Welcome to my asylum for ideas and thoughts on movies, politics, culture, and all things Bruce Springsteen.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Milestones

Sorry, no musings on jazz, though I've been spinning some 30s Duke, some mid-40s Bird and Kind of Blue in my classroom.

Their first Basement Tape? VERY cool. It's called "Middie Island Creek".

We lost Gary Coleman, who actually was a fixture of my childhood. I watched tons of "Diff'rent Strokes" though it took growing up to see just how much of a minstrel show the whole thing really was.

And Dennis Hopper, who was such an icon. Why isn't anyone recalling those amazing shoe commercials from the mid-90s when the Buffalo Bills and Bruce Smith were hot?!?! Then there was Apocalypse Now! and Hopper's performance was the second best (next to my brother, who'd have me in stitches, man, all the time, man, you know? Man?). Of course, Easy Rider, which was good in so many ways. Plus, he was an interviewee on a video series that I use in my classroom called "The Century". Hopper shared some wonderful memories about the civil rights movement and the counter-culture. He'll be missed.

I reached my own milestone here: 10,000 hits! I know a third of them are probably me conducting repairs or checking for comments but cool to know that someone's paying me random visits.

Thank you to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice the nation demanded, even when the times and circumstances were questionable.

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Friday, May 28, 2010

Two For the Road

Snap - how 'bout these two for your record reviews? When was the last time a review was as good as the record? Paste's, the one I was hoping they'd nail, paints the picture of the road that as soon as my stupid cd arrives, I'm rolling for at least forty-two minutes with the windows down and the sunroof open:

First, Popdose.

Here's Paste.

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Tuesday, May 25, 2010

I'll Sing It Again...

It's here. Well, kind of. The cd and goodies didn't arrive but the album's available to listen to online, which I did. Even on my laptop's cruddy little speakers, the sound quality's good and the production value is solid. Chris Robinson's New Earth Mud sound is on this one. While I've heard these songs live several times and have given them countless listens on youtube, these studio cuts will crank through a nice sound system. With the windows down, headed up to the mountians. Or in the backyard with the kids playing and beer flowing.

Hail Hail - Smitty's count-in and the half-time tempo into their signature four-part harmonies. A slow burner, with shout outs by the band members to their mates. The feet start tapping as Adam's B-3 takes this one to church.

Call Back - I've already written about this one. One of the best songs on the album. Walker' s lead and acoustic pulse could realistically make this song chart. This one's hot.

Welcome to L.A. - Smitty on lead; story of the band's history. Four-on-the-floor, this one.

Heart Like a Wheel - Tim lead, solid song, especially live. Not the Linda Ronstadt song like the title implies.

See Her - the tempo changes will catch you off guard and make you think you're in 1973. Lots of classic hooks (one reminiscent of a Frampton riff) and a great set closer. Could hear this one stretch out with some cool trading twos by the guitarists.

Old Piano - sweet ballad. Bluesy and reflective. Scott's steel guitar puts this one right back in Laurel Canyon. This one builds through the verses and as it ends, I find myself hitting the rewind button.

101 - this one's got a Counting Crows vibe but Walker's lead keeps it good 'n swampy. Again, the harmonies and tempo switches hook you every time. One reviewer heard Jerry Garcia. I don't; I hear Glenn Frey. That's not a put down, either. I don't know the story behind the song's title but for an alum of UCSB, I'm keeping the title and giving it its own value. Not telling, either, but roll another number for the road!

Jump the Ship - Scott's key song. Covered this one live.

She Really Does it For Me - Joe starts this one and this one's for brawling in the bars.

Rise Up - There's a riff in this one that'll stop you in your tracks and make you pay attention the next time it rolls around. Bill must have busted a drum head on this one, he's killing the skins. Put a little love in there, Scott. A lead guitar dual at the end that, while too short for me, would make Duane and Dickey proud.

Brothers, Sons & Daughters - for some reason, this one wasn't available on the download. This one's Smitty's and he shows that these guys wear their hearts on their sleeves. They've been around and yet they're grounded in what really matters. To me, this song is the soul of the guys in the band.

