Begin the day with a friendly voice, a companion unobtrusive...

I had an idea this morning for a regularly irregular Blog post.  I want to talk about the the first song that I hear on the radio when I get in the car for my daily commute. 

If you want to be something, you have to do it, right?  This will give me a recurring writing assignment.  It's basically going to be an exercise in self discipline.  You in?  Good.

Tuesday, August 14th.  First, Happy Birthdays to LeAnn, Anne, Michelle and Heidi.

Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit (SLTS) literally started right with the engine this morning.  I usually only get a partial song for my first of the day, but today the radio gods smiled on me.

SLTS came out in 1991.  Even thought that's over 20 years ago, it still sounds fresh to me while feeling like it's always been part of my soundscape.  Call it timeless, if you like.

Early on Nirvana was credited with bringing punk to the masses.  This is the song that does that most effectively.  Punk rock is now part of the mainstream. 

I know the purists will harp on about other bands originating the soft/loud dynamic, but so what.  Those bands didn't have Dave Grohl.  I don't think anyone did it as effectively as Nirvana does here.  Producer Butch Vig really captures the bands explosive energy. 

Unfortunately, it was raining, so the song didn't get it's proper listening environment - windows down, sunroof open, volume up!

Oh well, whatever, never mind...

Second Hand News

You know how there are some bands you kind of forget about?  Sure you do, we all do it.  Don't lie to me.

Anyway, today I was inspired to dig into Fleetwood Mac by the review and streaming of a new Fleetwood Mac tribute album.  I like it, a lot.  You can check it out here.

As any good tribute album should, it got me thinking about its subject.

What a great, great band they are.

They started out as part of the British blues explosion.  Bands from the UK were taking American blues and electrifying it.  With guitarist Peter Green and later Bob Welch the Mac were a huge part of this scene.

At some point during the 70's it was decided that it was time to introduce some fresh blood.  In came Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.

Pop music, specifically that sub-genre of Southern California country rock would never be the same.

Their impact was felt immediately.  The first album with the new line up includes such classics as Monday Morning, Rhiannan and Say You Love Me.

And then came Rumours.

I mean, really?  Come on.  Is there any other album's sound that so completely defines that decade?  Nope, you're wrong. Wrong.

If Dreams doesn't completely transport you, you have no soul.  Stevie is a goddess.  You know it, she knows it, Tom Petty knows it.

The Chain is my, hands down, favorite Mac song and Lindsey's solo is one of the greats in the "Classic Rock" pantheon.  Like that?  Fancy word, huh?  I know.

Tusk is one of the craziest things a band had ever done at that point in Pop Music history.  A marching band doesn't seem so strange now, but this was 30 plus years ago.  The video was an early big hit on MTV.

For me as a fan, things kind of tale off after Tusk.  The band continued and continues to record and tour.  Even if they stopped 20 years ago, their legacy would be safe with me.

That, and I'd listen to Stevie sing the phone book.

Rock n' Roll Heaven

I saw them, then somebody died.

1. AC/DC (Bon Scott)
2. Led Zeppelin (John Bonham)
3. Thin Lizzy (Phil Lynott)
4. Queen (Freddie Mercury)
5. Def Leppard (Steve Clark)
6. Gamma (Ronnie Montrose)
7. Larry Norman
8. Molly Hatchet (Danny Joe Brown)
9. Chuck Brown

Band Bucket List

Bands I Need to See.

1. Pearl Jam
2. Metallica
3. The Roots
4. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
5. U2
6. Parliament / Funkadelic
7. Anthrax
8. Red Hot Chili Peppers
9. The Flaming Lips

Bands I've Seen.

After last night's show, I thought I'd update my list...

Artists & Bands I've Seen in Concert

1. AC/DC

2. Judas Priest x3

3. Queen

4. Rush x5

5. Led Zeppelin

6. ZZ Top x2

7. The Police

8. Cheap Trick x2

9. Asia

10. The Black Crowes

11. The Alarm

12. Kings X x4

13. Journey x3

14. Peter Frampton

15. Bob Dylan

16. Emmylou Harris x2

17. Buddy and Julie Miller x2

18, The Proclaimers

19. The Cranberries

20. Toad the Wet Sprocket

21. Dream Theater x2

22. Zappa Plays Zappa

23. Queenscryche

24. Iron Maiden x3

25. Kansas

26. Foreigner

27. Scorpions x2

28. Def Leppard x3

29. Gamma

30. Jethro Tull

31. Thin Lizzy

32. Rolling Stones

33. J. Geils Band

34. Jason & the Scorchers x3

35. Randy Newman

35. Simon & Garfunkel

36. The Everly Bros

37. Carbon Leaf

38. Seven Nations x5

39. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra x3

40. Saxon

41. Motorhead x2

42. Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath w/ RJD)

