MUSIC: Corrupting My Much Younger Brother With The Violent Femmes

My brother, Harmonica23, wrote this for his Facebook page. - OlderMusicGeek

(Harmonica23)’s Album Life Stories Vol. 1
Violent Femmes - Violent Femmes

I’m not sure of the year but I was 12ish. My brother Dan had returned home from college and with him he had brought the Violent Femmes classic first album. Needless to say with it’s catchy hooks and infectious lyrics, it stuck in your head all day. I was instantly hooked.

At this point let me tell you my Mother tried her best to keep my young impressionable mind safe from the sex and violent flooded media of the 80’s….I still snuck into the living room to watch late night Skinamax, but she tried!

One day my brother and I were rocking out to “Add it Up” in my basement bedroom with the door open when my mother was up in the kitchen. It got to the “Why can’t I get just one kiss” part and my brother warned me I’d best turn it down. Being a dumb tween I just replied with a “Huuuuh” . Along came the “Why can’t I get just one screw” line and my mom came storming down the stairs shouting “What on earth are you listing to” fully appalled that her not yet teen son is not only listening to but fully enjoying a song about not be able to get laid. Needless to say after this out bust I turned the stereo all the way down. All I could say was “Um Uhh , Violent Femmes??”. It was then my brother Dan stepped up to bat for me and told my Mom “It’s my album. I’m sorry, I forgot about the suggestive lyrics, I won’t play it around him anymore” (wink, wink).

Apparently my Mom accepted this plea because she went back up stairs about her business and we listened to the rest of “Add It Up” at low volume. We got off the hook and my Mother was forever oblivious to the fact that the very next line in the song was “ Why can’t I get just one F***!”….OK , that is until now.

Sorry Mom, your efforts weren’t completely wasted. I pretty sure I know my right from wrong…despite the late night Skinamax. Still a bit bitter about not being able to see Gremlins in the theater but I Love Ya!

Comments...
(named removed) at 7:03am February 26
But I hope you know.. that this will go down on your permanent record..

(OlderMusicGeek)at 3:52pm March 1
what i remember - is mom being so thrilled when i made a tape of the violent femme's then 3 albums and gave you my ww1 coat before i left for africa!

"Add It Up" on Last.fm

MUSIC: My Destiny With Devo

What can I say? Especially since I wasn't kinda sorta not there.

I was thrilled when I heard Devo was coming to my town. I had been a big fan of theirs since the late 70s. They were the band that introduced me to alternative music. I saw them on “Saturday Night Live”doing “Satisfaction” and “Jocko Homo”.

They, along with other alternative bands, became an unifying force between me, my brother, and my two closest friends of the time. And I've been hooked on Devo and alternative music ever since. And their first four albums are constantly on my iPod.

Unfortunately, thrills do not a ticket buy. And with my finances being what they are, I could not afford the $50 they were asking. I know by today's standard that's a reasonable price, but if you don't the money...

But I had been to a Cracker show at the outdoor amphitheater where Devo was suppose to play. And I saw people on the bridges watching the show. Admittedly, they saw the back of Cracker's heads from a distance, but hey, they got a free show. So I knew what I was doing for Devo!

My single brother with no children, though, had no problem getting the 50 bucks for the show! The jerk! Grrrrr, he needs more responsibilities!

Anyway, a few days before the show, I heard they were the show to one of the nearby bridge, because the flooded river made the amphitheater useless. I shrugged my shoulders. Maybe I wouldn't see the back of their heads, but I would still be able to hear them fine.

Then my oldest friend, one of the two friends I listened to Devo with, put on Facebook how he was going to watch Devo free from the bridge!


I got there first, and sat with someone parked across the river with some lawn chairs. It was right at the intersection where the bridge was blocked off for the show. And people would ask from their cars what was going on. When we told them it was Devo, we got some interesting reactions! “Devo?!?!” “Oh really?” “Are we not men?”

I thought of yelling “Duty now for the future!” to some of the spud boys in the red flowerpots passing by. But considering that album came out about 30 years ago, I probably should have yelled “Duty then for now!”

Strangely enough, before the show started that played this weird combination of classic soul and old school punk. I love both of types of music, but I don't see how soul music revs someone up for a Devo concert.


Finally, my friend arrived and I joined him on the bridge. Actually, we could see the band. Not a great view, but I've had worse in a stadium like when I went to see The Who in the 70s!

