tom werman on Cheap Trick : In Color : Steve Albini : The Whole Story : As Far As I Can Tell : After Searching the Internet : for Half an Hour Fact is that I am indeed a pop guy. Few metal albums in my collection. I signed Cheap Trick to Epic Records.
As a staff producer there, it would have been self-defeating back in the 1970's to avoid the opportunity to get my bands on AM radio. The studio version of "I Want You to Want Me" isn't far from the demo version. It's a "dance hall" song , reminiscent of the 1930's.
A hit single sold millions of LP's in the seventies and eighties. While Cheap Trick says I screwed up In Color, Rolling Stone remov ed it from its "cardboard box" and named it Album Of The Year. Most CT fans seem to like it just fine, along with Heaven Tonight and Dream Police -- both even more "commercial".
Dee Snider claimed that I "destroyed" his 6-million selling album. Sounds like I managed to destroy the 23 gold and platinum albums of the 52 LP's I produced.
Backslaps, high fives and gratitude while they're selling millions. 20 years later, they blame you for everything they didn't achieve.
Enjoy your privileged lives, guys. Apologies for destroying your careers.
LeoToys on All-Star Jam Hey, music lovers and aspiring rockstars! Get ready to jam out like never before with Leo Toy Store's All-Star Jam collection! 🎸🎶 Whether you're shredding on the guitar, pounding away on the drums, or belting out vocals like a true superstar, we've got everything you need to rock the stage. From beginner-friendly instruments to pro-quality gear, our curated selection has something for every skill level and musical taste. https://leotoystore.com/ So grab your friends, turn up the volume, and let the music take you on a journey to stardom! Don't miss out on your chance to become the ultimate rockstar – shop the All-Star Jam collection at Leo Toy Store today! 🌟
H. Munster on Last Man Standing: Where the Streets Have a Name In response to Al (#49) -- Slaughter on 10th Avenue - The Ventures
#54. Mr. Mod, are you sure you mean The Flamin' Groovies? Wasn't it by the MC5?
Pishta on Can Someone Tell Me What This Song Is About, Part II (Pancho and Lefty)? Hi folks,
I came here because I was looking for some clarification on the lyrics to Pancho & Lefty. I want to thank everyone for some great insight. I also would like to ask all's opinion on a take I have as no one mentioned this, so maybe I'm out to lunch.
I see Pancho as who Townes sees himself to be, and wanted to be (as well as how he thinks his mom sees him) and "the dream he slipped inside" when he left home. And Lefty is who he ultimately became. What makes me think this is "not his mothers only son, but favorite one it seems". A mother's "favorite son" is usually one who is "different" maybe special or handicapped or with a take on life that she feels might be dangerous, this is reinforced when "she began to cry when he said goodbye and slipped into his dream". So he left home and mom was devastated that she can no longer help him, "began to cry"= she hadn't cried before and now has lost hope to straighten out her son, that's if we believe that every word of a song takes us to it's meaning (ie, no wasted words). The "slipped into his dream", is finite and not necessarily a good thing, the description is ominous, ie (slipped into something outside reality).
But actually I came for clarification on "he wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel". This is very precise wordage and it seems Townes wants us to understand something very important. I see this, and again, I could be trippin', as when he "said goodbye and slipped into his dream". His dream was to live in a socially unaccepted honesty and show who he truly was (Pancho). He felt different than the rest of the "honest world" and calls them "honest", though he does not feel that about "the world". and wouldn't "guns outside his pants" be- "to be seen"; why does he say "to feel"..? that's so out there as a lyric it's almost incorrect; you don't feel someone showing off their guns, unless "guns" is synonymous with his "way of living, thinking and feeling", then it makes sense.
I believe that the classic story is as many of you say, but the first verse is what interests me, again "living on the road, my friend was gonna keep us free and clean" (= the dream, Pancho), "but now you wear your skin like iron and your breath's as hard as kerosene", ( = the breaking of the dream, Lefty). For me this is what sets up everything in the story. and is Townes himself.
That's what I'm trying to figure out. Again thanks already for your help and I would love to hear your take on mine.
Peace
al on Keith Levene R.I.P. And a nice one of "Sign On The Window" as well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jSxRaf9K0M
geo on Keith Levene R.I.P. Thought I needed to get this up here. Melanie Passed away today at age 76. She did a great version of "Mr. Tambourine Man." Really!
