Mr. Moderator

When not blogging Mr. Moderator enjoys baseball, cooking, and falconry.

The Money Shot: Vocals

Jun 062012

The “money shot,” that big payoff moment… David Bowie provides one of rock’s all-time money shots at the 1:16 mark of “Heroes,” when he jumps up to the higher register. Even rock fans who have had issues with Bowie tend to dig “Heroes,” and I bet even the most down-to-earth, meat-and-potatoes rockers among get a little chill when his vocals leap an octave.

I believe a significant portion of 1980s music was founded on this device, surely not a device Bowie founded but one he drove into our collective conscious. Bono, in particular, has tried to work this money shot move into 75% of U2’s songs.

In future weeks we’ll examine money shot moments featuring other instruments, but today let’s focus on vocalists. What are some of rock’s other most-influential vocal money shots?

All-Star Jam

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jun 052012

Shhhhhh….

$200 a Day Plus Expenses: An Examination of the Local Music Rockonomy

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jun 042012

"Then there's the cut for the bouncer..."

My wife and I have been on a Rockford Files kick of late. We’ve been watching the show on Netflix from the first episode forward. We’re still in Season 1, but man is that show even better than I remembered it.

My wife’s always been a Rockford Girl. She thinks James Garner is the most handsome man ever on a TV series. I used to dig the show as a kid, digging Rockford’s hair, erect shirt collars, and general sense of Mandom, but I didn’t dig him that way. Until this recent kick, however, I couldn’t remember much about the show other than the theme song and his cool car. I thought one of those Cagney and Lacy women costarred with him, but I was confusing it with Rock Hudson‘s ’70s PI show, McMillan and Wife. He wasn’t as hot as His hair hair wasn’t as good as Rockford’s. Speaking of the theme song, does any TV theme song better encapsulate its main character than Mike Post’s classic, which perfectly captures the sound of Rockford’s renegade cowboy of a 1970s PI?

But this isn’t the reason I bring up Jim Rockford’s and his never-changing rate for his detective services. I’d like to engage in a discussion of the local music rockonomy as you have experienced it.

Your Moment of Yes: The Most Dynamic Classic Yes Promotional Video Imaginable?

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jun 042012

It’s your moment of Yes. In the spirit of keeping it nice, let’s take a few moments to appreciate rock’s most affirmative band.

Following is an early ’70s promotional video I’d never seen before. People who don’t know or care much about Yes, like myself, tend to think that the high-energy image the band put forth as they fell under the direction of the Trevors, Horn and Rabin, was contrived. Maybe even longtime Yes fans felt that period reeked of SELL OUT. I don’t know. The following video, however, is almost New Wave in its lighting, framing, and musical miming. Heck, they always had it in them. Enjoy…after the jump!

Rock Town Hall’s Saturday Night Shut-In: What Do Members of That Henry Cow Scene Think About While Eating Breakfast

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jun 022012

Sounds of the Hall in roughly 33 1/3 minutes!

After a brief hiatus of Saturday Night Shut-In your Moderator considers what members of that Henry Cow scene may be thinking while they have their morning breakfast. Chew on that thought as you ease back into your Saturday night routine.

[audio:https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/RTH-Saturday-Night-Shut-In-80.mp3|titles=RTH Saturday Night Shut-In, episode 80]

[Note: You can add Saturday Night Shut-In episodes to your iTunes by clicking here. The Rock Town Hall feed will enable you to easily download Saturday Night Shut-In episodes to your digital music player.]

Last Man Standing: Rock Songs Featuring a Chorus of Kids

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jun 012012

I feel like I’ve been on a reign of spreading bad vibes this week. I get that way sometimes. Sorry folks. As a remedy, I thought I’d share this video for “Happy Song,” by Baby’s Gang, featuring the legendary Boney M. As you enjoy this happy song and turn your thoughts away from issues of mediocrity and downright suck. I thought you’d find even more enjoyment through a Last Man Standing challenge seeking rock songs featuring a chorus of kids.

These songs must feature actual kids, not Yoko Ono, for instance, singing in a child-like voice on The Beatles’ “Bungalow Bill.” Also, despite how childish the songs might sound, they cannot actually be kiddie songs for a kiddie audience. Entries must be serious rock songs by serious rock artists, like Boney M. and his friends in Baby’s Gang, for serious rock fans. More or less.

Chances are other ground rules will develop in mid-competition, but as always, please limit yourself to one entry per comment. Don’t bogart this thread!

Original Suck

Posted by Mr. Moderator

May 312012

Innovators of Suck

In a recent thread I actually found myself defending Dave Matthews Band, within the context of the topic at hand, for “sucking in an original way.” Townsman cherguevarra picked up on this and wondered:

Who are rock’s greatest innovators when it comes to originality in sucking, since often one major component of sucking is being too derivative of other artists?

Isn’t it time we identify and pay homage to rock’s greatest innovators in sucking?

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