My Morning Jacket with Band of Horses at Madison Square Garden on Wed. Dec. 14. Tickets on sale this morning at 10:00 a.m. $69.25. There is a 4 ticket limit per purchase.
Radiohead at Roseland Ballroom next Wed. Sept. 28. Tickets on sale this Mon. Sept. 26 at 10:00 a.m. $79.75. Limit two tickets per person and pick up at Will Call window only.
Guns & Roses at the Comcast Theater in Hartford CT on Sat. Nov. 19. Tickets on sale this morning at 10:00 a.m. $68 and $89.70
Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band at Madison Square Garden on Thurs. Dec. 1. Tickets on sale tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. $93.35 and $143.20
Goo Goo Dolls at the Wellmont Theater on Fri. Nov. 11. Tickets on sale today at noon. $40 ($45 day of show).
David Garrett at the Beacon Theater on Sat. Feb. 4, 2012. Tickets on sale this morning at 10:00 a.m. $53.15, $63.40 and $73.60
From Good Homes at the Wellmont Theater on Sat. Dec. 17. Tickets on sale today at noon. $30 ($35 day of show).
Simple Plan at Best Buy Theater on Tues. Nov. 29. Pre-sale tickets for AMEX holders until 10:00 a.m. this morning. General public tickets on sale today at noon. $25.
Foreigner at Town Hall on Tues. Feb. 14, 2012. Tickets on sale this morning at 10:00 a.m. $71.55 and $140.70.
Olivia Newton John at NYCB Theater in Westbury NY on Thurs. Dec. 8. Tickets on sale now. $41.50 and $62.50
Other items:
I write about music but my cousin Devin Arne makes music and he just put out his first solo EP -“Kaleidoscope”- (he is also a producer) that is available at I-Tunes and also at www.canalrecords.com. The EP features a wealth of talent from Miami’s diverse music scene including rapper LaGuardia, rock vocalist Fernando Castro, saxophonist Matthew Taylor, guitarist/producer Will Mills and singer Paracusiatic. Hailing from New York are Rappers Dylan Owen, a long time collaborator of Devin, as well as A-Game and Kia Rogers.
The albums music is influenced by a diverse array of genres including Hip Hop, Broken Beat, Indie-Rock, Bhangra and Dub. Devin cites The Roots, Outkast Radiohead, Flying Lotus and Björk as major influences. The basic instrumentals of the tracks were composed by Devin Arne from the winter of 2010 through Summer of 2011, with the idea of creating an album that would feature a wide array of vocalists each adding their unique sound and style. The EP’s funky electronic beats and processed guitar sounds stand in stark contrast to Devin’s 2009 collaborative acoustic jazz release Songs Of The North & There and Back by The Devin Arne Quintet. How cool is this? I can say I remember when Devin was at my wedding as a five year old and now he is on I-Tunes and planning a tour. Wow, way to go Devin!! Check it out, I have it and not just because he is family, this is good stuff right here.
There was pretty shocking news a few days ago when it was announced on their website that R.E.M. was breaking up after 31 years as a band. Weird thing is that they just released their fifteenth studio album earlier this year, so one would have thought they were going to gear up for a tour in support of it but not the case. I have to give it to them though they remained relevant throughout their 31 year history, kind of reminds me of U2 in the sense that no matter what new genre was the flavor of the month, they managed to get airplay from any type of rock radio format, whether it was classic or modern. Somehow, someway you always heard an R.E.M. song on the radio. They had 64 singles released on the airwaves, pretty impressive, no? They are already in the Hall of Fame (I think Eddie Vedder’s induction speech is still going on) and made a major impact of the music world. Warner Brothers will be releasing a greatest hits retrospective in November. Thank you R.E.M. for giving your gift of music to all of us.
I went to see the “Tedeschi-Trucks” band on Saturday Sept. 10 at the Beacon Theater with my oldest son as he is now the connoisseur of all things –“guitar player”- and he is part of the community that is “in the know” about the guitar prodigy named Derek Trucks. Folks, I am telling you right now, you’d be hard pressed to find another living guitarist who possesses the skills that this young man has. Some of the words that quickly come to mind whenever I have seen him is: amazing, blazing, awe inspiring, breath taking, mesmerizing…I could go on for days and my plea today is for you to somehow get to see this man shred the guitar so you can hear (and see) it with your own ears (and eyes). This is his “new” band with his wife-Susan Tedeschi- and nine other close friends (yes I said nine) and he is also in the Allman Brothers, so he is in New York almost every year without fail; hence there will be multiple chances to witness a Hall of Fame guitarist. (Forget the 25 year body of work- he’s in already in my opinion). And what about his wife- Susan- you ask? This woman possesses such a sweet presence on stage but commands such respect because of her soulful vocal style (nobody can rip it like she can) and her impressive skills on guitar. There was a moment that my son keenly pointed out during the show when Derek and Susan were “battling” (or trading guitar licks) each other and he said “how many people can say that they were jamming on the stage with their wife?” And you know what, she more than held her own (I am not trying to make this a competition but I figured you would have wanted to know how she did-I know- I apologize, I will stop talking). These two young artists have music in their system which can not be taught, in my opinion it is a “calling” and they were put here on this earth to spread their cheer for the rest of us lucky ones. It is mind boggling the amount of raw talent that they possess (along with the rest of the band) for such a young age and I’m sorry for focusing so much on age but usually bands become this good after years of being in the music business or in the same band for decades.