Ju5t1n on Rock’s Best Blonde Guitarists Kerry Livgren, Alex Lifeson, John 5, K.K. Downing, Robbin Crosby, & Tom Petty just to name a few.
Mr. Moderator on “Raised on the MC5 and the Stooges” Peter Holsapple, as a now 60 year old who found inspiration in your band's music when I was weaning myself off a childhood of AM pop, you just made my year and all the recent years Rock Rown Hall has been dormant. We used to have a series called Bullshit On. I appreciate you hopping in to call BS on any of us skeptics!
PeterHolsapple on “Raised on the MC5 and the Stooges” Many years later I'm just finding this.
I can guarantee you that we DID in fact know about all those bands and listen to them growing up as kids in Winston-Salem.
We got Kick Out the Jams when it came out (don't forget it went to #30 on Billboard), and it was unlike anything else we'd ever heard. In 1970, I went to a New Hampshire prep school for 9th grade, hung with seniors who were deeply into the Stooges, Bob Seger System and the MC5, and played those bands' songs with them in bands then. Then came back to WS and played them in bands THERE (meanwhile, the MC5 had played at the WS Coliseum May 9, 1971, and most every rock musician living there then went to the show and changed their setlists to include MC5 songs).
Our bands played stuff like "Teenage Head" and "Rock and Roll Queen" when the albums they came out on were brand new. We had a band in 1973 (Little Diesel) that was directly inspired by the songs on Nuggets. And it wasn't like the southern rock audience understood what we were playing--we simply thought they might like what they heard when we played it, not that they'd hear it on the radio. (And yes, WAIR 1340 played "When My Baby's Beside Me" by Big Star as a new single.)
So "misterioso" can posit 'revisionism' all he wants, but his take is incorrect for me, Chris, Mitch, and all of the kids I grew up with (and am still friends with decades later). Can't speak for the late Mr. Bourdain's experience.
Der Senator on Once and For All: Mick Jagger’s Most Egregious Fashion Faux Pas Someone else may have pointed this out but I don't think that's even him in the football pants photo; it looks like a wannabe. The outfit made perfect sense as the first leg of that tour (1981) was primarily outdoor stadiums. I still think it was a cool look especially when paired with the hometeam jersey he often added on top. For me the only one that doesn't work is all the facial hair although I am impressed at the volume of it.
James_Frost on Young and Innocent Days: Baby Flamehead Greetings from sunny Chicago.
I was honored to tour with Flamehead as Dean was very busy Milking the country. 😎
It was blast. I met so many great people on the way to CA and back to Philly. I think we did it twice.
Love to Dean for mentioning me. It was hard (fun) work. Again, an honor to keep the stool warm for Mr. Clean.
My brief musical history, The Corvairs (born in Boulder, raised in SF), Big Mess Theater- Philly, Flamehead,
Frosty- Chicago,
Currently leading a band in Chicago dubbed “Ollie Frazer.”
Love to Eden, Andy, Chris and Dean.
-James
dustydj on Last Man Standing: Songs With Brief, Carnival-Sounding, Calliope-Like Instrumental Breaks How bizarre - the first song (one I haven't thought about or heard for forty years) that came into my mind was Patrick Moraz' Cachaca, but upon listening to it again it's obviously not a calliope (at 2'15 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Rj8j57hLcg ) but sounds like a steam fair organ! I obviously mixed up my circus fairground memories...
SpudBob on Bullshit On: Livestock Claims Regarding ZZ Top’s Worldwide Texas Tour Old Blog but still relevant. Was at the August 1976 tour stop in SF at the Cow Palace. The animals were there though they were NOT on stage during the show. The Steer/Bison came up on some sort of elevated device and then descended before the Lil Ol Band from Tejas got going. Ted Nugent opened up the show in blistering oreder before the Tejas Trio blew it up!!!
Coachboat on Billy Gibbons and ZZ Top Call Bullshit On Mr. Moderator! Was at the Summit in Houston Texas and saw the concert. Longhorn Buffalo Rattlesnakes included. The buffalo let loose and splashed a few front row spectators!!! GREAT CONCERT
al on Hal David Is On His Way to Heaven Even years later, here seems the place to note the reuniting of the Bacharach-David team, at least in some manner of speaking. Even though i have always felt Hal David didn't get the credit he deserved, Bacharach certainly deserved all the credit he got.
