Friday, January 25, 2008

The Allman Brothers Band

[click photo]

Tonight I'll take you on a trip down to Georgia for some good old Southern Rock from The Allman Brothers Band.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has this to say about the band:
The Allman Brothers Band evolved out of jams in Jacksonville, Florida, involving Duane [Allman] and members of the Second Coming (guitarist Dickey Betts, bassist Berry Oakley) and the 31st of February (drummer Butch Trucks). Another drummer, Jai Johanny Johanson (a.k.a. “Jaimoe”), was a veteran of the soul-music circuit, having played with and others. A magical five-hour jam among the musicians at Trucks’ house cemented the union and prompted this remark from Duane Allman: “Anybody who doesn’t want to be in my band is going to have to fight his way out the door.” Gregg was summoned back from California, where he was unhappily fulfilling a contractual obligation as a solo artist. The Allman Brothers Band were officially formed in March 1969 and signed to Phil Walden’s fledgling Capricorn label, which became the main driving force of the Southern-rock insurgence of the Seventies.

The group’s first two studio albums - The Allman Brothers Band (1970) and Idlewild South (1971) - contained classic songs like “Dreams,” “Whipping Post,” “Midnight Rider” and “Revival.” Both were hard-hitting announcements of the Southern-rock sound. However, it was in concert that the band burned brightest. Led by Duane Allman’s searing guitar, the Allman Brothers Band’s live shows left devoted fans in their wake. The March 1971 concerts recorded for At Fillmore East in New York caught them at their peak. Sadly, the Allman Brothers Band was dealt a catastrophic blow when Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle crash in Macon, Georgia, on October 29, 1971. A year later, on November 11, 1972, bassist Berry Oakley died under eerily similar circumstances only a few blocks from where Duane’s accident had occurred.

However, the group regrouped and persevered. Duane was not immediately replaced; instead, a second keyboardist, Chuck Leavell, added a jazzy new dimension. Oakley was replaced by bassist Lamar Williams. As a testimony to the Allman Brothers Band’s resilience, the group’s most commercially successful albums came in the wake of their tragic losses.
So kick up your heels, eat a peach and enjoy.

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Friday, January 18, 2008

Joe Zawinul Syndicate



Joe Zawinul emigrated to the United States in 1959 and played keyboards with Maynard Furguson and Dinah Washington. In 1961 he joined Cannonball Adderley and played with him for nine years before briefly collaborating with Miles Davis.

Joe was a major influence on Davis’ album Bitches Brew with his fusion style of jazz incorporating the synthesizer into his music. In fact he was instrumental in bringing the Wurlitzer and Fender-Rhodes electric pianos into mainstream Jazz.

After releasing his first solo album in 1970 Joe joined forces with saxophonist Wayne Shorter and formed the band Weather Report recording 17 albums. His song “Birdland” won three Grammys as performed by Weather report, Manhattan Transfer and Quincy Jones in each of three successive decades.

When Weather Report broke up Joe formed a new group calling it Weather Update and then later as the Zawinul Syndicate receiving a number of Grammy nominations.

Tonight’s show was recorded July 7th, 2007 – the 20th Anniversary of the Zawinul Syndicate and also Joe’s 75th birthday.

Unfortunately cancer claimed Joe two months after this show.


Sunday, January 13, 2008

The Tubes


Tonight’s band was known for its flamboyant costumes and often raunchy lyrics offering a fun loaded show. Their subject matter commented on the trends of the time with humor and sarcasm.
One of the Art Band genre of the 70’s and 80’s, they often played here at various small venues and never failed to please. Tonight we have an introduction to the concept of tubes by the infamous “Bridge to Nowhere” Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska!

Senator Ted Stevens Explains


White Punks on Dope


Primetime



Gimme dat Harp => This Town


Talk To You Later


Sushi Girl – With the Fishin’ Musician John Candy


And now for a message from our sponsor:


Pimp => Young and Rich



Wild Women of Wongo


She’s a Beauty



Town Without Pity
– the video demo that landed them their record contract with A&M.


Stand Up and Shout



Out of the Business



The Completion Backward Principle
– A perfect description of PNAC


What Do You Want From Life
- A 2007 regroup.


Don’t touch me there

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Kinda Sluggish


Due to conditions beyond my control, this weeks show has not yet breached the concept phase and is therefore behind schedule.

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Stormy Weather



Tonight I offer a collection of videos from various genre but with one thing in common - Storm!
For more on the reason for this weeks selection look Here and Here.

So batten down the hatches, light the candles and cuddle up to keep warm - here comes the storm!

Storm – Lifehouse


The Storm
- Yanni


Electrical Storm
– U2


Riders on the Storm
– The Doors


Storm
– Vanessa Mae


Melodic Storm
– Straightener


You’re the Storm
– The Cardigans


Shelter from the Storm
– Bob Dylan


Storm
– Luna Sea


Riding the Storm
– Cro-Magnon


Storm
– Gackt


Calm before the Storm
– Fallout Boy


Into the Storm
– Gamma Ray


Song of Storm and Fire –
Yuki Kajiura


Sleepy Storm
– Schiller


The Storm
– Patrick Watson


In closing – the quintessential storm song:

Ridin’ the Storm Out
– REO Speed Wagon