Rockin Rory

Quick - name three great bands/musicians that hail from Ireland....

Let me guess who you came up with:
U2 (even my mother knows this one)
Van Morrison?
The Boomtown Rats?

What about - RORY GALLAGHER?

Rory was an incredible R&B guitar player who at one time "dethroned Eric Clapton" as musician of the year (awarded by UK's Melody Maker Magazine). Several successful guitar players (The Edge, Slash, Johnny Marr, Glenn Tipton and Brian May) give Rory credit for being one of their main influences.

I recently met a very enthusiastic fan of Rory's which prompted this post. If I lived in NYC I would for sure attend the tribute they are having for him next weekend!

Sadly his life ended after a liver-transplant with complications. His brother, Donal, keeps the memories alive. If you've never heard his music...maybe you should give it a listen:)

Paul McCartney and James Taylor

Now don't get too excited - these two gents are not touring together, they only share a headline here on my blog because I am reviewing each of their new releases. I admit I am not a huge McCartney OR JT fan but I wanted to give them both a chance. Here are my thoughts:


I tried to like this "Memory Almost Full, but frankly, other than the songs he wrote with John and "Maybe I'm Amazed" I don't really care for his music. I downloaded onto my iTunes but then deleted it knowing I would never listen to it again.



JT's "One Man Band", on the other hand, has a very worthwhile listen here. If your a fan you must have this. Not only does he play all his hits live, but also shares stories behind the songs. Not really into his mellow sound I thought I'd be bored with it, but I am keeping this on my iPod for when the mood strikes for some Sweet Baby James.

PS -
Special thanks to Randi Kraemer for always thinking of me when new music comes out!

Here are a few I can't wait for:

- Nirvana Unplugged and Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival 2007! Yeah, Baby now we are talking GOOD music!

Was it suicide?

More on Kevin duBrow and my personal thoughts on Suicide
Damn it. It sad to lose someone, anyone. But there is a deeper kind of sadness felt when we discover someone has taken their own life. The lastest reports on the death of Keven DuBrow sound familiar to me, he was found alone in his home, dead, under suspicious circumstances.

I identify with depression. I have had suicidal thoughts. I have had three people in my life (two cousins and a close friend) and numerous acquaintances that have chose to end their existence here on earth.

Its tragic. Its disturbing. It causes feelings of anger in some because its seen as a selfish act. I'm sure some suicide's are done out of selfishness or maybe desperation but I believe most happen out of sheer despondency and hopelessness. I will never judge someone for making the choice to end their life, but I will do anything and everything I can as a person to reach out to those I know suffer from depression.

My 26 year old nephew has often spoken of suicide - I hope he never goes throught with it and I have asked him to please tell me if he ever gets to that point - but the thing is, when you get to that point (I have been close) you can't tell anyone because you are in so much pain you just want it to end.

Statistics have shown that THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR that there is an increase in depression and therefore suicide. It happens to people of all ages and backgrounds, there is no "stereotype" for hopelessness. It can come as a result of an incident or be part of one's own unique make-up.

PLEASE - if you know of anyone, or if you yourself suffer from this very common condition, please talk to someone. If you feel you have no one to talk to - please talk to me. You can email me and I promise to write you back or call you if you prefer. We're all in this thing called life together.

Danny Ferderici Takes a Break for Cancer Treatment

I just read saw a video over at Blogness on the Edge of Town (my favorite resource for all things Bruce), the video of Danny's send off fromt he tour. As you may have heard he was diagnosed with melanoma and will undergoing treatmetn rather than being on the road with the E Street Band. He will be missed.

Here is some Danny F. trivia for you: Along with playing the organ, he also plays the glokenspeil (I had no idea that's what it was called until just now) and the accordian. He taughtr himself how to play the accordian at age seven while wtaching Laurence Welk on TV. Pretty cool if ya ask me.

My prayers are with you, Danny! You will be missed on the rest of this tour, I hope you make a full recovery!

Quiet Riot Singer, Kevin Dubrow, Dead

Very sad news.
Apparently he died in his home in Las Vegas, cause unknown at this time. Kevin was 52 years young.

