Misfits, outcasts, the downtrodden… If you fit into one of these groups, or did at one time, you probably consider Ray Davies (pronounced dave – iz) a champion for your cause. Forty-seven years after The Kinks first hit the USA Top 10 with “You Really Got Me”, chief songwriter, lead singer and rhythm guitarist Raymond [...]
It’s hard to believe a world without R.E.M. making music and touring. Although the hits dried up years ago, the creativity and artistic integrity never waned. R.E.M. simply befell the fate of almost all old rockers; obscurity in the modern age of processed music ala Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Glee and American Idol. 60′s, 70′s, [...]
Three Dog Night‘s “Black and White” went to #1 on September 16, 1972, bypassing the one-hit wonder “Brandy (You’re A Fine Girl)” by Looking Glass. “Black And White” was originally a folk song, written in 1954 as a celebration of the Supreme Court’s ruling that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. It was originally [...]
Lindsay Buckingham tells Rolling Stone that he thinks a new record and tour are in the works for Fleetwood Mac in 2012. It would be their first album since 2003′s Say You Will, which peaked at #3 on the USA charts. The band last toured in 2009. There is no word yet on the lineup, [...]
A relatively obscure Buddy Holly song – “Listen To Me” – has been recorded by Beach Boys’ mastermind Brian Wilson for an upcoming Buddy Holly tribute CD. It is available as a free mp3 download via Rolling Stone magazine’s website. Click on the link to hear the song: http://mp3.rollingstone.com/download/03ListentoMe.mp3 “Listen to Me” was the fourth [...]
Steely Dan Concert Review
Jonathan Douglas “Jon” Lord, founding member of hard rockers, Deep Purple, is currently battling an undisclosed form of cancer according to his website. Lord is one of the great Hammond B3 organ players in rock music. His sound, always tuneful yet often the verge of distortion, is probably the key hallmark of the band’s overall [...]
On July 27th, the Allman Brothers Band headlined concert at the Beacon Theatre in New York City to raise money for and build awareness of Hepatitis C. Dubbed Tune In to Hep C, the concert lasted over three hours and featured special guests Natalie Cole, David Crosby, Graham Nash and former Grateful Dead bassist Phil [...]
Here is my unchanged (a Sammy Sosa reference?!?!) Paul Simon and Brian Wilson concert review from 10 years ago… BRIAN WILSON & PAUL SIMON – tweeter center, tinley park, IL – June 30, 2001 I was primed and pumped to see two of my musical heroes in one night. However, I found myself to be [...]
Robert Frank Grill, lead singer, bass player and occasional songwriter for the Grass Roots died on July 11th. He passed away as a result of a blow to the head, which happened when he fell after suffering a stroke a few weeks ago. He had been in a coma ever since the fall. The Grass [...]