healing

The Healing, pt. 2

Dec 062007

(Rundgren tunes not included)

Townspeople,

I know I’ve been tough on you the last few days. You had it coming to you. I’ve been tough on myself as well. It’s pretty stressful trying to be as fair an open-minded as I was in heaping that relative and appropriate amount of praise on George Thorogood these last few days. He had it coming to him. Remember when Spock would do that Vulcan Mind Meld thing to save someone’s life, how exhausted he would be for minutes afterward? That’s how I feel. To encourage a well-deserved period of healing for us all I offer the following tracks, burned from vinyl, with all the love and surface noise I can offer. You are truly the greatest!

This kick-off track from Graham Parsons’ GP album, like all these tracks, goes out to each and every one of you. But this one especially goes out to Dr. John. We still tight, right, bro?

Graham Parsons, “Still Feeling Blue”

Here’s a rare song written by Neil Young that shows a trace of his supposed Motown heritage. Has anyone ever verified the story of the band he and Rick James had as youngsters being signed to that label? This track goes out to any fans of The Byrds whose feathers I may have ruffled in the past. I’ll take Buffalo Springfield any day of the week, but we’re cool, right, Byrds fans?

Buffalo Springfield, “On the Way Home”

I’ve always dug this Everly Brothers track. This one goes out to no one in particular…OK, maybe myself. I’m feeling better already.

The Everly Brothers, “I Wonder If I Care As Much”

This next track, from The Turtles’ Ray Davies-produced Soup, is for HVB. We’ve gone through the fire more than once. I’m sure our latest bout won’t be the last time. And you know what? I wouldn’t trade it for the world.

The Turtles, “She Always Leaves Me Laughing”

I sensed that Alexmagic was trembling with a mixture of fear and disgust during our recent Steel Cage Match. I’m pretty sure this song from The Bee Gees’ Cucumber Castle lp will help calm his nerves.

The Bee Gees, “My Thing”

Years ago I turned General Slocum onto this Van Morrison tune. I believe he since bought the album, Veedon Fleece, in digital format. I’ve been keeping my eye out for a digitally remastered copy myself, but I bet the General sometimes misses the pops and scratches from my old vinyl copy. I bet you’ll miss it too, if you familiarize yourself with this version and then move on.

Van Morrison, “Fair Play”

Let the healing continue! Please share your experiences here. Thanks.

A Moment Of Healing: Mod, Do You Agree?

Posted by hrrundivbakshi

Dec 062007

Mod, I want to end this senseless Thorogood/Top blood feud before any real harm is done. Can we at least reach across the aisle to agree that the lead singer of this band may be sporting the Worst Current Look in rock?

Also, note the hilariously gigantic rhythm guitarist on the left. He makes that Les Paul Custom look like a freaking ukelele! Guffaw!

Your pal always,

HVB

Fans of Sharp-Dressed Men, Rejoice!

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Dec 052007

I’ve seen still photos of the band Slade during their early, skinhead period, but I’ve never seen this period of the band in action! This is not to celebrate what would become known as unsavory skinhead values, mind you, but a pretty cool Look and sound. Check it out!

Hrrundi, I am counting on your commentary, in particular. You’ve gotta dig the little bass=guitar player interplay captured around 1:35. You know, we’ve been through the fire these past couple of days. It’s important that newer Townspeople, who may have been frightened during the recent Steel Cage Match, see how an occasional walk through the fire can forge stronger bonds.

Here’s another clip from the same 1969 performance. This one doesn’t do it for me; in fact, it’s a real soft-on. However, it does open the door to some healing via highly anticipated/dreaded Beatles chatter.

Compromising Your Rock Values

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Oct 182007

In a recent thread that developed to a healthy subthread, Townsman Mwall spun it one stitch further and asked:

What was the moment in your life when you most compromised your musical values for some other purpose. Getting wasted, getting it on, getting paid, all strike me as possibilities here, but there may be others.

