The Accidents

Subterranean Homesick Too
by Scott Hefflon
Produced by John Totaro of The Accidents & Howard Cook of Euphoria Sound.

The social commentary of Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues” has now been updated by the Accidents. The hook line “The times they are a changin'” has been modified to “Hey, I think it’s time for a change.” The video is gimmick-ridden, star-studded, filled with gaudy clothing, Miami Vice camerawork, and flashes more sub plots than a daytime soap on fast forward. In other words, it’s a ’90s satire of it’s own “music” biz. That and it’s non stop MTV entertainment.

The video follows the song, offering juicy visuals for each topic, jumping to the garishly dressed band smiling and jamming in their poster-filled shoebox, and then back to the storyline. The yuppy bankers refusing the musician a loan (not a sound investment, eh?) turn out to be Tom Brewitt of The Jigsaws and Pete Sutton of The Barney’s. The phone sex vixen/singer’s girlfriend is played by Dana McDonald from The Tam/TT the Bear’s. WMFO’s Mikey Dee leaps around with a guitar, clad like Rick Nielson of Cheap Trick, and WAAF’s Carmelita says “Blah Blah Blah.”

Shelley Carey, model, assists Charles Laquidara from WBCN in surgically removing the wallet from the trusting and anesthetized singer. A Kodak moment: John Totaro and music madman Willie Alexander bum change from the hot shot socialite played by Chris Porter (Presto Records, Middle East and Last Safe Booking Agent and all around workaholic stress case) who rolls his eyes and makes a pitiable contribution to the street musicians. Ah, such sweet irony. The fast-paced montage is the clearest tongue in cheek parody since Spinal Tap.