Question Everything

.I have been and always will be a fan of The Who.  I like them not because of their popularity, but the raw energy that Peter Townsend and Keith Moon brought to the table.  When I was young, I was a troubled youth in search of something that would point me in the right direction.  I found the album The Kids are Alright, and I was blown away.  When I hear the song "Who Are You",  I don't take it as a catchy little theme song.  When I was two years old, I would point at everthing and say "What's that?"  I am a natural born questioner.  Question authority? Damn straight.  It keeps people accountable, otherwise we can slip between the cracks and disappear.  The worst is taking over without question, which I see our government doing with leaps and bounds.  In the song "Won't Get Fooled Again",  Pete Townsend takes more of a conservative bent towards change, and the lyrics "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss" would mean that the more things change the more they stay the same.  I believe this was due his encounter with Abby Hoffman at Woodstock during The Who's performance (look under Tommy).  Here is a great article concerning the relationship between The Who and The Grateful Dead which I found very enlightening.

Alll in all, it comes down to the only thing that I every learned from our former President Reagan, and he got it from the Russians: it is a Russian proverb, "Trust, but verify."

Music for today:

Bare Naked Ladies
July 31, 1998
PNC Bank Center
Holmdel, NJ
They were part of HORDE FEST.

Flogging Molly
Live at the Greek Theater CD
Much to my surprize, I found out that they are going to be playing at Frist Ave in a few weeks.  I am going to take my daughter to the show.  More about this later.

Dan Wilson

Have you ever heard a song for a long time and really thought that you got the meaning of it? The song was very transparent and very obvious?  I thought I did until today when I learned the true meaning of the song "Closing Time" by Semisonic.  The first time that you hear it until someone tells you different it is a song about a bar and what happens when it closes.  This is actually wrong.  It is disguised as that, but that is not what the song is about at all.  I could explain the story, but I will let the author of the song tell the tale.  Here is a link to more information about Dan Wilson.  He was in another band before Semisonic called Trip Shakespeare.  If I need mention, he is from Minneapolis.  Yes, he is a homey.

Music for today:

Dan & Matt Wilson
March 27, 2010
Schubas Tavern
Chicago, IL

Led Zeppelin
February 12, 1975
Madison Square Garden
New York City, NY

Remember The Photographer

Just recently, Jim Marshall passed away.  He was the iconic photographer that took some of the greatest shots of many stars from different styles of music.  On the radio program Dead to the World, David Gans plays a multi-part interview that he did with him from November 4, 1978.  These images set in motion the whole idea of rock and roll to many people, who like me, were too young to be there to experience it first hand.  To capture the attitude of the whole rock and roll scene, he had to be a bit of a maverick.  I offer this tune by Paul Simon: "Kodachrome."

Today is April Fool's Day.  WhenI was young, there was a message left for me. It said Mr. Fox at Como Park Zoo.  So like an idiot, I called the number and asked for Mr. Fox.  They didn't have any clue to what I was saying.  I looked up and saw my father laughing extemely hard.  I fell hard for the joke.  Years later when I was working at his grain elevator, I got him back.  The city where the elevator was located wanted to get rid of it.  So, I called him and said that they had placed dynamite throughout the building.  What should I do. "  Well.. Well.. Get out of there," he said.  I laughed at his reaction.  I got even with him.  Since then, I haven't done any pranks on anyone.

Music for today:

Grateful Dead
April 1, 1980
Capitol Theatre
Passaic, NJ
listen here

Double Check

I am working on a project for the blog that will be up in a few days.  As a result of this, I discovered that some mistakes were made or some of the songs were no longer available.  They have all been corrected.  So, please go through the many posts that are listed here and enjoy the many themes.  I will be putting all of the songs together on one post, so that if you missed anything, you can revisit them without having to go to the particular post.

Music for today:

Grateful Dead
June 8, 1974
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Oakland, CA
listen here

Jimmie Rodgers

It is good to back to the roots of music for inspiration.  One of the most influential artists is Jimmie Rodgers.  His music has been covered by many artists from country to rock.  Here is the song "Waiting for a Train."  Here is a cover of the same song by Boz Scaggs.  The small ditty "Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas)" is turned into a powerful jam session by Lynyrd Skynyrd (Please listen carefully to the lyrics of this song.  I believe this is where Jerry Garcia picked up the line verse that was added to the acoustic versions of I Know You Rider.)  The song "In the Jailhouse Now" was actually covered by Rodgers.  The original was done by Blind Blake.  If you saw the Coen Brother's masterpiece "Oh Brother, Where Are Art Thou?", there is another cover of this tune done by Tim Blake Nelson (yes, he is actually singing in the movie.)