My son would be better for the breakout of the songs performed because he knows every song inside out from their debut album-“Revelator”- but I know some of the highlights for me was “Learn How to Love,” “Bound for Glory” and my son’s favorite-“Midnight in Harlem.” The band has two drummers (who were both phenomenal), a keyboardist, bass (go Oteil!!!) a horn section complete with a saxophonist, a trumpeter and trombone player along with two back-up male singers. (But don’t kid yourself, these two guys have the skills the front their own band and I believe they both do). There was a fusion of all these instruments and vocals that produced such unbelievable grooves, riffs, jams that again was “all natural.” The music is in every one of them. There was a moment during one of the encores where the trombone player had his moment to shine with a solo and the audience could see Derek basically taking his hands off the guitar and staring intently at him, almost like it was an audition but more likely to let the crowd know that something very cool was about to occur. The trombonist played his tail off but then steps up to the plate and starts to sing- who knew he had these skills? The rest of the band is jamming and smiling and like the entire night they made it feel like there was one big happy family up on stage just expressing their love through music and the result was spectacular- the audience was out of their seats most of the night-singing, dancing and watching with much admiration while knowing they were part of a very special night.
The highlight for the show for me is when the band broke out into two phenomenal songs by Sly & The Family Stone-“Sing a Simple Song” and “I Want to Take You Higher.” The best part is when Mike Mattison (the singer of the Trucks band before they integrated with Susan) sang the high parts of the songs and if you know his voice you know that it is very deep and he would have been the last person that I would have thought to handle those parts but he completely knocked it out of the park. When they started to play “Higher” I don’t think I could have been any higher- it was one of those feelings where I felt like I was having an outer body experience (like I do when I am at a Van Halen show with Diamond Dave or a Metallica show). The band was jamming like no other and it was complete euphoria.
I want to thank my oldest son for suggesting that we go to see this phenomenal band and of course I want to thank the members of the Tedeschi-Trucks band because the evening turned out to be one of the best shows I have ever seen (I know I say that about every show, right?) but I am telling you from the bottom of my heart-it couldn’t have been any better- a fantastically (is this a word?) talented band and being there with my son-could it have been any better? I think not. Folks you need to familiarize yourself with this band.
Later on that week, I went to see the “Big Four” at Yankee Stadium for a nice quiet summer afternoon/evening with my younger brother and “tens of thousands” metal militia members who were clamoring for an event like this that would unite them for a “Kumbaya” moment remininscent of the flower power movement of the 1960’s albeit with black tar dripping from the thorned roses. Even though the label that is cultivated by metal was on display everywhere on this summer mid-week work and school day, I believe everyone was genuinely happy that this day finally arrived. (Yes I know there are others still steamed that Exodus or Testament weren’t included but let’s move on). Of course, there will be the haters and complainers out there that will moan about who played first, second and third but there were no doubts about who was going to bat “clean-up.” With no disrespect to the other bands, without Metallica, the event would have been held at Irving Plaza, so there was no denying who was batting fourth.
Now I consider myself part of that metal militia but just like in many other areas of life I don’t think I am in as deep as some of my brethren. As you know I love Metallica and I have seen Megadeth before, so for half the show I knew I was going to recognize much of the set that they were going to perform. When Anthrax came on first I knew that they were from the New York area and they basically came out in Yankee jersey’s and Ian yelled out to the audience that there was no way they would play at a loser stadium-Citifield- and purposely singled out Eddie Trunk (host of “That Metal Show”) in his proclamation, who must be a Mets fan. Anthrax was a recent guest on TMS in the new season. (Are you watching this show yet?!) Anyway, I thought Anthrax put on a fantastic performance with pure energy and seemed to be having lots of fun being “home” in front of their loyal fans. I can honestly say that I would go see them in concert again and may start to “discover” their music by diving into their catalog. I loved to see the many fans singing along to every word of every song (which included a couple who brought their young son) while of course head-banging at breakneck speed. (Hey we were all there at some point to bang our heads off letting off steam, right??!!). The boys from Anthrax had to pound it out in the hot sun and steamy afternoon and pound it they did. My brother was so impressed that he downloaded over 30 songs from I-Tunes- you see it is never too late and I myself will have to do the same \m/ \m/.
Megadeth came out and it was good to see Mr. Ellefson back with the band and recently the line-up has remained pretty stable. (This band would give Thin Lizzy a run for its money for the amount of band members that have been enlisted to keep it running). Dave Mustaine is very “business like” despite most of his songs which are written against “the system” and they put forth a different kind of metal than Anthrax. I would say that Megadeth reminds me of Rush if they decided to become a metal band- very intelligent lyrics and extremely precise arrangements. Mustaine informed the audience that he had surgery on his neck the day before and shouldn’t have been performing but stated he did it for the fans and we the fans appreciated Dave. I will say he didn’t seem to have either his heart or head into the performance, there was sort of this “distance” that he appeared to have and it must have been due to the surgery-but they were “tight” and played with that heavy exactitude. I also was a bit surprised that Megadeth was second in this line-up and apparently Mustaine was good with the order because in the future when this tour is done again, he expects the arrangement to be different.