Pure Mountain Angel - And this one's the soul of the band itself. Adam's gospel-tinged piano (a la Delaney Bramlett's "Hotel Shot"), and Walker's weary lead capture the attention and keep you riveted to the song. The harmonies (how many are in there, it's hard to tell but there are a bunch!) give you goose bumps. Halfway through the band jumps in and drives this one straight home. The song ends and you're left shaking your head in disbelief that guys can make a song this beautiful.

Of course I'm tripping all over myself. I don't care. This one's a keeper. The guys in the Truth & Salvage Co. did themselves proud, I say, and I can't wait to see them next month. 'Till then, I'm betting on this release getting a bunch of attention. You owe it to yourself to pick this one up.

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Monday, May 24, 2010

T & S Tomorrow!

In less than twenty-four hours, the Truth & Salvage Co.'s eponymous first album will be out and spinning. Twelve songs of great rock and roll. I'm desperately waiting for my mp3 to arrive so I may burn and play it a couple of times tomorrow. I'm hoping to gather some articles and reviews from the wires and net. T&S is playing a record release gig in their hometown of Ashville, North Carolina. Ought to be killer.
The tracklisting of the Truth & Salvage Co.:

Hail Hail
Call Back
Welcome to L.A.
Heart Like a Wheel
See Her
Old Piano
101
Jump the Ship
She Really Does it For Me
Rise Up
Brothers, Sons & Daughters
Pure Mountain Angel

Here's to a great ride, guys. All the best!

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Friday, May 14, 2010

Call Back Acoustic

I attempted to post this yesterday but apparently it didn't save properly. Check this out: The T&S guys performing 'Call Back', acoustic fashion. It's pretty cool. It's here.

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Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Carol and James

When did you learn that Tapestry was supposed to be in your collection? I had been aware either in late high school but more likely, college, when I supposed to own this one. My American Pop Culture History course in my sophomore year cinched it; an essay in an assigned text made me at least grasp its importance. Only Dark Side of the Moon charted longer in the decade than Carol's record. I first owned a copy on vinyl and I wore the grooves out of it. The cd is great but something is lacking from the experience of dropping the needle on the flat, black disc. And yet, there are the songs. Those twelve, catchy, simple yet masterful pop songs that could either create or define an entire range of emotions. Carol's Tapestry is an old friend, a beautiful collection of songs that only this wonderful woman could have given us.

Last night, the concert did nothing but place Ms. King in front of me, along with 16,000 others. Paradoxically, she didn't play the title song but knocked off ten of the songs, along with several other of her biggest songs. Even as her voice wasn't in the best form, she showed up to sing from her heart and soul and that genuine performance surely delivered. James came to wow the audience as well and did nothing but succeed. I've seen JT a couple of times and he always gives the journeyman's performance, with jokes, stage antics and a general "greatest" setlist that does not deviate from a core ten songs. And yet, his rich baritone and solid finger-picking held the audience riveted last night, a solid foundation for Carol's songs to hit us fresh and new. The setlist (seen below) was a treat; nothing could have really added or detracted from the performance. I loved seeing Russ Kunkel, Kootch and Lee Sklar as the original rhythm section for JT and Carol (but also so many LA singer-songwriters). Did I need to see Carol in order to love her music more? No; nothing will beat a rainy day morning than a cup of coffee, my kitchen panes being pelted with drops and Tapestry carrying me through the hours. And yet; the in-person, visceral connection (from across an arena) just brought a warm and peaceful feeling to know that the author of such beautiful songs gave them back to us in a live performance which did nothing more than validate the greatness of the original recordings.

Set List 5/11/10

Blossom JT
So Far Away CK
Machine Gun Kelly JT
Carolina on My Mind JT
Way Over Yonder CK
CK on piano above

both on guitar
Smackwater Jack CK

CK Back to piano

Country Road JT
Sweet Seasons CK
Mexico JT
Whispering Wind CK
Long Ago JT
Beautiful CK
Shower the People JT
Natural Woman CK

>>Intermission<<

Copper Line JT
Crying in the Rain CK & JT
Where You Lead CK
Sweet Baby James JT
Jazz Man CK
Will You Love Me Tomorrow CK & JT
Steamroller JT
Too Late Baby CK
Fire & Rain JT
I Feel the Earth Move CK
You've Got a Friend JT & CK

>>Encore<<

Up on the Roof CK & JT
How Sweet It Is CK & JT

>>Finale<<
You Can Close your eyes JT & CK
Do the Locomotion CK

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Monday, May 10, 2010

5/10 Addendum

Nice job by Dallas Braden in his perfect game in the A's' victory over the Rays. #19; congrats!

