Before the lights dimmed at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on 46th Street in Manhattan to signal the start of The Rascals: Once Upon a Dream, the voice of Steven Van Zandt boomed out at the SRO crowd. This would be … Continue reading
Some musicians are born cool, some achieve coolness, and some have coolness thrust upon them. “Cool” has no single definition, but it generally functions as a secret handshake, a way tribes – especially tribes of aesthetes — recognize kindred spirits. … Continue reading
I’m a huge admirer of Frank Zappa, and have been since the mid-sixties. As a music critic I’ve written about him extensively, and during my time as an executive with Warner Music Group and Rhino Records I’ve had business dealings … Continue reading
I anticipated “The Sopranos” creator David Chase’s first feature film “Not Fade Away” with some dread, since over the years I’ve been disappointed with most attempts at rock & roll films. When friends suggest that I, as a vocal music … Continue reading
I’ve written before about the parallels I continue to find between my own life and Loudon Wainwright III’s, as he expresses events and feelings in his autobiographical songs. He’s written about his persistent regret over episodes of inappropriate anger, the … Continue reading
Schopenhauer wrote “Buying books would be a good thing if one could also buy the time to read them in: but as a rule the purchase of books is mistaken for the appropriation of their contents.” I sometimes feel I’ve … Continue reading
My favorite yearly musical event is the High Sierra Music Festival in Quincy, California, held over the 4th of July weekend in the mountains near the Sierras about 100 miles from where I live. I’ve gone the last five years … Continue reading
With the publication of Record Store Days by Gary Calamar & Phil Gallo and the April 17th celebration of Record Store Day, my thoughts have turned once again to my time managing the Rhino Records store in Claremont, California from … Continue reading
Over the past year, Loudon Wainwright III and Richard Thompson, buddies from way back, have toured a “Loud and Rich” show with each of them doing their own acoustic sets and getting together for a few duets as well (including … Continue reading
I first met They Might Be Giants May 5, 1992 in Paris. On a business trip as V.P. at Warner Special Products, I attended their show at the tiny Espace Ornano and then tagged along for a late dinner in … Continue reading
I started my freshman year at UCLA in early September 1970, and during the first week I responded to an ad in the UCLA Daily Bruin looking for writers for the entertainment section of the paper. I’d already been published … Continue reading
My Show Business Career In 1959 I heard Lloyd Price’s recording “Personality” on the radio. It’s the first song – aside from lullabies and patriotic tunes like “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “This Land is Your Land” and “This Is … Continue reading
I only managed to make it to part of the annual 3-day Kate Wolf Memorial Festival on Wavy Gravy’s ranch in Laytonville, CA, but my time there was wonderful. The final Sunday contained twelve hours of high-caliber music (in extremely hot … Continue reading
Guitarist Warren Haynes, born in 1960 and a quick study when it came to absorbing rock, blues and country improv styles (he was working in David Allen Coe’s band while barely out of his teens) is one of few … Continue reading
I’ve seen Ian McLagan many times performing with various configurations of The Bump Band in Austin, where he’s lived for several years since he was lured there by fellow-Small Face Ronnie Lane. Ian’s ventured on a rare U.S. tour to … Continue reading
Despite having retired from my music business job several years ago, and having my “freelance music consultant” income fall to laughable levels, I’m still buying and consuming recordings at roughly the same rate, except now I have to pay for … Continue reading
There were many highlights of Coachella this year, which I could attend for only the 3rd time, since it didn’t coincide with Passover as it normally does (I camped on the grounds, $55 for the weekend). Leonard Cohen’s 1-hour set … Continue reading
