SpudBob on Bullshit On: Livestock Claims Regarding ZZ Top’s Worldwide Texas Tour Old Blog but still relevant. Was at the August 1976 tour stop in SF at the Cow Palace. The animals were there though they were NOT on stage during the show. The Steer/Bison came up on some sort of elevated device and then descended before the Lil Ol Band from Tejas got going. Ted Nugent opened up the show in blistering oreder before the Tejas Trio blew it up!!!
Coachboat on Billy Gibbons and ZZ Top Call Bullshit On Mr. Moderator! Was at the Summit in Houston Texas and saw the concert. Longhorn Buffalo Rattlesnakes included. The buffalo let loose and splashed a few front row spectators!!! GREAT CONCERT
al on Hal David Is On His Way to Heaven Even years later, here seems the place to note the reuniting of the Bacharach-David team, at least in some manner of speaking. Even though i have always felt Hal David didn't get the credit he deserved, Bacharach certainly deserved all the credit he got.
And while Elvis Costello was no Hal David, Painted From Memory was the best thing EC has done in a quarter century.
Coincidence? I think not.
I noted in the NYT obit this portion:
"Reflecting on his split with Mr. David in 2013 in his autobiography, “Anyone Who Had a Heart: My Life and Music,” written with Robert Greenfield, Mr. Bacharach acknowledged that “it was all my fault, and I can’t imagine how many great songs I could have written with Hal in the years we were apart.” "
If only...
charlesross on Turns Out Everybody, Especially Me, Was Wrong About Alex Chilton On the Tom Waits covers album "Step Right Up", Alex's version of "Downtown" is maybe the best track on the record. I like his loose and blues-funky style (great band) much better than Wait's early faux jazz style.
Neil of Hove on Please Explain: The Late-1960s Skinhead Scene and Early Slade Hello
when skinheads started they were not a racist group, it was just working class kids that liked a lot of ska bluebeat,soul and mod stuff and had a look. It was a fairly aggressive look and got hijacked a lot by people with other motivations amongst which was an element of racist violence but that violence was by no means solely directed at people with darker skin. This was a time of extreme casual violence where I grew up in east London (and most places), going to the toilet in a boozer was fairly risky sometimes and gigs would erupt into mass brawls regularly especially if you went to see 999 or Sham when skins would try and 'control' the place and act as a group taking on all comers. It was tricky because they were easy to identify as a group so became a gang although they by no means all knew each other . There was no CCTV or security anywhere really - just violence and anarchy. It was pretty exciting mostly to be honest as long as you were young, able to fight, run (lots) or talk your way out of it (mostly) although it was often bravado and handbags. There were a lot of amphetamines around in those days and it made for crazy nights. As well as speed there was a lot of desperation and nihilism - 50 years later I am still struggling with my inherent nihilism from that time although I also look back fondly on it ha ha.
Mari Wilson was never that big really although Neasden's finest was popular in my house. I live opposite e bloke that was in her backing band the Wilsations and am obliged to drop little nuggets like 'just what I always wanted' into the conversation every time I see him in the pub. I love seeing him in the vids from the time with shiny big lapelled jackets
Jerry Hogan on Can Someone Tell Me What This Song Is About, Part II (Pancho and Lefty)? I first heard the song around 1976. I was 12 years old. My first take was that Pancho and Lefty were the same guy. The more over my life I was convinced I was correct as I learned more details about Townes Van Zandt. Pancho was young Townes with his life and dreams all ahead of him. Lefty is what was Left of him after his parents had shock treatments done on him to correct his behavior. The first verse tells the story completely. Lefty has the same dirt in his mouth as Pancho. Lefty went to hell as in the cold of Cleveland. They only let him hang around out of kindness was a tip that he played his enablers.
Townes was brilliant. He laid I all out in the open for us all to see.
Mr. Moderator on Keith Levene R.I.P. Here's the story I thought had been posted!
https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/sorta-friend-of-the-hall-keith-levene-contacts-the-back-office-me/
Mr. Moderator on Keith Levene R.I.P. This is beautiful, Big Steve! I had the same reaction and just logged on to see if sammymaudlin ever shared the story behind the interview he *almost* got with Levene. Or did he get that interview? I can't remember.
BigSteve on Keith Levene R.I.P. When I heard the news, I immediately thought of RTH, even though I don't know how to use the publish function of this site. https://www.nme.com/news/music/public-image-ltd-and-the-clash-guitarist-keith-levene-has-died-aged-65-3347976
H. Munster on Last Man Standing: Jesus Songs Are You Drinkin' with Me Jesus by Mojo Nixon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IBGZ-nFVrM
Last man standing!
H. Munster on Last Man Standing: Fools "Oh Me Oh My (I'm A Fool for You Baby) by Lulu
Last man standing!
chickenfrank on Showdown: Goats Head Soup vs Some Girls Stopped by to see/ask if anyone is excited about My Life as a Rolling Stone coming out soon. It's a BBC docuseries that I'm guessing arose because Get Back was so huge.
