Mr. Moderator

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

Dugout Chatter

Jan 222014

A lot of us on the northeast corridor are snowed in today. Let’s get some Dugout Chatter going, shall we? There are no right or wrong answers, just the true ones that come direct from your gut. Here goes!

When you think of the name Keith and rock ‘n roll, who’s the second Keith who comes to mind?
What’s the first winter-related song that comes to mind that you love?
What’s the first winter-related song that comes to mind that you can’t stand?
If you could throw a snowball at any member of The Monkees, who would it be?
Who’s the third Ray who comes to mind when you think of the name Ray and rock ‘n roll?
What’s the rock ‘n roll snow day equivalent of daring to lick the flagpole?

I look forward to your answers.

“Dance the Night Away” Replaces “Gimme Shelter” as Go-To Classic Rock Song to Indicate the Swaggering Moment of Getting One’s Shit Together Before the Inevitable Critical Turning Point

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jan 212014

I still remember the night when Van Halen‘s “Dance the Night Away” blared out of the movie theater sound system while I watched Argo. Although I never liked Van Halen and still don’t, I have come to believe that the original edition of the band was brilliant in their execution of bad music. Nevertheless, that night in the darkened theater as Ben Affleck strutted to the sounds of Van Halen’s signature song, I first got goosebumps listening to the band’s music.

Last month, while watching the surprisingly funny Anchorman 2, I was once more treated to a movie theater sound system spin of that song. Once more, it sounded fantastic and perfectly set up the characters’ swaggering moment of getting their shit together before an inevitable critical turning point. This got me thinking…

All-Star Jam

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jan 202014

Fight through the narcotic madness of Rock Town Hall with reports from the rock frontier in this week’s All-Star Jam! It’s a trip that starts with a giggle and ends with a scream.

CAUTION: They don’t make trailers like this anymore. Coworkers may FREAK OUT if they look over your shoulder.

Songs You Love Yet Have Never Owned

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jan 192014

Tempting?

Despite never having owned it, the hippie cheese of Norman Greenbaum’s “Spirit in the Sky” never fails to please. Hearing on the radio yesterday I realized how influential the record is on my aesthetic: the beat, the fuzz tone, the double-bends… “Sad,” you may be right in thinking to yourself.

Or maybe not, as I learned with an outpouring of support when I posted these thoughts to my Facebook page minutes after this experience.

Why don’t I own a copy of “Spirit in the Sky”?

Rock Town Hall’s Saturday Night Shut-In: #MinimalistTownHall?

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jan 182014

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

In tonight’s episode of Saturday Night Shut-In, as Mr Moderator puts aside unnecessary worries and dedicates his full attention to his audience, the show takes an unexpected twist that is sure to simmer his listening base down to a rich, velvety roux! See if you can break on through to the other side.

RTH Saturday Night Shut-In 125

[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.]

Rock’s Most Iconic Kick Drum Heads

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jan 172014

Huh?

It might be argued that this discussion will come down to a rehash of rock’s most iconic logos, but I believe there are certain kick drum heads that are iconic in their context as kick drum heads, not just vehicles for the display of a cool logo. When you think of Ringo Starr, for instance, is the image complete with the primitive kick drum head pictured above, or do you think of this:

Shaman or Sham?

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jan 162014

I’ve come to love Patti Smith‘s persona way more than her music, which I do like. She strikes me as a fellow Peace Warrior, a let-it-hang-loose freak in the best sense of the term. I usually get a charge out of people who sincerely let their freak flag fly, especially if I don’t have to smell them. I still get chills thinking about passages in Smith’s memoir, Just Kids, or the energy she projected when I saw her live. Even when she was performing one of those long jazz-poetry numbers I lift the needle over while listening to her records to get to the next song that is essentially “Gloria,” I was magnetized by her shamanistic presence. However, when I read accounts by other artists from the New York punk scene, she’s often made out to be a sham, a careering opportunist. Maybe it’s jealousy, or maybe she’s not the real deal Regardless, her shtick works for me.

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