Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Every Real-Life Band That Played The Bronze – Screen Rant

The numerous real-life bands that played the Bronze in Buffy the Vampire Slayerserve as a perfect time capsule to the 1990s, and highlighted up and coming talent.The beloved series, which ran from 1997-2003, took place in the fictional town of Sunnydale, California. Aside from the fact that it was sitting directly on top of a Hellmouth, there really wasnt much to do in the ostensibly small town that was also inexplicably large enough to have its own university. Thankfully,Sunnydale had a pretty awesome club known as the Bronze. Theplace may have been a bit lax in terms of carding minors, but it did attract some pretty great bands.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is remembered for a lot of wonderful things: snappy dialogue, clever use of metaphor, epic battles (and romances), and unforgettable characters. One vital aspect of the show that tends to get overlookedis the music. The series has two soundtrack albums, as well several releases showcasing Christophe Becks iconic score, and of course, the soundtrack to the musical episode, "Once More with Feeling". Buffyfeatured music by bands as varied as Rasputina, Azure Ray, The Sundays, and Alison Krauss.As for the Bronze, the local club wouldoccasionallyhost musicians way too famous to stop off in Sunnydale, but that doesnt mean it wasnt delightful to see them become a part of the Buffyverse.

RELATED:Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Whedonverse Universal Slayer Theory Explained

While there were many real-life bands that played the Bronze, Four Star Mary was the band behind Ozs fictional group, Dingoes Ate My Baby and THC was responsible for the music of Verucas band, Shy. Members of both bands could be seen at times on stage at the Bronze along with the fictional musicians played by actors.Four Star Mary also appeared in Restless as the band in Giles dream. Also, there was a rare, non-Bronze performance from Bif Naked, who played a few songs at UC Sunnydale in season 4.

Aside from winning the award for Most Excellent90s Band Name Ever, Sprung Monkey has the immense honor of being the first band to play the Bronze. They appeared in the pilot, Welcome to the Hellmouth, performing "Believe", but several other songs can also be heard as events unfold.Sprung Monkey's music was featured in a couple of other season 1 episodes as well. The band, who originated in San Diego,was active from 1991-2002, but reunited in 2005.

Superfine played the Bronze in season 1, episode 4, Teachers Pet. Their song Stoner Love can be heard, but I Already Met You is much more prominently featured while the Scoobies hang out. The track also appears on Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Album. Frontman Rob Grad was the bassist for 90s rock band Kik Tracee beforejoiningSuperfine, which he left in 2010.

Season 1, episode 5, Never Kill a Boy on the First Date, was one of many episodes in which Buffy struggled to maintain some semblance of a social life without her calling get in the way. Of course, dating Owen was disastrous, but while the two were at the Bronze, L.A.-based trip-hop band Velvet Chain played Treason and Strong. The latter was also included on Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Album.Velvet Chain were such big fans of the show that in 1999 they released The Buffy EP, which includedtheir own take on a sort oftheme song called "Buffy (She's the Slayer). Seth Green played guitar on the track.

RELATED:Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Everything The Show Changed From The 1992 Movie

Cibo Matto is responsible for one of the most memorable Bronze moments. In the season 2 premiere, When She Was Bad, Buffy took her issues out on Willow, Xander, and Angel. Her flirty dance with Xander wounded them all in one fell swoop. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Nicholas Brendan are both great, but it'sSugar Water by Cibo Matto that makes the scene work so well. Another track from the band, Spoon, can be heard as well, before Buffys now-infamous dance. The band, whose name means "crazy food" in Italian, was formed in New York City in 1994 by Yuka Honda and Miho Hatori. They were later joined by other members, including Sean Lennon.Cibo Matto went on hiatus in 2002, but reunited in 2011.

Anotherimportant Bronze moment is Spike seeing Buffy for the first time, which happens in season 2, episode 3, School Hard. Nickel played the club, performing their songs 1000 Nights and Stupid Thing, from the album of the same name. Its during"Stupid Thing" that plays when William the Bloody catches his first glimpse of the Slayer. Unfortunately, despite their undeniable contribution to this monumentalBuffymoment, Nickel didn't do much after their appearance on the series.

Appearing in season 2, episode 15, Phases, Lotion played the Bronze just before Oz wreaked havoc as a werewolf. Theyperformed Blind For Now at the club and their music can be heard in season 3 as well. This Manhattan-based indie band was formed in 1991 and has opened up foramazing musicianssuch as Pavement, Frank Black and the Catholics, and Mercury Rev. They broke up in 2001.

Splendid has played the Bronzetwice. They performed Charge in season 2, episode 19, I Only Have Eyes for You, as Buffy came, saw and rejected a potential suitor. Splendid returned in the season 4 premiere, The Freshman, playing You & Me,as Xander gave Buffy a much-needed pep talk. The band can also be heard in season 5. Splendid was a musical duo comprised of former husband and wife team, Angie Hart, of Australian band Frente!, and Jesse Tobias, who would go on to work on the musical arrangements with Christophe Beck for Once More with Feeling.

RELATED:Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Every Main Character Who Almost Died Sooner

Bellylove played the Bronze inBuffy'sseason 3 premiere, Anne. The band performed their song Back to Freedom while the Scoobies wondered where Buffy had gone. Bellylove formed in L.A. in 1998 and remain active to this day, though their sound hasevolved over the years, as drummers have come and gone. Founders Lisa Rae Black and Toni Valenta have been constants despite lineup changes.

Darling Violetta performed in season 3, episode 3, Faith, Hope & Trick. They played their song Blue Sunas Faith danced with the vampire briefly known only as Disco Dave, as well as a track called Curewhile the Scooby Gang got to know Faith a little better. Based in Hollywood, Darling Violetta was active from 1997-2009. Theband took their name from the salutation used by Bela Lugosi in his correspondences with his mistress, actress Violetta Napierska. Darling Violettaalso wrote and performed the theme song for Buffy the Vampire Slayers spin-off, Angel.