Looks like it will stream on EPIX. Guess if they don't have a free weekly trial, I won't see it! Wonder if it will be interesting, or mostly Jagger propaganda. Maybe they will address the Some Girls vs. Goat Head's Soup showdown. Probably.
chickenfrank on All Star Jam! Hey VW, Nice to have some fresh fish in the Hall! There always seems to be more love for Lowell George here than I see elsewhere, and the appropriate amount of disdain for Dave Matthews. I don't mind John Mayer myself. From the little I've seen or heard, he's a terrific guitar player. I guess you are including him in your bad band cause he's just such a douche. Fair.
The hall can be empty for a while, but people do check in from time to time still.
vw on All Star Jam! 1. What do you think of this performance of “Let My Love Open the Door?” Do you have any comments on the song, the performance, the fashion choices or anything else?
I like the whole Klaus Nomi thing Pete had going back then. For 15 minutes he looked up to date among the early 80’s crop of new romantics, although Bowie and Bryan Ferry pulled the look off better. The ubiquitous Phil Collins on drums.
2. You’ve been given the opportunity to form a band for your favorite underrated songwriter or singer/front-person. Who is the “star” and who is in the band? You want to put together a surprising yet appropriate group. What unlikely or never-considered musical collaboration would you put together?
I’m in a deep-fried southern soul kind of mood today, so either Lowell George or Kelly Holland out in front, Duane Allman and Allen Collins on guitars, Danko and Helm holding down the rhythm section. Occasionally featuring Wayne Jackson and Andrew Love. No keyboards.
3. Uh-oh, your favorite underrated songwriter turned out to be difficult to work with! You’ve decided to scrap that band and put together the worst possible band, just to be creatively vengeful. Who is in this band now?
Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Neil Peart, Glenn Frey, Anthony Kiedis and Eddie Vedder. I don’t care who plays what.
4. Have you ever been to a show headlined by a known artist (ie not a “local” band) where the audience cleared out? Who was the artist and why did everyone leave?
No, not really. It always astounds me when people bail before the encore though. Miss all kinds of good stuff.
5. What is the best guitar solo in the Beatles catalog?
I like Clapton on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, George on “Something” and Paul on “Taxman”. In that order.
6. Do accordions belong in rock music?
Sure, depending on the context. Clifton Chenier and Flaco Jimenez can be in my band anytime.
7. Odd meters (talking songs in 5, 7, etc): are they pretentious? Do you have a favorite song in an odd meter?
I like a lot of prog, so weird time signatures and pretense don’t bother me. Something off of Apostrophe would probably get my vote.
8. What have you been listening to lately? Have you found any interesting music that is new or new to you?
I’ve been listening to the most recent releases from Sarah Borges, Margo Price and Crystal Thomas, all three of which I like a lot. There’s a cat named Riley Downing who reminds me of J.J. Cale - just discovered him, as well as a guitar virtuoso named Christie Lenee, who has a major Michael Hedges thing going that I think is just brilliant.
vw on RTH Talent Show I just discovered this site today. Don't bail on me now.
Mr. Moderator on All Star Jam! I think I've heard the name Rammstein, but I wouldn't have known if it was a band, a German New Wave film director, or a sex toy.
Rammstein playing Lincoln Financial Field may explain why Rock Town Hall has run it's course.
al on All Star Jam! Imagine the Rammstein and Insane Clown Posse versions of this:
https://pop-sesivo.tumblr.com/post/661600845183500288/bands-reimagined-as-hanna-barbera-cartoons
al on All Star Jam! What he said. Insane Clown Posse? Rammstein? They are just names to me. But then I don't know why people go to EDM concerts either.
I may be the only person who, when he sees the name Rammstein, thinks of Dan Bern. Bern has a fairly low profile but has been around for quite awhile. A combination of Bob Dylan and Loudon Wainwright. There was a time i followed him pretty closely but that was back probably 15 or so years ago. Anyway, as some point he began referring to himself as Bernstein - no idea why - and so when I see Rammstein i think Bernstein.
chickenfrank on All Star Jam! Probably none of us own an album, but probably all of us have heard of Rammstein. Not many other bands in whatever genre they call themselves can say that. Seems similar to the status that Insane Clown Posse has. It's always a shock to see how popular they are without being a popular band.
geo on All Star Jam! Thank you all for indulging my off-blog plea. Really does anyone on here know anyone that actually has a Rammstein record? WTF?
al on All Star Jam! Similar sort of thing, i.e., I'm getting old. I get emails from a place like deepdiscount or Newbury Comics or I see an ad in Shindig magazine and there will be a whole page of albums being advertised and not only am I unfamiliar with all of the artists it often happens where I couldn't tell you which is the artist and which is the album title. Not just on one title but all 8 or 10 or 12 that are there.
