Happy 70th Birthday to the late great Rick Danko

John Primer@Famous Dave's

Tonight I went to Famous Dave's to see bluesman John Primer and his group The Real Deal Blues Band. I had seen Primer at this location once before and had enjoyed his music. I decided about 5 or 6 weeks before that I needed to see some live blues being that my last blues show was Johnny Winter back in September also at Famous Dave's. I enjoyed Primers performance because I knew more of the songs he played because I had been listening to lots of Chicago Blues on Last FM. He played everything from Muddy to Magic Sam and even played a song in tribute to his friend and fellow Chicago guitarist Magic Slim who passed away earlier this year. His band was fantastic and put on a terrific show. The man with the harp sure played the heck out of it and was absolutely amazing. I also picked up his album blues on solid ground for 20 bucks which he signed. I will defiantly see him again when he roles through town.

Happy 70th Birthday Keith Richards

Happy 70th Birthday Bobby Keys/10 Best Performances

Of the many birthdays today perhaps one of  biggest is  Sax Player Bobby Keys of The Rolling Stones and session player on everything .

 

1. Brown Sugar- The Rolling Stones

2. Live With Me- The Rolling Stones

3. Can't you hear me Knocking- The Rolling Stones

4.  Waiting On a Friend-  The Rolling Stones 

5. Whatever Gets You Through The Night- John Lennon

6.  The Wanderer- Dion

 7. Emotional Rescue- The Rolling Stones

8. Rip This Joint- The Rolling Stones

9. Sweet Virginia- The Rolling Stones

10.  Photograph- Ringo Starr

Happy 80th Birthday to Chicago Blues great Lonnie Brooks

Happy 60th Birthday to Elliot Easton of The Cars

Happy Birthday 80th to the Godfather of British blues John Mayall

Once Again The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has Shown how little they care about Giving Credit where Credit is Due

What I'm going to talk about happened in the past and is going on right now. The fact that they have inducted several leaders of bands but not the whole band. This happened during the first induction ceremony in 1986 when they inducted Buddy Holly and James Brown totally blowing off and screwing both of their bands The Crickets and The Famous Flames. Then in 1987 they would do it again inducting Bill Haley and Smokey Robinson but screwing over The Comets and The Miracles. Over the years this happened again and again  inducting Dion without The Belmonts, Hank Ballard without The Midnighters, Gene Vincent without The Blue Caps and Bill Monroe who is not even a rock musician was inducted without his group the Bluegrass Boys . But what was even more strange was the fact that they inducted Little Anthony and the Imperials, Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys and not just Little Anthony, Frankie Lymon, Gladys Knight and Bob Wills the latter being a country artist.

Then in 2012 to try make themselves look good they inducted 6 of these groups all at once hoping nobody would notice their huge mistake. The inducted groups were The Blue Caps, Comets, Crickets, Famous Flames and Midnighters. Smokey Robinson who was the only surviving front-man of the bands inducted presented the awards for all six groups. Even with this they still managed to leave out The Belmonts would lose original member Fred Milano that same year and whose front-man Dion is still alive. Sadly The Belmonts will probably never get in same with pioneering rock groups like Danny and the Juniors or Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs

who have had both it's front-man and backing band screwed over by the Hall which has turned into a popularity contest rather then inducting people who have had an impact on Rock 'n' Roll. Some examples would be Metallica, Public Enemy and Madonna.

Now we come to round two of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame only inducting lead singers.  As they did with the fathers of rock they are doing it again with their children. The first instance of this was in 1994 when Bob Marley was inducted without The Wailers. The next year both Frank Zappa and Neil Young were inducted and their bands The Mothers of Invention and Crazy Horse were excluded. This would keep happening with Bruce Springsteen being inducted without The E Street Band, Prince without The Revolution, Bob Seger without The Silver Bullet Band. Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Elvis Costello and the Attractions and rappers Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. 

I fear that this will keep happening in the future to other groups should they get inducted including John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble, George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Tommy James and The Shondells, Huey Lewis and The News and countless other bands. Even if some of these groups get inducted which won't happen for quite some time they will still probably only induct the front-men. Sadly we probably see more 90's bands like Nickelback, Hanson and Destiny's Child in before many of the bands listed above.

