Feb 082010
 


This one’s for BigSteve!

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  34 Responses to “Talkin’ Saints, The Who, and All Things Super”

  1. diskojoe

    Some observations on the half-time show:

    1. The laser ‘n fireworks show was pretty good for what it was. For some reason, I had the ELO symbol on my mind seeing the circular stage. I also noticed that there weren’t crowds of people surrounding them like in past half-time shows.
    2. Roger Daltry looked pretty good. I prefer how he looks today over that post-Tommy long hair & vest Look. As for Pete, he looked like he was in a foot race w/Elvis Costello & Marshall Crenshaw in the Old Rock Geezer Trying to Look Like William Burroughs Contest.
    3. Was that Zak Starkey on drums?
    4. As for the songs themselves, it was Give The People What They Want, but they did OK.

    It was great to see the Saints win. I guess Mardi Gras came a week early this year.

  2. Don’t forget about our other Big Easy resident (and Saints season ticket holder…), MickAvory! I hope you guys didn’t party too hard last night…

    I was stoked to see my BFF Pete rock the Super Bowl. His guitar was rightfully nasty and he made it make appropriately gnarly sounds. It looked like he was having fun with it. Being such a short set, I suppose he didn’t have to hold anything back. I’m assuming that the back tracks were prerecorded as Pete went for the “big finish” to WGFA, but was left hanging.

    I was a sucker for those “target” cymbals on Zak’s drums.

    Way to go, Saints!

    TB

  3. BigSteve

    Actually I didn’t think it sounded pre-recorded. Pete’s leads were not, and Zak’s fills were not. But I did notice that they pulled back to the aerial view for Roger’s big scream in WGFA, so they may not have wanted to leave that to chance.

    I’m glad too that they didn’t import fake spontaneous audience members onto the field. I guess the huge circle of lights surrounding the band made that irrelevant. It was cool to see the pointed arrow of the original Who logo appear in the display. The whole thing must have looked impressive in the stadium.

    I’m still in shock about the game. Peyton throwing the Favresque interception to seal his defeat still seems unreal. (I know it was really Reggie Wayne’s fault, but still….) Geaux Saints!

  4. Mr. Moderator

    I agree that the set design was cool – and I also dug Zak’s cymbals. BigSteve nailed it with Roger’s rebel yell being fortified, but all in all I thought the band was respectable. I still love them so much for all they did for me in my youth that I could forgive the Townshend Look diskojoe so aptly described. PRICELESS, diskojoe! At the same time as the halftime show, VH1 Classic was playing a Who concert from their festival era, with Roger in the fringe and long curls, Pete in the white jumpsuit, and John in the skeleton jumpsuit. Zak Starkey is a fine drummer, but Keith Moon really pulled their songs together more than anyone.

    Mickavory, I forgot you’re another New Orleans Townsman. Enjoy the festivities!

    I actually watched very little of the game. We had a family dinner going on at my brother’s place. He has no interest in team sports, only dangerous X Games-type stuff. I watched the last quarter when we got home and finally went wild when Manning threw the pick.

    I can’t remember the last time I didn’t either like or dislike either team or even a key player from either team. I wanted the Saints to win just because they were such an underdog and all, but I like Manning and the Colts just fine. I couldn’t stand Jeremy Shockey when he was with the Giants, but he’s a humbled shell of himself now. His bad mojo seems to have been tamed, or maybe I enjoy no longer seeing him play the Eagles twice a year.

    Roger has developed maybe Rock’s Best Over-60 Rocker Look: he’s in great shape, he still dresses like he’s the lead singer in a rock band, yet his style is befitting his age.

  5. Not a football person, but I was happy to see the underdog Saints win (and I too don’t really have anything against Manning and the Colts).

    Now, on to The ‘Oo:

    * I watched this at a South Philly SB party where I was the only rock nerd. So while the talking decreased slightly during halftime, there was a fair amount of chatter and commentary, so I cannot give a detailed lab-coat-worthy analysis of the performance. HOWEVER:

    * From what I could discern, this performance continued the latter-day Who’s irrelevance and inability to give their back catalog its due, performance-wise. Notice how Pete plays the same two-note tweedly (Help me guitarists, are those just hammer-ons and pull-offs?) solo for every song now? And too bad the band can’t get away with dropping “Baba O’Riley” from the setlists, because it’s really out of Roger’s range these days.

