Good morning Christy, some people might say the best song evah is the sound of that coffee pot percolating.

Seriously, it’s amazing how deep music goes into our soul.

Oh yeah — mine just finished. And the sound you hear now is the “ahhhhhhh” from my picking up the warmed cup and just relaxing holding it against my stiff morning fingers and inhaling that yummy aroma.

It is weird how that morning routine is such a rush, isn’t it? And yet…I can get the same one with a cuppa tea, honestly. It’s the warmth more than anything for me in the morning.

Well, I’m currently stuck on an entire album, “Moody Bluegrass” – what those folks do with the harmonies just makes my hair stand on end..in a good way, of course…(worst cover by an opposite artist has to be “Stairway to Heaven” by Dolly Parton, though.)

Best Album = Rubber Soul

In classical music, Beethoven’s Ninth.

OMG! Somehow I missed the Dolly version of Stairway to Heaven. I adore her bluegrass work — her voice really is amazingly suited to old style bluegrass — but that really sounds like a bad match-up. LOL

Pink Floyd at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, early 70s. An outside venue. Sat on the lawn, jays were being passed, as were refreshments. Don’t remember much.

Morning Christy and gee I don’t know how long EVAR is *g* My cravings change all the time. Sometimes 60 & 70s sometimes classic, sometimes C&W, and on and on.

Well dang. I was all set to talk tomato automators.

Takes one look at the morning print paper headlines, mutters, thinks about heading back to bed…

Oh, right. Concerts. It’s a tossup. Loretta Lynn. Bob Dylan. Each concert in Fargo’s smallish downtown convention center. Until the Fargodome [have I mentioned thats been chockfull of sandbag makers of late?], musicians didn’t usually get to Fargo ’til well past their prime.

All I can say is…’twas worth the wait. For each.

~Prairie, restin’ up, bracing for flood 2, the sequel, bigger, badder, meltwaterier…coming in a coupla weeks to a city near…ooops, that would be moi… again.

The DH actually bought that album after hearing the interview on NPR – whenever I can’t remember just how BAD that version is, I put it on..all it takes is about 15 seconds and it’s “Yep, it really IS that bad”.

Best concert for me is a toss-up between It’s A Beautiful Day/Free at EA Diddle Arena, Bowling Green, KY around early ‘72 and Bob Marley and the Wailers at the Waikiki Shell in early ‘80.

There are three concerts I wish I could have seen:
Monterey Jazz/Pop ‘67
Watkins Glen ‘73 (Allman Brothers, Grateful Dead, and The Band)
Allman Brothers Fillmore East shows

My most awesome album choice is The Allman’s “Fillmore Tapes” (re-mix of the original Fillmore East albums and re-issued. Includes the complete Whipping Post/Mountain Jam fifty plus minutes of solid jazz and blues inflected rock.

Duane Allman is my most awesome guitarist ever.

Band:
Duane Allman on lead/slide
Lowell George on rhythm/slide
Dr John on the keyboard
Duck Dunn on Bass
Ginger Baker on drums
Aaron Neville singing

I’m the same way — my taste is incredibly eclectic, and my iPOD mix is ever-changing. I tend to binge on one style for a bit and then switch it up to something on the altogether other end of the spectrum.

Mr. ReddHedd got me an iTUNES gift card that I have yet to use, so I’m hoping to find a few selection tips today for some new tunes. I love rediscovering old stuff that I’ve forgotten, but I’m feeling way out of the loop on new stuff — anyone else feel like they’ve crossed the “old fuddy-duddy” rubicon when it comes to music these days? (And, yes, I think by even using the term “old fuddy-duddy” I’ve already been there and back again. *G*)

I have looked at those tomato automaters in the past — do they work well for you? Our summers are pretty hot and humid, so we don’t usually have a problem with heat retention for the soil, but the promise of a higher yield is always so tempting…

I’ve spent the last few weeks saving washed-out gallon milk jugs in the garage. I’m going to try something new this year and do some pin pricks along the side and bottom, and then bury the jugs about 3/4 of the way in the garden. Then I can refill the top using a funnel or the water hose, add a little fish emulsion or compost tea and use them as a sort of homemade drip irrigation system. Can’t remember where I read about this — might have been Mother Earth News or something — but I thought it was a great idea for when you go out of town for a coupla days or when things get busy.

Dude, sounds like the “refreshments” were more of an event than Pink Floyd. LOL

I didn’t see this live, but I recently saw a video of Grace Slick singing ‘White Rabbit’ at Woodstock. Absolutely loved watching/hearing it. The whole Woodstock experience was great to watch. Was it the music or that it made me feel young again? I’m not sure. My children, otoh, thought the whole Woodstock thing was gross. All the mud and bathing in a lake etc. I was like “is this cool, or what?”. They were groaning and grossed out.
They missed the whole point.

Best concert I ever saw.
Rock: Jethro Tull, opening act, Bob Seager, Syracuse War Memorial, fall 1970. I was so far up I needed O2 but the music made up for it.
Other Great ones more recent:
David Grisman and his band, Summer Music Festival. No one plays mandolin like that guy.
Queen Ida, Summer Music Festival. They’d sold a whole load of tickets to assisted living centers and she had all the seniors dancing in the aisles.
Tom Paxton, Wolftrap (probably 20 years ago; the song I remember most is “Yuppies in the Sky”)
Other: Pink Martini, Broome County Forum, spring from a couple of years ago.

Concert I wish I had seen: Duke Ellington at the Crystal Ballroom in Fargo in the ’40s [I have the Library of Congress vinyl]. Concert I did see: Duke Ellington on the banks of the Potomac in the amphitheatre behind the Lincoln Memorial the summer I interned in Washington. Roommates and I and some local kids liberated the empty seats in the VIP section that was shamefully bare and had one helluva concert night.

Oooooh, good choices on the band. Love Aaron Neville’s voice. Mr. ReddHedd and I had a Linda Ronstadt/Aaron Neville song as our wedding song. One of my dear college friends sang her part, and Mr. ReddHedd’s brother did his — it was amazing. (His voice is remarkably good, too.)

That just brought back a flood of memories. Thanks! :)

I love Cake, Wilco and have been listening to a lot of Todd Snider lately, who is also great. I’m currently listening to both Spoon (and Naomi Klein!) a lot on my Ipod. Last year, I took my 15-year old daughter to see Matchbox 20, a band I would have never chosen myself, but it was one of the best concert experience I’ve had yet as it was great to see her experience her first concert and to see a “big show” again after a long time away.

I’m glad you brought up this topic as I needed a break from law and politics. To return there for a minute, imagine how much different the world would be today if David Gregory and his ilk listened to Lester Bangs’ advice and substituted “politicians” for “rock stars:”

Lester said “You CANNOT make friends with the rock stars. That’s what’s important. If you’re a rock journalist – first, you will never get paid much. But you will get free records from the record company. And they’ll buy you drinks, you’ll meet girls, they’ll try to fly you places for free, offer you drugs… I know. It sounds great. But they are not your friends. These are people who want you to write sanctimonious stories about the genius of the rock stars, and they will ruin rock and roll and strangle everything we love about it.

Best album — Waiting for Columbus — Little Feat at Lisner Auditorium in Washington DC – concert was recorded and released as a live album — usually appears on lists of “best live albums” and quite deservedly so.

Best concert -Bruce Springsteen the E Street Band at the Bottom Line in NYC – to showcase the release of Born to Run. Bruce and the band were alive that night in that small but wonderful venue. His banter, his stories, the performance — and it all took place in a room no larger than my third grade classroom.