And while Elvis Costello was no Hal David, Painted From Memory was the best thing EC has done in a quarter century.
Coincidence? I think not.
I noted in the NYT obit this portion:
"Reflecting on his split with Mr. David in 2013 in his autobiography, “Anyone Who Had a Heart: My Life and Music,” written with Robert Greenfield, Mr. Bacharach acknowledged that “it was all my fault, and I can’t imagine how many great songs I could have written with Hal in the years we were apart.” "
If only...
charlesross on Turns Out Everybody, Especially Me, Was Wrong About Alex Chilton On the Tom Waits covers album "Step Right Up", Alex's version of "Downtown" is maybe the best track on the record. I like his loose and blues-funky style (great band) much better than Wait's early faux jazz style.
Neil of Hove on Please Explain: The Late-1960s Skinhead Scene and Early Slade Hello
when skinheads started they were not a racist group, it was just working class kids that liked a lot of ska bluebeat,soul and mod stuff and had a look. It was a fairly aggressive look and got hijacked a lot by people with other motivations amongst which was an element of racist violence but that violence was by no means solely directed at people with darker skin. This was a time of extreme casual violence where I grew up in east London (and most places), going to the toilet in a boozer was fairly risky sometimes and gigs would erupt into mass brawls regularly especially if you went to see 999 or Sham when skins would try and 'control' the place and act as a group taking on all comers. It was tricky because they were easy to identify as a group so became a gang although they by no means all knew each other . There was no CCTV or security anywhere really - just violence and anarchy. It was pretty exciting mostly to be honest as long as you were young, able to fight, run (lots) or talk your way out of it (mostly) although it was often bravado and handbags. There were a lot of amphetamines around in those days and it made for crazy nights. As well as speed there was a lot of desperation and nihilism - 50 years later I am still struggling with my inherent nihilism from that time although I also look back fondly on it ha ha.
Mari Wilson was never that big really although Neasden's finest was popular in my house. I live opposite e bloke that was in her backing band the Wilsations and am obliged to drop little nuggets like 'just what I always wanted' into the conversation every time I see him in the pub. I love seeing him in the vids from the time with shiny big lapelled jackets
Jerry Hogan on Can Someone Tell Me What This Song Is About, Part II (Pancho and Lefty)? I first heard the song around 1976. I was 12 years old. My first take was that Pancho and Lefty were the same guy. The more over my life I was convinced I was correct as I learned more details about Townes Van Zandt. Pancho was young Townes with his life and dreams all ahead of him. Lefty is what was Left of him after his parents had shock treatments done on him to correct his behavior. The first verse tells the story completely. Lefty has the same dirt in his mouth as Pancho. Lefty went to hell as in the cold of Cleveland. They only let him hang around out of kindness was a tip that he played his enablers.
Townes was brilliant. He laid I all out in the open for us all to see.
Mr. Moderator on Keith Levene R.I.P. Here's the story I thought had been posted!
https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/sorta-friend-of-the-hall-keith-levene-contacts-the-back-office-me/
Mr. Moderator on Keith Levene R.I.P. This is beautiful, Big Steve! I had the same reaction and just logged on to see if sammymaudlin ever shared the story behind the interview he *almost* got with Levene. Or did he get that interview? I can't remember.
BigSteve on Keith Levene R.I.P. When I heard the news, I immediately thought of RTH, even though I don't know how to use the publish function of this site. https://www.nme.com/news/music/public-image-ltd-and-the-clash-guitarist-keith-levene-has-died-aged-65-3347976
H. Munster on Last Man Standing: Jesus Songs Are You Drinkin' with Me Jesus by Mojo Nixon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IBGZ-nFVrM
Last man standing!
H. Munster on Last Man Standing: Fools "Oh Me Oh My (I'm A Fool for You Baby) by Lulu
Last man standing!
chickenfrank on Showdown: Goats Head Soup vs Some Girls Stopped by to see/ask if anyone is excited about My Life as a Rolling Stone coming out soon. It's a BBC docuseries that I'm guessing arose because Get Back was so huge.
Looks like it will stream on EPIX. Guess if they don't have a free weekly trial, I won't see it! Wonder if it will be interesting, or mostly Jagger propaganda. Maybe they will address the Some Girls vs. Goat Head's Soup showdown. Probably.
chickenfrank on All Star Jam! Hey VW, Nice to have some fresh fish in the Hall! There always seems to be more love for Lowell George here than I see elsewhere, and the appropriate amount of disdain for Dave Matthews. I don't mind John Mayer myself. From the little I've seen or heard, he's a terrific guitar player. I guess you are including him in your bad band cause he's just such a douche. Fair.