43. Larry Norman x2

44. Eddie From Ohio

45. Shawn Colvin

46. Johnathon Waite

47. April Wine

48. Krokus

49. Girlschool

50. Styx x2

51. Nickelback

52. Papa Roach

53. Hinder x2

54. Saving Abel

55. Los Lonely Boys x2

56. Los Lobos

57. The Young Dubliners

58. Great Big Sea

59. Phil Keaggy x4

60. Second Chapter of Acts

61. Blue Oyster Cult x2

62. The Machine

63. Stryper

64. The Thompson Twins

65. Howard Jones

66. TNT

67. Loudness

68. Testament x2

69. REM

70. The dbs

71. Dan Fogelberg

72. Chicago

73. Earth, Wind & Fire

74. Pete Yorn

75. Over the Rhine

76. Bill Mallonee x5

77. Ted Nugent

78. Molly Hatchett

79. Wishbone Ash

80. Pat Travers

81. Johnny Winters

82. Moe.

83. Savatage

84. The Galactic Cowboys

85. Saga

86. Susan Tedeschi

87. Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers

88. Accept x3

89. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers with special guest Stevie Nicks

90. Social Distortion x2

91. Collective Soul

92. Bryan Adams

93. Trey Anastasio

94. Christopher Parkening

95. Bruce Cockburn

96. Epica

97. Blackguard x2

98. SignalThreat

99. Megadeth

100. Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers x2

101. Alice Cooper

102. Godsmack x2

102. Halestorm

103. Alter Bridge

104. Bullet for My Valentine x2

105. Seether x2

106. Sevendust

108. Red Fang

109. Avenged Sevenfold

110. Pop Evil

111. Skillet

112. Foo Fighters

113. The Joy Formidable

114. Ryan Montbleau Band x4

115. Disturbed

116. Trivium

117. Straight Line Stitch

118. Machine Head

119. In Flames

120. Black Tide

121. Three Days Grace

122. Escape the Fate

123. Theory of a Deadman
124. Sabaton
125. Sound of Thunder

It always comes back to Rush.

This is a repost of something I wrote a couple of years ago on Facebook, it's cross posted there too.

It always comes back to Rush. Why does it always come back to Rush? It just always comes back to those three guys from Canada. It just does.

I just watched the new documentary about Rush, “Beyond the Lighted Stage”. Like the famously cliched review, “I laughed, I cried...”, I was touched in surprising ways.

Movies about rock bands are a dime a dozen and most of them are as forgettable as the bands they expose. Not this time. Maybe because this is not the story of rock stars, but three life-long friends.

Anyway, it always comes back to Rush for me. I, like many fans my age, discovered Rush with their fourth album 2112. To say that it blew my high school mind wouldn't be completely accurate, in hindsight. Really how many of us, as sixteen year olds have much of a mind to blow? Oh sure, we fancy ourselves intellectual or sophisticated, but come on... now we all know better don't we?

It probably wasn't until they were on their tragic and unintentional sabbatical in the 1990s that I really came to appreciate their profound influence on me. I came across their live album “Different Stages” and became reacquainted with my old friends. That album came out at about the same time we first had internet access at home. So, like many fans of many artists, I had access to the Rush fan community like never before. It was there that I found out what had been happening with what had once been my favorite band. I read about Neil's tragic loss of his daughter and wife. I explored releases that I wasn't that familiar with, and heard the rumors of the bands return. Hell, I didn't even know they'd been away! Some fan I was!

The last dozen or so years have been amazingly prolific for the band, and I've been there at every step. As soon as their latest tour was announced I did two things that I'm not know for – I paid the premium for a premium ticket and I bought only one ticket. Going to concerts alone is not something I'm fond of doing, I like to share the experience, but this time it felt like the right thing to do. Man, Sept 18th can't get here soon enough!

So, anyway, why does it always come back to Rush? Well, I don't want to start quoting lyrics that have had an impact because there are too many. It's not just the lyrics. Some of the instrumentals touch me in a most powerful way. That might be hard to understand, but it's true. Jazz legend Charlie Parker said, “If you don't live it, it won't come out your horn.” That explains so much to me about the power of instrumental music. There is life in those notes. To me, it's as simple as that. There is life in there. Life.

Let me summarize this ramble this way. If you want to truly understand me, you have to understand Rush. You don't have to like them, but you must understand them. Now, I know some could care less and that's fine. Hell, sometimes I don't even care. But I've come to realize that I understand more about myself through their music than just about any other way these days. They inspire me like no other artists.

That being said, here is a short list of essential Rush tracks.

Closer to the Heart

Spirit of Radio

Entre Nous

La Villa Strangiato

Working Man

Anthem

Tom Sawyer

Limelight

Free Will

Far Cry

YYZ

Ok, maybe not so short, but it could be much longer!

Radio show ROCKS the metal

If you're a fan of metal, you need to make time on Sunday nights to tune into Damage Inc., a show on WRCU-FM hosted by Kyle Larson. Kyle mixes a wicked playlist with a love for and knowledge of the best metal out there, past and present. If the show's name didn't clue you in, Kyle is a huge Metallica fan, although you can count on a well-blended mix of bands and songs, coupled with expert commentary.

Tune in to Damage Inc. Sunday nights from 1am-2am ET/10pm-11pm PT.
You won't be disappointed.

http://wrcufm.com/showInfo.php?id=1518

(Click here for a look at Kyle's past playlists)

The future of Metal is in good hands!