More details can be found on livedaily.com:


I was just telling someone YESTERDAY that I was so glad I had not had to update my "Gone But Not Forgotten" blog recently. I spoke too soon.

Sensual Plant

Wow. I am watching the new edition of "The Song Remains the Same". Several obvervations:

- I must have been really stoned back when I saw this in the theater, its weird and the fantasy scenes don't appeal to me at all today

- The footage is pretty much perfect

- Disc 2 had some never been seen before footage of songs that didnt' make it onto the film

- Robert MUST have his jeans tailor made to fit because they are literally skin tight

- Jimmy Page is a rock god

- John Paul Jones ............? I know he was an important part of the band but I just can't think of a thing to say about him

- John, dear John, John had the look in his eye he was an extremist to his own detriment, but definitely one of the best drummer of all time

- No one exudes sensuality as effortlessly as Robert Plant. He doesn't have to DO a thing. By today's standards some would even call him "an out of shape bloke with bad teeth and no sense of style". BUT....as Robert stands there with his girly looking shirt open and sings and moves naturally to the music....The look in his eyes, the curl of his lips, the gorgeous golden locks, the sounds of his voice...you can't try to be that kind of sensual, you either are or your not. He IS.

Thankful Lyrics

In honor of Thanksgiving here in the USA, help me think of songs, titles, lyrics and or band names with any form of the word "Thanks" in the title, including words such as grateful, thank you, etc. etc.

I will start off with the most obvious:

Thank You by Led Zeppelin
The Grateful Dead
"I just want to THANK YOU for letting me be myself" (from song by Sly & the Family Stone")

Poco

Does anyone out there remember the band from the 60's - 80's called Poco? I have a vivid memory of them playing at the Laguna Bowl one Sunday afternoon in the sumer of 198?. I lived in Laguna Canyon which was basically right across the street from the Bowl. Rather than paying to see the concert, we (my roommates and neighbors) decided it would be fun to sit on our roof with a plenty of beer and make a party of it. It was a great concert, they played all their hits, but for the life of me, I can't think of a single one at the moment.

HELP!

When I was younger so much younger than toooooooo day---ayyyyy


News for Beatles fans:

In honor of the DVD release of Help! on November 6, 2007, the FIRST EVER Beatles podcast has been created! Narrated by Michael Palin, click on the link below to check out the 2-part installment (with a 3^rd part coming soon)

Check it out HERE

Goober Won the Zeppelin Set

Well I did a drawing and there were four names, Goober won! I initially was only going to give away the DVD because I wanted to keep the 2 CDs for myself, but that seems really selfish - I mean who wants JUST the DVD? So I am going to mail him out the whole thing.

But on MY CHRISTMAS LIST at the very top is this:

DAMN IT YOU STUPID TICKET BROKERS

Just tried my luck at getting tickets to Bruce for April. Got four crappy seats. Tried for better ones but no go. All the brokers are laughing their way to the bank again as the fans sit here helplessly with the leftover seats. Oh well, at least I am going again.

Blackmore's Night - Paris Moon (live in Paris)

I have another CD/DVD set to review and give away.

If you are into "Renaissance Rock" you will love this CD/DVD. There are a lot of talented musicians in this group, including Ritchie Blackmore. Instruments include violins, flute, mandolin, guitar, piano.

I read one person's review who states it succinctly:

"this is what rock and roll would have sounded like 500 years ago"

I gave it a listen and enjoyed the music, but found myself wanting to fast forward the vocals....I have never been into the Celtic type sound and that's what Candace Night reminds me of. Her personality got on my nerves a bit too (its a live performance so she talks between songs).

My favorite part of this set is the packaging - It looks like an old book with an inlay of a photograph of Paris on the front. Its the same size as a small book and opens up to some well done graphics. Very dark, old looking - kind of mystical.
If anyone would like to check this out, its up for grabs for the small price of maybe linking back to me and saying something nice :)


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Listening to: Blackmore's Night - World Of Stone
via FoxyTunes

The MOTHERSHIP has Landed!

I received my copy of Mothership this week and what can I say - its Zeppelin at their finest - only BETTER. These 2 CDs/DVD have been remastered to bring out the best in the four British blokes that changed musical history back in the 70's.

