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Frank Zappa and the Monkee’s

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Since I was a kid I was glued to the TV when this musical series called The Monkees were on. I was just introduced to the playing guitar in Miss Lord‘s class and I found the Monkees music was so catchy. I thought that the band had to be popular because it was constantly on the radio. Also the band had to of been even cooler because my older brother and sister were listening to them on vinyl albums. Technology back then rocked!

Now being a little more mature, musically that is, when I view a couple of their earlier shows on line I tend to pick up some unexpected treasures in those shows that I wasn’t really aware of back then. To see what I mean read on.

At work I’m always chatting with surgeons that use to play guitar in high school bands and our talks always revolves around obscure musical topics. This one day one of them told me about this particular Monkees episode that had Frank Zappa on it. Then right after saying this, this other surgeon chirped in and said that he was a massive Frank Zappa fan that went to see Zappa plays Zappa last year. Small world eh?

I then said, Really … Frank Zappa on the Monkees? You’ve got to be kiddin’ me. So off we went to a computer, did a quick youtube search and bang, there it was right in front of us.

Frank Zappa in a short clip on the Monkees show..

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOI-SDYGviM&feature=related

Michael Nesmith playing Frank Zappa and Frank Zappa playing Michael Nesmith interviewing each other as the other person, hilarious!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNJy-OgCzB0

Any Zappa fans out there?

Keep on Jammin’




So AUX TV can’t play more video’s?

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So the CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) is up to their old crazy ways are they? These people … have to be smokin’ something else other then tobacco. Please just read the below caption.

Three months after the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission told MuchMusic it can’t air fewer music videos than it already does, the same federal agency has denied a request to play more of them on a cable music channel that’s become a launching pad for dozens of independent Canadian artists. Vancouver Sun

This story was in the Vancouver Sun on February 15, 2011. How does a decision like this happen. Who actually calls it? What was their reasoning behind it?

I like watching Aux TV. The amount of indie acts are great and I think this kind of platform is desperately deeded around here. I’ve been watching AUX TV since Oct 2009 and although I’m not a huge dedicated fan, I like the change it brings to my TV entertainment.

Can someone out there tell me how/why the CRTC came to this conclusion?

Keep on Jammin’

Nash the Slash and Iggy Pop interview

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Here is a rare video of Nash the Slash and Iggy Pop interviewing themselves after a concert in Calgary Alberta sometime in 1982. I think it was 1982 because Nash was on a North American tour with Iggy Pop from February-April in 1982.

They just appear to be having a great time in each others presence. I’m not sure what they’re getting at or if there is any purpose to the interview but it sure is entertaining at times! In one section someone alludes to the fact that it is being shot in a local TV studio somewhere in Calgary.If anyone out there knows more about the video please tell me, I’d love to find out.

Nash can’t remember, but he thinks there are serious stories to be told here, but..he…can’t…. remember. Jim…..Help!!! Just kidding. Iggy and Nash remember everything that happened over the entire six week tour, but they refuse to incriminate each other.
Nash the Slash’s Gravesite

At one point in the video, they show us some of the finer points of yoga and stretching. Come to think of it, they may have been the forerunners of the 20 Minute Workout video’s? Remember that show?

The video is very poor and grainy at times, I’ll warn you now.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGZnP_oNVko

A couple of years ago I had the pleasure of meeting the man, without the bandages, at a local patio. It was so cool to finally meet a boyhood legend that it left me speechless … yes speechless!

Keep on Jammin’

Austin City Limits moving to new location

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So the longest-running music series in American television history, Austin City Limits (ACL) is getting quite the upgrade and a new larger studio. The Moody Foundation of Galveston has donated a large sum of money to ACL for new HD production equipment and to boost seating from 320 to 2,750. Through their donation the Foundation gains the naming rights to the theatre to be called the Moody Theatre

Ok, I get it, they might want to upgrade/replace the old studio by how are they going to replace that feel that you get with a smaller much more intimate venue?

Not that I’m against the advancement of music halls but why don’t the designers work with what they have? Don’t they have the expertise and technology to do it correctly?

I’ve been a huge fan of ACL’s for so many years now that I can’t remember the first time I’ve ever seen it. The bands that they had were amazing. The complete listings of bands that have performed must be HUGE. Just check out some of the line ups that have been there on the Rolling Stone website, there’s no way you can read them all!

So check what I consider the best show ever to grace the stage at the famous Austin City Limits stage!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3Cc-EoybFY

Keep on Jammin’

Treme my favorite show on HBO!

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I think that the best TV series out there today is a show called Treme that is on HBO.

