What was it about the Summer of 1993 that led a number of alternative bands to deliver the best single of their careers? Perhaps it was the musical climate of the times when you had MTV broadcasting both 120 Minutes and Alternative Nation, or the fact that nearly every major market had a rock radio station that propelled alt acts into the mainstream. Whatever the reason, that summer rocked.

R.E.M., The Replacements and The Cure opened the doors for crossover hits, but the Grunge movement led every major label A&R rep to try to find the next Pearl Jam. Fifteen years later alternative has turned into indie, and many of the bands that were big in ‘93 are still drawing fans by playing the songs that broke them big that summer. This week’s B List takes a look at my favorite songs from the Summer of ‘93. READ ON for 10 fantastic tunes from the likes of Primus, Cracker, the Juliana Hatfield 3, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and many more…

For the third summer in a row Jelly NYC will bring their free Sunday Pool Parties back to Brooklyn’s McCarren Pool. While no official schedule has been released the following acts have been confirmed to play - The Breeders, MGMT, The Hold Steady, Liars, Aesop Rock, Black Lips, Deerhunter, Fuck Buttons, Matt Kim, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Team Robespierre, The Loved Ones, Panther, King Khan and His Shrines, & Ting Tings. As soon as we get the dates, we’ll let you know.

If hanging around with a bunch of hipsters this summer isn’t for you, then maybe one of these recently announced tours will be…

• The Sword bring their metal edge to the South and North East (begins: 05/09)
• Psychedelic rockers The Warlocks & Black Angels team up for a lengthy tour (begins: 06/03)
• Do you love rock ‘n roll? Joan Jett definitely does (begins: 05/02)
• Kim Deal’s other band, The Breeders, head out for a cross-county tour (begins: 05/02)
• The Annuals put together a month long June run (begins: 06/04)
• The recently reunited NKOTB begin to line up arena dates (begins: 05/17)

Before we go, here’s one for the aging boomers out there: the third annual traveling Hippiefest hits the road this summer. The bill for this year’s fest will feature some combination of Jack Bruce, Eric Burdon & The Animals, The Turtles, Janis Ian, Melanie and Badfinger depending on which city their playing.