Giving thanks

Several days after Thanksgiving seems an appropriate time to give thanks...for the rock and roll, any way. Actually, these thoughts crossed my mind right after our last show, at the Liberty Tavern.

That has long been one of our favorite places to play, but that night (Nov 21) was what I refer to as "one of the good ones." The late nights, loading up gear at 2 AM--that can't be the reason why we do this, is it? No, not really. Playing for people, in general, is "a gas, gas, gas," but there are nights that make you wonder why you're doing this. No one is paying attention. You can't get the "right" sound out of your gear. The personalities of your bandmates suddenly bug you in ways they never have before.

Then there are nights like this. When you feel, early on, that the band is just clicking. When the crowd (and there is one), slowly, steadily, reveals to you that they are not only paying attention, but hell, they are with you--anywhere you want to take them! When you can do no wrong... When the songs called out by the drummer, as last-minute replacements for that oh-so-carefully crafted set, not only work, but send the audience further into a frenzy that is not all alcohol induced! When the third set has not only as much, but maybe more, energy than the first set that took place those many hours ago!

It helps to have a crowd that is ready, willing, and able to rock and roll that night, and we were fortunate to have that with the many birthdays both planned for and randomly assigned in the house. And despite all that aging, it rocked! They did, and we did too! Thank you, rock fiends and birthday babes, and we can't wait until the next time!

Mini me...and mini the rest of the band!

F&*$%#@! computers! Or maybe, f*&^%$!~@# user! I've just spent hours trying to get photos of our recent outdoor gig (The Oxford Furnace) posted, and have been at it for hours. Hours! Did I say hours?

It is now on this blog in microscopic format. For a fuller view, try the following URL.

http://picasaweb.google.com/cbgit2002/OxfordFestival892008#

RIP

Otha Ellas Bates passed away June 6, 2008. To find our more about the rock and roll pioneer better known by a more familiar name, check out the NYT obituary here.

RIP

If you grew up listening to music of the 1960s, you're doubtless also familiar with the music of television programs of this era. A link to the obituary of Earle Hagen, one of the most prolific composers of 1960s television, is here.

RIP

Larry Levine, who collaborated with Phil Spector to create the famous "Wall of Sound," passed away May 8. Full details are in the NY Times obituary.

The Rascals--the Pinnacle of '60s American Pop?

C'mon now...was there really a better American pop group in the 1960s? Did anyone sing better than Felix Cavaliere or Eddie Brigati? (Any American?) Did any American group write more iconic and superlative songs? Did any group play as well individually or collectively?

(For purposes of this comparison, The Band does not count. They did everything I mentioned--singing, playing, songwriting--better. But they are by no means a pop group. I may be a little fuzzy on this, kind of like the Supreme Court Justice (Potter Stewart?) who can't define pornography but knows it when he sees it. What I "know" is pop groups write songs about girls and love.)

OK, maybe Gene Cornish was not a guitar superhero, and yes, they did have those corny outfits early on. But Dino Danelli's drumming is solid, if not superlative, and Felix Cavaliere's integration of the Hammond organ is more authentically soulful than any other group of the time (except for Garth Hudson, who is in another league).

What's more, they're from New Jersey! What's your take? Who would you put up as the best American group of the 1960s?

The Beatles have it

In our small, and decidely unscientific, sampling, The Beatles were favored 2 to 1 over the Stones and the Dave Clark 5. And that ratio is also followed in our song list, as we have more songs by The Beatles than anyone else. Heck, they were only the most influential pop group ever! I suppose I could blog about that at length, but I'll spare you...

We've got a new question posted that is sure to change Western thought, so be sure to weigh in. And please feel free to offer suggestions for new questions as they occur to you.

Returning to my AM radio roots

I use a computer every day at my job (or I did), but I would not consider myself a power user. In fact, as the readers of this blog know (all 4 of you, and I know who you are!), I only recently purchased a computer to help keep band business on track and to launch myself into the 21st century.

And I have to say, I do like it. I like the convenience of instant access to arcane information, to weather reports without the bother of commercials or waiting for particular times, for directions on the fly, and more. Guitar tablature? Check! Lyrics? All there! And don't even get me started on YouTube!

But with all this up-to-the-minute technology, it also occurred to me tonight that in some ways this has taken me back in one major way. As I said, I'm no computer geek, and my weapon of choice is a simple Dell laptop, pretty much stock. And as I'm sitting here tonight, with Paul Revere "blasting" out of the computer's onboard speakers, it suddenly occurs to me that the sound is no better, and no different, really, than that coming out of the speaker of the transistor radio I received as a present on my sixth birthday.

Yes, a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then, and the sheer magic of hearing a good song for the first time at that young age is something that cannot be replicated by technology of any stripe. There was something so captivating in that--a transistor radio was a personal thing, but not personal in the fashion of an iPod, which isolates through its personalness. No, it was personal but could also be shared, and it was talismanic--not in the sense of consumer culture, where earbuds seem to denote possession of a fetished object, but in its magical power to help say to someone "listen to this!"

Today, through (or despite) technology, sharing seems to happen at some remove. Using my new computer, I'll burn a track and send it to friends via e-mail (while respecting all copyright laws, of course ;-)). It's music as commodity, and "listen to this" seems a process rather than a portal to new experience.

Don't get me wrong, getting together with friends and playing new (or old) music for them still happens and is still immensely satisfying. A shared listen is a near-religious experience for me when introducing someone to a song I love. But if the speakers on my new computer can take me back to wonderful old memories, all the better.

You can't have blog without...

Thanks to everyone who came down and supported the band and the cause at the benefit show last night. We and the YMCA are very appreciative!

Our next public performance is right around the corner--Saturday, May 3--at the cozy little venue known as McLynn's in Springfield, NJ. We are busy working up new tunes for that night as well as future engagements, so you're likely to hear a few new tunes. (Admittedly, they are probably 40 years old, so does the word "new" even apply?)

Like a lot of people who are excited by new technologies and new opportunities, I was excited to launch this extension to The Wannabes publicity efforts. But in reading through what I have done so far, I have to say--I really know how to put the "blah" in "blog,"TM don't I? Fortunately, the band is much more exciting than this, so be sure to power down the computer on May 3 and get ready for a good time.

Info on private event this week, 4/24/2008

If you'd like to see the band this coming week at a (semi) private event, we are playing a charity event. Thursday, April 24, from 6:30-9:30. $100 ticket gets you food, an open bar, the band, and the knowledge that you've helped someone less fortunate. Contact me directly if you'd like to purchase a ticket. Thanks!

Launching the WannablogTM

Damn! Me? With a blog? Whodathunk? I had enough trouble with creating the band's website, so I'm probably getting in way over my head here...

But please don't think this is some back-door method for me to foist my thoughts on you. Rather, this is a little experiment to see if I can (to draw on the lexicon of my everyday job) "extend the brand of the Wannabes band." (And with that phrase, you may begin to understand why I need to have music to balance out my professional and personal lives!)

We certainly enjoy talking to y'all at the shows, but for those that are bashful, or who wish to express their thoughts in an anonymous format, we've now provided that option.

Did you enjoy a particular show? Have a request for a song? Wish to give us a heads up on a club where we might play? Just let us know via the comments section here, and we can have a little dialogue outside of working hours. Enjoy!