I must ask one of those questions that seems really dumb but may possibly demonstrate the sort of rock insight that's characteristic of our special powers as Townspeople:

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I still regret not buying one of these things, which E. Pluribus Gergely can attest to my nearly buying one day, many moons ago.

As I once stated, the vest may be the only unnecessary piece of clothing cooler - at least in concept - than the poncho. However, as with the poncho, the vest has proven extremely difficult to apply to rock 'n roll fashion.

Although my posts are usually known for their diligent, thorough research, I'll state up front that I haven't taken the time to research the first instance of a rock 'n roll artist featuring a vest. I would bet that vests first crept into rock fashion through country music. Cowboys in Westerns wear a type of vest, right? A highly unscientific stroll through my mind, however, tells me that vests first caught on among rock 'n rollers in the mid-60s, possibly through American garage bands.

As I first thought about this piece, the following image of this famous rocker and His early band sprang to mind:

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Link: http://www.indiemusicforhaiti.com

Fellow Townspeople, I come before you one more time as an honest supplicant, begging your favor and craving your collective indulgence on behalf of a devastated nation, still reeling from the effects of disaster.

You may remember about a month ago, my company co-sponsored a benefit concert for victims of the Haiti earthquake, at which we raised nearly $6,000. What I don't think I told you then was that the artists at the show were being filmed by a multi-camera HD film crew, and that they'd be edited together by some of the finest editing professionals in the DC area. The idea was that these performances would form the "seed content" for a Web site that would allow unsigned bands and artists to share their music with the world, while urging listeners to donate to the charity of their choice.

Well, many weeks of volunteer work later, we have a Web site: http://www.indiemusicforhaiti.com. Now, we need your help. If you're a musician, we want you to help us populate the site with great music -- and we want you to spread the word about the place with fellow bands and musicians. If you're an avid listener, we want your eyes and ears. And Haiti, of course, would appreciate your money, if you have any to spare.

Like most projects, this one has come down to the wire, and -- though the official news release was issued this morning -- we're still making a few tweaks to the content submission process. These enhancements should, among other things, allow musicians to submit links to YouTube and Vimeo videos, rather than sending us the video files themselves. If you're interested in showcasing your music in support of a good cause, I'd suggest waiting until this evening (ie, the evening of March 10, 2010), by which time all our final content submission tweaks should be turned on.

In the meantime, I urge all Townspeople to check the site out. There's already a lot of great music up there for you to enjoy -- including a track penned and performed by yours truly, with the able assistance of Paul Garisto, drummer for the Psychedelic Furs! (To see this and other tracks not displayed on the front page, click the "all media" button in the upper right hand corner.)

Thanks, townspeople. As always... I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSES.

HVB

I am proposing that musicians in the Halls of Rock participate in perhaps the most daunting thread ever: Rock Town Hall's First Annual Talent(less) Search: My First Demo.

Details follow the jump.

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Another long-suffering musician commits suicide, opening new opportunities to explore the signs of his downfall in his lyrics. An old music-scene friend whose deadpan humor was a set-up for truly good times passes through town and plays a last-minute show. Thomas Newman, brother of Randy [CLICK HERE to see that I've already been corrected about this blatant inaccuracy - it was noisy in the kitchen while I was trying to hear this interview the other day, sorry], is interviewed on NPR regarding his Oscar-nominated score for some movie, probably Up. Did you know Thomas Newman talks nothing like brother [CLICK HERE to see that I've already been corrected about this blatant inaccuracy - it was noisy in the kitchen while I was trying to hear this interview the other day, sorry] Randy?

We've long been aware of the pitfalls of the Sincerity Fallacy, but let's face it: there are times now and then when even the most enlightened among us like a little sincerity.

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In our recent RTH Confessional thread detailing Rock Crimes we've committed over the years, Townsman cherguevara confessed to owning and playing on stage a set of Simmons drums. Then he offered to organize a Simmons/Steinberger jam session.

We may be set with our aesthetically clueless band's rhythm section, but can we construct a band with the (aesthetically) worst collection of gear ever? Please be specific, and feel free to provide links to the offending pieces of gear.

Word is that Ace Frehley takes umbrage with my characterization of him as the KISS member who most benefited from makeup. His people report that he especially objects to my insinuations that he was once the most cowardly member of the band.

To refute insinuations of Frehley's timid place within KISS, we have been provided with video record of the band's appearance on Tom Snyder's Tomorrow show, an appearance on which Ace showed the night owls of the world who had the biggest personality in rock's most supersized band.

Note how Ace distracts from the serious legacy building that Gene Simmons was working to construct. You know Gene's thinking it's time to devise a new character/band member.

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Let he who is without a Rock Crime record cast the first Rolling Stone!

Whether your personal Rock Crimes are big or small, we know you've committed at least one. If nothing else, you were born with original an Rock Crime. It's time you 'fess up and come clean with a Rock Crime you've committted. Those who confess and apologize will be granted immunity. Those who continue to run from The Truth will be suspects in the next sweep of the Nebraska Manhunt!

How many bands has Sammy been in?

Six degrees of separation got me to this YouTube performance of "A Whiter Shade of Pale": Hagar Style.

Neil Schon has a pretty cool (if heavily '80s processed) tone one this, even kinda does a "Little Wing" part at the beginning.

I just looked this up on Wikipedia and it looks like this live version was actually the single (they recorded two live shows, removed the crowd noise and used the tracks for their "studio" record).

Is that all there is?

I never liked KISS - in fact I couldn't stand them - but like all rock-loving kids in the '70s, the first time photos leaked of the band members without their mighty makeup, I snatched up a copy of whatever magazine and took a peek:

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