Happy Beltane, everyone
It’s May Day, and it’s safe to dance.
Read moreCategory Archives: Music/Popular Culture
A brief tribute to Greg Ham of Men at Work. RIP.
Music is a precious thing, and it’s always sad when even a little bit of it dies. Thus, this morning begins on a down note with the news that Greg Ham, multi-instrumentalist for Men at Work, is dead at the age of 58. Casual music fans will remember him as the author of the catchy flute riff in “Land Down
Read moreRIP Jim Marshall: “These go to eleven.”
Legendary amplifier maker Jim Marshall is dead. April 5, 2012 | 8:54 am Jim Marshall, who was known as “The Father of Loud” for designing the amplifiers that became ubiquitous in the rock world, has died at 88. We talk about the guitar gods, the screaming vocalists, the idiot drummers, the groupies, the stylemakers, the partiers… We don’t often pay
Read moreThis just in: the surviving members of Aerosmith sell out (BIG TIME), and can somebody get Mr. Perry a tissue?
It has been observed, here and elsewhere, what a fucking embarrassment Steven Tyler has become. Once Aerosmith was among America’s greatest bands, and today they occupy the #5 spot (with a bullet) on my Oh How the Mighty Have Fallen list. It was refreshing, then, when Joe Perry brought the hammer down on his silly-ass 64-going-on-14 Teen Beat bandmate. Reports TMZ:
Read moreTunesDay Special: a fond goodbye to Earl Scruggs
Earl Scruggs, the legendary master of the bluegrass banjo, is dead at 88. It was just a few days ago that I was writing about the music that I grew up with, and rest assured, Flatt & Scruggs were welcome in the Smith household. There’s honestly not a lot I can say that I feel is worthy of the man’s genius
Read moreSaturday Video Roundup: deconstruction angels (mash my bitch up)
The Internet era (and the age of PostModernism in general) has given the world a lot of garbage. But damned if the proliferation of electronic technology hasn’t produced some freakin’ awesome moments, too. Like this, which was sent my way by our buddy Frank Balsinger. One of the absolute best mashups I’ve ever seen.
Read moreWhat the hell happened to country music?
Friend: Hey, Yogi, I think we’re lost. Yogi Berra: Yeah, but we’re making great time! It’s probably clear to anybody who pays attention that I’m a rock & roll guy. But I was raised by my grandparents, two country folks who were born in 1913 and 1914 respectively and grew up through the Great Depression. There were two kinds of
Read moreWho should replace Hank Williams, Jr. on the Monday Night Football Intro? How about Mitt Romney, Man of the People®?
If you recall, Bocephus is out at MNF, thanks to a joke that ESPN deemed over the line. But somebody has to sing an annoying, poorly customized intro before each game, right? Who, though? I have an idea. Lately Mitt Romney, Man of the People® has been touring the country, connecting with the Common Man. He’s connected with Northern auto workers,
Read moreImagine there’s no boycotts: that sounds like Communism to me
Following up on yesterday’s post about how unfair it is when progressives fight fire with fire… One of the architects of the modern conservative boycott movement back in the day was the now-deceased Rev. Jerry Falwell, founder of the “Moral Majority.” His strategy was simple. Identify those television and radio stations whose programming “promoted” a “liberal agenda” or “secular humanist”
Read moreFor everybody who watched the Grammys: do you believe me now?
I never watch the Grammys because they tend to be a showcase for everything bad about the music industry. I know most folks aren’t that cynical and enjoy the spectacle. And the truth is, every once in awhile the academy gets it right. Last night Adele carried home six Grammys and Foo Fighters hauled in five more. Very worthy winners,
Read moreDr. Sammy’s Best CDs of 2011, pt 4: the CD of the Year
Previously: I hope you took a few minutes to explore the outstanding recipients of this year’s Gold and Platinum LP awards. Honorable Mentions, too. I don’t think many readers will find much controversy in the assertion that things have been hard over the past few years, and 2010 and 2011 were especially hellish in my neck of the woods. So
Read more#Occupy Van Halen?
This morning I took a few minutes to watch the vid for the new Van Halen single, “Tattoo.” I was a little startled, in the final verse, to encounter these lyrics: Uncle Danny, had a coal tattoo. He fought for the unions, Some of us still do. On my shoulder is the number of the chapter he was in. That
Read moreThe Rock & Roll Hall of Fame sucks; here’s how to fix it
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a joke. I think we all know this, but if you’re new to the issue a quick illustration should suffice: Madonna is in it. Rush, Kiss, Cheap Trick, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Deep Purple, Big Star, The Cure, Devo, Dire Straits, ELO, Hüsker Dü, INXS, Jethro Tull, Judas Priest, The Moody Blues, Motorhead, My
Read moreChristopher Hitchens, 1949-2011
Christopher Hitchens has died at the age of 62. If Chris Corner’s tribute to the man seems conflicted, that is perhaps appropriate.
Read moreFrost/Nixon: The rehabilitation of Tricky Dick and what it says about the soul of modern America
My colleague Michael Sheehan recent offered a tip of the cap to a local staging of Frost/Nixon, which starred our old friend Stuart O’Steen. If anything, Mike was understated in his praise of the show and O’Steen’s performance. Anytime the big-city Denver Post says nice things about a community theater production up in the hinterlands of Longmont you know something special
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lullaby pit 