Category: music

New Music for Old Rockers – Quantity > Quality Edition

~ Jim Flanigan

There is just so much good new music recently that I decided that rather than taking a deep dive into one song, I would wade into the shallows of multiple songs. Let’s get started!

I don’t like rap music. The closest I could ever cozy up to rap music was enjoying the hip hop of the Beastie Boys. How can anyone not like the pure camp of the BB? But the Beastie Boys are definitely not rap. Earlier this year when I was considering if I should go to an Anderson East concert, my oldest son advised me that the only good musical artist named Anderson was a rapper named Anderson.Paak. That is definitely not true. Besides Anderson East, there is the Anderson Council and their psychedelic sounds. Groovy.

So, who’s Anderson.Paak and what’s up with the period between his names? I never investigated either. But than I saw him recently on Jimmy Kimmel singing this excellent song with the great Smokey Robinson.

Now that’s a good tune and a nice homage to Smokey’s sound. I tried to explore more of .Paak’s (do I include the period with his first or last name?) music, and I found him to be too sweary for my taste. But he did prove with this song that as far as his music goes, he can definitely make it better.

1 down. Ready for 3 more? Let’s go.

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New Music for Old Rockers – Summer Bummer Concert Edition

~ Jim Flanigan

I’ve enjoyed a most excellent concert year and spent most of my summer doing this …

headbanging_waynes_world

Which I have to admit was sort of weird when I went to the symphony.

I tempted fate and tried to sneak in one more concert last week before summer ended. It was a deal I couldn’t refuse. I was in St. Louis “on business” again. My evening was my own. Once again, a major music act was not selling concert tickets for their stop in St. Louis. That is not unusual. I received an email with good seats being offered at much lower prices than the cheap, nosebleed seats I had been eyeing. I also had a couple Ticketmaster vouchers worth a few bucks. In the end, I think this is the only time I have ever seen this on my ticket receipt …

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New Music for Old Rockers – Staying High with Brittany Howard

~ Jim Flanigan

It’s 1966. It’s the height of Motown. The AM airwaves are filled with hits from female Motown artists like Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, Diana Ross & the Supremes, the Marvelettes, Gladys Knight & the Pips, and of course … Brittany Howard with this great tune called “Stay High.”

That is one super-sweet video that tugs at your heartstrings until it pulls them right out of your body, leaving you heartstringless. Except, isn’t that Terry Crews from America’s Got Talent singing it? He wasn’t born yet in 1966. And how could Brittany Howard record this? She was born decades after 1966. And they look nothing alike.

brittany Howard terry crews

Brittany Howard is on the left and Terry Crews is on the right. Definitely NOT the same person. Neither alive in 1966. There is a simple explanation.

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Mite Be Funny – Special RIP Eddie Money Edition

~ Jim Flanigan

Mite Be Funny RIP Eddie Money 1

 

A Concerted Sales Effort

~ Jim Flanigan

I saw an online notice of tickets still available for sale at our local concert venue. I was very surprised seeing this one. I would have lost a “Dead or Alive?” bet on Paul Anka.

Arcada d

That’s a lot of cash for a ticket to see an old guy I thought may be deceased. Of course, he may think the same about me. I have doubts some days myself.

I know these guys aren’t dead. I saw them give an excellent free outdoor show a few years back. But now they are just about selling out (just 2 seats left) with tickets for $180 each? What?

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New Music for Old Rockers – Rage Against Age Concert Edition

~ Jim Flanigan

I’m old. However, somehow I have put together my best concert year ever in 2019, although with some concessions to age. I missed driving 3+ hours to see the Smithereens perform recently at Abe Fest …

Smithereens Springfield

Thank God. Although I love those 80’s/90’s rockers and have wanted to see them for years now, I didn’t want to see them enough to drive to Springfield to freakin’ Abe Fest. Regardless, I waited a bit too long, and their lead vocalist passed away a couple years ago. Enter 80’s power popper Marshall Crenshaw to take over vocal duties. I thought it was an odd combination of upbeat vocals from Crenshaw for brooding Smithereen songs like “Blood and Roses.” I had to find out for myself.

I saw that the Smithereens were playing an outdoor festival gig just outside Chicago last Friday. Would the wife approve of my going? Yes! But under one condition. She didn’t want me to drag her to Skokie to see them. It’s a deal! I was flying solo.

