Friday, March 14, 2008
Yeah, what he said...
Click here for a great article by conservative talk show host Glenn Beck on why Florida and Michigan have to suffer the consequences of their actions and not have their votes counted this go around. He says what I have been saying, only better.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Reagan
“Government is not the solution to our problems; government is the problem”
“I hope you are all Republicans”-to the doctors in the emergency room treating Reagan after the assassination attempt
I was listening to talk radio the other day, as I often do, and Laura Ingraham was doing her new segment “what would Reagan do?” Akin to the “what would Jesus do?” campaign from a few years back, Ingraham’s segment amounts to trying to divine the Right path according to the Conservative Holy Scripture. Most conservative talk radio hosts are disappointed with their options this election season, so many are turning back to the golden days of the Gipper. Sean Hannity has taken to calling himself a follower of “Reagan principles”, not “conservative” or “Republican”, but “Reagan.”
This Reagan worship is nothing new, but it seems to have resurfaced with a vengeance on the airwaves in recent months. As my formative years were during the 80’s, Reagan’s figure looms large in my consciousness as well. Depending on your political persuasion, Reagan was either the greatest Republican since Lincoln or an uncaring man oblivious to the problems of most Americans.
My purpose is not to conduct an in depth analysis of his administration and policies. I am more interested in this Reagan cult of personality that has emerged in the right of center territory. Just from my own recollection growing up in the 80’s, we have not had a president since Reagan who inspired such American confidence and bravado (or arrogance?) Emerging from the rough and tumble 1970's with Watergage and Vietnam still fresh on peoples' minds, Americans were having a crisis of confidence. After the malaise days of Jimmy Carter, Reagan reminded us that being American was a point of pride.
He seemed to exude confidence and action. He essentially “fired” over 11,000 air traffic controllers who refused to end their strike. Who would have the balls to do that nowadays? In the face of the most famous terrorist of that decade, Muammar Gaddafi (or Quadafi, or Kadafi, or…), Reagan bombed the crap out of Libya and Gaddafi basically hid under a rock for the next couple of decades. (On the other hand, after the bombing of the marine barracks in Beirut, we didn’t really do much but get the hell out).
ABOVE: Reagan prepares to kick the shit out of Libya
In moving beyond the myth, Reagan’s terms were mixed bags. Reaganomics lowered taxes and unemployment and revitalized many sectors of our economy. It also brought on staggering deficits. Failures like the slow response to AIDS, the War on Drugs, immigration amnesty, and Iran-Contra were notable…but then so were triumphs like helping to topple the Soviet Empire; with a deft and flexible foreign policy that ranged from threatening the “Evil Empire” to forcing them into bankruptcy when they couldn't keep up with SDI and increasing defense spending in general; then shifting gears to cooperation with Gorbachev and encouraging reform and promoting understanding with the Russian people. Our current president should take note, sometimes a shifting and seemingly "inconsistent" policy towards an enemy can be very effective. It is called flexibility, and Reagan was a master. He adapted to the changing situation in the Soviet bloc.
Beyond the facts is the persona. The Great Communicator, indeed. In the end, I think that was his greatest gift. People can legitimately argue back and forth whether Reagan's policies were good or bad, but they cannot deny his personal connection that he had with the American people. The confidence and optimism that he brought back to the country (stemming the tide of self-loathing in which many Liberals thrive) may be his greatest legacy. Policies aside, it is that aspect of his adminstration that sticks with me at a gut level. Unfortunately, W.'s careless bungling has chipped away at that righteous swagger that Reagan so carefully cultivated for us.
There was a reason why the Reagan Democrats were a sizeable group of his constituency. These were people who had little in common with his political philosophy, but…they just liked the guy. They felt he was a leader beyond the constraints of political party. Barrack Obama has this potential in him. I can see pockets of Obama Republicans here and there. That may be why the Right is willing to make a deal with the devil (Billary) in order to defeat Obama. People on the Right know what it is like to have a once in a lifetime leader on your side of the aisle.
“I hope you are all Republicans”-to the doctors in the emergency room treating Reagan after the assassination attempt
I was listening to talk radio the other day, as I often do, and Laura Ingraham was doing her new segment “what would Reagan do?” Akin to the “what would Jesus do?” campaign from a few years back, Ingraham’s segment amounts to trying to divine the Right path according to the Conservative Holy Scripture. Most conservative talk radio hosts are disappointed with their options this election season, so many are turning back to the golden days of the Gipper. Sean Hannity has taken to calling himself a follower of “Reagan principles”, not “conservative” or “Republican”, but “Reagan.”
This Reagan worship is nothing new, but it seems to have resurfaced with a vengeance on the airwaves in recent months. As my formative years were during the 80’s, Reagan’s figure looms large in my consciousness as well. Depending on your political persuasion, Reagan was either the greatest Republican since Lincoln or an uncaring man oblivious to the problems of most Americans.
My purpose is not to conduct an in depth analysis of his administration and policies. I am more interested in this Reagan cult of personality that has emerged in the right of center territory. Just from my own recollection growing up in the 80’s, we have not had a president since Reagan who inspired such American confidence and bravado (or arrogance?) Emerging from the rough and tumble 1970's with Watergage and Vietnam still fresh on peoples' minds, Americans were having a crisis of confidence. After the malaise days of Jimmy Carter, Reagan reminded us that being American was a point of pride.
