MUSIC: Putting the cassette to bed: Sony to discontinue handheld tape recorders in 2013

The Walkman's retirement wasn't quite the death of the cassette tape, but the format's final days aren't far off: Sony's calling it quits on the tape recorder. Final shipments for the company's TCM-400, TCM-410 and TCM-450 cassette recorders are due early next year, marking the end of the product line. Despite the shunning of magnetic tape from Sony's portable line up, the company still has a slot in its heart for the old cassette, and will continue to sell boomboxes with CD / tape deck combos. Even so, rewindable media seems to be on its way out the door -- maybe its time to build a better

http://www.engadget.com/2012/12/09/putting-the-cassette-to-bed-sony-to-discontinue-handheld-tape-r/

MOVIES/VIDEOS: Star Wars music flash mob

The WDR Symphony Orchestra brought The Force to the Wallraf Square in Cologne, Germany during their impromptu performance of the classic Star Wars theme song.

http://devour.com/video/star-wars-flash-mob/

MUSIC: Do they play air guitars then?

MOVIES/VIDEOS: Schwarzenegger meets classical music

http://izismile.com/2010/04/28/arnold_becomes_bach.html

MUSIC: Aaaaaargh! Some pirate music playlists fer ye!

Aaaargh! I be a day belated, but here are some playlists of pirate music, sea chanties, and Celtic tunes!

http://open.spotify.com/user/127676752/playlist/0qe6QuWj6OzDl5aSyUc56C

http://ishtarandromeda.libsyn.com/the_theme_show_9_12_06_avast_thar_be_pirates_

http://www.last.fm/listen/globaltags/pirates

And fer punk fans:
http://www.last.fm/listen/globaltags/pirate%20punk

MUSIC: Hundreds of John Peel shows for streaming!

For fans disappointed that the online debut of the late John Peel’s record collection didn’t feature actual music off those platters or broadcasts by the legendary British DJ, here’s the real deal: a streaming collection of 458 episodes of Peel’s show, presumably digitized off cassettes, that totals 846 hours and spans the years 1967 to 2004.

http://www.slicingupeyeballs.com/2012/09/11/john-peel-archive-stream-458-shows/

MUSIC and BOOKS: And Horton's life was changed forever!

MUSIC: My brush of fame with The Tom Tom Club

http://t.imehop.com/P7AG5s

MUSIC: Oh no! It's Devo!

MUSIC: The Punk Polka

MUSIC: Well, it's an interesting choice!

MUSIC: Yes, thank you very much!

MUSIC: No! This is just wrong!

How dare they announce these two events at the the same time! Ewwww!

https://m.facebook.com/groups/115576341852105

MUSIC: The most awesome way to make cookies!

MUSIC: Hey! Ho! Lego!

MUSIC: I feel this way talking to some people about music!

MUSIC: 10 rock bands you either hate or love

There are a number of artists who frequently make the “best of” lists but most rational people don’t argue their merit. The Beatles and Led Zeppelin are typically at the top in classic rock, and even their critics don’t place usually place them farther than top 20. Move a little farther down and you’ll find Jimi Hendrix and The Who where most will agree if they’re not the all-time greatest, at least they’re not horrible. Bruce Springsteen may not be everybody’s favorite, but most rock fans appreciate what he does. This list is specifically made up of groups who have a large contingent of rabid supporters, yet they also have a large number of devoted detractors. People are passionate for them, or passionate against them.

http://listverse.com/2010/03/27/10-rock-bands-you-either-hate-or-love/

MUSIC: My take on Day 2 of The 80/35 Music Festival

These are just some things I wrote for Facebook but couldn't manage to get my phone to put them up.


- Ready to rock out on Day 2 of 80/35. And to folk out, bluegrass out, and even jam out. But I'll say one thing, with all this heat and sweat, it's obviously that I'm out!

8035, I love you dearly. But damn, you take a toll on this middle age body!

