Roger Waters Tours the Wall

Roger Waters on the Wall tour 2012

When I first started listening to classic rock in my earlier years, Pink Floyd was a band I had a particularly hard time getting into. I don’t know if it was David Gilmour’s ominous, low, haunting voice, or the trippy feeling I felt from each guitar stroke. But come my high school years, I officially cracked.

I jumped at the opportunity when I heard Roger Waters was touring the Wall worldwide this year. I have always heard of Pink Floyd’s laser shows, but never experienced one. (I am still working on snatching a Yankee Stadium ticket.)

The feedback he is getting is over-the-top, as expected. Waters has even managed to add another date in Quebec, as it was in demand, and declared “there’s something the fuck wrong with you” if you don’t go. Well spoken, Mr. Waters.

Perhaps the most impressive element of the sold out stadium tour is the Wall, literally the wall, which Waters has been continuously building. The Wall took three years to design, and you don’t even know the half of it yet.

It is three stories tall and 140 yards across. Officially declared the world’s largest movie screen, it reflects high definition images from 42 projectors all synchronized to the music.

“I think it strikes some chords that may be just beneath the surface in all of us” said the 68-year-old singer and artist, who originally left the band he started in 1985. “What it’s about, is the walls that exist between human beings, whether… on a family level or on a global level. And I think that resonates with people.”

Click here to see the complete list of shows this summer. This is something  you definitely don’t want to miss as it could be a once in a lifetime opportunity! 

"Another Brick in the Wall"

"Hey You," from the actual movie The Wall. You HAVE to see it if you love Pink Floyd.

"Comfortably Numb"

"Run Like Hell"

Beach Boys Return One Last Time

Beach Boys Circa 1970s

Everyone has heard of “Surfin’ USA,” but not everyone is really familiar with the Beach Boys. In my opinion, I think they were a little too surf-pop until their 1966 album Pet Sounds, which eventually inspired the Beatles’ innovative Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. That, I believe, was the defining moment in their career. When they ditched the “Surfin’ Safari” for a little more layered, intricate “Good Vibrations” and “God Only Knows.”

Of course my favorite, “Feel Flows,” wasn’t around until their 1971 album Surf’s Up!

Looks like the Beach Boys are returning to the Top 10 lists this week. Their 29^th studio album, That’s Why God Made the Radio, was released June 5 (by Capitol) and swiftly reigned the number 3 position.

The album, which coincides with the band’s 50^th anniversary, is the first to feature original material since their 1992 album Summer in Paradise, and is the first album since Carl Wilson’s, the lead vocalist and guitarist’s, 1998 death.

According to Rolling Stone Magazine, this is the Beach Boy’s highest charting in 37 years, selling a startling 61,000 copies. They haven’t done this well since their 1974 album Endless Summer.

In light of That’s Why God Made the Radio, the Beach Boys are embarking on a worldwide tour, although they have only performed the title track and “Isn’t It Time” live. I wouldn't mind listening to only older material when I see them. Unfortunately, though, this will mostly likely be their last tour.

Thinking about this just makes me regret not going to Bonaroo last weekend even more!

It’s time to say goodbye to Brian Wilson and the rest of the surviving Beach Boys. They had a more-than-phenomenal run, and I hope this won’t be the end.

Here is a track listing of their new album. Buy it; you won’t be disappointed. 

1. "Think About the Days"

2. "That's Why God Made the Radio"

3. Isn't It Time

4. Spring Vacation

5. The Private Life of Bill and Sue

6. Shelter

7. Daybreak Over the Ocean

8. Beaches in Mind

9. Strange World

10. From There to Back Again

11. Pacific Coast Highway

12. Summer's Gone

ZZ Top Taking Over YouTube

I gotta tell you, I really don’t know how I feel about this. But whether it is technically considered “selling out” or not, ZZ Top knows what’s up.

Billy Gibbons, the band’s guitarist, opened up to USA Today last week about their new song, which was released on a Jeremiah Weed Root Brew ad on YouTube. I know what your thinking, ZZ Top? The guys with the long beards and bandanas? Advertising on YouTube? Yeah, I know.

But honestly maybe this isn’t such a bad idea after all. The song, firstly, is very catchy. There is one thing I love more than rock and roll, and that is the blues; and ZZ Top has both.

Also, how many times do you have a song stuck in your head, only until you realize it was in a commercial you were just watching. A perfect example is “We Are Young” by Fun. How do you think that became mainstream? Not the radio, but televised Chevy advertisements.

ZZ’s song, titled “I Got to Get Paid,” will be featured on the band’s first album in nine years, That Little Ol Band From Texas. If you want a sneak peak of some new recordings, download Texicali on iTunes, a four track digital collection.