Haven’t tried ‘em–got an email about latest deals.

Your idea about the milk jugs sounds like something I should try at the cabin.

Steaming my eyes open with my first cuppa. Good morning, Christy and gentlepups.

Christy @ 12, hmmm… I’ve been saving my milk jugs too, and you just gave me a reason besides being containers for compost tea.

Isn’t it just a brilliant idea for a re-use for them? It gets so hot here in the summer that the water almost steams off the plants during that noon to 2 time period. This way, the water stays at the root level where it can do some good, I thought.

I bet it’s even worse down where you are in terms of summer heat.

I thought it might be a nice break this morning to compare notes.
Christy! a nice double entendre, there, you clever girl.
I saw Bob Dylan with Tom Petty opening for him a the Greek Theater. That was pretty cool. Saw Joan Baez a couple of times, and I always loved her. Joni Mitchell was disappointing the one time I saw her. She didn’t talk much, maybe she’s shy, and the music sounded exactly the same as her albums.
I would have loved to have been there for the Band’s Last Waltz.
I usually enjoy anything live, but on the subject of worst concert reminds me of some of the junior high orchestras I endured when my daughter was young. Oh, those beginner strings! Toby, you know what I mean?

I love that character. Honestly, that bit of wisdom sums up so much of that is wrong with Beltway crapola, all in one tidy package, doesn’t it?

I may have to use that for a post at some point if you don’t mind. You’ve started my mind percolating again…

Boureé

Well, if we’re going to throw in a little garden blogging, I mentioned a while back that I was going to plant some peas to get the 3yr old in our famliy to eat some veggies. She was over the other day and I asked her if she would help me plant some veggies. She said she only likes flowers. I said we’d plant those too but that we were going to plant peas. She said she doesn’t like peas. I said ‘You’ll like these, you crack them open and eat them like candy’. She said she doesn’t like ‘cracking things’. This may be a tough sell.

Oh wow — that Bruce concert sounds like it would have been amazing. You have to love a small venue, don’t you?

hahaha..at one time, the DH and I were going to write one of the “100 Uses for Milkjugs” books, like the “100 recipes for hamburger” things. Plastic milk jugs have an almost endless supply of uses, esp in the garden.

Oh, yes. It’s hot. Seems to pull the breath right out of you. I’ve been actually looking for a way to keep water to some of my plants this summer, since I work full time and have a part-time gig. Thanks!

OMG — 4th grade band or orchestra — “Three Blind Mice” “Oats Peas and Beans” – Jingle Bells. I’m with you there, sis….I did that “doody” with three kids. On the other hand, when I started fiddle at the age of 49, my first tune to learn after Twinkle Twinkle Little Star was “Meet the Flintstones” — needless to say, I found a different teacher.

They never like anything until they actually see it – at least, The Peanut is that way. But peas have the added bonus of having pretty flowers on the vines as they grow, so she’ll get that, too.

The Peanut is fascinated by the little shoots coming up out of the soil. That miracle of seeds sprouting gets her every time.

I’m too lazy to think real hard, but the best concert I’ve seen fairly recently was Santana’s Supernatural tour a few years ago.

We saw it in an amphitheater setting, but had covered seats (which came in handy as it started to drizzle late in the show.)

Unbelievable energy from Carlos and his band, and they must’ve played almost two hours.

A great show.

As an aside, I just read yesterday he will be stationed in Vegas for a long stretch (until 2010); if you head to Lost Wages during that time, check him out.

I would buy that book.

OMG! Meet the Flintstones! Now, you’ve done it. That’s the one that is going to be in my head all day.
*
Elliot, I can’t click your Bouree ’cause if it’s a you tube, it’ll freeze me up. But, if it’s Jethro Tull, I can do that! That buzzy sound. You just have to blow and hum and the same time. Oops. That doesn’t sound very nice for a Saturday Morning thread. Sorry. *g*

Funny you guy should mention concerts. The Peanut’s school had their spring musical last night — so adorable and yet so slightly flat in so many places. On the one hand, you are so proud of the kids for being so excited about music. On the other? Well, you just try to ignore the off notes, don’t you?

So adorable, though. *G*

Best album EVAR?

I would humbly submit Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”.

It singularly changed R&B forever, and showed all music genres that socially conscious music was marketable.

Wait for the next one; the amount of improvement is truly amazing. They go from not being able to keep time, not starting or stopping together, not being able to keep in tune to being able to do those things so much better. And of course the whole “That’s my Barney” factor overcomes all ‘tin ears’.

I’m a fan of opera…well, ok…tenors. I once saw Richard Tucker live in concert (he was amazingly charismatic and performed all my favorite arias) and heard a pirated recording of a live performance of La Boheme, with Jussi Bjoerling and Renata Tibaldi (conducted by Toscanini).

Toby, I was planning on growing carrots till a co-worker told me hers were a complete flop last year. (she and I are both beginners). Did she do something wrong or this just isn’t a good choice?

Funny, I was on a Marvin Gaye kick yesterday morning. It’s amusing how it runs in waves, isn’t it?

And after that Tucker concert, I met and got the autograph of Marion Anderson!

What a great thread! So many memories. Best concerts had to be Moody Blues, Tom Petty or Led Zeppelin.

My mp3 is also eclectic. I always love starting with Dixie Chicks Travelling Soldier or Goodby Earl. Speaking of travelling…anything by the Travelling Wilburys is great. Reminds me of some of the super sessions from many years ago. Throw in some ELO or BTO for getting housework done. Can’t forget Yes (would have loved to see them when Rick Wakeman was with them!)

My husband had a chance to go to The Last Waltz but had to work. It’s sad to see a grown man cry over missed opportunities.

Starting my container garden today. California weather has been pretty good so I am putting my plants right in. I wish my yard was bigger – I could really get into an “eclectic” garden as well! Can you grow potatoes in a container? Oh well…

sorry you can’t watch it, it’s an old live performance from Europe — kinda surreal video.

I most certainly agree.

When my kids left, my last tie to contemporary culture went with them. I occasionally listen to the local college channel, but that’s about it. I guess I’m stuck in fuddy-duddy land.

Since Good Friday is approaching, here’s a beautiful piece by Samuel Barber, Crucifixion, apparently sung in recital by a soprano with a beautiful voice and a fine sense of the style of the piece.

I have an album called Marvin and his Girls, or something like that. All those love song duets. Sweet stuff.

Love that gardeners source. Let us know how well those things work…don’t look usable for tom. in pots, tho’.

Four suggestions for I-Tunes (if it is available…I’m not sure). A New Zealand duo called Pearl…”All I Need,” “Wake Up Next to You,” “Little Spider,” and their version of “Fall at Your Feet.” The two women formed their band when they were in their 30’s. They’ve opened for Elton John and someone else famous. I like their humor and their blend of voices.

Another high recommend comes for Kelly Hunt, out of Lawrence, Kansas. Sort of bluesy and very empowered. Love it when I’m trying to get my pace up on the treadmill!

best concert was probably Bob Dylan and The Band – mid 70’s.

or maybe the show where “Johnny Cougar” opened for The Kinks.

or maybe the show at the Indy convention Center, late 70’s, Springsteen. He played in the main room, but half of it was curtained off. For the encore, Clarence brought out a couple of new close personal friends he’d made earlier in the day at a strip joint nearby. Bruce eventually turned around, saw the girls, shook his head and did the rest of the song sitting down. heh.

