Kate Bush's Influence On Female Alt/Indie Singers Is Undisputable. We'll Listen To
Kate Throughout Her Career On The Old School Segment This Week On Altered Friday.
Love This Version Of Running Up That Hill. Bad 80's Hair, But David's Guitar
Is Perfect.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Kraftwerk- Groundbreakingly Goobertastic!
Alright, uber computer goobers, here's a blast from the past! The pasty, robotic German group, KRAFTWERK created some pretty groovy sounds in the 80's with their, then, groundbreaking use of synths and voice modulation. They were later lampooned in, or at least, an inspiration for the Mike Meyers Saturday Night Live skit, Sprockets.
I still have COMPUTER WORLD and AUTOBAHN on tape somewhere. The musical equivalant of dot matrix and DOS, let's get down to the multi-lingual count fest, NUMBERS from Kraftwerk.
I still have COMPUTER WORLD and AUTOBAHN on tape somewhere. The musical equivalant of dot matrix and DOS, let's get down to the multi-lingual count fest, NUMBERS from Kraftwerk.
Grrrls put the HARM in Charm City
A girl-fight is not usually my thing, but put ladies on roller skates and helmets and you've got a bout worth cheering for!
Last night I caught the Night Terrors taking on the Junkyard Dolls during the latest Charm City Roller Girls match. The Terrors Joy Collision was making a wreck of the Dolls, with Killer Kitten ending up IN the crowd more than once. But hey, it's all in good fun at the roller rink!
If you haven't yet caught the Charm City Roller Girls there is still some time left in the season.
And if you haven't made their acquaintance here's your introduction...
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Last night I caught the Night Terrors taking on the Junkyard Dolls during the latest Charm City Roller Girls match. The Terrors Joy Collision was making a wreck of the Dolls, with Killer Kitten ending up IN the crowd more than once. But hey, it's all in good fun at the roller rink!
If you haven't yet caught the Charm City Roller Girls there is still some time left in the season.
And if you haven't made their acquaintance here's your introduction...
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Sunday, August 26, 2007
HD Radio Makes A Difference
On Friday, I went out and finally hooked my car up with an HD Radio...the previous soundsystem, the 1997 Camry Set Up was getting a little boring for me and as a music man I need to hear my music and feel it too. So after a few dollars spent and an hour installation my problem would be solved.
What's so great about HD Radio? It's crystal clear, it's the way radio should sound, and it's FREE on the user end. A little more costly for the station. If you havn't made the switch, you might want to.
What's so great about HD Radio? It's crystal clear, it's the way radio should sound, and it's FREE on the user end. A little more costly for the station. If you havn't made the switch, you might want to.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
A STYLE-ish Evening
Got invited to a great party last night for the annual Music Issue of Style Magazine in Baltimore. The event at Mosaic (in Power Plant Live) felt upscale and trendy, but classic Baltimore because of how laid back all the guests were.
I'm one of the lucky DJ's they featured in the issue and I got to talk with a few other radio folks from town who I had never met before.
Also got a chance to catch up on the local music scene with Jason Tinney of
Donegal X-Press. He wrote a piece for the new Style issue about being in a band in this city for 10 years, a smart and funny piece. Which makes sense that both he and his wife were smart and funny!
Jason gave me the low down on the upcoming Irish Festival in Baltimore, happening September 14th & 15th in Canton. Little did I know, but seems as though our esteemed Governor will be yet again strapping on the guitar over the weekend to play with his own O'Malley's March!
Here is one of the most recent performances of O'Malley doing 'Time Of Your Life' at his inauguration
I'm one of the lucky DJ's they featured in the issue and I got to talk with a few other radio folks from town who I had never met before.
Also got a chance to catch up on the local music scene with Jason Tinney of
Donegal X-Press. He wrote a piece for the new Style issue about being in a band in this city for 10 years, a smart and funny piece. Which makes sense that both he and his wife were smart and funny!
Jason gave me the low down on the upcoming Irish Festival in Baltimore, happening September 14th & 15th in Canton. Little did I know, but seems as though our esteemed Governor will be yet again strapping on the guitar over the weekend to play with his own O'Malley's March!