He seemed to exude confidence and action. He essentially “fired” over 11,000 air traffic controllers who refused to end their strike. Who would have the balls to do that nowadays? In the face of the most famous terrorist of that decade, Muammar Gaddafi (or Quadafi, or Kadafi, or…), Reagan bombed the crap out of Libya and Gaddafi basically hid under a rock for the next couple of decades. (On the other hand, after the bombing of the marine barracks in Beirut, we didn’t really do much but get the hell out).
ABOVE: Reagan prepares to kick the shit out of Libya
In moving beyond the myth, Reagan’s terms were mixed bags. Reaganomics lowered taxes and unemployment and revitalized many sectors of our economy. It also brought on staggering deficits. Failures like the slow response to AIDS, the War on Drugs, immigration amnesty, and Iran-Contra were notable…but then so were triumphs like helping to topple the Soviet Empire; with a deft and flexible foreign policy that ranged from threatening the “Evil Empire” to forcing them into bankruptcy when they couldn't keep up with SDI and increasing defense spending in general; then shifting gears to cooperation with Gorbachev and encouraging reform and promoting understanding with the Russian people. Our current president should take note, sometimes a shifting and seemingly "inconsistent" policy towards an enemy can be very effective. It is called flexibility, and Reagan was a master. He adapted to the changing situation in the Soviet bloc.
Beyond the facts is the persona. The Great Communicator, indeed. In the end, I think that was his greatest gift. People can legitimately argue back and forth whether Reagan's policies were good or bad, but they cannot deny his personal connection that he had with the American people. The confidence and optimism that he brought back to the country (stemming the tide of self-loathing in which many Liberals thrive) may be his greatest legacy. Policies aside, it is that aspect of his adminstration that sticks with me at a gut level. Unfortunately, W.'s careless bungling has chipped away at that righteous swagger that Reagan so carefully cultivated for us.
There was a reason why the Reagan Democrats were a sizeable group of his constituency. These were people who had little in common with his political philosophy, but…they just liked the guy. They felt he was a leader beyond the constraints of political party. Barrack Obama has this potential in him. I can see pockets of Obama Republicans here and there. That may be why the Right is willing to make a deal with the devil (Billary) in order to defeat Obama. People on the Right know what it is like to have a once in a lifetime leader on your side of the aisle.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
RIP Buddy Miles and Jeff Healey
Note: both of these talented musicians passed away in the last couple of weeks, so a paragraph or so for each...
The 'legendary' BUDDY MILES, 1947-2008
The legendary Buddy Miles was a physically imposing figure. With his gregarious personality, his American flag glitter jacket, his hulking presence, and his soulful drumming and singing, the legendary Buddy Miles was a fixture in 60's and 70's rock. Most notable for his collaborations with others, the legendary Buddy Miles was the definition of a supportive and collaborative musician. He worked with Jimi Hendrix as drummer and singer in Hendrix's shortlived rock/soul experiment Band of Gypsys. He then worked with Michael Bloomfield in the shortlived supergroup Electric Flag. The legendary Buddy Miles also collaborated with Carlos Santana, and had his own solo hit with "Them Changes". Years ago I attended a benefit in Aspen, Colorado which featured the legendary Buddy Miles performing and singing. He was great on the drums, but I wished he would have laid off the guitar. I remember him hawking a photo of him with Hendrix for charity. RIP the legendary Buddy Miles.
JEFF HEALEY, 1966-2008
Jeff Healey was one of those rare wunderkind talents. Blind from birth, he learned to play guitar in a rather unorthodox fashion (see photo above). When Healey first hit the scene with his excellent debut See the Light, he was hailed as an up and coming great. His guitar skills were unquestionable and thrilling, but he suffered from a lack of good songwriting. Healey's popularity peaked when he appeared in the Patrick Swayze classic 'Roadhouse'. His best songs were usually covers, and his subsequent work never quite caught fire like his debut, but he continued to record and tour successfully. Healey was also an avid record collector, accumulating over 25,000 early jazz 78's. He hosted a radio show in his home country of Canada which featured classic jazz music. In his later years, Healey released albums that alternated between blues/rock and traditional jazz. He just completed his latest record, Mess of Blues, right before the cancer that blinded him finally took his life. Mess of Blues will be released posthumously next month. RIP JH.
The 'legendary' BUDDY MILES, 1947-2008
The legendary Buddy Miles was a physically imposing figure. With his gregarious personality, his American flag glitter jacket, his hulking presence, and his soulful drumming and singing, the legendary Buddy Miles was a fixture in 60's and 70's rock. Most notable for his collaborations with others, the legendary Buddy Miles was the definition of a supportive and collaborative musician. He worked with Jimi Hendrix as drummer and singer in Hendrix's shortlived rock/soul experiment Band of Gypsys. He then worked with Michael Bloomfield in the shortlived supergroup Electric Flag. The legendary Buddy Miles also collaborated with Carlos Santana, and had his own solo hit with "Them Changes". Years ago I attended a benefit in Aspen, Colorado which featured the legendary Buddy Miles performing and singing. He was great on the drums, but I wished he would have laid off the guitar. I remember him hawking a photo of him with Hendrix for charity. RIP the legendary Buddy Miles.
