Mr. Moderator

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

BATTLE ROYALE: Born to Boogie

Jan 152008

Do you boogie? Do you know what it means to boogie? You know, boogie down, baby, in your-your-your-your-your boogie shoes. Heads-a-bobbin’; sweat-a-floppin’; every musician, every dancer keying on the downbeat.

There’s nothing fancy about the boogie. You know that turkey neck and gizzard that you want nothing to do with at Thanksgiving? Meanwhile your grandparents go on about what a delicacy those parts were when they were kids. This is the state in which we find our old friend the boogie.

There are many ways to boogie. Some would even say chooglin’ is a form of boogie. See if you agree.

In honor of BigSteve, today’s Battle Royale seeks to crown the Ultimate Boogie. Let not genre, race, or geography stand in the way of your contender for Ultimate Boogie. If you’ve got a song that was born to boogie, throw it in the ring and see how long it stands! May I kick it off with the following Classic Boogie?
Continue reading »

Tom Cruise’s Rock ‘n Roll Dance Scenes in Hollywood Films

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jan 142008

It’s tougher than it seems to make a common, bad song eternally annoying. Try it sometime. It only seems easy because Tom Cruise has managed this feat in countless Hollywood films.

In charging Tom Cruise with Rock Crimes for permanently defiling more downtrodden songs than any actor in history, we’re not passing judgment on his films, his beliefs, or his personal life. We won’t even poke fun at all the ditches in which his leading ladies have had to stand while sidling up to him.

There’s gonna be no dancing

Likewise, we’re not going to pass judgment on the songs themselves. At least one of these songs is actually of high caliber. Although Cruise typically preyed on weaker material, he was capable of bringing down classier numbers.

Here’s a song that sucks in what’s actually a good film. This song is so bad and emblematic of its time that it would be remembered as a stone-cold turd without Cruise’s involvement. However, his pool-cue moves denigrate this song beyond all hopes of simply being forgotten among a brothel full of Clapton’s ’80s skanks.

Let’s Stop the Nonsense, Shall We? You Don’t Really Like Sparks, Do You?

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jan 142008

Updated at page 3 with visual-free audio files for potentially less-biased consideration! (Courtesy of shawnkilroy and The Great 48.)

Let’s stop the nonsense, shall we? You don’t really like Sparks, do you?

Perhaps you were really into Queen as a youth and needed another band that was remotely like them in your collection? If so, that’s cool. No need to explain.

Perhaps you were totally into the Ice Capades and these guys turned you onto The Power and Glory of Rock? OK, I can see that.

But plenty of critics and rock ‘n roll fans whose tastes I respect LOVE these guys. Have I had the bad luck of only hearing the likes of my man, Townsman The Great 48, rave about them on April 1? Stop putting me on, will ya.

Dugout Chatter

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jan 142008

It’s 2008’s first edition of Dugout Chatter. If you don’t know how it works, do what other Townspeople have been doing. Just share your gut answers to the following questions and you can’t go wrong!

Is “electronics” code for “synth-pop I like”?

Who’s rock’s Most Valuable Oliver?

Which possibly overrated band is least appreciated for its frequently overlooked strengths: Cream or The Doors?

Which Beatles song suffered more from the absence of George Martin: “She’s Leaving Home” or “The Long and Winding Road”?

Which artist manager had the greatest influence on rock ‘n roll?

Here’s a trick one: Which part of the legacy of a band you love least matters to you?

Blondie Is a Group…No, Really!

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jan 132008

I’ve learned that my Tin Machine video featuring staged stage diving is no longer available on YouTube. Part of me is sad, while another part of me is proud of having shamed the owner of said video into taking it down. However, I sense you’re disappointed. To make up for the teaser of a long-forgotten Tin Machine video, I’m offering you three momentous looks back at the band – honest – Tin Machine. Enjoy, and feel free to share your memories of bands involving already-famous solo artists that really were a group. Really!

First up, an interview with the group – the whole group – on Arsenio.

Next, the countdown to the group’s first televised performance!

Oliver

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jan 112008

A band pays its dues and gets to spend more time than ever before in the studio. The lap of luxury! While the musicians jam out side 2 filler right on the studio floor and the singer sits in a corner, scribbling out lyrics, Oliver might as well be preparing his bandmates for a long hiatus. While the band loads up every possible tracks with exotic overdubs afforded by the studio’s equipment, Oliver might as well be asking the manager at the cool record store where he’s worked for the last 15 years for a leave of absence. The question is, who’s going to get that call to play the role of Oliver?

Oliver: A multi-instrumental, supporting musician usually added in preparation of a band’s breakthrough or reunion tour. With the promise of larger crowds expecting faithful renditions of the hits, Oliver affords the band the ability to replicate the key studio overdubs that would not otherwise be performed live or that would require an official band member to abandon his or her usual instrument, thereby leaving another hole in the music. Oliver differs from the traditional “backing” or “ghost” musician in that he is positioned among the official band members, the only differences between himself and the official band members being that he’s not photographed with the band, may never record with them, and gets much less tail.

Although the need for this Oliver character is borne out of a band’s deepening “studio era,” he typically makes his first appearance when the band emerges to bring its new double album on The Road! Who’s gonna play that extra keyboard part on your new single when you hit the road? Oliver. Who’s gonna strum that third, 128-String Guitar part that sounds just right on the record? Oliver? Who’s gonna hop over to bass so that the bassist can take a turn at the piano? Not the singer, but Oliver. Who’s gonna whip out a harmonica and catch a few rays of spotlight for a solo on that cover of “I’m a Man”? That’s right, the mysterious new guy on board for the tour.

More…

CHICKENFRANK SUMMONS HRRUNDIVBAKSHI TO COMMENT ON THIS ZZ TOP PERFORMANCE

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jan 102008

In the Comments section from our last post of 2007, Townsman Chickenfrank summoned Townsman Hrrundivbakshi to comment on the following performance by ZZ Top at the halftime show of the college bowl game formerly known at the Orange Bowl. The time is yours, HVB.

You may also find the following clip fascinating and instructive… Continue reading »

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