UPDATE:  this has been the best day of radio in years!  This is so fun and is brining back great memories and a few sad moments (they replayed the announcement of John Lennon's death).  I know from my Facebook messages and comments that other So Cal fans are listening and loving it too.  

ROCK ON KMET!

If you grew up in So Cal in the 70's and listened to rock and roll radio, you are in for a real treat, 
a blast from the past, 
a gathering of the Immoral Minority,  
a time to yell "Whoo-A"
 
because on FRIDAY JULY 10, The Sound (KWWD 100.3),  is doing 

"a one-day revival of KMET complete with the original airchecks and many of the radio personalities from the station's heyday."

Did your car have one of these?  
Mine sure did!

The "Mighty Met" was the best station on at the time and had all the grooviest, coolest DJ's.  Do any of these names ring a bell:

Jeff Gonzer, Cynthia Fox, B. Mitchel Reed, Tom Donahue, Paraquat Kelley, Ace Young, Frazier Smith, Mary Turner, and of course, Jim Ladd (did you know he has a star on the Hollywood walk of Fame - he's the god of all Rock DJ's).  

I will be listening, I am really excited about it.  A slice of my youth served up by current fave station.  All I can say is:

I can't wait for a nostalgic "little bit of heaven, 94.7, KMET - Tweedle Dee"!

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

I just noticed I have comment moderation on and have 55 comments waiting!  And I thought nobody read here anymore...

Out of the 55, only 4 were from people, the others were SPAM.  But I had meant to turn on word verification, NOT, moderation.

Image via Wikipedia

I thought a lot about Joni Mitchell as I was driving through the hills and canyons of Los Angeles the other day.

Court and Spark is one of my cherished albums that was worn thin from listening over and over in my early teens. The songs still get to me today, maybe even more because now I have lived through the heartache and messed up relationships.

Something else I love about Joni is that she's an artist.

I am having a hard time blogging lately. I kind of feel like combining all my blogs but that would be weird. I don't think the music people want to hear about my personal life, and the people following the saga of my lie (son in jail, falling in love, unemployed, yadda, yadda) don't necessarily give a rat's ass about classic rock music.

But, to me, I have a hard time separating the two. I must write. I must listen to music. Both make me feel, both are therapeutic, neither are optional.

Help me, I think I'm falling in love again....

We love our loving, but not like we love our freedom....

Didn't it feel good to sit there talking, or to lie there not talking....

Both of us flirtin, and hurtin....

You've had lots of lovely women, now you turn your gaze to me
Weighing my beauty and imperfection to see if I'm worthy

It always seems so righteous at the start, when there's so much laughter and so much spark. When there's so much sweetness in the dark.

his eyes were the color of the sand and the sea.
the more he talked to me, the more he reached me,
but I couldn't let go of LA,
city of the fallen angels....

Joni Mitchell - Court And Spark
Joni Mitchell - Help Me
Joni Mitchell - Car On A Hill

Hollywood Sign

The former Hyatt Hotel (aka Riot Hotel)

Jimi's Star

The Wiltern Theater

The Capitol Records Building\

The Roxy

The Rainbow

The Whiskey

all photos by Drew G.

Spent the day up in LA trying to give Drew the rock and roll tour. I think I could have done a better job if I would have made out a better map...oh well.

How well do you know your LA Rock Trivia?

Do you know what the "Riot Hotel" is?

If so, can you name a few incidents that occured there?

Name three famous nightclubs on Sunset Strip.

Name five rock stars that have a star on the Hollywood "Walk of Fame".

There are two songs inspired by Mulholland Drive - can you name one?

Can you name three people who lived on Laurel Canyon?

Which record company has its home in a tall round building?

How many songs can you name that are about, or mention, Los Angeles, Hollywood, or any of the surrounding areas?

I will have some fun photos and some of the answers later.....

Back in May I wrote that I had my fingers crossed about the possibility of seeing Davy Knowles this summer and guess what - I did!  Now to try to find the words to describe one of the best shows I've ever seen.  I think if my favorite guitarist of all time heard him play, Stevie Ray would agree with me that

Davy Knowles is a legend in the making

If you check out my sidebar you'll see that I first heard his prodigious talent back in August '08 and was immediately aware that I was listening to a superb musician.  Tonight I experienced it firsthand and it blew me away.  Listening to a CD is one thing but seeing it, hearing it and feeling it live in person brings it to a different dimension.  You must make it a priority to check him out for yourself.

Tonight Davy's talent and passion radiated from him along with his evident joy in performing for an appreciative audience.  You could tell he was genjuinely pleased, maybe even a bit taken aback,  by our powerful reaction.  After the show he took the time to sign autograph's and meet people and he had quite a line of fans.


Joe (Rock and Roll Guru) had interviewed Davy earlier in the day and confirmed that he is the authentically nice person he seems to be.  I serioulsy doubt that fame will rob him of that as it does to some musicians.

Joe and Drew

To top off a great night, Joe introduced Drew and I to Davy so I got to shake his hand and say hello.  I admit, it was a thrill.  The kid is adorable and sweet in addition to being a kick ass guitarist.  I also had the pleasure of meeting his manager and hopefully will stay connected with him to keep all of you up to date on when and where to catch Davy and Back Door Slam. 

Get this - he is going on tour with and opening for CHICKENFOOT this Fall.  I know there are some serious Chickenfoot fans that read here.  Let me know what you think of Davy and BDS, I'll be shocked if you don't walk away impressed.

I will never forget this show.  I will never forget the woman who sat next to me who enjoyed the show as much as I did (hello!  I didn't get your name! the pics I took didn't turn out too great).  Lastly,  I will never forget how meeting Davy was a reminder of meeting SVR - both guitar greats.