So after 30 plus years, there was my oldest friend and I finally at a Devo concert. Okay, couldn't see the band real well, but hey, it was free!

And as my friend said, since we can't see them that well, we can imagine still being thin and young while they played.


How was the show? I liked it! The band started off with some of their newer stuff which doesn't really appeal to me. Only one song out of the first five or so came from the four albums I listen to!

But then the boys got into their old yellow jumpsuits, and it was a wonderful stroll down memory lane with band playing most if not all of my favorites.

My friend and I were standing at that bridge singing along. My friend actually started singing kind of loud, and I said people would probably prefer hearing Devo sing.

I was tapping my feet and bobbing my knees. Must have looked a little silly to the people crossing the bridge!

Of course, it must have looked sillier when my friend and I were pretending to scream at Devo and “woot” them. We knew they couldn't hear us from the bridge, so we didn't do it seriously. Though I did do a pretend shout of “Mark and Gerry, we love you!” Mark Mothersbaugh and Gerry Casale being the leaders of Devo.

My friend's wife was there and she was kind of laughing at us. Can't really blame her.


And the show eventually its conclusion with Booji Boy singing “Beautiful World”. And then strangely enough, it ended. No encore, just thank you.

My friend thought Devo needed The Blue Man Group's guide to rock and roll, which says there's always an encore. But Devo always did things their own way!



And as a bonus track, just because it's Devo and it's so awesome!

MUSIC: Tracklist to some mixed tapes

My car has a tape deck, so I'’ve been listening to my old cassettes including the mixed cd'’s I made in my college days, my days in Africa and my days after I returned home before I could afford something to burn cd'’s on. Therefore, they'll be listed on the side bar as a tape I'm listening to, so I thought I'd let you known what's on them. I'll put them on the blog as I listen to them.

ASSORTMENT I -– A mixed tape made in 1985 of mostly alternative stuff from the collections of my younger brother, my musician friend and myself.

Side One
Planet Earth (dance version) – Duran Duran
I Travel – Simple Minds
“Antmusic” – Adam and the Ants
King’s Lead Hat – Brian Eno
Images of Heaven – Peter Godwin
Endlessly – John Foxx
Young Savage – Ultravox!
Around the Dial – The Kinks
Atom Age – XTC
Lip Service – Elvis Costello
Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll – Ian Dury and friends

Side Two
Sharkey’s Day – Laurie Anderson
Waiting for the Man – Orchestral Maneuvres in the Dark
Target for Life – Our Daughter’s Wedding
Kebab Traume (played at 45 rpm instead of 33) – Deutsche Americanisch Fruendshaft (spelling?)
Jukebox Baby – Alan Vega
New York City – T. Rex
Take Care of Me – Iggy Pop
Glad to be Gay – Tom Robinson
Nice and Neat – Boomtown Rats
Homicide – 999
All of This and Nothing – The Psychedelic Furs
Sharkey’s Night – Laurie Anderson


ASSORTMENT III – A mixed tape made in 1986 mostly from records in my collection and from the library in the town of my college.

Side One
I Wonder What the King is Doing Tonight – Richard Harris
Top Hat, White Tie and Tails – Fred Astaire
(You’re So Square) Baby, I Don’t Care – Elvis Presley
Flip, Flop and Fly – Jools Holland
If Sugar was Sweet as You – Rockpile
Deadman’s Curve – Jan & Dean
Wasn’t Tomorrow Wonderful? – The Waitresses
Good Morning Starshine/The Flesh Failures (Let the Sun Shine In) – Broadway cast of Hair
Isn’t She Lovely – Stevie Wonder
Touch Me – The Doors
September Song – Lou Reed
Bang a Gong – T. Rex
Train in Vain – The Clash

Side Two
Let Me Out – The Knack
Here Comes the Sun – The Beatles
Cannon Song – Fowler Brothers w/Stan Ridgway
Get Me to the Church on Time – Alfred P Doolittle
Speed of Life – David Bowie
Be My Wife – David Bowie
A New Career in a New Town – David Bowie
They Don’t Want Me – Wall of Voodoo
So Lonely – The Police
Maybe Baby – The Cars
He’s So Fine – The Chiffons
Like a Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan
Mull of Kintyre – Paul McCartney and Wings


ASSORTMENT XII – A mixed tape of mostly alternative music made in the mid-1990’s from my kid brother’s cd’s, tapes, vinyl records and even 8-tracks.

