Rock Town Hall • Rock Music Discussion

Your Chance to Live in the House That George Thorogood Once Owned!

Aug 182015

The House That George Bought.

Here’s your chance to live in the Newark, Delaware house that George Thorogood once owned and drank—alone—in!

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/philadelphia-real-estate/Three-bedrooms-two-baths-and-one-guitarist.html

On its face, this home looks like your standard single suburban home. Three bedrooms, a sizeable (0.60 acre) lot and a couple of baths.

The 1,500-plus square-foot property has been fully renovated, including a gourmet kitchen with radiant heat flooring and all new appliances.

But there is a large, blue sign just out front of the driveway gate that reminds potential buyers that this place is unlike many other Newark, Delaware homes on the market. It announces the former owner-occupant: one George Thorogood (he of the Destoyers and “Bad to the Bone” fame).

“This humble home was the first residence of Blues Hall of Fame guitarist ‘Lonesome’ George Thorogood purchased on July 1, 1981 after his national rise to prominence,” the sign reads.

Come on, you know you’re interested!

Previously…

Rock’s Most Unintentionally Hilarious Hooks

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Aug 172015

Driving home today I finally got sick of listening to sports-talk radio and flipped the dial until landing on my local classic rock station. I became slightly entranced by the bassline in Bad Company’s “Feel Like Making Love,” a part I’d never focused on before. I’ve gotten many laughs out of “Feel Like Making Love,” once performing it at the end of one of my band’s shows in a drunken duet with my band’s bassist at a frat party in the mid-’80s. Our singer moved behind the drums. Then a song I’ve always hated started up, Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight.” I decided to listen intently through the big drum fill, to see if there was anything I could ever like about that song. There was not.

To relieve the boredom of trying to listen intently to “In the Air Tonight,” my mind wandered to possibly the most unintentionally hilarious hook in rock, the part in Collins’ “Mama” when he does the rhythmic evil laugh. Does anyone not laugh in anticipation of that part of the song, even fans of Phil Collins?

Has anyone ever done an in-depth interview with Collins to ask him to describe the process behind writing that part of the song? In retrospect, does he find it unintentionally funny?

Another songs with an unintentionally funny hook is that Rush song where Geddy Lee follows up a gentle reggae section by screaming “Salesmen!” Or is it the singular, “Salesman!” Either way, it’s worth my time listening to that ridiculous song just so I can laugh at that part.

What song’s hook makes you giggle, probably unintentionally, as far as the songwriters are concerned?

Eric Burdon & War…As They Were Meant to Sound

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Aug 142015

There are so many reasons I love acid-enlightened Eric Burdon, from his “New Animals” period of “Sky Pilot” through the early Eric Burdon & War albums. I know most of my reasons are not convincing to sane rock fans, but the following is a rare live performance of Eric Burdon & War that skirts most of the odd reasons I love hippified Eric Burdon & War so. Trust me. Whether you dig the music or not, it’s simply rare to find a televised performance by any band that properly captures the cool little things that go on onstage. Enjoy.

For the Brief Time They Held it Together, Public Image Ltd Was a Very Cool Act

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Aug 132015

See post title for commentary.

Does Any Song Skirt More Closely With Cheesy Rock Moves Than Van Morrison’s “Wavelength” While Still Retaining a Respectable Level of Greatness?

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Aug 122015

I’m not suggesting that “Wavelength” is among Van Morrison‘s Top 10 Greatest Songs, but I think it’s his last great one. Oh, I know he had some well-regarded records after that single and collaborations with well-regarded Irish folk musicians, but I found those records kind of boring. I like when Van gets worked up, and he gets worked up about all kinds of funny things on “Wavelength.” First, the lyrics milk the last drops of 1970s pickup lines, somehow avoiding references to astrological signs. Next, there’s the spacey triplets riff on the synth. But that’s not all: there’s a Steely Dan-worthy, jaw-dropping guitar solo. A horn section. A woman sawing away on rock violin. Background singers in ruffled, silky garments. A close-up of Van’s polyester bellbottoms. And it goes without saying that Van scats. Nowadays, a band like Arcade Fire jams 14 band members onstage and manages to sound like the minimalist Cure. Van’s band is the sound of excess!

Does any song skirt more closely with cheesy rock moves than Van Morrison’s “Wavelength” while still retaining a respectable level of greatness?

In Praise of…Lip-Synced Performances on a White Background (continued)

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Aug 112015

How have I lived all these years without having seen this video as I sit in dorm room in Oxford University?

It proves, once again, that almost no promotional video gimmick beats a lip-synced performance on a white background.

All-Star Jam

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Aug 112015

I got to wondering…why don’t we ever talk about the “Dutch Woodstock?” As your moderator transitions from family vacation to a company retreat, why don’t you share what’s had you wondering?

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