I think potatoes need a little bit more space. I’m putting in a raised bed devoted to potatoes. My bil (81 years old this week) told me to chop up a bunch of oak leaves and pine straw, mix in a little dirt and put my potato sets in that. He’s a very sucessful gardener, so I thought I’d give it a try.

Well, carrots have their own set of stuff. The seeds are weeny – some people mix them with a little sand to help with sowing and spacing out. Jim Crockett used to advocate mixing them with radish seeds, which would come up first and remind you where you’d sown them. The other thing though is that you have to be ruthless about thinning them out and weeding them. Otherwise, you end up with no real good roots and they don’t compete well. Also, the whole ‘quality of soil’ thing really is a major factor. If you have a lot of clay and rocks, you need to get in there when things start to warm up, double dig, get all the rocks over the size of a golf ball out , and mix in lots of organic stuff (the more clay you have, the more organics you need – if you don’t have or can’t get compost, get a bale of peat moss and dig the entire thing in – whatever piece of the garden the bale covers, that’s how much area you should dig it into to really get a good effect). Even so, I’d use a shorter, chunky carrot – like Danvers Half-long or one of the little round ones.

I know a fair amount about graphic art, but , although I love music, I’m pretty much in the “well, I know what I like” category of listener. Most of what I like best is related to the songs of my youth, so I love the folk revival music of the early sixties and the singer-songwriter music of the late sixties and early seventies.

Lately, I can stay pretty enthralled by the music which is available by entering “Transatlantic Sessions,” into You Tube. Paul Brady’s “The Island”, as available on You Tube, keeps haunting me. It was written during the 80’s Israeli invasion of Lebanon, while terrorism and civil war continued in Ireland, and has become, to me, one of the most poetic statements of the tragedy of war that I know of.

I’ll watch on the mister’s ‘puter after he gets up. Thanks.

I suppose The Peanut will help me catch back up again in the next few years. *G*

When the song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” came out, I instantly hated it. Then I heard that stupid song everywhere like it was on a continuos loop. I was so relieved when it finally disappeared.

Ooooh, will look for that — thanks!

Going to try to talk my husband into building a raised bed for next year. I am originally from North Dakota and my husband was trying to figure out how to smuggle their red potatoes into California.

OMG — “Johnny Cougar” and The Kinks? That would have been a hoot and a half to see live.

It was just the 25th anniversary of his death, and was also just his birthday
Tavis Smiley had a great show the other night with

Otis Williams of the Temptations, Claudette Robinson of the Miracles and Jan Gaye—reflect on the life and legacy of Motown legend Marvin Gaye, 25 years after his death.

Edit
forgot the link, you can watch the segments online

I once attended a concert of The Band…just them…in a small university auditorium in the early 70’s. There were not more than 200 people in attendance and they sang and played their hearts out. Amazing.

…jays were being passed…

I beg your pardon?

Musta been some other good-looking jay.

A good friend told me to plant basil right by my tomatoes because it keeps the tomato bugs away. I couldn’t believe I had gotten them in containers a couple of years ago.

Paging Toby……….this is the Oxdown Gazette calling. We’ve got a new diary topic for you. *G*

Christy, your Linda Ronstadt comment sparked a long forgotten memory. A concert at a stadium, one of those all day things. Jackson Browne, Linda, and then the Eagles. That was fun and I was so young.

so everyone’s gonna hate me but I can’t resist;

abbey road is my favorite all time album

I am the walrus my fav all time song, though for the life of me I have NO idea what the song means

btw

I heard lennon say the beatles as a whole liked I am the walrus best as well, but that was him talking not the rest of them

G’mornin’, doggies. Music. Oh, my. This classical music geek’s most wonderful evah concert was actually a “dress” rehearsal. Aspen Music Festival, years ago. Couldn’t afford tickets to the Itzhak Perlman fundraiser concert. Found out that for $10, we could queue up in the meadow, and at the appointed moment, surge forward to the incredible huge tent where concerts are played in Aspen. (side note: former mr. barbara was there on business; Aspen tends to make me feel like an impostor amongst the veddy wealthy)

We ended up in the third row. They opened the tent sides, and people threw down blankets outside the tent. I’d have loved that.

Then Itzhak Perlman took the stage with the master class musicians (all youth). He was wearing khaki pants and an Izod polo shirt. Only the music was on dress rehearsal status.

They launched into Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, which is pretty nice even in one’s home. But this transcended anything I had ever experienced or have experiened since. Incredibly beautiful music in a mountain meadow, up close and personal. Absolute amazing by every definition. And definitely best concert ever, ever, ever.

You know? Some things never get old — The Peanut is playing with paper dolls this morning and having the best time dressing them in different outfits. :)

For more suggestions, google companion planting

40 years as a roadie, starting in San Francisco in 1968, I worked on shows with so many now legendary acts that there are no answers to your questions. Not only did I see some great shows, I heard a lot of these people when they were just having fun playing at sound checks and in the dressing room. Bo Diddley in the dressing room singing “No Pussy Tonight” may have been a high point. Santana’s audition on amateur night Tuesday at the Fillmore West may have been another.

OT, did anyone see William Black on Bill Moyers Journal? This was a very troubling interview.

And now, a word from the grandson:

jdfbnn qj

Love, love, love(d) The Band.

When Number One Son started listening to rap, I was convinced that exposing him to “The Last Waltz” documentary would “cure” him.

“Here, watch this – this is what real musicians do and how they think.”

Seemed like a good idea anyway – thick-headed little jerk.

You can get a taste of Pearl on youtube (use pearl new zealand) but I don’t think you’ll get the good stuff there.

I don’t know if there music is distributed in the US or not.

Ahem..already written down…

Oh, now THAT sounds lovely.

Good morning, grandson!

Hey! We’re talking music here. (said in my best Dustin Hoffman voice.)
But, yeah, they were talking about that at Late, Late night.

Thank you Elliott! What a good resource!

Oh man — that Bo Diddly story is priceless!

Best album I evah heard? Still is “Astral Weeks” by Van the Man. Best guitar licks? Duane Allman/Eric Clapton on “Layla”. Best concert? Prolly the Stones at West Palm Beach. Best song? Can’t do it, too many.

Speaking of The Band, the group I worked for The Sons of Champlin, were second on the bill for their first public performance, at Winterland in SF in 1969. Robbie Robertson had such bad stage fright that Bill Graham kept us on the stage for an extra 45 minutes, then after a half-hour break and a restless crowd, The Band played six songs and quit.

Best concert evah (large venue) — Tina Turner in July 1996 “Wildest Dreams” tour at the original (and now lamented) Wembley

Best (small venue) — Barbara Cook c. 1977 at some small place in Georgetown. The woman is simply an icon…..many happy memories from her performances over the years.

Music, of all varieties, has always been central in our family’s life. Cannot live without it. Had the first Windows version of the IPod but never truly loved them until getting my Nano for Christmas.

I had just moved to Tallahassee back in 1991 and was a big fan of Leo Kottke. So what to my wondering eyes should appear but Leo doing a show at a tiny club there called The Eclipse. There couldn’t have been more than 200 people in the room, and I got a front-row seat no more than 10 feet from the guy. He had two guitars and just laid the one he wasn’t playing down on the floor; didn’t use a guitar stand. I’m not sure if he even used a mike. The album that had rocked my world for the past few years was A Shout Toward Noon and Leo played a whole bunch of those tunes that evening, with little chats with the audience sprinkled throughout. Quite the night to remember.