I know I'm late to this game, but I can't say enough good things about Huntington California's Avenged Sevenfold.

I'm still fixated on their latest release "Nightmare", while slowly delving into their back catalog.

I love, love this album.  It has shot the band into my top 10 along with Rush, Led Zeppelin and Iron Maiden.  Heavy lyrics, often with vaguely spiritual allusions are the MO here.  I've found most of the newer metal and/or metalcore bands lack a certain lyrical depth.  Not these guys. I'd put them up there with Maiden or Dream Theater.

Heavy guitars with brilliant melodies and time signatures that expose a certain progressive element seems to be the default setting.  Add big choruses and even a "power" ballad!!  I find myself struggling to describe their sound, because I'm listening and I'm transfixed.

Oh, and love the little bell in the beginning of Natural Born Killers - it makes me laugh out loud every time.

Make no mistake, this is a metal album, by a metal band.  It will not appeal to everyone.  However, take a chance, you might be surprised.

Other tracks, not on Nightmare that have my attention are, Almost Easy, Afterlife and Bat County.  Bat Country was inspired by Hunter S Thompson's Book "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"

I'm hooked I tell ya! These guys are fellow travelers for sure.

My favorite songs of 2011

Mark has already shared his favorite tunes from the past year. Now, it's my turn.

To be honest, I had a difficult time with my list, because I spend most of my time stuck in the 80's and 90's and my playlists consist mostly of metal bands (with a few surprises thrown in for good measure). But, as I looked back on the songs that helped shape my 2011 soundtrack, I realized that a handful were actually songs from the past year!

So, here they are (not in any particular order):

Party Rock Anthem/LMFAO - I first heard this song on a commercial that confused me, because I couldn't figure out what they were trying to sell: cars or video games. I've never heard the song in full and I don't care to. Just give me the dancing hamsters!



No More/LL Cool J & Ne-Yo - I've loved LL Cool J since he first hit the scene in the 80's. When he branched out into acting, I wasn't sure what to think until I saw him in action. I love his acting talent, but was thrilled when a recent NCIS: Los Angeles episode ended with this song. I love it more than I can say. BTW, if you're on Twitter, LL is one of the most positive and inspirational/motivational people there. Follow him: @LLCoolJ



Starlight/Rachael Yamagata - I first heard this song when Rachael performed on the show I work on. I immediately fell in love with her unique vocals and the stripped down accompaniment. The fully electric version is just as awesome, although the beginning is a little repetitive. Wait for her to reach the chorus, then listen through to the end of the song. You won't regret it.



Make Some Noise/Beastie Boys - I love love love love love love love the Beasties! They could rap the alphabet and it would make my list. The video really makes this song. There are so many cameos that I had to keep watching over and over just to see everyone. Okay, that's the excuse I'm using, anyway.  I will say this: Ted Danson was quite the surprise. I would never use his name and the Beasties in the same breath.



Up/James Morrison - I sometimes call James a "guilty pleasure," then I think he doesn't really fit that mold. I also like Leif Garrett and think he fits more into the "guilty pleasure" mode. So, James is stepping up and taking his place along the likes of Beasties, Coldplay and other "mainstream" acts. "Up" is one of the songs from his new album. I like the message, the tune and the duet he does with Jessie J.



More/Usher - I thought this song was older than 2011, but it was on a list of 2011 songs, so I'm sticking it in this list. I love love love this song. I first heard it as a promo to NBA playoffs and even though I hate the NBA, I liked the ad because of the song. If you think I watch a lot of TV, including commercials, you're right (see the dancing hamsters above)



Bad As Me/Tom Waits - Listening to Tom Waits is like doing shots of whiskey all night without getting drunk or waking up with a hangover the next morning.




Every Teardrop is a Waterfall/Coldplay - I like this song because it gets my toes tapping and lifts my spirits. I feel like dancing whenever I hear it.



Accidents Can Happen (Acoustic)/Sixx: A.M. - The electric version of this song is also very stellar, but the acoustic version seems more intimate and personal. I love this song for many reasons. If you know me, you've read the post I wrote on my Tumblr site explaining my connection to this song. The thing that really blows my mind about Sixx: A.M. is hearing that the singer (James Michael) doesn't consider himself a "singer." He identifies himself more as a producer. Listen to this song and you'll see what I mean when I say he's full of shit. He's one of the most incredible singers I've heard in a long time.

Top Songs of 2011.

OK, as usual the criteria is simple.  It has to be - consider the source.  The song had to be released in 2011 and I had to like it enough to pay money for it.  I was going to do the traditional Top 10, but the first cut included over 30 songs, so let's see if I can narrow it down just a bit...

• Lonely Boy - Black Keys

Not content to release one of the biggest Alt-Rock albums of 2010, the Akron, Ohio based Black Keys come in under the year-end wire with El Camino.  "Lonely Boy" is the first single and will catch your attention quickly.  At the same time sounding vintage and new, it's a high speed rock n' roll dance tune that will get you moving and singing along.