The hall can be empty for a while, but people do check in from time to time still.
vw on All Star Jam! 1. What do you think of this performance of “Let My Love Open the Door?” Do you have any comments on the song, the performance, the fashion choices or anything else?
I like the whole Klaus Nomi thing Pete had going back then. For 15 minutes he looked up to date among the early 80’s crop of new romantics, although Bowie and Bryan Ferry pulled the look off better. The ubiquitous Phil Collins on drums.
2. You’ve been given the opportunity to form a band for your favorite underrated songwriter or singer/front-person. Who is the “star” and who is in the band? You want to put together a surprising yet appropriate group. What unlikely or never-considered musical collaboration would you put together?
I’m in a deep-fried southern soul kind of mood today, so either Lowell George or Kelly Holland out in front, Duane Allman and Allen Collins on guitars, Danko and Helm holding down the rhythm section. Occasionally featuring Wayne Jackson and Andrew Love. No keyboards.
3. Uh-oh, your favorite underrated songwriter turned out to be difficult to work with! You’ve decided to scrap that band and put together the worst possible band, just to be creatively vengeful. Who is in this band now?
Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Neil Peart, Glenn Frey, Anthony Kiedis and Eddie Vedder. I don’t care who plays what.
4. Have you ever been to a show headlined by a known artist (ie not a “local” band) where the audience cleared out? Who was the artist and why did everyone leave?
No, not really. It always astounds me when people bail before the encore though. Miss all kinds of good stuff.
5. What is the best guitar solo in the Beatles catalog?
I like Clapton on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, George on “Something” and Paul on “Taxman”. In that order.
6. Do accordions belong in rock music?
Sure, depending on the context. Clifton Chenier and Flaco Jimenez can be in my band anytime.
7. Odd meters (talking songs in 5, 7, etc): are they pretentious? Do you have a favorite song in an odd meter?
I like a lot of prog, so weird time signatures and pretense don’t bother me. Something off of Apostrophe would probably get my vote.
8. What have you been listening to lately? Have you found any interesting music that is new or new to you?
I’ve been listening to the most recent releases from Sarah Borges, Margo Price and Crystal Thomas, all three of which I like a lot. There’s a cat named Riley Downing who reminds me of J.J. Cale - just discovered him, as well as a guitar virtuoso named Christie Lenee, who has a major Michael Hedges thing going that I think is just brilliant.
vw on RTH Talent Show I just discovered this site today. Don't bail on me now.
Mr. Moderator on All Star Jam! I think I've heard the name Rammstein, but I wouldn't have known if it was a band, a German New Wave film director, or a sex toy.
Rammstein playing Lincoln Financial Field may explain why Rock Town Hall has run it's course.
al on All Star Jam! Imagine the Rammstein and Insane Clown Posse versions of this:
https://pop-sesivo.tumblr.com/post/661600845183500288/bands-reimagined-as-hanna-barbera-cartoons
al on All Star Jam! What he said. Insane Clown Posse? Rammstein? They are just names to me. But then I don't know why people go to EDM concerts either.
I may be the only person who, when he sees the name Rammstein, thinks of Dan Bern. Bern has a fairly low profile but has been around for quite awhile. A combination of Bob Dylan and Loudon Wainwright. There was a time i followed him pretty closely but that was back probably 15 or so years ago. Anyway, as some point he began referring to himself as Bernstein - no idea why - and so when I see Rammstein i think Bernstein.
chickenfrank on All Star Jam! Probably none of us own an album, but probably all of us have heard of Rammstein. Not many other bands in whatever genre they call themselves can say that. Seems similar to the status that Insane Clown Posse has. It's always a shock to see how popular they are without being a popular band.
geo on All Star Jam! Thank you all for indulging my off-blog plea. Really does anyone on here know anyone that actually has a Rammstein record? WTF?
al on All Star Jam! Similar sort of thing, i.e., I'm getting old. I get emails from a place like deepdiscount or Newbury Comics or I see an ad in Shindig magazine and there will be a whole page of albums being advertised and not only am I unfamiliar with all of the artists it often happens where I couldn't tell you which is the artist and which is the album title. Not just on one title but all 8 or 10 or 12 that are there.