JEFF HEALEY, 1966-2008
Jeff Healey was one of those rare wunderkind talents. Blind from birth, he learned to play guitar in a rather unorthodox fashion (see photo above). When Healey first hit the scene with his excellent debut See the Light, he was hailed as an up and coming great. His guitar skills were unquestionable and thrilling, but he suffered from a lack of good songwriting. Healey's popularity peaked when he appeared in the Patrick Swayze classic 'Roadhouse'. His best songs were usually covers, and his subsequent work never quite caught fire like his debut, but he continued to record and tour successfully. Healey was also an avid record collector, accumulating over 25,000 early jazz 78's. He hosted a radio show in his home country of Canada which featured classic jazz music. In his later years, Healey released albums that alternated between blues/rock and traditional jazz. He just completed his latest record, Mess of Blues, right before the cancer that blinded him finally took his life. Mess of Blues will be released posthumously next month. RIP JH.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Class of 2008
Not that most of you care, but tonight was the induction ceremony for the Class of 2008 for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Like most halls of fame, the RRHOF is surrounded by controversy and questions of “why is he in there?!” and “where the hell is Peter Gabriel?”, etc. etc.
I will post another article surrounding these debates at a later time (in fact, a frequent reader at GNABB and I have a great documentary in the works regarding one of these nomination battles); but tonight I’d like to focus on this year’s class of inductees and the ceremony. They used to broadcast the yearly ceremony on VH1, but to add insult to injury, not even VH1 deems it worthy of full broadcast anymore (they show a truncated version later), so you must tune in to VH1 Classic for the whole thing. Even my rather generous cable package does not include VH1 Classic, so I was reduced to watching the webcast at BestBuy.com.
Along with about 10 other people nationwide, I sat in front of my laptop in anticipation of the 2008 RRHOF Induction Ceremony. In years past, these ceremonies have been worth watching. The induction speeches are generally entertaining (highlights from previous years include Bono inducting Springsteen and then several years later Springsteen returning the favor for U2; a favorite speech was by Jeff Beck inducting Rod Stewart by saying “he likes me a lot more than I like him, but anyway, here’s Rod Stewart”). The acceptance speeches can be irreverent (two years ago The Sex Pistols sent a letter calling the RRHOF a "piss stain"...it was fun to watch Jann Wenner have to read the letter as their speech at the ceremony) or heartfelt, full of humor or uncomfortable moments as still feuding band members are forced to stand together and make nice. Jeff Beck provided another highlight the year that The Yardbirds were inducted. The former band members were all on the stage giving self-congratulatory remarks back and forth. It was worthwhile just to see the Holy Trinity of British Guitar standing side by side (Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page). When it was Beck’s turn to say something, he goes “I’d just like to say fuck you all for kicking me out of the band” (referring to the disasterous American tour when Beck was indeed booted from the band for his erratic behavior). For a split second everyone looked extremely uncomfortable, but then Beck burst out laughing as everyone else relaxed. As you can imagine, with these type of personalities, it is not your typical awards ceremony. The performances are often noteworthy, for either being great nostalgia or disasterous.
Jackass Jann Wenner (founder of Rolling Stone magazine and one of the more powerful and worst influences on the RRHOF) started things off with a decent rundown of the RRHOF criteria and history. The most notable part of this speech was the cutaway shot to Billy Joel and his date. She is freakin’ hot!
The first award was in the Non-Performer category for A&R legends Gamble & Huff. Ever humble: “Every time we wrote a song, it was a hit.” Patti Labelle’s performance before their induction was typically bombastic. I can never hear “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” without thinking of this Ricky Gervais/David Brent transcendent video of the R&B classic from “The Office” (BBC version). I digress.
The Early Influence inductee for the night was Little Walter. Now, I am more excited about Little Walter’s induction than most of the other major inductions. In my opinion, the roster of Chess Records blues greats (of which Little Walter was one) is as responsible for inspiring rock and roll as anything else. Ben Harper gave a lovely induction speech (I liked “to pass through life is to pass through the blues, and to pass through the blues is to pass through Little Walter”). Little Walter did for the harmonica what Jimi Hendrix did for the guitar. Anyone who picks up the instrument passes through the sound of Little Walter. Harper and harp legend James Cotton’s version of “My Babe” was spot on.
ABOVE: blues great Little Walter
I was happy that instrumental surf legends the Ventures were inducted (with a warm introduction by John Fogerty), but their performance was a bit sloppy. I guess you can give these guys a break, their first hit was 48 years ago!
The induction of Leonard Cohen was a nice surprise. He is held in the same esteem as Bob Dylan in many songwriting circles. How high was Lou Reed during the induction speech?? My God. That was painful and fascinating to watch as Lou decided to read what seemed like every lyric Cohen has written over the last 30 years. Cohen, on the other hand, gave a hilarious and humble acceptance speech. His poem “Tower of Song” that he recited was brilliant: “So you can stick your pins in the voodoo doll / I’m very sorry, baby, but that doesn’t look like me at all”. Damien Rice’s performance of Leonard’s "Halelujiah" was beautiful. Don’t know why Leonard chose not to perform himself, though. By the way: this Damien Rice dude is great, although he had some killer material to work with tonight. Reminds me of early David Gray.
