Patti Smith, the godmother of Punk rock, is 64 today. I was lucky enough to see Patti and her band perform on her 60th birthday in New York City and I was amazed at the energy and life that she poured into that performance. I even got to meet Lenny Kay after the show and talk about the old days of New York City punk!
I've never been a big Captain Beefheart fan. Although when I heard of his passing I was still affected enough to want to write an entry regarding this massively influential artist. Beefheart was a truly innovative artist who created music that never even attempted to meet the watered down values of mainstream music. Instead, his music was very much in your face to the point that it would kick you in the nuts if you looked away. He will be missed.
I've always hated this song, except for Gram Parson's version. Maybe its the bittersweet melancholy of it or maybe it's Emmylou Harris' beautiful voice, but either way I love it.
Punk rock legend Tom Verlaine is 61 today. I'm not sure why that's shocking to me, but I suppose it's because he will be eternally young in my eyes. For those of you who do not know, Tom Verlaine was the lead singer of Television, arguably the most influential punk band in history. Tom and Richard Hell were the first people to begin performing at New York historic CBGBs club and built a reputation for their unique style and powerful delivery.
Way before Saturday Night Live did a skit titled Sofa King, Rap's most underrated artist was making our sides split with his own track. I've probably heard this song a hundred times and it still makes me laugh. Enjoy!
There are few bands out there today that consistently put videos as interesting as Baltimore's Animal Collective. See for yourself.
At 90 years old and still going strong, Pete Seeger is America's great voice of reason and justice. No other songwriter has firmly placed their high moral standards and values in their music than him and no other musician has used their music to stand up against oppression. Pete is the man!
1961 was an important year for Coltrane. Not only did he release 5 albums within those 12 month's, but it also marks the time when Coltrane was really turning into one of jazz's great institutions. While other albums like Giant Steps and Blue Train really highlight the man's potential, it was in this year that things really started to come together. While I'm not saying that this was when Coltrane hit his stride (that would still be a few years away) this was the year when the man began to push his art form into undiscovered territory. If '66 and '67 was when Coltrane had reached the summit, then '61 certainly must be when he reached the base camp.
Lewis Melville is a veteran in the Canadian independent music scene. While his name is not as common as many of his contemporaries, he has played with many legendary acts like the Rheostatics and the Skydiggers. He is a truly gifted songwriter and a gem of an artist. This song, "The Lamp is Growing Dim (Oh Canada)" can be found on the Afghanistan... On Guard For Thee? Compilation that came out nearly ten years ago. Sadly, the song and compilation are as relevant today as it was then.
