Flying Burrito Brothers’ Chris Etheridge Dead at 65

 Posted by
Apr 242012
 


I forgot to mention that I saw late last night that Flying Burrito Brothers bassist Chris Etheridge died yesterday at the age of 65. Etheridge co-wrote “Hot Burrito #1” with Gram Parsons. I suppose as a goof Etheridge is playing drums in this video.

I didn’t realized he’d been spending his recent days as part of Willie Nelson‘s band, but what do I know about the world of country music?

I also didn’t realize Etheridge left the Burritos after their first album, The Gilded Palace of Sin. I like that one and the follow up a a lot. I thought that group of musicians had a great vibe together that I never enjoyed half as much in their various post-Burritos incarnation. After Gram Parsons left the Flying Burrito Brothers Etheridge would hook up again with his old International Submarine Band co-conspirator on Parsons’ solo albums.

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Formative Years

 Posted by
Apr 232012
 

After hearing my good buddy AndyR front the Narband this weekend, making his way through two sets of really fun covers from the ’80s (and a few of the ’90s) I started thinking about the musician who, if I had to set down a musical marker, would be the one who defined my formative musical years. To me, that time was from late high school into early college. And I’m wondering who you guys would name.

Now as a bit of ground rules — I’m talking about an artist that came up (or down) in your time. So, while many might go to the Beatles, Stones, Beach Boys, etc as their musicians of enlightenment… I would guess these pre-date most of us. (I’m guessing at our typical demographic’s ages, of course.)

For me, that marker would have to Elvis Costello.

Of course I did listen to music before and after Elvis. But (as I was driving home in nice glow) Costello helped me become “alternative” in my high school without having to be really punk, was the first guy my high school friends really agreed on, and bonded me in college to my closest friends to this day. He had such a great string of albums that I could enjoy his output for a good long run. I remember walking around school with My Aim Is True as sort of a badge of honor.

I don’t listen to Costello as much as I should today. But he always brings me back in a way other artists of my Formative Years don’t quite match.

So, as a way to get to know you guys better, who would you point to as the artist that best sums up your time? It might be an artist that you don’t think is particularly good now.

Maybe it’s the weather that’s put me in a reminiscing mood…

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Mr Play in a Day Departs, Having Left the World a More Musical Place

 Posted by
Apr 212012
 

This has been a rather grim week or two for the passing of rock legends, and today Bert Weedon, inspiration for many a guitarist primarily through his Play in a Day book, said goodnight as well.

I know practically nothing about his life, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard any of his records, but in common with Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Brian May, I owned a copy of his book and at one time tried to learn to play using it.

My knowledge of music was so rudimentary (read non-existent) that the book was far too complicated for me, and I never returned to it. I eventually figured it out in my own way, but the act of buying the book and opening it with an untuned and probably untunable guitar in hand was enough of a statement of intent to lead me to find a doorway to the instrument even if it turned out not to be that one.

I eventually figured it out by making a set of flash cards with chords on one side and the name of the chord on the other and to keep shuffling them and pulling them out at random until I could not only play them but remember them all as well. I did do it in a day—New Year’s Eve 1978, when I couldn’t find anyone to stay up with, but which turned out in hindsight to be the most productive evening I’ve ever spent.

I wondered if anyone in the Hall ever did learn to play using Bert’s book? And please share any Eureka moments with instruments that you subsequently became at least passingly competent with.

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RTH Scavenger Hunt: Priceless Tribute Band Photos

 Posted by
Apr 212012
 

Fresno Rock City

Looking to finally place a gleaming RTH No-Prize on your virtual mantle? Then join us in a RTH Scavenger Hunt, where we scour the dusty nooks and crannies of the Internet to find the most wondrous examples of all kinds of weird rock-related ephemera.

Today, we’ll be looking for compelling photos of rock tribute bands. The criteria for winning entries are too complex to begin describing here. Let’s just say the judges need to have their eyeballs singed by the incredible photographic awesomeness you discover. Multiple No-Prizes may be awarded, so keep those URLs (no more than 2 per post, please) pouring in!

I look forward to your responses.

HVB

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Rock Town Hall’s Saturday Night Shut-In: For Levon

 Posted by
Apr 212012
 

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

In this week’s edition of Saturday Night Shut-In your host, Mr. Moderator, lacks time to chat but constructs a set around some thoughts on Levon Helm and the passing of yet another member of one of his childhood faves, The Band.

[audio:https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/RTH-Saturday-Night-Shut-In-76.mp3|titles=RTH Saturday Night Shut-In, episode 76]

[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.]

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