Here is one of the most recent performances of O'Malley doing 'Time Of Your Life' at his inauguration
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Damien Rice and Burma
With news of a pro-democracy protest on the streets of Rangoon today, my mind drifted to the poignant tribute paid to Nobel Peace Prize winner and prisoner of conscience Aung San Suu Kyi by Damien Rice and Lisa Hannigan. Check out this live version at a Nobel concert in Oslo.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Radio City
Back almost 10 years ago, the Dave Matthews Band released what would be their first of an on-going series of "live" records with Live at Red Rocks. It was a good-faith effort to give fans that had been taping bootleg shows for years high audio quality shows AND the opportunity to relive those classic DMB moments.
Live at Red Rocks did just that ... it was DMB raw, spontaneous renditions of songs that would be lost otherwise
It continued 2 years later with Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds - Live from Luther College. Another double-disc ... but this time - the intimate side of Dave and the "out of this freaking world" guitar work of the Tim Reynolds.
The catalog of live shows has soared to 16 albums (at time a total of 4 CDs per show!).
Even for the most hardcore DMB fans - how many versions of "Warehouse" does one need in their collection?
Well, nearly 10 years since the release of Live at Red Rocks - Dave answers critics with Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds - Live at Radio City. Perhaps, unpredictably, time just called for a Dave & Tim record ... but for over 2 hours, pure bliss.
2 reasons to buy ... listen ... emerge yourself in Live from Radio City.
Reason Numero Uno: Tim Reynolds. Buy the CD ... listen to it ... buy the DVD ... watch it - in that order. You won't believe what you hear - then your eyes will confirm what your ears just relayed to you.
Reason Numero Duos: Dave's singing. Where at times in the early days, it sounded like his voice owned him (and believe me, that was part of the intrigue) ... he clearly owns his own voice now. His range ... his control ... is inspiring.
Two men on a great platform infront of thousands ... but believe me, when you listen to Live from Radio City, it'll just be the 3 of you.
Live at Red Rocks did just that ... it was DMB raw, spontaneous renditions of songs that would be lost otherwise
It continued 2 years later with Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds - Live from Luther College. Another double-disc ... but this time - the intimate side of Dave and the "out of this freaking world" guitar work of the Tim Reynolds.
The catalog of live shows has soared to 16 albums (at time a total of 4 CDs per show!).
Even for the most hardcore DMB fans - how many versions of "Warehouse" does one need in their collection?
Well, nearly 10 years since the release of Live at Red Rocks - Dave answers critics with Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds - Live at Radio City. Perhaps, unpredictably, time just called for a Dave & Tim record ... but for over 2 hours, pure bliss.
2 reasons to buy ... listen ... emerge yourself in Live from Radio City.
Reason Numero Uno: Tim Reynolds. Buy the CD ... listen to it ... buy the DVD ... watch it - in that order. You won't believe what you hear - then your eyes will confirm what your ears just relayed to you.
Reason Numero Duos: Dave's singing. Where at times in the early days, it sounded like his voice owned him (and believe me, that was part of the intrigue) ... he clearly owns his own voice now. His range ... his control ... is inspiring.
Two men on a great platform infront of thousands ... but believe me, when you listen to Live from Radio City, it'll just be the 3 of you.
Before The Summer Ends
Simple Minds Will Our Focus Of The Old School Segment This Week On Altered Friday
And Melissa Chats With Camera Obscura As They Guest DJ!
And Melissa Chats With Camera Obscura As They Guest DJ!
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Another review of V-Fest!
This is a nice recap of the shows from the writer's personal perspective. Please feel free to leave your review or thoughts as a comment here on the blog...steve
Concert Review: Virgin Festival 2007 at Pimlico Race Course - Baltimore, MD
Concert Review: Virgin Festival 2007 at Pimlico Race Course - Baltimore, MD
Friday, August 17, 2007
Big Country Revisted
On The Old School Segment Of Altered Friday We'll Being Listening Through Big Country's Catalog Tonite, Minus This MTV Staple
Rolling Stone : Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Magic’: Exclusive Details on New E Street Band Album
OK--Stop The Presses...Get me some smelling salts! I'm ready. No one Bother me for the month of October!--Steve
Rolling Stone : Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Magic’: Exclusive Details on New E Street Band Album
Rolling Stone : Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Magic’: Exclusive Details on New E Street Band Album
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Not Your Average Joe
There may be only one Tom Waits- nobody sounds like him, no can construct characters the way he can, compose German operas....yet still craft straight-ahead rock-n-roll.
