L to R: Dennis Wilson, Al Jardine, Brian Wilson, Mike Love, and Carl Wilson, Hawaii, late August 1967; Bruce Johnston missed the trip as Brian decided to go. Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Corbis Images.
Aug 302012
Mr. Moderator
Aug 272012
Left to right: Mod, Conan, Sammy.
Stick with me for a few minutes, OK? I want to tell you about some cool behind-the-scenes workings that sammymaudlin and I experienced a few weeks ago, during a taping of our first appearance on Conan. First, it may be out of our jurisdiction, but I’d like to issue an official RTH SUMMONS for the show’s host, co-host, band members, and crew to join us in the Halls of Rock.
I’ve long suspected that Conan O’Brien would make a fine Townsman. He’s got a self-deprecating sense of humor, for starters, which helps when any one of us decides to duck away from work or family responsibilities for a few minutes to chat about an obscure record label sampler album or the role of the headband in rock. As many of you know, there are times when we find ourselves taking this stuff a little too seriously, at which point it helps to know the joke’s on us.
Conan’s always been comfortable with the musical aspects of his show, from his rapport with his always excellent band (originally the Max Weinberg 7 [?] and now known as Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Band) to his enthusiasm for his musical guests. I remember the night he introduced The Soundtrack of My Life, a band I’d not yet heard, with the anticipation of a teenage boy ready to rock. Thirty seconds into their performance I extended a virtual high-five to Conan to share in his appreciation for the band’s ability to tap into the Power & Glory of Rock. I bought the album the next day. Another time he had one of my heroes, Nick Lowe, on with Conan’s his band backing him up. It was magic. I had tears of joy streaming down my face, and it was all the better knowing Lowe was performing this magic under Conan’s watch and not some soulless asshole like Jay Leno. (Leno strikes me as one of those guys who doesn’t actually hear or perceive the qualities in music. Yeah, I like all kinds of music, he’d say, shrugging his shoulders unconvincingly. As a side thread in whatever discussion ensues, Quick: Name an album Jay Leno may actually own and know!)
In recent years Conan has been more open then ever about his love for rock ‘n roll: buddying up to Jack White; performing with White and others on his NBC show’s farewell; and as I was lucky enough to witness, popping up on stage to sing “My Bonnie” with The Fab Faux, the awesome Beatles cover band featuring Vivino. Whenever I’ve seen Conan onstage playing music it’s a kick. He’s not a “real musician,” but he’s clearly in heaven whenever he gets a chance to play onstage with real musicians. It’s a feeling with which many of us can identify.
I don’t know about Andy Richter‘s tastes in music, although I’ve read his is rumored to have appeared in the film Tommy. Regardless, he makes me laugh my ass off. If he’s got any rock nerd chops I could see him working under alexmagic‘s wing. It’s easy to register, Andy.
The story behind our appearance on Conan (indisputable proof can be seen here) still amazes me. My wife, boys, and I were a couple of days away from our grand West Coast tour. We were at the kitchen table running through the itinerary. “We should have looked into getting tickets for a taping of Conan,” I said.
“I’ll try Quinn,” my wife said, “she knows everyone!”
Aug 272012
Despite a horrible album cover, as discussed previously here, “Duquesne Whistle,” the first track released from Bob Dylan‘s upcoming Tempest, is pretty good. Check it out here.
The song sounds nothing like the album cover! I only wish Bob’s beyond-repair voice was mixed a little lower so I could better enjoy the groove the band cooks up behind him.
Aug 262012
I read that Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon, died on Saturday. In celebration of his feat, an event I remember watching in the middle of the night with my family in some hotel room in Ocean City, New Jersey and then falling out of the top bunk in my sleep later that night, let’s have a Last Man Standing for songs specifically about travel to the moon (or at least into space, where the traveler will at least pass the moon). The song can’t simply be about the moon; someone’s got to be going there, living there, what have you.
Aug 242012
Mixed emotions.
Last July the Philadelphia Phillies acquired talented, quirky outfielder Hunter Pence from the Houston Astros. His arrival was hailed with all the promise Phillies fans had become accustomed to since the franchise’s revival, which first showed signs of rebirth with the 2004 signing of Jim Thome and fully arrived during the team’s 2008 championship season. Pence was yet another reason for fans to buy Phillies merchandise and hold in going to the bathroom while the home team was at-bat.
The 2012 schedule announced a Hunter Pence Bobblehead Night. What better player to commemorate in bobblehead form than the animated Pence, right?
The only problem with this grand giveaway is that Pence spent the first half of the 2012 season choking on the bit before getting traded to the San Francisco Giants 3 weeks before his bobblehead night. Attendees received their bobblehead with mixed emotions. I was a little bugged that night by having to lug around my box holding a Phailed Phormer Phillies player. I complained about this the other day, while feeling severely frustrated by a recent Beach Boys thread.
Sensing my frustration, Townsman alexmagic offered a recipe for lemonade that I will share with you:
Mod, your earlier comment about going to last night’s game made me wonder if there’s a “Hunter Pence Bobblehead Night” of rock. As in, tours/albums/songs/album covers heavily featuring the image or input of a departed band member (though I think we’d have to rule out recently deceased band members, since they would be kept on in tribute, not weird shame).
I suspect you will agree that this is an important topic to explore. I look forward to your thoughts.
Aug 242012
Let’s face it, E. Pluribus Gergely had an especially poor showing in the Halls of Rock this summer. He wasn’t alone, but in past years the anticipation some of us have held toward the man’s summer break and expanded schedule for giving (and taking) shit has paid off in spades. Not this summer, though. EPG, we hardly knew you!
Word is he was tied up fending off competition in his side business to attend to our needs. There’s a new kid cutting in on his turf, and he won’t have it. That’s his business, though. Our business takes place right here. Earlier this week I held his feet to the fire.
I’ll be seeing the man tonight. Before the summer slips into fall he has promised to field questions and concerns from us. Either he will answer directly, in the coming days, or I will summarize his responses for you. You may simply have a few words to say to him, not so much a question or concern. That’s cool, too. Don’t miss your chance to engage with this charming fellow before his summer break is over.
Townspeople Helping Townspeople Cease Feeling Like Idiots About Rock-Related Things They Should Know
Aug 232012
On a recent episode of the best show on WFMU, The Best Show on WFMU, host Tom Scharpling made an aside about all the years he’s spent feeling like an idiot for not knowing how to pronounce the last word in The Clash song “White Man (in Hammersmith Palais).” I knew exactly where he was coming from. I’ve loved that song for 33 years, yet despite my pride in knowing just enough French to get myself in trouble by trying to use it when I’m over there, I’ve always resisted pronouncing it “pal-ay.” It’s an actual concert hall in London, I presume, so for all I know the Brits butcher the word, as they seem to do with most French words, and comfortably pronounce it “palace.”
To avoid sounding pretentious I’ve always referred to the song, when it comes up in conversation with friends, as “White Man in Hammersmith Palace—or whatever it’s called.” Folks, I’m tired of feeling like an idiot. Can someone assure me of the proper pronunciation?
If you’ve been hiding your ignorance of some rock-related thing you really should know by now, we’re offering a judgment-free window to pose your deep-seated point of ignorance and stop feeling like an idiot around your rock-nerd friends once and for all.
