Steve Winwood at MSG 2008. Still my favorite voice in music besides Ray Charles.
So here’s Steve singing a Ray Charles song. Does it get better? Nope.
Boogie Chillun Saturday, Sep 27 2008
Uncategorized 5:34 am
From a Clapton show in the very early 90s….a great example of a John Lee Hooker “Boogie.”
As much as Bo Diddley had “the beat”, John Lee had “The boogie”….and of course Eric kicks it as an intro to “Crossroads” as an encore of the night.
The Showbiz of Usher Wednesday, Sep 24 2008
Uncategorized 4:53 am
I am officially obsessed with this video.
The Mixed Nuts – Ten Years Down The Road Friday, Sep 19 2008
Uncategorized 5:08 am
The best thing you ever put in your mouth!
Knocking On Heaven’s Door Saturday, Sep 13 2008
Uncategorized 5:47 am
Above is a rare video of Clapton’s “A” Team (Phil Collins, Greg Phillinganes, and Nathan East) performing the Bob Dylan song “Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door”….that’s right, Guns and Roses did not write this song!
Clapton first recorded this song in the mid-1970s during his heavily-influenced Reggae years…this was one of his singles following “I Shot The Sheriff” in 1974, which was his come-back single. The song stayed in his live set during the 70s….this video is an unreleased video from Clapton’s 24 Night stay at the Royal Albert Hall (either 1989 or 1990).
His four piece group includes Phil Collins, who of course needs no introduction. Greg Phillinganes is one of my all time favorite keyboard players…and has been quite an inspiration to me to take up playing seriously. Greg is best known as a member of Stevie Wonder’s Wonderland band….as well as supplying ALL of the synth work on the “Thriller” and “Bad” albums for Michael Jackson. His resume includes all kinds of famous titles, and today tours as a member of Toto. Nathan East is another giant…simply one of the best bass players alive today.
The song “Heaven’s Door” is a Bob Dylan creation and remains one of his most-known works. Included in Clapton’s “Live in the 70s Timepieces” album (but not on this live clip) is a very-unknown third verse that is pretty cool:
Maw, wipe this blood from my face
I can see things anymore
It’s a shame, it’s a dirty disgrace
Feels Like I’m Knocking on Heaven’s Door
A great song by a great artist and performed by great musicians.
Does it get better?
Enjoy!
New Orleans Forecast for 9/12/08 Friday, Sep 12 2008
Uncategorized 4:58 pm
“Holy shit, aunty M! It’s a Twister, It’s A Twister!”
Thanks to Hurricane Ike, the New Orleans area is getting smacked with 40 mile an hour winds today, with possible tornado strikes.
Make sure your hats, toupees, and garden gnomes are safely secured to your head or ground.
“You don’t need to be a weatherman to see which way the wind blows”
-Bob Dylan “Subterranean Homesick Blues”
Werewolves of London Again Friday, Sep 12 2008
Uncategorized 4:10 am
ha.
This song blows my mind. A “professional” musician takes two classic songs, combines their rhythm tracks, and BELIEVES that he can add something to increase the value of the originals.
Try again, Kid.
Why on earth would I want to hear a flashback song about a white trash youth from Michigan…as sung over two songs, one of which I really do like (Werewolves Of London). We will now see Eminem sample Purple Rain and combine it with Tainted Love as he sings his new hit song “Trailer Park Memories”
THIS SONG BLOWS!
On a side note…another deal I have with this song….”All Summer Long” by Kid Rock combines the rhythm tracks of “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynard Skynard with “Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon. Both of these songs are in the key of G, however BOTH songs start on the CHORD of D (which is the 5th chord in the key of G…sorry to get technical).
Anyway, many guitar players assume that both songs, namely ALABAMA, are in the key of D because of the first chord. Those players who LISTEN will realize that, examining the song, any scale in the key of D will work, technically, but it won’t FIT the overall tonality of the song.
What do we see in the middle of ALL SUMMER LONG?! Kid Rock’s guitar player jamming it out in the key of D……
If this was a cover band, I would have walked out the bar. Sigh.
To add salt to the wound, the original piano solo to Alabama is played at the end….in the key of G. I wonder if anyone even cared enough to see what the deal was.
Below is “Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon, a true classic. As much as I cannot stand the Kid Rock song, I LOVE “Werewolves”….try to compare the songwriting and overall instrumentation.
Vote and Die Friday, Sep 12 2008
Uncategorized 12:00 am
You’re joking. Right?!
Of all the people, both men and women, in this country, this is the VP Candidate for the Republican Party?!
AND JOHN MCCAIN IS THE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE?
When did this happen?
I have to make a decision between a Democratic ticket with a novice congressmen with a known plagiarist or the most well-known left wing Republican…and the Governor of Alaska, an equally inexperienced candidate.
