World’s Shortest Guitar Solo!

 Posted by
Aug 302008
 

Geo’s comment yesterday about Garcia being “generally incapable of executing a gripping short rock solo” brought this topic to mind.

I’ve long held that Bill Pitcock’s solo on the Dwight Twilley Band’s “I’m On Fire” is the world’s shortest guitar solo. Check it out at about 1:15.

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It’s either the world’s shortest guitar solo or simply the world’s greatest shortest guitar solo. Can you think of a shorter one? Failing that, what would be your vote for the gold medal in the “gripping short rock solo” event, guitar division? [The emphasis here is on short.]

And btw the battered 45 transfer in that youtube wasn’t such a great sounding version of the track. If you don’t already own it, go out immediately and get yourself a copy of Twilley’s immortal first album Sincerely. And then just go ahead and get the very fine follow-up Twilley Don’t Mind. They were two of the records that gave my life meaning in the 76-77 time frame, when I was struggling with the fact that I was socially, emotionally, philisophically, theolgically, pscychologically, ethically, morally askew. I have long since stopped struggling.

In the meantime check this out:

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This is a live take of I’m on Fire from 82/83 or so, not the original band (no Phil Seymour) but that apparently is Bill Pitcock reprising his legendary solo. How much of a rock nerd am I that I recognized Susan Cowsill as the background singer before I saw it confirmed in the documentation? Dig the very askew bass player!

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The Grateful Dead Package Deal

 Posted by
Aug 292008
 


When I was young, before Jerry Garcia had touch of gray and Jam Band Culture errupted, I used to count on something in my dealings with Deadheads I called the Grateful Dead Package Deal. I was never a Deadhead or anything close to it, but their culture, shall we say, had a few features that I found stimulating.
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Can I Get a Witness: Summer of 2008 Edition

 Posted by
Aug 292008
 

UPDATED AFTER THE JUMP!


I’ve got a real simple little game/opportunity to bond that I’d like to see if we can play. I’m swamped today, so I may not have time to drop a typically insightful, educational piece on you any time soon. I sense you’ve got a lot you want to share but are lacking enough topics around which to express yourself. So with the summer wrapping up, here’s your chance to wax enthusiastic over any one thing musical you’ve experienced this summer (eg, new album, old album, live show, killer earbuds, satellite radio show). Your enthusiasm should be contagious, as you raise a virtual hand in the air, in full expectation of a high five of acknowledgment and shared enthusiasm for your topic.

NOW HERE’S THE TRICKY PART OF THE GAME: Before any Townsperson can respond to that first post with his or her own song of praise, he or she must first complete the high five, must serve as a witness to the previous praiseworthy experience.

To illustrate, Townsperson A may raise the roof for the new Dr. Dog album. A second Townsperson will be required to second that praise, no matter how mildly (eg, “Yeah, it’s got a couple of good tracks”), before moving forward with his or her own musical experience from the summer of 2008. If you’ve got a burning desire to share yet can’t stand the new Dr. Dog album, you’ll have to wait your turn, wait to follow up on another Townsperson’s experience.

The final rule (I think): Pile-on high fives are only allowed if the piling-on Townsperson somehow extends the praise, such as following the first Townsperson to agree that the new Dr. Dog album, “like, totally rocks,” with something on the order of, “If you like that album, you should have seen them on tour this summer!” Beware of this tactic, though: the person who follows the first pile-on will need to then high five over both the pile-on topic as well as any new topic the first pile-on person adds to the mix. After completing that tricky maneuver, the person following the first pile-on will be able to reset the praise and allow the next person to focus only on the most recently praised musical experience.

Take your time with this. Let me know if you have any questions. I’ll leave the stage open to your first song of praise. At least one actual praiseworthy song, submitted by Townsman Al, follows the jump!
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FRIDAY FLASHBACK! Musical Opinions Gone Wrong in the Real World

 Posted by
Aug 292008
 

While we’re slappin’ five over musical highlights from the Summer of 2008, I was reminded of this old thread, one that examines the other side of the anticipated high five. Let’s call this phenomenon Musical Opinions Go Wrong in the Real World. For those of you who weren’t around when this first ran, maybe you’ve got your own examples of Musical Opinions Go Wrong in the Real World. For those of you who shared the first time around, maybe you’ve got some new experiences to share since then.

This post initially appeared 10/16/07.


For those of you who’ve spent some time here at Rock Town Hall you’ve probably taken for granted the freedom to express your musical opinions freely, sometimes even pompously, without shame. In fact, here in the Halls of Rock, a bold and well-pitched expression of an opinion on a band, song, album, or genre can be met with delight and a round of electronic high-fives. In fact, more than a few of you over the years have expressed thanks for the dynamic we afford such passionate thoughts on the music we love. You’re welcome!

In the “real world,” however, some of these opinions we harbor are not met with as much anticipation and support. Who hasn’t been asked for an opinion on a band in work or at a party that’s not populated by fellow rock nerds and forgotten to bite his or her tongue, or at least temper a response?

“Do you like Meat Loaf?” a well-meaning colleague may ask me on any given day, knowing that I am a music lover and probably seeking some approval from an “expert.”
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David Bowie’s “Blue Jean” Is as Good as Anything on Low

 Posted by
Aug 272008
 

Some of you are aware of my longtime struggles with the works of David Bowie. I’ve come a long way, but there are still issues to explore.

Recently I was discussing the artist with a friend. He’s a longtime Bowie lover–with limits. Although we’ve been generally like-minded music friends for years, we were a bit surprised to realize that, after accounting for his limits in loving this artist, we had essentially the same views on the man, for instance, agreeing that The Man Who Sold the World and Diamond Dogs pretty much sucked and that Let’s Dance was worthy of Rock Crimes.

As part of the discussion on Let’s Dance, we candidly acknowledged the superiority of “Blue Jean”, which was considered a weak lead-off single from Tonight, Bowie’s disappointing follow-up album to his mainstream blockbuster, to anything on Let’s Dance. Then, as is often when the two of us get together, our deep rock discussion on Bowie turned especially candid.
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Frightening FM Programming Trend: “The Rock You Grew Up With”

 Posted by
Aug 262008
 

Longtime Philadelphia ROCK station, WYSP, a CBS affiliate, has modified its Modern Hard Rock format to fit some kind of Post-Classic Rock, Hair Farmer-friendly, ’80s demographic.

Hair bands are the thing at rock station WYSP (94.1), which this morning retooled its format, expanding its play list to include more songs from the 1970s and 1980s.

Now billed as “94YSP The Rock You Grew Up With From the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s,” the station will play more from such artists as AC/DC, Def Leppard, Guns N Roses, Ozzie Osbourne, Pink Floyd, Van Halen and Aerosmith. The station will continue to play more recent artists such as Nirvana and Pearl Jam.

The article, from the Philadelphia Inquirer, notes that the station’s new slogan, “The Rock You Grew Up With,” was trademarked by CBS. I wonder if similar CBS hard rock stations have or will soon also change to this format. I wonder how old school Classic Rock stations will adjust now that this new format will be skimming off the “fresh cream” of their programming.

Feel free to sniff and puff up your chest with pride in your satellite radio subscription.

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