Now it was just about to get dark as the summer slowly (and sadly) is coming to an end but I had no idea just how dark it was going to get before Slayer was getting ready to enter the fray. As previously mentioned, there are different levels of metal and I consider myself someone who can handle the pulverizing break-neck riffs of the bass and lead guitars but Slayer takes it to another level that I am not used to. Folks they were a brutal force of destruction-just picture those frightening storm clouds that quickly form on a humid summer day and those lightning strikes that you feel are going to hit you no matter what the impossible odds of getting struck by lightning are. There were no stage “props” and the only times that I knew that they were switching tunes is when they took a few seconds in between songs and Yankee stadium became eerily pitch black-almost like when you drive by the stadium at night in December, sort of like being in a dungeon and I had the feeling that the band (and their fans) love it that way. The pace was furious and the decibel level was fierce and at points I felt like my chest was going to explode, almost like I was in a hole and rocks and dirt were being shoveled onto my head. Like I said, not my cup of tea but their fan base loved it and even James Hetfield stated that he loved to watch them because they are so brutal. Suffice to say, I probably won’t be headed back to delve into their extensive library.
So now with our ears hurting and hearts pumping a whole lot faster as the humidity of the evening seemingly turned up a notch, the stadium appears a whole lot more crowded as my brother and I try to figure out how to drain our system before Metallica hits the stage. What did I just say? Metallica was coming on and you knew they were going to be pulling out all the classics from their earlier albums, so there was no time to come down. Metallica’s stage was humungous (as opposed to the cell block experience we just had) and more wide open with the Yankee logo shining brightly behind the center-field set-up. Knowing they had to start off with something dark and damaging, they kick it into fifth gear right off the bat with –“Creeping Death”- just by the title you knew it was not “Good Day Sunshine” and the metal experience now five hours long, was going to be that much longer. For the next two hours, they pulled out all the stops-including a “Re-Load” song-“Fuel”-(which I told you in my top ten Metallica songs was heavy enough to be included in the “old” Metallica). In a tribute to Cliff Burton (their original bassist), they played “Orion” which fit perfectly into the metal marathon. Metallica pulverized the crowd with a rousing rendition of “Blackened.”And of course being at the home of the greatest relief pitcher in baseball history, they had to play-“Enter Sandman”- for those Yankee fans in attendance, how could they leave the night without playing that song? The encore had all the men from each band come out and they played “Overkill” by Motorhead; then ended the metal fest with “Battery” and “Seek and Destroy.”
It had been a while since I had done a “festival” show where I start in the sun and end in the dark and since it was a metal celebration there were dark moments of course but overall I loved it and felt the energy in the air. The crowd was in control (although the workers that usually do Yankee baseball games may have another opinion) and it was a day to celebrate metal with four distinctive bands (I know what you are thinking if you are not a metal fan- what???!!) But take my word for it, there are different degrees of metal and I am glad that the bands were able to put aside the fans opinions and do the concert in spite of them. And just like a movie that maybe you did not want to see; by the end you are pleasantly surprised with the result and leave with a different opinion that you came in with. Each band played their ass off and the results were great. I look forward to the next Big Four. \m/ \m/
My favorite new song of the week is-“Lemon Drop”- by the Pistol Annies which is “supergroup” of Country & Western female performers consisting of Miranda Lambert, Ashley Monroe, & Angaleena Presley. Their new album-“Hell on Heels”- has been getting rave reviews from many different sources/sites. This was the free song offered on I-Tunes and I jumped on it and it is now my new favorite song of the week.
My favorite “old school R&B” song of the week is-“Love (Makes Me Do Foolish Things)”- by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas. Wow, what else can I say but “they don’t write or sing songs like this” anymore. What a voice, folks I am telling you right now you need to own this track, unbelievable-it will put you in a trance.
Album Review: “Kick” by INXS released on Rocktober 19, 1987
A few weeks back on a Sunday morning I was channel surfing and for those of you who know me you know the channels I have to check out deal with sports, old TV sitcoms and of course music. Now the only music channel I religiously check out is “VH1 classic” which kind of reminds me of when VH1 (or MTV) used to be good viewing. So I happen to come across a “Behind the Music” (it has recently been revived-like Beavis & Butthead) episode on Michael Hutchence, the late front man of the Australian band, INXS. The “documentary” captivated me to the point where I actually put the clicker down-even during commercials because I was afraid I was going to miss something (so you know it had to be good). Listening to how those who make it in the business where thousands (or millions) or people sing the song (or songs) that they have written (or perform) whenever they hear it on the radio or wherever they hear it, is something that I will always be interested in. (I guess because I have the same passion for music but obviously am not a performer or singer).
