Aug 082007
Good GOD, but it’s hot out there! F*ckin’ A! We need something seriously cool to listen to. But what would that be? Who’s the “coolest” artist or band you can think of?
Groundrules:
1. No singling out particularly cool members of an otherwise uncool group (see high-steppin’ frontman Peter, beshaded drummer/schmo Steven Jo, and leather-clad guitar-slinger J. in video above)
2. No artists or bands from climatologically cool places, like Rush or Bjork.
3. Extra demerits for being the first to suggest the Rolling Stones.
I look forward to your responses.
HVB
The Residents (Eskimo era only).
The Dylan of Don’t Look Back is pretty damn cool. The Clash of Rude Boy are one of the coolest groups, although Mick Jones sometimes brought them down a notch. The coolest of the cool, however, was X, with Billy Zoom, of course.
John Cale-era Velvets. Ice cold.
Except for the Residents (how can you be cool when you have no discernable identity?), great answers all — EVEN THE VELVETS, by the way. You can be cool and still suck.
A few that spring to mind:
Bo Diddley
Prime-era Public Enemy
Any number of jazz cats
BigSteve’s suggestion of that particular era of The Residents was a JOKE, a joke that I would recommend you throw out, despite its effective humor, for violating the cold climate guideline.
BigSteve’s suggestion of that particular era of The Residents was a JOKE
Hoist by my own petard!
HVB
BTW, the more I listen to/watch this video, the more I like this song. Simple, catchy, funny, big guitars — what more could one ask of a single?
I wish I could watch the song, but YouTube won’t go on this network. I’ll take those demerits, too. The Rolling Stones. There, I said it! THAT’S cool!
But other than them, I’m going to go with The Flamin’ Groovies. They were real cool.
I’m gonna toss in The Ramones, too. I bet they wore those leather jackets and boots even when it was super sticky like today. They probably smelled really bad, but they looked really cool.
Ah, I see you didn’t specify no non-rock and roll. Therefore my answer: Zoot Sims. For 40 years the guy made good to great music as if he could never be bothered.
Still, if it’s got to be rock, I can’t believe no one mentioned early Nick Lowe.
Duke Ellington. There is no need for further debate.
The Residents are or were from Shreveport, so they do /not violate the climatological rule.
Looking at the video was a blast. I’m not really a big fan of this Geils era, but this song rocks. Bold move to keep it at that slow tempo, and those monster drum hits before the chorus kicks in just totally work.
Wolf pretty much has to win the coolest formerly bearded Jewish rocker award, 80s division, but Geils bassist Danny Klein knows how to work that mustache too.
My friend Russ Coggins wants to see you guys nominating the likes of Zoot Sims and Duke Ellington.
Ladies and gentlemen, Nat King Cole:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OviDBRL-WoY
Not really cool, but cool nonetheless:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MkSupR2qFM
artemis pyle. cool dude.
booker t. cool dude.
chrissie hynde. cool gal.
Yeah, did you see Booker T. on that PBS` Stax documentary last week? He was looking extremely suave in the current interviews with his grey hair.
Miles Davis, In a Silent Way
How was that Stax doc, BigSteve? I was sorry I missed it. Should I have been sorry? The one thing I feared is that 50% of it would have been taken up by that guy who ran teh company through it’s final years, including a lot of social significance stuff to cover for the scant musical output.
The documentary was good, but I don’t think you missed anything essential. It’s too big a story to tell in that short a timeframe. You’re right that there was a lot of time spent on social context, and Al Bell, the promo/hustler for Stax, was given a lot of time to tell his side of the story. I’m glad I saw it, along with that doc on Tom Dowd I saw the same week, but neither was really revelatory.
I know when I’ve been the victim of a veiled reference. Explain yourself or take it back.
Mr. Mod, you are such a tight-ass! I think what you *meant* to say was:
…including a lot of social significance stuff to cover for the scant musical output (insert) THAT I LIKED.
They released oodles of records during the Al Bell years!
Sorry to pince nez ya, but I gotta tell it like it is, mannnn.
Mwall, no veiled reference was intended. I’m just saying that Russ and the folks at Apple may have some answers if any of us need them.
Thanks for being so forthright, Hrrundi. Yes, that’s what I meant. I’ve got 843 tracks from the Al Bell period on some box set, and no more than 2 dozen really stick with me.