I’ve always been a fan of Joe Walsh. Always loved “Funk #49” by the James Gang. And, of course, as lead guitarist for the Eagles, he forced that easy L.A. band to grow a pair of balls. How ironic is it that it took a Jersey boy (Montclair High School,…
Rant ‘N’ Roll: The ColourSound Intersection Of Fashion, Rock ‘N’ Roll, Loud Talk & Alcohol
When The ColourSound plays Arlene’s Grocery in New York City on Friday, July 20, you can bet there will plenty of beautiful women shaking it up and down, drinking, dancing, and talking loudly during one of lead singer Doug Batt’s exquisite and idiosyncratic interpretations— from Leonard Cohen to Britney Spears—…
Rant ‘N’ Roll: Summer’s Here And The Time Is Right
Summer’s here and the time is right for listening to The Beach Boys again. Their first all-new studio album in 20 years, That’s Why God Made The Radio (Capitol) is a winner. On their last “new” album, 1996’s Stars & Stripes Volume #1, they re-recorded their old hits with…
Rant ‘N’ Roll: Santana & Heart
Shape Shifter (Starfaith Records) is the 36th album in 44 years for guitar hero Carlos Santana…and it’s the album I’ve been waiting for. He seemed to be coasting on 2010’s Guitar Heaven where he did up some played-out rock chestnuts by Led Zep, Cream, Ringo, Doors and Purple. And…
Rant ‘N’ Roll: It Bites, Stephane Wrembel, i-Exist & Willie
Old faded family pictures that tell the stories of generations lost but remembered: progressive British pop band It Bites has made a gorgeous 11-song album called Map Of The Past (InsideOut Music) about just such nostalgia (their first since 2008’s The Tall Ships). It starts and ends with the sound…
Rant ‘N’ Roll: Headspace
If your father is the legendary Yes keyboardist Rick Wakeman, you’ve got a lot to live up to, especially if you start your own progressive rock band. The fact of the matter is that I Am Anonymous, the debut release from Headspace with Adam Wakeman on keyboards, shows more…
Rant ‘N’ Roll: Gregg Allman Tells All
His father was murdered by a hitchhiker. The last thing he ever said to his brother Duane was a lie and it’s haunted him his whole life. One wife would leave for days on end. Another wife would get stoned on cocaine all the time. Yet another wife was simply…
Rant ‘N’ Roll: Norah Jones, Blue Oyster Cult, Clannad, And More!
Gotta be quick or I’ll positively drown in this pile of sound.
Little Broken Hearts by Norah Jones (Blue Note) is easily her best. From the whispered innuendo of opener “Good Morning” to each and every break-up song, these 12 little nuggets of bitterness harbor a dark interior. “Don’t…
Rant ‘N’ Roll: Elvis On TV, Otherwise, Alo & Appello
Elvis Costello & The Imposters premiered recently in a special high-definition pay-per-view concert performance of “The Spectacular Spinning Songbook.” The one-hour extravaganza—which will be broadcast on cable systems across the country throughout May and June—has him performing surprise songs with surprise special guests. The songs are picked by his…
Rant ‘N’ Roll: Bruce…Again
Newark, NJ, May 2, 2012—The Prudential Center was literally shaking. Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band were due up in minutes. The vibe couldn’t have been more exciting, as we knew it was the last stateside show before Europe. And any last show is always a party. Question:…