We always think we know what it means (or feels) to be a rock star or a pop star and when I see a story like the one on Michael, it kind of makes me realize that maybe in all of our careers that we each choose, there are great moments along with some tough times. I know I assume that I would love to be at the “top of the world” where I could command an audience of more than 40,000 people with just the movement of my right arm; I could have them quiet down or roar with appreciation by just moving my arm without saying a word. (Kind of cool, no?) And yes boys and girls, Mr. Hutchence had this kind of power when INXS was at the “top of the world” back in the late 1980’s. Like many bands before them (and of course for the bands trying to make it), it took INXS some time before they made it to the promised land and one of the most interesting facts I discovered on the show was that the “club scene” in Australia is apparently much “rougher” (for lack of a better word) than it is here in the United States or in England. (Hard to imagine something more “raw” than the days of when “CBGB’s” was rockin’, punkin’ and rolling all those years). Also a surprising tidbid was to hear Michael’s family and close friends state that he was uncomfortable with being “on top” and did not like the pressure that went along with it. He was said to become more reclusive when the band’s popularity grew. Sadly, we all know how the story ends and I had a tear stream down my face when his father broke down as he recalled the moment when the police showed up at his door with the news that his son was gone. “I got down on my knees and begged God to take me and to leave Michael here.” Now I am not going to sit here and say that I know Michael after a one hour show but it did give the viewer a slight insight to his life, albeit it with the “sex, drugs and rock & roll” expected aspect of the story and it goes without saying that he died way too young (just like so many others we all know-rock stars or personal friends) because who knows where his talent would have taken him.
Now I had the good fortune to see INXS during their “heyday” and I personally witnessed the presence he commanded on stage along with an unbelievable energy that made it a stand out memory for me when I think back on the most memorable shows that I have ever seen during this never ending quest to see live music while I am here on earth. And I can not say that I was a huge fan of INXS because I only have one album by them- “Kick”-without a doubt their most popular album-and what an album it is. (Yes I know this goes against the grain with me, especially in the late 1980’s when I usually dropped bands once they became popular- hey what can I say? I am “complicated.”). After I watched “Behind the Music,” what do you think I did? Yes- dove right back into “Kick” and it brought me back and again made me realize how good this band is-with him at the helm- and just how much fun it is to listen to their songs because what is life without fun? Now there may be some of you out there who may not have taken this band seriously or may say that this album spawned “golden nuggets” and is not a classic album. My response is “hogwash”- this album was made to listen to from top to bottom, so here goes.
The album starts off with “Guns in the Sky” and the beginning starts off with some “James Brown-like” grunts backed by some “rap-like” drum beats and right off the bat you are either dancing around the room or if you are not the dancing type, you are snapping your fingers and/or bopping your head up and down to the infectious beat. Is it a simple beat? Yes, but it has to get some part of your body moving.“da, da, da…love your house…da, da, da…can you spare a dime?” I like the way the lead guitar comes in the last 30 seconds or so and gives it that extra kick in the pants. Then it transitions beautifully into “New Sensation” and in my opinion it is one of the best “one-two” punches to start off an album. And what about “New Sensation?” This is one song that I never tire from and can listen to at any point of the day or night-there is something so fresh about this song. This is Maroon 5 before Maroon 5 is born, right? “Live baby live, now that the day is over”- words to live by for many, right? The hook is again down right infectious. I can remember Madison Square Garden rocking out to the max when they played this track, an unbelievable sight as 18,000 people were dancing in the aisles-just having a total blast. Like a snake slivering through the grass, “Devil Inside” starts off slickly as the groove slows down a bit but that doesn’t stop this song from arguably being the most popular song on the album. “Look at him go…look at him kick…makes you wonder how the other half lives…devil inside…devil inside…every single one of us.” C’mon you know there is a little devil inside every one of us, some of us just hide it better than others, right? (One can take that meaning so many different ways you decide how you want to take it). This composition flows beautifully and if you listen carefully you will know exactly what I am talking about-especially the cool background vocals that sort of sound like an instrument. Others may argue that track # 4-“Need You Tonight”- is the most popular track from “Kick” and would point to the countless times that MTV played this video, right??!! If you were around in the late 1980’s you had to know this song, either through the radio or MTV-or if you were like me-from both. It may be one of those songs where one can no longer listen to (because of its obsessive play) but I have not heard it in a pretty long time so I can deal with it (and can also control it because it is not on the radio-or MTV- as much now- funny how things change, right?). Now for those of you who did not know that the song actually ends and morphs into “Mediate” and if you were like me when watching the video you just assumed that when Michael was flashing all the cards with one word catch phrases that were part of the lyrics, it was still “Need You.” But alas, it is not. And I don’t want to hear the argument that this is not a good song because you know you hang on all the lyrics as you try to take in every phrase that is being spoken because it was cool. Side one (did I forget to mention that?) ends with the gritty “The Loved One” which has a funky groove highlighted by some very cool keyboard/piano work integrated with the lead guitar (Ok so I recognize there is not a big “guitar” presence in their songs but they do know how to accentuate- have I mentioned the similarity between them and Maroon 5?). The great thing about this album is that everyone can sing along to the great chorus “punch-lines” which are huge in almost every song. So now everyone sing along- “Oh baby I love you so…I need you now…I want you back…I can’t go on.” I love this song and can’t decide if this is my most favorite track on the album-there are so many great songs to pick from- and I would point to Michael’s vocal performance on this tune as proof positive that he was the “real deal” and deserving of being recognized as a superstar.
