Anyways, I thought I'd take the opportunity to take my boy to see the Kennedy's first to enjoy the music and also to see if he could sit through a concert as I want to take him to see a legend or two whilst they still exist. Halfway thought about taking him to Hippiefest at woodstock this weekend: the Animals (one of the greatest of all time), Jack Bruce of Cream (comes with those awesome vocals and tremendous bass playing, the Turtles (soft spot for me - esp. with a song like "You Showed Me", Melanie (love Melanie - surprised? don't be - Candles in the Rain, Brand New Key, Beautiful People etc.). But it's 2.5 hours away and pretty expensive so's I will hold on taking my 10 year old boy - though he loves the Animals - I am dead set on having my kids know good music before the Corporate Music Machine tells them what they need to like. oh, I'm a-going. Review will follow in a later blog.
So I'm off topic already. The Kennedy's - heard about 'em so I was curious. I like good folk when I hear it so I thought I'd check it out at the Hamilton Park. Great playing and singing but was one of those times that you benefit exponentially if you know the material. Unfortunately, there was a lukewarm hush to the proceedings by way of the audience (avg. age um, 52?), so that didn't help. Highlight was their Ukelele playing!! They ripped! I knew I would like to hear more though. What I liked is just what I want in folk - clever, engaging storytelling with some decent acoustic licks to flavor the tales. No vocal inflections that are trendy or annoying - just sweet, passionate, worked out choral kharma. It was there. It helped that they were husband and wife too! It was evident that there was soul-bonding.
Ok, so the last part of the story goes like this: I hung out to meet them as I am wont to do. I try to help with equipment as I've been there many times lugging sh*t while everybody leaves. I allowed my boy to bring his bike for the 2nd set (my first reaction was to say no and then I thought about it - why not?) He was cooperative, quiet (as much as he gets), and had a blast without disturbing anyone. But while I was helping out, he won the Kennedys over (Dave and Maura) but then skinned his knee when he fell off his bike. Well, Maura was like Clara Barton with a first aid kit and hugs and Dave came and offered him CD's - 3!! I halfway thought I should pay but y'know why not let a free offering be free! They wanted to bless him and I didn't want to tarnish it with "filthy lucre". But I am indebted to them and will do what I can to promote them for their talent and good spirit. They are playing two nights at the Colorscape in Norwich. Come on along!
CD's - a kids one by which they go by the Snacks - my boy digs it entirely - it's cute and pretty funny. The Kennedy's 2nd CD "Life is Large" is good tuneful, slightly psychadelic stuff (I love psychadelic folk by the way). Much of it is Byrdsian in harmony and string tone (12 string Rickenbacker helps) and that makes my day (grew up on the Byrds Greatest Hits). Then a solo effort by Dave (Guitar Slinger) that is steeped in Chet Atkins and Les Paul greatness. Wow! my boy stayed in the car the other day to listen to it in it's entirety! Yikes, Mr. Kennedy can pick an acoustic guitar!
So's I have this myspace page - a necessary evil for bands these days. well, not that they have a leaning toward corportaratizing your whole experience with rock-n-roll or nothing, nah - they just have more advertising per riff then anywhere else, but they currently happen to have a jingle contest for all bands registered on the site. I know what you're thinking - "commercial whoredom!" - and that's what I thought until I found out it's actually a "Big Mac Chant Off" Wow!
Well, you know I want to hit the Big Top with the Big Mac and all, but I had just become aware of Wesley Weiss' hilarious tune "Rock-n-Roll McDonalds" and it changed my world considerably! Not only does he take on the Corporation that served billions but has spawned a whole bunch of viral video spoofs of the mega-giant fast food peddler (including this one from QuafShizZel - no, it's not a typo, it features the agit-pop stylings of visual artist Ron English and his garish takes on the other Ronald ya know, the clown).
So hey, why don't I just humbly offer Wesley's version on my myspace page in keeping with the spirit of this campaign of musical adventourism in the name of a great american product and success atory McDonalds - but Noooo, myspace, that free market bastion of the open web pretty much disabled all the various video take-offs of the song available on myspace - not an option to post that video. Hey if McDonald's pays, we don't play it. So in honor of the open web portal that myspace should be and net neutrality which is our right as American citizens, here is my offering for the Big Mac Smack Down (or whatever it was called), Wesley's great take on the "restaurant" and their pernicious ploys to market junk food to kids. It is one of the best things I have found lurking on the web. Are You McExperienced? Well, I am.
Note of Caution: Though this video is just plain old mischievous fun and a good old poke at the powers that be, I will not be responsible for further delving into Wesley Weiss' work - it often gets down right twisted and perverse, he had demonic issues. Though a listen to "Cut the Mullet " is just plain worth it.