- One thing I forgot to mention on Facebook on Day 1 was how I was amused when I saw where 80/35 had their headquarters. It was our old GLBT center.

We had got kicked out a couple of months back, and now it was sitting vacant. Last I heard, some of The Center's stuff was still there. I kinda wanted to go in and see, but I didn't!

But I'm on a couple of the committees for The Greater Des Moines Music Coalition, who put on 80/35, so I probably could have gone in. Buti'll ask if anything was still there when we're chatting before the committee meetings start.

- Ready to rock out on Day 2 of 80/35. And to folk out, bluegrass out, and even jam out. But I'll say one thing, with all this heat and sweat, it's obviously that I'm out!

- Arrived at 80/35 just in time! As I got there, the lead singer said, "Hi, welcome to 80/35. I'm Derek Lambert."


Why did I not know about Derek Lambert & The Prairie Fires? A really good local folk rock band that can rock out while keeping the folk roots.

- Checked out Now, Now. Two female guitarists and a drum machine. Pretty bland indie rock.


- Little Ruckus last night at The Vaudeville Mews and today at 80/35 have been the best shows yet! Their shows are experiences, not concerts! Full of fun audience participation! (Long live The Sandwich Eating Crew!)


I have never had such fun messing up my arthritic knee! Little Ruckus totally wore out this middle age man with their fun interactive show.


- Now enjoying the sweet air conditioning of Subway!


- Once again, I'm watching a band from the outside using the big screen. Listening to Grensky Bluegrass. They're pretty good, but kind of mellow for my taste.


- Well, went back to Grensky Bluegrass after catching the end of the Mumford's and checking out Night Moves. (Night Moves didn't move me!) 


But Grensky Bluegrass seem to found their groove and put out some awesome music. Their banjo player and mandolinist were incredible, and the way they played off each other was amazing.


I have to add that the heat isn't keeping the jam band/bluegrass folk from dancing at 80/35!


- Favorite t-shirt I've seen at 80/35: "I've seen bands that don't even exist yet!"


- John Isbell & The 400 Unit was some nice well done roots rock. And he uses an accordion in one song!

- The K-Holes were some interesting hard rock with a nice stage presence in their sexy black clothes!


- Okay, Dan Deacon does some really fun, energetic, pounding electronic dance music. But by performing on street level instead on the stage, he has made sure only people within five feet in front of him could see the performance. Which is too bad, cus it was some of  the best music this weekend. I would have liked to have SEEN the show!


Oh, well, at least it have me a chance to sit and rest. Could hear and see everything just as well that way! 


- Tried to watch Deathcab For Cutie since it's the favorite band of one of my nieces. There were two songs that had a pretty good groove going on. Other than those, they rather bored me.

- Went to After 80/35 party at Vaudeville Mews. Pure Gut with Patrick Fleming of Poison Control Center opened. It featured Ladd Askland, who's usually involved behind the scenes with Des Mounes music. The band, though, was fun and energetic. And Askland has a very interesting stage presence!


But Poison Control Center closed out the night. It seems these guys have been involved in every 80/35! If not in the actual festival, then doing an after party at The Mews! It's just NOT 80/35 without a PCC performance!


And the crowd was hopping! The show was free and the bar was packed. And the front of the audience was bouncing all over the place with plenty of local musicians filling the ranks.


I have to admit that I was rather annoyed cus they didn't do "Magic Circle Symphony"! But after the crowd chanted "One more song!", they closed with it. So we all repeated what Pat Fleming just said! And the stage was stormed with much if the audience singing how love was the answer!


It put a nice big exclamation to the end of 80/35!

MUSIC: Some things are better left in your childhood!

Heard this song earlier today! Hadn't heard it since I was a kid! Wished it had stayed that way!

http://www.last.fm/music/Bo+Donaldson+&+The+Heywoods/_/Billy,+Don't+Be+A+Hero

MUSIC: Lego cover of famous King Crimson album!