A few weeks ago, Sunday Morning on CBS had an interview with Van Morrison. One of the few I’ve ever seen because he’s such a private person. If you can find it online, it’s well worth a watch.

mornin’ christy & all~

best album evah – it’s a tie – beatles – “white album”/ joni mitchell “for the roses”.

close seconds (in no particular order):

joni – “blue”

beatles – rubber soul AND revolver

springsteen – “best of”

traffic – “john barleycorn must die”

donovan – “best of”

moody blues – “on the threshold of a dream”

blood sweat & tears (the original group) “child is father to the man”

best performance – alvin lee (ten years after) “im goin’ home” at woodstock

best song – so many…… i’ll have to go w/ circus maximus “the wind”

i still listen to all of them from time to time

they just dont make ‘em like that any more.

On my way back from Iowa funeral, and just before I got my speeding ticket (sigh), granddaughter and I were listening to a C&W piece that kinda clashes with Dvorak and Saint-Saens (my faves), but I really like it. Someone with a name sorta, kinda like KT Tunstall, song about a black horse and a cherry tree. See how cool I am?

This was a discussion I was going to give a pass on until Lindy weighed in. I’m an opera fan as well–though to be sure I’m a classical fan, period. “The Music of Dead People,” as my wife and son say. Oh, well. The problem with opera is that there’s never a “perfect” cast. Still, I’d put in a word for the various Vienna Philharmonic Mozart opera performances of the Fifties: The marvelous “Marriage of Figaro” superbly conducted by Kleiber (with Lisa della Casa as the Countess); the Karajan version (with Schwarzkopf as the Countess, the incomparable Irmgard Seefried as Susanna, and Erich Kunz as Figaro); and the somewhat more irregular Karl Bohm performance (which nevertheless has some splendid singing by Paul Schoffler as the Count and Christa Ludwig as Cherubino).

But favorite, best all-around Mozart opera on disc? The Cosi Fan Tutte conducted by Bohm (with Della Casa, Ludwig, Kunz, Schoeffler, Anton Dermota, and Emmy Loose. VOP, 1955.

Symphonic: Toscanini conducting the NY Philharmonic (not the NBC) in the Beethoven 7th from the 1930s; and Weingartner conducting the VPO in the Beethoven 9th, also from the early Thirties. Both men were, incidentally, wildly anti-Nazi. Weingartner resigned from the Vienna on the eve of the takeover; and Toscanini would not conduct in Hitlerian Europe.

ooh – small venue shows…

Sonia Dada
Chuck E. Weiss and the Goddamn Liars
The Textones

Speaking of progeny with different tastes…my son is working on his masters in music performance. He plays the oboe and english horn. He has the opportunity to audition for the orchestra for an opera theater about 60 miles from here. He is beyond excitement. Now, I do love a lot of classical but I am having a problem with opera. Best opera ever? Bug’s and Elmer’s Barber of Seville!!!

I worked as the sound guy in a stinking, drug infested dive of a night club. On a Tuesday night when no-name bands played, Van Morrison asked if he could sneak in and play a set. It was a big secret, but as the sound guy I had to know, and I let a few friends in on the secret, and the place that held about 200 people was jammed with people who paid $1 to see Van from ten feet away.

Here’s the Tunstall song. Relistening, doubt it’s C&W.

4got best concert –

springsteen & e street band – the NJ meadowlands – labor day – the year “born in the usa” was released (1984?)

Concert: Rolling Stones – Voodoo Lounge Tour
Album: Sgt. Pepper
Live performance would have liked to have seen: Miles Davis
Humming: Billie Jean

yep, you’ve got it. K. T. Tunstall.

Ooh… and a bit more re fav albums.

One I’m happy to admit “Affection” by Lisa Stansfield.

Another (cannot believe I’m saying this!) “Off the Wall” by Michael Jackson — in his previous incarnation. ;-) (helped out I think by Quincy Jones as its producer)

“Silk Degrees” by Boz Scaggs

Well, good morning. I haven’t seen you in ages. I think we talked about the Sons of Champlin a while ago. My husband loves them. That was you, wasn’t it?

the transcript and video are available here.

To clear that out of your head, here’s McFerrin a whole different way:

Psalm 23

I’ll pass on your very nice greeting, cuz he’s loooong gone to destroy yet another area of the house.

At 17 months, he’s determined to get a head start on the “Terrible Twos” thing.

He’s really a good boy, though. Rarely cries, laughs a lot, and has a sweet disposition.

Needless to say, he’s also brilliant like his “G Pop”.

When I went to Janis Joplin’s house to deliver David Getz’ drums for a rehearsal, I was told to walk right in because she never answered the door. When I did, she was wearing red panties and red shoes. It was not a big deal to her.

Best shows:
1) Roy Buchanan & The Snake Stretchers at any and all dives around DC in the early 70’s
2) The Everly Bros. with Warren Zevon as band leader and on piano at Joe Namath’s ‘The Bachelors III’ in Ft. Lauderdale, 1971
3) Graham Parker & Southern Culture on the Skids at a Mountain Stage taping in Asheville, NC 1991
4) Leonard Cohen at The Univ. of Miami, 1971
5) Lucky Dube at The Kilamanjaro in DC, first US Tour
6) Conway Twitty & The Twitty Birds, Fireman’s Carnival, Rockville, MD, 1958

Best records:
1) Judee Sill
2) Funky Kingston, Toots and the Maytals
3) Medusa, Annie Lennox

Regret missing:
1) Little Walter
2) Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson

“My husband had a chance to go to The Last Waltz but had to work. It’s sad to see a grown man cry over missed opportunities.”

i would cry too if i had tickets to that concert & couldnt go :)

Best Show–Mitch Ryder, at the Galion, Ohio Pickle Run Festival, must have been twenty or more years ago.

Dream Cover–”Sixteen Tons,” done by Fred Schneider.

Singer with laryngitis–Melissa Etheridge, hands down.

Best Album–HIghway 61

Concert to see–Just let me hang out in the studio when Eric and Duane were making Layla. Short of that, Cream, before they got really pissed at each other.

Demi, yep, that’s me.

Can I just say that I am loving this thread? The eclectic mix of faves and types of music is fabu…

Best live show EVAR for me would have to be Genesis’ “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway” performance at the Masonic Temple in Detroit, with Peter Gabriel. They took us to another world that night..

Best album…sheesh…that’s hard, perhaps Revolver/Rubber Soul/Abbey Road ish.

Really! Asking this crowd for a favorite song is akin to asking us in which form do we prefer our chocolate.

John, one of our truly amazing cultural resources here (and definitely a relic from our days when IBM had 20,000 employees here) is the Tri-Cities Opera. The number of people who have come out of that program and gone on to the wider world of opera has been truly astonishing. http://www.tricitiesopera.com/…..rtists.htm

Classical fan, older than dirt was blown out of socks by a Minnesota Orchestra guest performance of Saint-Saens second piano concerto. A tiny Asian woman, great with child (as they say) took to the keyboard and absolutely rocked the hall. First time I’d heard the piece, and I cannot now listen to it without being transported to that long-ago performance.

Classical and some jazz. Yup. Bring on a vintage box of wine and let the good times roll. *g*

The Sons of Champlin

ohmygod….. takin’ me on a stroll down memory lane – LOVED THEM!

now if i could only remember the song they were famous for… lol

Have never lived in a urban area with ready access to concerts for an extended period of time so a “favorite” choice is limited. Grew up in the folk era and am happily rooted there still…….yeah, fuddy-duddy status indeed; ya wanna make somethin’ of it? *G* Pretty much anything folkish makes me happy because I can sing along.