On a personal note...I fly home to California tomorrow, but next year, I am headed back to Milwaukee for Summerfest.  If you've never been you're missing out!

Summerfest is incredible. Its the BIGGEST rock and roll show ANYWHERE and I can imagine spending an entire week there. Too tired to describe it but check out their website to get a feel for it....

Have I mentioned lately how much I LOVE these two women! Just got back from another great performance by two of the queens of rock and roll (imo there are very few women that can claim that title, it belongs to Janis, Chrissie and the Wilson sisters).

Not only was it a great show, but I got to sit between two guys who are passionate about music, Drew (my honey and the reason that I am here in Wisconsin) and Joe, the fantabulously groovy rock and roll writer and blogger extraordinaire.

It was great to meet Joe (aka Rock and Roll Guru). He is exactly the same in person as he is on his blog - full of life, fun, interesting and a down to earth great guy.

Ann and Nancy kicked ass as usual. Those two only get better with age. I love them! Ann's voice is exceptional. She's managed to keep her voice strong all these years. Not a single note was less than perfect. And Nancy is so fun to watch....she plays with her own style and sense of fun. I hope they keep rockin for years to come.

They did one of their new songs during the encore. It hasn't been released yet and I can't remember the name of it, but they dedicated it to "Michael" and I assumed they were referring to Michael Jackson. To read a very moving story about Stevie Wonder's performance and tribute to Michael last night at Summerfest, see Joe's post here.

Tomorrow night its back for more great music, we will be seeing Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam. In fact, I may even get to meet Davy, should I tell him I chose his band as the number one new band of 2008? Can not wait to hear him play/sing.

I'm excited that I will be experiencing Summerfest tomorrow night!  I'll be hearing one of my favorite bands of all time, Heart, AND meeting one of my favorite bloggers of all time, Rock and Roll Guru!  It should be a grand time.

This news shocks and saddens me. Apparently he had a heart attack. I know some people don't like him, but I have always liked his muisc and think he's one of the most entertaining performers ever. Sad.

I saw him on the "Bad" tour and was mesmerized by his dancing and singing. My sympathies go out to his family and his fans.

I received this for review last week and have listened to it over and over since then. In my opinion George's music (from his solo career) was often overlooked because of the huge shadow his former bandmates cast over all he did. Kind of hard to be compete with "Lennon and McCartney". Personally I think George had more talent than Paul any day of the week...but that's my opinion. And although I love John is known for the visionary of world peace, George actually did something to bring awareness to a horrific situation. I admire that. (I love John too...this is not a put down to him at all!)


This CD is excellent. Here is the official description:

George Harrison’s first-ever career-spanning solo hits collection, Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison. Special packaging includes a 28-page booklet featuring previously unseen and rare photos, and newly-written liner notes by Warren Zanes. The collection’s 19 tracks have been digitally remastered by Giles Martin at EMI’s Abbey Road Studios. “Let It Roll: Songs by George Harrison is a gathering of material that takes us far into the territory that was ultimately a place unique to George Harrison,” writes Warren Zanes in his liner notes essay for the new collection.

Track List:

* Got My Mind Set On You (from Cloud Nine, 1987)
* Give Me Love (Give Me Peace On Earth) (from Living In The Material World, 1972)
* The Ballad Of Sir Frankie Crisp (Let It Roll) (from All Things Must Pass, 1970)
* My Sweet Lord (from All Things Must Pass, 1970)
* While My Guitar Gently Weeps (from Concert For Bangladesh Soundtrack, 1971)
* All Things Must Pass (from All Things Must Pass, 1970)
* Any Road (from Brainwashed, 2002)
* This Is Love (from Cloud Nine, 1987)
* All Those Years Ago (from Somewhere In England, 1981)
* Marwa Blues (from Brainwashed, 2002)
* What Is Life (from All Things Must Pass, 1970)
* Rising Sun (from Brainwashed, 2002)
* When We Was Fab (from Cloud Nine, 1987)
* Something (from Concert For Bangladesh Soundtrack, 1971)
* Blow Away (from George Harrison, 1979)
* Cheer Down (from Lethal Weapon 2)
* Here Comes The Sun (from Concert For Bangladesh Soundtrack, 1971)
* I Don't Want To Do It (from Porkys Revenge soundtrack, 1984)
* Isn't It A Pity (from All Things Must Pass, 1970)

... to all you dad's out there! I did a post on my other blog about my thoughts on fathers. If you don't see your name there, its because I only listed dads that read that blog...but I know many of you who read here are also wonderful fathers and you INSPIRE me!

"1953, Born on this day, Nils Lofgren, guitar, piano, vocals. He joined Neil Young's band at age 17, playing piano on the album After the Gold Rush. From 1971 to 1974 recorded four albums with his own band, Grin. Solo 1976 UK No.8 album, 'Cry Tough'. Joined Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band in 1984. And member of Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band."

Nils has always been my favorite member of the E Street Band because of his talent and also his personality and generostiy.  He's just a  nice guy!

I was listening to a song by U2 today and remembered reading what Bono said the song was about. But I've heard other people explain their ideas on what he was talking about when he wrote it.

The true inspiration for song lyrics are often argued by the listener, and really, we will never know for sure unless we hear it straight from the lips of the songwriter. But its fun to hear opinions.

Here are some songs that people seem to have a hard time agreeing about, do you have an opinion on what they are about or what inspired them?

Achilles's Last Stand, Led Zeppelin

Angie, The Rolling Stones

Radar Love, Golden Earring

Hotel California, The Eagles

Baba O'Reilly, The Who

Where The Streets Have No Name, U2