Townsman Andyr, in the middle of his spiritual journey to the Holy Land of Jerusalem sent me this shocking photo from one of the world’s most famous series of Stations of the Cross paintings. (I’m sorry I forget the name of the church, which he breathlessly relayed to me in an excited transcontinental call.) This is truly a miracle of Boss-like proportions…after the jump!
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That Secret Santa practice that’s popular in the workplace and in some families always confuses me. I can’t keep track of how it works, and when I find myself unable to get out of one of these things, I get a bad feeling in my stomach. I’m cool with gift giving being out in the open. The guessing game thing and the ability to trade in a gift don’t sit right with me. Hit me with your best shot!
In that spirit I’d like to suggest Rock Town Hall’s Not-So-Secret Santa Celebration. Choose a Townsperson – one Townsperson – and wish a musically relevant gift upon that person. Try to spread the wealth: pick someone who has not yet received a gift, and don’t hog a half dozen Townspeople for yourself.
This “gift” doesn’t have to be a specific thing, like a particular record. In fact, I think it could be more fun it was more like wishing a musical value or insight for a fellow Townsperson. For instance, I might wish that my close personal friend E. Pluribus Gergely would finally feel the brilliance of the s/t album by The Band, one of my favorite albums since childhood and a constant point of disagreement between the two of us. It’s not just that we disagree aesthetically. I think a little less of him for not getting that album, and he takes pity on me for being so tied to the emotional and historical involvement that I have placed in the album since it was given to me by my uncle when I was about 5 years old. Wouldn’t this be a wonderful world if Rock Town Hall’s Not-So-Secret Santa simply granted him the ability to find a place for that album in his heart?
Over the course of any year in Rock Town Hall, ideas come and go. For any 5 threads one of us has launched, there may be another thread that seems like a great idea for at least a few minutes but that you never get around to crafting and publishing as a fully realized piece on The Main Stage. Maybe you’re better at following through than I am. This is the case with my rock ponderings in these hallowed halls.
In The Back Office I have a number of thread ideas mapped out – or titles for future threads, if nothing else, saved and waiting for that day I get down to business and flesh out what I once envisioned would be a great topic. It’s not unusual that I eventually complete these ideas, maybe after drinking a late-night cup of espresso or seeing off some friends with whom I’d spent an evening reviewing my ideas. These are satisfying times; I feel like a real writer. Other times the very rough topic just sits there, eventually forgotten. I’m an optimistic guy when it comes to getting around to all the things I procrastinate doing, but sometimes it’s best to face up to my limitations and let some of my rough thoughts float away.
So that I don’t completely waste what might have been some decent ideas, following are topics that I have sat on for the past 2 years. Consider these threads I can no longer expect to ever complete in 2009. Maybe posting these “lost” topics here will inspire others to pick up where I left off. Maybe doing this will simply give these topics their proper burial place. By letting go of these topics before they clutter up The Back Office filing cabinets any longer, I envision a clearing of my own mind and the coming of new ideas, the kinds of threads that really need to be written. I sense I will experience a Sting-like feeling of contentment and self-satisfaction. Here goes!
Just a few more long-delayed Hear Factor, deux comps to run this week! This mix contains a lot of newish, Prock-oriented stuff that will likely appeal to Hrrundivbakshi and his Jellyfish supporters, so I’d most encourage our anti-Prockist Townspeople to settle in with this mix for a day or two. It’s not all heavy duty Prock, though. There’s a good deal of laid-back, melodic stuff, along the lines of Crowded House. Enjoy!
It’s rare that so recent a post makes it back to soon for a Friday Flashback, but I just discovered some pot-stirring by Townsman mowgli321, a welcome newcomer to the Halls of Rock who’s showing his dedication to pushing forward intelligent rock dialog by dipping back into our rich archives. If you check out the recent comments, you’ll see some thoughtful dialog that is worth continuing. Please don’t be shy; we may be getting somewhere on this whole issue of bass players and failed guitarists!
This post initially appeared 7/10/09.
I recently ran across a period video for the Spiral Starecase‘s one Great hit, “More Today Than Yesterday,” and was immediately bowled over by the incredible coolness of the bass player in the band. Check out this clip, people, he’s got it all: great Look, great instrument, great poise/neck angle, great plucking and fretting hand action, and — most important — perhaps the greatest in-place stage sashay I’ve ever seen.
This got me thinking about what makes bass players “cool.” Can we please, for once, avoid nerdy nerdlinger terms like “in the pocket,” or “laying down the groove,” or “locking in with the drummer” to talk about what actually makes bass players “cool.” For once, can we apply the same fashion/attitude logic we reserve for guitar players to determine what makes impressionable 14-year-olds want to pick up the instrument?
I suspect this Spiral Starecase guy may have many of the answers.
HVB
p.s.: Chickenfrank, I’m especially looking at you for some thoughtful reflections on this video, and cool bass players in general.
While conducting research for my next round of Thrifty Music offerings, I came across this number, enthusiastically performed by Allen Toussaint‘s favorite New Orleans soul shouter, Lee Dorsey — and backed up by Stax Records’ 1967 touring band!
As we always do in the Mach Schau series, let’s turn our attentions to what exactly it is that makes this performance so exceptional. I have a number of observations, but I’ll start the ball rolling with just one: the trumpet player rides his horn with gusto. Excellent! What do you see?
I look forward to your responses.
HVB