On the plus side, it makes any buying decision easy.
chickenfrank on All Star Jam! They looking for an opener??
cdm on All Star Jam! Seriously? That's bizarre. And it sounds like a terrible night out.
cdm on Showdown: Goats Head Soup vs Some Girls I saw the Stones in 2019 so not too long ago, and they caught me off guard with how good they were. The only other time I'd seen them was in 1989 and the 2019 show was much much better. Of course, I'd like to write the set list because I could really do without hearing Start Me Up, Can't Always Get What You Want, and Satisfaction again (all great songs that have just worn out their welcome through repetition), but even those songs sounded somewhat fresh.
geo on All Star Jam! Rammstein is playing our local NFL Stadium, Lincoln Financial Field.
How is that possible?
And how is it possible that I would've thought they'd be at a venue the size of Underground Arts?
al on Showdown: Goats Head Soup vs Some Girls What tier would you put the Stones on tour in 2022? Fifth? Sixth?
And is it higher or lower than McCartney on tour in 2022? Dylan?
I watched some clips of the Stones show in Spain the other day. Mick, Keith, and Ron are energetic enough but they don't look real.
Ditto Paul. And i don't know what I think of the duet with John, courtesy of Peter Jackson, on I Got A Feeling. The cynic thinks it's a little too cute. The fan loves it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l45fa7N0IP8
And Bob, well, bless him for doing exactly what he wants - and probably no fan wants - on tour but thanks, but no thanks.
cdm on Showdown: Goats Head Soup vs Some Girls GHS is mid tier Stones for me but still worth an occasional visit..
Some clunkers on there for sure, like Dancing with Mr D, which always struck me as Mick unsuccessfully trying to mine the same territory and Midnight Ramble, Sympathy, and Memo from Turner. As scary as a flaccid wiener.
But I actually like (not love!) Angie.
Heartbreaker is great,
Silver Train is a bit redundant but I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff so I love it.
And my son spent so much time trolling me with 100 Years Ago because I tld him that I cringe when Mick starts singing about "Lazybones" that I've learned to ignore that phrase and enjoy the rest of what I consider to be an otherwise excellent song.
Throw in Star Star and you have an album with at least five songs worth hearing with varying degrees of regularity. That's not too shabby.
Second tier Stones would be stuff like Some Girls, England's Newest Hitmakers, and Between the Buttons.
First tier is Beggars, Let it Bleed, Ya Yas, Sticky Fingers, and the Greatest Record of All Time: Exile.
markodarryl1958 on Showdown: Goats Head Soup vs Some Girls Continued "From Goat's Head Soup to Some Girls"
Now 49 years later I bought the 2020 two-disk reissue and still love it.
My favorite track is the scandalous STAR STAR with her obscene Polaroids and her tricks with fruit, Ali McGraw and Steve McQueen, New York City, L.A. maybe even old John Wayne made it with this rock groupie before he died.
But I digress. The real draw of STAR STAR is the blistering guitar work of Keith Richards and Mick Taylor (a la Chuck Berry) the band of Bill, Charlie, with Ian Stewart on piano and Mick Jagger's vocals drive it hard and harder till the fadeout.
Keith took the lead from the first licks to the last, with Mick Taylor providing a masterful rhythm guitar track that allows Keith to shine in his most comfortable rock & roll role, the riff-master, every lick he ever played ripped off from Mr. Berry.
The reissue is great!
So to let it be on the record, top tier are Beggar's Banquet, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers and Exile On Main Street.
Goats Head Soup is next tier along with It's Only Rock & Roll, Black & Blue and Some Girls, but that's another chapter.
-
markodarryl1958 on Showdown: Goats Head Soup vs Some Girls Last Post: September 7, 2007
15 years ago people cared about The Rolling Stones with a passion. They debated albums that were already 30 to 35 years old. I am now going to share my thoughts titled "From Goat's Head Soup to Some Girls (The Decline & Fall of The Rolling Stones)."
I was 15 in 1973 and bought my first real album, Goats' Head Soup by The Rolling Stones. I loved Silver Train and Star Star of course, still do. Coming Down Again is a pretty song with ugly lyrics. Angie is so out of character for the band that it works. I also love the horns on Heartbreaker and the lead guitar (of soon to quit Mick Taylor) on Hide Your Love and Winter.
geo on RTH Talent Show After going through one VERY LOUD song at soundcheck, I asked the soundguy if there were drums and guitars in the drummer's monitor, because we were getting this giant blasting quadraphonic version of ourselves in addition to what we normally hear in our not too quiet rehearsals. "Oh yeah, it's all pushed cause you said you couldn't hear instruments in the monitor." I said, "No, I said we didn't need any instruments in the monitors." Oh.
It got a little better, but still.
Mr. Moderator on RTH Talent Show Hey, I remember this place! Sorry I've been away.
The show went well. We were represented by Townspeople in all 4 bands. Everyone delivered. The crowd was good. It was super loud onstage, though - the soundman had the monitors cranked louder than the sound out to the audience. I had a serious scare regarding my hearing that cleared up a couple of days later. Yikes!
