Southern Rock vs. Texas Blues -- Both Are Winners in My Book

Music Wed - Two genres which arose around the same time, the late 60's and early 70's, continue to bring me joy and open little surprises with the discovery of deep cuts from the competing genres' various masters. I am talking about Southern Blues Rock and Texas Blues Rock.  Let me highlight the masters of each style and see if you can recognize and appreciate the differences - and just for kicks and giggles, I will pontificate a bit on these differences. On the Southern Blues side you have the three pillars of this style - Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Molly Hatchet, while the Kings of Texas Blues are best showcased in the music of ZZ Top, Stevie Ray Vaughn and currently Gary Clark, Jr. It is interesting to me how each of these styles adopted, somewhat serendipitously and I'm sure somewhat consciously by way of musical competition, and each style follows very predictable format, approach and even band composition. Southern Rock bands are large - a rhythm guitar (or two), at least two dueling lead guitarists, two full drummers with usually an additional percussionist, and, of course, a master keyboard player who is at home on a honky tonk piano as well as a Hammond B3 organ and who can challenge the guitarists for the lead solos. The vocalists are weary, hard living men with gravely voices. In contrast, Texas Blues bands are stripped down trios or, at most, a four piece band which features a stunning lead guitarist, and then the combo of a  bass player with drummer who possess separate bodies and instruments, but share one musical groove, and occasionally an organ, but only for support and atmosphere. For the Texas bands, the vocalists are minimalists - they growl out just enough lyrics to get you to the guitar jams. Let me exemplify - on the Southern Rock side, let's pick the Allman Bros.' "Done Somebody Wrong" (http://youtu.be/Pe_f46DBYU0), and "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed (http://youtu.be/abwC5mwlg94 -- this is a great original cut showing the gone-too-soon Duane Allman on slide guitar); for Skynyrd, I will pick "They Call Me The Breeze" (http://youtu.be/EsIqEq9OFxE) and "Gimmee Back My Bullets/Simple Man" (http://youtu.be/1lbrWxAOWAQ), and finally from the much less known, but in my opinion equally enjoyable, Molly Hatchett, we'll take on "Whiskey Man" (http://youtu.be/kKxnI2JNyVM).  I will give out a shout to the Marshall Tucker Band - do some snooping and you will find some gems to kick back and enjoy like "Heard It In A Love Song" (http://youtu.be/pNSzKPa96vQt -- got to love the swap of the rock flute for the usual southern-staple, the harmonica). For the Texas Blues bands, ZZ Top deep cuts include "Just Got Back From Baby's" (http://youtu.be/hxQOO63RnRQ) and "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide" (http://youtu.be/gWttL4gs078). Stevie Ray is, to me, on a par approaching Jimi Hendrix for his skill and originality, and nothing shows those skills better than his classic take on "Little Wing" (http://youtu.be/NNgcKoJAYgs) and "Chitlins Con Carne" (http://youtu.be/Um1lA9m4wL0). Gary Clark, Jr. has been heralded as the the new blues guitar hero, and he showcases his vast talent on his new live album, which I highly recommend. To get you started, take a nibble on these tasty treats -- "When My Train Comes In" (http://youtu.be/tOeFJF3tTSU), and tradin' licks with John Mayer on "Born Under A Bad Sign" (http://youtu.be/RyFs13mMtPo).  Enjoy!

Music Wed - Some More Tool Tunes with Player, Wings, FGTH And Van Halen

Music Wed - I was all set to do something else this week when I heard an old fave "tool tune" which made me go down a totally different path. So, covering multiple decades and genres, and with no common theme, here are some more of my tool tunes which I love even though I may not always want to admit to others that I always sing along with these when I hear them. First is Player, with "Baby Come Back" (http://youtu.be/DDYBin9QZJc) - super cheesy? Sure. But that is part of its late '70s charm.  Next is Wings and one of Paul's many "silly love songs" (another tool tune!) for Linda - "My Love."  I crank it every time I hear it, and here is a great live version (http://youtu.be/qGStwcniqyI). Wings is way overlooked for memorable '70s bands. Denny Laine was a perfect partner for Paul and helped fill the void of no Beatles. I want to jump forward to the '80s with two songs I love to catch on Pandora or any other streaming service because I never get tired of them - Van Halen's "Hot For Teacher" (http://youtu.be/UXQYcNSNIb8) - gotta love a song that features great opportunities for both an air drum solo AND an air guitar solo! - and Frankie Goes To Hollywood and "Relax" (http://youtu.be/y64T-kYQ2B8). "Frankie Says" this song is irrestible. Good stuff when you are riding around and catch one of these oldies, but goodies. Enjoy!

Japanese Mechanical Dance Music and J-Pop Metal Thrashers - wild stuff that you won't want to miss!