Side One
Main Titles (from Star Wars) – John Williams and The London Symphonic Orchestra
Walk in Cold – Naked Raygun
Wonder Beer – Naked Raygun
Beach Party Viet Nam – The Dead Milkmen
The Laundromat Song – The Dead Milkmen
Ziggy Stardust (acoustic demo version) – David Bowie
Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) – David Bowie
Loretta – Exit
The Song (We Go) – Ultravox
Dancing with Tears in My Eyes – Ultravox
I Don’t Remember – Peter Gabriel
Biko – Peter Gabriel

Side Two
Gimme Your Money Please – Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Roll On Down the Highway – Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Closer to the Stars – Soul Asylum
Cartoon – Soul Asylum
Beggars and Choosers – Soul Asylum
Girl U Want – Devo
Gates of Steel – Devo
Burning Love – Elvis Presley
Like a Virgin – Madonna
Like a Virgin – Lords of the New Church
Never Understood – Jesus and Mary Chain
Subway – Jesus and Mary Chain
Kicks – Naz Nomad and The Nightmare (The Damned)
Ignite – The Damned


ASSORTMENT XIII – A mixed tape made in the mid to late 90’s of cd’s from the library.

Side One
Honey – Moby
South Side – Moby
Box Full of Letters – Wilco
Jacob and Sons – Laurie Beechman and cast of Joseph and His Technicolor Dreamcoat
Joseph’s Coat - cast of Joseph and His Technicolor Dreamcoat
One More Angel – Steve McNaughton and cast of Joseph and His Technicolor Dreamcoat
Intoxication – Sir Douglas Quintet
Rocks – Primal Scream
Sister – Juliana Hatfield Three
This is the Sound – Juliana Hatfield Three
Moneytree – MxPx
Laughing in the Face – Hindu Rodeo
Kutambarara (“Spreading”) – Kronos Quartet with Dumasani Maraire

Side Two
Mai Nozipo (“Mother Nozipo”) – The Kronos Quartet with Dumisani Maraire
Wawshishijay (“Waterwheel”) – The Kronos Quartet with Obo Addy
Hang on to Your Ego – Frank Black
Sitting Still – R.E.M.
Shaking Still – R.E.M.
The Pretty Things are Going to Hell – David Bowie
Breakfast – The Foo Fighters
Evening at Lafitte’s – Squirrel Nut Zippers
Say “Ten” – Reel Big Fish
All I Want is More – Reel Big Fish
Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah – from Song of the South
When You Wish Upon a Star – from Pinocchio
Deep Karma Canyon – Bob Mould


ASSORTMENT XIV – A mixed tape made in the mid 90’s of cd’s from my older brother and the library.

Side One
Ethnicolor (excerpt of the beginning) – Jean-Michel Jarre
Zoolookogie – Jean-Michel Jarre
Rosetta – The Men They Couldn’t Hang
Diamonds, Gold and Fur – The Men They Couldn’t Hang
Flaming Desire – Bill Nelson
I’m Not the Man I Used to Be – Fine Young Cannibals
Don’t Look Back – Fine Young Cannibals
Evangeline – Matthew Sweet
Tubular Bells (Part One) (excerpt of guitar in the middle) – Mike Oldfield
The Wanderer – U2 featuring Johnny Cash
Yellow Pearl – Phillip Lynott with Midge Ure

Side Two
Zoolook – Jean-Michel Jarre
Talk Talk – Talk Talk
Dead End Job – The Police
A Sermon – The Police
I Want to Be a Boss – Stan Ridgway
Mouthful of Sand/Roadblock – Stan Ridgway
Coming Down Fast – Daniel Ash
Temptation – New Order
Bizarre Love Triangle – New Order


ASSORTMENT XVI – A mixed tape made in the mid 90’s of cd’s, tapes and vinyl records of a buddy of mine from my childhood including stuff he inherited from his sister.