It was also really sweaty in the club. I would be a world champion in sweating if there were competitive events for that, but I think I set a new personal best that night.
chickenfrank on RTH Talent Show Yeah, what's with the Fire Lady? She's a bit irascible as they say at the spelling bee.
BigSteve on RTH Talent Show The anticipation is unbearable, so I thought I'd hurry things along.
garlic salt on RTH Talent Show I'm very excited to play it (provided we don't get rejected by the fire lady). Also chickenfrank don't worry, I've been promoting it extensively on Truth using my network of Russian bots.
cdm on RTH Talent Show Big Steve, it didn't happen yet. It's on 3/19. I'll see if I can get the Mod to set his phone on a tripod near the sound board and Facetime Live stream it.
chickenfrank on RTH Talent Show I get most of my social media from Trump's Truth Social app now, but that doesn't seem to be promoting the show yet. Glad to find it here.
Scott (the other one) on RTH Talent Show I'll be there!
(Not really--according to GPS, it's 2,862 miles from here, and I'm afraid that's 193 out of my range. But kick all kinds of ass!)
geo on RTH Talent Show As mentioned, I will be there. and now that I understand Garlicsalt will be involved in the last act, beginning to end.
Oh Boy!
geo on All Star Jam! Checked out the Florry. I wouldn't recommend them if you're particular about on key vocals, (I'm not and I found the two-part disharmony, I think mostly on the guitar player singer to be appealing), but hang in for her guitar solo which is very good. She would work as the righteous rock guitar player in the aforementioned cowpunk band
cdm on All Star Jam! Garlic Salt, I'd love to see that cowpunk band although I think you need a sloppy but righteous rock guitar player for lead. Maybe someone like Westerburg or Steve Jones.
Cool recommendations: US Paul Kelly from Al and Heatloaf from Garlic Salt.
chickenfrank on All Star Jam! I'M not the resident youngin'?? Now I feel basic and random.
8. Appreciate the local recommendations. Checking them all out now.
garlic salt on All Star Jam! As the resident youngin’ I was really just excited to answer the last part of this question, but I’m going to answer the rest of them as well.
1. I have similar opinions to others. I think it’s a little overdone and tacky. I enjoy me a good tele but other than that not much to love for me.
2. My ultimate band is going to be a backing band for Art Alekasis in an attempt to force him back to his cowpunk roots. This will consist of Country Dick Montana from the Beat Farmers on Drums (and backup vocals), Gram Parsons on guitar, and Murray Hammond from the Old 97s on bass.
3. Alright, now to mess it up. I’m going to put Adam Duritz on guitar and backup vocals because I think there’s no way he won’t try and take center stage, Neil Peart to ruin the country sound, and Thundercat on bass because that is essentially having another lead guitar.
4. Honestly, I haven’t been to many big shows lately, mainly because I find that I enjoy local bands and smaller shows more than the big ones, so I’m going to have to skip.
5. The best guitar solo in the Beatles catalogue is Dig A Pony for me. But I don’t listen to much Beatles so that’s probably not the best.
6. Yes. Wholeheartedly. Almost every instrument belongs in rock music in some context or another.
7. I enjoy them when used tastefully. It can be excessive or overused but when it sounds good it can sound really good.
8. Alright here’s my short list of local Philly bands I think people should really check out, along with a short descriptor. I’m trying to limit it to people I’ve seen in a basement. Gloss: funky r&b indie group (listen to Play Myself Again), Attack Dog: punk, interesting production since it’s all done by one dude in GarageBand (listen to Young Lion), Heatloaf: indie, has really interesting harmonies (listen to: shoulder to die on). Finally, this is the best band I’ve seen in the past while, Florry. They a fantastic band with a rather large amount of people. When I saw them they had a guy play lap steel but I’m pretty sure they have a pedal steel player now. Check out this video of them playing at PhilaMOCA. Skip to 16:37 for my personal fav song.
https://youtu.be/UZ6M86ylBXk?t=997
geo on All Star Jam! I really like that Dalton album but understand that the voice can be as much of a turn off for some as it is a turn on for others. The Harvey Brooks production on that record is really cool. For example, he plays a really busy, complex line on "In a Station" but also can strip the bass down to a primitive repetitive droney line that sounds like a gifted post-punk beginner (think Wobble) for "Something on Your Mind." There's a recently released straight style outtake of SOYM that sounds like it might be the exact same vocal take with a very standard country rock feel arrangement. There's no way that that version would have had the impact of the original which has landed in a million soundtracks. That change let the backing match the otherworldliness of the vocal.
BigSteve on All Star Jam! I knew Geoff Muldaur name mainly because he had sung harmony with John Cale on Guts and Darling I Need You on the Slow Dazzle album. I enjoyed the Geoff/Maria duo albums, but they were basically unreconstructed folkies who never learned how to write songs. This is the exact opposite of Bobby Charles, who apparently never learned how to play even minimal guitar or piano. He would write the songs in his head, and somehow transmit them to musicians who had to work out the chords on their own. I'm still bowled over by that.
