Mr. Moderator

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

Is There a Drummer in the House: What’s So Bad About Max Weinberg?

Oct 212011

Listen, Max Weinberg wouldn’t crack my Top 100 drummers list, but what so bad about his work with The Boss? I know he’s a bit stiff, maybe to say the least, but doesn’t he offset some of his stiffness with powerful kick and snare work and some fierce martial rolls at all the big points The Boss needs ’em? Was it when he dropped his stick at that big concert? Do any Springsteen fans prefer him to the orginal E-Street drummer, David Sancious Vinnie Mad Dog Lopez? Are his limitations magnified because of the large stage he plays?

Is there a drummer in the house (our a would-be drummer)? What’s so bad about Max Weinberg?

Friend of the Hall Andy Shernoff Has Not Forgotten the Day to End All Days!

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 212011

We all had a good laugh on May 21, 2011, when the long-promised Apocalypse did not happen. However, if you weren’t paying attention, that day was only the beginning of the end. The actual end of the world as we know it is due for today, October 21. (Now the timing of REM’s break-up is making sense…)

[NOTE: The following video is NSFW, but after Saturday, will it matter?]

Well, I’m here to tell you that Friend of the Hall Andy Shernoff did not let our temporary sense of relief on May 22nd cloud his mission to keep the world abreast of its impending doom. If you’re over 18 (or at least say you are), you can view his video for his smash hit “Are You Ready to Rapture?” here.

Finally, as we await tomorrow’s likely canceled broadcast of Saturday Night Shut-In, broadcast “LIVE” from San Francisco, you may want to revisit our May 21st episode, one of your Moderator’s personal faves.

Peace Warriors, Here I Come!

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 202011

Lock up your hatas, your skeptics, your cynics, Mr. Moderator is leaving on a jet plane! Stay tuned for some of the most aggressively loving vibes on the Web, including a special “LIVE from the Coast of Loving” edition of Saturday Night Shut-In.

Rock Flicks in Your Recent Rearview Mirror/On the Horizon

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 182011

I finally got a chance to watch Nowhere Boy, the early John Lennon biopic starring Aaron Johnson, the titular star of Kick-Ass, and Kristin Scott-Thomas (as Aunt Mimi) tonight. It was solid. I usually dislike biopics, especially artist biopics, but once this film got past an eddy of Oedipal issues between young John and Julia (Get a room, already!, I was feeling at one point) it stuck to a pretty down-to-earth imagining of Lennon’s late-teenage life and his formation of the eventual Beatles. It certainly helped that the actors portraying the musicians actually knew how to play guitar. As far as Beatles biopics go, I wouldn’t rank it near the best, The Rutles’ All You Need Is Cash, or the most interesting portrayal of early Beatles speculation, 1991’s The Hours and Times, but it did its part to recount some key articles of faith.

I DVR’d this Lennon flick from Showtime. Following the credits there was the above trailer for a new U2 documentary, From the Sky Down, on the making of my favorite album by them, Achtung Baby. This trailer has Recounting of Articles of Faith written all over it! It debuts Saturday, October 29.

What’s the most recent rock flick you’ve seen? What’s the next rock flick you plan to see?

DEAL WITH IT! (Pt. 4)

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 182011

How does this performance by Fleet Foxes make you feel? What most stands out for you in the performance and the editing? What do you think my 3 favorite cuts are? What article of clothing is missing from this performance above all else? What do you like about this performance? I think even members of the Bad Attitude Club would acknowledge some good in this.

I look forward to your thoughts.

SHOWDOWN: There’s Not Room Enough for Two Songs So Stupid

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 172011

The family and I were driving home from a dinner out the other night when Steve Miller Band‘s “Rock ‘n Me” (I had no idea that was the song’s actual title until just now, always figuring it was “Keep on Rocking Me, Baby”) came on the radio. I reached for the dial, mumbling “There’s no need to ever hear that song again.”

My wife loves Steve Miller Band’s Greatest Hits. She will forever give Miller’s catchy, airheaded hits a free pass. “Why’d you change that?” she asked, when I went back to the Classic Rock station, after realizing the radio had nothing better to offer. “You know I like that song.”

“That song’s taking business away from BTO‘s ‘Takin’ Care of Business’,” I replied, “there not room enough for two songs so stupid. One of them has got to go!”

So which dumb-ass 3-chord song gets chopped, “Rock ‘n Me” or “Takin’ Care of Business”?

All-Star Jam

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 162011

As you ponder all those who brought us The Doris Day Show, what are YOU bringing to the Hall?

This All-Star Jam invites you to do your thing.

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