 Fast forward to now and they are still doing this. One of the nominees on this years ballot is Link Wray a hugely influential and pioneering 50's guitarist who along with his backing band His Men have been screwed over time and time again. Being that the Hall is obsessed with Nirvana who is also up for induction and N.W.A and LL Cool J both of whom will get in mainly because they are rap/hip hop artists Link Wray has very little chance. Not to mention that he is not popular like the previous three. Everybody knows that for the most part getting inducted is based on record sales and popularity. That being said the chances of Wray getting in are really slim and the chances of him getting inducted along with his band are even less likely since they have shown us in the past how much they care about backing bands at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Song of the Day/ Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble- Look at Little Sister

Song of the Day/ The Beatles- Good Day Sunshine

Song of the Day/ The Beatles- Run For Your Life

Song of the Day/ Chicago- Make Me Smile

Song of the Day/ Buddy Holly- Lonesome Tears

Song of the Day/ The Rolling Stones- Midnight Rambler

Song of the Day/ Matchbox 20- Real World

Song of the Day/ The Beatles- I'm Only Sleeping

Song of the Day/ AC/DC- Playing With Girls

Song of the Day/ Bill Haley & His Comets- Shake Rattle and Roll

Song of the Day/ Procol Harum- Repent Walpurgis

Song of the Day/ Alanta Rhythm Section- I'm Not Gonna Let it Bother Me Tonight

RIP Pete Haycock guitarist and founding member of Climax Blues Band 1951-2013

Here are some amazing pumpkins in honor of Halloween

Song of the Day/ Paul Revere and The Raiders- The Great Airplane Strike

Song of the Day/ Ritchie Valens- Malaguena

Song of the Day/ Electric Light Orchestra- All Over The World

Song of the Day/ Survivor- Is This Love

Lou Reed 1942-2013

Song of the Day/ Jefferson Airplane- Somebody To Love

Song of the Day/ George Thorogood and The Destroyers

Song of the Day/ Eric Clapton- Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out

Piano is played by former Allman Brothers Band member Chuck Leavell.

Song of the Day/ Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs- Stay

Song of the Day/ Big Bill Broonzy- Alberta

Song of the Day/ The Who- Acid Queen Live at Leeds version

Song of the Day/ The Outlaws-Hearin My Heart Talkin

Never Forget October 20th, 1977

Song of the Day/ ZZ Top- Master of Sparks

Song of the Day/ Led Zeppelin-Kashmir

Happy 87th birthday to the greatest and most influential man in Rock 'n' Roll.

Song of the Day/ Traffic- John Barleycorn

Song of the Day/ Billy Joel- Don't Ask Me Why

Song of the Day/ John Mellencamp- Pink Houses

Song of the Day/ Led Zeppelin-The Crunge

Song of the Day/ Styx- Renegade

Song of the Day/ Jimi Hendrix Experience- I Don't Live Today

Song of the Day/ John Lee Hooker-Nightmare Blues

Song of the Day/ Buddy Holly- Early in the Morning

Song of The Day/ ZZ Top-I Need You Tonight

Song of the Day/ Gene Chandler- Duke of Earl

Song of the Day/ Blood Sweat and Tears- God Bless the Child

Song of the Day/ Deep Purple- Highway Star/ Made in Japan version

This is so F***ing awesome.

