If you should ever leave me, well, life would still go on, believe me... The Beach Boys - God Only Knows
Brian Wilson died today. He was 82.
For the past several years, I have listened to The Beach Boys quite a bit. I have gained a real appreciation for their music. In 2022, I got to see Brian Wilson, along with Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin in concert. Although it wasn't the young vibrant Brian Wilson, I am glad to have seen him.
Well the joint was jumpin', going 'round and 'round... Chuck Berry / The Rolling Stones - Around and Around
I can remember watching a rerun of this clip, probably 14 years after it was shown live on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. I was in High School and my friend and I both laughed at and loved the way Mick Jagger clapped as he sang.
The Rolling Stones recorded this Chuck Berry classic on their 1964 EP Five By Five.
Tom, get your plane on time, I'll know your part will go fine; fly down to Mexico... Simon & Garfunkel - The Only Living Boy in New York
Simon & Garfunkel released their final album in 1970, Bridge Over Troubled Water. The great album contained the song The Only Living Boy in New York. It's a brilliant song and sounds great with headphones.
From what I have read, Paul Simon was left in the studio to finish the album as Art Garfunkel had flown to Mexico to film the movie Catch-22. Paul refers to Art as Tom, because they used to perform as Tom & Jerry.
I discovered Josh Lee Turner on YouTube just before Covid and became a big fan of his channel. The first video that I saw of his was with the cast of The Simon & Garfunkel Story doing the Buffalo Springfield classic For What It's Worth and I was hooked. I think I watched every one of his videos. To top it off, I ended getting to see The Simon & Garfunkel Story in 2000, just prior to the lockdown. It was a fantastic show, and Josh Lee Turner was the guitarist. This video captures his talent as well as the greatness of this song.
I paid all my dues so I picked up my shoes, I got up and walked away... Roger Daltrey - Giving It All Away
The Who's lead singer Roger Daltrey released 3 great solo albums in the 1970's:
His first was 1973's Daltrey, an acoustic affair with songs written by Leo Sayer, David Courtney and Adam Faith.
The next was 1975's Ride a Rock Horse, a more R&B sounding record. Russ Ballard contributed several songs for this album including the fantastic Near to Surrender.
The final of the three was released in 1977 and titled One of the Boys. Daltrey brought out some big names on this one including bandmate John Entwistle, Eric Clapton, Rod Argent, Mick Ronson and others. Paul McCartney even wrote the song Giddy for Daltrey. This album sounds more like a Who record than the others.
That little voice in my head's all that keeps me from sinking down come sundown... Bruce Springsteen - Sundown
Bruce Springsteen's releases since the 1980's have been somewhat uneven. I think his 2 best albums since his run of great albums, are 2002's The Rising and 2019's Western Stars.
The Rising struck the right chord after the horrific events of September 11, 2001 (911). The album was somber, but somehow uplifting. It was easily one of the best albums of that decade.
Western Stars was a complete unexpected genre change and complete winner. I read interviews where Bruce said that he wanted to release different types of music. In 2006 he released an album of traditional folk music sans The E Street Band. We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions sounded like it would have been at home at a 1960's hootenanny. Then in 2022 he released Only the Strong Survive, an R&B covers album. The album was solid, but maybe not spectacular.
On Western Stars Bruce hit his stride... in cowboy boots. The album is a throwback to 1970's west coast sounds of the music of Glen Campbell / Jimmy Webb. The songs are lush and full and contain stories about loners and drifters.
I've underestimated your effect on me or maybe I was too blind to see... The Greenhornes - Underestimator
The Raconteurs released the great album Broken Boy Solider in 2006. What initially seemed to me to be a Jack White vehicle, later I realized I underestimated the importance of the other 3 members. First, I really got into Brendan Benson's great power pop type music. Then later I discovered Jack Lawrence and Patrick Keeler's band The Greenhornes. Their sound is reminiscent of 1960's garage rock and in particular The Animals. I guess it is no coincident that they recorded with Eric Burdon in 2012.
I have been collecting their music, but some of their discs are hard to find or really expensive. I guess to sum it up I will quote the great Michael Scott - "Next time you will estimate me".
I remember when your neon used to burn so bright and pink... Houndmouth - Sedona
I have seen many concerts over the years, and the majority included an opening act. The opening act can be a mixed bag. Sometimes the opener adds enjoyment to the overall concert and sometimes you are left wanting the headliner to come on out and play.