They are performing their Gang of Outlaws Tour all summer, and if you don’t live in the Middle of Nowhere, chances are they will be touring near you.

I said Lord take me downtown, I’m just lookin’ for some Tush.

ZZ Top's Jeremiah Weed Ad

"Tush"

Also check out:

"La Grange," "Sharp Dressed Man," "Gimme All Your Lovin'," "Legs," "Got Me Under Pressure," "Cheap Sunglasses," "I'm Bad, Nation Wide," "Beer Drinkers and Hell Raisers," "Sleeping Bag," "Jesus Just Left Chicago," "Chevrolet," "Manic Mechanic," "Heard it on the X" and "A Fool For Your Stockings." 

The Yellow Submarine Trifecta

"Can't help it. I'm a born 'Liver-pooler'." -Ringo in Yellow Submarine

The Beatles are recognized as one of the world’s most successful and innovative rock bands. They have provided the world with an eclectic array of talent, whether it is through the medium of music, film, art or even crafts. Their work still resonates to this day.

Some 44 years after its original release, the Beatles are proud to present their meticulously, frame-by-frame restoration of their film Yellow Submarine.

This brings back nostalgia in the highest resolution possible. Follow an animated journey with John, Paul, George and Ringo as they save Pepperland from the Blue Meanies. In addtion to an easy-to-follow plot line, viewers can get an inside feel for the Beatles-wit they were oh so famous for.

Well, some may say you can get an inside feel for the drugs they were all known for as well. If you have ever seen the original, you would know it is a euphoria of color, trippiness and utter weirdness.

The Yellow Submarine remake was released May 29^th, miraculously restored by hand by Triage Motion Picture Service and Eque Inc.

Lesser known by fans is the release of a new hardcover edition of the Yellow Submarine book (iTunes is even offering the digital version for free! Check it out!), and a reissue of the album.

Buy the film, book and album for a trifecta of humor that will surely ensue. Oh how I wish the Beatles were still around today. 

Click here for Rolling Stone's sneak preview of the film, and their behind the scenes video of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.

Lessons Learned From a Wallflower: Five Ways to Feel Infinite

"And in that moment, I swear we were infinite." -Charlie, from Perks

A reason why I love the summer time so much is because it is one of the few extended occasions where I can just sit out side, soak up some harmful ultra-violet rays from the sun and read a good book.

I just finished Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky last week, and although I thought of it as a slightly more amateur version of Catcher in the Rye, I still felt compelled to share it; especially when I heard a movie was in the works (with Hermonie Granger).

The book follows Charlie, a nerdy freshman boy, who finds himself lost in the world of high school. And that's no piece of cake. He soon befriends a group of seniors and finds himself in a world of drugs, sexuality and literature: a place where he finally belongs. With some bumps in the way, Charlie learns to deal with the past and mature for the future he is destined to lead.

Cheesy summary, I know, but I did learn a lot from Charlie-- even besides some kickass songs from The Smiths. I compiled a list while reading, and am pleased to present my Lessons Learned from a Wallflower: Five Ways to Feel Infinite.

• Remember you are not alone in the world, even if you feel like it. “All the books you’ve read have been read by other people. And all the songs you’ve loved have been heard by other people. And that girl that’s pretty to you is pretty to other people. And you know that if you looked at these facts when you were happy, you would feel great because you are describing ‘unity.’”
• The more you see, the less you know. Charlie “used to be able to do it very easily, but that was before I knew what having a friend was like. It’s much easier not to know things sometimes. And to have French fries with your mom be enough.”
• Never stop asking why. “I almost didn’t get an A in math, but then Mr. Carlo told me to stop asking ‘why?’ all the time and just follow the formulas. So, I did. Now, I get perfect scores on all my tests. I just wish I knew what the formulas did. I honestly have no idea.”
• Always remember what’s important in life. “And I made Aunt Helen a promise to only cry about important things because I would hate to think that crying as much as I do would make crying for Aunt Helen less important.”
• And lastly, you will always meet people like this. “She also keeps talking about the Billie Holiday record she bought for me. And she says she wants to expose me to all these great things. And to tell you the truth, I don’t really want to be exposed to all these great things if it means that I’ll have to hear Mary Elizabeth talk about all the great things she exposed me to all the time.”

Order the book on Amazon here. Watch the movie trailer here.

It’s good, I promise. And here is the Charlie’s awesome playlist from the book.

"Asleep" by The Smiths

"Vapour Trail" by Ride

"Scarborough Fair" by Simon & Garfunkel

"A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum (my favorite!)

