Hey Joe

Into the Wilds of Martinez

Because Lisa and I like to live large, we did it up big time, and went to Martinez last night.

KC and Jenny had invited us to see Jerry Hannan at Armando's. Unfortunately in order to go we had to break the hearts of the orphans by backing out of their annual charity black tie affair, and then we disappointed scads of other folks by turning down their invitations to various hootenannies. Regardless, it was a small price to pay for the smiles of delight that shined on the faces of KC and Jenny when we accepted their offer of a quaint evening down near the railroad tracks.

We're big-hearted that way.

In all honesty I'd never heard of Jerry Hannan before last night, but KC and Jenny have followed him for years. I guess he's a pretty big draw up in the Marin County area. I will say that he puts on a damn fine show, and has experienced a bit of commercial success lately, having contributed the song Society to Eddie Vedder's Into the Wild soundtrack, as well as participating in Sean Penn's Dirty Hands Caravan.

Armando's is an eclectic little joint on Marina Vista. "Armando" is an older gentlemen, retired I believe, who is currently renovating the upstairs area of Armando's into what will be his living quarters. He books various local talent, from blues to bluegrass to jazz and classical. No "rock/garage-type bands."

Dig this though, we spoke to Jerry after the show because, well because that's how we roll; hobnobbing with the talent, and apparently he does what I believe he referred to as "In Home" shows, maybe he called them "Living Room" shows or possibly "Breakfast Nook" shows. Never the less, you can have Jerry come to your pad, charge your friends and neighbors say $10-$15 bucks a head, have everyone bring a little beer or wine, maybe some nibblies and have yourself your very own hootenanny. Jerry takes the door (that's showbiz talk for all the money collected) and everyone gets to have themselves a bitching time. Sounds pretty good, don't it?

So who can I count on to show up at KC's place if we do it?

I’ve got the music in me. That or unrequited issues with John

My blogger friend, Natalie over at Tell Me About It, recently wrote about her love of music, and how certain songs can stimulate very strong feelings and memories.

While posting a comment to her blog I said,

"Wow, I could think about this for days. To this day there are certain songs that, as soon as they come on the radio make me sort of stop in my tracks as the memories flood back."

I realized that the subject itself is worthy of its own post. So below is essentially my comment to Natalie expanded to include a few more songs and/or bands.

What's interesting is that there are a lot of songs/bands I was into back in the day that don't necessarily evoke any particular memories, but then there are other random songs (even if I wasn't into the band or even like the song at the time) that, for whatever reason, bring back very specific feelings or memories. 

To wit:

"True," by Spandau Ballet always reminds me of high school; the hallways, people, etc. it also was in the movie Sixteen Candles, which we watched over and over when VCR's first exploded on the scene.

"Do You Believe in Love" by Huey Lewis & the News also reminds me of my late HS, early Jr. College days. There was a group of kids from our church that all hung out together for several years around 83-85, and this song reminds me of those times and those people.

"My Ever Changing Moods," by The Style Council. John, my best friend from high school and I ended up rooming together in the college dorms after we both spent a few years at a JC. He was into The Jam and The Style Council during our dorm days and this song forever makes me think of our days at SF State.

Someone on Natalie's blog mentioned "Walking on Sunshine." John and I were running the music at my younger sister's HS graduation (1985). When they were processing out to Pomp & Circumstance we rigged it so that it would segue into "Walking on Sunshine." The kids loved it. The principal was pissed.

"Hard to Say I'm Sorry," by Chicago. Huge hit around 1983. Reminds me of the summer I graduated high school and of a Chicago concert I saw that summer.

"It had to be you," performed by Harry Connick, Jr. This was from the soundtrack of When Harry Met Sally. When we got married, Lisa and I chose it for our first dance. While we had a live band perform it, the Connick version will always remind me of Lisa and our whole engagement period.

"I Don't Like Mondays," by The Boomtown Rats – High school, senior year. John and I working as teacher assistants at a local Elementary School.

New Clear Days, the album by The Vapors – John, Ed and I were inseparable during our Sr. year. We were all into this band and this album.

"Spring Collection," by The Vapors from the above album. The bus ride back from Grad Night at Disneyland. I had a crush on Denise who was sitting behind me. I loaned her my Walkman to listen to this song. It still reminds me of her and that trip.

