Sunday, February 20, 2011

The SupeShow



While attending Wisconsin State University, Steven's Point, in the late 1960's early 1970's, Friday and Saturday nights were spent at the two beer bars out in the woods north of campus and just north of the city limits. I no longer recall the names of the places, one was a sprawling single story structure rather L shaped with the bar in one leg of the L and the dance floor and stage in the other area. The bar across the street was built like an old barn with a loft.

At the time the statewide drinking age for beer was 18 and for wine and liqueur it was 21. However individual municipalities were allowed to set their own limits for the beer bars and in Steven's point it was 21. Needless to say, on every major road leading out of town there were several beer bars just outside the city limits. These two bars were the closest to campus and only one other bar had live music on the weekends, but it was a fair distance away on the south east side of town.

Local bands plied their stuff on those evenings as we downed pitchers of Point Special, the local brew, or some other cheap brand such as Pabst or Miller. The music was loud and raw, the dance floor was packed and the next morning was a painful haze, yet we persisted!

From a peek at Google Earth I see those bars no longer exist, the area where they were having been consumed by the campus with new buildings and sports fields, but tonight's featured performances bring back those memories of the bands and beer of my youth. Raw and rough around the edges, full of energy and a roaring good time. After all isn't that what Rock & Roll is all about? Makes me want to be 18 again!

Several weeks ago I received a comment at my YouTube channel from a guy from Vancouver calling himself SupeMan. He hosts a YouTube channel called theSupeShow and features videos of various bands at local bars, many with Supe taking to the stage in the lead vocal spot. He's the guy hiding in his hair!

Here then is SupeMan and some of his friends...



theSupeShow


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Saturday, February 12, 2011

Gary Moore
In Memoriam



Born in Belfast, Ireland in 1952, Gary Moore picked up the guitar at age eight and by his teen years began playing with the band Skid Row. This was not the glam-metal band of the same name. His association with Phil Lynott from Skid Row lead him to several stints with the Irish band Thin Lizzy after Phil moved to that band.

Mentored by Peter Green of the early Fleetwod, Mac Gary began to develop his own style of blues guitar. He eventually bought Peter Green's Les Paul guitar which became his powerhouse instrument.

Over the years, besides his solo career, he has also performed with Peter Green and likes of B.B. King, George Harrison, Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, Jim Capaldi, and Gregg Lake as well as a short time with the band Colosseum II.

In my humble opinion Gary was equal to or even better than the the likes of Eric Clapton and other guitar greats of the time and much under-appreciated.

Gary passed away this past week in his sleep of a suspected heart attack. Tonight I bring you a collection of his live performances over the years.



Bio
Wiki

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Saturday, February 5, 2011

Tim Buckley


Those were the days, care free with no responsibilities other than to myself. Riding in my 1963 Ford Falcon van, cruising Hwy 1 and the high Sierra, cassette deck blasting Tim Buckley, with me singing along at the top of my lungs as I searched the next place to explore. My dog Pepper, the Horse Terrier, was always at my side riding shotgun on our excursions. I called her a horse terrier because I got her at the Sheboygan, Wisconsin Animal Shelter when she was approximately 4 weeks old. They told me she was an eight week old terrier mix, but when I got her home she couldn't even eat or drink. I had to bottle feed her for four weeks before she was weened, at which time she was larger than any terrier I had seen. When mature she weighed in at 135lbs. and would stand up, put her front feet on my shoulders and look me straight in the eye. (I'm 6'5" tall). The best bet for her true lineage was a Great Dane - Golden Lab mix.

Anyway, I digress.

Tonight's artist is one of my favorites but was taken from us much too soon. Dead of a heroine overdose at the age of 28.

Initially Tim's style was in the folk and folk rock genre, but over time it evolved into jazz and avant-garde. Sometimes it was difficult to access, but nevertheless it showcased his incredible vocal range.

Tonight I open with a number of live performances followed by other audio samples featuring slide shows and static photos.



Tim Buckley Archives - Official site of his Estate
Biographies
Wiki

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