ABOVE: A very high Lou Reed recites Leonard Cohen lyrics...for a very long time
I always dig In Memorium tributes, but unlike the Oscars (who omitted Brad Renfro), perhaps the RRHOF were a bit too inclusive. Don Ho? It was sad that two members of the Dave Clark 5 died within the past couple of years before they could enjoy their induction…wait, what the hell? Jeff Healey died this year?? And the legendary Buddy Miles?? I missed those.
ABOVE: former MTV VJ Mark Goodman reports from the kitchen of the Waldorf Astoria at the 2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony
Next came Justin Timberlake to induct Madonna. Timberlake’s speech was a bit awkward and strained with his sexual innuendo, but funny in parts. Madonna’s speech seemed to go on about for about 30 minutes, but it was engaging. Madonna doesn’t perform, but instead has…Iggy Pop & the Stooges perform her tunes?! Ballsy. I like it. Iggy Pop jamming out to “Ray of Light”? OK. Also a great F-You to the Hall…why isn’t Iggy in yet?
ABOVE: Iggy Pop performs Madonna's greatest hits
Note: I’m not sure it was a good idea to show “classic performances” from past Rockhall ceremonies while they were working on transitioning the stage. With all due respect to this year’s inductees, showing such titans as Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen and John Fogerty all jam on “Satisfaction” together or a reunited Led Zeppelin tearing it up on “Bring It All Home” with Joe Perry and Steven Tyler…kind of reminds us that maybe we are running a little thin on rock greats left to induct.
As for John Mellencamp, I am glad he’s in there. Sure, he’s sort of a Springsteen-Lite, but he does have a great core group of songs. Billy Joel was hilarious doing the induction speech (“John, remember those dumbass videos we had to make in the 80’s?”) He also told a funny story about a flag football game between Billy and his band/crew vs. John’s, where Mellencamp secretly pulled in whoever was the star University of Indiana QB at the time and they slaughtered Billy and his boys. Great story. Mellencamp’s actual speech was alternatively bitter and humble. The performance was predictable…a rather lethargic version of ”Pink Houses” (a shame, because it is one of his greatest songs) and a nice solo acoustic “Small Town,” and finishing up with “Authority Song”. It was somewhat sad when Mellencamp tried to induce the tuxedoed, $10,000 per plate crowd to stand up and dance.
ABOVE: Mellencamp recalls the Johnny Cougar days
It is somewhat strange that Dave Clark 5 got the final induction. Having Madonna and Mellencamp open for you? Tom Hanks gave a spirited induction speech (“one of the few British Invasion bands not named for a mineral or an animal”). The best speech of the night. The DC5 gave a very classy acceptance speech, it was especially emotional because their lead singer Mike Smith died just one week ago. Having Joan Jett sing the DC5 tunes was inspired. She was kick ass, and looks the same as she did in the 80’s.
Finally, it was time for the All-Star jam. At times a train wreck, at other times inspired. First up: DC5’s biggest hit “Glad All Over” featuring Mellencamp and John Fogerty taking the lead, with Billy Joel jamming on the organ. The only downside was James Cotton honking away on what sounded like a harmonica in the wrong key for the song. The webcast ended at that point, but usually they jam for awhile at the end.
Overall, it was a varied slate of artists. Madonna and Mellencamp were givens, while The Ventures and Cohen were borderline choices but I approve. As touching as the DC5 were in closing the show, when you consider who is still not in the RRHOF, they were a pretty weak choice.
For an overview of all past inductees, go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website. Future Rockhall is a fantastic and exhaustive blog discussing and debating all things Rockhall related.
I will post another article surrounding these debates at a later time (in fact, a frequent reader at GNABB and I have a great documentary in the works regarding one of these nomination battles); but tonight I’d like to focus on this year’s class of inductees and the ceremony. They used to broadcast the yearly ceremony on VH1, but to add insult to injury, not even VH1 deems it worthy of full broadcast anymore (they show a truncated version later), so you must tune in to VH1 Classic for the whole thing. Even my rather generous cable package does not include VH1 Classic, so I was reduced to watching the webcast at BestBuy.com.
Along with about 10 other people nationwide, I sat in front of my laptop in anticipation of the 2008 RRHOF Induction Ceremony. In years past, these ceremonies have been worth watching. The induction speeches are generally entertaining (highlights from previous years include Bono inducting Springsteen and then several years later Springsteen returning the favor for U2; a favorite speech was by Jeff Beck inducting Rod Stewart by saying “he likes me a lot more than I like him, but anyway, here’s Rod Stewart”). The acceptance speeches can be irreverent (two years ago The Sex Pistols sent a letter calling the RRHOF a "piss stain"...it was fun to watch Jann Wenner have to read the letter as their speech at the ceremony) or heartfelt, full of humor or uncomfortable moments as still feuding band members are forced to stand together and make nice. Jeff Beck provided another highlight the year that The Yardbirds were inducted. The former band members were all on the stage giving self-congratulatory remarks back and forth. It was worthwhile just to see the Holy Trinity of British Guitar standing side by side (Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page). When it was Beck’s turn to say something, he goes “I’d just like to say fuck you all for kicking me out of the band” (referring to the disasterous American tour when Beck was indeed booted from the band for his erratic behavior). For a split second everyone looked extremely uncomfortable, but then Beck burst out laughing as everyone else relaxed. As you can imagine, with these type of personalities, it is not your typical awards ceremony. The performances are often noteworthy, for either being great nostalgia or disasterous.
