Rock Town Hall • Rock Music Discussion

Wedding Bell Blues

Oct 222012

Mr. Royale and I just returned from a wedding in Seattle and while the ceremony was beautiful and the reception all sorts of fun, I felt a little let down about the music. The processional and ceremony included the newer standards: Saint Saen‘s “The Swan,” the theme from Braveheart, and Bach‘s “Ave Maria.” The bride did spice things up by adding a little something new: the theme from Downton Abbey played by a harpist and cellist. Tasteful, discrete, and soothing. Things got a little more exciting during the reception when the bride and groom performed their first dance as a tango to a Gotan Project instrumental.

While we thoroughly enjoyed the celebration, we got to dreaming about all sorts of non-traditional musical choices. Of course, we would not have wanted to have spoiled the bride and groom’s dream day, and realize that one person’s interesting wedding music is another person’s God Speed! You Black Emperor, but we did sort of wonder what would have happened if the harpist had started in on something more “Seattle,”

Have you attended any weddings with truly inspired processional/recessional music? Do you have any great musical wedding reception stories to share?

Best Performance by a Dedicated Group of Backing Vocalists

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 202012

Has any group of dedicated group of backing vocalists added more to a song than the Pips do behind Gladys Knight on “Midnight Train to Georgia”? Their performance is essential to the song. If you must throw studio backing vocalists and band members who sing background vocals as well as play instruments into the discussion to make it a challenge, go for it with the knowledge that I’ll be tsk tsk-ing you for taking the easy way out. If I weren’t playing the “bigger man” you’d be fed up with me for my silly exclusions and seemingly on-the-fly rules.

I’m not the world’s greatest fan of backing vocals, but when done so when and when arranged as such an essential part of the song I can’t help but be dazzled. Whoo-hoo!

If You Can’t Say Anything Nice About…Gnesa

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 202012

Thanks to my close, impersonal Facebook friend Joe for passing along this gem!

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.

Telly Savalas: Mandom Club Member?

Posted by mrclean

Oct 202012

Saw this over on the excellent Crying All The Way to the Chip Shop site from London Lee. As noted over there, he doesn’t seem to need to change his shirt.

Bands That Are Taken for Granted

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 192012

Everybody must get stoned.

Are there bands that you feel are taken for granted, from any era? Not obscuro “cool” bands that no one knows about but people like us, but bands that cranked out their share of hits that even intelligent music lovers like ourselves tend to overvalue? Here’s an imagine exchange between me and one of you that illustrates what I’m getting at.

Me: You know what pisses me off?

You: What now?

Me: When a band like The Rascals is taken for granted?

You: Huh?

Me: Yeah, The Rascals: “Groovin’,” “I’ve Been Lonely Too Long,” “I Ain’t Gonna Eat My Heart Anymore”…

You: Yeah, I know—

Me: “People Got to Be Free,” dare I say “Good Lovin'”—not the Dead’s version!

You: Yeah, yeah, I know The Rascals. They’re in the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame, aren’t they? How’s that taking them for granted?

Me: Let me explain…

All-Star Jam

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 192012

Rainy day in your neck of the woods? It is here, while I try to find the most efficient way to fill gaping holes in a database. Tell us what’s on your mind.

What Instrument Have You Owned But Still Not Learned How to Play, No Matter How Cool You Know It Would Be to Play Said Instrument?

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 192012

Here’s an old topic worth revisiting not only for the benefit of those of you who have entered the Hall since early 2009, but to see if any of the thread’s original respondents have since learned the cool instrument they never got around to learning. Can even older dogs learn new tricks?

This post initially appeared 1/21/09.

This guy has is all together!

What instrument have you owned but still not learned how to play, no matter how cool you know it would be to play said instrument?

The year my wife and I lived in Hungary I saw some folk bands with guys playing a Hungarian version of a bagpipe. One of these bagpipe players also wore a really cool hat. I’ve loved bagpipes since I was about 10, when my Dad took me to see some Scottish marching band at the Spectrum. I had no interest in buying a kilt from the concession stands after the show, but I recall crying over the fact that my Dad wouldn’t buy me a set of bagpipes that day. I got that they were expensive, but this was 1973 or so, long before Internet shopping. If I didn’t make a trip to Scotland, I thought, I might never have another opportunity like this to buy a set of bagpipes. Waaahhhhhh!
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