the Rock Report

THE MOUSE PACK, found over on Lloyd’s page, is a work of genius … and art!
Okay … art, anyway.
How many other blogs can brag about having good, clean fun while reminiscing about real rock and roll (hmph … like to hear Elmer Fudd say that last part!), as well as other topics? And we’ve got the wittiest emcess, witout whom we wouldn’t (damn … now I’m startin’ to sound like Fudd!) have the success we’ve been enjoying.
So come on over … the “SO WHAT”er’s fine …
If you ever wanna know how powerful the internet, blogs, and email are/is/whatever (I got lost there for a moment. Don’t worry … I’ll pay the syntax …), check out the super new Liverpool group, the Arctic Monkeys, whose fame actually came from uploading their songs to friends! They passed these on to their friends, and on and on … and now this amazing foursome (which sound somewhat like Oasis, but with a Beatle kick and modern sounds thrown in for good measure) has their first big CD as well as more in-demand appearances!

Now … gonna leave with a line from my late daddy: “Keep your feet on the ground, your eyes to the stars … and watch out for telephone poles!”
Huh?? Awwww, I dunno … I hadta leave with something! See ya next go-round …

MOUSE DROPPINGS …

While I’m writing this, I’m hanging out at the Mouse House, enjoying Pack-to-Pack (web) hits on Lloyd’s blog. If you’re joining me for the first time (and I don’t know why … I haven’t fallen apart!), lemme invite you over for a little cheese and spirits (the fun kind … also low on those bothersome emotional calories!). It’s at this address. Come on and join up … hey — it’s free (there … that oughtta do it)!

A few rock notes are scattered on the desk here, so lemme get ‘em in order:

• WILSON PICKETT — If there’s a Funky Broadway in Heaven, that man is on it right now! The man could belt out the best soul this side of James Brown! But if you wanna know the depth of Wicked Pickett’s talent, find a copy of his I’m A Midnight Mover, turn the 45 over and play side “B”, Deborah. It’s a mix of soul, gospel … and even light opera! R.I.P., my friend …
• DAVE CLARK FIVE — My contacts in England (some who played in the biggest Liverpool groups during the Invasion years) tell me emphatically that, when we’re listening to a DC5 hit, chances are we’re going by the beat of a different drummer! They report that Dave used subs, even in live performances on occasion (they were offstage) … MIKE SMITH, organist for the DC5 (yes, he played!), is still undergoing therapy for his near-fatal fall in 2003 … one that left him tetraplegic (with limited use of his arms and hands, paralyzed below the neck otherwise). We wish him well …
• THE MONKEES — Although Micky and Davy continue to do reunions on occasion, the big question is “Where’s Peter?” The 411 on this: Peter Tork had finally written off drinking, and wanted to do clean, sober tours. The other two didn’t like that idea, and, after a few arguments, fired Peter from the group! Gotta admit: I admire Pete’s stand, and his determination … fans deserve the best from their heroes, and he was willing to give it to ‘em!

Okay … with those notes outta the way, I can see by the clock that … it’s broken. Well, anyway, gotta get back to the Mouse House … more later …

A GREEN DAY FOR THE PCA

“and the winner is …”
If you’ve ever watched an awards show, you’re familiar with those five words (look — I’m from Kentucky; even ellipses are considered a word. ’snobigdeal!). And, during this week’s People’s Choice Awards, viewers were treated to two solid hours of true media winners (although, while trying to find our local CBS affiliate, I accidentally hit a religion channel, which was, by coincidence, talking about those who were favored by the Vatican. I was evidently watching The Papal’s Choice Awards!).
Anyway, while everyone was loving Raymond, seeing Jennifer garner a PCA for fave femme flame, and seeing Ellen be DeGeneres self she is, I was nervously awaiting the choice for favorite musical group which was:

The Happy Goodmans. (Damn. Forgot to change channels.)

Green Day.

If there’s any US group that captures the passion, intensity, talent and stage presence of the Sixties, it’s Billie Joe Armstrong’s threesome. They not only put the music in-your-face with the most butt-kicking energy since the Beatles of Kaiserkeller days, but their personalities, both on-and-offstage, are riveting! So, while we’ll never want our nickel back from hearing Nickelback (but they’re from Canada), untie the Slipknot, or miss our serving of Black Eyed Peas, many rockers, both fans and performers (even rock relics like yours truly), are wishing for their success for many Green Days to come.