Jackass Jann Wenner (founder of Rolling Stone magazine and one of the more powerful and worst influences on the RRHOF) started things off with a decent rundown of the RRHOF criteria and history. The most notable part of this speech was the cutaway shot to Billy Joel and his date. She is freakin’ hot!
The first award was in the Non-Performer category for A&R legends Gamble & Huff. Ever humble: “Every time we wrote a song, it was a hit.” Patti Labelle’s performance before their induction was typically bombastic. I can never hear “If You Don’t Know Me By Now” without thinking of this Ricky Gervais/David Brent transcendent video of the R&B classic from “The Office” (BBC version). I digress.
The Early Influence inductee for the night was Little Walter. Now, I am more excited about Little Walter’s induction than most of the other major inductions. In my opinion, the roster of Chess Records blues greats (of which Little Walter was one) is as responsible for inspiring rock and roll as anything else. Ben Harper gave a lovely induction speech (I liked “to pass through life is to pass through the blues, and to pass through the blues is to pass through Little Walter”). Little Walter did for the harmonica what Jimi Hendrix did for the guitar. Anyone who picks up the instrument passes through the sound of Little Walter. Harper and harp legend James Cotton’s version of “My Babe” was spot on.
ABOVE: blues great Little Walter
I was happy that instrumental surf legends the Ventures were inducted (with a warm introduction by John Fogerty), but their performance was a bit sloppy. I guess you can give these guys a break, their first hit was 48 years ago!
The induction of Leonard Cohen was a nice surprise. He is held in the same esteem as Bob Dylan in many songwriting circles. How high was Lou Reed during the induction speech?? My God. That was painful and fascinating to watch as Lou decided to read what seemed like every lyric Cohen has written over the last 30 years. Cohen, on the other hand, gave a hilarious and humble acceptance speech. His poem “Tower of Song” that he recited was brilliant: “So you can stick your pins in the voodoo doll / I’m very sorry, baby, but that doesn’t look like me at all”. Damien Rice’s performance of Leonard’s "Halelujiah" was beautiful. Don’t know why Leonard chose not to perform himself, though. By the way: this Damien Rice dude is great, although he had some killer material to work with tonight. Reminds me of early David Gray.
ABOVE: A very high Lou Reed recites Leonard Cohen lyrics...for a very long time
I always dig In Memorium tributes, but unlike the Oscars (who omitted Brad Renfro), perhaps the RRHOF were a bit too inclusive. Don Ho? It was sad that two members of the Dave Clark 5 died within the past couple of years before they could enjoy their induction…wait, what the hell? Jeff Healey died this year?? And the legendary Buddy Miles?? I missed those.
ABOVE: former MTV VJ Mark Goodman reports from the kitchen of the Waldorf Astoria at the 2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony
Next came Justin Timberlake to induct Madonna. Timberlake’s speech was a bit awkward and strained with his sexual innuendo, but funny in parts. Madonna’s speech seemed to go on about for about 30 minutes, but it was engaging. Madonna doesn’t perform, but instead has…Iggy Pop & the Stooges perform her tunes?! Ballsy. I like it. Iggy Pop jamming out to “Ray of Light”? OK. Also a great F-You to the Hall…why isn’t Iggy in yet?
ABOVE: Iggy Pop performs Madonna's greatest hits
Note: I’m not sure it was a good idea to show “classic performances” from past Rockhall ceremonies while they were working on transitioning the stage. With all due respect to this year’s inductees, showing such titans as Mick Jagger, Bruce Springsteen and John Fogerty all jam on “Satisfaction” together or a reunited Led Zeppelin tearing it up on “Bring It All Home” with Joe Perry and Steven Tyler…kind of reminds us that maybe we are running a little thin on rock greats left to induct.
As for John Mellencamp, I am glad he’s in there. Sure, he’s sort of a Springsteen-Lite, but he does have a great core group of songs. Billy Joel was hilarious doing the induction speech (“John, remember those dumbass videos we had to make in the 80’s?”) He also told a funny story about a flag football game between Billy and his band/crew vs. John’s, where Mellencamp secretly pulled in whoever was the star University of Indiana QB at the time and they slaughtered Billy and his boys. Great story. Mellencamp’s actual speech was alternatively bitter and humble. The performance was predictable…a rather lethargic version of ”Pink Houses” (a shame, because it is one of his greatest songs) and a nice solo acoustic “Small Town,” and finishing up with “Authority Song”. It was somewhat sad when Mellencamp tried to induce the tuxedoed, $10,000 per plate crowd to stand up and dance.
ABOVE: Mellencamp recalls the Johnny Cougar days
It is somewhat strange that Dave Clark 5 got the final induction. Having Madonna and Mellencamp open for you? Tom Hanks gave a spirited induction speech (“one of the few British Invasion bands not named for a mineral or an animal”). The best speech of the night. The DC5 gave a very classy acceptance speech, it was especially emotional because their lead singer Mike Smith died just one week ago. Having Joan Jett sing the DC5 tunes was inspired. She was kick ass, and looks the same as she did in the 80’s.
Finally, it was time for the All-Star jam. At times a train wreck, at other times inspired. First up: DC5’s biggest hit “Glad All Over” featuring Mellencamp and John Fogerty taking the lead, with Billy Joel jamming on the organ. The only downside was James Cotton honking away on what sounded like a harmonica in the wrong key for the song. The webcast ended at that point, but usually they jam for awhile at the end.