Maybe part of the reason behind that preference is that so many of the songs tell stories. The concert that is numero one was Harry Chapin…..probably the *best* song-story writer/singer evar. Saw him in a smallish venue in Asheville, NC not long before he died and his son was with him for that particular concert. RIP, Harry.

After living more than six decades, I finally got to see *our* state’s James Taylor live for one of his Obama concerts. Small amphitheater, bordering a beautiful lake, early evening….magical.

Mike Finnigan, who blogs on “Crooks and Liars” (Mike’s Blog Roundup) played Hammond B3 in the house band in the night club where I worked back in 1970. After that he played with Steve Stills and Dave Mason for years, and is now playing with Joe Cocker.

Neat. I’ll check out the Web site.

Just got back. Computer froze. Thank you, Toby. I think I’ll pass on the carrots.

Yes, and the Minnesota was just recommended to me the other day by a friend who’s the classical records librarian at one of the Ivies. Strange to say, my friend was also talking up the, believe or not, Venezuelan state orchestra, whatever the hell it’s called. And not because he’s some wild-eyed Hugo Chavez fan. He says the orchestra and its conductor–whose name I definitely don’t recall–are terrific. Go figure.

Vintage box of wine. You are just so adorable, Barbara.

Best concert?

No question, Bob Marley, Northop Auditorium, Minneapolis 1978.

The whole building moved as if alive, imbued with spirit.

Song that always gets stuck in your brain, no matter how much you loathe it?

That would be “Afternoon Delight”, “Please Mister Please”, or “Telephone Man”. Man, the ’70s had some really cheesy tunes. “Billy, don’t be a hero, don’t be a foooool with your liiffffe…”

Yes, this is a great thread. But, before I forget, did your ‘biotics kick in yet?

Good morning all! First concert I saw was the Tubes at Radio City Music Hall.

Best show I’d have to say was U2 at Camp Randall in Madison WI. It was wedding gift from a friend (we got married the following week)

Biggest surprise-We were dragged to a Yes concert by some friends and I really enjoyed it. They were tight musically and I was surprised how many of the songs I knew.

Small Venue-Melissa Ethridge was amazing at the Murat theatre, as was Bruce solo.

Other favs-Bruce and the E Street Band ( took my kids to this last show, Danny Federici’s last performance) Rush (many times) Allmans, ZZ Top.

One that will always hold a special place in my heart is the Dubliners, who I saw in Dublin in ‘87. Ronnie Drew passed away just this past year. RIP Ronnie.

Whiskey in the Jar

I’m into opera and I like a young male tenor named Sanjay Merchant.

I don’t know where he comes from and I don’t think he is recorded – yet. But his voice is beyond amazing and I have never heard any sound so moving.

“Ruuuuuuby, don’t take your love to town…”

Mostly — am beginning to feel human again and less of a “snot monster.” Thanks for asking. :)

Oh, I am nothing if not adorable! *g* You make me laugh, which is a very good thing!

Music: I’m pretty much all classical, my very favorite is Mendelssohn’s
Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in E minor. I could listen to that play over and over. I attended a performance in February by the Czech Symphony featuring young violinist Jennifer Frautschi that was memorable.

Solai @ 26 – I can’t garden because I have huge trees and NO sunny spots, but for the past 3 years, I’ve planted several large planters with flowering plants, with the “help” of my two young granddaughters (ages 6 & 8 this year). I started doing it to help my daughter, but it has turned into a Grandma-Granddaughter annual spring tradition!

Eiji Oue had a rep as an uneven conductor, but the Reference recordings he did for the MN Orch were wonderful. They have, for one, what is now the definitive (to me, anyway) take on “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”.

Good morning pups,

I never was a big music listener, but, I’ve always been a big concert goer.

Memorable concerts:

Thelonious Monk, at Expo 67, he patted my head.

Diana Ross and the Supremes, expo 67.

Yes, 72, Montreal.

Genesis with Gabriel, five occasions, 74-75.

Zappa, 78.

Talking Heads, Stop making Sense, early eighties.

Peter Gabriel, third album concert. 79.

Daniel Bélanger, 96, Quatre Saisons dans le Désordre.

California guitar Trio, Montreal Jazz fest, 07.

Joss Tellier Quartet, Jazz, 08.

Wanna see pictures?

“If you like pina coladas, and getting caught in the rain…”

Neil Diamond – Sweet Caroline, dum dum dum.

Well, I say we storm Caracas, saying, “Take me to your orchestra!” It is amazing, actually.

my rock memories ran away w/ me – should also post;

fav classical – it’s a 3 way tie – mahler’s 5th/beethoven’s 9th/greig’s peer gynt

fav jazz album – keith jarrett – the koln concert

favorite b’way musical – west side story

fav jazz performers – ella – (nina simone & alberta hunter close 2nds)

Best concert I ever saw was Bruce’s redemption tour.

Best album ever is Abbey Road.

Best concert of the past would probably be the first performance of Beethoven’s 9th.

Elvis Presley really IS the best vocalist ever.

Best guitar playing, possibly Leo Kottke.

Best song in the history of music is Greensleeves.

I would add that I would love to see Bruce and John Mellencamp play together, maybe at Farm Aid. Two guys who have always sung about the plight of the working man.

Ohmygosh. Sans Disney and everything?

Is that 2008 or have you found somw 2009? *g*

Woodstock
Mike Manieri/Warren Burnhardt in a bar uptown NYC
Derek & the Dominoes Fillmore East right after Hendrix died, hearing them play Little Wing

oh thanks a lot – now i’m gonna have to try to 4get i ever saw the names of those songs for fear of my mind grabbing a hold of them

Oh, you saw The Melodious Thunk. Very cool. And I love the California guitar trio (or are they now a quartet, can’t remember?). Do you remember Ian and Sylvia?

I got to see Elvis live in Charleston, WV — I think it was around 1976. My mom and our neighbor got tickets and my mom took me along because Elvis was her favorite. It was drugged out and bloated Elvis, and his voice was still amazing as hell. I remember it well, and I was only 7 or 8 at the time. It was that good.

We had a thunderstorm raging outside and at one point the power went out at the concert venue — they had to rush him offstage until they got the back-up generator going because middle aged ladies were rushing the stage. As a kid, the whole thing was really thrilling.

Was thinking of a nice little ±2010. I have always been a little bit ahead of the curve.

Okay, that’s it. I haven’t put in my order for Hollywood Bowl tickets yet, but I have their schedule. Guess who is going to buy cheap ass nose bleed tickets for a bunch of concerts this afternoon?

Do you remember Ian and Sylvia?

i do

did you ever see the movie “a mighty wind”? comedy about that era of folk singers coming together in the present – VERY funny.

Now that I’m on my second cup, a couple of other favorite concerts come to mind.

Luther Vandross in his prime at a location then known as The Front Row. Because of its ‘in the round’ seating and rotating stage, everyone had a great view.

When he sang “Superstar”, it was mesmerizing.

Anita Baker was excellent there as well.

Would’ve loved to see The (original) Temptations back in the day in concert, as well as the aforementioned Marvin Gaye.

My best live performance was Cab Calloway in the 70’s

Worst song ever “I can’t wait any longer” The first and only Country Disco song.

