I saw Dreams So Real open for The Replacements at the National Guard Armory in Nashville in 1986, I think it was. (Also saw Guadalcanal Diary at that same venue, with Government Cheese opening. Great show.)

More New Wave/Post-Punk in my book, though I do love the band. (But then I'm a huge Big Country fan, too.)

More New Wave/Post-Punk in my book, though I do love the band. (But then I'm a huge Big Country fan, too.)

Undertones and Wreckless Eric both a little too off-model for me. I'll give those Boston bands a shot. (I'm familiar already with Dumptruck and Big Dipper and Real Kids; Cavedogs I know by name only, and never heard The Rings.)

Undertones and Wreckless Eric both a little too off-model for me. I'll give those Boston bands a shot. (I'm familiar already with Dumptruck and Big Dipper and Real Kids; Cavedogs I know by name only, and never heard The Rings.)

Considered mentioning The Go-Gos in Misc, but decided against it. I dearly love Guadalcanal Diary, but they're more straight-up southern college-rock to me (though I did almost include them).

Considered mentioning The Go-Gos in Misc, but decided against it. I dearly love Guadalcanal Diary, but they're more straight-up southern college-rock to me (though I did almost include them).

Wasn't aware of them; thanks. I tried to find some good Boston-based acts, but that scene tended to skew more towards punk and garage, on the whole.

Wasn't aware of them; thanks. I tried to find some good Boston-based acts, but that scene tended to skew more towards punk and garage, on the whole.

Never heard that before! Thanks.

Never heard that before! Thanks.

Yeah, Material Issue misses because of era (though I mentioned them in the Shoes section). Dramarama doesn't quite fit, but I'll check out Code Blue, thanks.

Yeah, Material Issue misses because of era (though I mentioned them in the Shoes section). Dramarama doesn't quite fit, but I'll check out Code Blue, thanks.

No, but they could've been mentioned in the section with the other non-power-pop "fellow travelers," like XTC and Nick Lowe.

No, but they could've been mentioned in the section with the other non-power-pop "fellow travelers," like XTC and Nick Lowe.

Oh man I loved Sex Clark 5 back in my college rock days. Thanks for The Beckies tip; I'll check 'em out.

Oh man I loved Sex Clark 5 back in my college rock days. Thanks for The Beckies tip; I'll check 'em out.

Both dBs and Let's Active (and Sneakers, their mutual parent band) are under Advanced, on Page 3.

Both dBs and Let's Active (and Sneakers, their mutual parent band) are under Advanced, on Page 3.

Check the Misc, on page 3.