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Woman who inspired song Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds dies at 46

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A childhood friend of John Lennon’s son Julian, was the girl who was really behind the song Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds from the Beatles Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album!

Lucy Vodden is her name and she was a very important person in Musical history. Unfortunately she passed away this past Tuesday in a London England hospital. She had a long battle with lupus and was 46 years of age.

Vodden’s connection to the Beatles dates back to her early days, when she made friends with schoolmate Julian Lennon, John Lennon’s son.

Julian Lennon, then four years old, came home from school with a drawing one day, showed it to his father, and said it was “Lucy in the sky with diamonds.”

I just found this story today and thought wow, is that really what the song is about!!! I like most people today thought that the song was about LSD trips! It a little bit of Beatles trivia that I found neat!

Keep on Jammin’




Trivia about Vigilants

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This is just a little post about some good old buddies of mine from the band Vigilants that came out of Brantford Ontario way back in the 80’s!

I’ve been doing a stay-cation this year and I was just searching for topics to write about, here on this blog. Today I was going through the Canadian Pop Encyclopedia website and I happen to some across a listing for Vigilants! It’s great to see that friends will be remembered for their hard work in the future in this way. Hats off to you guys!

A 4-piece hard rock act from Brantford, The Vigilants won Q107’s annual Homegrown contest and used the money to record their EP ‘Run For Cover’.

The record featured guest vocals by Lee Aaron who also appeared in the video.

So check out this link to the site. Ah, the memories.

I know some of you have seen this old video of the band, especially on Facebook(thanx Domenic for the video link!) but I just wanted to show some of you who haven’t, enjoy!

Keep on Jammin’ Vigilants from Brantford!

The band Peeler is coming to Toronto Aug. 21-22/09

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I first ran into Craig when he was doing a solo gig way back in Oct. 2007 at the Arlington Hotel’s Capron’s Cavern, in Paris Ontario. The occasion was a good friends 50th birthday party. Some how my buddies wife got a hold of him and he played there that night for the event. I brought along my guitar and they wanted me to play a couple of songs, so why not get up and play!

Anyway, playing that night Craig and I did a few tunes together and it was just the perfect little gig! We both connected flawlessly and it was brilliant. I know Craig, I’m still trying to get that night’s video that was taken!
In all honesty Craig, I was drawn to your Vox Tonelab LE system! I did a couple of small set’s throughout the night to give the man a break.

This modern rocker’s bio is neat to read! His style is straight forward and he doesn’t disappoint! To get a good idea of his musical format, his interview at the NOW lounge is a nice example of the guitarist background and where he is going.

So I just want to bring Peeler into your musical experience for those unlucky ones who have not been exposed to playing. So come on out to see this guys show at Casey’s, 123 Front St W, in Toronto Aug. 21-22 to see what I mean! I know I’ll be there! I’ll be the guy with the oversize BIC lighter waving in the air.

Keep on Jammin’ Peeler!

Spinal Tap on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart

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My ever so vigilant wife found out that the Mock Rock gods Spinal Tap were going to perform 2 songs on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

She PVR’d it, or TIVO’d for my US readers, for me and as usual, they were right out of this world!

The 2 songs they did was from their latest album titled Back from the Dead!

The first one was called Funky Sex Farm (3 of 4). It is an ultra modern day funk sound that is riveting from start to finish! Who says old men can’t ROCK!

spinaltap David St. Hubbins, who is played by actor Michael McKean, is fabulous in this performance. The solo that he did was really sweet! Playing a lead while singing takes some practice and talent. He certainly has both down pat! He also has a Jeff Beck sound to his playing throughout the whole song, NICE! “Fathering your live stock” was the funniest line in the song!

Nigel Tufnel‘s, who is played by actor Christopher Guest, guitar style in this one was simple and to the point. When the band was being interviewed in the beginning of the second song, Nigle was so funny. I just about fell off the couch!

Next, is the bass player with the Lemmy mustache from Motorhead. Derek Smalls had a nice groove going on in this one. I was very impressed with his performance. He, like Nigel in the early years of Spinal Tap, was a simple, no nonsense kinda of player. I think some bass slapping would be perfect here.

At the end of this one, they ventured into a genre that I never thought spinal Tap would ever enter into … they rapped. G.D. that was hilarious! The song overall fit into their wheel house and most of all it was very tight.