Overall, it was a varied slate of artists. Madonna and Mellencamp were givens, while The Ventures and Cohen were borderline choices but I approve. As touching as the DC5 were in closing the show, when you consider who is still not in the RRHOF, they were a pretty weak choice.
For an overview of all past inductees, go to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame website. Future Rockhall is a fantastic and exhaustive blog discussing and debating all things Rockhall related.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Billary Rises From the Ashes...
I apologize for the number of political posts lately, but this is quite an usual election season and it is worth keeping the discussion going...
How did she do it? How did Billary change the story from ‘will she exit gracefully once she loses?’ to ‘Billary changes the tide and Obama now on defensive’? Was it the “3 a.m.” ad? Was it the unfortunate timing of the trial of Illinois lobbyist Tony Rezko? Was it the stupid (as in, stupid to put in writing) memo from Barack’s camp to the Canadians on NAFTA? Was it that Hispanics just will not vote for a black man? Was it the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy perpetrated by Talk Radio in favor of Billary, encouraging their listeners to vote for her in droves in order to keep her in the race so the Democratic candidates can continue to bloody each other as Juan McCain sits back and hosts Bar-B-Q’s at his Sedona ranch? Was it that the national media finally recovered from Obamamania and decided to scrutinize him a bit more closely right before Tuesday? Has Obamamania peaked; has The Dali Obama finally shown some weakness?
So many intriguing questions and issues to delve into. While Dali Obama still has a delegate lead (therefore allowing his camp to declare victory), the momentum has clearly shifted back to Billary (therefore allowing his/her camp to declare victory). If the media decides that Obamamania has in fact worn out its welcome, the psychological importance of last night on this election could be far reaching indeed. I think that my wife is indicative of the confusion in the Democratic ranks. A longtime Billary booster, she recently caught a bad case of the Obamas and cast her Texas primary vote in early voting for the Dali Obama. But then she felt guilty, and was swayed by the “Obama may just be all talk and no action” argument, and so she then caucused (verb) last night for Billary. She can do that in Texas, since its rather unique and idiotic Democrat system makes it “the only state where one can vote twice and not get arrested” (in the words of Bill Clinton). The Dems only have themselves to blame for the Billary/Obama stalemate. Because Jesse Jackson whined back in the 80’s, they changed their primaries over to this proportional BS vs. the winner-take-all philosophy of the Repubs. That is why McCain is chillin’ in Sedona while Billary and Obama are spending millions tearing each other apart.
Can you believe that Billary is now seriously pushing to count her Florida and Michigan delegates? That is so Clinton. She was the only dem on the Michigan ballot; the Dems agreed not to campaign in Florida, but Billary broke the agreement and did it anyway by sending Bill down to do her dirty work. Now she wants them all counted retroactively. In a recent interview, she blamed the Republican governor and Republican legislature of Florida for “once again” trying to disenfranchise Florida’s voters, when it was the Democratic National Committee that made the decision!
Thoughts?
How did she do it? How did Billary change the story from ‘will she exit gracefully once she loses?’ to ‘Billary changes the tide and Obama now on defensive’? Was it the “3 a.m.” ad? Was it the unfortunate timing of the trial of Illinois lobbyist Tony Rezko? Was it the stupid (as in, stupid to put in writing) memo from Barack’s camp to the Canadians on NAFTA? Was it that Hispanics just will not vote for a black man? Was it the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy perpetrated by Talk Radio in favor of Billary, encouraging their listeners to vote for her in droves in order to keep her in the race so the Democratic candidates can continue to bloody each other as Juan McCain sits back and hosts Bar-B-Q’s at his Sedona ranch? Was it that the national media finally recovered from Obamamania and decided to scrutinize him a bit more closely right before Tuesday? Has Obamamania peaked; has The Dali Obama finally shown some weakness?
So many intriguing questions and issues to delve into. While Dali Obama still has a delegate lead (therefore allowing his camp to declare victory), the momentum has clearly shifted back to Billary (therefore allowing his/her camp to declare victory). If the media decides that Obamamania has in fact worn out its welcome, the psychological importance of last night on this election could be far reaching indeed. I think that my wife is indicative of the confusion in the Democratic ranks. A longtime Billary booster, she recently caught a bad case of the Obamas and cast her Texas primary vote in early voting for the Dali Obama. But then she felt guilty, and was swayed by the “Obama may just be all talk and no action” argument, and so she then caucused (verb) last night for Billary. She can do that in Texas, since its rather unique and idiotic Democrat system makes it “the only state where one can vote twice and not get arrested” (in the words of Bill Clinton). The Dems only have themselves to blame for the Billary/Obama stalemate. Because Jesse Jackson whined back in the 80’s, they changed their primaries over to this proportional BS vs. the winner-take-all philosophy of the Repubs. That is why McCain is chillin’ in Sedona while Billary and Obama are spending millions tearing each other apart.
Can you believe that Billary is now seriously pushing to count her Florida and Michigan delegates? That is so Clinton. She was the only dem on the Michigan ballot; the Dems agreed not to campaign in Florida, but Billary broke the agreement and did it anyway by sending Bill down to do her dirty work. Now she wants them all counted retroactively. In a recent interview, she blamed the Republican governor and Republican legislature of Florida for “once again” trying to disenfranchise Florida’s voters, when it was the Democratic National Committee that made the decision!
