Yesterday, on the eve of KISS‘ induction into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame, I learned that Lou Reed cowrote a song for the band’s Bob Ezrin-produced concept album, The Elder. Certainly, upon the completion of this recording, Lou must have remarked that KISS and his Berlin producer captured his music the way it was meant to sound!
Straight stand. Round base. It’s cooler. Simple as that.
Straight stand. Round base. It’s cooler. Simple as that. Prove me wrong!
For the purposes of discussion, let’s leave the benefits of boom stands for drummers, keyboardists, and dudes playing Ovation roundback acoustic guitars out of the equation. Anyone can argue for boom stands and stands with the tripod bottom for reasons of comfort. James Brown might have worn beige orthopedic shoes had he been concerned for his onstage comfort.
Since Jesse Winchester is not, as of this writing—contrary to reports earlier today—yet dead; since I cannot muster even the mildest false devastation over the sudden and unexpected death of “media personality” Peaches Geldof, the daughter of Bob Geldof and the late Paula Yates, whose presence I never knew existed until this unfortunate turn of events…let’s celebrate the life—and mourn the confirmed death—of a great…song and dance man, Mickey Rooney. Let’s put on a show!
Have you ever mustered the enthusiasm, idealism, drive, and insanity to put on a show? I have. Even when the show itself is a complete flop by objective standards, it’s almost always a blast. Hell, I can’t think of a time when it hasn’t been a blast, so I’ll drop the “almost” from that statement. Mickey’s Andy Hardy character had it right. When the chips are down, when no one believes in you and your artistic compatriots, when your community needs you, put on a show!
Let’s hear your stories of organizing shows.
Sounds of the hall in roughly 33 1/3 minutes!
In addition to the hits and singles in tonight’s episode you will hear a few dingers, bloopers, dead quails, and a ground ball with eyes.
[Note: You can add Saturday Night Shut-In episodes to your iTunes by clicking here. The Rock Town Hall feed will enable you to easily download Saturday Night Shut-In episodes to your digital music player.]
Playlist after jump
Just looking for a reality check here. I want to know which of these two rock vuh-deos possesses the greatest amount of:
a) Trendy, artsy coolness and what-not (warning: you may have to really think through that one before answering!)
b) Rock/hairy balls factor
c) Likely/proven rock “influence”
d) Shoe/boot and other important style superpowers
e) “Animality”
I look forward to your responses.
HVB
It gets worse.
The almost-always well-intentioned but annoying Steven Hyden of Grantland takes a disturbing look at the future of the always-annoying, not-even well-intentioned Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame. Check it out. Don’t shoot the messenger, Hyden, who is only doing the dirty work of confronting a credible future.
Which contemporary artists, if their careers ended today, would definitely get into the Rock Hall? Which artists need a little help? Who is going to get snubbed? The rank speculation that follows is rooted in five assumptions:
1. The Rock Hall will continue to exist well into the foreseeable future.
2. My personal taste will continue to run contrary to the Rock Hall’s choices.
3. The Rock Hall will become noticeably less rock-oriented in the years ahead. Pop, hip-hop, and electronic/dance artists will be ascendant. Metal and punk bands will (still) be largely ignored. But it will still be known as a “rock” museum.
4. The Rock Hall will always care more about commercial success than critical acclaim. But some critical acclaim is required.
5. None of this will ever matter, but I will find it interesting anyway.
Anything goes in an All-Star Jam, even the use of slang! What’s the happening chatter around your locker in the Halls of Rock?
