Rock Town Hall • Rock Music Discussion

Consult the Orockle

Mar 122009

Who among us hasn’t been amazed by the wisdom of The Hall? For as many knowledgeable individuals who dazzle me with their rock knowledge, it is the collective wisdom of our participants that I find most dazzling.

It is in this spirit that I want to continue a feature that was launched a couple of months ago, not only for the people but by the people.

As originally described, the concept is simple. This is a place to seek specific wisdom from the collective intelligence. These are not to be philosophical queries but rather to seek advice and wisdom on specific rock questions. It may be a place to seek listening and purchasing recommendations.

Today I have a simple request, for The Orockle, one that may spark lengthy conversation, or not, but will hopefully illicit some sage advice.

As always, when any of us consult The Orockle, the opportunity exists for folks to ask similar questions and receive similar advice. The topic shouldn’t necessarily focus just on my topic.

Here’s the question I would like to ask The Orockle:
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RTH Confessional: Mea Culpa Edition

Posted by sammymaudlin

Mar 112009

I mentioned this in passing the other day but felt strongly enough about it that I was compelled to jump up on the Main Stage and make my apology loud and clear.

[clear throat and project]

Fountains of Wayne: I am sorry. I am sorry that I called you one of the biggest drop offs in rock. I am sorry that I have gone out of my way to say that following your self-titled debut, you sucked hard.

I was wrong and I’m sorry.

It’s just that, well, I loved your first album so much and your second one, Utopia Parkway, sucked so bad that I chucked you over the cliff. I gave up and bad mouthed you to anyone that would listen.

You’d think I’d have learned my lesson by throwing XTC over the cliff after Nonesuch only to come crawling back to Apple-Venus vol. 1.

But nooooooooo.

I recently heard Bright Future in Sales on the radio and thought I’d give you another shot. You see, I wanted to keep loving you but it was just so hard after what felt like a betrayal.
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Does Not Translate

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Mar 112009

Have you come across musical collaborations involving musicians with strong personalities that did not translate? With full knowledge that active participants in the Halls of Rock typically are not fans of Elvis Costello’s Spike, I’m reluctant to use this album as an example of a topic I’d like to discuss, so please see if you can avoid the temptation to bash on Spike and, eventually, list your 25 Top 5 Costello records.
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What Instrument Has Come the Furthest in Today’s Music and What Instrument Has Fallen Off Course?

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Mar 092009

That’s a self-explanatory topic title: What instrument has come the furthest in today’s music and what instrument has fallen off course? By “today’s music,” let’s say the last 10 years. By “come the furthest” I mean which instrument’s role has expanded most significantly, or something along those lines. By “fallen off course” I mean which instrument’s role has diminished or been stunted the most. You can be a wiseacre and nominate the triangle or you can be the thought-provoking Townsperson we know you to be.

Rock ‘n Roll Fantastic Four

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Mar 082009

I’m not a comic book guy, but I know some of you are. I do, however, think of certain rockers in terms of their comic book-style superpowers, so I’m looking forward to what I may learn from this discussion. Rock superpowers can be very important skills.

From what I can gather regarding the Marvel comic The Fantastic Four, which debuted in 1961, this was a new kind of superhero group, one that was as in touch with its “family” dynamic, human flaws, and celebrity as much as its responsibility to fight bad guys and display their superpowers. Since they came on the comic scene shortly after the birth of rock ‘n roll, I’ve chosen them in our quest to design a rock ‘n roll analogy.

Who’s your Rock ‘n Roll Fantastic Four, your Mr. Fantastic, Invisible Woman, Human Torch, and Thing? Full bands can count if covering all four characters, but they cannot count collectively for one character, dig? You must select four individual musicians (they can be members of bands) based on their rock superpowers, crime-fighting abilities, and maybe more importantly, psychological profile.

If you need some help thinking about this Fantastic Four concept, here’s Wikipedia’s description of the original Fantastic Four:
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Rock ‘n Roll Holy Grail: Eno in Live Circa Here Come the Warm Jets

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Mar 062009

Eno catches a breeze.

UPDATED! Since this first posted, we’ve learned this is Brian Eno & The Winkies, from a BBC appearance. Seems this live band only supported Eno on a handful of gigs. All four songs from this session are now included for your pleasure. Thanks, BigSteve!

Somewhere on the Web, I believe on some Roxy Music site, there’s a very brief (20 seconds?) clip of Brian Eno and musicians in the studio, playing “The Paw Paw Negro Blow Torch.” I was really excited when I found this clip. I can’t find it at the moment, but supposedly it’s from a movie that was made of Eno in the studio at this time. I’ve never been able to find another frame of the movie on the Web, and it’s hard enough finding anything at all written about it. Just now I tried to find a capsule review of the film that I’ve seen before, but no dice: just a bunch of stuff regarding Eno’s work with U2 and Coldplay. Even a film and rock collector friend has had no dice finding a print of this film or more than the brief descriptions that we’ve occasionally run across. This guy’s got all kinds of obscure films in a warehouse, but he can’t get a sniff of this Eno film we so badly want to see.

Luckily I keep a bunch of stuff around, in a not so organized fashion, including CDs of mp3s I downloaded about 8 years ago on a computer that long since died. The IT guy at my old place of employment was able to extract all my precious downloaded mp3s and mpgs, including the following two: live tracks in the studio, I believe, of Eno and bandmates – possibly from this very film! I especially love the straightforward, Stonesy rhythm guitar of this version of “The Paw Paw Negro Blow Torch.” Enjoy.

Brian Eno, “The Paw Paw Negro Blow Torch (BBC)”

Brian Eno, “Baby’s On Fire (BBC)”

Brian Eno, “Totalled (BBC)”

Brian Eno, “Fever (BBC)”

Can You Love Him Out of It?

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Mar 062009

In examining the Stephen Stills confronts a heckler, then his friends love him out of it clip from the Big Sur movie (full clip after the jump) that I think has cleared up a very foggy memory I had of watching this event on the tv the my wood-paneled basement in my childhood home, I kept coming back to the look on this guy’s face:

Concerned hippie at Big Sur, witnessing Stephen Stills in a poolside tussle with heckling hippie.

The poor guy looks like he’s witnessing the complete collapse of the Love Generation. We know that Stills had his friends to love him out of it, but did this guy? Rock Town Hall, I ask you to provide the love this guys needs. Our Concerned Hippie needs you to love him out of it.

The most loving words for our shattered friend will be rewarded with a most-appropriate prize!
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