Thoughts?
Monday, March 3, 2008
Dez's Essentials: The 13th Floor Elevators, EASTER EVERYWHERE, 1967
It is a hotly debated topic in music circles as to who invented psychedelic music, but there were no greater or more devoted purveyors of the subgenre than Austin’s legendary 13th Floor Elevators. Formed in the mid-60’s out of the ashes of several local Austin bands, the Elevators made no bones about being all about the psychedelic, LSD-halucinogenic experience. They combined a Texas garage sound with psychedelics, and on their precious few recordings, a fascinating murky sound emerges. The murkiness of their sound is partly due to circumstance; the original masters of their recordings have long since disappeared (somewhere in Houston, rumour has it), so we are more or less stuck with the sound we’ve got.
The Elevators formed in Austin, spent some time playing shows throughout the Houston area, and also moved to San Francisco in the late 60’s (even headlining shows with the likes of Big Brother & the Holding Company opening for them). The Elevators’ secret weapons were threefold: 1. Tommy Hall. Not only did Hall write most of their psychedelic/spiritual/searching lyrics, he also played their most distinctive instrument. Playing the jug with a microphone held up to it, Hall’s distinct sound permeates the Elevators’ songs, creating a queasy feel throughout. 2. Underrated guitarist Stacy Sutherland not only played great solos, but his real strength lay in his complex and melodic rhythm playing (Sutherland was gunned down in the late 1970’s by his own wife). 3. Last and most important: the otherworldly wail of lead singer/guitarist Roky Erickson. Possessing one of the most powerful voices in rock history, Roky embodied the unbridled energy of great garage music.
The rock and roll landscape is littered with casualties and near-casualties, and none are more legendary that Roky Erickson. Listening to their music, it is not surprising that the Elevators ran into trouble with the Texas law in the late 60’s. After one of his drug busts, Roky was facing a substantial prison term. His lawyers instead were able to work out a deal for a stay in a mental institution. While there, Roky was subjected to electro-shock treatment, and he emerged crazier than he was when he went in. Whether he was already nuts (he supposedly now suffers from schizophrenia), or whether it was due to his prolific drug use and/or the treatment in the institution, or a combination thereof, Roky was never the same upon his release. He later recorded a series of horror movie inspired, gritty rock records (featuring tunes such as “Night of the Vampire”, “I Walked With a Zombie”, “Cold Night For Alligators”, “I’m a Demon (and I love Rock & Roll)”, “Creature With the Atom Brain”, “Red Temple Prayer (Two Headed Dog)”, etc.) that are held in high esteem by garage enthusiasts. It seems that Roky is finally turning his life around nowadays. For a gripping and fascinating study of Roky Erickson, check out the documentary ‘You’re Gonna Miss Me’.
OK, on to the actual album review. Easter Everywhere is the greatest psychedelic record ever made, rivaled only by The Elevators’ own debut and Pink Floyd’s Piper at the Gates of Dawn (led by the more famous drug casualty/loony, Syd Barrett. Barrett and Erickson are definitely kindred souls). The 8-minute opener “Slip Inside This House” may be their definitive piece, while tunes like “She Lives (In a Time of Her Own)”, “Earthquake” and “Pictures (Leave Your Body Behind)” are all classic psychedelic should-have-been singles. These tunes feature the Elevators rocking out at full speed, but they were equally at home slowing the pace down. Two notable tunes here in particular are sparse and haunting, their original “Dust” and a gorgeous cover of Bob Dylan’s “It’s All Over Now, Baby Blue” (entitled here just “Baby Blue”), which is reminiscent more of Van Morrison’s great version with Them. In fact, Roky’s voice often reminds the listener of a very young Them-era Van Morrison. No small compliment. Below is "Baby Blue"...
To explore some mindblowing psychedelia, check out Easter Everywhere. Once you get used to the murky production, you will find that the lo-fi feel actually enhances the overall mystery and listening experience.
For Further Listening:
The Elevators’ debut, The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators, is equally essential. It also features the closest thing they ever had to a hit, the classic screamer “You’re Gonna Miss Me”. Check out this appropriately grimy link to a performance of "Your Gonna Miss Me" from the 60's. Does anyone have a voice better suited for basic rock & roll than Roky Erickson? Their third album features Roky only sporadically, but Bull of the Woods is still worthwhile as Stacy Sutherland takes the reigns on their studio swansong. Going Up is a decent overview.
If you dare to enter the world of Roky Erickson, I would suggest the raw Gremlins Have Pictures or the two-disc retrospective I Have Always Been Here Before.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Maurice vs. Winston
When two people love each other, the normal course of events is courting, marriage, and the coming together of two lives in harmony and contentment. But this does not necessarily mean that the others in their respective lives want to be thrown together. This is often a serious issue if you have children from previous marriages…or if you have pets who were perfectly happy with your bachelor lifestyle. Such is the case in our household.
In this corner…I present to you Maurice. My cat. I am the only living creature, human or otherwise, that Maurice can stand. Most of the time he will cuddle with me and purr like a motor. He will tolerate other humans from a distance, but when they make the mistake of thinking they can cozy up to him, his claws and teeth let them know otherwise. He is ornery, aloof at times, and the most selfish of living creatures. He is also my favorite non-human on earth. I am secure enough in my masculinity to say that I prefer cats over dogs. I admire their independence, in general I think they are beautiful creatures, and I am fascinated by their finely honed instincts and skills. The perfect animal.