• Every Teardrop is a Waterfall/Paradise - Coldplay

First let me say that I love how divisive Coldplay have become.  The band that the critics and the hipsters love to hate.  Well, I have a new acronym for you , "FUILCP"... Have we become so cynical that a band that has become successful for recording well crafted pop that makes you smile and you can sing along to on the radio is a bad thing?  Sure they're treacly, but so is pumpkin pie - and I love pumpkin pie!  On to the songs!  The first two singles off of the new album Mylo Xyloto are a contrast in styles for sure.  ETiaW is classic Coldplay.  Starting out with a bouncy (yes I said "bouncy") synth part that is more than vaguely reminiscent of the Eighties, it then proceeds to flow into a guitar sound that would make Big Country proud.  I have no real idea what the song is about, but damn if I can get it out of my head.  "Paradise", on the other hand, is rather atypical of a Coldplay song.  It wouldn't completely sound out of place on a Justin Timberlake album, production wise.  Chris Martin's singing of  "Para, Para, Paradise" in the chorus makes me laugh and think of Rhianna.

• Stay Young, Go Dancing - Death Cab for Cutie

 Death Cab's lead man, Ben Gibbard's introduction of this song on Storytellers goes something like this - "being that I'm a happily married man now, I figure I can put a love song on the album."  He and his wife separated soon after.  Ironic, huh?  That notwithstanding, "Stay Young, Go Dancing" is a lovely, wistful love song.

• What The Water Gave Me - Florence and the Machine

OK, time to gush... I love, love, love, love this girl.  I discovered her first album earlier this year and have tried to listen to everything I can find and expose as many others to her and her wonderful song-craft. Think if Kate Bush, Anne Lennox, and Tim Burton had a love child.  Yeah, I know!  "What The Water Gave Me" is a gothic, melodramatic torch song, or something like that.  You just have to hear that voice and you'll know.

• Walk - Foo Fighters

Dave Grohl is doing his level best to keep guitar based rock music alive.  I'd say he's done a great job with this year's Wasting Light.  The album is chock full of great songs, but my hands down favorite is "Walk". Listen to the lyrics.  If you know me, you should be able to piece it together. It's also got one of the coolest Foo Fighters' videos ever!

• Days Are Forgotten - Kasabian

I wasn't real familiar with Kasabian before I heard this song, but they get my "The Next Oasis" award.  There will always be a place in my heart and my cochlea for snarling Brit rock.  The Album is Velociraptor, because "Raptors are the glammest of all dinosaurs". 'Nuff said?  "Days Are Forgotten" is a stomping, swinging rock song full of cheeky attitude.  It's best played with the windows down and the volume up!

• Rolling in the Deep - Adele/Rolling in the Deep - Linkin Park

A number of others have already declared Adele's ubiquitous hit the song of the year.  It has even been nominated for the Song of the Year Grammy.  It's a gut wrenching tale of lost love, for sure.  The Linkin Park cover, recorded live, adds just a bit of Chester Bennington's trademark anger to the song.  I highly recommend adding both to your post breakup playlist.  One for sad, the other for mad as hell!

• California (Hustle and Flow)/Whirring - Social Distortion/the Joy Formidable

These two go together because I saw them both open for the Foo Fighters.  Social D has gone from an early Southern California punk rock band to a more mainstream rock sound over the years.  "California (Hustle and Flow)" finds them dropping a bit of soul into the mix. Mike Ness sings "Well I was born, babe, with nothing to lose, But the black man taught me how to sing the blues..."  That tells you everything.  

The Joy Formidable create a special sound. Call it noise-pop, if you will.  The trio hails from Wales and fronted by the diminutive Ritzy Bryan.  Swirling, layered and noisy guitars only serve the enhance her sweet alto voice and the melodic structure of the song.  

• Up All Night/Irresistible Force/Sunset in July - Blink 182/Jane's Addiction/311

Here we have a trio of bands that made their marks originally in the 1990s and have come roaring back in the second decade of the 21st century.  Blink 182's ode to the worries of adulthood is a slamming piece of pop-punk that'll get you pogoing for sure.  (Dated myself there a bit, huh).  Jane's Addiction's "Irresistible Force" is a love song about the symbiosis between Creationism and the Big Bang Theory. Seriously. Perry Farrell said so.  "Sunset in July" is as an infectious and bouncy Summer dance hit as there was this year, on Alt-Rock radio anyway.

• Romance/Monte Carlo/Weekend - Wild Flag/U.S. Royalty/Smith Westerns

OK, this is where I go off of the mainstream reservation on you.  Here are a trio of bands who've become the critics darlings, but probably have eluded most everyone's radar.  Wild Flag is a Portland, Oregon/Washington, D.C. based all woman band consisting of ex-members of the bands Sleater-Kinney, Helium and The Minder. U.S. Royalty is out of Washington D.C. and the young lads of the Smith Westerns hail from Chicago.  "Romance" is a pulsing rocker with a great win guitar attack.  "Monte Carlo" sounds like Rumors era Fleetwood Mac with a gentle fiddle melody.  "Weekend" is a Strokes like nugget that will get you itching for some open asphalt.

• Substitution - Silversun Pickups

There's something about this song that makes me feel like morning.   It has kind of a hazy energy that's pretty irresistible.  The video is a game of musical chairs with models, pretty clever.