The character development is fabulous, the feel to the show seems very honest but the best part of the show is hands down the music! The traditional New Orleans sound that they have there makes me want to sell the house and move on down to the promised musical land!

My wife and I were scrolling through our PVR guide a few months ago and came across a show about post Katrina New Orleans in the 7th Ward. We thought that it was going to be one of those cheesy shows with no substance or originality. When we first read the descriptions/info about the show, my first thought was that Treme was some bad documentary about the area and that it was not true to what really is going on there.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPVMxuoarbg

Even though I’ve never been there, watching Treme makes me curious about what it’s really like, this distinctive and historical American city. Has anyone out there been there before? If you watch this show and been there, are there similarities to both?

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Where do you view music video’s?

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Where do you see you favorite band’s music video, on the internet (Youtube or other internet sites) or on TV? I have to admit that I view pretty much all music video’s on youtube more then on TV. I’m just not all that interested in the programing of today’s music stations except maybe for AUX TV or HDNet concert series.

Way back in the day you could only see band video’s on dedicated music channels like MTV, MuchMusic … Where did you first see Micheal Jackson’s Thriller on? For me it was at a buddy of mine when we were watching the Toronto based MuchMusic channel. To be honest with you, I never ever come across this station while I’m TV surfing. In today’s world, Music video’s seem to be a endangered species on TV but with the advent of the internet they appear to be thriving.

Most company exec’s don’t think that this means the end of music video’s, it just that today’s bands are using a different form of media in which to launch their products to you. As well as, we now have the power and options to view them anywhere and at our convenience. An example of this is with your cellphone. When I was a kid in the early 80’s, cellphones where mainly used for business people or for those people who had more dollars then sense. Man have things changed since then!

“Now that MTV has actually come out and literally said, ‘We don’t play music videos anymore’ … people don’t have to make videos to fit into the MTV mould, and that mould was you essentially had to make a commercial with your song in it,” Canadian Press

So my question to you is where do you view your favorite music video’s?

Keep on Jammin’

Gilligan’s Island the movie

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Gilligan’s Island the movie sounds like a big stretch but ah, what the hell. I can imagine the set now but I sure hope they keep that old coconut that still must be kicking around the island somewhere.

The theme song for this one is classic! It’s one of those songs that I love to play on my acoustic … late at a party that is! I have a collection of TV theme songs from past that are fun to play as well. Some of them are Beverley Hill Billie’s, The Brady Bunch, Flintstones (remember John Candy singing that one?), Friends and Green Acres! I remember playing Gilligan’s Island theme song in a bar one night as just a simple/stupid filler for a late set and to my amazement it just about brought the house down! The audience singing along WAY OUT OF KEY but it looked like they enjoyed it?! Music sure does calm the drunkin’ beast(s)!

Now for some interesting facts about the show!

  • In the very first shot of the opening credits, the American flag over the harbor can be seen flying at half-mast. Reason: the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, shortly before the shot was filmed.(This one I find the most interesting)
  • Jerry Van Dyke turned down the role of Gilligan.
  • Raquel Welch auditioned for the role of Mary Anne.
  • The first season had the cast using cups that were made from real coconuts. However, they found that the cups were porous and soaked through like they were sweating. Thus in the later seasons, the coconut cups were ceramic replicas.
  • Gilligan saved the Skipper’s life once when they were in the Navy. A depth charge had broken loose from it’s mount and was rolling across the deck. Gilligan pushed Skipper out of the way. Skipper would later say that Gilligan didn’t save his life, he only prolonged it.
  • “The radio” seen in virtually every episode was a Packard-Bell AM Radio, Model AR-851. The small silver handle and telescoping antenna were added by the prop department (despite the fact that AM radios do not use telescoping antennas). The antenna was likely added to lend credence to the castaways’ ability to pick up radio signals so far from civilization.
  • The island shown in the opening and closing credits is actually located in Kaneohe Bay, about a mile offshore from the island of Oahu, in Hawaii.

The script of Gilligan’s Island the movie is to be written by Brad Copeland which is suppose to start be in production in 2011. Here’s the an idea for the cast that has been floating around on line for some time now.

Gilligan: Michael Cera
The Skipper: Zach Galifianakis
Thurston Howell III: Abe Vigoda (Barney Miller) this one is the best by far!
Lovey Howell: Judi Dench
The Professor: Jeff Daniels
Mary Ann: Anne Hathaway
Ginger: Christina Hendricks

So far I like it already! Any other personal picks for the members of this one? Come on, give it a go it’ll be fun!!!

