| live: Bob Dylan - few words, many songs |
posted by david
on Thu 22 Mar 2001 @ 09:04 PM
|
It wasn't group W, it was row W. There on my left were a young couple, content
to quietly sit back and enjoy the show. And on my right was...um, a Dylanhead
(there's probably a more formal name for them but that will do). When Bob
stepped up to the mic, the Dylanhead applauded widly. When he stepped back,
more applause. When he changed guitars, more applause. Okay, maybe I'm
exaggerating but I was having trouble matching Bob's actions with the
subsequent applause and I'm sure there must have been some sort of link there.
And don't get me started on the bizarre random bursts of air guitar (also
seemingly unprompted). But all this is beside the point: was Bob any good?
As a non-Dylanhead, I'd have to say yes, he was pretty good actually.
Whether it was blues, country or straight-up rock, he and his band didn't
put a foot wrong. New classics like "Lovesick" sat comfortably beside
old classics like "Blowin' In The Wind". And the kickin' take on "All
Along The Watchtower" had me grinning like a loon.
|
| humour: Songs that give supermarket muzak a good name |
posted by david
on Thu 22 Mar 2001 @ 09:04 PM
|
Spice Girls? 'N Sync? Mariah Carey? And you thought it couldn't get any worse
than that? Hah! How about a song about KPMG? Or a ditty for
PricewaterhouseCoopers? You think I'm joking don't you?
This piece
tells the whole sorry tale. My only question is: why can't I find these on
Napster?
|
| live: Blackeyed Susans @ Rosstown Hotel |
posted by david
on Mon 19 Mar 2001 @ 09:05 PM
|
My friend Cos is a bit of a follower
of Melbourne band
The Blackeyed Susans and has
been loaning me their various albums, one by one, trying to get me hooked.
There's no question that they are a band with an impressive pedigree, formed
from the ashes of The Triffids with David McComb once an occasional member and
a current line-up featuring the unmistakeable vocals of Rob Snarski and the
classy touch of electric guitarist Dan Luscombe. But for some reason, I can't
make the jump from saying I admire what they do to saying I really like their
stuff. So while I wait to "get it", I'll keep listening to the albums Cos
loans me and every so often, catch them in a live setting like this one, the
Rosstown Hotel in Carnegie, Melbourne.
see the rest...
|
| industry politics: The state of US commercial radio |
posted by david
on Thu 15 Mar 2001 @ 09:07 PM
|
Although I'm a big fan of all kinds of music, I must admit that I rarely
listen to the radio. It's pretty depressing that the really good stuff
rarely gets radio airplay and hence, a chance at wider public exposure.
Online mag Salon has published
an excellent piece
that explains just how US commercial radio works and how airplay is bought,
not earnt. I've no idea how it works in Australia but it would be nice to
think JJJ and the ABC are able to avoid this sort of thing. But then, when
I remember how Rebeccas Empire decided to throw in the towel last year
citing a lack of radio support, I wonder whether that might be undue
optimism.
|
| live: Tim Finn + Even @ Continental |
posted by david
on Sun 11 Mar 2001 @ 09:08 PM
|
When I first caught Tim Finn at the
Continental last year, I was hugely underwhelmed. Don't get me wrong, I love
what Tim does but the combination of his whole one-man-band thing (complete
with foot-pedal drumming) and a dodgy soundmix was less than impressive. This
time around Tim decided to employ a backing band: popmeisters Even. Whilst
their take on powerpop perhaps swamped Tim's more delicate moments, rock-out
takes of classic songs such as "I See Red" left the crowd hollering for more.
As someone who was too young to experience Split Enz in their heyday, I saw
glimpses of the manic fun that has since become part of the Enz legend. The
only real disappointment of the evening was their refusal to return for a
second encore when loudly demanded by the crowd.
see the rest...
|
| new & upcoming releases: Neil Finn "One Nil" |
posted by david
on Fri 9 Mar 2001 @ 09:09 PM
|
At this rate it's going to be hard to avoid Neil Finn over the
next few months. He has a new album on the way titled "One Nil"
(due early April), a new website
to promote it and to kick off the whole shebang he's invited a few
friends to play
a few NZ gigs
with him
(Billboard also has the story).
Of course, being Neil Finn means the friends in question
include members of Radiohead, Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam), brother
Tim Finn, Johnny Marr (The Smiths) and "One Nil" co-conspirators Wendy
& Lisa. Someone made the mistake of sending music "journalist" Mike Gee of
the
Sydney Morning Herald an advance
copy of the album so he's done his usual, woefully over-the-top
coverage
proclaiming how amazingly brilliant it all is because he's never had
his colours so vibrant and his whites looking so white. <sigh>
|
| new & upcoming releases: Lucinda Williams "Broken Butterflies" |
posted by david
on Tue 6 Mar 2001 @ 09:11 PM
|
The last album from Lucinda Williams took 6 years to record but the wait was
worth it: critics and music nuts loved it and it went on to pick up the
obligatory Grammy for "best contemporary folk" album. Fortunately she's not
going to make us wait so long for her next album which is tentatively due
for release in May. Rolling Stone has
more info
about "Broken Butterflies".
|