• Tonight - Seether

Great Big Rock Songs!  That's Seether's speciality.  So here, they crank it back a notch and release an almost sensitive love song.  Almost.

• The Adventures of Raindance Maggie - The Red Hot Chili Peppers

The RHCP are back in a big way this year.  Flea brings the Funk on this track, with a Bootsy approved groove.  Lyrically it's fairly typical Chili Peppers, not sure WTH Anthony is singing about, but it works.

Coming soon... I hope!

My top 10s for 2011.  Top 10 Albums, songs and shows.  Think I can pull it off?  We'll see, won't we?

Foo Fighters at the Verizon Center, Washington DC w/ Social Distortion and the Joy Formidable

Wow!  Just fucking wow!

Dave Grohl relishes the role of Rock Star and guitar Hero, that much is obvious.

He led his crack band through a three hour set last night at the Verizon Center that was alternately exhausting and left the crowd screaming for more.  This is a band at the height of their powers.

After exploding through the first four songs or so, Dave finally addressed the sold out crowd.  It's not clear who was more excited.

Dave talked about growing up in Northern Virginia, including a rap about how his beloved Springfield Mall has fallen into a state of disrepair, "That shit's fucked up!", he commented to the screams of recognition from the crowd.  This was his crowd, his people.  It's hard to imagine that he connected with the other crowds on the tour like this.  "We've played at every shit-hole venue in this town, and now to come home and sell out the biggest arena...!"  It was clear that it was an emotional night for Grohl.  Home.  Dave came home and he brought the party.

And this crowd came to party.  Nineteen thousand strong, standing and screaming along the lyrics for three hours.

The Foo Fighters brought the whole arena rock package with them.  The stage set up included a combo speaker/light rig that was flown from above and moved up and down throughout the show, at one point no more than 10 feet or so over the heads of the band.  The stage itself was a large screen on which  animations and effects were played.  At times this created an almost three dimensional effect.  A long catwalk extended from the front of the stage to a smaller stage that sat in the middle of the arena floor.  It was from this smaller stage that Dave performed a short set of unaccompanied acoustic songs as it raised him up over the crowd.  "Those shitty seats of yours, suddenly aren't so shitty now are they?", he asked the fans who were sitting opposite of the stage, behind where a hockey goal is normally installed.  You can guess the kind of response that question received.  Add to that, screens hung on the sides and behind the stage so that even those of us in the nose-bleed seats could see the whites of his eyes. The sound quality was very good, surprisingly so considering we were in a hockey arena.  I was thinking about how much live sound has evolved in the 30 years plus since my first concert in Germany. Gone are the banks of speaker cabinets stacked at the front of the stage, replaced by high efficiency horns flown above the stage and pointed to all four corners of the room.  I love technology!

Going against standard rock concert convention, Dave introduced the band early in the set.  This took on the air of a stand-up routine/roast.  It's clear that he's fond of his band and has great respect for their skills.  When he introduced punk rock legend and former and current Foo, Pat Smear, the house just about came down around their ears.  The ovation was thunderous.  He commented to Pat, "don't move to DC, man - they love you too much here!"  The drummer who needed "no introduction" received almost as loud a response from the crowd.

The set was heavy on songs from the latest album, Wasting Light, interspersed with many of the expected big hits.  During the song Dear Rosemary from the new album, the band was joined onstage by the legendary Bob Mould of Husker Du and Sugar fame, who appears on that song on the album.  Mould is now a DC resident and I was really expecting his appearance.  While not surprised, I was thrilled to get to see such a collaboration. 

The Foo Fighters are know for peppering their sets with a few choice cover tunes.  Last night was no exception.  The hit These Days segued into In the Flesh by Pink Floyd.  The Floyd never rocked that tune this hard.  Dave also shared a story about his first young heartbreak as a lead in to a cover of Breakdown by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.  He finished his story with "and she's in the crowd tonight..." as he dropped that iconic opening guitar lick on the crowd.  Of course, we went apeshit!

This easily was the show of the year in a year of some great concerts.  Damn Dave, thanks!

The Foos where supported on this leg of the tour by the fledgling alt-rock act the Joy Formidible from Wales and the Southern California punk rock legends Social Distortion.

The Joy Formidable are a young three piece fronted by a wee blonde pixie of a girl on lead vocals and guitar.  They have scored a couple of hits in the US and are definitely worth listening to, if you haven't heard them yet.

This is the second time I've seen Social D in this building.  The first time was about 10 years ago.  Both times they've had to play less than full sets.  I obviously need to take in a full show from these guys.  They closed with their cover of Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire, a song that always makes me want to start a band.

Other than flying solo, I couldn't have asked for a better night.  The Metro in and out was quick and smooth.  I had a nice burger and some half-priced Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA's at Bar Louie in the adjacent Galleria.  Three dollar DFH's!  I took that as a good omen.  They even had Starr Hill's Dark Star Stout at the concession stand inside!

Oh, but don't worry LeAnn, I had a terrible time...

Halloween Playlist 2011

Here's my playlist for this Halloween. All songs are in my iTunes library.

