Rock Town Hall • Rock Music Discussion

Summertime…and the Concerts Are Free?

Posted by funoka

Aug 052012

The Band — Circa 1995 — Free?

Street festivals, county fairs, ethnic celebrations…every weekend I scour local events calendars to see if there is anything remotely interesting to see around DC, especially for free. (Oh look, Weezer is playing a free show at a Microsoft store in Arlington, VA on Aug. 11th!)

Last summer, I saw The Bangles (who are still keeping it together) at a county fair. I’ve seen Al Green (fantastic), Joan Jett, Kansas (umm), Soul Asylum, Gin Blossoms, Etta James, Old 97s (at an Italian Fest in Chicago!) — some good, some bad.

But the most memorable free show was seeing the 1990s version of the Band at a Taste of DC festival…circa 1994 or so. They sounded great, Danko was there, and there they were playing in front of about 500 people at some side stage.

In the spirit of season, what’s the best show you’ve ever seen for free?

All-Star Jam

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Aug 052012

The Hall awaits rock-related reports from the London Olympics. Let’s hope we hear from our own Happiness Stan soon. Meanwhile, feel free to file your own reports surrounding this and other events.

Cit-Ay and Other Rock Pronunciation Tips

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Aug 032012

I was listening to Stevie Wonder’s “Living for the City” earlier today, while driving from Laguna to San Francisco, primarily through the kind of amazing California nowhere land that I-5 takes drivers. Hearing Stevie repeatedly pronounce the song’s key word as Cit-Ay I got to thinking of that horrible Journey song that pronounces the word the same way, and the possibility for a Last Man Standing. Then I realized there are probably a dozen other words that are only pronounced a certain way in song, a way that no one would ever pronounce the words in everyday speech. Then I realized that you can help budding rock singers identify and learn the proper rock pronunciation of these words. Go!

Last Man Standing Rock That Counts

Posted by machinery

Aug 022012

I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for the Beach Boy’s “When I grow up to be a man.” It’s sentimental and good-vibey at the same time. And I dig the drums on this. But my favorite part is how they include the counting up of the ages throughout … especially at the end. ” 22 .. 23 … 24 …

So as a Last Man Standing Challenge … what other great songs use this counting technique?

I’ll take this song and Bowie’s Space Oddity off the board to start.

Comment of the Month: BigSteve a Surefire Winner

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Aug 012012

July’s Comment of the Month winner is BigSteve, who took a surefire route to winning this coveted award, when in a thread asking Townspeople to determine the better song among a pair of “twins” from the Kinks’ litter wrote the following:

Continue reading »

The Devil’s Advocate

Posted by Slim Jade

Jul 312012

Give me about a shotglass of rockabilly. Now I need a pound of delta blues, and add four tablespoons of jet-fueled Los Angeles punk.

Now just a pinch of voodoo, and give me a half pint of 50’s EC horror comics.

Sprinkle liberally with some jazz touches.

Place on the burner

And bring to a boil

Beat. Well.

Sex Beat

Run Through the Jungle

The Gun Club took a punk attitude to roots rock, rising from the same scene as X and The Blasters. With a name that sounds like he came right out of Faulkner, leader Jeffrey Lee Pierce began as a music writer enamored with glam and reggae. He also was the President of the Blondie fan club, and with his bleached hair, damn if he didn’t look like Debby Harry.

Preaching the Blues

Ghost on the Highway

The music pairs well with The Cramps, The Birthday Party/Bad Seeds, Flat Duo Jets, Gallon Drunk, and any other band description where I might use the words swamp, amphetamine, devil, whiskey, or howl.

The Master Plan

Mother of Earth

JLP was always something of a fuck-up, living the Sunset Strip life despite a history of bad health. He died at 37.