Side One
She-Bop – Cindy Lauper
Move This – Technotronic
Turned to Stone – Electric Light Orchestra
How Soon is Now – The Smiths
Jungle Love – The Steve Miller Band
Holiday in Cambodia – The Dead Kennedys
I Want to be Sedated – The Ramones
Sheena is a Punk Rocker – The Ramones
Do You Wanna Dance? – The Ramones
Wait for the Blackout – The Damned
Are You Experienced? – Devo
Love Removal Machine – The Cult

Side Two
Pressure Drop – The Clash
C’mon Every Beatbox – Big Audio Dynamite
Roam – The B-52’s
All I Wanna Do – Sheryl Crow
Why? – Tracy Chapman
Never Never – Scruffy the Cat
Tiny Days – Scruffy the Cat
Calling All Nations – INXS
Angel Eyes – Roxy Music
More Than This – Roxy Music
House of Cards – Adrian Belew
Timing X/Space Junk - Devo

MUSIC: Survey Via A Mp3 Player

This is an ancient email my youngest brother sent me. But I didn't have many mp3's or a mp3 player at the time, so I didn't do it. But I found it trying to clear out my emails, so I'm doing it now! - OlderMusicGeek

Survey via a mp3 player

RULES:
1.) Put your music player on shuffle
2.) Press forward for each question
3.) Use the song title as the answer
4.) NO CHEATING!!! What you get is what you get!

1) How am I feeling today?
Seven Deadly Sins - Flogging Molly

2) Where will I get married?
Pain In My Heart - Otis Redding

3) What is my best friends theme song?
People Are Strange - The Doors

4) What is high school like?
Today I Started Loving You Again - Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez

5) What is the best thing about me?
The Wanderlust (acoustic) - Flogging Molly

6) How is today going to be?
Love Power - from the soundtrack of the original version of The Producers

7) What is in store for this weekend?
The Conductor Wore Black - Rank And File

8) What song describes my parents?
Sammy's Fancy - Gaelic Storm

9) How is my life going?
Walk Like A Man (You Can Call Me Your Man) - Grand Funk Railroad

10) What song will they play at my funeral?
The Reaction - Ennio Morricone

11) How does the world see me?
Down In The Park - Gary Numan

12) What do my friends really think of me?
Telegram Sam - T. Rex

13) Why do people secretly lust after me?
I'm Going Home - from the soundtrack of The Rocky Horror Picture Show

14) How can I make myself happy?
One Of My Turns - Pink Floyd

15) What should I do with my life?
Lack Of Interest - Slaughterhouse 6

16) Will I ever have children?
Walking In The Park With Eloise - Wings

17) What is some good advice?
All Along The Watchtower - Bob Dylan (Oh yeah, great! Like I have any idea what this song is about!)

18) What do I think my current theme song is?
Glad To See You Go - The Ramones

19) What does everyone else think my current theme song is?
The Big Issue - Chumbawumba

20) What type of men/women do you like?
Knock On Wood - Eddie Floyd

21) Will you get married?
Knee - Ken Nordine

22) What should I do with my love life?
Primitive Notion - New Order

25) What will your dying words be?
It's My Delight - The Melodians

26) Hows your day going so far?
Network 23 - Tangerine Dream

27) Hows your love life?
Duchess - The Stranglers

28) Where will your next vacation be?
Chattanooga Choo Choo - Glenn Miller

MUSIC: Fifteen Albums In Fifteen Minutes You've Heard That Will Always Stick With You

I got this on Facebook from an old friend of mine, so I thought I'd post it here. - OlderMusicGeek

The rules: Don't take too long to think about it - choose fifteen albums you've heard that will always stick with you. List the first fifteen you can recall in no more than fifteen minutes.

In no particular order except the order I remembered them...

1. Q: Are We Not Men? - Devo (introduced me to alternative music)
2. Drunken Lullabies - Flogging Molly (showed me i could still go crazy about a band like I did in my teens and 20's)
3. Outlandos D'Amour - The Police (the soundtrack of my high school years... "so-o-o-o-o-o lonely")
4. Violent Femmes - Violent Femmes (soundtrack of my college years and introduction in the greatest band ever with the greatest bassist of rock!)
5. Star Wars soundtrack - John Williams (great soundtrack to a great movie)
6. Never Mind The Bollocks - The Sex Pistols (introduced me to punk)
7. Red Roses For Me - The Pogues (introduced me to celtic punk, was probably the start of it actually!)
8. Dark Side Of The Moon - Pink Floyd (great album, but also reminds me of bygone days with my old brother and also hanging out in my college dorm)
9. Tubthumper - Chumbawumba (don't know why, just like it!)
10. Systems Of Romance - Ultravox (just takes me back to hanging out with my younger brother and my two best friends in high school)
11. Pretty In Black - The Raveonettes (introduced me to The Raveonettes, a new band I like - again showed me some good music coming out after I turned 25!)
12. Call Of The West - Wall Of Voodoo (just an interesting band that did an interesting mix of country and new wave, big part of my teens, and probably was the start of me giving some country music a chance)
13. Presidents Of The United States Of America - Presidents Of The United States Of America (taught that pop and alternative music doesn't have to be serious and can just be fun!)
14. The Big Easy soundtrack - various artists (introduced me into the great music form known as cajun/zydeco!
15. Sinister Flower Gift - The Hollowmen (an album by my friend's band in the 80's who I watched countless times in my college years!)

