So much time, so little to say...
I've found my new favorite band name...We Were Promised Jetpacks. Love it. Not sure if they're going to last in my little world or in the slightly bigger indie world or the much wider expanse of the pop music world. I have no idea what's in this new Scottish band's best interest but the name rocks. I might be caught up in the newness of the relationship with WWPJ(p) as could have been the case with the Scottish band the Futureheads. They seemed to scream The Jam (high praise indeed) but I've cooled off a bit on them. Not sure if it was them or me. Maybe we didn't communicate enough...???
It really is hard to figure what's in the listener's best interest regarding commercial success for their favorite bands. I guess, the best case scenario is U2, a great band out of the gate that consistently (and I mean real-life not Hollywood consistency) makes great music, stays together, and then manages to reinvent itself and then puts on a tour that kicks ass. Damn, it's the soundtrack to my life. From Unknown Caller (a new U2 top 5 for me):
"I was right there at the top of the bottom / On the edge of the known universe where I wanted to be / I had driven to the scene of the accident / And I sat there waiting for me /Restart and re-boot yourself / You’re free to go / Oh, oh / Shout for joy if you get the chance / Password, you, enter here, right now / Oh, oh / You know your name so punch it in / Hear me, cease to speak that I may speak / Shush now / Oh, oh / Then don’t move or say a thing"
Enough U2 and Ireland, let's get back to Scotland. When I hear that burr I can't help but reflect on my favorite Scottish band and song of all time: In a Big Country by Big Country on the album...Big Country (of course!). What a guilty pleasure! When that song hits the radio, it is cranked!
Another Scottish name to store for future reference is Natasha Khan from Bat for Lashes. She has a sweet voice and will probably find her way to a modicum of success in America. I listened to an interview with her and was sucked into her world (or more likely my fantasy world) of castles, fog shrouded forests and that Scottish super-meat haggis. What a meal...ahhh.
Friday, May 29, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
New Music Monday I - Quattro de Mayo
As the Caps and Pens battle away in the background, I bring you the first of a (potentially) weekly ensemble of music, pop culture, sports, philosophy, health, fitness and yeah...music musings. Each Monday, after a pair of 2 hour drives between Charleston and Columbia, SC, I thank my lucky stars that our government has put our vast array of satellites to good commercial use and created the underpinnings for SiriusXM Radio. Please stay solvent my little satellite entertainment provider. It is the best 12 bucks a month I spend.
Let me start with Larry the Duck and his dj gig (6 years now) on SiriusXM's 1st Wave radio station. As many of you know, Larry the Duck goes back to mid-80s new wave days on Long Island at the Garden City studios of WLIR/DRE. Great stuff like the Ramones, The Cure, Smiths and lots of other not so great bands like Shreikback, Scritti Politti, Howard Jones and ABC spewed forth from Jones Beach to Jones Hall on LI. Although my mind often fails me in important situations, it never ceases to amaze me that I can recall the exact falsetto scream in a Gene Loves Jezebel song (Motion of Love) or some other half-assed, cliched lyric uttered by an utterly forgettable (yet unforgettable) English lead singer from the new wave band du jour. Like a good Depeche Mode or Peter Bjorn and John song, I find these songs, bands, personalities and memories all guilty pleasures. Anyway, Larry the Duck (and Malibu Sue?) are alive and well and greatly appreciated.
Even with my penchant for "the classic new wave" of the 80s, my favorite station on XM is XMU, the new "college music" station. Zach would love it and probably does. Lots of new stuff out of left field, classic great bands like Sonic Youth and hot new bands like The National, Arcade Fire and this week's Quattro de Mayo special: the Henry Clay People. Check em out on the cool music blog aquarium drunkard. Kind of an Uncle Tupelo meets Replacements band. Hmm...that sounds good.