On the plus side, it makes any buying decision easy.
chickenfrank on All Star Jam! They looking for an opener??
cdm on All Star Jam! Seriously? That's bizarre. And it sounds like a terrible night out.
cdm on Showdown: Goats Head Soup vs Some Girls I saw the Stones in 2019 so not too long ago, and they caught me off guard with how good they were. The only other time I'd seen them was in 1989 and the 2019 show was much much better. Of course, I'd like to write the set list because I could really do without hearing Start Me Up, Can't Always Get What You Want, and Satisfaction again (all great songs that have just worn out their welcome through repetition), but even those songs sounded somewhat fresh.
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I've always wondered if anyone else thought that Michael Stipe's voice is similar to Neil Diamond's.
No comment
Fact is that I am indeed a pop guy. Few metal albums in my collection. I signed Cheap Trick to Epic Records. As a staff producer there, it would have been self-defeating back in the 1970's to avoid the opportunity to get my bands on AM radio. The studio version of "I Want You to Want Me" isn't far from the demo version. It's a "dance hall" song , reminiscent of the 1930's. A hit single sold millions of LP's in the seventies and eighties. While Cheap Trick says I screwed up In Color, Rolling Stone remov ed it from its "cardboard box" and named it Album Of The Year. Most CT fans seem to like it just fine, along with Heaven Tonight and Dream Police -- both even more "commercial". Dee Snider claimed that I "destroyed" his 6-million selling album. Sounds like I managed to destroy the 23 gold and platinum albums of the 52 LP's I produced. Backslaps, high fives and gratitude while they're selling millions. 20 years later, they blame you for everything they didn't achieve. Enjoy your privileged lives, guys. Apologies for destroying your careers.
Hey, music lovers and aspiring rockstars! Get ready to jam out like never before with Leo Toy Store's All-Star Jam collection! 🎸🎶 Whether you're shredding on the guitar, pounding away on the drums, or belting out vocals like a true superstar, we've got everything you need to rock the stage. From beginner-friendly instruments to pro-quality gear, our curated selection has something for every skill level and musical taste. https://leotoystore.com/ So grab your friends, turn up the volume, and let the music take you on a journey to stardom! Don't miss out on your chance to become the ultimate rockstar – shop the All-Star Jam collection at Leo Toy Store today! 🌟
In response to Al (#49) -- Slaughter on 10th Avenue - The Ventures #54. Mr. Mod, are you sure you mean The Flamin' Groovies? Wasn't it by the MC5?
Hi folks, I came here because I was looking for some clarification on the lyrics to Pancho & Lefty. I want to thank everyone for some great insight. I also would like to ask all's opinion on a take I have as no one mentioned this, so maybe I'm out to lunch. I see Pancho as who Townes sees himself to be, and wanted to be (as well as how he thinks his mom sees him) and "the dream he slipped inside" when he left home. And Lefty is who he ultimately became. What makes me think this is "not his mothers only son, but favorite one it seems". A mother's "favorite son" is usually one who is "different" maybe special or handicapped or with a take on life that she feels might be dangerous, this is reinforced when "she began to cry when he said goodbye and slipped into his dream". So he left home and mom was devastated that she can no longer help him, "began to cry"= she hadn't cried before and now has lost hope to straighten out her son, that's if we believe that every word of a song takes us to it's meaning (ie, no wasted words). The "slipped into his dream", is finite and not necessarily a good thing, the description is ominous, ie (slipped into something outside reality). But actually I came for clarification on "he wore his gun outside his pants for all the honest world to feel". This is very precise wordage and it seems Townes wants us to understand something very important. I see this, and again, I could be trippin', as when he "said goodbye and slipped into his dream". His dream was to live in a socially unaccepted honesty and show who he truly was (Pancho). He felt different than the rest of the "honest world" and calls them "honest", though he does not feel that about "the world". and wouldn't "guns outside his pants" be- "to be seen"; why does he say "to feel"..? that's so out there as a lyric it's almost incorrect; you don't feel someone showing off their guns, unless "guns" is synonymous with his "way of living, thinking and feeling", then it makes sense. I believe that the classic story is as many of you say, but the first verse is what interests me, again "living on the road, my friend was gonna keep us free and clean" (= the dream, Pancho), "but now you wear your skin like iron and your breath's as hard as kerosene", ( = the breaking of the dream, Lefty). For me this is what sets up everything in the story. and is Townes himself. That's what I'm trying to figure out. Again thanks already for your help and I would love to hear your take on mine. Peace
It's a guitar fill on the 4 chord rest, not a solo
"Fool (If You Think It's Over)" Chris Rhea
"Pop Hates the Beatles" by Allan Sherman https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_wDWh661iM
And a nice one of "Sign On The Window" as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jSxRaf9K0M
Thought I needed to get this up here. Melanie Passed away today at age 76. She did a great version of "Mr. Tambourine Man." Really!
