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Watch the above YouTube to hear (or, most likely, rehear) NRBQ‘s classic “Ridin’ in My Car.”
Then, when you’re finished with that, click here for a stream of the new cover by She & Him.
Your thoughts please.
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Watch the above YouTube to hear (or, most likely, rehear) NRBQ‘s classic “Ridin’ in My Car.”
Then, when you’re finished with that, click here for a stream of the new cover by She & Him.
Your thoughts please.
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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.
Continue reading »


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:
This question is likely to be a Hobson’s Choice for many of you, but I think it’s important that those of you who feel this way contribute. Considering that the term song held little weight in the glory days of progressive rock, our most song-oriented Townspeople, who may have an aversion to this subgenre of rock music, may be best qualified to help determine the answer to this question…Once and For All!
I’m torn between a couple of Yes songs that may be helpful in starting this discussion, but I’m thinking the following may be met with the least resistance for at least beginning this dialog.
Continue reading »
In the March 19 issue of Entertainment Weekly there’s a record review for Hands, a new album by an artist known as Little Boots, that is shockingly devoid of musical content!
The reviewer’s name is Melissa Maerz, about whom I know absolutely nothing. It goes without saying that EW is not the sort of magazine a music lover’s music lover like myself should fret over for lack of musical content, but at least I think my beef is justified as a bathroom reader’s bathroom reader. Check out the mini-review, which I’ve copied in full, after the jump, and see if you can spot any actual music references. Continue reading »
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I was out to dinner with some friends and fellow Townsmen last night, and Townsman machinery, who’s never yet launched a thread in the Halls of Rock said, “Here’s what I’d like to know: when we talk about the greatest guitarists in rock, why does no one ever mention Neil Young?” He acknowledged that his playing is simple, but that his solos are so identifiable and have so much feeling.
I realized this tied into something I’ve been thinking about: solos that get it.
Continue reading »
Why didn’t I learn about this stuff the year I lived in Hungary? I’ve come across a boatload of Hungarian rock ‘n roll videos from the ’60s through early ’80s, and I’ve got to share some with you. It’s our Magyar Retro All-Request Weekend, and this first number goes out to my main Townsman, dbuskirk!
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This next one goes out to General Slocum. I imagine that the bass part is something he would have dug as a teenage boy living in Budapest in the mid-70s.