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Bobby Evers writesBobby Evers’ Concert Review: Fiona Apple at Chicago Theatre, 7/10/2012
First, let us discuss the Fiona Apple Fan. The FAF was in high school when Tidal came out. Or younger. Criminal was a funny song they snickered through because it was sexual which is hilarious in high school. But the FAF listened to the whole album anyway because it was available and familiar. And they came of age with those songs, the heartbreak of “Never Is A Promise,” the rhythm of “The First Taste.”
So when When The Pawn… came out they bought it on principle. And it was maybe a little weirder than Tidal because Fiona was letting her weird side out to avoid the sophomore slump, which the FAF embraced. And when she eventually turned away from the spotlight and mocked fame, it was the FAF who demanded she return. Who admonished the record company for shelving her all but finished third album. Who demanded blood. It was the FAF who was responsible for her comeback in 2006, both in initiation and followthrough.
And now the FAF is in their late twenties or early thirties. They buy three beers to avoid standing in line during the concert and they will, unprovoked, scream “I LOVE YOU” during the quiet parts of songs played live. They will applaud during the breakdowns of songs where she isn’t singing, just dancing and flailing and gyrating strangely or crouching down the by the bassdrum as the band sort of jams before the song ends. They will give standing ovations at the beginning of the concert. They will sing along. If they cannot get a setlist they will ask to photograph the setlist with their iphones. And the fellow FAF will comply. Because they understand.
Mike Bennett writesFriday iPod/MP3 Shuffle—Happy Birthday Roger McGuinn Edition
He was known for the cool Dickens-style shades he wore and his 12-string guitar parts that became part of the distinctive sound of folk-rock legends The Byrds. But Roger McGuinn was more than that. He was a constant in the band as they moved in different directions over the years, even during their short lived country period with Gram Parsons. He went on to make some good solo records, and has continued to play out, often playing traditional folk songs, which he makes available for download. Let’s pay tribute to Roger by grabbing your iPod or MP3 player, hitting shuffle and sharing the first 10 songs that come up.
Mike Bennett writesFriday iPod/MP3 Shuffle—Happy Birthday Bill Haley Edition
Today, we pay tribute to a rock ‘n’ roll pioneer. Bill Haley doesn’t quite reside in the lofty heights of Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Bo Diddley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and Buddy Holly, et. al, and I suppose that makes sense. But that doesn’t mean he wasn’t important in popularizing the genre. Haley’s music was originally rooted in country & western and western swing. Like a lot of artists of the time, he searched high and low for material, and could see how the kids were enjoying faster, blues based material. Haley and his band, redubbed The Comets, basically came at rockabilly from a different direction, finding the intersection between jump blues and western swing. Haley co-wrote “Crazy Man Crazy”, a number 15 hit that was the first rock ‘n’ roll song to make the Top 40. With “Rock Around The Clock”, he found the perfect song, and a studio guitarist, Danny Cedrone, added the magic solo that turned that song into major smash. It spent eight weeks at number one and was the first single sell a million copies both in Germany and Britain. Haley had other hits and provided a somewhat safer face for the music, without being a bland pretender like Pat Boone. Let’s pay tribute to this key rock ‘n’ roll figure by grabbing your iPod or MP3 player, hitting shuffle and sharing the first 10 songs that come up.
Mike Bennett writesFriday iPod/MP3 Shuffle—Happy Birthday Robert Forster Edition
The Go-Betweens started out as a post-punk pop band out of Brisbane, Australia, coming off like Down Under cousins of groups such as The Cure and Orange Juice. As time went on Grant McLennan and birthday boy Robert Forster began incorporating influences from further back, such as The Velvet Underground and more melodic ’60s rock acts. As the band developed and evolved, they went from reflecting their inspirations to having constructed their own musical vocabulary, with rich tunesmithing and literary lyrics of uncommon depth. This approach continued through the sublime 16 Lovers Lane album. Go-Betweens fans may claim other albums to be the band’s best, but no one would doubt the quality of what apparently was the band’s swan song. Forster and McLennan both put out fine solo records, but eventually wound up back together, putting out three more fine Go-Betweens albums. McLennan’s death put an end to that, and Forster’s next solo record was a triumph, including recordings of some of McLennan’s last compositions. Forster has not put out any music since. In honor of this underrated singer and songwriter, grab your iPod or MP3 player, hit shuffle and share the first 10 songs that come up.
Mike Bennett writesFriday iPod/MP3 Shuffle—Happy Birthday Todd Rundgren Edition
He’s a pop star, a cult figure, an innovator, a classicist, and some say he’s God. Todd Rundgren first got a share of the spotlight writing songs and playing guitar for The Nazz in the ’60s, and then rose to prominence in the ’70s, with classic hit singles, highly revered albums and production work for an amazing variety of artists. His talents behind the mike and behind the boards are unassailable, but Todd has remained an unpredictable artist who, on any given day, produce a perfect pop tune, a self-indulgent mess, or something that points to the future. His idiosyncrasies probably diminish the respect he now gets, which is a big mistake, as his legacy (well captured in Paul Myers’ book A Wizard, A True Star) is extremely impressive. Let’s pay tribute to the man who produced the first Sparks album by grabbing your iPod or MP3 player, hitting shuffle and sharing the first 10 songs that come up.