"Time of No Reply" by Nick Drake

"Dear Prudence" by the Beatles

"Gypsy" by Suzanne Vega

"Nights in White Satin" by the Moody Blues (another really good one)

"Day Dream" by Smashing Pumpkins

"Dusk" by Genesis (before Phil Collins joined the band)

"MLK" by U2

"Black Bird" by the Beatles

"Landslide" by Fleetwood Mac

The Catholic Church Takes on Dubstep

What do the Catholic Church and Dubstep have it common? I wish I could say nothing…

The Catholic Church has summoned British electro-pop band Ooberfuse to write a song to attract the, as they called it, “Nightclub Generation.” Father Christopher Jamison, semi-known to the public from his TV shows The Monastery and The Big Silence, commissioned the band to create “Call My Name.” (Click to listen).

 

The song, which was released May 29, clearly wasn’t a huge commercial success (no offense, Ooberfuse). I couldn’t even find a hint of the song on YouTube. What could have caused this unforeseen failure?

Perhaps, British singer Cheryl Cole's single that coincidently was released on the same date and with the same title, and which also coincidentally shot up the charts to No. 1.

How could Father Jamison have overlooked this one?

“Shortly after submitting our song… we discovered that Cheryl Cole planned to release a song with the identical name,” said Ooberfuse front-woman, Cherrie Anderson. “This is a weird and uncanny coincidence. Whereas her song is about her lover calling out her name, our song is about God calling out our name, summoning us to a higher life in which we fulfill our holy and God-given destinies.”

I’m not saying that it is wrong for the Church to drag in a fresh crowd, especially the younger generation, which will be the Church’s future. I just think there are more appropriate forums.

When I think of Dubstep, I personally think of alcohol, drugs, sweaty parties and DJ’s who have hair longer than any female I’ve met—I have BassNectar particularly in mind.

If you are interested, “Call My Name” will be featured in Ooberfuses’ new album, Seventh Wave, coming out this August. Cheryl Cole’s single is out also… apparently.

Personally, I’m not a fan of either, but I’m sure there are people out there that will appreciate it. Maybe even you?

And by the way, are we really the Nightclub Generation? Come on.

"I know the Truth" by Pretty Lights at Bonaroo 2011

Wish I was going there this weekend.

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Neil Young and Crazy Horse: Americana

"Better to burn out than rust out." -Neil Young

Neil Young and Crazy Horse, circa the 80s

You know that feeling when an artist covers a classic song and it just doesn’t hit the same highs and lows as the original? Well, don’t expect that from Neil Young and Crazy Horses’ revival album, Americana.

We haven’t seen them playing together in the studio for almost nine years, but now they’re back with a set list of eleven classic folk songs that will blow your mind. If you are familiar at all with Neil Young, you know he doesn’t just play a song; he makes the song come alive. That is pretty obvious with his take on hits such as “Oh Susannah,” “Clementine,” “Gallows Pole,” “This Land is Your Land,” and “God Save the Queen.”

Yes, “God Save the Queen,” as in the British national anthem. Neil Young is the only Canadian that can pull off naming an album Americana and covering the truest of all British tunes. A little weird? Yes, but I’ll take it.

Young definitely knows how to sculpt a song. Lets take “Clementine” for example. Besides the über-creepy Great Depression-esque images in the official music video, a recurring theme in all the album’s videos, the song has no hint of its original version. Besides the lyrics, obviously. 

The song my father used to sing to me as a child has been revolutionized into a psychedelic rock song featuring Young’s beautifully-strained voice, his heavy guitar chords and Crazy Horses’ sturdy backing skills.

Oh my Darling, Oh my Darling, Oh my Darling Clementine,

You were lost and gone forever,

Oh my Darling Chementine.

Sometimes I forget how sad that song is.

Another notable is his take on “Oh Susannah,” which begins with a powerful guitar solo, taking us back to a time where Young reigned as a guitar legend. This song as an opener echos the youth Neil Young still radiates in this day and age.

Before listening to the album, keep in mind that not all songs are complete rock-and-blues covers. Some sound more similar to their original folky versions, but the pieces that are Neil Young and Crazy Horses’ own invention make checking out Americana worth it. And don't worry, this isn't their big comeback album. This is just a preview of what is to come.

Americana is out today. So, buy it. See below for the entire album, featured on YouTube.

Featured Songs: "Oh Susannah," "Clementine," "Tom Dula," "Gallows Pole," "Get a Job," "Travel On," "High Flyin' Bird," "Jesus' Chariot," "This Land is Your Land," "Wayfairin' Stranger" and "God Save the Queen."