A bad start to the week

May 9, 2006

-- And the answer to yesterday's music quiz: Steely Dan, and Black Crowes/Drive-By Truckers. Those are the two concerts I'm seriously interested in attending, from the just-announced summer line-up at the local Coca-Cola or Ford or Blockbuster or Kotex Hi-Flo amphitheater.

Steely Dan are one of my all-time favorites, and are the definite act on the list. I've seen them twice before, and a splendid time is guaranteed for all. My friend Steve, another Dan fanatic, is delaying his vacation by a day so he can be there as well. Oh, it's gonna be fun. Do classic rock stations still do those rock 'n' roll party buses? If so, I might want to get in on some of that action: the bald spot and beer belly express.

And I'm an on-again, off-again Black Crowes fan. Living in Atlanta during their peak, it was pretty easy to hate them. I'd go to club shows around town, and there'd be Chris Robinson again. The guy was everywhere, just hanging out and acting cool, with his surgically-attached Heineken bottle, huge candy-apple head, and pit stains. Always with the massive dinner plate-sized pit stains. Wonder if he ever consulted a doctor about that?

But they were/are a really good band, and at least one of their albums is a masterpiece . So, that small fact wins out in the long run.

I've told the story about the Black Crowes listening party I attended in Atlanta, back in my record weasel days. It appeared to be your standard industry event: open bar, big bowls of chips, and the new album blaring over the loudspeaker. But it was just a ruse.

Eventually, after everyone had a few adult beverages under their belts, the buses rolled up. And they took us to a "secret" location -- an old dilapidated pool hall across town. Inside, of course, were the Crowes, rocking like the Russians were in Decatur. They were just roaring amongst atmospheric filth.

Afterwards, in the parking lot, they served up a feast of some of the best smoky barbecue ever, and an ocean of beer. They had colored lights strung up everywhere (that I'm almost certain hadn't been there when we'd gone in), and it was one of the coolest record weasel events I ever had the pleasure of attending.

So I have a soft-spot in my heart for the Black Crowes, and I'm also a big fan of the Drive-By Truckers. Living in Scranton, and being an old man, I haven't had the opportunity to see them play live yet. But I know their CDs, front to back. (It's something I can do from a chair.) I bought the new one the day it was released, and I'll do the same with the next one. A great, great band. As my friend Scott would say: much respect.

And there you have it. Pass the beer nuts.

-- A few quick notes on some of the other acts appearing this summer at the Hi-Flo Auditorium:

Lynyrd Skynyrd: The only way I'd ever see them is if Ronnie Van Zant rises from the grave, puts on his black hat, and grabs the mic. He wrote the songs, sang the songs, and set the tone. He was The Man, and has been dead for, like, thirty years now. The group that tours under the Lynyrd Skynyrd name is nothing but a tribute band, as far as I'm concerned. Fuck dat. May as well drive across town to see one of these guys.

Poison/Cinderella: In my less-than-expert opinion, Cinderella was the best of the 80s hair-metal bands. They had their cheesy moments, to be sure, but they also released this . Say what you will, but I play that album as much as I play anything in my collection. The thing is shockingly good. Unfortunately, they're touring with Poison. And Poison is an oily Pringles fart straight into the Hanes brief of popular culture. Or something.

John Fogerty/Willie Nelson: I have a feeling, and I could be wrong, that this would be one of those Shut Up And Sing concerts. I suspect that both of these guys would take the stage, play a couple of tunes, then start talking politics. And, I apologize, but I just couldn't give two shits about what that great political scientist John Fogerty has to say about world events. Just play "Green River," goddammit. And blow the rest of it out yer ass. Same goes for Springsteen. And Nugent.

Vans Warped Tour: I'm being told that the Buzzcocks are playing at this thing!? Is that true? Holy shit, I'd look like Homer Simpson walking around... but the Buzzcocks! I'm going to have to give this some thought. Maybe if I carried a skateboard, and said Wot up G? a lot?

I don't have even a droplet of interest in any of the other shows, so that's, as they say, that.

-- And since this is one of those dreaded all-music updates, here's some very sad news to close out the category. I read this yesterday, after having just played a Go-Betweens best-of in the bunker on Sunday. The guy was a heck of a songwriter, and died way too young.

See ya tomorrow.

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Last updated
01/17/12 12:12 PM

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