When this year's Lollapalooza lineup was announced, rock fans past or pushing 30 were left to deal with conflicting senses of excitement and feeling really old—a chance to see acts like Tool, Jane's Addiction, Depeche Mode, Ben Harper, Snoop Dogg, Ben Folds, and Gomez on the same bill hadn't come around since the mid-‘90s, but the realization that it's your turn to re-live your glory years comes with mixed emotions. On the one hand—hey, glory years! On the other—fuck, that was a long time ago.
That's not a problem for bubble-gum punks Care Bears On Fire, who play the Kidz Stage Saturday and Sunday, as they were still in diapers back when Ænima came out. The A.V. Club caught up with singer/drummer Izzy (13), singer/bassist Sophie (14), and singer/guitarist Jena (15) about the '90s nostalgia boom and the records they've been listening to back when they were a tender young age.
The A.V. Club: Are you excited about playing Lollapalooza?
Izzy: I'm so excited. I've been freaking out, hyperventilating, jumping on stuff. I've been having these scary, feverish dreams of meeting Perry Farrell somewhere, or being in the same room as Of Montreal.
AVC: Which Lollapalooza bands are you most excited about playing with?
Sophie: I cannot wait to see the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I love Karen O.
Jena: Excuse me, I was just petting my cat, so I'm having an allergic reaction. But I really want to see the Heartless Bastards and Lou Reed.
AVC: How does it feel to be playing with a bunch of ‘90s bands?
I: It's really exciting to be a part of history, especially playing Lollapalooza. I was born [the year] Sonic Youth played.
S: It's super-awesome. A lot of the time we play for kids. I mean, we play for all ages, but Lollapalooza is for the older side. I've never been to Lollapalooza, but it should be an older audience.
AVC: What sort of fans do you prefer to play for?
S: I really like both. They're both really different. It's fun to play for adults, because they understand our influences.
I: "You're a little Runaways! Oh, you remind me of Bratmobile!"
S: I think a lot of kids and adults can connect, regardless.
AVC: Is there anyone you wish were playing Lollapalooza this year who isn't?
J: I wish one of Jack White's bands were playing. The Raconteurs played last year, but we missed that.
I: Patti Smith.
S: A lot of people who are dead! Joey Ramone. The Clash.
I: I'd like to see X. I wish X was playing.
J: I wish X was playing, too.
AVC: Why do you think people who grew up in the ‘90s are so excited to see bands like Tool and Depeche Mode?
I: It's always fun to see bands you grew up with. I grew up with the Ramones, so it'd be hard to see them because they're dead. I grew up with Sonic Youth. I loved them from a young, tender age.
S: When I saw Patti Smith, it was a while ago, and I hadn't listened to her recently. It was like, "Oh yeah, I remember this one," I'd heard them all, but I wasn't in love with her yet. And from there, I really re-loved her. It's fun to see a band that you haven't been obsessed with, and be like, "Oh my God, why am I not obsessed with you?"
AVC: Which bands are you obsessed with right now?
J: I can't stop listening to The Woods by Sleater-Kinney. I couldn't sleep last night—I always have insomnia in the summer—so I just stayed up Googling Sleater-Kinney.
S: I love the Replacements right now.
I: My obsessive band right now, I think I would have to say I've been obsessed with X. I love X, and when I was in LA, I kept singing that song, "Los Angeles." I had to sing the song over and over again. My parents saw them when they were in New York—totally unfair. My dad wanted to name me Exene.