Legacy Conference Round 2
Four matches will determine the fate of the 8 teams surviving Round 1 of Legacy Conference tournament play. As in the opening round of play, please use this space to argue for your favorite backing band in each contest, using any or all of the following criteria, including criteria not listed here:
- Ability to support the bandleader’s musical agenda/vision
- Additional musical contribution to the bandleader’s sound/vision
- Look and other supporting “rock superhero powers”
- Catchiness of backing band’s name
Round 2 of Legacy Conference play runs through Sunday, December 18 at 11:59 pm. You may log your vote on each contestant in the Round 2 games through the polls on the following page.
Round 2, Legacy Conference: The Crickets (1) vs The Blue Caps (8).
- The Crickets (63%, 17 Votes)
- The Blue Caps (37%, 10 Votes)
Total Voters: 27
Loading ...Round 2, Legacy Conference: The Comets (5) vs The Tennessee Two (4)
- The Tennessee Two (62%, 16 Votes)
- The Comets (38%, 10 Votes)
Total Voters: 26
Loading ...Round 2, Legacy Conference: The Delaware Destroyers (6) vs The Texas Playboys (3)
- The Texas Playboys (76%, 19 Votes)
- The Delaware Destroyers (24%, 6 Votes)
Total Voters: 25
Loading ...Round 2, Legacy Conference: The Jordanaires (10) vs The Famous Flames (2)
- The Famous Flames (81%, 22 Votes)
- The Jordanaires (19%, 5 Votes)
Total Voters: 27
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I haven’t been up here in a while and I am really sorry that I missed the Rebel Round. There was one wipe-out, Contortions vs. The Rumour, that was totally unwarranted. The original Contortions line up was a Murderer’s Row of eccentric musical personality. Two solid musicians, drummer Don Christensen and guitarist Jody Harris held the thing together, two artsy noisemakers, slide guitarist Pat Place and organist Adele Bertei, provided unpredictability, and finally, bassist George Scott III bridged the gap with his artfully primitive assault. (Give a listen to him on the John Cale Sabotage album to get a sense of how he could transform a band.) There is no denying that the Rumour is a solid backing band, but with the exception of Steve Goulding, they are pretty faceless musically, effective but not irreplaceable. The early Contortions had some real chemistry.
Yeah! “Sabotage” is quite possibly my fave John Cale album, the bass playing being a big factor in my enjoyment.
Of all the leagues this is the one about which I’m least animated, with only the Crickets and the Tennessee Two really registering to any extent on this side of the pond. I’m not looking forward to having to make a decision between those on the next round, assuming they make it through.
I was disappointed to see the Shadows go out, they were hugely influential over here – although admittedly mainly for their hits without Cliff (which raises questions about their “backing band” credentials, academic now unfortunately).
Hank Marvin always looked so incongruous when they were on the telly that it wasn’t hard for teenage boys of average looks or less to imagine that with a great big pair of glasses and a fantastic looking Strat it could be you up there, added to which the tunes were not terribly hard to learn. Their 20 Golden Greats album was one of the biggest sellers of 1977 in the UK, and even though we would have thumbed our noses at Cliff, I never heard a punk sneer when “Apache” came on the radio.
I was waiting for this post from you! Sorry it came late, but glad it came.
Am I underestimating the Blue Caps? I don’t know a lot of Gene Vincent music. What I do know is good, but the Crickets were so facile that I figured they’d roll through this round.
The Delaware lurker contingent must be sleeping in today. Come on, Team Destroyers!
I voted for the Crickets but Cliff Gallup, the guitar player in the Blue Caps, was a huge influence on Jeff Beck among others. Perhaps Brian Setzer has made the style seem almost mundane, but imagine hearing this lead for the first time in the mid ’50s: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3gxQ1tetAQ
Couple that with the fact that the Blue Caps were early proponents of the Big Rock and Roll Pose (quite possibly inventing both the wide stance and the Rock and Roll Iwo Jima in one fell swoop: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_C7bveYJvFUM/SRYnTxplAWI/AAAAAAAAAyM/4knjhUBJKr0/s640/GeneVincent.jpg), and one can make a very strong case for them. So strong, in fact, that I kind of regret voting for the Crickets even though I listen to Buddy Holly a lot more than Gene Vincent.
That’s such a good argument that it put my own vote in question! Thanks.
You ARE underestimating the Blue Caps — and definitely OVER-estimating the Crickets. Just because a band plods along behind a charismatic song-writing genius doesn’t make *them* any good! The Blue Caps, in contrast, made a middling rockabilly artist sound iconic. Boo RTH! Boo Moderator! Yay Cliff Gallup and the Blue Caps!
How can you boo me when I’m MAN enough to question my own perceptions? Shoot man, I got chills realizing that I may have underestimated the Blue Caps. That’s personal growth, baby. I should be applauded for opening myself to criticism. Let’s hear it: Yay me!
I’ve got to say, Bob Wills is one of those olde thyme musicians I know is good but have paid no attention to. His Texas Playboys are pretty cool in the clips I’ve been watching, such as this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkj6tuDwIxE
Love how the second fiddler dances. The money shot, however, is at the 1:27 mark! It may be the highlight of the tournament so far.
This features killer mandancing between Wills and the second fiddle:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WSlskCq9Qk
Mod, Can you undo my vote for the Crickets? I want to recast it for the Blue Caps based on the compelling case that HVB (and I) have made for the Blue Caps.
I cannot tamper with the votes, but we can remember to do the math on Sunday night.
I’m a big fan of the Texas Playboy and as I’ve previously said, they should be the winners of this thing although I fully expect that honor will go to the Attractions. But check out this clip of the Texas Playboys in action:
http://youtu.be/ZFef08YZ6qk
This is not my favorite song of theirs by a long shot but it highlights 4 different soloists starting with a killer piano solo at :28. And features Bob directing them all with his bow.
The solos are good and all that, but I’m really impressed by the Rock Super Powers each band member possesses. They all know how to deliver when the spotlight is on them: guys lean forward and look right at the camera, the piano player has that cool mirror in front of his keys, the guitarist is a lefty for freak appeal… I had no idea they were all such showmen.
It’s really hard not to vote solely based on which frontman you prefer. I despise George Thorogood, so there’s no way I could vote for the Destroyers.
I have also thrown in with the Blue Caps (my vote is properly counted), if just for that badass *and* historic photo cdm contributed above.
Is there anyway we can make this huge upset happen? Maybe get in touch with a Bo Diddley message board and have them rally behind the Blue Caps to help finally overthrow the tyrant, Buddy Holly?
I’ve already cast my vote unashamedly for the Crickets, but was saddened to see that Jack Neal, original Blue Caps bassist died back in September, and Bill Mack who replaced him in 1957 also passed in October.
Can anyone explain a single vote for the Jordanaires let alone three vs the Flames?