Turn over to side two to the “Wild Life” and start dancing again (or snapping your fingers) and I must say that the volume must be turned up to the point where your neighbor might ask you to turn down. Do you hear that cool noise throughout the tune? What is that? At some points this has some head-banging qualities as I have caught myself moving my neck up and down at a good pace-so can it be “head-banging pop?” Yes I will go with that-I just made up a new category. Seriously folks, every song so far is a hit. Then it is on to my most favorite INXS of all-time (so I guess it has to be my favorite on the album, right?). “Never Tear Us Apart” is one of the greatest songs ever recorded in the 1980’s and I will not take any arguments to the contrary.It contains a quality of passion that may have not been replicated since its recording. Yes that is how much I love this track. The composition of this song is second to none despite its “simple” setting and it’s hard to put into words how much this song moves me. Just like in the statement –“you had me at hello”- they had me at-“Don’t ask me…what you know is true…don’t have to tell you…I love your precious heart.”- I love the bass part with the grand style entrance that has to make you put your hands on your heart and feel the passion that rips through your chest. This could be Michael’s vocal masterpiece despite the song being less than three minutes long, how can you not feel this? “We could live…for a thousand years…but if I hurt you…I make wine from your tears…” The saxophone solo is righteous; despite how short it is-sometimes the best things come in small packages, right? This song moves me like no other. The flow of this album is what grabs my attention, especially the transition from “Never Tear” to “Mystify.” How great is this song as well? It is so addictive and three quarters of the album is gone and you start to realize what a classic this really is. This is their pinnacle and I for one don’t understand why this album doesn’t rank up way high when people search for the best albums of the decade of 1980. I know there is a legion of their fans out there who would point to this song as the best track on the disc and it is hard to argue against that statement. I love the “yeah” in the background at certain points of the song. Flat out one of their best songs ever. Track # 4 on side two is the title song and it definitely contains that certain “kick” in the pants which gets you moving. The saxophone is all over this tune as well as the background trumpets and trombones which gives it that “R&B” flavor. You know when a song is good because it is over before you know it-the song starts off with a “Prince-like”- “dearly beloved we are gathered here today” as the boisterous infectious beat kicks into gear to get you out of your seat and party “like it is 1999.” The “dance-fest” continues with the high energy-“Calling All Nations”- a lesser known track but contains the same quality as all the songs before it. I can just picture a huge crowd having a great time at a wedding and the DJ throws this song on as the crowd goes wild with a huge circle that forms as individuals try to make their mark within the epicenter while the music is blasting and the older folks just watch with amusement while stating that their generation did it better. How much fun is this song? I can’t get enough of it. The last track on the album is-“Tiny Daggers”- which is another fast pace song that conjures up thoughts of Squeeze. The guitar work is very nice and the arrangement is something that grabs your attention. It is a party and INXS has done its best to get you to join in the fun, so what are you waiting for?-You need to own this album.
“Kick” is an album that will never lose its appeal because one can tell that the band poured its blood and guts into making it one of the best-if not the best- albums’ of the 1980’s. Go ahead and scoff at this notion but you can not deny that this album spawned some of the biggest hits of the 1980’s and the songs sound as fresh today as the day they were recorded. The sad thing, in my opinion, is that Michael is no longer with us to show the subsequent generations how great he really was. Can you imagine if he were still with us today?, I truly believe that he would have become an “Icon”-Ok maybe not as big as Bono, but maybe just a notch below Icon. Folks this album needs to be in your musical library and there is still time to take this album out and discover what the INXS fan already knows- it is hard to top this body of work–flawless from top to bottom.
Workout Songs
I was talking with my good friend “99” and was telling her I was looking for categories to write about and since she is an avid runner, she mentioned that I should come up with songs that are good to run along to. So in my opinion, it sort of falls into the category of “Boot Camp” songs whereby a consistent beat is needed but maybe not as extreme as an all out boot camp class would require. Here are some good running songs in my opinion, in no particular order:
I Love Music – The O’Jays – What better way to start off your run with a great R&B song to get the juices flowing? Get the extended version which clocks in at almost seven minutes long. The consistent groove should match your feet pounding on the pavement as your eyes focus on each foot hitting the ground to the nice beat. This song also works at a house party- yes with the folks that remember the classics.
Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now) – Bob Sinclair – Talk about a song that gets you moving, you may stop running and start dancing right in the road. The bombastic beats are almost too much to take and at certain parts of the song, your feet will be hitting the pavement as hard as the beats are flowing. The Jamaican flavor makes you move easier. Rock the house!!!