In the other corner…Winston. My wife’s dog. He is genial to the point of stupidity, like many dogs. He is a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, bred for the sole purpose of being cute, chasing balls and sitting in your lap. He indiscriminately loves all humans. He would sit in my wife’s lap or Idi Amin’s lap with equal pleasure. A whore, in other words. Yet when he is confronted with other dogs or cats, he must assert his dominance (which consists of barking loudly). He is not a very imposing figure, so it is somewhat amusing to watch. I have grown to really dig Winston, especially when he sees other dogs on the TV and charges the screen to confront them.
So, my wife and I decided we would try to integrate the dog and the cat. How has that worked out? We now have one of those baby gates at the bottom of the stairs, and the cat resides upstairs while the dog hangs out downstairs. To be honest, I was very disappointed with the outcome of the battle. Maurice is a big dude (being part mainecoon, which is the largest domestic cat breed), so Winston and Mo are comparable in size. With my confidence in the superiority of cats, with Maurice’s sometimes violent nature, plus the fact that he is still fully armed with his claws…I would have put large sums of money down on the fact he would slaughter Winston in a face to face duel. The idea was that they should be thrown together, let them have their confrontation, and then they would establish some sort of natural hierarchy and understanding. Maybe even grow to respect and like each other.
I stood by with haughty confidence, while my wife was quivering in fear that the cat would casually rip the dog’s cute little bulging eyes right out of the sockets with one deft swipe of his deadly talons. So here is how it went down: Winston barked loudly and Maurice ran off like a little pussy. We then closed them in a small room with no obvious escape routes. Alright, Maurice was just a little surprised, that’s all. Now let’s see what happens…Winston barked loudly and my cat cowered like a little pussy. This is the same cat that has to be held down by three people and fights through sedation like a mofo at the vet. Dammit Maurice. You can’t beat up a little Spaniel? Winston, on the other hand, turned from a genial furry idiot to an animal that would have made Michael Vick proud.
We have tried many times to see if they can co-exist, but it always ends with Maurice scampering away, terrified. So in the end, we have let them have their own territories. Winston runs around downstairs, and Maurice rules the upstairs. He watches somewhat perplexed from the safety of the stairway as Winston chases thrown balls endlessly below. And such is peace in our time.
In this corner…I present to you Maurice. My cat. I am the only living creature, human or otherwise, that Maurice can stand. Most of the time he will cuddle with me and purr like a motor. He will tolerate other humans from a distance, but when they make the mistake of thinking they can cozy up to him, his claws and teeth let them know otherwise. He is ornery, aloof at times, and the most selfish of living creatures. He is also my favorite non-human on earth. I am secure enough in my masculinity to say that I prefer cats over dogs. I admire their independence, in general I think they are beautiful creatures, and I am fascinated by their finely honed instincts and skills. The perfect animal.
In the other corner…Winston. My wife’s dog. He is genial to the point of stupidity, like many dogs. He is a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, bred for the sole purpose of being cute, chasing balls and sitting in your lap. He indiscriminately loves all humans. He would sit in my wife’s lap or Idi Amin’s lap with equal pleasure. A whore, in other words. Yet when he is confronted with other dogs or cats, he must assert his dominance (which consists of barking loudly). He is not a very imposing figure, so it is somewhat amusing to watch. I have grown to really dig Winston, especially when he sees other dogs on the TV and charges the screen to confront them.
So, my wife and I decided we would try to integrate the dog and the cat. How has that worked out? We now have one of those baby gates at the bottom of the stairs, and the cat resides upstairs while the dog hangs out downstairs. To be honest, I was very disappointed with the outcome of the battle. Maurice is a big dude (being part mainecoon, which is the largest domestic cat breed), so Winston and Mo are comparable in size. With my confidence in the superiority of cats, with Maurice’s sometimes violent nature, plus the fact that he is still fully armed with his claws…I would have put large sums of money down on the fact he would slaughter Winston in a face to face duel. The idea was that they should be thrown together, let them have their confrontation, and then they would establish some sort of natural hierarchy and understanding. Maybe even grow to respect and like each other.
I stood by with haughty confidence, while my wife was quivering in fear that the cat would casually rip the dog’s cute little bulging eyes right out of the sockets with one deft swipe of his deadly talons. So here is how it went down: Winston barked loudly and Maurice ran off like a little pussy. We then closed them in a small room with no obvious escape routes. Alright, Maurice was just a little surprised, that’s all. Now let’s see what happens…Winston barked loudly and my cat cowered like a little pussy. This is the same cat that has to be held down by three people and fights through sedation like a mofo at the vet. Dammit Maurice. You can’t beat up a little Spaniel? Winston, on the other hand, turned from a genial furry idiot to an animal that would have made Michael Vick proud.
We have tried many times to see if they can co-exist, but it always ends with Maurice scampering away, terrified. So in the end, we have let them have their own territories. Winston runs around downstairs, and Maurice rules the upstairs. He watches somewhat perplexed from the safety of the stairway as Winston chases thrown balls endlessly below. And such is peace in our time.
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