Tag Archives: Music

2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees

And now for something completely different!

The powers that be released their list of nominees to the Hall of Fame for 2017. So that is time for us to get our music snobbery on and dissect this (mostly uninspiring) list. The nominees:

Bad Brains
Chaka Khan
Chic
Depeche Mode
ELO
The J. Geils Band
Jane’s Addiction
Janet Jackson
Joan Baez
Joe Tex
Journey
Kraftwerk
MC5
Pearl Jam
Steppenwolf
The Cars
The Zombies
Tupac Shakur
Yes

The Hall changed its nominating process this year, to specify what band lineup gets in if inducted:

In a change of tradition, the Hall of Fame has announced the individual members of each band that will be honored. Pearl Jam have had five drummers, but only current drummer Matt Cameron and founding member Dave Krusen will be inducted should they make it in. Electric Light Orchestra has had many musicians come and go over the years, but just Jeff Lynne, Roy Wood, Bev Bevan and Richard Tandy made the cut. The classic Steve Perry lineup of Journey is listed along with founding keyboardist/singer Gregg Rolie. As far as Yes, original singer Jon Anderson is on the ballot along with drummers Bill Bruford and Alan White, keyboardists Tony Kaye and Rick Wakeman, guitarists Steve Howe and Trevor Rabin and bassist Chris Squire. Keyboardist Vince Clarke left Depeche Mode after their first album Speak & Spell, but he is listed along with the rest of the band.

So if any of these bands get inducted, the reunions could be fun.

For me, starting with the What Are They Thinking category — J. Geils Band, Jane’s Addition, Janet Jackson, Journey, Steppenwolf, The Cars. Not that there is anything really wrong with these bands (except Journey, seriously) — I’ve listened to most of them and they’ve been fun pop or rock bands to help pass the time, but Hall of Fame worthy? Sheesh. There’s alot of brilliant bands out there that haven’t had a shot at this. I’d prefer that we stick to some quality picks and leave the run of the mill top 40 alone.

Brilliant, but No Way Category — Bad Brains. Mind you, I think that they SHOULD be in the Hall (these guys are still touring too!), but something tells me that the folks who voted this shortlist were patting themselves on the back.

It’s Well Past Time Category — Chic, Joan Baez (I was surprised to find she wasn’t in), Joe Tex, Kraftwerk, MC5, The Zombies

A Stone Lock — Tupac, Pearl Jam, Chaka Khan. I love Chaka Kahn, but there are other female singers that belong here. Still.

Not sure what to do with ELO. I LLKE ELO (mostly). Early ELO was well-done music, the Travelling Wilburys was pretty good and he’s been an active producer. And ELO has been touring to some pretty good reviews. There’s alot to like here, but I balance that pick against what could have been. I mean, where’s The Smiths? The Meters? Joy Division? King Crimson?

Lots of ink gets spilled about these picks every year. Here are a few entertaining ones:

In Defense of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — basically an argument that what we all argue over is who is left out of a fairly mainstream institution.

Conjuring the real inside story on Rock Hall voting: Mike Polk Jr.
 — an imagination of the thinking of the HoF nominators.


The 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees Are a Disgrace to Music
 — an excellent assessment of those who were nominated with the usual They Shoulda Nominated. Great read.

The only way to fix the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is to keep making fun of it
 — includes a case for why this list isn’t as bad as usual.

So what say you? Who do you think will make the final 5? What’s crap on this list?

My Thoughts On The Miley Cyrus “Incident”

First, I refuse to buy into the parent “outrage” over their precious children witnessing such an “outrageous” display.  Hello?  It’s MTV.  It’s what they do – it’s their flippin’ business model.  Second, if you’re one of those people who still thinks MTV is a music video channel… let me enlighten you.  Here’s a sample of MTV’s programming lineup: 16 and Pregnant, Teen Mom, Real World, Engaged and Underage, Jersey Shore, Lingerie Football League, and, of course, Snookie and Jwoww.  There’s plenty more, but that gives you the idea.  So, I’m not going to waste my time over parents who were shocked by a show on MTV.

Back to the Miley incident…  (If you haven’t seen the VMA video, here it is.)

I am not disgusted or outraged by her performance.  I am embarrassed for her.  Yes, it is extremely painful to watch.  It is tasteless.  I couldn’t stop cringing.  But the idea that Miley Cyrus’ performance on Video Music Awards (VMA) was only about Miley Cyrus is unfair.  That performance was rehearsed (probably too many time to count) with tons of people watching.  It was obviously approved by her agent, MTV producers, etc.

Yes, Miley Cyrus is trying to change her Hannah Montana persona (we’ve seen this before), but to pretend her exploitation began a few nights ago is absurd.  This young woman has been exploited, by her family, for most of her young life.  G-rated exploitation is just as disturbing as R-rated exploitation – we’re just more comfortable with it.  Hannah Montana was cute, quirky and funny, and we applied those traits to Miley Cyrus.  And there’s a part of me that views her VMA performance as the sway of the pendulum.

