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Author archive: Charlie Bermant

Who-perbowl

Author:
Charlie Bermant
16 Nov 2009

In one of the better Roger Daltrey interviews published in anticipation of his solo tour he he was motivated to get his voice in shape for several upcoming Who projects. Said he “we have some big events lined up.” This … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion | Leave a comment

Professor McGuinn explains it all to you

Author:
Charlie Bermant
02 Nov 2009

It’s been an exciting six weeks, with shows by Crosby, Stills and Nash, Bob Dylan, Roger Daltrey and Roger McGuinn. This added up to a master class in what I now call “classical music,” although only McGuinn acted like a … Continue reading →

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Daltrey’s R-r-r-regeneration

Author:
Charlie Bermant
13 Oct 2009

Roger Daltrey Showbox SODO, Seattle October 12, 2009 We need to immediately dispatch this old man crap; Roger Daltrey’s age, how good he looks in its spite, and of course that whole “hope I die before I get old” nonsense. … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion | 8 Comments

Live from Guantanamo, it’s Bob and Joan

Author:
Charlie Bermant
12 Oct 2009

I am midway into the equivalent of a boomer music master class, seeing Crosby Stills and Nash, then Bob Dylan, in three weeks time. Next up, Roger Daltrey and Roger McGuinn. This is all coincidence, but has become a crash … Continue reading →

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Dylan Mumbles, Crowd Faints

Author:
Charlie Bermant
05 Oct 2009

SEATTLE, October 4, 2009. The retooled band backing the great man was propulsive and precise. The power quartet of two guitars, bass and drums was complemented by steel guitar and the bandleader on organ. Tremendous sound, although the vocals were … Continue reading →

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One Byrd who won’t evolve into a dinosaur

Author:
Charlie Bermant
28 Sep 2009

You may not know to look at him but Roger McGuinn was famous long ago, with the same aura as those named Dylan, Jagger, Lennon, Wilson and Phillips. In America he was bigger than Ray Davies and Pete Townsend. As … Continue reading →

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Let us now (finally) praise Stephen Stills

Author:
Charlie Bermant
15 Sep 2009

Photo: Charlie Bermant. 9/14/09. Puyallup. WA I’ve seen Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young five times between 1969 and 2006, with the interplay between Stephen Stills and Neil Young always leaving behind a sense of breathless wonder.  I finally got off … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion | Tagged cover versions, Crosby Stills Nash, Puyallup, Stephen Stills, Woodstock | 4 Comments

SATIRE: Unreleased material included in Beatles’ box set

Author:
Charlie Bermant
09 Sep 2009

A bonus CD containing five songs recorded by the Beatles in 1979 in John Lennon’s apartment will be part of the new remastered box set to be released today, ending a 30-year artistic and legal battle that kept the recording … Continue reading →

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Confessions of a Who Snob

Author:
Charlie Bermant
07 Sep 2009

Journalists are faced with conflict of interest opportunities every day. It’s obvious that you should never deliberately lie or plagiarize, but the harder decisions come around issues that are not so easily defined. Like when reporters acquire information that can, … Continue reading →

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Dylittantish behavior

Author:
Charlie Bermant
05 Sep 2009

The policewoman who dragged Bob Dylan into the a New Jersey stationhouse will never live it down, and it could even end up on her tombstone. She will face a lifetime of ridicule because she failed to recognize one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion | 3 Comments

Beatles USA Fan Club Newsletter, Sept. 1968

Author:
Charlie Bermant
04 Sep 2009

I had forgotten this still existed, which is probably why it still exists. It was buried in a box in my Mother’s house, which I extracted when she finally left home in July. I joined this fan club in 1968, … Continue reading →

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Shuffle; deal.

Author:
Charlie Bermant
22 Aug 2009

Some time ago I bought a carousel that held 400 of my favorite CDs and changed how I listed to music. The best part was the ability to set the controls on “shuffle” and play random selections from my entire … Continue reading →

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Toxic Woodstock Shock

Author:
Charlie Bermant
18 Aug 2009

As part of the toxically shocking celebration of Woodstock’s 40th, the New York Times called to their readers and asking them to film short Woodstock related oral histories. The people who responded had enough spare time After seeing the first … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion | 4 Comments

Woodstock is a verb

Author:
Charlie Bermant
04 Aug 2009

Forgive me, readers, for it has been a long time since my last post, several weeks since my series of observations about the entity into which Woodstock has evolved. I will now bring this nonsense to a close. The Woodstock … Continue reading →

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Not looking forward to a Kinks reunion

Author:
Charlie Bermant
25 Jul 2009

In the rock and roll universe, band reunions are thwarted by two separate but equally important circumstances: The musician’s inability to remember the songs well enough to play them and the audience’s realization that where and who they were at … Continue reading →

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Mellencamp is brilliant

Author:
Charlie Bermant
25 Jul 2009

John Mellencamp’s new live EP, which reworks eight songs from last year’s Life, Death, Love and Freedom, kicks ass. I liked the album, even if some of it sounded like stuff he’s done before (and done better). There were a … Continue reading →

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Woodstock: So many versions, so little time

Author:
Charlie Bermant
25 Jun 2009

A search for “Woodstock Set List” online results in several choices. They differ greatly, and have the nerve to contradict my actual memories. Take the official version, from the Woodstock website. This is incorrect at least twice, since Mountain appeared … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion | Tagged Woodstock | 1 Comment

Woodstock: A better view each time

Author:
Charlie Bermant
24 Jun 2009

Up until now and presumably into the future, Woodstock content has populated every digital platform. Read this aloud. Don’t those words just roll off your tongue? Back then, when you attendance at concerts was actually required,  you needed to plan … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion | Tagged Woodstock | Leave a comment

Woodstock: Read before entering

Author:
Charlie Bermant
19 Jun 2009

The Woodstock Festival is renowned for its free environment and magical character, but there were some rules. As proof, the ticket facsimiles distributed as part of the new Woodstock box set provide a fascinating little detail when turned over. It … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion | Tagged Woodstock | Leave a comment

Woodstock: What really happened, and didn’t

Author:
Charlie Bermant
17 Jun 2009

Stay with me here, because it takes a minute to get to the point. I lived in the town  of Woodstock as a child, which is not where the festival was held. Still, the little burgh has benefited from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion | Tagged Woodstock | 3 Comments

Woodstock: Repackaging’s not what it used to be

Author:
Charlie Bermant
16 Jun 2009

Eight months after the festival there was a movie, and a soundtrack. Soon enough there was a second soundtrack. Home video evolved, and there was a cassette version and a videodisc. A video of “lost performances” followed, along with an … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion | Tagged Woodstock | Leave a comment

Woodstock: Setting the stage

Author:
Charlie Bermant
15 Jun 2009

Toward the end of the Woodstock Festival I was forcing myself to stay awake for Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young when a stranger approached and asked me to open my mouth. I complied and he threw something inside. “What’s that?” … Continue reading →

Posted in Opinion | Tagged Woodstock | Leave a comment
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