Music for today:

Led Zeppelin
July 15, 1973
Memorial Auditorium
Buffalo, NY

No Name Band
January 28, 2010
Reggie's Music Joint
Chicago, IL
They did the complete Rush album "Moving Pictures."

Phish
Live in Brooklyn DVD

Bruce Springsteen
November 18, 1975
HammerSmith Odean
London, England
DVD

Plan B

I went in today to get the results of the MMPI.  When I wrote earlier on my taking it, I alluded that I have some problems in the sanity department.  With this test, I have had three in a row thrown out because they couldn't get a good read on me.  I failed the test by truthfully answering over 560+ questions.  This combined with the interview means that I am not a good candidate for the stomach bypass surgery.  I was also told that my symptoms that I have now could become much worse after the surgery.  It was this reason that made the most sense to me.  So, it is now time for Plan B.  I need to implement mindfullness in my eating habits.  Mindfullness  as practiced is part of DBT.  I know that most of the battle of the waist centers mainly in my mind.  I go to war with my self on daily basis. 

Tonight on  Turner Classic Movies, they are showing The Marx Brothers' A Night at the Opera.  Here is a classic scene from that movie. I needed that laugh.  I have heard say that laughter is a good medicine.  This reminds of The Firesign Theatre's classic story, "Nick Danger (part one) (part two) (part three)." When I was in high school, this was a big hit with many people in my class. 

Music for today:

Led Zeppelin
March 19, 1975
Pacific Coliseum
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Led Zeppelin
May 26, 1977
Capitol Center
Landover, MD

Artists: Various
Live From Berkeley CD
Performances from KPFA's Dead to the World
This was a thank-you gift for a contribution that I made during the KPFA's Grateful Dead marathon.  I receieved it in the mail today, and it was just the thing I needed to pick up my spirits after the news I had gotten earlier.

Led Zeppelin

I have seen this as a t-shirt worn by young kids today.  I can say with pride that I was there.  I would like to say that my first love was The Grateful Dead, but it was actually Led Zeppelin.  My parents let me go with some friends to April 12, 1977 show at the Metropolitan Center.  I was 13 years old.  Let's call it a baptism of fire.  I sort of remember the night that my friends and I were listening to the album The Song Remains the Same (which is the soundtrack to the LZ movie) and getting baked beyond belief.  There was a local movie theater that had the old fashioned large single screen. As I watched it, I was simply blown away.  Our local rock station did a Led Zeppelin A-Z over a weekend that I was going up to my grandparent's cabin.  They did have a contest giving away all of their albums.  I sent in for the drawing hoping that my name would be drawn. What felt like weeks later,  I came home after doing what I usually did after school (no it wasn't sports or anything wholesome like that.) My sister met me at the door with a big smile on her face.  She said, Remember that contest? KQ? Led Zeppelin? You won!"
My mood just soared, until I couldn't get ahold of them.  Then, it crashed.  She said, "Here stupid."  She pointed to the right number.  I called the number for the station and got the right person.  Yes, I indeed had won their catalouge.   I was really hoping that they would return to Minnesota, but this was not to be.  John Bonham, who was considered to be the best rock drummer, died of asphyxiation due to heavy drinking.  The band decided to call it quits. 
    About two years ago, I had gotten a vine that contained many Led Zeppelin shows.  I am taking a break from the Grateful Dead to go through this vine.  I will return to the Dead as soon as it over.  I have a nephew that I shared this vine.  I hope he enjoys it.  The music is great.

Music for today:

Led Zeppelin
Date: Various
Le Grand Casino De Montreaux, Danish TV
Bootleg Title: Hammer of the Gods

Led Zeppelin
January 22, 1973
Southampton University
Southampton, England

Led Zeppelin
June 15, 1972
Nassau County Coliseum
Uniondale, NY