Rock Town Hall • Rock Music Discussion

Rock ‘n Roll Grant Writing

Nov 152010

We tend to think of grant writing and rock ‘n roll as a practice that only takes place in Scandanavian countries, but surely it is possible for American musicians to apply for grants to fund their high-brow rock excursions. What else would explain the rock-related career of Laurie Anderson?

For the good of musicians hoping to land a grant for their next rock project, please assess this video for its fine demonstration of elements of rock ‘n roll grant writing. I’ll tell you one thing that impresses the organizations awarding these grants: Adrian Belew.

This Is Your Rock Town Hall!

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Nov 132010

Townspeople,

This is your Rock Town Hall!

If you’ve already got Back Office privileges and can initiate threads, by all means use your privileges! If you’d like to acquire such privileges, let us know. If you’ve got a comment that needs to be made, what are you waiting for? If you’re just dropping in and find yourself feeling the need to scat, don’t hesitate to register and post your thoughts. The world of intelligent rock discussion benefits from your participation. If nothing else, your own Mr. Moderator gets a day off from himself. It’s a good thing for you as well as me!
Continue reading »

Dugout Chatter

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Nov 122010

It’s that time again: time for that rapid-fire round of hard-hitting questions, known in the Halls of Rock as Dugout Chatter! Remember, there are no right or wrong answers, only true ones. Let’s get to it!

Neil Young‘s Le Noise: pointless, stupid, or all the things critics tend to say about any production involving Daniel Lanois?

I saw that Eminem has supposedly released another comeback, which I believe would make for his second or third comeback album in a row without having once come back and gone away in between? How many times can one artist make a “comeback” album, and if more than one time, can an artist comeback a subsequent time without having successfully returned and gone away once before?

Excluding young Michael Jackson, who was the greatest preteen/teenage performer in rock?

What’s more damaging to the environment, fall leaf-blower emissions or the destruction of trees used to print the review of any new Eric Clapton album?

What rock-related topic is most in need of a Main Stage poll? You may supply the answer options, but hold onto your specific answer in case your poll is chosen for eventual appearance.

I look forward to your responses.

We Need the Rock Music Equivalent of “Jump The Shark”

Posted by sammymaudlin

Nov 122010

Here’s an important question that never got settled thanks to Townspeople getting passionately hung up on the legacy of a subpar Clash album. Maybe today we can get back to the initial question Townsman sammymaudlin posted. Or maybe we’ll get hung up on something else.

This post initially appeared 7/29/08.

Go in to about 1:45.

I offer “Twirl The Mic,” as in “REM Twirled the Mic on Can’t Get There From Here“.

Can you top that?

All-Star Jam

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Nov 122010

You’re not Two Cool to tell us what’s on your mind, are you? Let’s kick it out Philly Big Hair style. Philly Townspeeps take note: that stylin’ Two Cool guy “Tony” is future cheesesteak impressario and budding movie extra Tony Luke. Tony hasn’t given up the music bug!

If You Can’t Say Anything Nice About…Style Council’s Jerusalem

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Nov 102010

I’d never heard of Style Council‘s short film Jerusalem until the other day, when Townsman misterioso suggested that we see if we can’t say anything nice about it. Because this is likely to be one of the most difficult assignments that I have ever faced, I won’t even begin to watch this 4-part series of YouTube clips until after I’ve launched the post. As some of you may recall, I have already found Style Council (and Paul Weller, in particular) guilty of Rock Crimes. This film can’t be good news for his parole officer, but I’ll be…nice.

Here’s what Modculture.com had to say about this film:

The one that’ll leave you wondering the most, though, is ‘JerUSAlem’. Those who have seen it already will probably recall the slightly bewildering feeling one experiences when it’s viewed for the first time. Whilst I won’t admit to understanding it fully, visually it’s aged very well. The clips of the band roaring into the village square on their scooters still pleases, as do the performances of ‘It Didn’t Matter’ and ‘Heavens Above’ in particular. Whether you get it or not, it’s nice to own it and finally be able to pass judgement on it. It’s not brilliant, but it’s not entirely bad either.

Note how they manage to find something nice to say. Let’s see if we can’t follow their lead. Parts 2 through 4 follow…after the jump!

Keef’s Life

Posted by KingEd

Nov 102010

That's life!

Last week, as I set Keith Richards‘ memoir, Life, cowritten by novelist and friend James Fox, on my nightstand each night after an hour’s worth of reading I couldn’t help but reflect on the back-cover photograph of a gleefully shambolic Keef, in a pose very similar to the one atop this post. “It must be nice to see yourself in this way,” I thought, “and think, Yeah, that’s the shot for the back cover of my memoir!”

This is probably why I can’t stand having my picture taken. I’m nowhere near as comfortable in my skin as Keef is in his. His comfort with himself also comes out in the writing of this book, which is laid back, down to earth, sometimes rambling, a bit self-satisfied, and surprisingly sweet. Who would have thought Keef was so into cuddling? There’s a brief bit in which he discusses all the women of Mick Jagger who inevitably end up crying on his shoulder. He tops it off with something to the effect of, “No one thinks of me as ‘Uncle Keith,’ but that’s a side of me.” Continue reading »

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