Alternative is defined as "available as another possibility." In no way, shape or form does this hold truer than the magical and transformative medium of music. Whether it is the original, the spin-off or the combination of the two, alternative music is an umbrella that can hardly contain all of the artists who truly belong under it. This column will feature all of the above, from the originals to the spin-offs, to the bands and artists who are partially covered by the umbrella, but still have one arm getting caught in the rain.

     For a perfect example of what I'm talking about, let's take the last three songs from my iPod shuffle this morning: "Making Flippy Floppy" by the Talking Heads, "Alive" by Pearl Jam, and a head-banging cover of "Bulls on Parade" by up-and-comers Perpetual Groove. Without even thinking, these three songs, in order, represent alternative music at its core, throughout its growth, and its position in music today.

     With this being my first piece for The Inside Connection, we will start with the first band, one whose place is solidified in alternative, rock and punk, to name a few: the Talking Heads.

     The Talking Heads are one of the true pioneers of punk music, along with the Ramones, Sex Pistols and others. They are also one of my favorite bands. Why? Simple: Because no two albums are the same; because they bridge rock, punk and pop without blinking an eye; because David Byrne has dance moves that in my mind are on par with the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

     In other words, the Talking Heads represent music that is "available as another opportunity." They came along at a time when music was changing, and represented a voice about love, life and politics, while smashing genres together in their hands much the way a 4-year-old would do with their dessert.

     Pearl Jam came along a decade after some of the Talking Heads' most influential and popular work, during the period known as grunge. They were a band unique unto themselves, which is something essential to growth, but also rooted in tradition. However, they are no less alternative than the Talking Heads. They are also a different option, a band that does not conform to standards and changes as easily as a circus clown's makeup. For example, Ten, their first album, represents a raw, passionate portrait of a young band trying to break from their mother's grasp. They have not yet learned to fly on their own, but have several different ideas about how to try. Ten is their first attempt and soars beautifully, reaching the ears of many along the way. And thus, the collective crowd is born.

     Almost 15 years later, Pearl Jam has emerged as a dissonant voice that sings about many topics, among them love, life and politics. Sound familiar? How the tables have turned. The Talking Heads are now gracefully aging parents, understanding what their children are doing, observing from a distance while knowing that they were once there.

     Like the punk movement, the grunge era also produced an offspring of bands, more wild-eyed and eclectic than ever. The common thread is still their roots to the generations that paved the way before them.

     Perpetual Groove not only bridges punk and alternative music, but also jam band, pop and electronica as well. If you do not know the name now, you should check them out, for you surely will in the future.

     Their version of Rage Against the Machine's "Bulls On Parade" is just as ferocious and full of thumping bass lines as the original. However, while sounding completely different from the Talking Heads and Pearl Jam, they are, in fact, a combination of both. They are the proverbial grandchildren who have not only grown up with Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine and Nirvana, but also sat on the laps of the Talking Heads, and listened to stories of a time and place long ago. PGroove also plays a cover of the Talking Heads' "This Must Be the Place (NaÔve Melody)." See what I mean? The influences are there, but again have a voice of their own. One that invites and challenges new audiences, but reminds them to read about their grandparents, for they did more than just walk five miles to school through a snowstorm. They rocked. Hard.

     So remember to eat your vegetables, respect your elders and study up—because this column, too, will prove to be "available as another possibility."