(I cheated, this took more like 25 minutes!)

MUSIC: Some Independence Day Music

My brother, Harmonica23, put these up on his Facebook page.


To quote my brother - "What better way to celebrate this all American holiday than with an American band singing about American music."

American Music -Violent Femmes
by radarhead

MUSIC: A Music Survey My Much Younger Brother Sent Me

My much younger brother, Harmonica23, sent me this AGES ago, and now I am finally doing it. :) - OlderMusicGeek

1. What was the first album that you ever owned?
I think it was the Jackson 5's Greatest Hits.

2. What song or album represents Junior High for you?
Cat Scratch Fever - Ted Nugent

3. What song or album represents High School for you?
Outlandos d'Amour - The Police

4. What song or album represents College for you?
Violent Femmes debut album

5. What's your favorite album of the last year?
2005?
Oh yeah, like I, a 44 year old, know what albums came out this year.

6. What's probably your favorite album of all time?
Probably Violent Femmes' debut album.

7. What was your favorite soundtrack?
Probably The Good, The Bad and the Ugly,

8. Who's your favorite Jazz composer?
jazz?

9. Who's your favorite Classical composer?
Phillip Glass i guess

10. What was the first concert you saw?
Kiss with John Cougar opening to promote his debut album

11. What was the most recent concert you saw?
About a year ago, I finally saw The Violent Femmes live - Yay!!!!

12. What are your top three greatest concert experiences?
1. Seeing The Violent Femmes last year - just cus I waited over 20 years to see them :) - plus they were still really good!
2. Glastonbury Festival in England in 1985, possibly 1984 - with The Pogues, Billie Bragg and lots of great bands
3. Lollapalooza in 1995? - with The Ramones, Rancid and Cornershop. Plus Soundgarden and Metallica ended the show so I could leave early without missing much. :)

13. What are your top three favorite Beatles albums?
Abbey Road, Sgt Pepper and um, i dont know, Rubber Soul

14. What are your top three favorite Beatles songs?
It's All Too Much is #1 for sure. And off the top of my head, I guess Helter Skelter and the Abbey Road medley

15. John, Paul, George, or Ringo?
John is the most interesting, but I'm probably more like Paul.

16. What's your favorite John Lennon composition?
Whatever Gets You Through the Night

17. What's your favorite Paul McCartney composition?
Junior's Farm

18. What's your favorite George Harrison composition?
Here Comes the Sun

19. Who's the greatest musical artist/band of the 50's?
Chuck Berry I guess

20. Who's the greatest musical artist/band of the 60's?
Beatles I suppose

21. Who's the greatest musical artist/band of the 70's?
The Sex Pistols

22. Who's the greatest musical artist/band of the 80's?
Violent Femmes

23. Who's the greatest musical artist/band of the 90's?
Presidents of the United States of America

24. Who's the greatest musical artist/band of the new millenium?
Flogging Molly - the best new band to come out in 20 years!

25. What's currently spinning on your cd player or turntable?
don't own a cd player

26. Rock 'n Roll or Pop?
rock n rooooooooooooooooooll!!!!!!!!!!!!!

27. Heavy Metal or Hair Metal?
heavy metal

28. Madonna or Cyndi Lauper?
Madonna

29. Kenny Loggins or Huey Lewis?
Huey Lewis if I have to choose

30. Blur or Oasis?
Why don't you just kill me now? But I guess I'll have to go with Blur, cus almost anything is better than Oasis!!

