Mr. Moderator

Mr. Moderator

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

Please Explain: Motorhead (aka Rock’s Longest-Running Free Ride)

 Posted by
May 282010
 

It’s rare that a thread earns Friday Flashback status so soon after its initial posting, but a new Townsperson among us, beenreepin, had some Main Stage-worthy comments on how to best appreciate Motorhead. Click the link to pick up where you may have left off in December, right to his belated comments, or revisit this entire thread and original discussion.

This post initially appeared 12/3/09.


If you point a gun to my head I can hum out the 3 words that make up both the title and (most of?) the chorus of Motorhead‘s “Ace of Spaces.” Other than that I know I’ve heard a song called “Eat the Rich,” or something like that. If memory serves it sounds like the sound a motorcycle makes when a biker revs it up, right? In fact, I think every song I’ve ever heard by Motorhead sounds like a revved up motocycle engine. I know bikers and other motorheads dig the sound of revved up engines, but a lot of rock fans I know who say they dig Motorhead yet drive around in whole-grain, alternative-energy vehicles don’t seem to get a thrill out of listening to a real motorcylce engine. In fact, these well-educated, concerned citizens of rock scoff at real-life motorheads and the pin-dick compensatory measures they – no, we – like to believe those big engines represent. Yet they tell me they dig the band Motorhead. What gives?

These same, value-based proponents of “old-school” practices like leaf raking and loose-leaf tea steeping wouldn’t be caught within 50 yards of a real-life person who looked anything like that human, filthy boil Lemmy – unless they were dedicating a Saturday morning to volunteering in a soup line – yet they tell me how “fucking cool” Lemmy’s wart-encrusted Look is. What gives?
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Sing-along

 Posted by
May 282010
 

More than a couple of Townspeople have mentioned their discomfort with the “Tiny Dancer” sing-along scene in Almost Famous based on their personal discomfort with sing-alongs. Considering there are a number of musicians among us, including – I would imagine – at least a few chorus and theater members at one time or another – have any of you EVER enjoyed an informal sing-along? Do you ever willingly participate in informal sing-alongs, that is, sing-alongs that aren’t rehearsed and structured (eg, church or school chorus)?

I usually cringe at sing-alongs – or feel completely embarrassed and duck out of them. I was that way as a kid, too, from what I recall. I can’t stand when an artist tries to get me to sing-along by holding out the microphone or whatever, but I’m pretty sure I’ve sung along without prompting to favorite lines at Elvis Costello shows. That was just me singing along with Elvis, though, not singing with the entire crowd. The one regular sing-along I join in on is “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” Going to baseball games is pretty much my form of going to church and the song is set for a standard time in each game, but I’m counting it as my example of regular, informal sing-along participation.

I just remembered one other time when I’ve sung along with an audience; in fact, I did so just a few weeks ago: the chorus of Baby Flamehead‘s “Amy” is worth singing along to – with everybody else!

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Can We At Least Fix the “Tiny Dancer” Scene?

 Posted by
May 272010
 

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As some of you may recall, I can’t stand Cameron Crowe’s semi-autobiographical rock flick Almost Famous. Among the many scenes that didn’t work for me is the key tour bus party sing-along to Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer.” I have to think that even rock fans of that film found that an especially wimpy and unrealistic song over which the fictional hard rock band would unite.

Assuming you agree that a more appropriate song was needed, what song would you have chosen for this scene?
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Do You Remember Your First Music-Playing Device?

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May 252010
 

Some of us are old…

Do you remember your first music-playing device, be it a record player, 8-track, cassette player, Walkman, CD player, or for our youngest Townspeople, mp3 player? Care to describe it? Does anything stand out in your memory about it?

I had a record player that was plastic, olive-green, and textured on the outside. Flip up the top and the plastic was off-white – also textured, to better pick up smudges from my dirty hands. The turntable itself was brown. I can’t remember for sure if the arm was brown or off-white, but I remember my shakey hands were always challenged by lifting the arm onto a specific track. The cord was a 2-pronged brown affair. I experienced my first electric shock on that cord, leaving one of my fingers between the prongs as I plugged it in. Ouch!
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Rock’s Unfulfilled Fashion Ideas: The Jumpsuit

 Posted by
May 252010
 


This clip, which Townsman dbuskirk shared with some of his close, personal friends this morning, brought back memories of some of Hall & Oates’ lesser, pre-pastel ’80s hits, but what stood out most for me was Daryl Hall‘s blue jumpsuit.

As the results of a solid 2 minutes of research indicate, Elvis Presley first donned the jumpsuit in 1969. Was this the first time the jumpsuit entered the world of rock ‘n roll? A piece on a 2007 Graceland exhibit on Elvis’ jumpsuits notes that the Elvis jumpsuit was originally a 2-piece ensemble, inspired by The King’s karate wear. As he prepared for his Las Vegas stint following the legendary ’68 Comeback Special, Elvis saw the jumpsuit as a more-interesting alternative to the standard tuxedo favored by “square” performers.

He was going there to rock. Wanting something different and special, he called upon Bill Belew, who had designed the now-classic black leather suit and other outfits for the ’68 special. Inspired by Elvis’ great interest in karate, Belew came up with simple two-piece gabardine suits with tunic-style tops and simple, long karate-style belts knotted to one side with the ends dangling from the hip.

It turns out that Elvis didn’t wear the actual 1-piece jumpsuit – which we all would agree is the mark of a true jumpsuit – until his 1970 Vegas run. For the record, therefore, it was not Elvis who introduced the jumpsuit to rock ‘n roll, but perhaps this guy:

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Battle Royale: Most Unexpected Cover

 Posted by
May 242010
 

FUN BOY THREE LOSES BELT TO MANDY MOORE (SEE COMMENTS)!

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Fun Boy Three covering “The End” challenges all comers to a Battle Royale!

Can you name one cover song more unexpected than Fun Boy Three covering this Doors classic? You may try, but proceed at your own caution. Note how there is not the slightest hint of irony in the band’s performance. This is the real deal, baby, and it’s chilling in its unexpectedness!

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