I tried with Karen Dalton, but I just couldn't handle her voice at all. Reading about her backstory didn't help. When I read about this period nowadays, I often am amazed that anybody produced recordings of any value, given the amount of drugs and alcohol that were being consumed.
geo on All Star Jam! Chiming in late with two comments.
That Wet Leg thing was great. There was a live four song set on Youtube that maintained the quality standard. I saw they were touring in March, but after being booked in a small room, Philamoca, and moved up to a larger room, Underground Arts, the show was already sold out. road trip to New York or DC maybe?
In the list of Woodstock of Woodstock related acts, BigSteve mentioned, Geoff and Maria Muldaur whose "Pottery Pie" album is excellent. He also neglected to mention Karen Dalton, whose "In My Own Time" album is arguably the best of the scene.
al on All Star Jam! I keep thinking of ideas for threads and Geo keeps telling me "that's already been done". And it's likely they were done by me 😏
Recent Comments
Old Blog but still relevant. Was at the August 1976 tour stop in SF at the Cow Palace. The animals were there though they were NOT on stage during the show. The Steer/Bison came up on some sort of elevated device and then descended before the Lil Ol Band from Tejas got going. Ted Nugent opened up the show in blistering oreder before the Tejas Trio blew it up!!!
Was at the Summit in Houston Texas and saw the concert. Longhorn Buffalo Rattlesnakes included. The buffalo let loose and splashed a few front row spectators!!! GREAT CONCERT
Even years later, here seems the place to note the reuniting of the Bacharach-David team, at least in some manner of speaking. Even though i have always felt Hal David didn't get the credit he deserved, Bacharach certainly deserved all the credit he got. And while Elvis Costello was no Hal David, Painted From Memory was the best thing EC has done in a quarter century. Coincidence? I think not. I noted in the NYT obit this portion: "Reflecting on his split with Mr. David in 2013 in his autobiography, “Anyone Who Had a Heart: My Life and Music,” written with Robert Greenfield, Mr. Bacharach acknowledged that “it was all my fault, and I can’t imagine how many great songs I could have written with Hal in the years we were apart.” " If only...
On the Tom Waits covers album "Step Right Up", Alex's version of "Downtown" is maybe the best track on the record. I like his loose and blues-funky style (great band) much better than Wait's early faux jazz style.
Hello when skinheads started they were not a racist group, it was just working class kids that liked a lot of ska bluebeat,soul and mod stuff and had a look. It was a fairly aggressive look and got hijacked a lot by people with other motivations amongst which was an element of racist violence but that violence was by no means solely directed at people with darker skin. This was a time of extreme casual violence where I grew up in east London (and most places), going to the toilet in a boozer was fairly risky sometimes and gigs would erupt into mass brawls regularly especially if you went to see 999 or Sham when skins would try and 'control' the place and act as a group taking on all comers. It was tricky because they were easy to identify as a group so became a gang although they by no means all knew each other . There was no CCTV or security anywhere really - just violence and anarchy. It was pretty exciting mostly to be honest as long as you were young, able to fight, run (lots) or talk your way out of it (mostly) although it was often bravado and handbags. There were a lot of amphetamines around in those days and it made for crazy nights. As well as speed there was a lot of desperation and nihilism - 50 years later I am still struggling with my inherent nihilism from that time although I also look back fondly on it ha ha. Mari Wilson was never that big really although Neasden's finest was popular in my house. I live opposite e bloke that was in her backing band the Wilsations and am obliged to drop little nuggets like 'just what I always wanted' into the conversation every time I see him in the pub. I love seeing him in the vids from the time with shiny big lapelled jackets
"Thick Girls Knock Me Out (Richard Starkey)" by The Dandy Warhols. Paul McCartney also gets mentioned.
I first heard the song around 1976. I was 12 years old. My first take was that Pancho and Lefty were the same guy. The more over my life I was convinced I was correct as I learned more details about Townes Van Zandt. Pancho was young Townes with his life and dreams all ahead of him. Lefty is what was Left of him after his parents had shock treatments done on him to correct his behavior. The first verse tells the story completely. Lefty has the same dirt in his mouth as Pancho. Lefty went to hell as in the cold of Cleveland. They only let him hang around out of kindness was a tip that he played his enablers. Townes was brilliant. He laid I all out in the open for us all to see.
Here's the story I thought had been posted! https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/sorta-friend-of-the-hall-keith-levene-contacts-the-back-office-me/
This is beautiful, Big Steve! I had the same reaction and just logged on to see if sammymaudlin ever shared the story behind the interview he *almost* got with Levene. Or did he get that interview? I can't remember.
When I heard the news, I immediately thought of RTH, even though I don't know how to use the publish function of this site. https://www.nme.com/news/music/public-image-ltd-and-the-clash-guitarist-keith-levene-has-died-aged-65-3347976
Are You Drinkin' with Me Jesus by Mojo Nixon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IBGZ-nFVrM Last man standing!
