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WANTED: Townspeople Who Know a Shitload About Any of the Following Bands

Oct 272011

Someone asked me recently, “Mr. Moderator, if there was one thing you could do to make Rock Town Hall even better than it already is, what would that one thing be?”

Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’ve been thinking about this question for the last few days. As great as this place is, who says we can’t make it even better? Today I believe I have settled on an answer: We need a few Townspeople who know a shitload about any of the following bands to step forward and make their mark.

Sure, I want facts, but I also want a sense of your passion for any of these bands. I had no idea any of these bands existed, but they stumbling on the following Birth Control performance had led me down a rabbit hole of obscure hard-rockin’ bands representing fans with lifestyles I can barely imagine. I want to get to know these people. Check out the ancient worlds I have unconvered:

First, Birth Control, a band that seems to have captured the essence of Eric Burdon‘s psychedelicized Peace Warrior ravings and mixed in Krautrock and the heavy organ noodlings of Deep Purple. I know you’re gonna want to clap your hands when this number gets going!

Next up is Epitaph…

Songs You Can’t Believe You Remember, Times You Forgot Ever Existed

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 272011

If you held a gun to my head prior to stumbling across this lip-synched performance of Mouth and MacNeal’s “How Do You Do” you would have been forced to pull the trigger. Until the song ran for about a minute I had no memory of ever having heard it. Then I realized I had heard it when I was a kid. It’s one of those songs from my youth like Melanie‘s big hit: I can’t hum a lick of it until I hear it. Then I remember too much, and too much about the times in which such songs existed in the Top 40. This is from a time I’d forgotten ever existed. I kind of like remembering it, though.

What’s a song from your childhood and/or a time that you forgot ever existed until recently?

On the other side of the coin, following is a song I wish I’d never remembered. Yet another number from a time I forgot ever existed…

Halloweened

Posted by machinery

Oct 262011

Halloween is a big deal in our house. We have a black cat called Salem and the wife has years of decorations we cart down every October 1. We also have a large playlist of spooky-themed songs. Beside the typical ones — “Monster Mash,” stuff by The Zombies, “Black Magic Woman” — I think Donovan‘s “Season of the Witch” might be my favorite. I really dig the organ and the snaky guitar fills. Anyone else have suggestions for the old playlist?

Say It Ain’t So: England’s “Most American” Rocker, Paul Rodgers, Sworn in as a Canadian Citizen

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 262011

Long considered (by myself, if no one else) perhaps England’s “most American” rocker, former Bad Company/Free vocalist Paul Rodgers was sworn in today as a Canadian citizen.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

*PAUL RODGERS SWORN IN AS A CANADIAN CITIZEN*

October 26, 2011 – At a public ceremony in Surrey, B.C. last Friday October 21st The legendary *Paul Rodgers* was sworn in as a Canadian Citizen.

A statement from Paul:

It may not be my native land but Canada is surely now my home. While I’ll always be an Englishman, Canada has given me so much for which I am grateful. My wife, your former Miss Canada Cynthia Kereluk, a new and extended family and the chance to be truly free in a country that with its quiet strength combines the best of so many worlds.

I’m proud to be a Canuck.

Thank you, Merci.

Paul Rodgers

I don’t know about you, but I’m hurt—and a bit pissed. Bad Co and Free were totally aimed at Americans! Any sales in the UK or Canada were a bonus. Bad Co so badly wanted to be American it wasn’t funny. I bet Rodgers was jealous of the English guys in Foreigner, who presented such a Corporate American Rock image that they could slip across our border without use of a passport. Play me one ragged Canadian chorus in any Bad Co song! Johnny didn’t travel to Toronto to become a shooting star, did he? Have you ever suspected the slightest sense of humor from any Bad Co recording? Canadians are funny, man! Everybody knows that. And what’s with the “Merci?” He’s gonna try to convince us he speaks French after 40 years touring the world with his brand of Goon Rock?

Surely Rodgers has been suffering through an identity crisis since his stirring induction speech for Bob Seger‘s entrance to Rock Town Hall’s Foyer of Fame. He thought he could replace Freddie Mercury in a reformed Queen. Wasn’t that like casting Clint Eastwood as the transvestite singer in The Crying Game? I know, Canada gave ’70s arena rockers around the world hockey sweaters, and as he mentions, he plucked his beautiful wife from their land, but still… I’m more Canadian than Rodgers. If Rodgers was going to defect he should have defected to the US of A.

Here’s hoping our Canadian correspondents will check in with their thoughts on this stunning news. I really don’t mean to take anything away from your great country. Everything Rodgers says about it is true. I just don’t like the fact that he chose you over us.

If You Can’t Say Anything Nice About…Kraan

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 262011

We here in the Halls of Rock Town are sometimes taken to task for being overly negative, snarky, hyper-critical, and all too often, just downright rude. As part of our collective efforts to bring a bit of sunshine and light to the world wide web, we occasionally make an extra effort effort to find something good to say about, you know, stuff that is clearly godawful.

It is in that spirit that we embark on yet another effort to bring some positivity to our proceedings. Please spend some quality time with the video above, then — if you can — please find something nice to say about it. You’ll feel a whole lot better, I promise you.

I look forward to your comments. Just remember, if you can’t say anything nice about this video… please don’t say anything at all.

Consult the Orockle: What Is It That Is Really Bugging People About U2′s Rhythm Section?

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 252011

The wisdom of The Hall continues to amaze me. For as many knowledgeable individuals who dazzle with their rock knowledge, it is the collective wisdom of our participants that I find most dazzling.

It is in this spirit that I want to allow for further amazement—not only for the people but by the people. Rather than turn this into my own original post, maybe even do a few minutes of research on the Web, I thought better of it. Instead, I’d like to pose a question on behalf of a fellow Townsperson to the collective wisdom of The Orockle.

Townsman trigmogigmo has a question he’d like to pose—and one that he hopes will inspire other questions we’d like to have asked when we had more time to find the answers ourselves. Read on, please. Continue reading »

He Was a Great Man, but Did They Play It at His Funeral?

Posted by misterioso

Oct 252011

Paul Leka

Yes, as it must to all men, death came to Paul Leka, co-writer of the immortal “Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye),” a #1 hit for imaginary group Steam in 1969, as well as the writer/producer of psychedelic bubblegum classic “Green Tambourine,” and more. Read all about it here and watch “Steam” in their “performance” of “Na Na Hey Hey,” a rare case of a band becoming more faceless after you see them than they were before.

NEXT: Rock Town Hall’s Official Eulogy…
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