So no, I’m not outraged.  I feel badly for her.  I feel embarrassed for her.  But, hey, she may be just fine with this.  After all, she’s getting attention, and to celebrities that’s what it’s all about.  So what do I know?

But I do have one other question… While everyone (and I do mean everyone. Go online or turn on your TV if you don’t believe me) is questioning Miley Cyrus’ behavior and risque performance I haven’t heard a word about 36 year old Robin Thicke’s participation. (Fortunately, I escaped exposure to his summer hit, so I am late to this game.)

Why isn’t Robin Thicke’s participation criticized?  This was obviously a choreographed performance, and yet, I haven’t heard one word of outrage concerning Thicke – a man whose summer hit “Blurred Lines” features an extremely NSFW video with topless women in flesh colored thongs prancing around fully clothed men.  A song whose lyrics consistently repeat the phrase “You know you want it” and have lines such as “So hit me up when you passing through, I’ll give you something big enough to tear your ass in two”.

Charming.  And when I read through Robin Thicke’s lyrics for Blurred Lines, I can’t help but shake my head and wonder (again) why consent is a blurred line.  And no, I’m not calling for censorship, but I am wondering why all the outrage is only heading in one direction.  (Yeah, I know the answer.)

Local Music Scene Report 7/27

Sorry this blog is so ridiculously late this week. I’ve been in NYC for my day job and, well, needless to say I haven’t really had a lot of time to sit in front of a computer screen doing personal things. Nonetheless, here we are again. Thank you to everyone who came out to last week’s Ladybug Festival! It was a huge success and we are definitely doing it again. Also, lest you thought I was joking about being the redhead losing her mind at the front of the crowd for OK Go’s set at Firefly last week, take a look at this photo from the Firefly Facebook Page. Purple shirt, next to the guitarist’s mic stand.

On to bigger and more local things, however. I’d like to recommend two Wilmington shows tonight and I believe the adventurous among you will be able to make it to both. First of all, Todd Chappelle and Hot Breakfast! are playing at the Bellefonte Café (Facebook Event Page here). The Bellefonte Café has delicious food and drinks and a great atmosphere; I have played many a show there and I love the place. The artists are some of the funniest musical acts you will find in town. Todd Chappelle is most notable for his song “I’m From Delaware,” a parody of Johnny Cash’s “I’ve Been Everywhere.” [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQcpennlSic[/youtube] However he has many other hilarious tunes, my favorite being one of his new ones, “More Than Bacon.” Hot Breakfast! is Delaware’s Premiere Dork Rock Duo. They insist that they are NOT an 80s cover band, but they do some seriously good covers of 80s tunes. Their originals are very funny too. My own husband prefers their music to mine. This does not bother me. Here’s their cover of “Total Eclipse of the Heart.” [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrLEm-sWmJs [/youtube]

Also this evening at Kelly’s Logan House: The Splashing Pearls, The Hold Up, and New Sweden (Facebook Event page here) New Sweden is one of Delaware’s most notable up and coming bands. They played the Non-Comm festival at The Queen last year, being part of a lineup that included some of the biggest indie acts in the country. They caught the attention of indie radio stations across the country at this event. Tonight will be a great celebration, too. Both New Sweden and The Hold Up will be saying goodbye to band members tonight; New Sweden’s Violist Caroline and The Hold Up’s Bassist Tak are exiting their bands. Plus The Hold Up is releasing their first CD, a long awaited event.

Other events for the weekend:
TONIGHT:
Lickety Split, South Street, Philadelphia: Covered, an evening of Philly artists covering other Philly artists. Show starts at 8. I’m playing this one, covering songs by Venice Sunlight and IKE, and happily sharing the bill with Karley Cohen, Boy Wonder, Nathan Weigert, Emily Marston, Donovan Rice, and Tuba Dan (who is covering one of my songs on the accordion), among others. If you’re up to heading out to Philly this will not disappoint.

Headhouse, Lombard Street, Philadelphia: Rockstar Fridays! On this bill, Mary Scholz, Steve Marchion, Victoria Spaeth & The Spaeth Cadets, and AlyCat. This promises to be a very chill, soulful evening.

TOMORROW:
Tubman Garrett Riverfront Park, Wilmington: People’s Festival Tribute to Bob Marley. This is a huge yearly event. It is a family friendly, full day of music, food, arts, and crafts to celebrate the legacy of a great musician. Details are at www.peoplesfestival.com

World Café Live, Philadelphia: Mid Summer Classic 2012. Doors are at 4pm to see The Better Half, Jackson Rider, Stolen Rhodes, Modern Colour, Half Past Seven, Ray Ward, Rotary, Peter Joseph, and Rodger Delany. This is going to be a kick ass rock show.

World Café Live at The Queen, Wilmington: Revolution, I Love You with The Last Dinosaurs and Sends. R,ILY is a very buzzworthy local band. Think MGMT plus The Cure (they do a killer cover of theirs, too). Show is at 8, Upstairs.

The Grape Room, Manayunk: The Great Socio are playing at 9pm. I like to think of them as a mix of The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Rage Against The Machine, but throw in a bit of The Doors (they have a great keys player). This is guaranteed to be a party.