Best song: “Somebody Turned on the Light” by Hoyt Axton on Arlo Guthrie’s album Hobo’s Lullaby

http://www.arlo.net/resources/…..rned.shtml

Best Guitar: Guitar magazine named Joni Mitchell as the guitarist of the century, who am I to argue with their choice.

Kung Fu Fighting and Ghost Busters

Best shows:
1) Roy Buchanan & The Snake Stretchers at any and all dives around DC in the early 70’s
2) The Everly Bros. with Warren Zevon as band leader and on piano at Joe Namath’s ‘The Bachelors III’ in Ft. Lauderdale, 1971
3) Graham Parker & Southern Culture on the Skids at a Mountain Stage taping in Asheville, NC 1991
4) Leonard Cohen at The Univ. of Miami, 1971

great – now I’m gonna be all envious and sulking all day….

The Trio is still a trio, though they incorporate other musicians in their albums. They’ll invite other musicians to perform with them on many occasions.

Ian and Sylvia?

I love that movie. Such a hoot!

You were at Woodstock? I am so envious of anyone that had that experience.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band in 1976 became the standard I measure all live music by. Runners-up on the list would be Tom Waits, Paul Kelly, Lou Reed, NRBQ, to name a few.

Best album? Depending on the day I’m asked: Revolver or Abbey Road

I notice not many people have been listing worsts, but as a personal quirk I find that bands named after geographic locations, think Kansas, Boston, Chicago, Asia, Europe, America, are all almost completely unlistenable.

Finally, I’d like to put in a plug for Paul Kelly, the great Australian songwriter whose work is little known in the U.S. He’s been writing songs for over thirty years, and over that time deserves to be ranked with the very best. His song “Deeper Water” may be the single best piece of music I’ve heard over that time period.

Oh, how very cool. (Just realized I say “oh” a lot. Oh my!)

This reminds me of a David story. Long ago, he was at a Twin Cities tent concert at the foot of Mount Normandale (yes, MN, LYAO you mountain folks! *g*) for an Ella Fitzgerald concert. Not far into it, there was a major storm alert. Thunder, lightning, high winds, possible tornados. People were advised to seek shelter. Most left.

The storm passed fairly quickly and without much damage. Though most of the audience was gone, Ella had stayed and she performed what David said was the most intimate concert he’d ever attended, and by one of the all-time greats. One of his fondest memories, and so mine, too. Isn’t that cool?

“Early” Eagles were a good show – back before the Joe Walsh version evolved.

Saw them a few times, once or twice with the The Flying Burrito Brothers opening….

Oooooh, love Anita Baker’s voice — smooooooooooth. So is Luther Vandross, but hers is such an amazing jazz sound, isn’t it?

Doesn’t really count, but Frampton Comes Alive was my first introduction into live music.

Anybody here see the Doors?

Goldpearl – I have Nina Simone on my mp3. Her remake of Baltimore is amazing!

Iggy – I forgot I had Leo Kottke on my player. I did a multimedia show for an art class with slides (remember them???) I processed myself to the song A Child Should Be A Fish. I had to sync the two up myself. Slide projector and vinyl! Turned out really nice. PowerPoint is such a wonderful invention! Wish it was around in the 70’s!

OMG! I remember that Hoyt Axton song and that album. Flashback city. Thank you.

“You were at Woodstock? I am so envious of anyone that had that experience.

i had tickets – parents wouldn’t let me go (i was 15).

now i live near there :)

I remember growing up in junior high school, the spanish teacher heard us devating the bet guitarist and laughed out loud.

the next spanish class, we walked in and he had his personal sound system set up, his own turntable too

he took out an album and handled it as if it were rose petals.

put on an artist I never heard till then, he said;

“you think you know the greatest guitarist?

you don’t have a clue”

he then put his finger to his lips so everyone would listen, he placed the needle on plastic as if performing micro surgery and we were amazed

andre segovia

from that point forward I would laugh when anyone debated greatest guitarists

radiohead at the hollywood bowl, of course.

Best classical piece – Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du Printemps, conducted by Leonard Bernstein w/Israel Philharmonic

Best classical guitar – Andres Segovia

Best rock guitar – Clapton

Best 12-string acoustic guitar – Leo Kotke, Shawn Phillips

Best Native American album – Bone Days, John Trudell

Best Native American song – Hanging from the cross, Bone Days

Best rock album – Surrealistic Pillow, Jefferson Airplane

Best rock concert – Pink Floyd, Golden Hall, San Diego, 1971, (or was it 1972?)

Best jazz groups – Dave Brubeck Quartet, Oscar Peterson Trio

time for me to go be “manual labor guy” for the parents.

Later, all. Great thread.

Good Morning Christy and Firedogs -

ooh so sorry to have missed so much of this – am lovin’ the comments

I saw Last Waltz and was lucky enough to have seen Bob Marley in Jamaica then again, I caught The Chieftains in Dublin .

being a flight attendant in my youth afforded me lots of good times – several other performances where I wasn’t a big fan of the artists but loved the experience – seeing the Grateful Dead at the Great Pyramid or front row center as Bob Seeger came back to Michigan after breaking out nationally – wild

oh crap, no preview – We’ll Do It Live !

Along those lines, I also love Oleta Adams for the same reasons — fluid, mellow voice is perfect. Her version of “Get Here” was the song that I used to sing over and over to The Peanut when she was first born and we were having trouble getting her to eat and thrive. It was a rough first few months and that song got us through some very long, tired nights together.

‘great – now I’m gonna be all envious and sulking all day….’

….guess I shouldn’t mention, then, that I was personally involved in all of them……

The Flying Burrito Brothers

did they do “one toke over the line”?

I do. I still have an album or two. Favorite, Quebequois, was “Un Canadien Errant,” but I can’t find it on YouTube. They’re Canadians. Absolutely great sound together. They split a long time ago, though.

p.s. if I could’ve seen anyone live ?

Billie Holiday
Mahalia Jackson

How could I leave Anita Baker off of my album list? Her “Rapture” and “Giving You the Best That I’ve Got” were phenomenal back to back efforts.

This is fun.

Anybody here see the Doors?

i did

felt forum @ madison square garden – late 1966? 67?

when i was back there in seminary school…..:)

Oh, now you’ve done it. *G* I am having way too much fun with this thread…

“Goldpearl – I have Nina Simone on my mp3. Her remake of Baltimore is amazing! “

ever here her version of george harrison’s “isn’t it a pity” (the “emergency” album)

just thinking about it gives me goose bumps

No, that was Brewer & Shipley

we refer to those as “the plutonium” at chez cbl – our children call it “old people getting lucky” music – there are some Sade live youtubes that have the same effect :D

Ian and Sylvia with Jerry Garcia

ooo, great story, Barbara. I’ve been to several ’small’ music performances in my life and there is nothing like them. Once, when I was taking a fiddle workshop up in Cape Breton Island, all the teachers from the school did what they called ‘a kitchen celidh’ in the little front room of the school after dinner. We were all crammed in there – maybe 75 chairs – I swear my knees were in the back of the person in front of me. They opened all the windows and people put their trucks up to the side of the little school building and people were hanging inside the windows, listening. The temperature in that room must have been 100 degrees – the sweat was pouring off everyone. There was a box fan on top of the upright piano, which we all watched, breathless, as it hopped and jumped across the top(because Cape Breton Is. style piano playing is like watching someone play the drum set, only on a piano..AND with their feet and legs going), waiting for it to crash into the piano player’s head. At the last moment, he reached up with his left hand, still playing with his right, steadied it, nodded to someone sitting next to him, who jumped up and took the thing off before it could hurt someone. The cheers rang out all over the countryside. What a performance. Natalie McMaster’s uncle Buddy was playing along with Richard Wood(PEI – another one of those guys who can fiddle AND dance at the same time), Mac Morin on piano..a guy on guitar who is the director of the Nova Scotia Symphony. Amazing.

ahhh – right! thanx for the correction – great song that

Thankfully my daughter also loves “my music”. Do feel a bit disconnected though from what’s been going on in pop music for the last few years.