Save Me, San Francisco – Train – What a fun song this is, this band is really starting to grow on me. This could be used as you get your run started or when you are coming to the end of your journey. You will not be able to control the urge to sing along-“I’ve been high…I’ve been low…I’ve been yes and I’ve been Oh Hell No!!!” The beat is so addictive as the drums are so infectious, if this song doesn’t move you-the like the Beastie Boys say-“Check your head.” I can’t get enough of this song and never mind my favorite song of the week, this has been my favorite song for more than a month now. Pure fun, you need to own this song.
Bridge Burning – Foo Fighters– If you can take Dave Grohl screaming in your ears at a very high decibel then this is the song for you. The hard driving song has to pump you up as you push yourself to do better, go faster and go just a little farther than you set out to do. This song may have to be used in the middle or towards the end of your run because it is high energy and you’ll need to be a well oiled machine by the time you get to this song. Great new song from their impressive “Wasting Light” album.
Ring My Bell – Anita Ward – Ok, an oldie but a goodie, consistent beat that is easy to run along to. My boys can’t stand this song any more because somehow it always makes my playlist whenever we have a party. (I put it on for my wife because I know she loves it). I know it is short but if you can find the extended disco version, you are in.
Gonna Fly Now – Bill Conti – How can the theme from “Rocky” not be included in this list of running songs? Is there a better song to get you pumped up to complete your run? Try and have this as your last song as you are coming to the finish line and even if you are dog tired, once you hear the “bell” – you will answer it. Great song, period.
Perfect Insanity – Disturbed – This is the heavy metal portion of running class and one can really not go wrong with Disturbed to get the juices flowing. The middle of the song slows down a bit but it would work if you are running up a hill. It is not an all out sprint but it moves pretty quickly in the beginning and then moves into more hill like run. Again for any type of workout, Disturbed’s music will typically work. Hard driving band.
Let It Roll – Little Feat – Want some good home town cooking to get you moving? Look no further than this fast moving track which just might have you dancing and clapping your hands instead of running. This band is so much fun and if you have never seen them before, you really should make an effort. (They come to BB Kings at least once a year). Kick off your shoes and dance around the room…Ooops I mean, tie your laces and move those legs and arms. It’s tough not to perform some kind of dance motion while you are running to this song, pure fun!!!.
Knock ‘Em Dead, Kid – Motley Crue – As you probably can tell, I like the heavy pounding beats to get me moving and this Crue classic always gets the juices flowing. I know it may be a little too heavy for most but if you want to keep moving at a nice pace, check this tune out from their “Shout At The Devil” album.
Tripping on a Hole in A Paper Heart – Stone Temple Pilots – Keeping with the fast pace, sort of heavy theme, the Stone Temple Pilots are such a solid band and the good thing about this band is that they want you to sing along with them. Having said that, this song has been out for decades and I still don’t know what the lyrics are but that is the best part because when you are running and you’re tired, you basically are dribbling the words anyway, so who is gonna know that you are singing it incorrectly? Just have fun!!!!
A.D. 1928/Rockin’ The Paradise – Styx – You have to play both songs in a row just like their album-“Paradise Theater”-started off because even though the first minute seems to be a slow song it then kicks into gear and how can you not sing along to this song. “I ain’t looking to fight but I know with determination we can challenge the schemers who cheat all the rules.” Great song that gets the juices flowing.
Electric Eye – Judas Priest – If you want to get pumped beyond belief, then you need a Judas Priest track, no? These guys are so friggin’ good, it is scary and songs like this one proves that point. I tested this one out for myself folks on a morning run this week and I watched the tips of my sneakers hit the ground in front of me as it matched the drum beats in perfection. You may have to stop to air guitar though, I can’t blame you if you because this song rocks!!! \m/ \m/
Rip It Out – Ace Frehley – If you are running to outer space then you need to take your “Ace” spaceman with you from his first solo album, this fast pace rocker will blast you off in no time. Run Ace Run!!! Air-guitaring is required. \m/ \m/
I Understand Now – Patterson Hood – Good warm up song or cool down as the pace is not so fast but not so slow, very consistent. If you like Mellencamp (not the new “Hank Williams” Mellencamp but the one from about 5-10 years ago) you will like this tune.
Here is a list from my good friend “99” that I mentioned above, she is an avid runner and these are the tunes that she likes to run to:
“Don’t Stop Believing”- Journey; “Meet me Halfway”- Black Eyed Peas; “Never Know”- Jack Johnson; “Raise Your Glass”- Pink; “A Thousand Miles”- Vanessa Carlton; “About An Hour Ago”- O.A.R.; ‘Body Language”- Jesse McCartney; “Halo”- Beyonce; “Bulletproof” – La Roux; “Heartbreak Warfare”- John Mayer; “Viva La Vida”- Coldplay; ‘First day of My Life”- Bright Eyes; “Shattered”- O.A.R.; “Wonderful Day”- O.A.R.; “Forever”- Chris Brown; “I’ll Do Anything”- Jason Mraz; “Beautiful Day”- Michael Buble.