Name	Artist
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Theme)	Nerf Herder
Dead Girls Are Easy	69 Eyes
Black Sabbath	Black Sabbath
The Time Warp	Rocky Horror Picture Show
Keepin' Halloween Alive	Alice Cooper
Angel Main (Theme)	Darling Violetta
A Night With The Jersey Devil	Bruce Springsteen
Science Fiction / Double Feature	Me First & The Gimme Gimmes
Super Villain	Powerman 5000
Long Live the Dead	Sex Slaves
(Don't Fear) The Reaper	Blue Öyster Cult
Ghost Town	The Specials
Werewolves of London	Adam Sandler
Halloween - Main Theme	Crouch End Festival Chorus & The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
Zombies, March!	GWAR
Feed My Frankenstein	Alice Cooper
Creep (Explicit)	Radiohead
Dead Man's Party	Oingo Boingo
Zombie	Schuyler Fisk
Frankestein Twist	The Mansfields
I Want Candy	Bow Wow Wow
Pet Sematary	The Ramones
Thriller	Michael Jackson
Sweet Transvestite	Apocalypse Hoboken
The Boogie Monster	Gnarls Barkley
The Munsters Theme	Comateens
Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be	AC/DC
Monster Mash	The Misfits
Zombie Stomp	Ozzy Osbourne
Carmina Burana (Introduction)	Atlanta Symphony Orchestra & Chorus
Living Dead Girl	Rob Zombie
Sympathy For The Devil	The Rolling Stones
The Exorcist - Tubular Bells	Crouch End Festival Chorus & The City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
Disturbia	Rihanna
B-Movie Scream Queen	Murderdolls
Welcome to My Nightmare	Alice Cooper
Creatures Of The Night	KISS

I need more concerts!

So, let me see if I can remember everything here...

• April - Accept @ Jaxx

• May - Caroline Rebellion in Charlotte (Seether, Alter Bridge, Pop Evil, Skillet, Godsmack, etc)
  Ryan Montbeau Band @ Ashland Coffee & Tea and @ Club Iota

• June - the Go-Go's w/ the Dollyrots@ Wolf Trap
  Black Country Communion @ the 9:30 club

• July - Mayhem Fest @ Jiffy Lube Live (the Lube) (Megadeth, Godsmack, etc)

• August - Uproar Fest @ Jiffy Lube Live (Avenged Sevenfold, Seether, Three Days Grace, Bullet For My Valentine, etc)

• September - Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers w/ Sons of Bill @ the State Theater

Coming Up -

• October - the Bangles @ the 9:30 club

• November - Foo Fighters w/ Social Distortion and the Joy Formidable @ the Verizon Ctr
  Ryan Montbleau Band @ Jammin' Java

"A" is for August, "a" is for alternative, "A" is for Americana...

August is here and it feels like the sun has moved closer than ever.  It's hot as blazes.  Yearning for the cool dry air of Fall.  Yearning for a change, for changes.

I think I'm going to holster my Metal for a month.  Sometimes change has to be nudged along and maybe there's a need to climb out of a rut.

There is something soul speaking about a number of artists of any genre, but sometimes it's hard to hear the small still voice over the over-driven Marshall amps.  Metal, subtlety is not your name.

I can only bullrush life for so long, I guess. So in August I'm going to get my twang on, get my groove back and take a break from the Metal music that has been my personal soundtrack this year.

It's time to revisit my love of alt.country, folk rock, Americana, r&b, soul, jazz and pop music.  See if there's a new horizon beneath the hooks and choruses, behind the shimmering and twangy guitars and underneath the soaring harmonies.

What will this accomplish?  Who knows.  I certainly don't, but you don't go anywhere by standing still.

I'll try to post updates on my journey this month, give you my observations, record reviews and general thoughts.

This will be coupled with training for a half marathon and redoubling my work-out efforts, should make for an interesting month.

I'll keep you posted!

Black Country Communion @ the 930 Club, Washington DC

Wow!  Where to begin... Black Country Communion would have fit perfectly on stage with their musical ancestors Led Zeppelin or Deep Purple.  The band, the legendary Glenn Hughes on bass and lead vocals, guitar ace Joe Bonamassa, former Dream Theater keyboardist Derek Sherinian and the son of the late John Bohman, Jason on drums - play a completely unironic heavy classic rock sound that resurrects the spirit of the early 70's.  So much so that they "chord-checked" Led Zeppelin, Free and the Who, playing snippets of "Rock & Roll", "All Right Now" and "Won't Get Fooled Again" during instrumental passages of their own songs.   Songs which with the exception of the first two, became extended jams with plenty of guitar and keyboard pyrotechnics.

Glenn Hughes is a natural frontman with Jagger or Tyleresque moves. He just happens to also play bass.  Bonamassa is a great player, just great.  He obviously owes a stylistic debt to Stevie Ray Vaughn and Gary Moore.  He plays with fire and subtlety, a rare combination.  Bonham simply has to be heard and seen to believe - his Dad taught him well.  Sherinian was the least rock start looking one of the bunch, looking more like a linebacker behind his Leslie organ and Korg synth than a musician.  However, looks were deceiving as he played riffs and fills reminiscent of Jon Lord and John Paul Jones.  Speaking of looks, I wonder if I was the only one who thought Joe B looked like Agent Smith from the Matrix movies.  At least until he took off his jacket and reveled the sparkly Andy Gibbs shirt he was sporting!