A new tome on my favorite poet: On Whitman. Off to pick up tomorrow. Sing, Walt.

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Hey Hey, My My

Rock and roll will never die! Here's a concert review from a show in Indianapolis and yet it could have been the same for my show in Santa Cruz. It's here.

What band wouldn't kill for a review like this? Well, when you earn it, you need not wish too much. Nice show, guys.

And here's an interview with the band that came out a day after this Indy show. I dig it as I was at the show they mention regarding their most favorite moment on stage. It's here.

Here's one of the press photos on the back of their ep and their concert posters. Let's give this a shot:

Thanks to the band for (hopefully) allowing the photo here.

The album's being dropped in two weeks. I'm excited for the reviews and press for it. I posted a link to buy it a couple of days back. The tracks can also be sampled at amazon.com. I'm denying myself the chance to here the snippets as I want the full experience on the 25th. Would love to be at the album release party and concert!!!

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Monday, May 03, 2010

Hail, Hail, the Gang's All Here

Last Wednesday, I shot down to Santa Cruz to a small blues bar in order to catch the coolest new band on the road, the Truth & Salvage Co. They drew attention opening for the Black Crowes last fall and winter and this spring opening for the Avett Brothers. They were supposed to play the Boom Booom Room in San Francisco over the MLK weekend but due to a scheduling conflict, they cancelled. Not before I bought tickets and dragged a couple of friends out to the city, pumped to go, only to find the band not present as we were lining up to the stools. I contacted the band regarding the goof and received a reply from the band's website and, the drummer, no less! Apologetic, the band offered me the chance to catch them on the guest list the next they rolled around town, which was amazingly cool. I took them up on their offer two weeks ago as they hit Oakland's Fox Theater opening for the Avett Brothers' spring tour. I dragged two more friends and we caught the boys in fine form - forty minute opening set, great harmonies, great mood and great vibe. Whenever an opening band not only gets heads moving and feet tapping but loud ovations between songs is a good sign that the band is not simply filling time before the headliner. I bought a poster with the hopes of thanking the band for their generosity and was met with much, much more. I caught Bill "Smitty" Smith in the lobby and introduced myself. I was greeted with a handshake and a hug. After some time chatting, he brought me over to the rest of the guys who took my poster away and signed it up and down. I was introduced and even recognized as the guy that showed up to the Boom Boom and the band and I chatted it up for the next forty minutes, sharing cool stories of the Crowes tour, the upcoming album and what I thought of their sound. They told me they were coming back to Santa Cruz two weeks after and I told them that I would catch them there.
Fast-forward to last Wednesday - Moe's Alley in Santa Cruz. The rest is going to be something I keep - for the sake of being a total geek. The highlights: seventy-five minute set ( a killer "The Shape I'm In" cover!), small but responsive crowd, lots of pictures and memories of a band on its way to bigger and greater success. The record coming out on the 25th will grab some attention and the band's summer tour will bring more. I'm thrilled that I'm catching them open for the Crowes again with Steve P. in Saratoga, which ought to be a dynamite gig. Like the Eagles' first album, here promises to be a collection of songs with some great rockers, soaring Topanga Canyon harmonies and a handful of songs that will remind people of the power of classic rock and roll.