Song of the Day/ Kiss- I Want You

50 songs I wish Classic Rock stations would stop playing

1. Don't Stop Believing- Journey  

2. Light My Fire- The Doors

3. American Women- The Guess Who

4. Back In Black- AC/DC

5. Start Me Up- The Rolling Stones

6. Sweet Home Alabama- Lynyrd Skynyrd

7. Rock and Roll all Nite- Kiss

8. Old Time Rock 'n' Roll- Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band

9. Smoke on the Water- Deep Purple

10. Bad to the Bone- George Thorogood and The Destoryers

11. Jack and Diane- John Mellencamp

12. Carry On Wayward Son- Kansas

13. TNT- AC/DC

14. We're An American Band- Grand Funk Railroad

15. Another One Bites The Dust- Queen

16. Crocodile Rock- Elton John

17. Benny and The Jets- Elton John

18. Born to Run- Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band

19. Jesse's Girl- Rick Springfield

20. Livin on a Prayer- Bon Jovi

21. Walk This Way- Aerosmith

22. Paradise City- Guns N' Roses

23. Sweet Child O' Mine- Guns N' Roses

24. Pour Some Sugar On Me- Def Leppard

25.  Welcome To The Jungle- Guns N' Roses

26.  Born to be Wild- Steppenwolf

27. Stairway To Heaven- Led Zeppelin

28. Born in The USA- Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band

29. Proud Mary- Credence Clearwater Revival

30. Bad Moon Rising- Credence Clearwater Revival
31. I Can't Get No Satisfaction- The Rolling Stones

32. It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (But I Like It)- The Rolling Stones

33. Power of Love- Huey Lewis and The News

34. Indian Reservation- Paul Revere and The Raiders  

35.  Jump- Van Halen

36. Here Comes The Sun- The Beatles

37. Jumpin' Jack Flash- The Rolling Stones

38.  Hotel Californa- The Eagles

39. Come Sail Away- Styx

40. Let It Be- The Beatles

41.  Fly Like an Eagle- The Steve Miller Band

42. Come Together- The Beatles

43.  Summer Breeze- Seals and Crofts

44.  Low Rider- War

45. I Want You To Want Me- Cheap Trick

46.  Two Tickets to Paradise- Eddie Money 

47. Joy to the World- Three Dog Night

48. One- Three Dog Night

49. Dream On- Aerosmith

50. We Will Rock You/We are The Champions- Queen

Song of the day/ Bobby Blue Bland- I've Been Wrong so Long

Song of the Day/ Cross Tie Walker- Creedence Clearwater Revival

Song of the day/Run Run Away- Slade

Song of the Day Good Thing- Paul Revere and The Raiders

Shut Down/House GOP Playlist

Meltdown- AC/DC

Same Old Song and Dance- Aerosmith

Hang On To Your Ego- The Beach Boys

Come Together- The Beatles

Two Much Monkey Business- Chuck Berry

Don't Blame Me- The Everly Brothers

It Wasn't Me- Chuck Berry

Nobody's Fault But Mine- Led Zeppelin 

The Eagles are Still Going Strong

Last night I got the chance to see one of my favorite groups The Eagles at The Target Center as part of their History of The Eagles tour. The current line-up consisted of Glenn Fry, Don Henley, Timothy B. Schmidt and Joe Walsh. Minnesota native and founding Eagle Bernie Leadon rejoined the group for this tour. 

The band started out with two unknown songs from their first two albums. Saturday Night sung by Henley from their first album Eagles and Train Leaves Here This Morning from their second album Desperado with lead vocals by Leadon who co-wrote the song with Byrds member Gene Clark.  Then they played some of the big hits from those two albums Peaceful Easy Feeling and Witchy Women. This was when the audience got to see if Fry and Henley's voices still held after all these years. They both sounded great and could hit the high notes which is pretty good for two guys in their mid 60's. Then came more hits including the rocker Already Gone and all their other early to mid 70's hits with the exception of Desperado and Take It Easy which I'm sure were being saved for later. One of my favorite parts of the night was when they played Lyin Eyes which is one my favorite Eagles songs. This concert like 38 Special was great because I knew all the words to most of the songs and could sing along. The last song in the first set was Take it to The Limit which was originally sang by founding bass player Randy Meisner. But this time Fry sang lead. 

The second part of the performance was comprised of songs from Hotel California and The Long Run,  their last two studio albums before the break-up in 1980. I noticed that Fry struggled in hitting the high notes during Heartache Tonight, which I found odd being that he his voice had held up on the other hits. In the second part was when Walsh got the chance to sing songs from his career outside of The Eagles including Life's Been Good the song he's most known for.  He also performed The James Gang classic Funk #49. My only complaint was that I would have liked to see Henley perform some songs from his solo career. After more hits the band left and came back four more times playing Hotel California which the solos were played by some unkown guitarist instead of Don Felder who apparently got into a fight with Fry some years back and left the band. They Take It Easy, Rocky Mountain Way and they finished the night off by playing Desperado. This was an amazing and unforgettable night.  

Photos by Tony Nelson of City Pages

  

Happy 78th Birthday to Billy Boy Arnold

Happy 88th Birthday to B.B. King

Billy Joel, Carlos Santana to Receive Kennedy Center Honors

 Billy Joel, Carlos Santana to Receive Kennedy Center Honors « CBS Philly

RIP Big Bopper Jr. 1959-2013

RIP Allen Lanier 1946-2013

was an original member of Blue Öyster Cult. Lanier played keyboards and rhythm guitar from the bands early days until 1985 and then again in 1987 until 2006. He joined the group once more earlier this year for a concert honoring the bands 40th anniversary. Lanier a heavy smoker died of C.O.P.D. at age 65.

Happy 70th Birthday Mick Jagger

To the scumbag who assaulted Lester Chambers may you rot in hell.

On Saturday night at the Hayward Blues Festival Lester Chambers 73 of the Chambers Brothers was performing People Get Ready in memory of Trayvon Martin and was attacked on stage by a crazy Zimmerman supporter. May he have a speedy recovery.

38 Sounded Great

 I had heard that southern rock band 38 Special was playing a free show in Iowa on the day before the 4th. I did a little research on the band to see who was in the current line-up.  One thing that surprised me was that although not all the original members were in the band they are all still alive which is uncommon for most southern rock bands such The Allman Brothers Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd who were plagued by death in the 70's. Donnie Van Zant one of the founders and whose older brother Ronnie died in the Skynyrd plane crash is still a member of the band, but as of 2012 has not been touring due to ear problems. The band's original lead singer Don Barnes and former Skynyrd bassist Larry Junstrom who joined in 1977 are the only two from their classic period during the early 80's. The others joined the band in the late 80's and mid 90's.