Billvis here - me and my drummer Danny Ray took off to see Brian Wilson during his Smile tour. Saw him and his great ensemble (the Wondermints) in DC and in Boston. Amazing turn of events in Boston - we didn't miss a turn driving there, parked with nobody around on the wharf within ear-shot of Brian's soundcheck in which we heard 3 classic Beach Boys songs waft dreamily across the bay while enjoying some Cooperstown 9 Man Ale, Benchwarmer, and good ole Old Slugger. It was perfection, and the concert matched this perfectly - waves of incredible sonic marvel poured over this listener. The only show I have closed my eyes to so that I could get a better look. OUTSTANDING!
Note: this entry lifted from the new Galactic Guestbook page - have a look and speak your mind
Review of our show at Funk n Waffles in Syracuse, NY
Well our first appearance at Funk n Waffles on the SU Hill (near Syracuse campus) almost didn't happen, but then it did, kinda - after having been panned a month ago at Mac's Bad Art Bar by last minute changes, we now found that the other band slated for the show at FNW was cancelling leaving us with the bill. Believe it or not, the Cosmic Elvis Entities' planetary take-over (for the Entities of Elvis' Cosmos) has not stretched to Syracuse as of yet so we didn't expect any riots or anything. We would probably have to cancel as we are beholden to gas prices as much as any other denizen of this country.
Fortunately, having gone to FNW a couple of months before to secure the gig,
I ran into one Phil Smo who works the counter at said establishment. We spoke with kindred enthusiasm regarding playing original music and the possibility of gigging. He gave me a copy of his CD and off I went. I popped the CD into the drive in my car and Zip Zang Pow! I loved it. Offbeat, engaging, hypnotic, masterful moods came flowing from my speakers and I was off to wonder what the future held for this transfer of music and ideas.
Not only is Phil a great songwriter and lyricist, and all around good guy, he also proved himself to be (get ready for these 25 cent words from a Geico commercial) beneficent and magnanimous - he was willing to bring his hard earned efforts at promotion to bear for our good. That is, he guaranteed a crowd that would be there based on his talents, his music, his banners, his friends, his family, he promoted the show at his appearance at the Mezzanite earlier in the week etc. and you know what - he delivered!! He filled the room!
Ok, so it took us one song to clear it. What can we say - we started right in with the psychadelic tones of "Time Traveler" which seemed too much for so many there. They came for Phil and they left with Phil. Actually Phil and his folks stuck around for a few tunes along with the sound man, the cashier, the coffee pot, and a few headbanging rockers who dug the stuff big! We had a few stragglers howl along to the strains of "Lonely Farm", Hoot it up during "Computer Bob and Money Bill" space out to "Softly I Hear", someone was doing the air guitar thing during "Hey Delinah". Our new friend Ahnest! stuck around to enjoy it even as he was writing ideas for new songs.
So it wasn't Madison Square Garden or anything (next year I think), but we played well, the sound was great there (kudos to Adam the owner and Andy B) and we got some love scattered about the place. Thanks to Phil,
we got enough gas money to get home, oh, and he also lent me his guitar strap. We are looking forward to play the place during the college year and with Phil at a festival where folks come for the whole package.
Oh yeah, thanks to the sound man Andy, who put on the "stadium" music after we stopped, I found out about the incredible band Built to Spill - Wow!
I will be posting some cuts from the show on the website soon. I have added some links for all the name-dropping I did this blog - check out "string theory" page.
Just a quick rant - My poke at classic rock commercial schlock radio - the big boys play the averages to get the highest dollar - make everybody happy and you get rich. The absurdity of this is that they play Boston cuz they figure that everybody kinda almost likes them enough. Play them all the time and everybody will kinda almost like them enough more! Sad fact is alot of the new generation thinks this is what passed for good music years ago! Classic - my ass! If radio keeps on with this we will listen to Boston for the rest of our days! Oops, did I say Boston? I meant AC/DC, Rush, etc.
Drums:
BUMP ba-Dump ba-Dump BaDa- Bomp !
BUMP ba-Dump ba-Dump BaDa- Bomp !
Guitar:
Wa-heee dee dee da dee wooo-heee!
Wa-heee dee dee da dee wooo-heee!
Moroccas:
Shake-a-Shicka-shick-a-shake-a-shicka shake!
Shake-a-Shicka-shick-a-shake-a-shicka shake!
Above notation is rock-n-roll theory for the truly hip. Yes, Bo Diddley’s sound was as signature as the electric guitar itself – but not just any electric guitar – no, not for this maverick. He liked his guitar on the square side and sometimes furry - wha?
Ok, some think of his stuff as one-trick pony show-boatisms. C’mon get some ear drums that hear drums! He invented one of the most infectious beats ever. The Beat featured a guitar sound that came drifting like a torrential jungle river out of speaker cones, sweeping you up in the heat of Rock-n-Roll passion. A visceral sound that grabbed you and pulled you in to the rhythm.