Am currently working on the “soundtrack” for the photo montage that will be shown at some point during her upcoming wedding festivities. Will have to get up to speed on “their” songs. ;-)

Gah i’m way too young for half of you here to even recognize who i like anymore. *grin*

Best Live Performance: David Usher at 2002 Sarnia RiverFest

Favorite Album: open_d, Doa

Favorite Classical: Rhapsody in Blue, Gershwin

Best small venue: Low Fidelity AllStars, The Shelter in Detroit 1999

I like way too many vocalists to pick just one, so i’ll just leave it at this.

These do shift, as i have a tendency to find new material all the time.

Too many concerts throught the years, but three good ones that stick:

Moody Blues
David Bowie
Queen

Thanx for the tip. Will see if Napster has that one since iTunes STILL won’t recognize my Walkman.

Not to break the mood, but there’s another shooting in PA. On CNN right now. 3 police officers shot.

What a great story, TW!! You do good word pictures.

Kinda reminded me of a Halloween night concert in a tiny, airless little venue, which was the annual hangout for a performance by Butch Thompson (of Garrison Keillor’s show, among other things) and some local jazz pals. Doc Evans, for one.

And, most amazing of all, Butch did duets with cellist Laura Sewell. They did a Christmas album together, which is one of my absolute faves. Classical jazz. Awesome.

Glorious day outside…..off to play with plants. Thanks to *all y’all* for a lovely thread.

something tells me you may enjoy-

this young man’s work

demi, dakine, dmac – a representative sample from our era
here

Morning Firepups.

About a zillion options here. Too many to choose from. Some memorable concerts would include Mahavishnu Orchestra, Chick Corea, Pat Metheny Group, Michael Brecker (RIP). Classical stuff? LA Phil – numerous. Rock & Roll? Stones, Led Zeppelin.

Best guitar playing? McLaughlin, arguably. And for a (relative) unknown, this guy is a Monster: http://jodyfisher.com/music.html

Recording artist struck with voice freeze up? Celine Dion, maybe.

Tune that gets stuck in my head: “Human Nature” by Michael Jackson. It used to be a good tune. Now I just want a lobotomy.

Dream Band? Drums – Antonio Sanchez, Guitar – John McLaughlin, Piano – Hiromi Uehara, Sax – Michael Brecker / Steve Tavaglione, Trumpet – Miles Davis, Bass – John Patitucci. Ask me tomorrow and I’ll change up the personnel.

That’s a start.

Favorite Group: Christy and the Firepups.
Favorite Album: Pull Up A Chair

Barbara -

mornin’ the Venezuela State Orchestra – Gustavo Dudamel, Conductor (24 yo wunderkind)

is made up of former street kids – that bastid Chavez supplies instruments, facilities and lessons, 60 Minutes profiled them

here is New Years Eve in Caracas – Mambo !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEs8yqhavtI

Mambo! Good tune!

OK, can’t resist. Here’s a sampling of John Trudell’s music. Ya gotta work a little for these.

Trudell The Movie. Click the “Enter Site” link. In the window that appears click “Multimedia.” Next window click “Trudell Music.” Pick a song. My faves are Crazy Horse and Hanging from the Cross.

Hey, a winner there for sure and a definite step up from Gid Tanner and The Skillet Lickers. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skillet_Lickers

And for live conerts? How could I have forgotten Frank Zappa? Dream band with Ruth Underwood, Ralph Humphrey, George Duke, Jean Luc Ponte, Sal Marquez, etal. Really great night.

Welcome to my world!

the day calls – must detach from cyberspace

thanks for the thread christy & thanks for the stroll down memory lane pups

Right! Thanks!

Thank you Goldpearl. Finally found Nina on You Tube. Her voice just knocks me out. I need to go get my garden going but I will have to go back to You Tube so I can listen to some other selections after I get really tired (and dirty!)

Thanks all for a great morning!

Awesome!! The orchestra and the audience. Talk about connection. And interesting music choice, i.e., America’s Bernstein.

Makes me wish we didn’t have to sit like prim little statues at classical concerts. Sometimes I want to scream and clap, too!! People would talk. (sigh)

Holy Cow. The players names are too much. Okay, that was the 20’s. I wonder if folks there still have those kind of handles.

When comments hit 200, I absolutely have to get to work in this sty d’oinque

I’ve been there for quite some time, as i’ve taken to ignoring US popular radio entirely. There’s very little i like of that anymore. *grin*

I think i started straying from it in 1998, and haven’t looked back since. I just have a tendency to be way out of the park when it comes to what i like. As Doa is japanese guitar rock band, and David Usher is from Canada and doesn’t even hit US airwaves. I’ve heard a couple of songs that i like the last few years but i’m rarely impressed by much of anything i hear on the radio anymore. Audiophile since i can remember, so i’ve gone all over the map in search of good music. Love every minute of it!

another thought –

would have loved to have seen Maria Callas

…and
Saw these two perform together at Gibraltar

“I notice not many people have been listing worsts, but as a personal quirk I find that bands named after geographic locations, think Kansas, Boston, Chicago, Asia, Europe, America, are all almost completely unlistenable.”

No disrespect, but this seems like a bit of snobbery. Sure, this material is “accessible, commercial” or whatever other tag may apply. Jeff Beck is rather notorious for complaining about pop/rock music being made “for children”, but (for me) it comes down to a certain kind of aesthetic – does it sound good? Is there some redeeming musicianship to be found in it?

Maybe it’s fair to write some of this off as lightweight, pop fluff as opposed to “great art”, but Unlistenable? Really???

I wouldn’t say that I’m a “huge fan” of Boston or Kansas or Chicago per se, but generally speaking, these bands knew how to write catchy tunes, create tight, clever arrangements and deliver them with exceptional musicianship….I doubt that anyone who plays (or has tried to play) an instrument or sing can reasonably deny that the lead singers in Kansas (Steve Welch?) or Boston (the late Bradley Delp) had amazing voices or that Tom Scholtz was/is an amazing guitarist….that said, I still won’t listen to Journey.

The Shelter in Detroit 1999

caught Warren Zevon there late 70’s – oh yeah

And we are so lucky that we have the advantage of recorded music, think of all the wondrous performances that were heard but one time.

Anyone here like Etta James? My fav. Plus Dylan and Bruce.

Definitely a great place. I want to go back there at some point if someone else i’m interested in plays it. But we’ll see. So far i haven’t had anyone grab my interest.

Anyway, off to work with me. *wanders out the door*

are all almost completely unlistenable.”

pats seat – you come sit over here next to ol cbl :D

We lost a radio gem a few years ago. MPR finessed its way to snuffing WCAL-FM, the country’s first listener-supported radio station. Worked hand in hand with St. Olaf College (where the station was located) to kill it and turn it into…oh, let’s just say something not classical. Now we have only MPR, which for the most part is classical lite. Better than nothing, but what good is that?

So many chores, so little time.

So many fundie Christians, so few lions.

Be good to yourselves, and all other living things.