"Oh Me Oh My (I'm A Fool for You Baby) by Lulu Last man standing!
Stopped by to see/ask if anyone is excited about My Life as a Rolling Stone coming out soon. It's a BBC docuseries that I'm guessing arose because Get Back was so huge. Looks like it will stream on EPIX. Guess if they don't have a free weekly trial, I won't see it! Wonder if it will be interesting, or mostly Jagger propaganda. Maybe they will address the Some Girls vs. Goat Head's Soup showdown. Probably.
Hey VW, Nice to have some fresh fish in the Hall! There always seems to be more love for Lowell George here than I see elsewhere, and the appropriate amount of disdain for Dave Matthews. I don't mind John Mayer myself. From the little I've seen or heard, he's a terrific guitar player. I guess you are including him in your bad band cause he's just such a douche. Fair. The hall can be empty for a while, but people do check in from time to time still.
1. What do you think of this performance of “Let My Love Open the Door?” Do you have any comments on the song, the performance, the fashion choices or anything else? I like the whole Klaus Nomi thing Pete had going back then. For 15 minutes he looked up to date among the early 80’s crop of new romantics, although Bowie and Bryan Ferry pulled the look off better. The ubiquitous Phil Collins on drums. 2. You’ve been given the opportunity to form a band for your favorite underrated songwriter or singer/front-person. Who is the “star” and who is in the band? You want to put together a surprising yet appropriate group. What unlikely or never-considered musical collaboration would you put together? I’m in a deep-fried southern soul kind of mood today, so either Lowell George or Kelly Holland out in front, Duane Allman and Allen Collins on guitars, Danko and Helm holding down the rhythm section. Occasionally featuring Wayne Jackson and Andrew Love. No keyboards. 3. Uh-oh, your favorite underrated songwriter turned out to be difficult to work with! You’ve decided to scrap that band and put together the worst possible band, just to be creatively vengeful. Who is in this band now? Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Neil Peart, Glenn Frey, Anthony Kiedis and Eddie Vedder. I don’t care who plays what. 4. Have you ever been to a show headlined by a known artist (ie not a “local” band) where the audience cleared out? Who was the artist and why did everyone leave? No, not really. It always astounds me when people bail before the encore though. Miss all kinds of good stuff. 5. What is the best guitar solo in the Beatles catalog? I like Clapton on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, George on “Something” and Paul on “Taxman”. In that order. 6. Do accordions belong in rock music? Sure, depending on the context. Clifton Chenier and Flaco Jimenez can be in my band anytime. 7. Odd meters (talking songs in 5, 7, etc): are they pretentious? Do you have a favorite song in an odd meter? I like a lot of prog, so weird time signatures and pretense don’t bother me. Something off of Apostrophe would probably get my vote. 8. What have you been listening to lately? Have you found any interesting music that is new or new to you? I’ve been listening to the most recent releases from Sarah Borges, Margo Price and Crystal Thomas, all three of which I like a lot. There’s a cat named Riley Downing who reminds me of J.J. Cale - just discovered him, as well as a guitar virtuoso named Christie Lenee, who has a major Michael Hedges thing going that I think is just brilliant.
I just discovered this site today. Don't bail on me now.
"1500 Miles Through the Eyes of A Beatle" by The Frost Worth a listen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8gt5DirTBQ
I think I've heard the name Rammstein, but I wouldn't have known if it was a band, a German New Wave film director, or a sex toy. Rammstein playing Lincoln Financial Field may explain why Rock Town Hall has run it's course.
Imagine the Rammstein and Insane Clown Posse versions of this: https://pop-sesivo.tumblr.com/post/661600845183500288/bands-reimagined-as-hanna-barbera-cartoons
What he said. Insane Clown Posse? Rammstein? They are just names to me. But then I don't know why people go to EDM concerts either. I may be the only person who, when he sees the name Rammstein, thinks of Dan Bern. Bern has a fairly low profile but has been around for quite awhile. A combination of Bob Dylan and Loudon Wainwright. There was a time i followed him pretty closely but that was back probably 15 or so years ago. Anyway, as some point he began referring to himself as Bernstein - no idea why - and so when I see Rammstein i think Bernstein.
Probably none of us own an album, but probably all of us have heard of Rammstein. Not many other bands in whatever genre they call themselves can say that. Seems similar to the status that Insane Clown Posse has. It's always a shock to see how popular they are without being a popular band.
Thank you all for indulging my off-blog plea. Really does anyone on here know anyone that actually has a Rammstein record? WTF?
Similar sort of thing, i.e., I'm getting old. I get emails from a place like deepdiscount or Newbury Comics or I see an ad in Shindig magazine and there will be a whole page of albums being advertised and not only am I unfamiliar with all of the artists it often happens where I couldn't tell you which is the artist and which is the album title. Not just on one title but all 8 or 10 or 12 that are there. On the plus side, it makes any buying decision easy.
They looking for an opener??
Seriously? That's bizarre. And it sounds like a terrible night out.