Keep on Jammin’

I agree with a few of the Grammy awards, but others – not so much

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This years’ Grammy Awards were ok I guess, if your into that kinda thing. I did not watch or tape this event so I’m not sure how it went. The awards going to Neil Young and Leonard Cohen was nice to see though.

The one person who did not make an appearance was none other then Kanye West. What that guy did last year at the VMA awards was truly unbelievable. Imagine what was going through Taylor Swift’s mind when that happened. Not that I am a fan of her music, but still I really feel for her! I don’t mind a little bit of today’s modern country music, I’m more from the old school guy. Acts like Johnny cash, Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings are more to my liking!

Kings of Leon, won the album of the year with Use Somebody. These guys, I like. Funk Joint by Marcus Miller should have won Best Pop Instrumental Performance, that tune is great! Besame Mucho by Herb Alpert was 2nd on my list for this category.

I really like the winner for Best Pop Instrumental Album. It went to Booker T. Jones Potato Hole! You can’t go wrong with anything that a keyboardist using a Hammond B-3 with a Leslie amp does. Actually everyone that was nominated for this award was worthy of it. Chris Botti, Hiroshima, The Rippingtons Featuring Russ Freeman and my favorite instrumental band for 20 years or more Spyro Gyra!

Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance went to Bruce Springsteen. I saw this guy in Toronto a couple of years ago with my favorite brother in law Steve and I just didn’t enjoy the band. Sure some of his classic tunes will be around forever, but the only aspect of the band/show that earned my respect was the drummer! He literally ran the whole band, if it wasn’t for him that night I think the band would of been completely lost.

Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals had lots of talent to choose from! Ultimately it went to Kings of Leon. What did you think about this one?

In the category of Best Hard Rock Performance, ACDC walked away with it. There wasn’t all that much there that interested me. Maybe it’s because I’m a little bit older now and tired of Hard Rock bands that would rather blow your head off then entertain me. Did I really write that down?!

Judas Priest, a favorite band my buddies Steve and Johnny from Gemini, took control of the Best Metal Performance class of 2010. Lamb of God should have honourable mention here kidz! I realize that Lamb of God is a loud band, but they’re really neat to listen to.

As for the rest of the awards, most are not all that appealing to me. Anyone out there feeling the same as I do?

Keep on Jammin’

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2009 Concert

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This years 25th anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concerts was one of those shows that you wish that you had taken in! Both shows this year took place on Oct 29-30 at Madison Square Garden in New York city.

For Thursday’s show, the line up and set list was unreal! On Friday the line up was just as impressive!

There were far too many acts for me to single out which one that really got my attention but the best act that I saw on line was Stevie Wonder and Jeff Beck playing superstition! God those boys still ROCK!

If most of you like myself, who were not one of the many lucky ones in attendance at either show, it will on HBO U.S. in between Nov. 30, 2009 – Jan. 03, 2010 and HBO Canada in between Nov. 9th to Dec. 30th 2009 in HD. I just programed my PVR right now!

So did anyone out there check out either show in New York?

Keep on jammin’

TV’s Glee is coming out with an album?

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Fox’s top rated show called Glee is about a group of modern day kids struggling to find their way through high school.

The school’s Glee club is in constant conflict with the other school groups but it’s the music that they perform together that helps them navigate the conflicts in those crazy years of self discovery! Now it seems that the kids are going to release solo albums in the near future! Their release will be entitled Glee: The Music volume 1 & 2. It will be followed up with a 2010 tour.

Maybe the creatures of Glee are trying to capture the magic that came from the classic TV show of the 70’s called The Partridge Family?! Remember the bus!!!

Musically, I like the way in how these kidz interpret some classic tunes. The tunes they perform are essentially the same as the original versions but with subtle variations. I watched this episode other day that featured a song one of the football players played on his guitar.It was from Neil Diamond called Sweet Caroline. I must admit that I learned a neat chord progression that he played on this one that I can use for other tunes!

Apparently songs that have already been released from the show are a hit, with a reported 1.8 million digital downloads. The “Glee” version of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin” sold 522,000 downloads and has peaked at # 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 in it’s first week. Go, “Glee.”

The songs on the future 2 albums will consist of ones that they have play on the show. Someone thought that if around 1.8 million digital downloads of their songs can make a few bucks then what would a few albums pull in? Follow that up with a tour of some sort and merchandising … $$$! Well good luck to them!

I’m all for finding different versions in which to play a tune or watch someone reinvent a classic tune no matter what type of format it takes place in. What are your thoughts about this? Yay or Neigh

Keep on Jammin’

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