To quote Andrew Bartlett:

For its part, Mothership's crisper, warmer audio owes its heft to the troika of Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones, who helped oversee the mastering, bringing out untold shades even in the throes of "Heartbreaker" and the sinews of "No Quarter." It's an impressive sonic leap. Where tinny high-ends and muffled lows used to co-exist, fatter and louder depths prevail.

Undertstandably some of us may see our personal favortie missing - most noteably for me "The Ocean". But the songs were handpicked by Plant and Page so I guess I will have to email my complainsts to one them.

and guess what: I AM GIVING AWAY the DVD disc of this set to YOU(?). If you are interested let me know in a comment and if there is more than one person I will diplomatically pull a name from a hat on Monday or Tuesday next week and send it to you. Sorry, this time I am keeping the 2 CD discs for myself, but I am expecting some other gems to review and will be giving lots of good stuff away in the near future...its so fun to share music!!!

See below for full track list:

Disc: 1
1. Good Times Bad Times
2. Communication Breakdown
3. Dazed and Confused
4. Babe I'm Gonna Leave Yous
5. Whole Lotta Love
6. Ramble On
7. Heartbreaker
8. Immigrant Song
9. Since I've Been Loving You
10. Rock and Roll
11. Black Dog
12. When The Levee Breaks
13. Stairway To Heaven
Disc: 2
1. Song Remains The Same
2. Over The Hills And Far Away
3. D'Yer Maker
4. No Quarter
5. Trampled Under Foot
6. Houses Of The Holy
7. Kashmir
8. Nobody's Fault But Mine
9. Achilles Last Stand
10. In The Evening
11. All My Love
Disc: 3
1. We're Gonna Groove
2. I Can't Quit You Babe (DVD)
3. Dazed & Confused (DVD)
4. White Summer (DVD)
5. What Is & What Should Never Be (DVD)
6. Moby Dick (DVD)
7. Whole Lotta Love
8. Communication Breakdown
9. Bring It On Home
10. Immigrant Song
11. Black Dog
12. Misty Mountain Hop
13. Going To California
14. In My Time Of Dying
15. Stairway To Heaven
16. Rock and Roll
17. Nobody's Fault But Mine
18. Kashmir
19. Whole Lotta Love(DVD)

Happy Birthday, Neil! Born 11/12/45

(Special note to Angie, you are right, I forgot! But I heard a belated birthday tribute to him on the radio today so knew I was not toooooooooo late. Thanks, mate, for the head's up from down under!)

I think the cover of my "Decades" album wore so thin I had to tape it up. I loved Neil back in my younger years and still think he's one of the greats.

So, what are some of your favorite Neil Young songs?

i'm trying to remain calm...

I won't mention any names...but someone just announced another show in my area for April! Hell yes I am going again! He'll be here in Orange County for only the second time ever. Save your money to fly out here if you want to see him...I'm getting an extra ticket to give away to some lucky person :)

Nirvana News:

Took this straight from "The Q Daily" a wonderful site packed with info:

Nirvana's MTV Unplugged comes to DVD

It’s the most critically revered live performance of the grunge era, yet Nirvana’s 1993 Unplugged In New York show for MTV has never been available on DVD – until now.

Next Monday (19 November) sees the release of the full 66-minute concert, plus between-song banter and two tracks not included in the original broadcast, Oh Me and Something In The Way. The DVD also includes unreleased rehearsal and documentary footage.

We’ve got 10 copies of the DVD to give away, and all you need to do to be in with a chance of winning one is let us know your favourite track from Nirvana’s legendary MTV UnpluggedQ@emap.com, making sure you mention NIRVANA COMP in the subject heading. performance. Simply email your answer, plus your contact details, to

To jog your memory, we’ll be streaming clips from the DVD every day this week. First up: here’s their Meat Puppets cover Oh Me.

One More Bruce Thing....

Thank you Bruce O for your comment that made me realize I may be a bit over the top about Bruce S (I deleted the post over on WFTIO) :)

Still, I have to say these two videos kick ass and are the best footage I have ever seen taken from a fan in the audience:





Found these from via Blogness at the Edge of Town, by journalist/humorist/blogger extraordinarie, Peter Chianca. Thanks again for GREAT STUFF!

