{"id":665,"date":"2009-04-17T00:57:00","date_gmt":"2009-04-17T04:57:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2009-04-17T00:57:56","modified_gmt":"2009-04-17T00:57:56","slug":"why-do-we-love-jimi-hendrix-so-much","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rocktownhall.com\/blogs\/why-do-we-love-jimi-hendrix-so-much\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Do We Love Jimi Hendrix So Much?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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As a lead-in to a piece that Townsman KingEd<\/strong> is working up that touches on the influence of Jimi Hendrix on a well-known Friend of the Hall, I thought it would be a good time to revisit this discussion, initiated by Townsman Hrrundivbakshi almost 2 years ago. We’ve fawned over the magic and majesty of Hendrix before, and Ed’s upcoming piece probably won’t be the last time. While we await our next related Hendrix-centered thread, think about what HVB and others said way back when.<\/em><\/p>\n

This post initially appeared 6\/24\/07.<\/code><\/p>\n

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Today’s burning question<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Why do we love Jimi Hendrix so much?<\/strong><\/p>\n

That’s not a trick question, by the way, or a snarky way of letting the universe know that I<\/em> think he sucks major ass. ‘Cause I don’t. I think Jimi Hendrix was an astonishing, timeless talent — one of the few “rock” musician types that truly deserves to be placed in that awkward “genius” category.<\/p>\n

For me, Hendrix is simultaneously forward-looking and free; focused and intense; hippy-dippy and sweet; brutal and bludgeoning. He was avant-garde without being precious, snide, or academic about it. His virtuosity<\/strong> never — and I mean that literally — never<\/em> ceases to amaze me. There’s always<\/em> something new and unbelievable to hear in a Hendrix song, if you’re listening with those kind of ears. And if you don’t, or can’t, listen as a player, it don’t matter, ’cause his songs<\/em> are strong.<\/p>\n

He also had a dynamite Look<\/strong> — man, that (pardon me, and insert 1974 Rottun Teef Keef “tracksssss…” voice here) “super spade” thing, combined with a stage presence that turned him and his guitar into one giant, raging rock hard-on<\/strong>, was just fucking unbeatable. Think of Mick Jagger<\/strong> or Robert Plant<\/strong> or any other white front man contemporary of Hendrix’s — in their rock posturing prime, on their best night — and they all seem positively tea cozy and cardigan sweaters compared to this dude.<\/p>\n

But look — I’m opening up this thread because I just want to know how and why you love Hendrix as much as you do<\/strong>. I’m also looking for those spine-tingling recorded moments that make you wait in eager anticipation — like the hair-singeing opening notes to “Foxy Lady”<\/strong> or the moment when “Ezy Rider”<\/strong> comes roaring back into the main riff after the bridge, or — well, you get the idea.<\/p>\n

Why do you love Jimi Hendrix so much?<\/strong>