Nostalgia is a Disease

~ Cave_Guy ~ 9 Comments
Nostalgia's not what it used to be
Nostalgia’s not what it used to be (Photo credit: marc e marc)

Warning! Nostalgia is coming up from the depths to sink your little ship of happiness. Nostalgia will rob you of great new experience happening all around you. Nostalgia will stop your brain from firing and creating new pathways as you learn and evolve…nostalgia is killing you! There is only one cure- new stuff for the brain.

I know this is rich coming from a guy that runs a blog about digging up good songs from everywhere. But the key here is: we dig them up and polish them off while trying to keep them in perspective; organizing these artifacts in line with their place in music history and go rescue some more. We don’t dwell on them and live with them…there is a reason that the past is gone and if you try to live there, you will diminish yourself to the point of an unfunny joke. Yes, nostalgia is that bad.

I can’t even listen to “classic rock” radio…Could you please play “Stairway” and “Freebird” again my brain is not numb; if I hear “Come Sail Away” or in fact anything else from Styx again…I am pretty sure with a good lawyer that I cannot be held responsible for the ensuing panic attack that will hit me. Why would you choose to live with this stuff and just stay there? The brain is not stretching and creating new things…it is stuck in dangerous limbo and suffocating on stale air. Get on that bus and head to the Church basement for a bingo game…it is over…you are done! (O.K, getting on a bus and attending a rousing bingo game is an upgrade for ‘Mr Classic Rock”)

So I strongly encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and find something different to tackle; I don’t care what it is. And when I say listen; I mean really get in to the depths of what they are saying and who they are saying it to, let the sound wash over you. Fall in love with a new band or genre…really listen.

And if you do this…magic might happen. The magic of understanding and really enjoying something that was unknown before. Now you are not just sampling something for the sake of exploration. You have added something new- you have forced the brain to change and grow. This does not mean that the old favorites will be replaced; the opposite happens as there is more variety to help frame them and place them in perspective. I did this a few years ago with Hip-Hop as I listened and listened ‘till I found something that would stick and gain traction in my rock n roll conscious. I discovered GZA from Wu-Tang and was blown away by the lyrical assassin. The beat is wrapped around the words and the words are something I did not expect- they are intelligent and insightful and relevant. The music is open to interpretation and can be enjoyed by people from all walks and ages and situations.

And this goes the other way as well. The 15 year old can learn a lot from ditching Mac Miller for a day and cranking up a little Led Zeppelin.

Exploration is not nostalgia-it is the opposite.

Midnight Oil- Australian for Rock Music.

~ Cave_Guy ~ 2 Comments

 

Monday song time and we find some miners in Australia fired from their jobs for doing a little underground Harlem Shake… O.K, this isn’t exactly like the Pussy Riot deal in Russia, but then again Australia is not exactly like anywhere else- it is “a land down under where women glow and men plunder”

 

So really going underground and digging a relic out of the cave this week. I saw this band play live once and they were incredible!!!  All conviction and piss and vinegar—amazing band and sorry they are done.

 

Australia stub
Australia stub (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Concrete Blonde

~ Cave_Guy ~ 4 Comments

Concrete Blonde for Monday song time and today we have two. I don’t want to say I love this band or this band is cool, but I do and they are. It makes me glad to know they are still out there and working on a Brazil tour as I write this. The first song is the big hit Joey. The second  is the first song I ever heard from this band  and was hooked right then “True” sums it all up- a word to describe them.  They have been a genuine alternative/underground/independent band the entire way. They give you all they have at live shows. I don’t know what else to say about them other than enjoy.

2nd Wonder of Rock-Abbey Road

~ Cave_Guy ~ 3 Comments

If there are no serious objections…I have found the second Wonder of rock music….Everyone knows that classic shot of the Beatles crossing the street here. Now I have to build a nice looking page for them.

lunaflorencia's avatarLuna Florencia

I’m not a fan of graffiti, no matter how it’s done, but seeing quotes of songs from my all-time favourite band outside Abbey Road studios I was instantly taken. It was a beautiful reminder of just how influential the Beatles were and still are, but it also made me wish I’d been round to witness the Beatlemania 40 years ago.

Abbey Road, London

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The Devil’s Music

~ Cave_Guy ~ 6 Comments
Robert Johnson's studio portrait, circa 1935—o...
Robert Johnson’s studio portrait, circa 1935—one of only two verified known published photographs (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Imagine yourself as a struggling bluesman in the 1930’s going from town to town, playing little juke joints and street corners in the rural south. Maybe you get in trouble with women and whiskey, maybe you catch some grief for playing evil music…I’m just guessing here. You may even wonder if playing this type of music is a good or bad thing. There would not be much fame or money—Rock stars don’t exist yet because you are going to be the first one.

So at a point in your life when you wonder just what the hell you are doing…you meet a white man at the crossroads (because he won’t go into town at night) and sign a record deal that probably makes him a lot more money than you- this seals the deal and makes you devote your life (there won’t be much of it left) playing the devil’s music.