31. Britney Spears or Christina Aguilara?
Christina is definitely hotter!

32. The Clash or the Sex Pistols?
The Pistols

33. Led Zeppelin or the Doors?
Doors

34. The Dark Side of the Moon or Freak Out!
Dark Side

35. Tommy or Sign 'o' the Times?
Tommy - the Who rule!

36. Blonde on Blonde or Astral Weeks?
Who or who?!

37. Sgt. Pepper or Pet Sounds?
Sgt. Pepper

38. What band really needs to reunite?
uh.....The Pogues maybe

39. What band needs to call it quits?
Stones

40. What's your favorite album to listen to when you're getting ready to go out?
Have to admit, I mostly listen to shuffle on my 30 gig mp3 player.

41. What's your favorite album to listen to when you just want to chill out and be alone?
My Floyd and Floyd cover playlist

42. Favorite Saturday night party album?
All my music put on shuffle on the computer.

43. Favorite Sunday morning album?
see #42

44. Favortie road trip album?
see #40

45. C'mon, admit it.....Who is your all-time, favorite guilty pleasure musical artist?
Neil Diamond

46. At this point in time, what musical artist is your absolute favorite?
Violent Femmes - but I love Flogging Molly!

MUSIC and TELEVISION/VIDEOS: VHS, MTV OMG

This is from a blog by Robin Hilton of the internet program, Our Songs Considered, on NPR's internet site. I didn't care for most of the videos, but some of you who are a little younger than me might appreciate it. - I'm in my mid-40's. - And those of you quite a bit younger than me might find this humorous. - OlderMusicGeek

VHS, MTV OMG
by Robin Hilton

My head is sloshing with a thick glop of sentimentality.

This past weekend I was visiting my brother who still lives in the small town where we grew up. It's always a bit of a nostalgia trip going home again, but on this visit he produced an old VHS tape with a video we'd made when we were in high school in the early 1980s. It was just a bunch of dumb kids goofing off, but it made me a little dizzy seeing all the mullets and how young we were.

Then this morning I come in to work and Bob drops me a link for this remarkable and hilarious video of a 1983 MTV broadcast. It's three hours long, complete with commercials from the time. The news updates are particularly priceless, like "Loverboy tour dates announced."

I wonder if this resonates at all with anyone under the age of say, 25.

The video was too big to upload - so here's a link to the original piece and the video!

MUSIC: Questionnaire Using Song Titles

My brother, Harmonica23, sent me this questionnaire. - OlderMusicGeek

Using only song titles from one artist, answer these questions

Pick a band/artist: Violent Femmes

1. Are you a male or female: uhhhh, I Held Her In My Arms?
2. Describe yourself: Fool In The Full Moon
3. How do you feel about yourself: Good Feeling
4. Describe your ex: Life Is A Scream
5. Describe your current relationship situation: I'm Nothing
6. Describe your current location: Outside The Palace
7. Describe where you want to be: Gone Daddy Gone
8. Your best friend is: Freak Magnet
9. Your favorite color is: uhhhhhh, Black Girls?
10. You know that: I Know It's True But I'm Sorry to Say
11. What’s the weather like: It's Gonna Rain
12. If your life was a television show what would it be called? Blister In The Sun
13. What is life to you: Special (but I was tempted to put "No Killing")
14. What is the best advice you have to give: Add It Up
15. If you could change your name what would you change it to: Jesus Of Rio

MUSIC: My Favorite Song of the Day (That I Haven't Mentioned Already) - Feb 10, 2007 – “I’m Waiting for the Man” by The Velvet Underground

This is from me, not some reprinted article. - OlderMusicGeek

My older brother had been a Velvet Underground fan for quite some time, and although I liked them, they didn't do much for me. I guess that they were a little too weird and different for my taste back then.

But in college, as I heard what an influence that they were on so many of the alternative music artists I liked, I went back to them, and found them very appealing.

The Velvet Underground was a band so many years ahead of their time that it’s not even funny. They were doing stuff that Joy Division and other bands would be doing 10 years later. The Velvet Underground were contemporaries of The Beatles and Beach Boys, for the god’s sake! And bands like Jesus and the Mary Chain, Stereolab and The Raveonettes owe a big debt to them!

Funny enough, “I’m Waiting for the Man” is one of their more poppy songs. Of course, talking about one of The Velvet Underground’s more poppy style songs is like talking about one of Picasso’s more conventional paintings – it would still be pretty different and weird.

The song, though a bit bizarre sounding, is really quite simple.

Starts off with this great, discordant piano, riffing on a short string of notes, with a guitar picking away on accompanying riff.

Then we got Lou Reed easing in with his unique vocal style.