The Smithereens/Crenshaw amalgam looked and sounded great in suburban Chicago …

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New Music for Old Rockers – Covering Covers Edition

~ Jim Flanigan

Can someone please tell me the point of song covers that sound like the original? I don’t get it. When I first heard Weezer’s cover of Toto’s “Africa” last summer, I had to check first to see if it was a cover and not just a remix of the original. What is the point? I did get to hear that excellent song on the radio again, but I would have been happy to have heard the original played more frequently last summer.

It is true that I nominated Lana Del Rey’s cover of Sublime’s “Doin’ Time” as this year’s Song of the Summer. It is significantly different from the original. And that voice of hers … just divine. But then I was driving with my oldest daughter who is a huge Kate Bush fan, when Bush’s song “Running Up That Hill” came on the radio. My daughter was initially happy to hear it until we identified it being sung by a Kate Bush impersonator named Meg Myers with an identical-sounding version. Why? I will admit the video is kind of cool, but Kate Bush’s voice > Meg Myer’s voice. Sorry, Meg.

And now we get this news …

Hasselhoff

Full story and music video follows. The music video is creepily worth the price of clicking to read on.

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New Music for Old Rockers – Song of the Summer Edition Vindication

~ Jim Flanigan

I announced my 2019 Song of the Summer on this blog recently to much fanfare.

Bill nye.gif

That’s right Science Guy Bill Nye, celebrate that “Go” by the Black Keys is my pick for 2019 Song of the Summer. But my 2 oldest children told me I was way off. They claim that a song called “Old Town Road” is the song of the summer. They tell me that kids stop whatever they’re doing and go crazy when that song comes on.

Dance on chair.gif

Hmmm, I wonder why? Take a look and listen …

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New Music for Old Rockers – Special Edition of Best Concert Ever?

~ Jim Flanigan ~ 2 Comments

The opportunity while on a business trip to see Spoon, Cage the Elephant, and Beck in one concert on their Night Running Tour was too tempting for me to resist. This is arguably the best concert tour of the summer. I paid more than I like to usually pay for my concerts, which is zero. But the opportunity to see 4 excellent acts in one concert was like going to a mini-music festival. That’s right, 4 acts. Wild Belle opened the show. I passed on Wild Belle and took a nap and swim at my La Quinta hotel within walking distance of the concert venue. By the way, La Quinta is Spanish for The Quinta. You’re welcome for the translation.

As I walked to the outdoor venue, I could hear Spoon starting their set. I could have pulled up a chair outside and heard the show for free. This blog feature is about new music, and Spoon was playing their new single “No Bullets Spent” from their Greatest Hits album just released. Ugh. Why do bands insist on adding bad songs to their greatest hit compilations? I refuse to include a link to this sub-standard new Spoon song. Instead, if you are unfamiliar with Spoon, enjoy “The Underdog” which got me hooked on Spooning.

Spoon’s stage was spartan and looked like it was missing a knife and fork.

Spoon 1.JPG

I did feel like a bad guy when seeing this made me happy. Continue reading “New Music for Old Rockers – Special Edition of Best Concert Ever?” →

New Music for Old Rockers – Song of the Summer Edition

~ Jim Flanigan ~ 2 Comments

As we careen wildly towards the end of July, I do not think it is too early to name a Song of the Summer of 2019. New songs released in August? Sorry, should have come to summer on time. So here we go with our 3 nominees for 2019 Song of the Summer.

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New Music for Old Rockers – July Concertpalooza Edition – Part 2

~ Jim Flanigan

My July Concertpalooza rolls on with another FREE show, the third freebie in a row. I received free concert tickets from the world’s greatest radio station, 93.1 WXRT in Chicago, to see Heart and Sheryl Crow play Chicago this past week. Neither act is very musically-relevant anymore except in a historical context (Heart definitely being rock ground-breakers as the first hugely successful female-fronted band), but both acts are still making new music, hence this tour.

But before Sheryl Crow took the stage, there was a young opening act. I think she started playing right before we parked the car, and then finished before we took our seats. It was a very long walk from where we parked.

Ours were decent $69 seats (thanks ‘XRT!), but we did have to sit a couple rows behind the guy who likes Five Finger Death Punch AND Heart. That’s quite a range of musical tastes. Crow1

His wife had sunglasses on the whole show, even after dark, and looked a lot like one of the party-goers in this pic from the Rocky Horror Picture Show …

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New Music for Old Rockers – July Concertpalooza Edition – Part 1

~ Jim Flanigan ~ 1 Comment

In my quest to make this my best concert year ever, the month of July will play a key role. I am scheduled to attend 4 concerts this month, and the first 2 are in the books, no thanks to the Democratic National Committee. I had planned on seeing husband & wife duo Flora Cash at a free Millennium Park concert in Chicago.

