Jamming to 90s Rock

When it’s all said and done, the 90s probably won’t go down as the best decade for music. But for some reason, in the past couple of days, I’ve found my self strumming my geeetar to some 90s classics, which has led me to wonder: Where are they now?
So sit back and enjoy a little [...]

Music Lawsuits Give Lawyers a Bad Name

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCyB2l5wqLE

Sometimes lawyers don’t do much to help their reputation.
Take, for instance, two different lawsuits currently involving music rights.
The first, from Australia, involves the Men at Work song “Down Under,” which a judge just ruled ripped off part of a 1934 Aussie kids song, “Kookaburra Sits in the Old Gum Tree.” The second involves a New York club [...]

Brian Wilson, MMJ Sing in a London Cab

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKCraa-tdD4

There’s something — I won’t say “organic” because it’s cliche — about talented musicians performing in unusual settings. 
I particularly like it when artists perform in stripped-down settings because it shows who’s really got performing chops. In a big, showy venue, you don’t know what trickery is being used to enhance a show. (Yeah, I’m talking to [...]

Buddy Holly Timeline — Had He Lived

I guess I have a morbid fascination with Buddy Holly.
Not only because of the plane crash that ended his life, but also for what might have been. Would he have become a washed-up 50s rocker like Jerry Lee Lewis and Fats Domino, or would he have endured?
It’d probably make a good novel that I should probably [...]

“Catcher in the Rye,” a Killer’s Favorite Book

While doing a little research on “The Catcher in the Rye,” I read an interesting lyric from an obscure indie band called Clem Snide:
And the first thing every killer reads / is Catcher in the Rye
Of course, the first name that came to my mind was Mark David Chapman, John Lennon’s killer, who was obsessed [...]

M. Ward Pays Tribute to Buddy Holly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4DK4_TMgnk

An inexperienced pilot and lousy weather caused the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly. But while it’s been 51 years since “the day the music died,” (the anniversary of Holly’s death is next week), Holly’s music has endured.
I recently spent a lot of time listening to Holly’s music, and I’m amazed by how many great songs he had [...]

Jimi Hendrix Releasing Album of New Music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rqqaw9iN0Js

It seems hard to believe that Jimi Hendrix could release an album of new material 40 years after his death, but, hey — stranger things . . .
The album, containing 12 new songs, is called “Valley of Neptune,” and is slated for global release Feb. 2. It includes originals and covers, including Hendrix doing the [...]

Valentine’s Day Love Song Contest

When you think about it, anybody can write a love song. I mean, come on — there are gazillions of ’em out there.
But there’s also many, many bad ones.
The folks at Last Stage West are trying to reward local songwriters who pen good love songs with its Odes to Amore songwriting contest.
The contest will be held [...]

A Chat With Surfer/Musician Chi McClean

Chi McClean is one of those surfing musicians, except he doesn’t call himself a surfing musician.
“If I go that route, I want it to be genuine and not contrived or forced in any way,” said the San Francisco resident. “In the mean time, I’d rather be recognized as a musician first and foremost, and then [...]

Dylan Sings About Santa

I realize that most of you are home today. Or maybe shopping. But here I am, working. For you. 
Of course, I’m not sure exactly how hard I’m going to work for you today. I mean, come on — it’s Christmas Eve, people. Besides, odds are you aren’t reading a lot of blogs this weekend. Am [...]