We left Minneapolis at about 2:30 and screamed down I-35 because they came on at 8 and we had an almost 5 hour drive. We made it with about 10 minutes to spare. I had brought a record of Wild Eyed Southern Boys to try and get it signed like 2 years before at that same location when The Grass Roots and Herman's Hermits played. Sadly it was not to be because for the autographs there was a $20 fee. Then out came the band and they jumped right into the classics with Rockin' Into the Night. Then from there on it was hit after hit. I knew the words to most of them because I had been listening to their greatest hits lately on my iPod.

 They may have looked older but they sounded just like they did 20-25 years ago. I did take some video for my YouTube account but not as much because I felt more like singing then standing completely still to get footage that wasn't shaky. Turns out I made the right choice because most of the videos were shot near the speakers where I was standing for most of the show which wrecked the sound quality. While going though all their hits like Second Chance, Back Where you Belong and Teacher, Teacher they perfomed a cover of ZZ Tops Just Got Paid which was fantastic. During that song was when I moved closer to the stage to try get some better videos and photos. Then they played some more songs such as Trooper With an Attitude from the 2001 comedy Super Troopers and Twentieth Century Fox. Then Don Barnes performed a solo which was quite good. Then it was back to the hits this time playing three fan favorites Caught Up In You, Chain Lightnin' which included strobe lights and a fog machine and their most popular and well-kown song Hold on Loosely. Then to top it off they played another cover Travelin' Band by CCR. Danny Chauncey who joined in 1987 is on the left and Barnes is on right. Overall it was fantastic show. 

Happy Birthday to Pinetop Perkins who today would have turned 100

Bobby Bland 1930-2013 The greatest blues singer period

On Sunday I got the news that The Lion of The Blues had died at the age of 83. I had just discovered his music in 2011 when he came up as a suggested artist on my Last Fm account.  I then seached the internet to find his most popular album. That album was 1961's Two Steps from the Blues. When I played the first track Two Steps from the Blues I instantly fell in love with his voice. Although he never received as much popularity his voice was equal to that of Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Ray Charles and Jackie Wilson.On their list of 100 greatest singers Rolling Stone placed Bland at 44 behind Bono, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, George Jones, and David Bowie which shows how little they know about music. He was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame not in the first class not the second, third, fourth, fifth or even the sixth but into the seventh class while more popular acts like The Kinks, Bob Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel who came after got in. Bland was also known for his long lasting friendship and partnership with B.B. King in which the two released several albums together. Above is one of two appearances on Soul Train. On the right is Bobby with B.B King and another good friend Buddy Guy. King once said of Bland "There's no better singer in any genre." 

Happy Birthday to 4 late greats, guitar legend Les Paul, rock legend Jackie Wilson, Deep Purple keyboardist wizard Jon Lord and rock great Johnny Ace.

RIP The Dells lead singer Marvin Junior.

RIP Marshall Lytle of Bill Haley and his Comets 1933-2013

Lytle was the bass player for the Comets  from 1952 to 1955. He was also a member of Haley's country group The Saddlemen in 1951 before they became The Comets. Until his passing he was one of only two remaining Comets who played on Rock Around the Clock. The surviving Comet is Joey Ambrose who played tenor saxophone. Lytle had gotten together with the remaining Comets though the years and they did some tours mostly in Europe and a few on the east coast.  He still performed up until his death and I was lucky enough to have the chance to see him perform at last year's Winter Dance Party in Clear Lake Iowa which was a real treat.

Happy 70th Birthday to Jack Bruce.

Rolling Stones Playlist

Money Made- AC/DC

Money Talks- AC/DC

Gimme Your Money Please- Bachman Turner Overdrive

Greedy Man- George Thorogood and The Destroyers

Money- Pink Floyd

Money- The Lovin' Spoonful

I Want It All - Queen

Take The Money and Run- The Steve Miller Band

Last week we lost yet another blues guitar great, The Chicago bluesman Jimmy Dawkins.

Happy 58th Birthday to Angus Young guitarist for my favorite band.

This is currently playing on my iPod .

You can never go wrong with Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Alvin Lee has died at the age of 68.

Here are the reactions of Alvin's death on twitter from fellow musicians. 

Going to see John Primer Tonight

RIP Magic Slim 1937-2013

Willie Dixon

Son House

Howlin Wolf

Mississppi Fred Mcdowell

Carey Bell