Rock Town Hall • Rock Music Discussion

Townspeople Helping Townspeople Find Rock ‘n Roll Holy Grails

Sep 242010

It’s not like I’m near death or anything – or no more so than any relatively healthy soul walking around like there are thousands of tomorrows ahead – but as I age in this age of easy electronic access to our shared past, from YouTube clips of local tv ads from the 1970s to eBay auctions on forgotten toys to posted .jpgs of Xeroxed flyers from local band shows in the mid-1980s, I find myself continuing to chase digital flashbacks of a handful of images and tunes that are burned in my memory. Maybe some folks want to see God’s face or the face of a loved one flash before their eyes before they themselves leave this life, but I want to see a couple of dumb things that matter to me for reasons I can’t quite explain. Continue reading »

Say “Amen Corner,” Somebody!

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Sep 242010

Townspeople, I just came across this abbreviated, super-charged version of The Move‘s “Hello Susie,” by a band I’d long heard of but never heard, Amen Corner, led by a musician I’d long heard of and knew of as a sort of Oliver, I believe, for big British bands in the ’70s but never heard play on his own, Andy Fairweather Low.

Hearing this version of “Hello Susie” for the first time was pretty exciting, primarily for the fact that Bev Bevan is not paradiddling all over the tune. As loyal as I am to The Move (and as tolerant as I am of their excesses), Bevan’s sloppy, sludgey style sometimes aggravates me. Amen Corner’s arrangement gets to the chugging, cascading heart of the song and doesn’t overdo it. Ultimately it makes for a “lighter” approach in scope as well as the song’s inherent ability to celebrate The Power and Glory of Rock, but tonight I was intrigued and wanted to hear more. Continue reading »

Once and For All: The Best Argument for Why White Guys Shouldn’t Play the Blues

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Sep 232010

If Blues Hammer hasn’t already convinced you that 99.9% of white guys (and 110% of Dutch guys) should stay far, far away from Da Blooz, then this 1968 performance by Cuby & The Blizzards should settle the matter…once and for all. I think the two guys from the 1:24 through 1:30 mark would back me up, not to mention the dude who leads the march toward the door at the 3:03 mark. Enjoy!

Lights… Camera… Wait a Minute — Who’s Got the Script?!

Posted by hrrundivbakshi

Sep 232010

With this post, we inaugurate a new series on Rock Town Hall — one in which we look to you, our closet D.W. Griffiths, our frustrated Eric Von Stroheims, our secret Spielbergs, to help explain what on Earth is going on in a featured “music video.”

I must admit, I came across this one by accident, in the “comments” section at the tail end of a very interesting music-related Gizmodo post, about which I’ll post separately. But as soon as I clapped my eyes on this video, I was smitten. Fascinated. Enthralled.

What the hell, I wondered, did it mean?

I’ve got some thoughts of my own, but I don’t want to influence your creative process. I really want to know what the story is behind this piece of film. Why the fire-breathing? Why the halloween party-store witch’s hat? Why the constant scurrying through the glades? And why, oh why is there so much…crouching?

It’s clear to me that what this video needs is a script of some sort — or at least an explanation. Can you provide one?

I look forward to your responses.

HVB

Making the Case for the Sexiest Man in Prog-Rock: Will it Be John Wetton, Chris Squire, Carl Palmer, or David Gilmour?

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Sep 232010

Chicks dig odd time signatures!

Our ongoing poll to determine the Sexiest Man in Prog-Rock has garnered interest across the globe. Out of the gates it looked to be a showdown between the the Zelig of the Prog/Art Rock world, stylishly tressed bassist John Wetton, and former model and Pink Floyd hunk David Gilmour. Then, without warning, cape-wearing Yes bassist Chris Squire and ELP’s boyishly macho drummer Carl Palmer jumped ahead of Gilmour and put some heat on Wetton. With a record number of votes pouring in, Wetton and Squire are neck and neck! Before more votes are posted, let’s consider the leaders in this heretofore-inconceivable showdown.

I know this discussion will make some of you manly men uncomfortable, but these prog-rock legends aren’t as smooth as Ken dolls down there, nor are their fans a collection of plastic Ken and Barbie dolls. For the rock ‘n roll record, I suggest you man up and give these gents the once-over they deserve. It’s clear that only Rock Town Hall is fit to determine, once and for all, the Sexiest Man in Prog-Rock. In-depth analyses of our leading vote-getters appear on page 2!

All-Star Jam

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Sep 232010

If you’ve yet to participate in one of Rock Town Hall’s patented All-Star Jam, maybe now’s the time!

This is the free-form thread that occasionally appears on The Main Stage, in which Townspeople can share quick thoughts, links, and whatnot regarding not-quite burning issues of possibly fantastic interest to rock nerds like ourselves. For instance, you may want to hip us to as current-day photos of the Leeds University refectory where The Who once rocked their live Tommy jam, giving purpose to at least one teenage guitarist’s life.

You may want to hip us to a pretty funny comedy routine on old rockers and their age-appropriately revised hits.

You may even want to share the news that J-Lo, Steven Tyler, and former producer/present label head and Jimmy Caan-look-alike Jimmy Iovine have been added as judges to American Idol.

No nugget of trivial information, release date, or observation (eg, “I think I just realized who the ‘Janis Joplin’ woman is pictured in a recently used fauxto of Jimi, Janis, and Jim Morrison!”) is discouraged. Well, almost no piece of useless information.

So how ’bout we get it on?

But Wait! There’s More:
Rolling Stones – Ladies & Gentlemen (1972)

Posted by The Back Office

Sep 222010

Universal Music came back this afternoon (I don’t think they slept) and we just picked up the party where we left off. And they’re like “Hey” how about we get our rocks off and toss in a sweet DVD of The Stooooooones circa Exile babies?! And we’re all like, yeah babies, let’s let it loose. STOOOOOOOOOONES! Then we clapped our hands on each side of our heads and did another ~~line~~, soft drink.

Now all we have to do in The Back Office is figure out what the hell kind of contest involves both The Stones and The Gin Blossoms. Any ideas?

In the meantime, you can pre-order this bitch here:
DVD: http://amzn.to/czsMSH
Blu-Ray: http://amzn.to/9aqvfv
Continue reading »

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