Posts in category Music / The Arts
Great Performances: James Brown at T.A.M.I. Show
Great Performances: The Who Blow Roof Off Madison Square Garden
This had a big impact on my life. I could tell that it uplifted a lot of people who were hurting. It was such a glorious show and it includes the great John Entwistle. I’ve thought about it from time to time, and this past Sept 11 I decided to remember Sept 11 and this was the first memory, even though it happened in late October. I’ll never forget it. A few notes:
1. Keith Richards and Mick Jagger followed this Who set, which is similar to how they had to handle following James Brown at the ’64 T.A.M.I. show.
2. When you witness something odd, you have to ask ‘how did this come to be?’ Consider some firemen who have long rocked out to The Who, in high school, and probably at the fire house, too.
They are in V.I.P. seating at a prestigious rock arena and The Who is playing for them. Pete Townshend says that he is honored to play for them..and his last words are “We could never follow what you did.”
Why? What happened? Who did what? A future generation or someone who does not know about 9/11 would ask that question..
Usually when something very odd is happening, there is an amazing explanation. One would have to ask ‘What amazing event would bring about such a concert?’
Unfortunately, it was the attack on the WTC.
3. This is also a fine example of practice leading to expertise. The Who had been performing these songs more than 30 years. It also reminds us of hard work paying off: by writing so many songs, they had something for all occasions. The 4 songs here were ‘just right.’
4. It’s interesting that the song “Won’t Get Fooled Again” has the line “I tip my hat to the new constitution.” Is it possible that W. Bush used that as an excuse to impose restrictions on civil liberties and to make law-signing statements that served as a defacto new constitution?
Time to ROCK!!
Unbunny is Far From Ungood
I recommend listening to “Moon Food,” the new album from Unbunny. I’ve made a set list at Myspace with some of its standout tracks. This guy Jarid del Deo is highly adept at transferring his broken heart onto his records. Each of these songs tells a pretty depressing story, and yet reveals the writer as triumphant.

Links:
Matt Lame Joke #987
What did the hotel manager say to the desk clerk the morning that the special guests from Arcade Fire were to depart?
“Check out this band.”
Musical Chairy
I’m in my new music room. The chair was my first furniture for the pad. I’m holding Alicia in my left-hand. Denise looks on from the wall, she a Gibson hollow-body knockoff. The music box was my very first purchase for the place, as I waited for the keys in a pawn shop… I found a cherry-wood phonograph player (with radio and a CD player on the side). Since then, I’ve been buying vinyl from Reckless Records. Some of the album covers wind up on the wall.
I’ve lost some time to a cold (which I’d avoided all winter / spring but came down with last week). Now I’m well and eager to resume work on the comedy record. The jokes are in the can, but I have to add music.