May 212013
Creativity is next to godliness…at least while you’re in the act. The All-Star Jam is the place to do your thing. Share the rock, won’t you?
Creativity is next to godliness…at least while you’re in the act. The All-Star Jam is the place to do your thing. Share the rock, won’t you?
I was wondering how my fellow Townspeople feel about NRBQ. A few weeks ago, I picked up a DVD of a 1989 show of theirs that Creem Magazine put out a few years ago for $1.99 & it was pretty good, so I dug up my Rhino comp of theirs & listened to it as my communting music in my car. They reminded me a lot of the Lovin’ Spoonful. I haven’t heard too much about them recently.
They are a band that used to engender deep divides in the RTH community, as I recall. I love At Yankee Stadium which I picked up at a flea market a few years ago. Other than that, I also bought a few mp3s from Amazon.com, stuff like “Me and the Boys,” “Captain Lou,” etc. Look-wise, the most well-known lineup (Joey, Terry, Tom, Big Al) were just about the least-cool bunch ever, which I find kind of refreshing from this vantage point.
Also, Yo La Tengo’s cover of “Magnet” is really great.
I like NRBQ. I don’t love them, but I don’t see how you couldn’t at least like them. I’ve got the Peek A Boo cd and I think a couple of records. They did some really stupid stuff like Captain Lou, though. But by that time, they may have just felt they needed to make enough money for food.
I have never yet heard a NRBQ song that gave me any inclination as to why they are so beloved by some, including plenty of people I know and respect.
NRBQ has a few songs I enjoy, but I feel like they needed a serious kick in the ass. I know their laid-back delivery is a big part of their charm, but I’m clearly not very laid back. With the proper kick in the butt I would have liked them as I like any number of pub rock bands from the ’70s.
I saw them live once and Terry Adams (the keyboardist, if I’ve got his name right) was a MAJOR deal breaker with all his shuckin’ and jivin’. I thought the drummer was too sloppy, too. I did like the bassist (the drummer’s brother) and Al Anderson (that’s the heavyset guitarist, right?). When one of those 2 led a song the band approached a Rockpile level of pinky-rockin’ entertainment.
I like them. The 2 disc Rhino compilation is about all I need (and maybe even a little more than I need). I’ve seen them a few times and they can be fun live although I feel like I missed the boat because i never saw them with Al Anderson.
The bassist isn’t the drummer’s brother. The guitarist who replaced Al is the bass players brother. The bass player is also in the band Keith Richards assembled for the Chuck Berry movie.
I like them, and I agree with Mr Mod that Adams’ stage schtick grows old. I haven’t seen them since the mid 90’s though. I believe the original lineup reunites once a year around the holidays for a show or 2 in Northampton, MA.
Ah, right! Thanks for the pince nez.
Other than the “Get Lucky” single, it turns out that “Random Access Memories” = Turd
I love “Magnet.” Will have to search out Yo La Tengo’s version. Thanx for the heads-up. 🙂
You, Sir, have not heard “Magnet.” Educate your earholes thusly!
Were you expecting somethang else?
True, I had not heard it. It’s pretty good. I still get a “hey, look how cute ‘n’ clever we are” vibe from them.
After Peek-A-Boo, if you’re inclined to learn more get Kick Me Hard, All Hopped Up and Tiddlywinks.
Al Anderson fans should check out his first band The Wildweeds.
Ditto on those tunes — I would also add Grooves In Orbit to your list. I wore that out on cassette in the 80s. Here’s what that sounded and looked like!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EwQp3Ywd7Y
That album is getting some good ol’ fashioned music industry hype. Hell even the Wall Street Journal ran a front page story on their helmets today.
Today, I’ve been streaming the new Beach Boys 50th Anniversary Show Live album, a show I saw last summer. It’s amazing evidence of what you can do when you have about 50 backing band members helping out a bunch geriatrics. There are 41 tracks on the thing. I think go home and listen to “In Concert” the one where Dennis is on the cover and has the mic stand on his crotch.
Odd timing. I just bought NRBQ “Wild Weekend” for about 2 bucks used a couple weeks ago. I remember seeing them live a few times and mostly digging it low key. The CD is modestly OK. I more enjoyed learning that the store owner was in the Flamin’ Caucasians and they opened for a the Q a few times in the late 80s.
I recommend the original line-up, with Steve Ferguson on guitar and Tom Staley on drums. There is a collection called “Stay with We” that pulls stuff from their first album and the album they shared with Carl Perkins. It’s crazy southern rock’n’roll and Staley kicks ass. I liked the later line up, but Tom Ardolino always sounded clumsy to me. Sometimes it was almost magical, for example Me and the Boys, but usually not so much.
Ferguson had a similar crazy Kentucky hillbilly vibe to Terry, and his songs are truly something.
I had high hopes that Daft Punk would be filling in the void left by LCD Soundsystem. I will have to continue my wait for the second coming.
The album was derivative and boring and the Paul Williams track really jumped the shark. Boo.
I’ll go out and buy the new Vampire Weekend instead.
BTW, the new Yo La Tengo is great. Pretty, tuneful, and beautiful production.
Comedy nerds: I wasn’t aware of this Kids in The Hall skit about the band Armada 30 years later. Love me some Herman Menderchuck
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6Xt4mNWyaA&list=PL71E8DA331EA1D7B0
Hey! Why are you disrespecting Rod Torfulson?