I can't believe no one has mentioned Brian Jones.
Kerry Livgren, Alex Lifeson, John 5, K.K. Downing, Robbin Crosby, & Tom Petty just to name a few.
Peter Holsapple, as a now 60 year old who found inspiration in your band's music when I was weaning myself off a childhood of AM pop, you just made my year and all the recent years Rock Rown Hall has been dormant. We used to have a series called Bullshit On. I appreciate you hopping in to call BS on any of us skeptics!
Many years later I'm just finding this. I can guarantee you that we DID in fact know about all those bands and listen to them growing up as kids in Winston-Salem. We got Kick Out the Jams when it came out (don't forget it went to #30 on Billboard), and it was unlike anything else we'd ever heard. In 1970, I went to a New Hampshire prep school for 9th grade, hung with seniors who were deeply into the Stooges, Bob Seger System and the MC5, and played those bands' songs with them in bands then. Then came back to WS and played them in bands THERE (meanwhile, the MC5 had played at the WS Coliseum May 9, 1971, and most every rock musician living there then went to the show and changed their setlists to include MC5 songs). Our bands played stuff like "Teenage Head" and "Rock and Roll Queen" when the albums they came out on were brand new. We had a band in 1973 (Little Diesel) that was directly inspired by the songs on Nuggets. And it wasn't like the southern rock audience understood what we were playing--we simply thought they might like what they heard when we played it, not that they'd hear it on the radio. (And yes, WAIR 1340 played "When My Baby's Beside Me" by Big Star as a new single.) So "misterioso" can posit 'revisionism' all he wants, but his take is incorrect for me, Chris, Mitch, and all of the kids I grew up with (and am still friends with decades later). Can't speak for the late Mr. Bourdain's experience.
Little, angry-inch, entitled, white male. Nobody cares what you think...
Someone else may have pointed this out but I don't think that's even him in the football pants photo; it looks like a wannabe. The outfit made perfect sense as the first leg of that tour (1981) was primarily outdoor stadiums. I still think it was a cool look especially when paired with the hometeam jersey he often added on top. For me the only one that doesn't work is all the facial hair although I am impressed at the volume of it.
Greetings from sunny Chicago. I was honored to tour with Flamehead as Dean was very busy Milking the country. 😎 It was blast. I met so many great people on the way to CA and back to Philly. I think we did it twice. Love to Dean for mentioning me. It was hard (fun) work. Again, an honor to keep the stool warm for Mr. Clean. My brief musical history, The Corvairs (born in Boulder, raised in SF), Big Mess Theater- Philly, Flamehead, Frosty- Chicago, Currently leading a band in Chicago dubbed “Ollie Frazer.” Love to Eden, Andy, Chris and Dean. -James
To the left of Carol Channing (her right side) is drummer Travis Fullerton.
How bizarre - the first song (one I haven't thought about or heard for forty years) that came into my mind was Patrick Moraz' Cachaca, but upon listening to it again it's obviously not a calliope (at 2'15 here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Rj8j57hLcg ) but sounds like a steam fair organ! I obviously mixed up my circus fairground memories...
Old Blog but still relevant. Was at the August 1976 tour stop in SF at the Cow Palace. The animals were there though they were NOT on stage during the show. The Steer/Bison came up on some sort of elevated device and then descended before the Lil Ol Band from Tejas got going. Ted Nugent opened up the show in blistering oreder before the Tejas Trio blew it up!!!
