I’ve been listening to some new music on Spotify this week. Gary Clarke Jr‘s new live album is worth checking out. Very cool stuff. He sounds to me like the lead singer from Robin Trower (Robert Dewar). Also listened to the new TV On The Radio album “Seeds”. They’ve been getting a lot of press lately so I thought I would try them out. I’m not getting it yet.
I dug into the archives for Joe Walsh’s live album from 1976, “You Can’t Argue With A Sick Mind”. Not sure where I got this album. Must have stolen it from someone. It was recorded just as he was joining the Eagles (Don Felder is the other guitarist on the tour, and Henley and Frey sing on one song). Among the highlights are “Turn To Stone” and “Meadows”. They both have these really cool, long instrumental passages where the band plays with the dynamics and the instrumentation. It’s a great album but it only has six songs. Definitely a candidate for a deluxe reissue.
From the “Hope I die before I get old” files The Who 50th anniversary tour has been announced. I’m not sure what to say about this. Half the band is dead. It’s just Daltry and Townshend. The Who hasn’t been The Who since Keith Moon died. Oh well I guess it has to happen. Don’t save me a seat. I’ll be home listening to “Quadrophenia”. Meanwhile the Grateful Dead will play their final three shows at Chicago’s Soldier Field on July 3rd, 4th, and 5th. Trey Anastasio and Bruce Hornsby will also be sitting in to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Dead. If wasn’t over the 4th of July I would be tempted to take a trip out there. Sounds a whole lot more interesting than seeing The Who. What a long strange trip it’s been.
I ordered the new Decemberist’s record (on vinyl – I know don’t say it). It comes out next week. Their first release since “The King is Dead” in 2011. I’m sure it will be catchy with horrific subject matter. In other words a typical Decemberists album.
Working my way through “Live at the Fillmore East and West” by John Glatt. He follows a group of bands and artists through the history of both of these venues: Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin and Santana. Oh my, Grace Slick and Janis were some seriously crazy women. If half of what is printed in this book is true it is no wonder Janis didn’t make it (wondering how Grace did). Every drug imaginable, sometimes all at the same time, drunk all the time and sex with everything moving. When was there time for music? What is it about artists and drugs? Someone needs to write a book explaining this (it probably has been written). Bill Graham, the impresario of these fabled rock palaces, spends his time fighting the local politicians and the changing music business to keep the Fillmores alive (to no avail in the end). Great scene: Santana on acid at Woodstock describing the neck of guitar looking like a writhing snake as he tried to hold on and get through the set. The book also got me to try out Hot Tuna, who I had never listened to. Now I know why.
Well that’s it for now. See you next week.