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Good Vibrations
What says the 4th of July like the Beach Boys at the Washington Monument? Back in the early 80's the Beach Boys played the Washington Monument from 1980-1982. The shows were banned because James Watts, the Secretary of the Interior (one of the Politicians who we can criticize for being a butthead) said that rock concerts brought an "undesirable element".
Those DC concerts were some of the last times we would see the original Beach Boys lineup together as Dennis Wilson drowned in December of 1983 and all the drug and health problems that Brian Wilson was going through.
This is a clip of Good Vibrations from that first 1980 show:
Category: Independence Day | Music
The Cure- Freakshow
Another new Cure video clip from the upcoming double CD coming out in September. This one is entitled Freakshow. The more stuff I hear from this project the more I can't wait for it to come out. Guitar laden and Robert Smith sounding as good vocally has he has in years. Take a listen, thank goodness for the music scene that these guys are still going full steam ahead:
Category: Music
Hip For The Hell Of It
If you noticed the audio player test, I am learning with the help of my friend Mike Boon to post audio stuff. Its a bit more complex than anything I have posted to this point from someone who knows nothing about this stuff I am learning a little at a time. So, for a littel practice here is a Tragically Hip sampling off Roxy & Elsewhere. What is Roxy & Elsewhere? It is a very rare, but much sought after live Hip cd. It contains several tracks that are considered classic hip tracks. Alan Cross once told me that the copy of Roxy & Elsewhere that CFNY had was stolen from the studio. When I came across my first copy I was in college, making $5.25 an hour in the dishroom on campus but I had to have a copy of Roxy & Elsewhere. I found a copy from a guy online and I had to meet him at the Subway station on Main and Hertel Ave. It was like no other CD purchase I ever made. $25 got me that copy. It was literally a drug deal involving music. I thought the cops were going to bust us in the subway station. I played the blue paint off that copy and have since gotten another. I still have both cases and both copies, the blue CD is unlistenable due to use and scratches, I have another that I got off EBay that is an obvious burn. But to have the songs is well worth it.The track off it that Im sharing is one of the probably dozens of live versions of one of the Hip's signature tunes, it is probably the most famous amongst Hip fans, it is the "Killer Whale Tank" version of New Orleans is Sinking, its nearly nine minutes long but well worth the listen. Enjoy.
Category: Music
Sunday Retro
I have a four CD collection called Left of the Dial, Dispatches From the 80's Underground, this track is from that collection from a group I didn't really like that much as a whole, but this song represented the music from back then well, its from Faith No More and its a song called, We Care Alot, say what you will about the music but back then we did care alot about our music and the radio we hear to the bands that played it, recognized as much by playing the stuff the fan cared about:
Category: Music
5440 Discography
This is the 5440 discography. They were awesome last night as usual, whipping through a 90 minute set that covered material from every release in their 24+ year history. Next year will be their 25th Anniversery as a band. No small achievement for any band. The only downside to last nights show was no new material.
Its been awhile now since Yes to Everything came out, hopefully with their 25th anniversery as a group on the way, they will venture into the studio for some new stuff. Anyway, here is their complete list of all their releases and album covers:
2005: Yes To Everything
2003: Goodbye Flatland
2002: Radio Luv Songs
2001: Casual Viewin
1999: Double Live CD Heavy Mellow
1998: Since When
1997: Sounds of Truth: A Compilation
1996: Trusted By Millions
1994: Smilin Buddha Cabaret
1992: Dear Dear
1991: Sweeter Things (A Compilation)
1989: Fight For Love
1987: Show Me
1986: The Green Album
1984: Set The Fire
Category: Music
5440
5440 will be in town this weekend, unsure if Im going to go yet, its $18. I have seen then just about every time they have come to Buffalo over the last 10 years or so. Probably seen them 15 times if I have seen them once. I have seen them several times at Thursday in the Square, Fort Erie twice, Molson Canadian Gateway Series a few times, The Tralf three or four times and in Lewiston, NY.
They are easily one of the top 5 bands to come out of Canada and probably one of the top 10 musical artists to come out of Canada. The same thing that puzzles me about the Hip, also puzzles me about 5440, why has 5440 never crossed over into the US successfully? They write great pop songs that rock. What could be better than that?
If ya have $20 burning a hole in your pocket go and check them out this weekend, you will not be disappointed, this is going back to their 80's stuff this is Baby Ran, check it out Ill post a little picture of my favorite piece of music collectible later:
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Category: Music
High Gas Prices Killing Music
You can raise the price of gas as high as you want, you can raise the price of everything if you want, but for me, as soon as it starts to interfere with the ability of new, up and coming indie rock bands to go out on tour and essentially broaden their musical horizons, putting the whole indie rock scene in jeopardy, then its personal.
I love music and this article is all about that music scene being affected by high fuel costs. Most indie bands who are trying to survive don't get fancy record deals that pay for their travel and hotels, they like the band in this article get around in a rented van or someones personal vehicle.
They don't get guaranteed money and they don't get royalties on record sales because they have to play shows to generate interest and get people to buy their music. This will do a few things, I think you will start seeing many indie bands playing more local shows, you may even see more local bands try to organize mini festivals locally in order to generate more fans at the shows and more interest from outside the area. One thing I do know is, it limits the ability of any band to travel much unless they are in the top tier of live performing acts. Its tough for bands to pay hauling their equipment around and maybe even a small crew. It will be interesting to see how this affects the music scenes across the country and if it limits bands ability to survive or if they reinvent the way the expose people to their music. My thinking is through things like Youtube and other media, bands will figure it out. Though there is nothing like the live experience of a good live band perform. This is a clip from one of Canada's most successfuly Indie bands (indie meaning they don't have a major record label supporting them which does have its benefits) This is Sloan with Money City Maniacs:Sunday Retro
Todays retro pick is a one hit wonder but oh what a hit. Most will recognize the tune before they recognize the bands name.
This Flesh for Lulu with their one hit, 1987's I Go Crazy:
Category: Music
Hip For The Hell Of It
One of the things the Tragically Hip is known for is the incredible number of Hip cover bands. There are a ton of Hip cover bands including Buffalo's own Strictly Hip and this band Tenaciously Hip. Today, I am featuring a cover band for Hip For The Hell Of It. I couldn't find one of my favorite songs off of In Between Evolution called Mean Streak.
This is Tenaciously Hip with a relatively good version of Mean Streak in Burlington, Vermont:
Category: Music
