By The Beachwood Thanksgiving Affairs Desk
Giving thanks.
–
Posted on November 28, 2008
The World’s Worst Roots Music Fest
By Don Jacobson
1. The World’s Worst Roots Music Fest.
The head-shakingest roots music news of the week: A planned three-day Americana benefit music fest that was supposed to draw 100,000 people the weekend before last near Austin, Tex., collapsed in chaos, shutting down after the second day and leaving vendors, contractors and your sister’s boyfriend screaming to get paid.
As far as I can tell, the reason it fell apart is that the guy who was putting it on was charging $70 for a fest whose headliner was . . . Asleep at the Wheel.
Posted on November 25, 2008
The [Chinese Democracy] Papers
By The Beachwood Child O’ Mine Affairs Desk
What the reviews say.
*
Critic: Jim DeRogatis (Sun-Times)
Headline: “We Waited 17 Years For This?”
Golden Nugget: “With the very rarest of exceptions, rock ‘n’ roll is a dish best served steaming hot.”
Reference to Ishtar: Yes
Reference to Heaven’s Gate: Yes
Posted on November 24, 2008
Chicago In Song: Truckin’ And Druggin’
By Don Jacobson
Boy, those classic country guys sure seem partial to using Chicago in their song lyrics. This time in Chicago In Song, two more of them, Lester Flatt and David Allan Coe, trot out the city in their ditties, in one case referencing Chicago’s supreme position as the trucking capital of the world, and in the other . . . well, as a drug-ridden hellhole.
I know. You just can’t escape the typecasting.
Posted on November 15, 2008
I Am The Roadie
By The Beachwood Road Goes On Forever Affairs Desk
I Am The Roadie
Posted on November 13, 2008
The Seeds: A Web of Sound
By Don Jacobson
The L.A. group The Seeds have an incredibly apt name because from their humble, barely visible germ sprung some mighty, mighty oaks. Like The Doors (very woody) and Alice Cooper (kinda tinny). There is a direct connection from The Seeds’ organ/synth-heavy Flower Power psychedelia – chiefly authored by unsung ’60s keyboard genius Daryl Hooper – to Ray Manzarek and all the rooms of the Morrison Hotel. And the proto-punk screechings and snotty ramblings of Seeds singer Sky Saxon. . . well, I think it’s safe to say that raw ’60s garage rock reached some of kind climax with him and it was up to Alice and Iggy to take that stash and run with it, later handing it off to the kids at CBGBs.
Posted on November 10, 2008
The Obama Victory Set
By Steve Rhodes
After closing out my Division Street Election Night blogging and watching Barack Obama’s victory speech, I headed down to the Beachwood Inn to check out the action. Shortly thereafter, folks who had been at the Grant Park rally started trickling in . . . and the jukebox fell silent. Armed with a couple house jukebox dollars, the responsibility fell to me to get the party started. I was under a lot of pressure – to move quickly while maintaining a celebratory vibe combined with Obama themes without being too obvious. You know, like Richard Roeper. Here’s what I came up with.
Posted on November 5, 2008