I have to admit that I didn’t know for a number of years that Lou was singing about a guy waiting for his drug dealer. I just thought it was about a guy in a bad neighborhood wishing his friend would hurry up and show. – I can be very naïve. I don’t deny it! –

But as the song goes on, the piano picks up power and is join by a great jangly rhythm guitar. And Lou begins to slowly add tension to his voice, while still letting his voice just slowly pull the song along.

Then we close with this really discordant piano to a fade.

Very simple, but so extremely effective. Different and weird, but catchy and riffy. And just plain amazing!


A Velvet Underground web site

A link to My Favorite Song of the Day posts

MOVIES: Which Horror Movie Character Are You?

My brother, Harmonica 23 , sent me this result he got from a internet quiz.



I found it pretty amusing, and decided to try it for myself...



I can't say I approve of the comment on the mentally challenged. But unfortunately, I suppose there might be a bit of truth in the description, though I'm not exactly sure how much. But the description was funny enough that I'm glad I did it.

If you want to try it, click on the link below. The links in the picture just take you to the website, but not the quiz.

Which Horror Movie Character Are You?

Please feel free to put your results in the comments. I would love to see some other descriptions.

MUSIC: A Fun Quiz If You Know Who The Damned Are

Well, here's a fun little quiz if you ever heard of the band, The Damned. If you haven't, shame on you and go check out Machine Gun Ettiquette! Thanks to my kid brother, Harmonica23 and his web site for introducing me to the quiz.



I suppose I am most like Captain Sensible, except that I can't play guitar and I'm only a decent dresser. Admittedly though, for some reason, a number of people think I'm nice. And my daughter apparently has told more than one friend that my farts can clear a room!

Which Damned member are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

MUSIC: "Raw Power" by Iggy Pop and the Stooges

I was a closet Iggy Pop hater. I pretended to like Iggy Pop to impress my older brother who was a big Iggy fan. And being into punk rock, I had to to be cool and with it, and I did this by pretending to like the artist who probably influenced more 70's and 80's punk bands than anybody else. (When you're a big nerd, you got stroke your ego somehow. I did it by feeling superior on music and movies.)

Besides, if David Bowie liked his stuff, it had to be good! (Actually, this statement is pretty accurate. David Bowie has introduced me to quite a bit of good music and has said great things about artists and songs I already love - The Chieftains, Moby, The The's "Uncertain Smile" - one of the best 12-inch singles ever - this was back in the vinyl days for you young'uns!) (Though I have to admit I'm not a big Nine Inch Nails fan.)

Actually, I liked Iggy, but I realized that I had only listened to some of his songs. When I heard entire albums, I was rather disappointed.

So I have no idea what put me in an Iggy mood and made me pick up this cd from the library. But I'm glad I did. I love it! This cd is incredible!

I have to admit that I might be able to appreciate it more now, because it has been remixed. Apparently, the old mix was pretty bad. But I hadn't heard Raw Power since college, and on a vinyl record, I couldn't tell what the difference is.

But it still has a lo-fi quality that I think actually helps give some raw energy and roughness that helps this music.

And what fascinating music this is. I think I needed to be older to appreciate this. This music doesn't really have as much of a pop sensibility to it as some punk and rock music. It's not a bunch of songs you can hum to and sing along with. They're good enjoyable tunes, but except for "Raw Power", they're not really catchy.

(Which actually is what gave The Sex Pistols and The Clash their edge. Yeah, they were loud, noisy and abrasive, but underneath all that, there were catchy tunes that you could sing along with. In fact, many kids found it very easy to sing along with The Pistols. And I think that is what help make them so popular in Europe and England. The Pistols were basically writing catchy pop tunes with noisy guitars and abrasive vocals and lyrics.)

I don't want to make it sound like Iggy was doing some avant-garde atonal experimental jazz work. There is a sound and groove you can get into here. It just isn't obvious as some other works.

A great, hard driving banging and rhythm backs all this work. Stacked on top of this is some fantastic strong, pulsating, beautifully fuzzy rhythm guitar work along with James Williamson's wild crazy note-hunting. Only in bluegrass have I heard more note-picking. On top of all this is Iggy's snarling, although snarling doesn't begin to describe the way Iggy sings on this album. It feels like Iggy's about to jump out of the speakers or headphones and bite your head off - especially in "Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell"! And the way he sings "Penetration" makes me fear for all the females I know. And with David Bowie mixing the stuff, there is a touch of a pop feel to keep things from getting too out of hand.

