Arts and Entertainment
Song of the Day 9/11: Pat Benetar, “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”
Joe Biden is hitting America’s homicidal Republicans with his best shot — a vaccine mandate that’s popular with over 60% of the public, even in deep-red states. Somebody should tell all those butch GOPers they’re acting like soy boys — man up and take the shot. The tune, Pat Benetar’s first Top 10 hit (No. […]
Song of the Day 9/9: Big Daddy Graham, “Let’s Call in Sick”
The obituary identifies Big Daddy Graham, who died yesterday at 68, as a longtime WIP radio-show host, and that was definitely the most successful of his various gigs. But anyone around her in the ’80s, when the standup comedy boom had clubs opening even in unfunny places like Wilmington, Big Daddy — born Edward Gudonis […]
Song of the Day 9/7: The Beatles, “Do You Want to Know a Secret”
Pete ‘n’ Val have a secret, but it’s not hard to guess what it is: Gerald Brady will not be expelled from the General Assembly. This was the first Beatles single to feature George Harrison on lead vocal. The tune was composed in autumn 1962, primarily by John Lennon, who based it on the first […]
Song of the Day 9/5: Ani DiFranco, “Amendment”
Ani DiFranco has the solution to the Supreme Court’s attack on abortion rights. I don’t think it will happen anytime soon, but that doesn’t make her wrong.
Song of the Day 9/2: Friends of Distinction, “Grazing in the Grass”
This song just missed topping the charts twice — the first time as South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela’s instrumental version, which reached No. 1 in 1968, and again in 1970, when the Friends of Distinction added lyrics and took it to No. 3. Lead singer Harry Enten wrote them, and while Masekela’s reference to grass […]
Song of the Day 9/1: Tom T. Hall, “(Old Dogs, Children and) Watermelon Wine”
Songwriter and country singer Tom T. Hall died last month, and the world lost a wise old soul when he did. Hall wrote more than 20 No. 1 hits on the country charts, and sang several himself, but he’s mainly known through his only No. 1 on the Hot 100, the 1968 crossover smash “Harper […]
‘Bulo’s Fave Tunes: August 2021
There’s so much to enjoy (and possibly to be offended by) this month. In other words, my kind of list: CATBITE!! “I’m good, I’m veryvery good.” BONUS: Videos Only. Watch ’em back to back. What punk and politics should be. And how every one of their vids should end: That’s all I got. I ain’t […]
Song of the Day 8/31: Little Feat, “Dixie Chicken”
Now that the Dixie Chicks have dropped the “dixie” from their name, I got to wondering. They named themselves after the Little Feat song, not the Confederacy, so if the word dixie is tainted, should we call the song “Chicken” going forward? Maybe we should, since a restaurant sign inspired the lyrics. Lowell George wrote […]
Song of the Day 8/30: Haim, “Strong Enough”
Everybody has their favorite bands, and these sisters are one of mine. The radio studio is a perfect setting for this stripped-back version of one of Sheryl Crow’s earliest hits, and it shows off the ladies’ musical dexterity — Este, normally their kick-ass bassist, plays the drum while Danielle shows off both her guitar chops […]
Song of the Day 8/29: The Clovers, “Love Potion No. 9”
If it smells like turpentine and looks like India ink, Trumpers would probably take it before they’ll take that commie socialist vaccine. Though it’s been covered by scores of groups, the best version remains the first. The Clovers debuted this Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller classic in 1959, when they took it to No. 23 […]
Song of the Day 8/27: They Might Be Giants, “I Can’t Remember the Dream”
There aren’t all that many ’90s bands still making new music, and fewer still sound like they did back then. The Johns, Flansburgh and Linnell, have a new album — actually some sort of album/book project — coming out soon, and this is one of the tracks. It’s pop tunecraft that would fit right into […]
Song of the Day 8/25: Charlie Watts Quintet, “What’s New”
Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, who died yesterday at age 80, was the unlikeliest rock star ever. He was the opposite of every rock cliche, which is more amazing when you consider that his bandmates were the ones who set the template for every form of excess that became associated with the music. Watts was […]
The Arden Concert Gild & El Somnambulo Present…
…the following great concerts. My musical dance card is officially full–at least through February. I’m really psyched about these shows that I’m bringing to the Gild Hall this year: An Evening With Sierra Hull. Friday, October 22. I’m co-producing this one with our Gildmaster Ron Ozer. She was a true child prodigy (not Ron), making […]
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