The second tune(4 of 4)was a more bluesy type song called Give me some Money. They seemed to pull this one off perfectly. It’s got that Texas Rock feel to it with a 60’s keyboard oriented band sounds to it. straight forward R & R, too bad they they didn’t get all of it on the video.

So God bless and long live the boys in Spinal Tap and hopefully many more years of mock rocking to come!

Keep on Jammin’

The Toronto Beaches Jazz Festival was a blast!

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My wife and I went to the 21st Annual Toronto Beaches Jazz Festival and we just fell in love with this event! Imagine, 2 km of closed street with 50, yes you read that correctly, 50 bands playing on street! They were at just about every other corner. Each band that night played 3 sets from 7:00 pm to 11:00 pm. They all staggered their performances so as not to drown out each other.

It really was a magical night! We quickly found some parking, walked along the boardwalk and got to the beginning of the street fest faster then I thought we would.

We were first greeted by the sounds of a jazz fusion band with this fabulous violinist graciously blasting out solo with all he had! Then came the smell of the Beaches Festival, the FOOD! Note: if you plan to attend next years event, GO HUNGRY. Too many types of food to mention in this post.

The atmosphere was really electrifying. The relaxing buzz, that seemed to be coming from everywhere, was quite family friendly. Kidz, dogs and everything in between where out there last night. There weren’t all that many people walking around at first, but that certainly changed 2 hours later.

The styles were very diverse. We first witnessed a fusion band, then a Dixie land band, followed by Salsa/flamenco guitar players, a BIG BAND (all were really tight) then a blues band. The organizers were trying to highlight Big Band’s, Swing, Dixieland, Smooth, Post-Bop, Afro-Cuban, Fusion, Funk, R&B and Soul sounds. Wow, is to put it lightly.

This video captures the sounds of this band correctly. The Visual well …

At the end of the night the band we both found the most intriguing was a band called Project Phoenix. We were so impressed that we bought one of their CD’s titled Milestone. Go and listen to the song called “Jump for it” on their site. It was the last song they played last night and it was purely brilliant!

So if you love any of the styles that the Beaches Jazz Festival provides us at their event, then this is a must see for next year! See ya then!

Beaches Jazz Festival, Keep on Jammin’

Glastonbury Festival

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The Glastonbury Festival is something I’ve never heard of before.

This sounds like one of the best musical weekends one could ever imagine!

It started in 1970 and hasn’t looked back. In 1971 the lineup was Hawkwind, Traffic, Melanie, David Bowie, Joan Baez and Fairport Convention. Attendance: estimated at 12,000. Price: free. At the 1982 show the acts were Van Morrison, Judie Tzuke, Jackson Browne, Roy Harper, Richie Havens. Attendance: 25,000. Tickets: £8. Then in 1985 Echo & The Bunnymen, Aswad, Joe Cocker, Style Council and The Boomtown Rats. Attendance was 40,000,Tickets: £16. Now that’s not a bad line up!

They even made a documentary called Glastonbury Fayre (1972). Watching the trailer looks like it was going to be one of those weekends, don’t ya know, nudge, nudge, wink, wink?! The band Fairport Convention looked great. These guys are still around believe it or not.

Has any of my readers here been to this festival? I’d love to know if it’s well worth the price to get there?!

Keep on Jammin’

Buffalo Auditorium’s last stand

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The Buffalo Auditorium was just a beautiful building. They are demolishing it and making it into a parking lot! As in Joni Mitchel’s song, They paved paradise and put up a parking lot. The pictures says it all.

Some many unforgettable events were held there. I know you just have to ask Chris Noto about it and he’ll have tons of stories for you! Sorry about your loss there buddy!

Many sports teams called it their home.

Buffalo Bisons of the American Hockey League, the Buffalo Sabres of the National Hockey League, the Buffalo Braves of the National Basketball Association, the Buffalo Stallions of the Major Soccer League, the Buffalo Bandits of the Major Indoor Lacrosse League, the Buffalo Blizzard of the second National Professional Soccer League, and the Buffalo Stampede of Roller Hockey International. It also held a number an NCAA basketball games, as well as numerous entertainment events, such as concerts, the Ringling Brothers circus, Disney on Ice, and other things of that nature.

It held some fabulous other shows as well. The Aud. held shows by major acts such as The Grateful Dead. Some say the grand old lady helped produce the bands greatest shows ever! The Who, The Stones, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Neil Young and David Bowie are just a few of the greatest bands to play within it’s walls.