Was at the Summit in Houston Texas and saw the concert. Longhorn Buffalo Rattlesnakes included. The buffalo let loose and splashed a few front row spectators!!! GREAT CONCERT
Even years later, here seems the place to note the reuniting of the Bacharach-David team, at least in some manner of speaking. Even though i have always felt Hal David didn't get the credit he deserved, Bacharach certainly deserved all the credit he got. And while Elvis Costello was no Hal David, Painted From Memory was the best thing EC has done in a quarter century. Coincidence? I think not. I noted in the NYT obit this portion: "Reflecting on his split with Mr. David in 2013 in his autobiography, “Anyone Who Had a Heart: My Life and Music,” written with Robert Greenfield, Mr. Bacharach acknowledged that “it was all my fault, and I can’t imagine how many great songs I could have written with Hal in the years we were apart.” " If only...
On the Tom Waits covers album "Step Right Up", Alex's version of "Downtown" is maybe the best track on the record. I like his loose and blues-funky style (great band) much better than Wait's early faux jazz style.
Hello when skinheads started they were not a racist group, it was just working class kids that liked a lot of ska bluebeat,soul and mod stuff and had a look. It was a fairly aggressive look and got hijacked a lot by people with other motivations amongst which was an element of racist violence but that violence was by no means solely directed at people with darker skin. This was a time of extreme casual violence where I grew up in east London (and most places), going to the toilet in a boozer was fairly risky sometimes and gigs would erupt into mass brawls regularly especially if you went to see 999 or Sham when skins would try and 'control' the place and act as a group taking on all comers. It was tricky because they were easy to identify as a group so became a gang although they by no means all knew each other . There was no CCTV or security anywhere really - just violence and anarchy. It was pretty exciting mostly to be honest as long as you were young, able to fight, run (lots) or talk your way out of it (mostly) although it was often bravado and handbags. There were a lot of amphetamines around in those days and it made for crazy nights. As well as speed there was a lot of desperation and nihilism - 50 years later I am still struggling with my inherent nihilism from that time although I also look back fondly on it ha ha. Mari Wilson was never that big really although Neasden's finest was popular in my house. I live opposite e bloke that was in her backing band the Wilsations and am obliged to drop little nuggets like 'just what I always wanted' into the conversation every time I see him in the pub. I love seeing him in the vids from the time with shiny big lapelled jackets
"Thick Girls Knock Me Out (Richard Starkey)" by The Dandy Warhols. Paul McCartney also gets mentioned.
I first heard the song around 1976. I was 12 years old. My first take was that Pancho and Lefty were the same guy. The more over my life I was convinced I was correct as I learned more details about Townes Van Zandt. Pancho was young Townes with his life and dreams all ahead of him. Lefty is what was Left of him after his parents had shock treatments done on him to correct his behavior. The first verse tells the story completely. Lefty has the same dirt in his mouth as Pancho. Lefty went to hell as in the cold of Cleveland. They only let him hang around out of kindness was a tip that he played his enablers. Townes was brilliant. He laid I all out in the open for us all to see.
Here's the story I thought had been posted! https://www.rocktownhall.com/blogs/sorta-friend-of-the-hall-keith-levene-contacts-the-back-office-me/
This is beautiful, Big Steve! I had the same reaction and just logged on to see if sammymaudlin ever shared the story behind the interview he *almost* got with Levene. Or did he get that interview? I can't remember.
When I heard the news, I immediately thought of RTH, even though I don't know how to use the publish function of this site. https://www.nme.com/news/music/public-image-ltd-and-the-clash-guitarist-keith-levene-has-died-aged-65-3347976
Are You Drinkin' with Me Jesus by Mojo Nixon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IBGZ-nFVrM Last man standing!
"Oh Me Oh My (I'm A Fool for You Baby) by Lulu Last man standing!
Stopped by to see/ask if anyone is excited about My Life as a Rolling Stone coming out soon. It's a BBC docuseries that I'm guessing arose because Get Back was so huge. Looks like it will stream on EPIX. Guess if they don't have a free weekly trial, I won't see it! Wonder if it will be interesting, or mostly Jagger propaganda. Maybe they will address the Some Girls vs. Goat Head's Soup showdown. Probably.
Hey VW, Nice to have some fresh fish in the Hall! There always seems to be more love for Lowell George here than I see elsewhere, and the appropriate amount of disdain for Dave Matthews. I don't mind John Mayer myself. From the little I've seen or heard, he's a terrific guitar player. I guess you are including him in your bad band cause he's just such a douche. Fair. The hall can be empty for a while, but people do check in from time to time still.