I have to put my stamp on one of these two tickets to say “YES, THIS IS WHO I WANT TO LEAD THIS COUNTRY!”
Are you sure these people are running for Mayor of New Orleans?
And let me tell you, all you right winger conservatives on the McCain ticket….YOU WOULDN’T HAVE VOTED FOR THIS MAN ANYTIME IN THE PAST FIFTEEN YEARS! You do so now because the party has TOLD YOU this is the most qualified man for the job…THE SAME party who had this man as a public enemy for years during the Clinton and Bush administrations. Now, he’s a hero.
Do I need to vote for someone simply because they have the best shot of keeping a party in power? That is the underlying subject of this particular race. The American people are once again caught in the cross hairs of an outdated two party system that will now bash themselves to pieces, with one party claiming “victory” in November.
I might have to sit this one out.
St. Georges In Baton Rouge. True Heroes. Thursday, Sep 11 2008
Uncategorized 8:34 am
My mothers parents are residents of the Chateau De Notre Dame nursing home in New Orleans. When Gustav threatened the city, an evacuation of about 200 residents of the nursing home went into motion. Many of these folks are very up in age, many of them with the troubles that come with growing old. My grandparents were two of the evacuees.
The residents of Chateau De Notre Dame were evacuated to St. George Catholic School in Baton Rouge. It just so happens that our first hotel, the Marriott Suites (where we started our Gustav adventure) was located across the street from this school. A lucky break for us…the rooms were given to us by friends.
On Sunday afternoon, I witnessed sights that moved me as a Catholic Christian. The gym of St. Georges was converted to a working home for the elderly coming from New Orleans. As my family arrived at St Georges to await the arrival of my grandparents, we witnessed a community come together for the needs of the many. Over one hundred volunteers were actively taking part in the construction of beds, the organization of food and medicine, the distribution of clothes…all for these people whom they have never met. As the buses arrived from New Orleans (five New Orleans tour buses filled), the wheel chairs for the residents were taken out of the storage compartments of the buses. This does not sound like such a big deal, but when 200 plus wheel chairs need to get off of several buses so that these people can get off…it became quite a challenge to do well and quickly.
All of their medical records, all of their clothes…everything they needed was pre-organized and sent up before their arrival. The folks of St Georges spent hours dividing everything up before the residents arrived. The St George community would continue to stay with these residents for days to come, taking care of their every need…and showing them safely back to New Orleans after the entire ordeal was over a week later. I saw kids volunteering no more than ten years old…walking around offering water to residents as well as aids. I saw priests and older folks saying prayers with co-workers. I saw middle-aged men dripping from head to toe moving gallons of water from a supply truck into the facility. This was a supreme group effort that continued in full for over a week.
In all of the despair and agony that comes out of these natural disasters, I am proud to say that there are shining moments of heroism that go on right around us. St George in Baton Rouge extended their hands to help those who cannot take care of themselves. Wanna check the Beatitudes? I think this is covered in there!
I was honored to take part in that Sunday and I will forever remember the kindness of Sunday August 31st, 2008 at St George Church in Baton Rouge.
What About Bob? Thursday, Sep 11 2008
Uncategorized 8:04 am
Three years ago, my house phone got a recorded message from Gov. Kathleen Blanco. Here’s what the Hungry Hungry Hippo Gov. Blanco had to say:
“There’s a storm coming. I think it’s best for you to leave. Act as though you are going camping for a week. Bring goods like Peanut Butter sandwiches.”
I am not making this up!
All I am going to say is THANK GOD FOR BOBBY JINDAL! FINALLY, FINALLY we have a competent leader…a leader who accepts responsibility and IS NOT AFRAID to call upon the higher levels of government to help Louisiana during times of crisis! This storm was a TWELVE DAY EVENT. Our first warning came twelve days before landfall. FROM DAY ONE, Bobby Jindal was in the public spotlight, making sure people knew what to expect and what HE WAS DOING…not what he PLANNED to do…but what actually was going on THEN and THERE! The man even told us where to take our dogs and pets, and what McDonalds were still open on I-55. I mean, what Governor does that? NOT GOVERNOR ARNOLD! NOT JESSIE VENTURA! BOBBY JINDAL, THAT’S WHO!
Bobby, don’t pack a peanut butter sandwich and jump in contraflow.
The people of this state owe you a BIG THANKS for FINALLY allowing our citizens a leader to point to and say: “We are PROUD of your actions to help us in a time of need.”
Hey, think about that. Have you ever said that about a local public official in your life? Grandma, Huey Long doesn’t count. How about the rest of you? I seriously doubt it.
JINDAL FOR PRESIDENT, 2012.
THANK YA BOBBY!