Yeah, I made that up…

The actual legend has the young Robert Johnson meeting the devil at a crossroads at midnight and selling his soul in order to play guitar like no one ever played it before.  The devil wouldn’t take too long to collect on this bargain as Robert Johnson would die at the age of 27 by means of poison; either a jealous woman or angry man? (the details are sketchy at best) There is little doubt that he got real talent so quick that people were looking for a story. There is also no doubt that stories fly fast and furious when you leave this earth by tangled means.

When his records were re-released many years later in England…they had a profound influence on musicians like Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin and The Rolling stones. If blues is the cornerstone of rock music, it is not too much of a stretch to say that a lot of the weight and grit in that first heavy brick can be traced back to this man. Rock music owes its substance to him.

I have taken shots at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but they got it right by putting him in with the first nominees.

So as I am starting a page called “The of 7 Wonders of Rock Music” with a crossroads in Mississippi- There is a marker at the intersection of U.S. Routes 61 and 49 in Clarksdale. This is the one that is tagged as the tourist place of  this legend… But to complete this wonder, I would also go with any deserted crossroads in the State of Mississippi at Midnight (full moon optional) as a pure rock n roll alternative.

We have the first of the seven wonders of Rock music…6 more to go…get your comments in now to help find the others.

5 Greatest Geek Rock Acts

~ Cave_Guy ~ 14 Comments
A 'geek' rubber duck - side view
A ‘geek’ rubber duck – side view (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I don’t think of myself as a geek-but I do watch the science channel and history channel more than the others and if they ever come out with a Stephen Hawking action figure; I may be tempted to add it to my collection. The cold hard fact is that when I think of any scenario and how a geek would act compared to a regular well-adjusted  person…….aaahhhhhhh….I would take the geek way—Ergo I must be a geek. So here is music about my people for my people… Forgive me this is difficult….kind of like when Luke finds out Darth Vader is his Dad…aaaahhhh…I did it again.

Note: Most of this is written from outside the geek world as I have just “come out” and  have not be officially welcomed by other geeks as one of their own. I mean no disrespect to my new brethren. This is still new to me. Enjoy!

5. Gwar

For the militant geek..You know that guy…if someone takes his seat in math class -he will laugh about it and then not let it go. This guy is in serious need of an outlet. A show by this band is just what the doctor ordered to let him have a bit of fun-(while getting sprayed with all manner of fake bodily fluids) and get all that rage out. Shock Rock dressed like game characters that rail against the evil system sounds like militant geek to me…think of them as a more unlikeable Kiss…I know… did not think it was possible to be more unlikeable than Gene Simmons? It is!!..Rage on geeks…rage on.

4.Weird Al Yankovic

He has taken the art of parody and turned it into science. He is the no-one that becomes everyone. Awkward at first glance- brilliant under the surface. The frog that says to the princess that tries to kiss him…”Whatever sweetie…got look for someone else to smooch…I am weird Al and I will rain my fury upon the entire music industry” White and Nerdy is geek brilliance shining so bright, it is almost cool.

3. They might be Giants

I once found myself at the acclaimed bastion of geekness called R.P.I  in order to find the room that these guys were playing in. Two guys that make a lot of noise in order to elevate the words of wonder that spill out from them as they preach to the converted followers of quirkiness. I love a band that relentlessly follows their vision through the hits and misses. You don’t have to suffer from full blown nerdness to enjoy them, but you do require some part of that disease running through your veins.

2.Devo

These guys started the revolution. They gave all geeks, nerds and social rejects a place to rally to. You can like computers and learn more than a few opening moves of chess(you never know when a surprise chess smack-down can happen) and still be O.K. It is alright to come out of the closet and admit that making your brain do some work might be some benefit to you and the world around you. And these dudes with the red plastic hats are laying down some funky beats…we can dance geeks…we can dance! Oh the joy and celebration! You think the iPhone would have been invented without the surge that these guys gave to the geek community? No way!

1.Weezer

The hard days of the geek revolution are in the past. Technology runs the world and those that control and maintain this technology are living on the good side of the good towns. Basically…the geeks are running the world. So here is the emerged butterfly band of geekness flapping its wings in the bright sunshine of this new age. Put some of this music on as you lean back in the soft recliner and kick off those expensive slippers and bask in the delight that you have created. Take a drink of whatever you guys drink and enjoy it. We all call you Sir Geeks now!

Mystery Achiement

~ Cave_Guy ~ Leave a comment

I can’t believe I missed one of my favorites from the great State of Ohio- The Pretenders set the standard for pure rock and roll angst that kicked you in the head with no wasted motion- a thing of beauty. I forgot Chrissie Hynde hailed from this little corner of the rust belt. I am posting this to make amends for this transgression and thank Mr. Standthereandplay for catching this injustice before more damage was done. Akron may have even more gems to uncover and has won my respect.