Music Wed - I have been in weird moods lately as I have composed these posts, and today will be on exception. But, I say this - if you have skipped checking the songs from my last couple of posts because they just don't fit your preferences, please check out what I have here because I am sure you have NEVER seen anything like this.  I find Japanese culture very strange and fascinating, and the Japanese people are absolutely unique in their societal bonds and the lengths they go to protect, strengthen and preserve their communal society. But, with all the conformity, Japanese artists are wildly individualistic, and I have two shining examples which show their unique creative and ground breaking/genre changing artistry. First is from the group World Order who mock and comment on the highly organized, mechanized and ritualized aspects of Japanese society by playing the roles of the ultimate conforming businessmen - long a mainstay of the Japanese economy and an expression of the Japanese approach to business and societal norms.  I absolutely love these guys and their cool mechanical songs expressed with their mind blowing choreography, and "Welcome to Tokyo" is a great example of the beauty and somewhat subversive commentary on Japanese society (http://youtu.be/IDAlZ7PDMDU) - I can assure you that watching them will be enjoyable, but their song also will worm its way into your mind and you will be thinking about it the rest of the day. Next is a recent phenomenon which defies any conventional description. What would happen if you mixed preteen J-Pop with hard core metal music? The answer is the hottest band in Japan right now, Babymetal.  I defy you to say you have seen anything like this group of hard core shredders for musicians combined with the perfectly cutely adorable J-Pop princesses who dance and sing in front of their ghoulish band. Too wild to really describe in words, so please watch "Gimme Chocolate" (http://youtu.be/WIKqgE4BwAY) and "Catch Me If You Can" (http://youtu.be/g2c3MM3zf0Y). Too wild; so fun; and, to me, irresistible. Check this out - you will not be sorry, and you might even become a fan of one or both. I love them for their differences and similarities in terms of what they're trying to express, so Enjoy!

Bring Back the Talk-Box - Rock's Forgotten Guitar Hero's Friend

Music Wed - Among the weird things I love is the use of the "talk-box" in classic rock songs. Now, if you are under 40 years of age, this posting will be like a musical archaeological dig because, with a few notable exceptions like Slash, Dave Grohl and Jerry Cantrell, virtually one has really used the talk-box in a popular song since the mid '80s. If you are over 40, then don't pretend you have never heard of this oddball, cool device which allows a singer to sing his lyrics through the notes he is playing on a guitar. You can legitimately debate the merits of this early attempt at synthesized musical combinations, but you can't deny you know (and probably secretly dig!) at least one talk-box song.  For the younger readers, this device works as follows - the singer/guitarist routes his voice through a clear rubber tube next to the microphone through the guitar and then plays the guitar for a voice-merged-with-guitar sounds emerging as the final result. To pull this off, you need to be both a decent singer, as well as a skilled musician who can jam sufficiently well to make a synthesized voice sound cool coming out of a guitar. I rue the day musicians stopped playing with this device because it adds such a fun and unique combination of skills to any song that makes the song unforgettable.  Here are my favorite talk-box songs (all of which should be no surprise to you over 40 readers). First is the great Joe Walsh's classic jam on "Rocky Mountain Way", which is a song that not only has a lengthy talk-box solo, but also includes comical lyrics and just good old fashioned axe work on the Gibson guitar that Joe has always favored (http://youtu.be/F1uWA7VPGiE). Obvious choice, but Joe is an endearing figure among rock guitarists and he does make the best Rock-Guitar-Faces when he plays. Next on any list like this has to be Peter Frampton's epic live version of "Do You Feel Like We Do" (http://youtu.be/y7rFYbMhcG8) - no one did more for the talk-box than Mr. Frampton because of the 20+ million copies of Frampton Comes Alive which have been purchased, not to mention the constant plays on 70's FM radio of the full jam version of this song - as an aside, I will never forgive AM radio for its insistence during the 70's on the three and one-half minute song limitation which resulted in lame, chopped-up versions of so many great songs, this one included. No RIP to AM radio - your passing is not missed.  Since most talk-box songs last at least 8-9 minutes in length, I will end with only one more classic - Motley Crüe's "Kickstart My Heart" (http://youtu.be/1PJOHbzQwGw).  This is the Crüe live in all their bombastic glory, and Mick Mars gives a very strong showing on his guitar work, including his use of the talk box. Enjoy!