Flora Cash.png

They look exciting. However, the Flora Cash show directly conflicted with the second Democratic candidate debate. Thanks, Obama. Well, that’s probably okay as Flora Cash tends to be a bit mellow. I mean, her eyes are closed in the pic. Some would say a bit too subdued on this popular track of theirs … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVdPh2cBTN0. I wouldn’t want to fall asleep in the park and miss my train home.

My oldest son suggested Car Seat Headrest in the same park this past week. Although I had no idea who Car Seat Headrest is, I couldn’t refuse a free concert with my son in the beautiful Jay Pritzker Pavillion on Chicago’s glorious lakefront on a beautiful night.

pritzker pavillion

Now, who is Car Seat Headrest you ask?

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New Music for Old Rockers – Oh, Canada Edition

~ Jim Flanigan

In all my rushing around for business travel and then vacation travel, I didn’t want to overlook a review of one of my favorite concerts of all time that I attended last week. I was in St. Louis again last week, ready for some live music, so I hit the Ready Room.

Ready Room

It is an intimate venue that holds 750 general admission concert-goers. But surely Canada’s own Strumbellas would easily sell out a 750 capacity venue. Not so fast. I’m not sure they even wanted to be performing that night. There was a competing event that night that would thin the crowd and shrink ticket prices. With hints like Canada and St. Louis, can you guess the event?

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Flies On Washington Walls #155 – Special Multi-Panel Ben Carson House Oversight Musical Edition

~ Jim Flanigan

FOWW #155a Ben Carson

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New Music for Old Rockers – Concert Preview Decision Edition

~ Jim Flanigan ~ 1 Comment

There has been lots of good new music recently, getting me ready for my planned summer concerts. Here’s a look at recent releases as I try and catch up a bit.

This first song is actually an old song sporting a new piano arrangement, and features a duet with a dead legend.

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New Music for Old Rockers – Foals Concert Edition

~ Jim Flanigan

I like the UK band Foals, and I love this song of theirs …

But that is not new music. That is a song from their excellent 2015 release called “What Went Down.” Foals happened to be in concert in St. Louis this week when I happened to be visiting for business, or perhaps it was that I planned a business trip to St. Louis when Foals was in concert. You see, if I try to see them in Chicago, this is what happens …

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New Music For Old Rockers – Go With The Flo Edition

~ Jim Flanigan

I normally try and find newer or more obscure new music for this recurring feature. This song by Florence and the Machine has been around since late January, and Florence Welch has been making great music with her Machine for well over a decade. I expect good new music out of them. While I have enjoyed this new single titled Moderation,  I just noticed something very unusual about this song. Take a listen and see if you can hear it, too.

Good song, but did you hear how unusual it is?

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New Music for Old Rockers – Smith & Thell Edition

~ Jim Flanigan

There has been a lot of good new music released recently. I just haven’t been captivated by any of it to write about it. For example, I was excited to hear that the Lumineers dropped a new song called Gloria a couple days ago. Take a listen.

I like it, but … it sounds exactly like I would expect a new Lumineers song should sound. That’s not a bad thing. It makes my toes tap. It just doesn’t excite me. Does that make any sense?

Instead, I went all the way to Sweden to be able to introduce you to Maria Jane Smith and Victor Thell, who coincidentally are in a band called Smith & Thell. What are the odds? Take a listen to their song called Forgive Me Friend that got my musical antennae waving.

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Concert Concerns

~ Jim Flanigan

Lollapalooza is one of the great annual music festivals in the world, taking place over 4 days on Chicago’s beautiful lakefront over the summer. Lolla Tip: Don’t wear flip-flops. It can get swampy even if it is not raining at that specific time.

Lollapalooza swampy.jpg

That may not be all rainwater. And if it does rain, well then, just go with the flow …

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New Music for Old Rockers – Special Mt. Joy Concert Edition

~ Jim Flanigan

The odds were against it happening. I was in my hotel room after dinner, slightly undressed (I know, ew), laying in bed, with Rachel Maddow coming on TV in minutes. There was maybe a 2% chance that I would get dressed and go by myself to see indie rockers Mt. Joy in concert. I know, you will not believe it if I tell you I beat the odds, but I did. I have proof.

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