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Sunday, May 02, 2010

This Land Is Our Land

Last weekend my beautiful wife and I had the chance to truly escape. A concert, for which we had purchased tickets at least six months in advance, friends to watch all three lit'luns and a free hotel, provided by the slumping economy and central planning of the Doubletree Hotel. We shot to metropolitan Modesto, CA to see, for my first time, Arlo Guthrie, and two generations of family members perform in the newly-built Gallo Center for the Performing Arts. Modesto is closer to home than thought; we arrived more than a half-hour ahead of schedule which allowed us to primp and preen and find a place to have dinner. Downtown Modesto is one of those quaint and wonderful Valley towns that is in the attempts of growth and development. A walking mall with restaurants, a couple of theaters, bars and many empty storefront with facades written in two languages. We ate at a pan-American resturant and walked to the venue, a beautiful and modern, though a bit sterile theater. People mainly my parents' ages were in attendance and I was personally thrilled for what was ahead, though I actually had no idea what to expect. I had forgotten where our seats were since we bought them in October and we were pleasantly surprised to find that we were sitting in the fourth row, spot center. The theater filled and the show began. Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irions, Arlo's daughter and son-in-law, started the show with some amazing folk duets, perfect harmony blends and folk stories. Arlo (and many, many more family members) came out about ten minutes later and the evening kicked in to full gear. The evening was billed "The Guthrie Family Rides Again" and the purpose of the evening was for three generations of Guthries to sing and celebrate the gift of their family's music. Many songs and stories of Woody's, and to our treat, many that the man had simply written the lyrics but no music to. Songs from each of the three adult daughters, some for children and others about, and a few of Arlo's classics. Every song spoke to the beauty of family, the gift of our children and the responsibility of adults to teach future generations of love and harmony. Arlo spun yarns, some true and others mythic that helped contextualize each song. My wife and I found ourselves in tears every other song as the power of each song was driven through gorgeous singing, amazing instrumentation and the sight of sixteen Guthries keeping alive nearly a century of storytelling. I have always felt a strong connection to Woody as my grandfather and his family were Okie refugees just as he was. Woody's Dust Bowl Ballads help give me an appreciation for the complex and nuanced man my grandfather was. Arlo gave us three of his songs: "Coming Into Los Angeles", accompanied by a hysterical take on the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, "The City of New Orleans" (which had the tears flowing, it was so amazing) and "The Pickle Song" which my older son had been singing just hours earlier as we were cleaning up the play-grocery store in our family room. Arlo and kin closed with "This Land", in which, after a couple of verses, he interrupted himself with a story, only to leave out most of the song but closing with the most powerful final verse. Arlo encored with a song left incomplete by his dad titled "My Peace", in which the man's entire life in art, his family and hopefully his grandchildren's wish to all people about the importance of embracing life and the beauty amidst the messiness of life. We gave Arlo a standing ovation. Heather and I agreed; this two-and-a-half hour show was exactly what church is supposed to be like: inspirational, fulfilling and truly spiritual.
We hit the lobby with the hopes of a meet-and-greet like an attendance said could possibly happen. We met Sarah Lee who was selling cds and t shirts (a totally family run operation - the men of the group broke down the equipment after the show) but Arlo was not to be seen. Though we wanted to see Arlo, we were happy and since it was early, we decided to stroll back to the hotel and maybe have a drink at the bar. We walked back in the beautiful Spring night and as we hit the lobby, we noticed most of the bar filled with a wedding party, including the bride and groom, keeping the bar loud and celebratory with the hopes of yet another promised future. As we were ready to sidle up, my wife stopped and grabbed my attention. "There he is!" she whispered and, sitting in an easy chair in the corner of the bar, checking his e-mail on his i-phone, was the man himself. "I have to bug you", I said, as we walked up and introduced ourselves. We chatted for a few minutes and Arlo was gracious enough to host a couple of fans who were interrupting his post-show come down, and he did his best to be polite and welcoming. He was both. He signed a cd I brought and while I didn't ask for a picture (good call), we downed a whiskey feeling fulfilled and at peace that we had not only heard but thanked a man who has given his life to the art of lifting humanity above itself. I thanked him for all his music, shared the pickle song story about my son and left him. For the rest of the evening (or at least the hour or so we stayed), not a single person approached him. That left me both saddened and calmed. Shame on you, I thought to the other patrons, that you have no idea who you sit amongst, a wonderful person and gifted musician. That emotion was blocked out by the thought that it was good that no one recognized the man; that his music was bigger than he; that what we try to find in others actually exists in each of us. That made me happy, considering here was a man who played Woodstock, has sung with some of the greatest folk singers in the 20th century and continues to speak truth to power.
We hit the sheets, only to be kept up until four o'clock by the wedding party in the adjacent room but for the rest of the weekend floated above the ground from the experience we had. What a gift.

Next up: my mid-week journey to Santa Cruz and the amazing show by Truth & Salvage.

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