Mr. Moderator

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

Mystery Date Revealed: Wolf People

May 222012

Will Your Mystery Date Be a Dream or a Dud?

For our latest Mystery Date, Townspeople were in agreement on the track’s general late-’60s blooz-rock vibe, possibly involving druids, yet actually having recorded in more recent times. A few of you cited this song, entitled “Sibury Sands,” as a ’90s recording, but it’s actually from a more recent band called Wolf People. I’ve played a song or two by them from another album on a recent episode of Saturday Night Shut-In. I know nothing about this band, and their Web site tells me little beyond a probable UK origin. Their record label’s artist page may give you a little more background.

I’ve always had a soft spot for late-’60s “Sylvan Rock,” going so far as to ponder how good Jethro Tull may have been had they not, ultimately, kind of sucked. I mean, what if Family had been the missing link in my record collection?

When I first heard Wolf People a couple of months ago I first heard the sound of Sylvan Rock, perhaps as it was meant to sound. They’ve got their share of Tull, Traffic, and oddly, Zombies and Moody Blues in their sound. The band also has some bite, bringing a little Yardbirds firepower and occasionally Beefheart wobble to the table. I guess a number of you have no taste for Sylvan Rock, because I consider Wolf People to be the Dukes of Stratosphear of the genre. For those of you with a thirst for more—and for those of you willing to sit cross-legged in the moss and give the band another try, here’s “Castle Keep,” also from the Steeple album.

[audio:https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Wolf-People_07_Castle-Keep.mp3|titles=Wolf People, “Castle Keep”]

Last Man Standing (Perhaps Our Most Exclusive Challenge Ever): Songs That Clearly Reference the Signature Harmony Guitar Solos in Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys Are Back in Town”

Posted by Mr. Moderator

May 212012

There’s a lot to be said for throwing down a Last Man Standing challenge that results in more than 400 comments. Ask hrrundivbakshi and cdm how it feels to grab so much attention and respect in the Halls of Rock. Short of attempting to break the 400-comment mark, it’s sometimes fun to see if one can craft the most specific Last Man Standing topic, one that even the finest minds in rock discourse have trouble topping after 3 or 4 entries. In that spirit, I’m pretty sure I’ve come up with our most-exclusive challenge ever: Songs That Clearly Reference the Signature Harmony Guitar Solos in Thin Lizzy’s “The Boys Are Back in Town.”

Songs that simply happen to have harmony solos will not be accepted. The harmony solos must be intentionally modeled after the harmony solos in “The Boys Are Back in Town.” Other Thin Lizzy songs that followed that hit may be acceptable; I’m willing to believe a band with so little to offer would have attempted to copy its most successful recording. However, these entries would have to follow “The Boys Are Back in Town,” and they would have to include instrumental passages that clearly ape the signature harmony solo in their signature song.

I can think of only 2 entries that satisfy these criteria. By the powers of the Hall, I cannot tell you what they are unless you first post them—one entry at a time. Now more than ever, don’t bogart this thread! If we come up with more than 2 entries that satisfy these criteria, I am willing to bet $5.00 that we do not come up with more than 5 entries, which may make this the most exclusive Last Man Standing ever. I know you people are smart, but I doubt even you are that smart.

Townspeople, put your brains to work!

Robin Gibb Is Now Dead

Posted by Mr. Moderator

May 212012

Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees died yesterday, 5 weeks following reports of his impending death. I’ve got a horrible knack for occasionally posting inappropriate-if-deeply-personal obituaries, but Robin Gibb’s death saddens me to an appropriate level. The Bee Gees, in my book, were among the Good Guys of Music. I know nothing about who they really were, how they treated the Little People, etc, but their love for music seemed to guide all their weird turns as artists. It’s all about the music, man, and the Bee Gees exemplified that. I mean, what other group of white artists—Australians cum the British Invasion, no less—got through the disco era without charges of “Sell Out?” It was preposterous that this whitest of white, toothy trio would be the Kings of Disco. And they meant it, man.