The Joys of Jazz and Instrumental Music

Music Wed. In honor of the holiday, I am going to indulge in a second posting this week. Back in the 60s and 70s, every band featured one or two instrumental numbers on their albums to share (and oft times show off) their musical chops. Since modern pop artists have no such chops, the instrumental songs on albums died about 30 years ago. But I am here to declare that instrumental music is awesome, and I have three cuts to prove my case. First, is the great Jeff Beck, featuring my current favorite bassist Tal Wilkenfeld, on the indescribably eery and ethereal "Cause We've Ended As Lovers" (http://youtu.be/qMryWoRRqUc) and (http://youtu.be/VC02wGj5gPw) - yes, I gave you two versions because one is a wild jam at Crossroads 2007 where Tal goes nuts when Jeff turns her loose, and the second is a more refined version showcasing Jeff's mystical way of pulling notes from a guitar. Next, we will shift to a cover of one of my Top 5 Stevie Wonder songs, "Moon Blue", as covered by the David Reinhardt Trio and featuring Cyrille Aimee on vocals (http://youtu.be/1KAr3K3NtT0) - Ms. Aimee's vocals are passable, but wait until the end when she scats. Then she shows her artistry - all I can say is wow! Finally, we end with a version of a 60s sugary pop classic, "Sunny", that is given a lift by the Rosenberg Trio featuring David Reinhardt (http://youtu.be/iK4GF2GD1XI) - Messrs. Rosenberg and Reinhardt trade solos, never losing the song or each other. Sheer Brilliance. I always like to leave you with a little unexpected treat, so I want to share a recent discovery of Sting's haunting song "Fragile" featuring Sting and Stevie Wonder (http://youtu.be/Oi5FC2Mf-Bo) - keeping with our theme, this song features a virtuoso harmonica solo by Stevie that reminds us that John Popper is not the only one who can make this odd little instrument meaningful and beautiful. Enjoy! One last tip - if you love funky female bassists, check out rising star Alissia Benveniste on her composition "Let it Out" (http://youtu.be/ggPooXtzUD0) - pretty funky stuff for a music student!

Elton John and Howard Jones - Great Musicians With Some "Lost" Gems Which Should Be Lost "Classics"

Music Wed - I love singer-songwriters, that is well-known for readers of this blog; but I particularly have a special place in my heart for those who also are virtuoso musicians. I am going to toggle between the 70s and 80s with some deep cuts from two of my all time faves - Elton John (of course) and Howard Jones (a tip of the bandana to my 80s-loving chums). First is a song showing Elton and Bernie Taupin at their moody, lyrically obscure, Gus Dudgeon hauntingly produced best on "I've Seen That Movie, Too" (http://youtu.be/eptRpgMyyNE). No video here, just pristine audio of Elton and his original band playing live at the peak of their powers - Elton on piano, Ray Cooper on percussion and Davey Johnstone on guitar fill the hall like the full orchestra used in the original recording on Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (which is an absolute MUST HAVE for every music collection, it is so beautiful, weird and wonderful). Shifting gears, let's enjoy the piano master of 80s New Wave, Howard Jones, with "No One Is To Blame" (http://youtu.be/ENB2eX-U3a8). Cut him some slack on the hairdo and just enjoy his playing, his voice and a really sweet song that seemed to mean a lot to me when Rena and I stopped dating and the reasons weren't exactly clear or easy to articulate. Back to Elton, and let's waste no time with a two-fer of Elton's long forgotten beauties "All The Young Girls Love Alice" (http://youtu.be/C44qzpUD1kY) and "Have Mercy On A Criminal" (http://youtu.be/ZsGz1HL4BGY). Again no video, but pristine recordings of Elton just blowing the doors down with unforgettable songs about social ills and troubled souls. Who's writing songs like this today?  Oh yeah, I know - NOBODY! Let's wrap up with a two-fer from HoJo with "Like To Get To Know You Well" (http://youtu.be/DiZ-rLXCbLY) - a loose, live cut from recent times showing Howard still can sing and play like he did 30 years ago, and "Pearl In The Shell" (http://youtu.be/7KR-dRcEn6U) - this rollicking version brings to mind the spirit and energy of early Elton. Kick back, listen to these timeless gems and, of course, Enjoy!

It's Back - Music Wed Celebrates Embarrassing, But Fun, "Tool Tunes" - listen, cringe and enjoy!

Music Wed - To reintroduce Music Wed, I thought I would start with a fun idea I heard on a podcast, which is to list off a few of my favorite "Tool Tunes". We all have them - songs we take secret pleasure in singing along with, but are reluctant to admit we actually like them. These songs can be favorites for all types of weird reasons, but to be a true Tool Tune, a song must be a bit embarrassing, a bit cheesy or goofy, and always something nostalgic (at least for the person picking the tune). Here are a few of mine for some laughs. First one requires a trip in the wayback machine to the early 70's and the beginning of the Equal Rights movement and the anthem of that movement, "I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy (http://youtu.be/Gpu_PV3BTfI). Soak in every lyric because each cliche of empowerment is precious. Next is one of the weirdest songs ever, namely "Escape (Piña Colada Song)" (http://youtu.be/_WkR2Tv4dq4). Tired of his "lady", so he seeks out a hookup and happily ends up back with his "lovely lady"? Huh? Let's wrap up this episode with an old Police tune, "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" (http://youtu.be/xFHm3HCN9_k). I can assure you that if "all I wanted to say" to Rena was that drivel, I would still be single! Let's finish with a bonus tune, the brainless, but slightly naughty, ditty from the early crest of New Wave music, The Knack and "My Sharona" (http://youtu.be/g1T71PGd-J0). Love 'em all! Enjoy!