Another unforgettable Bronze moment came in season 3, episode 16, Doppelgngland. Ks Choice played their song Virgin State of Mind, which fit the scene perfectly, as Vampire Willow entered the club in the main timeline. The song was also included on Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Album. Ks Choice is a Belgian band formed in 1994. They have had several musicians come and go over the years, with the core members being siblings Sam and Gert Bettens. Ks Choice was active until 2003, though they did reunite in 2009.

The long-awaited reunion between Spike and Drusilla took place during theBuffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel crossover, Crush, which was season 5, episode 14. Dvics played their song Key as Dru killed a couple so she and Spike (who had a chip in his head) could drink them together. Another L.A. band, Dvics formed in 1993, but have been largely inactive since 2006, as members Sara Lov and Dustin OHalloran have been pursuingsolo careers. "Key" appears onBuffy the Vampire Slayer: Radio Sunnydale.

RELATED:Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Why "The Body" Is The Best Episode

Michelle Branch appeared at the Bronze in Season 6, episode 8, Tabula Rasa, playing her heartbreaking ballad, Goodbye to You. The song soundtracked several major eventsin Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Tara left Willow, Giles left town, and Buffy kissed Spike for the second time. Branchs song expertly conveyed the complex emotions at play in the episodes final scenes without the characters uttering a word. The singer-songwriter has been active since 1999 and formed The Wreckers with fellow musician Jessica Harp in 2005. They have since disbanded, but Branch has continued to release music as recently as 2017.

Both Virgil and Halo Friendlies played the Bronze in Season 6, episode 9, Smashed. The former was performing at the club when Willow and Amy arrived. Virgil played their songs Parachute and Vermilion Borders. However, once the two witches started altering the Bronze and its inhabitants to their liking, they decided the band could use a change. Thegroup that appeared in place of Virgil was Halo Friendlies, whoperformed the track Run Away. Virgil was formed by Andrew Paul Woodworth in 2000, while Halo Friendlies were an all-girl pop punk band from 1998-2004.

Oneof thebestbands to survive the 90s and continue releasing great music in the years that followed, the Breeders appeared on Buffy the Vampire Slayer because sisters Kim and Kelley Deal are huge fans of the show. The band played the Bronze as Dawn danced with R.J in Season 7, episode 6, Him, performing two songs off their excellent album, Title TK, Little Fury and Son of Three (Viva). The Breeders had previously released a cover of Nerf Herders Buffy theme song and had also been playing the track on tour for months when Kim Deal herself called to negotiate the Breeders appearance at the Bronze. They would go on to record the theme song themselves for Radio Sunnydale.

Angie Hart was previously mentioned as one half of the pop duo Splendid, who appeared at the Bronze twice. However, Harts solo appearance in Season 7, episode 7, Conversations with Dead People, deserves its own entry. She performed the track Blue, which was co-written with Joss Whedon. The song bookends the episode, acting as the glue that binds the events of this season 7 standout together. Hart also sang backup vocals along with Amber Benson's Tara on "Under Your Spell" in "Once More with Feeling". She has appeared on the series more than any other musician, and "Blue" can also be found onRadio Sunnydale.

Related: Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Why Warren Is The Show's WORST Big Bad

Legendary singer-songwriter Aimee Mann played the Bronze in Season 7, episode 8, Sleeper. Along with her band, she performed This Is How It Goes and Pavlovs Bell from her incredible 2002 album, Lost in Space. The latter also appears onRadio Sunnydale. As the band played,Spike killed one of the vampireshe'd unknowingly sired while under the control of the First. The vamps dusting caused them to stop playing, but only for a moment. On her way off the stage, Mann can be heard saying, Man, I hate playing vampire towns. She is the only real-life musician to have had any lines on the show. After getting her start in the 80s band Til Tuesday, Mann launched a very successful solo career. She has appeared in films and TV shows such as The Big Lebowski and Portlandia, and recorded songsthat largely defined Paul Thomas Andersons stellar film,Magnolia.

Fans may not have loved Willow and Kennedy as a couple, but it was Aberdeen who soundtracked their first unofficial date at the Bronze in Season 7, episode 13, The Killer in Me. The band played the songs Sink or Float and Cities and Buses. This American twee pop group formed in 1992 and Sink or Float was featured on the UK version ofRadio Sunnydale.

Appropriately, the last band to be seen at the Bronze is the very same one who composed Buffy the Vampire Slayers theme song. Nerf Herder played in Season 7, episode 19, Empty Places and Dawn joked they might be one of the signs of the apocalypse. They performed "Mr. Spock and Rock City News as Faith took the potential slayers out to blow off some steam. The inventors of nerdcore, the band formed in Santa Barbara, and were together from 1994 -2003. They reunited in 2005, and their last album was released in 2016.

NEXT:Buffy The Vampire Slayer: How The Finale Was Teased In Early Season 7

90 Day Fianc: Is Libby's Dad A Slumlord?

Jamie Gerber is a writer for Screen Rant, The Quiz and Psycho Drive-In. Despite getting her English degree years ago, she cant seem to leave her job at the comic shop. She has an obsession with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and enjoys bullying people into playing the Buffy board game. Her crushes include Michael Fassbender, Nightwing and the cartoon fox from Robin Hood. She takes far too many pictures of both her dog and her horse, and prefers spending time with them to hanging out with actual human beings. Jamie loves all things pop culture and believes her life would be meaningless without a soundtrack. She aspires to write about the things that she loves at a job that can support her massive Thai take-out addiction.

See the rest here:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Every Real-Life Band That Played The Bronze - Screen Rant

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero