Welcome back for more Groundscore!

My first exposure to Mandy Moore was in 1999 at Fantastic Records outside of Rochester, NY. I used to go there to pick up old vinyl for $0.50 a pop (back before I knew what crate digging was).

Fantastic used to put promo freebies in a basket next to the exit, and one day Conrad and I came across a curious cassette single by an unknown artist named Mandy Moore. The most fascinating thing about the single was that it came in a flip-top box just like a pack of cigarettes.

It wasn't long before Mandy was on TV singing her single -- Candy -- and reaching into the hearts of pubescent boys across America. I didn't have cable back then so I never saw Mandy's music video for Candy, but I know it inspired Conrad to write this song.

Mandy Moore by Groundscore [ 1:26 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

On this one, Conrad's singing and playing guitar, Zach's playing bass, and I'm playing drums.

And if you're wondering, the answer is yes -- those pictures are of a still-wrapped copy of the Candy cassette that I've saved all these years. I'm not sure why. I never even listened to the song until today when I found it on YouTube.

BTW, if you watch the music video, prepare to get creeped out! Moore's only 15... which wasn't weird back when Conrad and I were 17, but nowadays it makes me uncomfortable. They've got her saying some pretty suggestive stuff while she's staring longingly into the camera. (EWW!)

But don't worry -- next week, I'll take a break from bubblegum pop stars and give you a good dose of old fashioned teen punk with "My Best Friend's Mosh Pit"!

Okay! I'm gonna do something a little different here for the next couple months and feature some music by an old band of mine, Groundscore.

Long before I ever made instrumental music and hip hop beats as Nik Furious, I was part of a teenage pop punk trio. We originally named ourselves Bambi Lives, but had an identity crisis along the way and changed our name to Groundscore.

We called ourselves "the rotating power trio" because we'd switch instruments during our performances and recordings. My best friend Conrad Knapp played drums, guitar, and occasionally bass. Our new friend Zach Wendell was a mega guitar whizz who sometimes switched to bass and very occasionally drums. I played bass, drums, and a tiny bit of guitar. We all took turns singing (but Zach was the best).

However, on this first of eight songs I'll be sharing with you, no one sings. In fact, this was the only instrumental track on our eponymous self-produced debut album. At the time, we called it "Nick's Instrumental," but I've decided to rename it "Bambi Lives" in honor of our original moniker. Give it a listen!

Groundscore - Bambi Lives [ 0:34 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Though it's obviously not a substantive song, it's a teaser of things to come! As for the credits, I know Conrad is playing the drums, and I think that's me playing bass. Guitar is where this one gets a little tricky because this was just a practice track during our recordings. It could have been anyone one of the three of us!!!

Anyway, be back here next week for a Conrad Knapp ditty about love, loss, and a cheesy 90s pop star... a song called "Mandy Moore"!!!