Friday night Houndmouth opened for The Avett Brothers in Lexington and played a solid set. I was not familiar with their music, but yet I was engaged and entertained. Houndmouth's sound was tight, and the songs stuck with me, even after the show. Their sound was a little reminiscent of Band of Horses, a band that I saw back in 2014. I plan to investigate this band further.
Lexinton, KY 4/25/2025 SetlistSome of the notable opening acts that I have seen:
Some of the notable double-bills that I have seen:
Will you come again? It's hard to say, I surely hope so... The Avett Brothers - Will You Return?
The Avett Brothers are amazing in concert. First of all, they are uber talented singers and fantastic musicians, but they also connect with the audience so well. Friday night, they played about 2 1/2 hours of passionate, fun music. Their set covered their entire catalogue, and the audience knew the songs, singing along at any opportunity.
Down went Rose, down went Morgan, down went Driessen... The Baseball Project - Dock Went Hunting Heads
The Baseball Project are a "Super Group" featuring the members listed below. It is a project of love, the love of baseball. The songs are all about baseball, which sounds ridiculous, but they pull it off so well. The songs are brilliantly written and performed.
I grew up a Cincinnati Reds fan during the Big Red Machine era. So, this song about Dock Ellis pitching against and throwing at the top of the Reds line-up makes me smile. The song ties up the Dock Ellis saga with a bow at the end.
I am hoping to see these guys (and gal) this summer. It's Baseball Project Season.
If I get murdered in the city, don't go revenging in my name... The Avett Brothers - Murder In the City
I plan to see The Avett Brothers this weekend and it will be my 3rd time seeing them live. In recent years I have become very fond of their unique blend of Americana. I highly recommend these guys and hope to review the concert next week.
Well, I've been thinking 'bout all the places we've surfed and danced and all the faces we've missed, so let's get back together and do it again... The Beach Boys - Do It Again
For the past several years I have really enjoyed listening and learning the late 60's and 70's Beach Boys catalogue. Up to then I had always thought that after Pet Sounds they became a greatest hits band. I can't believe that I was unfamiliar with some of their best albums like Surfs Up, Sunflower and Holland.
My journey into The Beach Boys really started with around the Covid year and watching videos on Youtube. I discovered these channels: Giggens, The Beach Boys Basement and The Beach Boys Hangout. Watching these channels inspired me to collect and really listen to these albums.
I don't want to argue, there's nothing to say; Get me out of your starry eyes and be on your way... The Records - Starry Eyes
I've been into power pop for some time now and for me Power Pop starts with The Beatles and The Who. I think you can throw in a lot of the 1960's "pop" bands into the mix like The Byrds, The Beach Boys, The Hollies, The Kinks and so forth.
Then in the late 1960's/early 1970's you had great bands like Badfinger, The Raspberries, Big Star, etc.. One of the lesser-known Power Pop bands, The Records made their debut in 1979 with Shades in Bed. The album featured what has become a Power Pop classic Starry Eyes.
No matter where you place in the human race, there is mercy, there is grace, look up...
Ringo Starr - Look Up
I just heard that the original drummer for The Beatles, Pete
Best announced his retirement. I was looking forward to see him play in May but that show has since been canceled. I wish him all the best.
His Beatles’s replacement and my favorite drummer (along
with Keith Moon) Ringo Starr has recently put out his best album in years. It is a fine one. Aided by artists such as Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Lucius and Larkin Poe and produced by super-producer T-Bone Burnett, Ringo’s Look Up is a country
flavored joy. Burnett tends to bring out
the best in whoever he works with and he has done it here once again.
Someday you'd watch this big green river flow, who knows where the road goes... Old 97's - Where the Road Goes
2024 was a fantastic concert year for me personally. I finally got to see the Old 97's and to make it even better they had just released one of their better albums in several years, American Primitive. The highlights of the show included Can't Get a Line, Barrier Reef, Where the Road Goes, Weightless, Longer Than You've Been Alive, etc...
'Cause in a blink of an eye I'll watch these golden years fly by... The Lemon Twigs - My Golden Years
I remember seeing The Lemon Twigs on several best of the year albums in in 2023 for the album Everything Harmony. So last year I had the opportunity to the Twigs live. To gear up for the show, I bought their then latest A Dream Is All We Know. I quickly came to love the song My Golden Years, which became my favorite song of the year. The song was great, the album was great and the concert was great. These truly are The Lemon Twigs golden years.