It’s sad that 3 out of 4 Brothers Gibb died young. Momma Gibb, who I’ve seen in Bee Gees documentaries, is still alive. No mom should have to live through the death of 3 of her sons. That’s really sad, even if I didn’t like the music of the Bee Gees. But like their music I do!

My Mom was so into the Bee Gees’ disco records—and then their astounding contributions to Saturday Night Fever! The Disco Era marked the period in her early 30s when she “found herself,” as we used to say. She grew into her own skin during those really tough years following my parents’ divorce. The girl who used to dance on American Bandstand, as she reminded me she did following Dick Clark’s recent death, was spending her precious free time on the weekends out on the disco floor, looking for Mr. Right, or Mr. Goodbar, as it might have turned out. Getting out for a night of dancing was pure joy for her, something that never made sense to me, but it was cool to hear her talk about her exploits, the guy she met who had “so much rhythm.” As I always feel, it was cool to hear her express her love for dancing to the Bee Gees. At first I’d cringe when she’d put on one of their disco-era records and begin dancing, but eventually her love for the music—and the brothers’ love for making that music—won me over. Thanks for reminding us how to care during the Me Generation, Robin, Maurice, Barry, and now and then even Andy.

A few oddities follow…

Mystery Date

Posted by Mr. Moderator

May 182012

Let’s review the ground rules here. The Mystery Date song is not necessarily something I believe to be good. So feel free to rip it or praise it. Rather the song is something of interest due to the artist, influences, time period… Your job is to decipher as much as you can about the artist without research. Who do you think it is? Or, Who do you think it sounds like? When do you think it was recorded? Etc…

If you know who it is, don’t spoil it for the rest. Anyone who knows it can play the “mockcarr option.” (And I’ve got a hunch at least one of you know this one.) This option is for those of you who just can’t hold your tongue and must let everyone know just how in-the-know you are by calling it. So if you know who it is and want everyone else to know that you know, email Mr. Moderator at mrmoderator [at] rocktownhall [dot] com. If correct we will post how brilliant you are in the Comments section.

The real test of strength though is to guess as close as possible without knowing. Ready, steady, go!

[audio:https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Mystery-Date-051812.mp3|titles=Mystery Date 051812]

On Location

Posted by Mr. Moderator

May 182012

“Rooftop concert.”

That’s all any rock fan needs to hear to envision the bearded, ladies’-coated, windblown Beatles cranking out their final, abbreviated live performance from Let It Be. What other non-traditional concerts in non-traditional locations hold anywhere near as evocative associations?

Dugout Chatter: The Ones That Got Away

Posted by Mr. Moderator

May 172012

It’s time for a little Dugout Chatter, when Townspeople provide gut answers to a handful of probing questions. You know the drill, right? In case you’re not sure, there’s no right or wrong answers, just honest ones. Today’s Dugout Chatter questions will test the honesty of even the most candid Townspeople. Here goes!

What’s the coolest record you just missed buying, or walked away from buying only to regret ever since?
What’s the coolest record you ever lost, or that an old friend once borrowed and never returned (with tremendous regrets to this day, I’m sure)?
What’s the coolest record you ever broke, not necessarily a record you ever owned?
What’s the coolest record you’ve regretted selling/trading, before you appreciated how cool it was?
What’s the coolest record you’ve stolen or failed to return to a library/friend/etc (with tremendous regrets to this day, it goes without saying)?

I look forward to hearing about the ones that got way.

Disco Queen Donna Summer Dead at 63: Feel Free to Say Something Nice About Her Music, Because I May Not Be Able to Do So

Posted by Mr. Moderator

May 172012

"It's got a steady beat and Seth could drum to it."

It’s a shame that Donna Summer died from cancer today at 63 years old. It’s a shame that just about anyone ever dies. She was a major figure in the music world when I was a teenager. She was the undisputed Disco Queen. A part of my youth has died. However, I couldn’t stand the music of Donna Summer.

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