Moon the loon

One of the greatest rock drummers ever, sorry Mitch Mitchell.

Holier than Thou...(a work in progress)

Look at me

I'm a deity

an enigma, of sorts

Not like J.C.

But rather like the Big G., Himself-

so you tell me.

Late night ramblings

I'm waiting for the cheesecake to cool. Cheesecake? You say. That's right. A double chocolate, homemade cheesecake. Mmmmm...maybe I could open an all-night bakery. Now there's a concept. Nah.
Ok, so the whiskey has taken effect, I'm feeling cerebral and I have to be to work in a few hours. Did I mention that I don't feel tired? That's the problem with alcohol- you could be dead tired, have a few drinks and then be up all night. Or be dead tired, have a drink and then be out cold. I guess what I'm trying to comment on is the unpredictability of our friend (and enemy) Mr. Al Cohol. Ugh.
Now the dirty bitch (cheesecake) is out of the oven. Man, I'd like to have me a piece, but it needs to cool first! Hot cheesecake is no fun...
One word:
Crash...
that's where I'm heading to now...
maybe cheesecake for breakfast...
maybe?

10 Great Live Albums

Okay, being a musician I haven't always been fond of live albums. What I found to be the most displeasing thing about them was the fact that most bands sounded so much different live than they did on their records. Of course now I realize that there are limitations to what can be played live as opposed to what comes out of a studio. This problem is becoming less thanks to great advances in technology, however there is still one truth that must be upheld: the bands still have to play well. Technology can't save a group of lackluster musicians. Some of today's popular music reflects this- I would say most of today's popular music, but I am trying to remain optimistic! So now, as I listen back to some past live albums, I begin to realize that I enjoy the music because, I feel, it catches a particular moment much better than a studio album could. I can also feel the energy between the band and the audience and it makes me want to go rock out and break shit! With all that in mind, I now give you my 10 favorite live albums-in no particular order:
1. MC5-Kick Out the Jams This one kicks my ass and leaves me wanting more. Recorded @ the Grande Ballroom, Detroit, MI.
2. The Who-Live at Leeds Another powerful one that was made better with a "Deluxe Edition" release of the entire show on two CD's. One of my favorite bands.
3. Motorhead-No Sleep 'til Hammersmith It's Motorhead...need I say more?
4. Social Distortion-Live at the Roxy The great thing about these guys is that you get what you get. There's no b.s. between the band and the audience. Just listen to Mike Ness tell someone what they can do with the finger they keep waving at him! Classic.
5. Phish-A Live One Man, I am sorry that I never got to see these guys live. This one was recorded over the period of a year, so it's not one specific concert. That does not take away from it at all though. Two disks and long jams make it memorable.
6. Jethro Tull-Bursting Out Once again, a great album made better by a re-release of the whole show on 2 disks. Very powerful, very progressive.
7. Pink Floyd-The Wall Live '80-81 This album was also an accumulation of songs from different shows. The show was so big that they only performed it a handful of times and it didn't happen without some technical difficulties. Nevertheless, it still sounds great.
8. The Police-Live This album contains two shows (Boston 1979 and Atlanta 1983). What's cool about this one is the time difference between the shows. In Boston, there was a great band with great energy. In Atlanta, there was a better band playing with great energy. You could hear how their touring made them a better group. Damn, they play the songs fast!
9. The Amazing Crowns-Payback Live A now defunct psychobilly band puts out one of its greatest shows in front of a hometown crowd at the Payback Lounge, Providence RI. I was sorry to see them break-up.
10. R.L. Burnside-Burnside on Burnside 74 year old blues musician plays a show that would put bands half his age to shame. Backed by his 22 year old grandson Cedric on drums and 48 year old 'adopted son' Kenny on slide guitar, this one will have you movin' before the first song is over.
Leave me stranded on a tropical island with these albums and a way to play them and I'd be a happy monkey. At least there wouldn't be a volleyball named Wilson...I think.

Right Said Ed

Hatchet Head Ed lays in bed

too many thoughts run in the red

Still Bill take your pill

huff and puff run up that hill

of freedom

Escape from yourself

Time ain't kind to your body

(that's your mind growing younger

and not in a good way)

Don't blame me for your shame

It's not the same since you're no hero

just nearer to the day you've got to answer

for your freedom

What's with all the cold people around here?