No, his sound didn’t cut through like a typical "axe" would – it percolated a , strange brew of deep-tonality, saturated with string scratching rhythm, reverb, tremolo and mystery. There are few sounds in rock as exhilarating as hearing the Bo Diddley rhythm played with authentic fervor***. His songs were not flashy, didn’t have virtuosic playing, hardly had any catchy hooks that other bands scratch their heads endlessly searching for – no – it’s the beat, it’s the Beat, it’s the BEAT, man! A beat that is in such classics as “Roadrunner”, “I’m a Man”, “Who Do You Love” and of course “Bo Diddley”. An infectious beat that infected all sorts of great, great rock-n-roll by the likes of other Bo admirers too many to begin to mention (though the wikipedia entry does a good job of trying).
In my formative ears, I was thrilled by many covers of Bo Diddley tunes and inspirations. The Doors playing Bo’s “Who Do You Love” off of the Absolutely Live album sent chills down my spine, The Animals “Story of Bo Diddley” was a hip and hilarious take on the Bo Diddley mystique. Johnny Otis’ “Willie and the Hand Jive’ which was a virtual copy of Bo’s rhythm would stick in my head for many days after hearing it. The New York Doll’s tore it up with their outrageous cover of “Pills”. The Who do a raucous cover of “Roadrunner” in The Kids are Alright movie that is a complete hoot.
The Rolling Stone’s playing “Not Fade Away” was a launching point for the Greatest Rock-n-Roll Band. Chuck Berry had few peers but he would often play alongside “the Originator” as Bo was known. Heck, Bo Diddley is even playing on Berry’s “Memphis, Tennessee”.
Think of a guy appearing in 1955 with a square guitar, with an approach to guitar sound and song style that was so new to the music world that promoters had him tour with jazz entourages not knowing where else to place him. Ed Sullivan (bless his pointed little head) said he wouldn’t last half a year. A guy who changed his name from Ellis Otha Bates to Bo Diddley and then would ceaselessly boast and pontificate about his acquired alter-ego in his soulful voice that was somehow suitable to the chunky, hypnotic tones of the guitar.
So in this age when the radio endlessly cycles drivel from Boston’s first and forgettable album (if only they would let us forget). That tribal delirium that was so evident in the Originator's music replaced by so much predictable pandering on the radio. So-called Classic rock Radio almost has entirely swept Bo under the rug, except that you can’t. That beat, like Poe’s Tell-Tale Heart keeps bumping from under the floorboards in the rock-n-roll night. It’s the Beat - Listen to real rock-n-roll:
BUMP ba-Dump ba-Dump BaDa- Bomp. Wa-heee dee dee da dee wooo-heee Shake-a-Shicka-shick-a-shake-a-shicka shake.
***Sorry George Thoroghgood, but your take of “Who Do You Love” is too flashy, with none of the mystery and evocative tone of the Originator.
Personal Note: As much as I wanted to be exclusively an original songwriter and guitar player, eschewing the tradition of covering other’s music until you learn the rudiments, I had no problem playing the Bo Diddley beat. The essence of his musical contribution is as essential to quality and evocative, exciting rock-n-roll as anything in the genre and probably all the modern rock riffs combined (ok leave out Kurt Cobain’s “Come As You Are”). The Cosmic Elvis Entities now include a cover hear and there, of very selective and vital material (Boney Maroney, Shakin All Over, We Gotta Get Outta This Place), but without question Bo Diddley has always had a place in this Rock-n-Roll Heart and we cover “Who Do You Love” often in our sets.
"Even the best laid plans of mice and men..." and might I add to the Bard of Ayrshire's quotations "...and interplanetary spokesmen, often go awry." It seems communication even in the digital age is only as good as the soft handshake, side glance and a slow nod. Many promotional packages later, many club owners have not listened to the fine and inventive content contained therein. Having called, e-mailed, visited, many an area club supposedly known for "cutting edge and progressive entertainment", it would appear many really just want watered-down covers of predictable hits or some stand-in for the stylistic flaveur-du-joure. Prove me wrong Central New York!! or beam me up, Colonel Cosmos!!
Anyways, kudos to Candid who offered us an opening gig at Mac's Bad Art Bar in Mattydale as mentioned in the Vital Signs and Signals and Impending Visitations pages. Unfortunately, Mike Spadaro from Candid was given the uneasy task of breaking the news that that gig (May 30th) would likely be their last due to personnel issues and that they decided to give the slot to long-time friends 12am as a last hurrah of those who have been with them. Several grumbles and groans later, we determined to grok the circumstance - after all, Mike left off the e-mail with a "Best of luck to the Cosmic Elvis Entities" Well, cool. Best of luck to the Candid folks!
So our planetary plunder via live gigs has been slowed to a crawl, but we carry on - undaunted, laughing in the face of the fickle fates!!!... we'll see you at Funk-n-Waffles on the SU hill June 20th at 9:00!! Hey, there's always Mato-Fest(?!)
Ok finally the obligatory web-site to substantiate the existence of the CEE!!
So, feel free to check in on the excursions of the band. Chime in - ya know - the good stuff, keep your outre obsessions to yourselves - but otherwise let the opinions, perspectives, noteworthy happenings, et. al. fly...er print.
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