like they’re on top of the world all over again.