1. What do you think of this performance of “Let My Love Open the Door?” Do you have any comments on the song, the performance, the fashion choices or anything else? I like the whole Klaus Nomi thing Pete had going back then. For 15 minutes he looked up to date among the early 80’s crop of new romantics, although Bowie and Bryan Ferry pulled the look off better. The ubiquitous Phil Collins on drums. 2. You’ve been given the opportunity to form a band for your favorite underrated songwriter or singer/front-person. Who is the “star” and who is in the band? You want to put together a surprising yet appropriate group. What unlikely or never-considered musical collaboration would you put together? I’m in a deep-fried southern soul kind of mood today, so either Lowell George or Kelly Holland out in front, Duane Allman and Allen Collins on guitars, Danko and Helm holding down the rhythm section. Occasionally featuring Wayne Jackson and Andrew Love. No keyboards. 3. Uh-oh, your favorite underrated songwriter turned out to be difficult to work with! You’ve decided to scrap that band and put together the worst possible band, just to be creatively vengeful. Who is in this band now? Dave Matthews, John Mayer, Neil Peart, Glenn Frey, Anthony Kiedis and Eddie Vedder. I don’t care who plays what. 4. Have you ever been to a show headlined by a known artist (ie not a “local” band) where the audience cleared out? Who was the artist and why did everyone leave? No, not really. It always astounds me when people bail before the encore though. Miss all kinds of good stuff. 5. What is the best guitar solo in the Beatles catalog? I like Clapton on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”, George on “Something” and Paul on “Taxman”. In that order. 6. Do accordions belong in rock music? Sure, depending on the context. Clifton Chenier and Flaco Jimenez can be in my band anytime. 7. Odd meters (talking songs in 5, 7, etc): are they pretentious? Do you have a favorite song in an odd meter? I like a lot of prog, so weird time signatures and pretense don’t bother me. Something off of Apostrophe would probably get my vote. 8. What have you been listening to lately? Have you found any interesting music that is new or new to you? I’ve been listening to the most recent releases from Sarah Borges, Margo Price and Crystal Thomas, all three of which I like a lot. There’s a cat named Riley Downing who reminds me of J.J. Cale - just discovered him, as well as a guitar virtuoso named Christie Lenee, who has a major Michael Hedges thing going that I think is just brilliant.
I just discovered this site today. Don't bail on me now.
"1500 Miles Through the Eyes of A Beatle" by The Frost Worth a listen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8gt5DirTBQ
I think I've heard the name Rammstein, but I wouldn't have known if it was a band, a German New Wave film director, or a sex toy. Rammstein playing Lincoln Financial Field may explain why Rock Town Hall has run it's course.
Imagine the Rammstein and Insane Clown Posse versions of this: https://pop-sesivo.tumblr.com/post/661600845183500288/bands-reimagined-as-hanna-barbera-cartoons
What he said. Insane Clown Posse? Rammstein? They are just names to me. But then I don't know why people go to EDM concerts either. I may be the only person who, when he sees the name Rammstein, thinks of Dan Bern. Bern has a fairly low profile but has been around for quite awhile. A combination of Bob Dylan and Loudon Wainwright. There was a time i followed him pretty closely but that was back probably 15 or so years ago. Anyway, as some point he began referring to himself as Bernstein - no idea why - and so when I see Rammstein i think Bernstein.
Probably none of us own an album, but probably all of us have heard of Rammstein. Not many other bands in whatever genre they call themselves can say that. Seems similar to the status that Insane Clown Posse has. It's always a shock to see how popular they are without being a popular band.
Thank you all for indulging my off-blog plea. Really does anyone on here know anyone that actually has a Rammstein record? WTF?
Similar sort of thing, i.e., I'm getting old. I get emails from a place like deepdiscount or Newbury Comics or I see an ad in Shindig magazine and there will be a whole page of albums being advertised and not only am I unfamiliar with all of the artists it often happens where I couldn't tell you which is the artist and which is the album title. Not just on one title but all 8 or 10 or 12 that are there. On the plus side, it makes any buying decision easy.
They looking for an opener??
Seriously? That's bizarre. And it sounds like a terrible night out.
I saw the Stones in 2019 so not too long ago, and they caught me off guard with how good they were. The only other time I'd seen them was in 1989 and the 2019 show was much much better. Of course, I'd like to write the set list because I could really do without hearing Start Me Up, Can't Always Get What You Want, and Satisfaction again (all great songs that have just worn out their welcome through repetition), but even those songs sounded somewhat fresh.