So here is a final salute to the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium “The Aud” and let us keep her in out hearts!

Has anyone here been lucky enough to have graced her hallowed walls? If so, what did you see there and do you have some stories about her?!

Keep on Jammin’

China Girl from Anna Ternheim

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I was watching Without a Trace the other night with my wife and during the show a great version of China Girl from David Bowie came on.

It was a interpretation that we both had never heard of before. Wanting to now more about this adaptation of the original song, my wife found out that it was perfectly executed by a Swedish singer named Anna Ternheim.

It was of an unplugged nature. The song was soft, slow and very dream like. Anna Ternheim used only this haunting bass, beat box in the backdrop of her rendition of this great work. Her voice is very airy and to some her voice comes across as sounding like either Alanis Morissette. We both came to this conclusion, a couple of seconds into the piece.

I know nothing of this artist except for a insightful interview into who and what she is all about musically. Her band’s site and Myspace account does not dive to much into what makes her tick but, I’m sure I’ll find out more about her in the future.

Has anyone else out there heard of this women before? What is your take on her exclusive style of performing?

Keep on Jammin’

Half Past four

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Now Half Past Four, that played last at the Nuance show, is unlike any band that I have heard or seen in a long time. Crafting original, fresh soundscapes from their headquarters in Toronto, Canada, Half Past Four offers exquisite musical novelty and experimentation to true musical connoisseurs and rock-party goers alike is how they define themselves and I must agree.

They are very difficult to pin their unique style, done to just one genre of music. It’s not that I’m trying to, but for my readers this may just help them out a bit.

Crafting original, fresh soundscapes from their headquarters in Toronto, Canada, Half Past Four offers exquisite musical novelty and experimentation to true musical connoisseurs and rock-party goers alike.
Half Past Four

The music is progressive in natural, but the stage presence is pure art rock. During their performances, the band has videos playing behind them all the time. If you get the opportunity to see them live, PLEASE pay attention to what’s going on in the background, it’s worth it!

The lead singer is hypnotizing and infectious to watch! Together, they elevate their audiences musical adventure to a whole new, very entertaining musical experience.

Everything about this witnessing this band live is new and refreshing to me. This is one of those bands that you route for to make it big! If you are in the GTA area, you must check out when and where they are playing … once again it’s worth the drive.

Keep on Jammin’

Keith Emerson cancels remaining tour dates

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It just came to my attention that the Keith Emerson Band has had to cancel their remaining tour, due to the physical deterioration of Keith Emerson’s right hand.

My good friend Chris Noto, bassist with CounterPoint, put this notice up on his facebook account. This really is a tragic musical loss to all the dedicated Progressive rock lovers out there. This may have been the last time to see them.

The real kicker here, is that Keith’s other band, Emerson, Lake and Palmer (ELP) was to have a possible late year reunion tour that was going to dovetail his recent tour! NOW that SUCKS!!!

Dear Friends,

It is with much regret that I have to announce that due to past right hand injuries the resulting nerve damage and dystonic factor has made it unable for me to play the keyboards to the high standard I have always set myself and have to cancel my forthcoming Keith Emerson Band featuring Marc Bonilla USA and European tours.

I am also going to have to cancel the proposed Emerson, Lake and Palmer tour which we were going to do at the end of this year.

I will of course continue with my physical/chiropractic/acupuncture therapy etc. in the hope that this will eventually get me back on form.

This is absolutely devastating to me as music will always be my main key to communicating with a world-wide audience. I know how much my fans and fellow band members were looking forward to these shows and it saddens me greatly to have to come to this decision and make this announcement.

Thank you for your understanding.

Keith Emerson

I recall playing in an band a fabulous tune called Benny the Bouncer. It was one of my earliest exposure to this great band. Hey, maybe the boys in CounterPoint will play this one next time they play, maybe?!

It, as well as countless ELP classic tunes, made me look forward to practicing their complex style of this new genre called Prog. (Progressive) Rock. Now, due to Keith and his band aborting their remaining shows, the general public will be sadly stripped of it’s chance to see one of the last great Prog. rockers of all time!

Our prayers will be with Keith so that he will nurse his ailing right hand back to good health, thus giving some people a glimpse into a musical world, almost forgotten! To add insult to injury, his mother had just passed away as well.

Keep on Jammin’ ELP

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