Namaste

Headed out to participate in a community drumming circle…a good way to get stuff out of your system, by the way. Have a good day :)

Paganini going nuts with his violin way back when? Whoa.

something tells me no one in this crowd would have picked Paul as their favorite Beatle :D

Twain – Etta’s St Louis Blues would make my ‘desert island’ list

I would be honored if you let the reference to Lester Bangs percolate and land in a future post. Thanks!

I must admit that Vivaldi’s Spring has been stuck in my head and freed on occasion as whistle.

Oh, yes, very much. She’s on my wish I could see live list.

Best concert ever was then relatively unknown (except for the hip high schoolers/college kids in the south) REM open for The English Beat spring break 1982 poolside right on the ocean and FREE!

Past-either The Clash anywhere in 1979. Or perhaps I would travel back and skip school with mom to see Frank Sinatra in the early ’40s.

Great post, as always. Almost sorry I slept in!

This is how 80+ looks/sounds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xt9rXhISQvU

A passion can keep us young (I hope)!

I don’t know about that. Paul wasn’t all about silly love songs…didn’t he do Helter Skelter? I’m probably wrong.

Nice to see some Moody Blues fans in this thread. Talk about a band that knows how to put a song together! Solid musicianship, one of the best bass players ever in John Lodge and the best vocal arrangements in English rock music….too bad so many critic-types just want to harp on the pretentious aspects of mixing in poetry.

Pete Seeger on this very day almost makes me feel young again and at least sane.

Best Concerts (can’t just pick one, sorry), in no particular order:

Bruce Springsteen – Born in the USA Tour
Joe Cocker
Moody Blues
Fleetwood Mac – Tango in the Night Tour
Santana
Frank Zappa
James Taylor
Crosby, Stills and Nash – Daylight Again Tour

George.

Way late to the party but thanks for the memory prod this morning. Thought back to many concerts as far back as the 60’s. Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Helen Reddy(a real dynamo on stage)Ann Murry, Amad Jamal and many others.

Transatlantic Sessions are great.

Favourite concert – Richard Thompson on the Amnesia tour, Ani DiFranco – Not A Pretty Girl tour

Favourite album – impossible to choose, but Stevie Wonder Innervisions is on my desert island, along with Lucinda Williams/LW, Van Morrison Saint Dominic’s Preview, Dylan’s greatest hits v2, Eddi Reader sings Robbie Burns, etc

Who’s Antonio Sanchez? He most be super if you’ve heard Billy Cobham and find Sanchez preferable.

Best Albums (Beatles Not Included….I mean, really – they deserve a separate catagory)

Bruce Springsteen – Born To Run
Moody Blues – Seventh Sojourn (1st song to last – utterly brilliant!)
James Taylor – JT
Pink Floyd – Dark Side of the Moon
Bob Dylan – Highway 61 Revisited
Bob Dylan – Blood on the Tracks
Bob Dylan (yes – 3 of them!) Desire
Jethro Tull – Aqualung
Michael Jackson – Thriller (can’t deny this record’s brilliance)

Best song(s)

Over the Rainbow
Little Wing

Favorite album
Love Devotion Surrender

And one last band’s work I’d like to tout….

Crowded House!

Great songs all around but the album Woodface really stood out for me….

Thanks for the tip. I never watch Sunday TV, so would never would have known…

Best concert has to be Tracy Chapman opening for Neil Young and the Bluenotes at the Clay Courts in Indianapolis. Tracy hadn’t had her breakout “Give me one Reason”, Neil was touring with a large horn section (10 men working). Both acts were good, but the encore blew me away. Neil doing “Tonight’s the Night” solo. He kept playing as one guitar string after another broke, finishing with only 2 strings, never missing a chord.

Best Live Concert Performance: Crosby, Stills and Nash – Holiday Star Theater – Merrillville, Indiana

Best Album: Court & Spark – Joni Mitchell

Best concert recently: Riders in the Sky
Best Concerts Evah: Pink Floyd at the Rosebowl ties with Little Feet, John Mayall and Bonnie Raitt at the Merriweather Post Pavillion, Paul Simon Rhythm of the Saints Tour and Seatrain/Neil Young in a tiny auditorium in Alexandria. Also any of the bluegrass festivals around the DC area – the car park at night beats the stage during the day for pickin’ and grinnin’ – John Hartford, Steve Goodman, John Prine. Ahhhhhh, those were the days,

Music I can’t stop humming even though, well: Mamma Mia, the entire fucking album

Albums I’ d need on a desert island assuming there was electricity: Paul Winter’s Canyon Suite, anything by the Tallis Scholars

I almost forgot the first time I saw Tom Waits at the Cellar Door. Wow.

For you Opera buffs:

I found a link to Sanjay’s voice. Sorry it has to be heard through your computer speakers but you can get a hint as to what he sounds like in person. If you’re in NY you can catch Sanjay Merchant at DiCapo Opera Theatre.

It is worth the trip when he’s on stage.

http://www.sanjaymerchant.com/

Oh, Toby, your story reminds me – haven’t been to that many great concerts live, but one of themost fun music experiences for me was a trip to western Mass. (can’t even remember what town) for an Old Timey Fiddle Contest, about 1979 or 1980. (my boyfriend and I were learning to contra dance then, and had just discovered the music).

The competition was fierce, and a very young woman in her late teens won. She had the crowd cheering and jumping and dancing in their seats.

I loved it, and just wish I could have attended more before leaving New England.
(I still have the t-shirt and a great folk music fakebook I bought there).
Thanks for reviving that memory!

More on Lester Bangs: Imagine the value in having John Roberts, that former MTV personality, take Lester’s advice to William Miller to heart:

“My advice to you. I know you think those guys are your friends. You wanna be a true friend to them? Be honest, and unmerciful.”

I also loved the line about “the only true currency in this bankrupt world if what we share with someone else when we’re uncool” and like that blogging allows us to converse with each other rather than being stuck listening to people like John Roberts.

Best Concert: Traffic in Manhattan 1970 on the John Barleycorn tour -All the original members and I lucked out and sat in the 3rd row.
Best Album: Highway 61 Revisited-Dylan
Time-Treavel Concert: The Fillmore East Shows that produce the Allman Bros. album
Guilty humming/shower singing: San Francisco Girls by Fever Tree
Struck with laryngitis: Celine Dion
Cover Song(s): I would like to hear Joss Stone take on some of the Motown classics
Dream Band:” The Beatles alive, reunited, and committed to being a band
Best Vocal: Aretha Franklin on Natural Woman
Best Guitar: Eric Clapton in Cream on Crossroads
Best Song: Bird On The Wire- Leonard Cohen

Thanks for reminding me how much I loved Harry Chapin. I saw him twice, but the best concert was the one in 1973 (or ‘72, can’t remember), soon after his first album came out, when he came to our suburban NJ high school to perform– maybe 750 seats in the theatre, very intimate setting. I think I was in the 2nd row. Just fantastic! What a loss for the world when he died…

A very memorable concert was at the Fillmore East about 1970 — Chicago was the headliner with the Allman Brothers (with Duane) as the warm up act — this was before the Allman Brothers became the Fillmore East house band and before they recorded their legendary live album at the Fillmore. It was either their first or second time playing at the Fillmore and I distinctly remember Bill Graham taking a few minutes to brief the audience on the Allmans and how we would be hearing a lot more from them over the years.

My first concert was at Madison Square Garden – I sat in the nose bleed seats to see Cream’s final U.S. performance. First time I every smelled wacky weed.