THANK YOU

I am really looking forward to discovering some new tunes SUGGESTED BY ALL OF YOU this weekend.

Deeper Cuts?

Several of you gave me a bit of a hard time for not digging hard enough to find the lesser known songs recorded by the Classics. So....I will take that as an offer on your part to help me discover some good stuff :)

I think you pretty much know my tastes. Obviously I have everything by Bruce, U2, Zeppelin, Bowie, Heart and the Stones.....but if you can suggest any other songs of good classic rock bands, I would love to try them out.

Thanks!

A Man After My Own Heart....

Finally, someone who really RELATES on a level beyond the basic "Yeah, Bruce is cool" kinda way!

I know some of you love Bruce, and some of you are pretty damn sick of me writing about him...But check THIS out!

A famous person, a person who's name I recognized immediately, sent me and email to say he started a blog all about BRUCE. It's not the first or the only Bruce Blog out there, but I think its the only one I need or want.

Check it out, there's some cool news about iTunes/Bruce:

Blogness on the Edge of Town

by well known journalist, blogger and seemingly nice guy: Peter Chianca

I REALLY WAS THERE!

And I have the ticket stub to prove it...

Here is a great review about the concerts Bruce put on 27 years ago THIS WEEK!

Twenty-seven years ago this week, Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band proved it all night at the Los Angeles Sports Arena with a run of epic shows on "The River" tour that people are still talking about in reverent tones. In fact, if everyone in this town who says they were at those shows were in fact there, the overflow audience would have filled half of the neighboring Los Angeles Coliseum. (read the entire thing here)

Yes, it was a show to remember as were the 16 others I've seen. But like this article says, the Sports Arena is a "gloriously scruffy" and Bruce feels very at home on the stage there. Its by far the best venue for him in So. Cal.

I am still a bit high from last Tuesday night. Rumor says that he will get a Grammy for this new album. Fans like me just smile, it doesn't really matter what everyone else says or thinks, we KNOW.

Sigh. I miss him already. Maybe I ought to fly out of state to see this show again.....

Zeppelin Has to Postpone - Bummer!!!

Led Zeppelin have been forced to postpone their one-off London performance at the O2 Arena on Nov. 26th due to guitarist Jimmy Page breaking a finger last weekend. The show has been moved to Dec. 10th to enable the injury to properly heal.

Wallflowers Anyone?

I have to admit, you can only listen to so much CLASSIC rock....after all it has a beginning and an end. It was an era of time. So I enjoy a lot of newer bands too. Right now I am on a total Wallflowers kick. I mean you can't go wrong with Dylan's son, he inherited a lot of his dad's talent. Does anyone here like the Wallflowers? Black Lab? The Gin Blossoms? Sick Puppies? Plain White T's? Or am I going through yet another musical identity crisis?



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Listening to: Sick Puppies - What Are You Looking for
via FoxyTunes

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Listening to: The Wallflowers - Everybody Out Of The Water
via FoxyTunes

Free CD - "Dreamboat Annie Live" by Heart

Shout Music was nice enough to give me a copy of the new CD and DVD of this incredible performance. Ann and Nancy were asked to do "Dreamboat Annie" in its entirety this past year and its now available on CD and DVD seperately. I am keeping the DVD - its a MUST HAVE for any Heart fan, but would like to give the CD away. Just to make it fun, here are a few trivia questions about Heart. The first person to get the majority of them correct (without cheating by looking up the answers!) can have the CD. I will leave this open for a few days.

1. Name three instruments each that both Ann and Nancy play.

2. What were many of the songs on Dreamboat Annie inspired by:
a) a boat
b) a man Nancy was in love with
c) the feminist movement
d) Anne's boyfriend
e) Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
f) the Viet Nam war

3. When Mushroom Records heard them play they wanted to sign one of the sisters but not the rest of the band....she said no unless they signed all of them. Who did they want to sign?

4. Name three popular songs off Dreamboat Annie?

5. Who is older, Ann or Nancy?

6. Name a band that were a major influence on them in their early years.

7. Do you know what the song "Crazy on You" is about? If so, what.

Remember - you don't have to get them ALL right to win. Good luck, its a great CD!