See you all next week, when I’ll be back in Delaware and more on schedule!

A Buncha Cool Music Hangin’ Around On the Same Blog Together

First in a series of occasional posts…unless it’s the last in the series.

I find so much cool stuff cruising the ‘nets that I just have to share sometimes.

Old stuff, new stuff, obscure stuff, just stuff that I either really like and/or am intrigued by.

Let me know what you like, hate, etc. And share your faves.

Heard this song on ‘XPN yesterday, knew I’d heard it before, but didn’t know who did it. Despite driving around the parking lot at work, couldn’t stall long enough to hear the artists’ name. Checked the playlist, and found out that it was from the soundtrack of the Francis Ford Coppola movie flop, “Rumble Fish”. I just love the dissonance of the harmonica, the compelling lyrics, the Stewart Copeland (of the Police) percussion, the whole enchilada:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8j6Tln0lN0c[/youtube]

Stan Ridgway/Stewart Copeland: “Don’t Box Me In”

Caught Peter Karp and Sue Foley Saturday at the Arden Gild Hall. This song sounds like a cross between something that Jason & the Scorchers and Treat Her Right might have done. Gonna be on the album they’re recording this year:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7V2AALX8zaY&feature=related[/youtube]

Peter Karp/Sue Foley: “Tooth and Nail”

This Albany (NY) native has just been signed to the same label that features Tom Waits and Bettye Lavette. Got some great singer/songwriter potential. Gonna be at the World Cafe Live on March 13. I just might check him out:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP_Any0Fumc[/youtube]

Sean Rowe: “Old Shoes”

One man’s bedroom is where this vision is created and the music recorded. I find this haunting, and I hear that the new album is even better:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRq4Tc-cry4[/youtube]

East River Pipe: “Make a Deal With the City”

So, whaddayathink? You like what you hear, you want more, or is time to hang up my ears for good?

Let the Whinging Begin! The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominations are Here

Here is the complete list:

  • Alice Cooper
  • Beastie Boys
  • Bon Jovi
  • Chic
  • Neil Diamond
  • Donovan
  • Dr. John
  • J. Geils Band
  • LL Cool J
  • Darlene Love
  • Laura Nyro
  • Donna Summer
  • Joe Tex
  • Tom Waits
  • Chuck Willis

So. Outside of Tom Waits and Dr. John this isn’t an especially inspirational list. I can imagine lots of these artists on some commercial radio station designed to play for aging boomers. And I say this as an aging boomer. Is Neil Diamond rock & roll? Really? And how does LL Cool J get in ahead (again) of the Sugarhill Gang? This year’s real WTF moment — Bon Jovi. Really? Bon Jovi? Maybe my perception of this list is colored by the fact that plenty of them are repeats — Love, Waits, LL Cool J, Summer, Tex.

The Smiths, Billy Bragg, The Replacements, The New York Dolls, Big Star — these have been some of my go to complaints about this list recently. What are yours? Who did they really miss out on this year?

The GOP Needs New Talent

And I’m not talking politics.  I’m talking about how Republicans love (and steal) the music of liberal performers.

Senate candidate Chuck DeVore (R-CA) got burned for using for using altered-lyric version of Don Henley’s “The Boys of Summer” and “All She Wants To Do Is Dance” for his campaign’s Web ads. David Byrne is suing Gov. Charlie Crist (I-FL) for using “Road To Nowhere” in a Web ad during his previous Republican Senate primary fight, and of course, as we reported yesterday, Rush cut to the chase and told Senate nominee Rand Paul (R-KY) to stop playing “Tom Sawyer” and “The Spirit of Radio.”

The Orleans song “Still The One” has a special place in politics as it has been used not once without the band’s permission, but twice — and the first instance contributed to its author’s entrance into national politics. In 2004, the Bush campaign used the song at a rally. As the song’s main author, John Hall, told MSNBC in 2008: “George Bush was busy campaigning on an ‘ownership society,’ yet never asked me, the band, or the publishers for permission.” Hall and other stakeholders in the song quickly sent a cease-and-desist letter, and the Bush campaign dropped the song.

They’ve also used, without permission, the works of…

Jackson Browne,  Van Halen, Wilson sisters from Heart,  John Mellencamp, Tom Petty, and Bruce Springsteen

(h/t TPM for putting this list together)

Kinda gives new meaning to the term Free Market.  And why would they even want to dip into the liberal, creative well when they have talent such as this on their side.

Pop Friday Music Video: Hollywood, by Marina and the Diamonds

Conservatives hate things that are unpatriotic, except that they also hate our president and want America to fail. This is what happens when your entire political philosophy is purely emotional rather than rational.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n1VTcJfL7RE[/youtube]

i’m obsessed with the mess that’s America

Late Night Music Video: Dig For Fire, by The Pixies

They weren’t really fans of making music videos, so they always made sure to put in as little effort as possible. They are, however, the inspiration for nearly every band that followed them.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2dBsBW9yjY[/youtube]

are you looking for the mother lode? huh? no.
no, my child, this is not my desire.