"The Breakup Song, "by Greg Khin. Summer of 1982, hanging out with John and my family in Tahoe. John and I going through a phase of constantly chewing on cinnamon toothpicks. This song was also a staple in the repertoire of The Wizdum Rats, Ed, Steve and Paul's band back in high school.

"My Friends, my Friends," by Eddie Money. Eddie Money's "No Control" album was huge toward the end of high school. This song always makes me think of my friend Ed.

Chicago 17, the album – came out right about the time Lisa and I began dating. This entire album reminds me of her and those early days of our relationship.

"Happy Loving Couples," by Joe Jackson. John again. John turned me on to Joe Jackson back around 1982. Back in the day, John was pretty shy and seemed unhappy about the fact that he didn't have a girlfriend. As Ed and I both had girlfriends, the lyrics to this song always seemed very much aligned with John's situation.

"The Long and Winding Road," by The Beatles and "I've Been Searching So Long," by Chicago were the two songs our senior class sang at graduation. Both songs still remind me of those last weeks of high school; graduation practice, signing year books, saying good-bye knowing that we were moving on, and wondering where life would take us.

I could go on and on, but this post, unlike all my others, is beginning to feel rather self-absorbed.

I'd love to hear about some of your songs, and the memories they evoke

More than a credit manager

So did you hear about this guy, Tommy DeCarlo?

Boston founder and head techno wonk, Tom Scholz discovered DeCarlo via the internet, singing Boston tunes in a tribute to dead front man, Brad Delp.

Impressed, Scholz flew DeCarlo and his family out for an audition, which led to a tribute concert and now a tour.

So this dude that was a credit manager with Home Depot is now going to be touring with Boston as their lead singer. The guy from Stryper is apparently involved in some way as well.

On the plus side, DeCarlo should be able to help out with building sets and whatnot, thereby saving the boys in the band a little scrilla.

A "true life" Rock Star

Hope he doesn't fall down the stairs and bust his melon.

Been a long time

At this very moment, 10:25 PM, GMT in London, the surviving members of Led Zeppelin are playing their first true concert since the death of drummer John Bonham in 1980, that is unless the poor boys tuckered out after the first few songs and had to be wheeled off stage by their nurses.

Oh sure, they did a three song set at Live Aid back in 1985 (Plant's voice sounded torn to shit) and they did a song or two at Atlantic Record's 40^th anniversary in 1988. But this is their first real concert since Bonham chocked on his custard pie vomit.

And so it goes.

Update - 12-11-07

The reviews and the verdict are in. Led Zeppelin has not lost its ability to rock & roll. And so it is that the post morning air circulates with the hopes and rumors of a full-blown reunion tour. While I'd love to take part should it occur, I have no illusions about my chances to procure, much less afford a ticket. My only hope is that they'll release a DVD of the performance. I could probably afford that; probably.

The Greatest Hoax Ever

With the coming of 95.7 Max FM has come the playing and replaying of many moldy oldies from the funk, punk and disco inspired 70’s, along with a heavy rotation of “hits” (cough, cough) from the 80’s.

I’ve made a similar bitch about this before but if you’re going to tout yourself as a radio station that flies without a play list and spins the platters that no one else plays anymore, you may not want to play the same damn songs every day. I swear if I hear Little Red Corvette one more time I’m going have one colossal hissy fit. And besides, I don’t think the “other” stations ever stopped playing that song.

But forget all that. My point today relates to another song I’m hearing quite often these days, Play that Funky Music (White Boy) by the group Wild Cherry.

One-hit-Wonder, Wild Cherry, scored a number one hit in 1976 when the funky grooves of White Boy hit the airwaves. Personally, I love this song and will never pass up the opportunity to shake my groove thing, Napoleon Dynamite style, whenever said opportunity presents itself.

But I’m convinced that, while every thing ever written or published about this song may, in fact state "Funky", in one of the greatest rock n roll pranks ever perpetrated, Wild Cherry actually sings throughout the song Play that Fucking Music White Boy.

I know it sounds far-fetched but listen closely the next time you hear it and just think about it. The two words are so similar that no matter how many times someone may accuse them of saying “fucking” the boys of Wild Cherry just play stupid,

“What are you kidding me? Fucking? You’re crazy man.”

All the while they’re laughing their collective ass off about how they dropped the F-bomb into a #1 record. Shit FIRE THAT’S what rock and roll is all about baby. Stickin’ it to the man!