I saw the Stones in 2019 so not too long ago, and they caught me off guard with how good they were. The only other time I'd seen them was in 1989 and the 2019 show was much much better. Of course, I'd like to write the set list because I could really do without hearing Start Me Up, Can't Always Get What You Want, and Satisfaction again (all great songs that have just worn out their welcome through repetition), but even those songs sounded somewhat fresh.
Rammstein is playing our local NFL Stadium, Lincoln Financial Field. How is that possible? And how is it possible that I would've thought they'd be at a venue the size of Underground Arts?
What tier would you put the Stones on tour in 2022? Fifth? Sixth? And is it higher or lower than McCartney on tour in 2022? Dylan? I watched some clips of the Stones show in Spain the other day. Mick, Keith, and Ron are energetic enough but they don't look real. Ditto Paul. And i don't know what I think of the duet with John, courtesy of Peter Jackson, on I Got A Feeling. The cynic thinks it's a little too cute. The fan loves it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l45fa7N0IP8 And Bob, well, bless him for doing exactly what he wants - and probably no fan wants - on tour but thanks, but no thanks.
GHS is mid tier Stones for me but still worth an occasional visit.. Some clunkers on there for sure, like Dancing with Mr D, which always struck me as Mick unsuccessfully trying to mine the same territory and Midnight Ramble, Sympathy, and Memo from Turner. As scary as a flaccid wiener. But I actually like (not love!) Angie. Heartbreaker is great, Silver Train is a bit redundant but I'm a sucker for that kind of stuff so I love it. And my son spent so much time trolling me with 100 Years Ago because I tld him that I cringe when Mick starts singing about "Lazybones" that I've learned to ignore that phrase and enjoy the rest of what I consider to be an otherwise excellent song. Throw in Star Star and you have an album with at least five songs worth hearing with varying degrees of regularity. That's not too shabby. Second tier Stones would be stuff like Some Girls, England's Newest Hitmakers, and Between the Buttons. First tier is Beggars, Let it Bleed, Ya Yas, Sticky Fingers, and the Greatest Record of All Time: Exile.
Continued "From Goat's Head Soup to Some Girls" Now 49 years later I bought the 2020 two-disk reissue and still love it. My favorite track is the scandalous STAR STAR with her obscene Polaroids and her tricks with fruit, Ali McGraw and Steve McQueen, New York City, L.A. maybe even old John Wayne made it with this rock groupie before he died. But I digress. The real draw of STAR STAR is the blistering guitar work of Keith Richards and Mick Taylor (a la Chuck Berry) the band of Bill, Charlie, with Ian Stewart on piano and Mick Jagger's vocals drive it hard and harder till the fadeout. Keith took the lead from the first licks to the last, with Mick Taylor providing a masterful rhythm guitar track that allows Keith to shine in his most comfortable rock & roll role, the riff-master, every lick he ever played ripped off from Mr. Berry. The reissue is great! So to let it be on the record, top tier are Beggar's Banquet, Let It Bleed, Sticky Fingers and Exile On Main Street. Goats Head Soup is next tier along with It's Only Rock & Roll, Black & Blue and Some Girls, but that's another chapter. -
Last Post: September 7, 2007 15 years ago people cared about The Rolling Stones with a passion. They debated albums that were already 30 to 35 years old. I am now going to share my thoughts titled "From Goat's Head Soup to Some Girls (The Decline & Fall of The Rolling Stones)." I was 15 in 1973 and bought my first real album, Goats' Head Soup by The Rolling Stones. I loved Silver Train and Star Star of course, still do. Coming Down Again is a pretty song with ugly lyrics. Angie is so out of character for the band that it works. I also love the horns on Heartbreaker and the lead guitar (of soon to quit Mick Taylor) on Hide Your Love and Winter.
After going through one VERY LOUD song at soundcheck, I asked the soundguy if there were drums and guitars in the drummer's monitor, because we were getting this giant blasting quadraphonic version of ourselves in addition to what we normally hear in our not too quiet rehearsals. "Oh yeah, it's all pushed cause you said you couldn't hear instruments in the monitor." I said, "No, I said we didn't need any instruments in the monitors." Oh. It got a little better, but still.
Hey, I remember this place! Sorry I've been away. The show went well. We were represented by Townspeople in all 4 bands. Everyone delivered. The crowd was good. It was super loud onstage, though - the soundman had the monitors cranked louder than the sound out to the audience. I had a serious scare regarding my hearing that cleared up a couple of days later. Yikes! It was also really sweaty in the club. I would be a world champion in sweating if there were competitive events for that, but I think I set a new personal best that night.
Yeah, what's with the Fire Lady? She's a bit irascible as they say at the spelling bee.
The anticipation is unbearable, so I thought I'd hurry things along.
I'm very excited to play it (provided we don't get rejected by the fire lady). Also chickenfrank don't worry, I've been promoting it extensively on Truth using my network of Russian bots.
Big Steve, it didn't happen yet. It's on 3/19. I'll see if I can get the Mod to set his phone on a tripod near the sound board and Facetime Live stream it.