Top Ten
This week’s I-Pod shuffle landed on “25 or 6 to 4” by Chicago and it immediately hit me that I had not done a top ten list from this outfit that is still going strong some 40 years after starting out as the Chicago Transit System. Now am I the biggest fan?; I can’t say that I am because they have so many albums, maybe as many as my years here on earth. (46) I have a few of their albums but “cheated” by getting their double CD greatest hits, which covers so much ground. If I had to take a guess on what band I heard on the radio the most (besides the Beatles and Elvis) while growing up, I would have to say Chicago would be on top. From the early 1970’s to the early 1980’s, they had so many of their songs playing on the radio and not just the “oldies” station. They were played on contemporary radio (WABC radio-yes AM my friends) as well as the classic rock format. They were “progressive,” “rocking,” and “pop” all mixed into one that drew so many different fans into their lure and is a testament to their longevity, as fans still find time out of their busy summer to see them each and every year. Did they eventually go and stay on the pop highway? Yes, most probably know their “power ballads” as opposed to their early “prog” style but I didn’t have a problem with it-they made some of the best pop songs ever.
It’s hard for me to believe that there is not a song in their library that you can say you don’t like-it’s “Un-American.” There has to be one song that you like in their extensive playlist that gets you going- even if it is in the car by yourself if you are afraid to admit you like it in public. Has there ever been a better band to mix the horns with the guitars, piano and drums. Ok, so there are others but they are near the top in my opinion. Now this list will be similar to that of Heart in the sense that I don’t have any “obscure” songs that you have never heard of- every song on this list should be familiar to you-the argument will come when I get questions like-“How could you leave out-“You’re The Inspiration?”-which is my oldest sons’ favorite Chicago song. My response is (and always has been) that it is in the eye (I mean-“ear”) of the beholder. So with that, I acknowledge that they have so many hits that it is hard to narrow it down to ten songs but I am stuck on an island and have been informed that I can only have ten songs by Chicago-“These are Them:”
10. Wishing You Were Here– This song beat out a lot of competition for the tenth spot but in my own personal “battle of the tunes” it kept winning out over some of the other selections I had, some very good ones I might add-which tells you how impressive this song is. The part of the song that does it for me is when there is about 2:05 seconds remaining in the tune when they come to the bridge and sing “And I’d like to change my life and you know I would…just to be with you tonight, baby if I could…”-that could be my most favorite “break” in a song ever-to me there is nothing better. (I know I am weird but just as they say-“it’s the little things in life that mean so much.”). This takes me back to my childhood days-especially my summer days and nights spent with my grandmother and uncle- Ahh those were the days.
9. If You Leave Me Now –Did I mention how great their “power ballads” are? How can anyone not like this song (Ok yes maybe because it has been played incessantly since its release-I can see that). Many of their songs put me in a trance and this is certainly one of them. The arrangement is superb right down to the “triangle” sound and the vocals are beyond spectacular. The world would never be the same if songs like this did not exist. The guitar solo in the middle is righteous and takes the song to another level. I could listen to this song all day long.
8. Saturday in the Park –Despite the fact that this song should be banned from classic rock radio for the next ten years (forgot to add this one when I did that list), I couldn’t eliminate it from my list- it is too good The piano part in the beginning gets me every time-hook, line & sinker and once the trumpet chimes in, well I am waiting to sing along-“a man selling ice cream…singing Italian songs…”-(don’t ask me the line after that because I still don’t know what they say and that is after 35 years of hearing this song). This tune crosses generations like none other- I know that my great, great grandkids will love this track just as my own kids, my dad and my grandfather (yes he likes it he just doesn’t know it).
7. 25 or 6 to 4 – This is another song that should be banned from classic rock radio for the next ten years but again it is too good to not take along with you on that island because I couldn’t imagine waiting ten years to hear one of the best-if not the best- guitar songs in all of rock and roll history. Terry Katz does an amazing job on guitar and every time I listen to the track I am still impressed on his ability to make the guitar sing. I think I read somewhere that Jimi Hendrix was an admirer of Katz on guitar-pretty sweet, huh? And how many songs with great guitar solos can boast that they have trombones and trumpets mixed in with the flow so smoothly that it doesn’t seem like there are trombones and trumpets in it? If you follow Katz throughout the entire song you will realize that he just doesn’t stop, it’s like an all out sprint in Spin class or blasting your way through a 40 yard dash (obviously he does it longer than a 40-yard dash but you get the picture). Can’t say enough about this song, has to be considered in the top 100 classic rock songs of all-time.
6. Colour My World – Talk about your mesmerizing songs? This could be the most hypnotic song ever recorded and sometimes simplicity takes things to a whole new level, right? Katz does an equally amazing job on this song as he did in “25” and I always have to hit the rewind button right up until the part where he starts singing so that I can hear that awesome piano part. I have implored my youngest son to play this song on piano and also have chided my oldest to take on the flute part as he also plays flute. This song is flawless and is one of their most beautiful moments ever recorded.