Monday after the Grammys

~ Cave_Guy ~ 2 Comments

I made it through the first 2 hours of the Music Super-Bowl called the Grammys– there were some great moments. I did enjoy much of it- Mumford and Sons have rebooted rock music by going all the way back with acoustic instruments and harmonious pub style yelling so they deserve the award for best album. Fun and The Black Keys also got things going, this show may be the one when hip-hop is taking a few hits from rock music (they really never learned to play nice with each other).

For the Monday song, I’m going with the duo that everyone except bass players love. When I started this blog, I admitted that I knew nothing about this band (Can you call two guys a band?) and could not figure out why everyone was going crazy over them. That has changed with some listening -this music hits you like a virus that you can’t get over…. infectious… and I got it now. Best thing to come out of Akron, Ohio since Devo.(and don’t think too hard; there is no third thing, good or bad!)

Notes a year later:

What a silly music blogger I was- Akron is a hotbed of music talent. The great thing about blogging about anything is that you learn as you go and you get better.

Swedish Metal…tasty like Swedish Chocolate or is that Swiss chocolate? Anyway, break a square off and enjoy!

~ Cave_Guy ~ 2 Comments

For my Monday song…I am going to stretch a little beyond my comfort zone and feature a little Swedish metal. This is from a great new blog on WordPress…Enjoy!

lock87's avatarshare a lick

Vains of Jenna

Continuing the topic of Swedish bands that rock hard I bring to you Vains of Jenna. Unlike previously discussed Hell & Diesel, Vains of Jenna did make their way to Los Angeles and brought their career to another level. Their trashy glam metal style which was manifested in their looks and sound turned out to be contagious. The band was formed at the beginning of the year 2005 by four guys whose common musical influences included Motley Crue, Guns n’ Roses, the Rolling Stones, Nirvana, Aerosmith and Hanoi Rocks. Even though two of the members were still 18 at the time, they managed to find a way to play at Crue Fest Hollywood that very same year. Talking about destiny, right? All of you musicians out there realise how hard it is to get a gig like that. And only after couple concerts and rehearsals since band’s formation?…There’s got to…

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Dude looks like a Lady? Not on this list of best 5 Androgyny Rock Interpretations.

~ Cave_Guy ~ 8 Comments
Cover of "The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Star...
Cover of The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust

I went for substance over glitter for these classics. The gender lines get blurred and the yin yang smudges together for some of the best music produced in the rock era.  The glitter and high heels kicking you in the face is the proverbial tip of the iceberg when having a bit of free swim time in this part of the pool. The first couple I added were such strong works that I challenged myself to keep them all of the same quality. This date night went in a different direction than it started, kind of like my number 1 pick for this category.

#5

Your Song-Elton John

“What are you doing Mr. Cave guy, this is just a sweet innocent love song by Elton John?” And you are right. Elton John and Bernie Taupin were just sweet innocent kids when they wrote this.  The striking part – it is so innocent that it has no male and female parts at all. Like a toy doll with no bits that are going to make the kids ask questions. It has all the sexuality completely sanitized. A man could be singing about a woman- a woman could be singing about a man- it works with a man singing about a man and woman about a woman. It works with any combo deal on the menu.

#4

Ziggy Stardust – David Bowie

The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars is one of the great records of rock music and David Bowie became an androgynous alien alter ego for the ages. Maybe some obscure bands were dressing like chicks before he did…but he smashed the doors wide open to let all the cows and horses out of the barn to go play in the fields and roll in the mud. He took it from

a “strange” thing and turned it into an “edgy” thing. The song itself really does not reference any gender blurring but it is impossible to separate the song from the act. You get the package deal with David Bowie.

#3

Me and Bobby McGee- Janis Joplin

Kris Kristofferson wrote this song originally about a woman and in the Janis Joplin version it changed to a man. Even the name Bobby can fit both sexes so it was not a big deal to make a switch. That makes something written from the male perspective get transformed into something from a female perspective. It gives it a weird toughness that Janis Joplin was made to sing.

#2

Angel from Montgomery-Bonnie Raitt

To write this song John Prine imagined himself as a middle aged woman doing dishes and gazing upon the ashes of a burnt-out life. Like an artist that freezes a scene in a painting; he gets all the colors and lines in correct coordination and perfection. I don’t care if you are a woman or a man- this song is powerful. As a man you feel bad about this woman and you should hate the man that drove her down this highway and hope you ain’t him…you should be affected by the emotion if you have anything at all in your soul that feels emotion. This song has a way of making people cry like Ray Lewis in a post game speech after a football game.

#1

Lola- The Kinks

“Well, I’m not dumb but I can’t understand Why she walked like a woman but talked like a man”

How in good conscious as a fan of Rock Music do you not make this the Number one song in this category?  And just like the naïve soul in this piece of music-How long did it take you to listen to the words and have that “Sixth sense” movie moment…Oh…man…he is a ghost!…I mean..Oh man, he is a transvestite! And how as a regular guy trying to write a music blog do I take so long to get to a song by Ray Davies…the quintessential everyman and icon of popular music…plus he seems  like just one hell of a nice guy.