How did it go?
I get most of my social media from Trump's Truth Social app now, but that doesn't seem to be promoting the show yet. Glad to find it here.
I'll be there! (Not really--according to GPS, it's 2,862 miles from here, and I'm afraid that's 193 out of my range. But kick all kinds of ass!)
Oh, and do be there at 8:00.
As mentioned, I will be there. and now that I understand Garlicsalt will be involved in the last act, beginning to end. Oh Boy!
Checked out the Florry. I wouldn't recommend them if you're particular about on key vocals, (I'm not and I found the two-part disharmony, I think mostly on the guitar player singer to be appealing), but hang in for her guitar solo which is very good. She would work as the righteous rock guitar player in the aforementioned cowpunk band
Garlic Salt, I'd love to see that cowpunk band although I think you need a sloppy but righteous rock guitar player for lead. Maybe someone like Westerburg or Steve Jones. Cool recommendations: US Paul Kelly from Al and Heatloaf from Garlic Salt.
I'M not the resident youngin'?? Now I feel basic and random. 8. Appreciate the local recommendations. Checking them all out now.
As the resident youngin’ I was really just excited to answer the last part of this question, but I’m going to answer the rest of them as well. 1. I have similar opinions to others. I think it’s a little overdone and tacky. I enjoy me a good tele but other than that not much to love for me. 2. My ultimate band is going to be a backing band for Art Alekasis in an attempt to force him back to his cowpunk roots. This will consist of Country Dick Montana from the Beat Farmers on Drums (and backup vocals), Gram Parsons on guitar, and Murray Hammond from the Old 97s on bass. 3. Alright, now to mess it up. I’m going to put Adam Duritz on guitar and backup vocals because I think there’s no way he won’t try and take center stage, Neil Peart to ruin the country sound, and Thundercat on bass because that is essentially having another lead guitar. 4. Honestly, I haven’t been to many big shows lately, mainly because I find that I enjoy local bands and smaller shows more than the big ones, so I’m going to have to skip. 5. The best guitar solo in the Beatles catalogue is Dig A Pony for me. But I don’t listen to much Beatles so that’s probably not the best. 6. Yes. Wholeheartedly. Almost every instrument belongs in rock music in some context or another. 7. I enjoy them when used tastefully. It can be excessive or overused but when it sounds good it can sound really good. 8. Alright here’s my short list of local Philly bands I think people should really check out, along with a short descriptor. I’m trying to limit it to people I’ve seen in a basement. Gloss: funky r&b indie group (listen to Play Myself Again), Attack Dog: punk, interesting production since it’s all done by one dude in GarageBand (listen to Young Lion), Heatloaf: indie, has really interesting harmonies (listen to: shoulder to die on). Finally, this is the best band I’ve seen in the past while, Florry. They a fantastic band with a rather large amount of people. When I saw them they had a guy play lap steel but I’m pretty sure they have a pedal steel player now. Check out this video of them playing at PhilaMOCA. Skip to 16:37 for my personal fav song. https://youtu.be/UZ6M86ylBXk?t=997
I really like that Dalton album but understand that the voice can be as much of a turn off for some as it is a turn on for others. The Harvey Brooks production on that record is really cool. For example, he plays a really busy, complex line on "In a Station" but also can strip the bass down to a primitive repetitive droney line that sounds like a gifted post-punk beginner (think Wobble) for "Something on Your Mind." There's a recently released straight style outtake of SOYM that sounds like it might be the exact same vocal take with a very standard country rock feel arrangement. There's no way that that version would have had the impact of the original which has landed in a million soundtracks. That change let the backing match the otherworldliness of the vocal.
I knew Geoff Muldaur name mainly because he had sung harmony with John Cale on Guts and Darling I Need You on the Slow Dazzle album. I enjoyed the Geoff/Maria duo albums, but they were basically unreconstructed folkies who never learned how to write songs. This is the exact opposite of Bobby Charles, who apparently never learned how to play even minimal guitar or piano. He would write the songs in his head, and somehow transmit them to musicians who had to work out the chords on their own. I'm still bowled over by that. I tried with Karen Dalton, but I just couldn't handle her voice at all. Reading about her backstory didn't help. When I read about this period nowadays, I often am amazed that anybody produced recordings of any value, given the amount of drugs and alcohol that were being consumed.
Chiming in late with two comments. That Wet Leg thing was great. There was a live four song set on Youtube that maintained the quality standard. I saw they were touring in March, but after being booked in a small room, Philamoca, and moved up to a larger room, Underground Arts, the show was already sold out. road trip to New York or DC maybe? In the list of Woodstock of Woodstock related acts, BigSteve mentioned, Geoff and Maria Muldaur whose "Pottery Pie" album is excellent. He also neglected to mention Karen Dalton, whose "In My Own Time" album is arguably the best of the scene.
I keep thinking of ideas for threads and Geo keeps telling me "that's already been done". And it's likely they were done by me 😏