They played a good mix of songs from both albums, but one of the highlights had to be the encore closer of Deep Purple's Burn!  After bludgeoning us for the better part of two hours, that song brought the house down.

If you get the chance, see them.  I'd have to give this one 5 out of 5 stars.  The only thing that was missing for me was my companion from last weeks Go-Gos show.  Though I'm not sure this would've been her cup of tea.

I may very well edit and/or update this later, but I wanted to capture my thoughts while they were fresh in my mind and my ears where still ringing!

Rock on!

In search of the next great Summer Song...

Ephemeral.  Is that the word I'm looking for? Ephemeral.  It is.  Evocative too. 

These are the two ideas that come to mind when I think of what I like to call "Summer Songs".  Summer songs are like Christmas songs in the sense that no matter when I hear them, I'm transported.  Transported to someplace idyllic, someplace warm and wet, someplace fantastic.  An "Island in the Sun" maybe?

Even though Summer technically takes up a full quarter of our calendar, it has always seemed the most fleeting of seasons.  Some of my best memories come from Summers past.  How about yours?

I love the music of Summer.  Beach music, surf music, soul music, lazy rock n' roll.  As much as it pains me to say, Summer music is not Metal.  Metal is too precise, too intense.  Summer should be lazy and relaxed - not very Metal.  Plus, leather just is a bad idea on the beach.

There's also something very American about this type of music.  It's probably related to the Beach Movies of the 60's that I remember and the music that made up their soundtracks.  For this kid from Nebraska, it showed a fantasy world of sun, surf, sand, bikinis and rock n' roll music.  It was burned into my psyche.

So even though I was 17 before I ever put a foot on a proper beach and the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, I've always felt like a beach boy.  Thanks Frankie and Annette!

Rather than share my own list of favorite Summer songs, I want to know what yours are.  Here's a link to a pretty good list to get you started.

New post coming this week...

After a bit of an absence...I'm back!  Hoping to answer the question once and for all, what makes a great Summer song?

Top Ten of 2010 - the Songs!

Lists, lists and more lists!  Everyone publishes year-end lists. Top tens, best of's, worst of's, likes, dislikes and so on... I want to play!

Here are my Top Ten songs of 2010.  The criteria is simple - I bought and/or downloaded the song and it was released in 2010 and it found itself in very heavy rotation on my iPod.

1. F*ck You - Cee Lo Green
Maybe the only time the "F-Word" sounds so happy and cheeky.  The Gnarls Barkley vocalist sings an ode to rejection and recovery.  The "clean" version was everywhere this summer and even covered by Gwyneth Paltrow on Glee!  Musically, it wouldn't be out of place in 1974.

2. How I Got Over - the Roots
The best live band in Hip-Hop and maybe in America, as well as Jimmy Fallon's house band.  Cool Philly soul, with a Rap breakdown in the bridge propels this contemporary urban protest song.

3. Na Na Na (Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na) - My Chemical Romance
An ear-worm of the worst kind!  I challenge you to get this chorus out of your head. Bubblegum pop meets alt-rock meets post apocalyptic comic book adventure.  MCR comes roaring back from the Black Parade!

4. Paris (Ooh La La) - Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
My Break Out artist of the year!  Grace Potter and her band the Nocturnals are just starting to get the national exposure they so richly deserve.  Featured on VH1's latest Diva concert, Grace stole the show and duetted with the Wilson sisters of Heart.

5. What We Do - Devo
Everyone's favorite De-Evolutionists from Akron Ohio are back.  Unmistakably Devo and catchy as hell!

6. This Too Shall Pass - OK GO!
Maybe the coolest video of the year, and an amazingly well crafted pop nugget.

7. American Slang - The Gaslight Anthem
An E Street band for the 21st century?  The Gaslight Anthem lives up to the hype, if not that tag.  This is the song that the Boss would have recorded if he had fronted the Clash instead of that little combo from Asbury Park.

8. Hold On - All That Remains
Heavy metal continues to make inroads into the mainstream and this song from the Massachusetts metalcore outfit shows why.

9. Say You'll Haunt Me - Stone Sour
Stone Sour is the side project of Slipknot's lead singer.  Yeah, Slipknot - that scary, mask wearing band from Iowa.  Who imagined that a singer in a thrash band could have such a well developed pop sensibility and gift for melody?

10. Darling, It's True - Locksley
I discovered this power pop band from Madison Wisconsin while listening to Little Steven's Underground Garage.  The legacy of the British Invasion lives.

Honorable Mentions;
Zebra - Beach House
Hailing from Baltimore, Beach House's sound is a shimmering haze of soundscapes.

Let's Go Surfing - The Drums
You've heard this song... now you know who it is.  You're welcome.