    * But this is understandable, isn’t it? In their prime, The Who’s music displayed an athleticism that most of the players on the field couldn’t match, probably. There’s no way men over the age of 60, even one in as good shape as Roger, can deliver that kind of performance.

    * But all in all, I thought they were kind of pointless, just there because some boomer band has to be there now, and their number was up. What exactly is The Who for now?

    * I should note that I saw them on that tour that John died on the eve of, and I somehow managed to get sixth-row seats. I thought they were great, prodded by his death into playing like they had something to prove. It’s possible that I was clouded by my love for the band and close proximity, but the person I went with was not a big Who fan and she enjoyed it too, thought they rocked harder than a lot of the bands you’d catch at the Khyber ’round that time.

    * My other problem with The Who at the Super Bowl, and Alexmagic and I discussed this a few weeks before the game, is that without Keith and John, they are not funny anymore. There’s no comic potential like there was with Bruce and the E Street Band. That’s why the next halftime band needs to be Van Halen. If there’s anyone who understands the need for Super Bowl-appropriate (or maybe inappropriate) mach schau, it’s David Lee Roth.

  6. Mr. Moderator

    Yes, Oats, hammer-ons and pull-offs are the correct terms. I don’t know that Pete’s any worse a traditional lead guitarist than he was in his prime, but then he had Keith to cover for him. Good point about the humor void. GREAT point about Classic Van Halen’s potential ability to deliver, but is anyone in that band these days beside the VH brothers and Alex’s son?

    If any rock band has paid the Sports Gods for the opportunity to play next year’s halftime show it’s gotta be Pearl Jam. Eddie Vedder’s done everything but appear in a baseball spring training game, a la Costner, Selleck, and that country singer, hasn’t he?

  7. diskojoe

    Thanks for your comment Mr. Mod. I wish they could have had a mash-up & put boler suit Pete, skeleton suit Keith & Moonie w/the current Roger. That would have been something.

    Van Halen would have been perfect for a Super Bowl half-time show, especially Diamond Dave. How about AC/DC?

  8. Last I checked, VH was still Roth, Eddie, Alex and Eddie’s son. The NFL better book ’em soon, because they are due for a new falling-out or two sometime this decade.

    Would Pearl Jam have to fill their Super Bowl set with songs from Ten, since that’s all non-fans remember probably? I already feel bad for them.

  9. Mr. Moderator

    AC/DC is a good suggestion, but did they do this gig already?

    Good question about Pearl Jam’s set, Oats. Maybe they can do their two big hit songs from Ten and then cover Classic Rock songs not delivered with the expected gusto by The Who, The Stones, and McCartney.

  10. Excellent idea, Mr. Mod. I thought Pearl Jam wiped the floor with everyone else at that VH1 Honors thing for The Who.

  11. BigSteve

    It’s surprising that one of the big country acts has never headlined the halftime. After the Janet Jackson fiasco, the Super Bowl went to a one-artist halftime, starting with McCartney in 2005. Previous to that the show was typically more like a revue with a bunch of performers.

    In 1994 the Super Bowl at the Georgia Dome featured Clint Black, Tanya Tucker, Travis Tritt, and The Judds. Other than that, and Shania Twain sharing the stage with No Doubt and Sting in 2003, there hasn’t been a hint of country on the big stage, which is kind of shocking when you think about how popular that genre is.

    Next year the game will be held in the new stadium in Dallas, so that would be the perfect venue for a Tim McGraw/Faith Hill extravaganza. Or maybe Garth Brooks coming out of semi-retirement?

    Are they worried about alienating the black audience? If so, Stevie Wonder seems like a good choice.

  12. hrrundivbakshi

    Surprised nobody came to the same conclusion I did about the “band” on stage. It was clear to me that guitar player number two — completely inaudible during every song in the set — was a “safety” for Pete, in the event that a stray windmill disconnected his guitar, or he just did something too far off-script.

