Tag: strumbellas

Band on the Run?

~ Jim Flanigan

I know the world is sick of Covid, and everything is opening back up, despite breakthrough cases of Covid continuing to take the lives of double-vaccinated people who thought they were safe. I’m slowly trying to safely head back out into this weird, new, masked Covidy world. I recently went to an outdoor football game, and I went to a basketball game in a big indoor arena. I felt safer outdoors at the football game, but the seats at the basketball game were positioned in such a way that I felt okay about being there. But indoor restaurants? No, thank you. I’ll take the food to go.

I enjoyed safely meeting with friends over the summer at restaurants with outdoor patios. But last night, it was below freezing out, and I was scheduled to have dinner with friends. What do we do? We decided to head to a place with an outdoor patio that they wrap in plastic and keep cozy with overhead and tableside heaters. Even better, live music was scheduled for last night.

They looked fun and upbeat with an indie-artist vibe to them, sort of a cleaner-cut version of the Strumbellas from Canada. Take a look and you decide.

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My Non-Tide Pod Facebook Challenge, Part 2

~ Jim Flanigan

After yesterday’s Part 1 post, I am sure that most readers would have preferred if I had taken the Tide Pod challenge to eliminate any possibility of a Part 2. Sorry, but here it is. Let’s get right into another 6 albums that shaped my musical landscape.

royal scam

Before Steely Dan fans stone me, I know this is not their best album. But it was the Dan album that caught my attention with the funk of “Kid Charlemagne” and opened my eyes and ears to their whole catalog. No regrets. Listening to Steely Dan has helped refine my musical sensibilities.

I regret I never saw them in concert. Walter Becker has now passed away, but Donald Fagen is still touring as Steely Dan. I don’t feel good about that. I think he should tour as Donald Fagen or Steely or Dan, but not Steely Dan. RIP Walter.

Now this next guy looks out of place on this album cover …

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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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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 – Welcome Back Edition

~ Jim Flanigan ~ 2 Comments

My NMFOR posts have so far focused on newer musical talents. Not in this post. These are established talents that are finally providing us some welcome new music.

First up is Vampire Weekend. Six years since their last record. How does it take so long to make a record album? C’mon, you’re musicians. Make more music.

Father of the Bride is their upcoming release this Spring, and Harmony Hall is a single released from that album. I’m not sure that Harmony Hall is worth a six year wait, but it is a great tune. Take a listen.

Welcome back Vampires. Harmony Hall definitely doesn’t suck.

What does is the new single called Salvation from the Strumbellas.

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Music is a Cruel Mistress

~ Jim Flanigan

You may have seen some of my music posts, whether it be a concert review or a new song release in which I had a hand writing lyrics. I love music, but music is a very cruel mistress. She hasn’t yet been too cruel to me, probably because I keep music at arm’s length. I have even come away with a song I wrote that I want played at my funeral. That song release did not make for a popular blog post, but I don’t really care because I just love that song. But I know not to push the musical gods too much. They will chew me up and spit me out.

Just take a look at this poster for the North Coast Music Festival that is coming up over Labor Day weekend in Chicago.

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