Oh … a coupla questions: Why ohwhyohwhy didn’t Mariska or the SVU cast get more than a pleasant nod and a single nomination? Even in the Neilsens, it’s beginning to beat two-thirds of the CSIs. The lady will forever have my vote as best dramatic actress … and what’s the 411 on the My Name Is Earl star lighting Romano candles against the ELR actor? Maybe his fame is giving him too much Leeway …
Of course, CSI:TO (the original) made the cut as most popular series. Seems it’s the only one of Bruckheimer’s Terrific Trio that has kept its original cast intact. Didja-knows: Robert David Hall, who plays Dr. Al Robbins (coroner) is also a staunch activist for rights of the disabled, and plays guitar in live bands?

Which bring us back to Green Day. As long as we’ve got Billie Joe, Tre and Mike, US rock is never gonna be stuck in a rut. Their PCA is certainly well-deserved.

A RESOLUTION REVOLUTION??

Okay … it’s been a couple of days since the big ball dropped (I took my cat to the vet for neutering), and it’s also two days since the new year started. With that in mind, let me say HAPPY 2005 TO EVERYONE!

Actually, I think we’re all “happy 2005″ is outta the way (hmph … and you thought I’d lost it there. Nope. Lost it thirty-five years ago). And the best part is that (geez … I was talkin’ about my hair!! At least I began to …) we’ve got a mostly-unused model (so far, only driven for a few days) that we can make into anything we wanna.
Most of us have made resolutions … and some are gonna wonder why they haven’t worked out. They think resolutions, like the money bill collectors want, must be due immediately, and transacted in full!
But it doesn’t work that way. Y’see, it’s a three-sided word: On the one hand, the noun “resolution” comes from the word, “resolve”, which means “determination”; on the other hand, the verb and the computer versions of it means “clarification”.
So if we can clarify our desire, and work at it with determination, we’re there!But it doesn’t happen overnight … ya gotta keep workin’ at it until that desire becomes a reality! Sometimes, we don’t get it because we’re so busy living in our little “comfort zones” that we tailor our resolutions to fit that, as we’ve always done. Remember the old saying, though (page 238 of the Old Sayings songbook): “If you always think like you always thought, you’ll always get what you always got!” I think it means “always”.
So, this year, I’m calling for a resolution revolution! Gettin’ out from under the blanket of that comfort zone, taking a few calculated risks, and, even if we’re feeling a bit like a fish outta water (any fish except cod. I believe in cod …), going for it if it’s honorable! But we’ve still gotta be patient while these resolutions take hold. That’s the hardest part. But we can do it if we wanna … really, honestly wanna.
How badly do you want it (my ex-wife usedta ask me the same question)? Then throw back the covers of your comfort zone, get outta that bed of familiarity and rattle them pots and pans of positive movement!
And you can shake-rattle-&-roll yourself through a pretty decent 2006!

NEW YEAR’S CELEB AT THE HUT, 1966 …

It was one gig I won’t forget …
My band, Hy-Que, was just off a show at the Spider’s Web in Charlotte, where Dennis and I were trying out a few self-comps as well as covers. They worked, so, after we got paid (no, paid. The other stuff came much later … I think in 1987. Once . No, twice. I have kids.), we headed back down to home turf (Pineville, NC. Small town at the time. Think Mayberry. On Valium …) for the big New Year’s Eve party at the Legion Hut.
We were scheduled to do our set, and the emcee would interrupt us just before the Midnight Hour (according to his watch) for a countdown to the New Year. After which, we were to break into a rock version of Auld Lang Syne (hang on … it gets weirder).
Problem was, we’d started the set at eight, so, by 11, we were kinda … well, outta rehearsed songs (except for the ALS one. We’d reserved that one for the big moment. And, yes, it gets even weirder!). This group was still kinda new …
4-3-2-1 HAPPPPPPPPPY NEW YEARRRRRRRRRRRR! I count off, hit the first chord … and BZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzssssssssstttttttt!! There go the amps!! Awwww, heck … if McGuinn can switch to unplugged and still kick it, so can we! We?!?! The rest of the group (with the exception of Dennis, who was just standing at the side of the stage, dumbfounded) had left the stage and was sittin’ with the audience!
Meanwhile, that audience — the same one that was rockin’ just an hour before — became restless. So I grabbed my Sears Silvertone box and I continued, unplugged … almost yelling because the mikes were gone, too. Did a few quick folk/blues songs a la Dylan.
By the time I was into the last verse of Roll On, Mississippi (forgive me, Strangeloves!) — trying to make it sound as bluesish as possible, I realized I was in some Muddy Waters myself. For, out in the audience, were two fans (and they were putting their coats on!) and my girlfriend (Laura showed infinite patience … she knew she held the keys to my heart … and the car … and the house …).
It was a free gig, and the fans certainly got their money’s worth after midnight! Three weeks later, Dennis and I were back on the road again.
With a new band.
And better amps.