In the interest of frank confessions and inevitable healing opportunities, I bring this topic to the Main Stage. You’re among friends. Even the best of us have had moments where our usually strong Rock Values have waned. I look forward to your sharing – and our collective healing.

His Girl, My Girl, Our Girl

Posted by berlyant

Oct 022007

The Budos Band, “Ride or Die”

I’ve been listening to and enjoying the new album by The Budos Band album, their second (and hence titled II). It’s quite simply an amazing slice of ’70s style instrumental funk with hints of Afro-beat, as you can hear on “Ride or Die”, from the album. In particular, I’m quite curious how saturnismine (who is also a fan of the bands on the Daptone label) and hrundivikbashi will react to this. I suspect the latter will really dig it and, as such, I sense a healing opportunity on the horizon over the downloading issue addressed earlier in another post.

The Budos Band, “His Girl”

Pince Nez alert! In addition, check out this maneuver on a scribe from Pitchfork!

The Budos Band also do a re-working of “My Girl” on this album, calling it “His Girl”. To my ears, it’s hard to tell the similarity until 2:43 of the way through. It’s a clever arrangement, although I’m not trained enough to know that the BPM is higher and that it’s played in a minor instead of a major key. I think the writer in the piece linked above is being way too hard on the guy from Pitchfork, though. What do you all think?

Band Therapy Session: Nixon’s Head

Posted by hrrundivbakshi

Sep 052007

As most of you know already, we have members from various bands of some distinction hanging out here in the hallowed Hall. But I don’t think we have quite so many members from any one band as we do representing Philadelphia’s redoubtable Nixon’s Head. What concerns me isn’t so much that they’re (almost) all here — I think that’s great. It’s the fact that they use this forum to air their intra-band dirty laundry. It’s clear to me that they’re a band issuing a pathetic cry for help — and I think as fellow rockers and rock appreciators we owe it to them to respond with kindness and understanding. In an effort to help them begin the Healing, I’ve prepared a short question-and-answer form that I hope will help kick-start some constructive dialogue. Note that, in the same way abused children are given a teddy bear to help them point out where they’ve been hit or touched inappropriately, I thought I’d center this first discussion on a “neutral” topic through the miracle of YouTube. No Beatles, Motown, Sun Ra, Burton Cummings, jam bands, or Television here; we need to enter this dialog gently and non-threateningly.

Here, then, is your Rock teddy bear, and here are your questions. Mr. Moderator, andyr, chickenfrank, and sethro — I hope you’ll all take a moment to stop and think about your answers and how they might make your fellow band-mates feel.

1. Describe your feelings about this band’s gear. Do you see it as simply “flashy” or “showy,” or does it contribute to an important component of a unified Look?

2. Tell us how you feel about the manly baritone singing lead. Does his testosterone-fueled basso profundo add to the weight and majesty of this number or distract from the contributions of the band’s weedier members?

3. (Question for sethro) Notice how the Strangers have put their drummer right up front. Now, clear your mind for a moment… and share the first thoughts that flow back in. Think about the last time you performed on stage. Where were you?

4. On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being best), rate the song in terms of a) catchiness and b) bass/drum-driven “groove” or “drive”

5. On a scale of 1 to 10, please rate the extent to which you think this song rips off better material from the era. Now tell us whether you think this is a bad thing.

Thanks for participating, guys. I’m really hoping that a frank, open exchange — constructively guided — will help free up some destructive, bottled up feelings that have been seething under the surface for far too long.

A Healing Mix

Posted by Mr. Moderator

Jul 252007

(Rundgren tunes not included)

It’s been a stressful few days at Rock Town Hall. Heads have butted in the best of spirits, but it still takes a toll. Following is a healing mix of songs from Boston to wherever it is in the solar system that Sun Ra lived. Enjoy.

Ornette Coleman, “Sadness”

Sun Ra, “Nubians of Plutonia”

Black Moth Super Rainbow, “Lost, Picking Flowers In the Woods”

Big Dipper, “Mr. Woods”

The Pretty Things, “Cries from the Midnight Circus”

J. Geils Band, “I’m Looking for a Love”

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