    I also loved those mod cymbals, and thought in general that the band delivered the goods one might expect of them. One of the better half-time shows, I think.

    Totally agree that VH needs to be next at the SB.

    HVB

  13. BigSteve,

    Well, Queen Latifah (“America the Beautiful”) and Carrie Underwood (National Anthem) opened the game. Maybe the pregame entertainment goes to music that’s actually POPular and halftime is for all the nostalgists. Maybe that’s the formula.

    I do think that eventually the backlash against classic-rock-only halftime will intensify to the point that they’ll have to broaden out a bit. And modern country music seems like a no-brainer. Also maybe, as we get further and further away from Nipplegate, they’ll dare hire back Justin Timberlake at some later date.

  14. Mr. Moderator

    Good point about the lack of country artists, BigSteve. Maybe they’re afraid they won’t satisfy the younger demographic no matter how popular they might be with a large chunk of the viewing audience.

    For all the coverage Pete had – the second guitarist, the hat, the bandanna… – why did no one thing to cover his midriff? Was his shirt lacking the bottom 3 buttons? Was it one of those shirts that are meant to be tied at the midriff? Did anyone else notice how many times, when he raised his right arm, that we were graced with a view of his white, hairless belly? At least it was a healthy looking belly. That wasn’t supposed to be Pete’s way of turning on the viewing audience, was it?

    Queen Latifah sounded completely canned. Carrie Underwood sounded live.

  15. BigSteve

    I had to change the channel for Latifah, because it was cracking me up the way she sang syllabically as if the words to American the Beautiful were in a foreign language (which in a way I guess they are). “Oh beau. Tiful for spa. Cious skies… For pur. Ple moun. Tain majesties….” It was bizarre.

    I also find the required flyover disturbing. No one even questions our permanent war mentality anymore.

  16. bostonhistorian

    “Van Halen would have been perfect for a Super Bowl half-time show, especially Diamond Dave.”

    When I was in college, David Lee Roth served as guest drum major during the halftime show of football game I attended, so he’s got football game experience…

  17. Watch this at 2:46 and tell me Roger’s singing live.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCqgtb3Nby4&NR=1

  18. How much longer until Green Day is irrelevant enough to play the Super Bowl?

  19. Mr. Moderator

    Mmm, that could be a good call, hissing fauna, but at the same time can they ever get quite big enough? Foo Fighters may be in that same territory.

  20. jeangray

    Oooooohh, so much to discuss.

    Big Steve:
    How exactly are the lyrics to “America the Beautiful” in a foreign language?? Foreign to who? I do agree with your call on Country musik. The NFL does not want to alienate 1/2 of it’s audience. That’s the same reason they don’ have a Rap act doing the half-time show. Also, with the exception of Taylor Swift or Carrie Underwood, Country is nowhere near as popular as it was during it’s ’90’s heyday. Check the Billboard & iTunes charts sometime.

    The MSN said this morn., that the Who’s rhythm trax were pre-recorded. They did not site a source for that statement.

    I do believe that the NFL is digging itelf a hole with the Classic Rock artists. They are running out of options. Van Halen or AC/DC might not be family friendly enough for the unwashed masses. Who’s left????? I read recently, that Bon Jovi was the best selling touring act last year. Jesus, that is a depressing thought.

    I thoroughly enjoyed the show, Pete’s unfortunate mid-drif baring excepted. I watched with my young’ns — age 5-8, and they loved it! My Who phase is long over, so they haven’t been exposed to this music yet. The stage & lasers & fireworks blew them away, and they loved the fact that Ringo’s son was the drummer. They freakin’ love Ringo. Mostly due “Yellow Sub-Marine.”

    After the show, my eight year old daughter, independently went and turned on a Who playlist on my Rhapsody account.

    Oh, and the game wasn’t half bad either. Seems like karma that New Orleans won.

  21. 2000 Man

    I’m surprised so many people liked The Who. I thought the vocals were horrible, and that’s usually the last thing I care about. It sounded like Pete was playing a different song from the backing track to me, and other than visually, I really disliked it.