As you know, as we get older, it gets harder and harder to see live bands and I have a "just missed, a "nice catch" and "can't wait" show for you. On the "just missed" side of things, Dinosaur Jr. came through Charleston a few weeks back along with Mike Watt from the Minutemen and fireHose. Dino Jr, a classic 80s/90s garage band from Amherst, Ma has a number of great albums and songs. Feel the Pain is one of my faves. Also, my friend Jen knows J. Mascis, the lead singer and Lou Barlow from Sebadoh is also great. As a "nice catch," I caught American Aquarium at the Pour House in CHS. Interestingly enough, we had a very impressive breast exposure incident. There was a fairly attractive, over-served and exuberant young lass that insisted on obtaining the bass player's hat. In good rock n roll form, he traded the hat for a boob shot and we were all amply rewarded. Long live rock n roll! Of course, U2 (in ATL) is my "can't wait" show in October. In my own version of High Fidelity, this band would be the soundtrack to my life. I do remember a party in Boston in 1984 when a bunch of girls in black introduced me to u2. My best buddy Sean was already into the Clash, the Jam, Elvis Costello but I was not on board yet and thanks to Sean, I found Elvis, Mick Jones, Joe Strummer, Paul Weller and Bono. Nice.
That's all I have tonight. I hope you're all well and enjoying the view from the bridgewing.
BC
Let me start with Larry the Duck and his dj gig (6 years now) on SiriusXM's 1st Wave radio station. As many of you know, Larry the Duck goes back to mid-80s new wave days on Long Island at the Garden City studios of WLIR/DRE. Great stuff like the Ramones, The Cure, Smiths and lots of other not so great bands like Shreikback, Scritti Politti, Howard Jones and ABC spewed forth from Jones Beach to Jones Hall on LI. Although my mind often fails me in important situations, it never ceases to amaze me that I can recall the exact falsetto scream in a Gene Loves Jezebel song (Motion of Love) or some other half-assed, cliched lyric uttered by an utterly forgettable (yet unforgettable) English lead singer from the new wave band du jour. Like a good Depeche Mode or Peter Bjorn and John song, I find these songs, bands, personalities and memories all guilty pleasures. Anyway, Larry the Duck (and Malibu Sue?) are alive and well and greatly appreciated.
Even with my penchant for "the classic new wave" of the 80s, my favorite station on XM is XMU, the new "college music" station. Zach would love it and probably does. Lots of new stuff out of left field, classic great bands like Sonic Youth and hot new bands like The National, Arcade Fire and this week's Quattro de Mayo special: the Henry Clay People. Check em out on the cool music blog aquarium drunkard. Kind of an Uncle Tupelo meets Replacements band. Hmm...that sounds good.
As you know, as we get older, it gets harder and harder to see live bands and I have a "just missed, a "nice catch" and "can't wait" show for you. On the "just missed" side of things, Dinosaur Jr. came through Charleston a few weeks back along with Mike Watt from the Minutemen and fireHose. Dino Jr, a classic 80s/90s garage band from Amherst, Ma has a number of great albums and songs. Feel the Pain is one of my faves. Also, my friend Jen knows J. Mascis, the lead singer and Lou Barlow from Sebadoh is also great. As a "nice catch," I caught American Aquarium at the Pour House in CHS. Interestingly enough, we had a very impressive breast exposure incident. There was a fairly attractive, over-served and exuberant young lass that insisted on obtaining the bass player's hat. In good rock n roll form, he traded the hat for a boob shot and we were all amply rewarded. Long live rock n roll! Of course, U2 (in ATL) is my "can't wait" show in October. In my own version of High Fidelity, this band would be the soundtrack to my life. I do remember a party in Boston in 1984 when a bunch of girls in black introduced me to u2. My best buddy Sean was already into the Clash, the Jam, Elvis Costello but I was not on board yet and thanks to Sean, I found Elvis, Mick Jones, Joe Strummer, Paul Weller and Bono. Nice.
That's all I have tonight. I hope you're all well and enjoying the view from the bridgewing.
BC
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