Well, it's been awhile. I just haven't had the time. Last week I caught 'The Apprentice' on the boob tube(too bad it really wasn't boobs...um, sorry). I didn't intend to watch it, really. In fact, I detest reality shows. I feel that I could spend my time better reading a book or painting or making music. I just don't care who gets voted off this island or out of that household...whatever. So you see, I REALLY didn't intend on watching it, but I did. I don't know, it was a late dinner's food coma or something. Anyway, that's NO EXCUSE. As a result of watching this, I started to see how indifferent and cold people can get when they are in a business. I heard about it before, but I never saw it. Call me naive, I guess. One of the apprentices was making fun of a child that they were observing during a marketing test. She(that's right kids-she)made references to the boy's "dumb and dumber" haircut. She also asked sarcastically, "Whose kid is that?" She also said these things in front of a whole bunch of people, not just her fellow apprentices. A kid! I couldn't believe it. It was very sad. I thought at first (wrongly, of course) that all business people are mean. But can you blame me? It made me think that there must be some cases of stereotyping that are based on events that happen to people. These events are probably unpleasant, and they give that person the wrong idea. Especially if the unpleasant event involved another human being. Sounds to me like we need (me included) to not be quick to form opinions about people when they are close to or involved with a bad experience we have.
And we actually want to watch this on TV?

Home Sweet Home

We got back from our trip Monday around 4pm. An all night drive can leave one lost for a few days. Haven't quite found myself yet...
It was a good trip. Jen's family is fun and they liked the band. Not as many people showed up to the party as her mom had hoped, but that didn't stop them from having all that fun. No sooner had we packed up the trailer(after we finished playing) it started raining.Whew! No wet amps or electronics! The rain chased us from not one, but TWO leaky tents into the house that night. Oh well, at least the bed was dry. Craig(our bass player/singer) rode with Jen and I out there. He is a cool travelling companion. Very easy to get along with. He said he had fun. We dragged him around enough places, but he didn't seem to mind. He just read or slept(he got through two and a half books!). Joe (our guitar player) drove with his girl Laurie and friends Jason and Samantha. They stopped in Millwaukee for beer & cheese and also in Minneapolis for the great Mall on their way out. Jen, Craig and I stopped at her Grandma and Grandpa Nelson's for a short visit. It's always good to see them. I know it must be hard for Jen being so far away from her family, so we try to see them when we go back. We were also able to see her Uncle Johnny who was recently paralyzed in a motorcycle accident. He was doing real well and in amazing spirits. I wasn't too certain what to expect when I got to the hospital with Jen. I admit that I was probably even dreading it, but things are getting better for them everyday. A very inspirational story.
I'm about to check out here, but not before I touch on something I mentioned in a previous entry: Jen's Minnesotan accent. Yeah, it did come back in all its glory. We even heard an 'Aw...Geeez!' spring from her lips! But a strange thing happened out there as well. I started with a bit of an accent- much, I might add, to Jen's glee! Certain words are pronounced in a different way depending on what region of the country you are in. Having, myself, been musically trained in Suzuki Method (a method where most of the focus is placed on listening to notes and intonation, rather than just reading music) I have learned to mimic very well. I guess you could say that it's all inevitable...I should watch how much I tease Jen.

Time ter go ter Minnersota, doncha know...

Tonight we are heading out to Minnesota. Most of Jen's family is out there. Cathy (Jen's mum, my mum-in-law!) is having a ten year anniversary party for her and her boyfriend Steve. She asked our band(motordbob) to play the party and the guys are excited. If you are interested in hearing any motordbob songs go here: www.purevolume.com - and type the name in the search box. Please let me know what you think. It was all home recorded and I don't feel it does the music justice, but I think it gets the idea across. We have received some good feedback so far, and that's cool. Jen's mum likes us and believes everyone else at the party will too. It will be fun. I just finished packing up all the gear. Later I have to pick up the rented trailer so we can get everything out there. I told Jen that I didn't want to be the tour/road manager anymore, I just want to play. She just laughed and bought me a frozen coke and suddenly everything seemed better...
A funny and endearing thing about my Jen is that whenever we head back to see her family, right around Chicago I can hear her Minnesota accent starting to return. It's faint at first, but midway through Wisconsin-Whammo!- it's back in all its glory! It happens when she's on the phone with her mom too. A side note: If you watch, or have already watched, the film Fargo you will know what I'm talking about. Even though I will say that their accent in that movie is slightly exaggerated, it is still very similar! I'm not making fun of the way Minnesotans speak, I just like it.