Advent 2003 - revisited

The Mystical Nativity (Botticelli)

In 2003 I put together a mixed CD of Christmas music as a gift for friends and family.  In that same spirit, I offer it now as a playlist.  I wrote liner notes and included artwork in the packaging - it was a whole production.  So here it is, mostly without revision.
In America in the 21^st century, we celebrate three different Christmases. One is the Christian festival celebrating the birth of the Savior. Another is a popular holiday celebrating gift giving, family and friends. The third is some combination of the other two.

Too often we take an “either/or” approach to celebrating Christmas. I believe that in modern America, the truly Christian Christmas incorporates elements of both.

Our Christmas is truly a uniquely American celebration. Only Americans, it seems, can merge such disparate ideas as the humble birth of the Savior and the sometimes crass commercialization of the Holidays with little or no sense of irony. Such is the American gift, I think.

As Americans we are comfortable mixing the “sacred” and the “secular”, which explains the ease with which we plop Santa and his reindeer down next to the Nativity scene on the front lawn.

With that in mind, I have compiled this collection of Christmas tunes. What is more American than our Christmas, if not Rock n' Roll, Folk, Jazz, Country, Soul and R&B? Together these elements create a truly American sound of Christmas, don't they?

Some are sacred and reverent, some are not. Some are traditional, most are not. All are, I believe, great performances that capture the spirit of our American Christmas. So, enjoy and have a Happy Christmas and New Year!

I heard the Bells on Christmas Day – City on a Hill – It's Christmas Time

In religious art, the bell is an object that “calls the faithful to worship, is the voice of God” (G.Sill, A Handbook of Symbols in Christian Art, Simon & Schuster (1996). p. 128

Christmas Time is Here – Vince Guaraldi – A Charlie Brown Christmas

Poor Charlie Brown, he can't even get Christmas right. So here comes Linus to the rescue, with his reading of the Christmas story from the Gospel of Luke. Without a doubt, the best of the Christmas TV specials. The addition of the jazz score by Vince Guaraldi doesn't hurt.

Little Saint Nick – the Beach Boys

Santa's sled is really a Hot Rod, who knew?

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas – Russ Taff

I just love the feel of this track. You can almost hear the cold wind howl outside as the fire crackles nearby. A nice glass of Gluvine or eggnog and you're all set.

Blue Christmas – Brian Setzer Orchestra

There's something bittersweet about Christmas. We all have someone who cannot be with us, that's why the song strikes a chord with me.

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) – U2

Another song of longing for an absent love, except this one is all about the groove, not the lyrics. You can hear/feel Phil Spector's Wall of Sound. Originally recorded by Darlene Love.

I'll be Home for Christmas – Al Green

The greatest soul singer ever.

All I Want for Christmas is You – Mariah Carey

This song sounds like it could have been recorded in 1963. Thirty years later, the Wall of Sound and Motown are still impacting pop music. If your Christmas party has this much energy, you won't need a New Year's Eve party.

White Christmas – Last Train Home

Washington D.C. Legends Last Train Home take Irving Berlin to the Honky – Tonk.

Away in a Manger – Buddy & Julie Miller

Buddy & Julie Miller are Nashville's best kept secret. Christians who move freely in the CCM,

country and rock worlds, give a down home feel to this classic. Buddy is Emmylou Harris's guitar player.

Fruitcake from Hell – Terry Scott Taylor

Where else would a fruitcake be from? From Terry's EP, “Songs for the Day After Christmas”.

Merry Christmas, Baby – Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band

The Jersey Turnpike is snowed in, but out the boardwalk a solitary storefront is illuminated. The sound of raw rock n' roll is irresistible – Merry Christmas from Asbury Park!

The Little Drummer Boy – Jars of Clay

Christian rock stalwarts, Jars of Clay bring their trademark sound to this classic. I still think of the old stop motion animation in the original TV special. Loved that camel!

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear – the Roches

It came upon the midnight clear,

That glorious song of old,

From angels bending near the earth,

To touch their harps of gold:

"Peace on the earth, goodwill to men,1

From heaven's all-gracious King."

The world in solemn stillness lay,

To hear the angels sing.

Wow.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel – Margaret Becker

This is a somewhat dated arrangement, but a powerful performance nonetheless. This song is one of my favorite Christmas hymns. Heavy on the Old Testament imagery.

O Come All Ye Faithful/O Holy Night – Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Christmas hymns rock opera style! TSO rocks!

O Holy Night – Leigh Nash (Sixpence None The Richer); Michael Tait (DC Talk)

My favorite Christmas hymn. You just can't match it for it's pure poetry. Leigh Nash's harmonies are otherworldly.

What Child is This? - Roberta Flack

This is so beautiful, it will make you weep, unless you have a heart of stone. Hail, hail the Word made flesh, The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Silent Night – Emmylou Harris

It is said that there exist over 300 translations of this song in the world. If angels can't sing like this, I don't want to hear them.

Holy Emmanuel – Terry Scott Taylor

Terry Scott Taylor is the patriarch of Christian modern rock. This track is featured on the City on a Hill – It's Christmas Time compilation.

Cry of a Tiny Babe – Bruce Cockburn

The best Christmas song you've never heard.