But, somebody who is approaching his territory is singer/songwriter/producer Joe Henry. When he started out in the early 90's, it sounded like he'd be stuck with the label of alt-country, with albums like Short Man's Room and Kindness of the World. But, even on those twangy gems, the beautifully opaque vignettes Joe imagined left listeners with delightful fragments into a world you just don't want to leave. Listening to Joe Henry is like being suspended in a dream state or the middle of a good novel.
He'll be out with a new one September 11th. It's called CIVILIANS. He gets some help from Van Dyke Parks, Bill Frisell and his buddy Loudon Wainwright III. Until then, let's go back to 1994 for King's Highway.
But, somebody who is approaching his territory is singer/songwriter/producer Joe Henry. When he started out in the early 90's, it sounded like he'd be stuck with the label of alt-country, with albums like Short Man's Room and Kindness of the World. But, even on those twangy gems, the beautifully opaque vignettes Joe imagined left listeners with delightful fragments into a world you just don't want to leave. Listening to Joe Henry is like being suspended in a dream state or the middle of a good novel.
He'll be out with a new one September 11th. It's called CIVILIANS. He gets some help from Van Dyke Parks, Bill Frisell and his buddy Loudon Wainwright III. Until then, let's go back to 1994 for King's Highway.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Stuart Adamson: Stay Alive!
I may suggest to John Matthews that he make one of my favorite bands of all time, the subject of one of his Altered Friday Old School segments.
Big Country, the Scottish band that transferred the majesty of the bagpipe into electric guitars and was one of the first to make use of an e-bow, set the world on fire in '83 with THE CROSSING. The socically conscious and anthemic classic featured the timeless IN A BIG COUNTRY. With Bruce Watson leading the dueling bagpipe guitars, Tony Butler's heavy groove-laden bass (that's him on Pete Townsend's LET MY LOVE OPEN THE DOOR, song and video) and the jaw-dropping drumming of Mark Brzezicki, what truly set the Steve Lillywhite-produced record apart from anything before or since was the earnestness and open-hearted lyrics of the band's vocalist/guitarist Stuart Adamson.
Sadly, the music world lost that giant heart, and voice, when Stuart committed suicide in 2001 in Honolulu. Before his death, he was soaking up the vibrant music community in Nashville, but succumbed to his ongoing battles with alcoholism.
I wish Stewart were planning a reunion tour with the rest of Big Country. In the meantime, let's remember Stuart with my favorite tune from the Crossing, CHANCE.
..and here's Bruce Watson joining Mike Peters and the Alarm, for a Stuart tribute.
Big Country, the Scottish band that transferred the majesty of the bagpipe into electric guitars and was one of the first to make use of an e-bow, set the world on fire in '83 with THE CROSSING. The socically conscious and anthemic classic featured the timeless IN A BIG COUNTRY. With Bruce Watson leading the dueling bagpipe guitars, Tony Butler's heavy groove-laden bass (that's him on Pete Townsend's LET MY LOVE OPEN THE DOOR, song and video) and the jaw-dropping drumming of Mark Brzezicki, what truly set the Steve Lillywhite-produced record apart from anything before or since was the earnestness and open-hearted lyrics of the band's vocalist/guitarist Stuart Adamson.
Sadly, the music world lost that giant heart, and voice, when Stuart committed suicide in 2001 in Honolulu. Before his death, he was soaking up the vibrant music community in Nashville, but succumbed to his ongoing battles with alcoholism.
I wish Stewart were planning a reunion tour with the rest of Big Country. In the meantime, let's remember Stuart with my favorite tune from the Crossing, CHANCE.
..and here's Bruce Watson joining Mike Peters and the Alarm, for a Stuart tribute.
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