Music News, Reviews and live music video for the aging rocker set

October 31, 2008

Joe the Plumber hits up Eddie Money for ideas

Wow, just when you thought things couldn't get more pathetic, Joe the Plumber has signed on with "The Press Office" handlers for Eddie Money and Grand Funk Railroad to manage his career.

And since we hear so very much about Eddie Money and Grand Funk all the time, I am sure that This plumber fellow is doing the right thing.

Upside, this move means more people will be aware Grand Funk and Eddie Money still have careers which do not involve the selling of used cars.

October 20, 2008

Guns n' Roses - Let the Dr. Pepper Run Free!

Often past their prime rockers release 'comeback' records, and we think "So what? What's in it for me?"

Usually, there is no answer except either a moment of nostalgia for days gone by or alternately a moment to make fun of the artists in question. But on November 23rd, when Guns n' Roses offer up their newest, there will be a big incentive in the form of FREE DR. PEPPER.

I was going to make a Dr. Feelgood joke here until I realized that was Motley Crue.

OK, drink up.

October 10, 2008

Who Madonna is Voting For

Video from Madonna's current tour. With that giant gay fanbase who else would she vote for?



October 08, 2008

Metallica Loves Bacon

How nice to see this bit of trivia from the good people at the Smoking Gun.

When looking at the catering requirements of Metallica's tour rider it's hard to miss that the phrase "BACON VERY IMPORTANT THAT BACON BE AVAILABLE AT EVERY MEAL AND DURING THE DAY" is right at the top of the band's directives. Sure they may ask for lots of fresh fruit and premium teas (aw, boys after my own heart), but from here on in, I hope that when someone asks any of you "What can you tell me about Metallica?" that the first thing that comes to your mind is "Man, that band sure loves their bacon".

October 07, 2008

Smells like Hawaii

Thank you to JoEllen for heads up about this video, ladies and gentlemen, the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain playing Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit.



Bonus:

The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra (featuring Bret from Flight of the Conchords) singing a credible "Hey Ya"



Those new Zealanders, really know how to rock!

October 06, 2008

Lyres and Mires - If This Boat's A'-Rocking...

It's not often enough that I'm given an opportunity to spend a weeknight on the high seas with legendary garage rockers, but that's just how two Wednesdays ago ended up, as I found myself on a free harbor cruise sponsored by the good folks at Pabst Blue Ribbon. The beer was free, the bands were free, the three hour tour was free, what's not to like?

Arriving at the dock (?!) at around 7 to ensure our spot for the 7:30 departure, the slip (again - when do I ever use these words on this blog?) was filled with other aging rockers as well as some twentysomethings, signed up for the free event by Yelp.com. The aging ones (some of who had planned to spend this night with a re-formed Vanilla Fudge at the Kowloon, only to have the show canceled at the last minute) were having second thoughts about being stuck on a boat for 3 hours. And shortly after boarding, I found myself asking where certain people disappeared to. Apparently afraid of us encountering the same fate as the Gilligan's Island castaways, they decided at the last minute not to board. To be fair though, their concerns were only half-right because
the boat itself was quite modern and pleasant. It had 3 decks, two enclosed and one open to the fall night. So you could either sit in the indoor bar (deck 1), the indoor venue (middle deck), or go out on the roof to have a smoke or chat by moonlight. This meant that you were not stuck in a loud venue if you didn't want to be, and if you are my beau Ethan, you can smoke all the cigars you want on the roofdeck.

Shortly after departing the landlubbing world, Muck and the Mires were slamming it out to sailing set, and even played my request (see video below) for my favorite song: "All I Really Wanna Do Is Cry". You'd think there would be a bunch of problems playing on a boat - seasickness, giant squid attacks, etc. - but the evening went off without much of a hitch, save the boat crew's idea to set up the bands behind the stairways from Deck 1, so it was hard to actually stand close to the bands without standing on their toes.




Also, this was the first time I got to see garage rock legends The Lyres. The set led with "How Do You Know" and continued on with a parade of songs I forgot I knew like "Help You Ann" (see video below) and "Don't Give It Up Now". Apparently 25 years of practice can make perfect - energy was high and nary a note was missed.



Oh wait, when I said "What's not to like?"... did I mention the part about it being 3 hours?

It's about 10:00 when I'm on Deck 1, chatting to Mr. Muck, and I point out the time. He releases a horrified gasp "Oh no, it can't be! It has to be later than that!" But sadly I was right, we all still had an hour left on the boat, an hour which had little music left to fill it, and a whole lotta of being ready to go home. I ascended the stairs to the roofdeck to find my beau pointing out the boat was coming into harbor now, only to have his comments thwarted as the boat turned to chug Northward to Charlestown "TURN AROUND! STOP!" many of my amis full of free PBR bellowed, but the boat crew were intent on giving us our money's worth and the tour continued right up till 11PM. Yawn.

October 03, 2008

Dreamy

I had a dream last night I was going to invite the Undertones to my birthday party. I knew them because they were neighbors of a friend of mine, but not having their email I was going to just print out a note and stuff it under their door. I'd also like to note in the dream The Undertones were all still about 19, and all lived in an apartment in Boston together. Yep.

In other dreamy yet real news, the other week I found myself in an elevator with Clint Conley from Mission of Burma. But, rather than just saying "Hey, aren't you Clint Conley?", I instead just made nervous jokes about the bookstore we were in. Just goes to show even silver foxes are still foxes.

October 02, 2008

Johnny Rotten Loves Butter

In the pantheon of surprising ads, this one certainly shocked me.
Former Sex Pistols frontman Johnny Lydon for Country Life Butter:



Says Lydon of the ad, in an interview at The Guardian ""I've never done anything like this before and never thought I would, but this Country Life ad was made for me and I couldn't resist the opportunity." Is this the ultimate rock and roll swindle? All I know is I sure could go for a piece of toast about now...