5. Make Me Smile – Love the fusion of the horn section with the guitar and drums, how great is the drumming on this song? There is something about this tune that gets me every time I hear it. Love the vocals and especially the background vocals, does it get any better? Why yes it does-once the trumpet solo takes over it carries the song to another level and then once the guitar chimes in, well it reaches superstar status in my mind. I remember the first Spin CD that I ever created for Megan when she started teaching at MBIA included two Chicago songs- this one and another track further up on this list. Believe it or not, this song works for Spin-“I’m so happy…that you love me…Life is lovely…when you’re near me…”- you will have a lot of fun with this track and isn’t that what life is about? Having fun. If you are not familiar with this song, please make sure you experience the magnitude that those of us who do know this song. Flat out one of their best songs ever recorded.
4. Alive Again – Don’t ask me why this song is here at number 4, just accept it. I know it is going to be hard for many of you out there but I always had a bond with this song from the day it was released. At the time back in the 1970’s, they had become so big that whenever they released a new album there was more pressure for them to come up with songs to keep them relevant. In my opinion, this song kept the train running as they stacked up on the coal to keep the engine purring. Now the kicker for me was that my father’s station at the time-“CBS-FM”- the oldies station- started to put it on their playlist. Yes I know what you’re thinking but it was sort of like a double-edged sword- kiss of death that it appeared on an oldies station right off the bat but on the other hand-so good that it was already recognized as a classic. I convinced myself it was better to be considered a classic right away and it showed my Dad that I listened to music that was good and now he was hearing it on his almighty station.
3. Questions 67 and 68 – Majestic…that is the first word that comes to mind when I think about this song or how about grandiose? This spectacular arrangement has to go down in the lures of music as one of the best-almost to the point where people say-“Did that really happen?” This had to come from a higher power, no? Ok maybe a little out there but you get my drift. The changes within the song are again flawless to the point where I have to start doing the Wayne’s World-“We Are Not Worthy” bow for all to see. Love the way he belts out-“Questions 67 and 68” as the song comes to its end. Don’t know what else to say folks, this is an unbelievable song that is so good it brings a tear to the eye.
2. Old Days – I wish I could have written this song because this is me, my wife is always telling me that I live my life in the “Old Days” and I say- why not? In the “Old Days” I had my mother right there with me doing every thing in her power to make my life better. I also had my grandmother who I always think about when I hear this song. This song was recorded in the 1970’s and there were many a summer spent with my grandma as she took my brother and I everywhere she went, including those great “Penny Socials.” What I would give to have her hold my hand again as we walked under the moon light to the hall where everyone knew each other-back in the old days. “Days I’ll always treasure”- couldn’t have said it any better. Fantastic song.
1. Feelin’ Stronger Every Day– This was the other song that I put on my first ever Spin CD for Megan and again this works beautifully for any spin class because you start out climbing and then at the end, it is an all out sprint. Love the intro with those classic guitar riffs and the keyboards really stick out on this song, right? This song was part of my fabric as I was growing up and again takes me back to those great summer days spent in Otisville, NY. It is an inspirational tune and with about two minutes left in it, the pace dramatically picks up to really get the juices flowing and actually makes you feel stronger. And the best part?– it has all the “yeah, yeah, yeah” parts- can’t beat that, right? It is impossible to not sing along with this song so don’t even say you don’t like this tune, I will hear none of it. “After what you meant to me…ooohh baby now I can make it easily… feeling stronger everyday…” I hope you are feeling stronger everyday, listen to this song and it just might help you get there.
Trivia Questions
Answers from last week:
1. Sly Stone
2. Brownsville Station- “Smoking in the Boys Room”
3. Straight No Chaser
4. Jackyl- “Down on Me”
This week’s trivia (Random)-
1. Who is Stuart Leslie Goddard?
2. Who is Erica Wright?
3. Who is David Robert Hayward Stenton Jones?
4. Who is Ellen NaomiCohen?
Name That Tune
Answers from last week:
1. Get Down Tonight – KC & The Sunshine Band
2. Rasberry Beret – Prince
3. Lonely Teardrops – Jackie Wilson
4. Music – Madonna
Can you guess the title from the following lyrics from part of the song?
1. “…I’m like evil…I get under your skin…like a bomb that’s ready to blow…”
2. “…waiting at the station…tears filling up my eyes…sometimes the pain you hide…burns like a fire inside…”
3. “…sometimes I’m right…and I can be wrong…my own beliefs are in my song…a butcher, a baker…”
4. “…There ain’t no good in our goodbyes…true love takes a lot of trying…oh I’m crying…”
Back on this Day
Sadly back on this day in 1974, Robbie McIntosh of the Average White Band died at the young age of 24 after inhaling pure heroin thinking that it was cocaine
Back on this day in 1980, Bob Marley played his last concert at the Stanley Theater in Pittsburg. He collapsed twice during the show and two days before he had collapsed while in Central Park in New York City.
Back on this day in 1970, David Bowie took over the lead role in “Elephant Man” on Broadway and he did it three months.
Back on this day in 1991, Izzy Stradlin left Guns & Roses and was replaced by Gilbey Clarke. Many consider that the end of G&R.
Back on this day in 2010, Nancy Wilson filed for divorce from Cameron Crow, they had been married for 22 years.
If it is your birthday today, you share the same birth date with Bruce Springsteen and the late Ray Charles.
Errols Weekly Music Update. 