    The game was pretty good, for an NFL game. I liked how The Saints didn’t seem at all intimidated by the Colts, and they pretty much just kicked their ass. The Colts seemed like they felt entitled to the victory, and that the Saints should watch their greatness. Instead the Saints just kicked their ass!

  22. I think that although the performances are a bit uninteresting, the NFL has struck a pretty good balance of getting acts with widespread appeal who are still, or at least were at one point, cool. My favorite was Prince.

    I think they’re going to more mainstream with Journey or maybe the Eagles.

  23. jeangray says: “I read recently, that Bon Jovi was the best selling touring act last year. Jesus, that is a depressing thought.”

    Here’s something even more depressing: I read on wikipedia that Nickleback is the second biggest selling foreign act in the US for the 2000s. That makes them bigger than U2, Assplay, er make that Coldplay,the Stones, etc.

    I feel the need to justify why I was looking up Nickleback on wikipedia. I was prompted by a facebook page currently making the round entitled “Can This Pickle Get More Fans Than Nickleback”.

  24. Mr. Moderator

    I just thought of a veteran artist who could rival Prince, The Boss, and anyone else we may have thought did a good job: Bowie. He’s pretty good, you know, with 30 songs I like to choose from.

  25. Mod, use your head not your heart.

    You’re thinking like a rock nerd, not a red meat eating, beer drinking, NASCAR-on-the-off-season-loving football fan.

  26. If they had Prince, they can have Bowie.

    That said, I’ve heard rumors that DB is kinda, sorta retiring, at least for the time being.

  27. Mr. Moderator

    You tell him, Oats! Bowie would bring down the house if he brought out Jagger for a special Super Bowl edition of Ja-Bo.

    Bowie retiring? Say it ain’t so, although the last time he retired – I believe from being Bowie, not from music altogether (Tin Machine) – he went out in style, with that Glass Spider tour.

  28. 2000 Man

    I’ve been thinking about it. Jimmy Buffet is a big enough douche to play the Superbowl. They always play it in sunny, warm places anyway, so Jimmy’s schtick would probably be perfect.

  29. diskojoe

    Jimmy Buffet would have been perfect for this year’s Super Bowl, being in Miami & all.

    Jimmy Buffet must be the only musician to have an entire cult based on only one song. I mean how many other songs of his besides “Margaritaville” do you hear on the radio?

    Also, 2000 Man, spot on on your anaylsis of the game.

  30. Ugh. I hadn’t thought of Bon Jovi. It’s so totally going to be them next year.

    Jimmy Buffet must be the only musician to have an entire cult based on only one song. I mean how many other songs of his besides “Margaritaville” do you hear on the radio?

    It isn’t about hits or about the radio. Think The Grateful Dead for people with mortgages.

  31. 2000 Man

    There was a radio guy here that does a sports show and he says he thinks The Eagles will be next year’s choice.

    If that’s the case, I’m going on vacation somewhere where there’s no TV.

  32. Mr. Moderator

    The Eagles better not reunite in any formation to do the Super Bowl! No Eagles and no Journey (not even with Steve Perry back in the fold)!

    CRAPTON! I’d rather see Crapton play the halftime show.

  33. diskojoe

    [With Jimmy Buffet]It isn’t about hits or about the radio. Think The Grateful Dead for people with mortgages.

    Point well taken Rick, although I bet the radio plays about 5 Dead songs to Buffett’s 2 or 3 & you hear “Margaritaville” the most.

    What is Jimmy Buffett’s “Dark Star”?

    I once read an obit of a guy that mentioned that he was a Parrothead. I thought to myself “how sad.”

  34. What is Jimmy Buffett’s “Dark Star”?

    He doesn’t have one. People with mortgages want to hear the big songs and go home. They’ll allow a couple from the new album, but that’s about it.

    I once read an obit of a guy that mentioned that he was a Parrothead. I thought to myself “how sad.”

    Some Parrotheads are seriously organized. There are local chapters that meet year-round to exchange Buffett news and go see other bands that play music in the same vein; some even do organized charity work.

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