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Help Jonathan Papelbon Select His New Walkout Anthem

Mar 062012

Walkout anthem. I just learned that term for a baseball closer’s theme music when he enters a game from the bullpen. Phillies new closer Jonathan Papelbon needs a new walkout anthem because the Dropkick Murphys won’t let him take “Shipping Up to Boston” out of Fenway. Red Sox fans can have that song! They can have the entire Dropkick Murphy’s catalog, if you ask me.

I’m hoping I can warm up to Papelbon, whose keee-raaay-zeee eyes routine and that stupid jig in a kilt to the Dropkick Murphys’ song after the Sox won the 2007 World Series put me off. Clearly the guy is a top-notch closer. In 1979, when my Phillies acquired Pete Rose, I suddenly loved the guy for all the things I hated about him the day before. In the early ’90s I even warmed up a bit to former Mets hero Lenny Dykstra, but I still thought he was a juiced-up jerk.

A cool walkout anthem might go a long way to helping me like this guy—no yahoo rock for jocks or Riverdance music, please. I think my wife is right in her belief that that style of Irish folk dancing is the lamest dance style ever. Let’s pull together our sports-rock expertise and help Jonathan Papelbon select a new walkout anthem. This venture may help Papelbon, but most importantly it will help me. Thank you.

Dear Crabby, Rock Concert Etiquette Expert, Joins Rock Town Hall Staff

Posted by Dear Crabby

Mar 052012

Dear Crabby...

It’s with great pleasure that Rock Town Hall announces the addition of rock concert etiquette expert Dear Crabby to the RTH Contributor Staff. Dear Crabby is well-known to concertgoers around the world for the gentle tap on the shoulder she applies before politely notifying overly enthusiastic fans, underappreciated artists, and overworked venue staff of behavior that crosses the line of civil rock behavior. Without further ado, let’s welcome Dear Crabby and see if she can’t engage us in advising a legendary indie-rock musician sort through a most unfortunate case of mistaken identity.

Thank you for that warm welcome, Mr. Moderator and Townspeople of the Hall. I have followed your blog with great interest since the time you launched your ongoing investigation into the possible ZZ Top livestock hoax. Oh, how I hope that story proves to be a hoax. As wrong as it is to execute a hoax on one’s fans, it’s beyond rude to allow cattle and buzzards to stink up the stage with their untamed excretions! But I digress.

Nothing beats live music, but more and more I’m dismayed by acts of impolite behavior among audience members, performers, and venue staff. It’s my mission to bring these acts to light—and to suggest ways in which these individuals might better behave themselves in the future. I welcome the opportunity to field your questions and trade insights and advice on these important matters. After the jump is an offlist message I received from a musician I hold in high esteem. I will invite you to help me counsel him. In the coming months, if you find yourself in need of guidance over matters related to the live music experience, please feel free to write me at my personal e-mail address:

DearCrabby [at] rocktownhall [dot] com

I will ensure your anonymity is preserved during the public discussion that will ensue. Thank you. Now on with our first letter!

Final Four of Rock’s Greatest Backing Band Tournament Asks, “Is It Time to Jump to the Finals?”

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Mar 052012

The Final Four in Rock’s Greatest Back Band Tournament poses the question, “Is it time to jump to the Finals?”

Consider the remaining matches:

The Crickets vs The JBs
Crazy Horse vs The Attractions

Is there any doubt that The JBs and The Attractions will face off to determine—once and for all—rock’s greatest backing band? Is there any point in holding this round of play?

The JBs think there is, if only to prove their dominance. They have thrown down the following challenge: If fan voting for The Crickets and Crazy Horse combined beats the total votes received for The JBs, The JBs will concede defeat. In a show of solidarity The Attractions have announced that they will do likewise.

So there you have it. Cast your votes for the Clear Favorites (The JBs and The Attractions), The Underdogs (The Crickets and Crazy Horse), or any combination thereof. Let the games begin! (Voting runs through March 8th at 11:59 pm.)

The Final Four: The Crickets vs The JBs and Crazy Horse vs The Attractions

The Clear Favorites (The JBs and The Attractions) (62%, 21 Votes)
The Underdogs (The Crickets and Crazy Horse) (18%, 6 Votes)
The JBs and Crazy Horse (18%, 6 Votes)
The Crickets and The Attractions (3%, 1 Votes)

Total Voters: 34

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RTH Wacky Packs, Round Two: SOUL!

Posted by hrrundivbakshi

Mar 052012

Charmin of the Board!

A (long) while ago, we amused ourselves by applying the punny principle behind America’s most beloved free-with-inedible-bubblegum stickers — the “Wacky Packages” of years gone by — to rock band names. To my mind, this was a delightful waste of time — so much so that I’m calling out Mockcarr, Alexmagic, and all our finest punsters to contemplate Wacky-Packed versions of our favorite artists, albums and songs in the soul music canon. I’ll start with a famous soulful song of the ’60s:

“Schlock of the Bay”

I look forward to your responses.

HVB

Previously…

Song Swap

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Mar 052012

In response to our recent thread asking us to imagine what a once-planned double-album Monkees release showcasing each band member’s individual personality per side, Townsman mrclean recently shared the following observation and proposed an excellent thread, to follow. Check it out:

An online acquaintance of mine stated: ‘You know, I could totally hear—and I mean this in a really good way—the Buzzcocks and the Monkees swapping songs.’ For the record, I can agree with that.

What two artists/bands do you think were meant to swap songs?

Rock Town Hall’s Saturday Night Shut-In: Demos, Alternate Takes, Outtakes, Bootlegs, and the Like

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Mar 032012

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

In this week’s edition of Saturday Night Shut-In a busy Mr. Moderator let’s the music do the talking. There will be words; they just won’t be coming out of your host’s mouth. Almost all the tracks played tonight are demos, alternate takes, live bootleg records, and so forth. There’s even an unreleased rehearsal recording. Enjoy. Hopefully this busy stretch will ease up and I can grab time with our long-promised guest Townsman.

[audio:https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/RTH-Saturday-Night-Shut-In-69.mp3|titles=RTH Saturday Night Shut-In, episode 69]

[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.]

All-Star Jam

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Mar 032012

What’s on your mind? The All-Star Jam is the place to do your thing. It’s a great way for newcomers to break the ice and share something/anything that’s on their mind. Let it all hang out.

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