But some of that guitar note-picking originally turned me off. This album came out in 1973 (four years before Never Mind the Bollocks or The Clash's debut album). And it has some of that 70's rocks feel, especially with the guitar solos and some of Iggy's drawn out vocals.

But as I get older and hopefully lose some of my pretentiousness, I can return to that 70's music that I looked my nose down at after finding punk rock and new wave. In fact, it seems a lot of the young punk rockers are finding that they can use some elements from classic rock. And the Americana scene has definitely been influenced by southern rock.

So now I can once again enjoy "Cat Scratch Fever" and "Free Bird". And with those, I can enjoy Iggy's stuff here. Because he takes all those classic rock sounds and infuse them with the power, energy and feel of punk rock. This is what 70's rock could have been if others were courageous enough to take the plunge. And without albums like this, punk rock would have never come to be.

Therefore, if you like to rock out, listen to an important piece of rock and roll, as well punk, history. Iggy and the Stooges will give you a ride you won't easily forget.

An Iggy Pop fan page
VH1 Iggy Pop site

My Big Brudder Now Has A Blog - Go Check It Out!

Like me, my older brother has finally got tired of boring people around him with his endless talk of pop culture, and now has the chance to bore all of you on the internet!

Seriously though, if you're into music, movies, tv and/or sports, give his blog a look.

You can even read how he fell off a ladder and discusses our family history of falling off ladders with the nurse!

So go check it out!

If you didn't catch all the other links, here's a link to his blog!

MUSIC: Bizarre Violent Femmes Trivia from Their Website

Here's just a bunch of weird trivia on The Violent Femmes (my favorite band) website. - OlderMusicGeek.

Violent Femmes Trivia

* Victor DeLorenzo met insane Beach Boys genius Brian Wilson at Summerfest in Milwaukee. Wilson pointed to Lake Michigan and asked Victor, "What ocean is that?"

* The Femmes played at the Newport Folk Festival with both Joan Armatrading (a fifty year old black woman) and Odetta (an eighty year old black woman). Gordon approached Odetta and said, "Hi Joan, I am a big fan of your music." Odetta was not amused.

* When Victor was on hiatus for nine years, Lou Reed asked Brian, "Whatever happened to your old drummer?" Brian said, "As a matter of fact, he is currently playing with Mo Tucker." (from Reed's old band, Velvet Underground) Reed deadpanned, "Any port in a storm."

* VF shared the bill in Spain with both Lou Reed and Alex Chilton/Big Star. Reed told a puzzled Brian Ritchie, "Hi Brian, I thought I might see you here." He told Victor, "Hi Victor." Chilton told Brian, "Hi Lou." Those wacky 60's rockstars!

* The Femmes first album has sold millions of copies. Their newest album has sold hundreds of copies.

* The Femmes were at O'Hare airport in Chicago. An old man walked up to the gate, started talking to the attendant, stiffened and keeled over dead. Paramedics rushed to the scene and tried to revive him with heart stimulators which created a huge noise. The corpse was twitching and jerking. During this entire scene drummer Guy Hoffman remained engrossed in his reading material about 3 meters away. The paramedics covered the corpse with a blanket, and since the old man was in the jetway all passengers including Hoffman had to walk around the stiff to get onboard. Later, when the band and crew talked about how strange it was to watch a dude croak, Hoffman said, "What are you talking about? Who died?"

* Jonathan Richman was asked in an interview what he thought of the Femmes. He said, "They'll never get anywhere with that kind of music." Three years later, he woke Gano in the middle of the night, saying this weighed on his conscience, and apologized for the statement.

* Brian Ritchie was sunbathing on a beach next to Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin for 3 hours. Ritchie didn't talk to Plant or introduce himself because he hates Led Zep. Later he read an interview where Plant said the Femmes were one of his favorite bands. Ritchie felt like an asshole.

* Brian Ritchie was taking a leak while mountain biking in a secluded park in Milwaukee when he was assaulted by two cops leaping out of the nearby bushes. The cops arrested Ritchie, who asked them what they were doing hiding in the bushes watching him pee. One of the cops, who had a Hitler mustache, said, "We are on a sting operation against fags." Ritchie said, "You were the guys in the bushes." The oinkers took Ritchie to their car and held a gun to his head after
finding that a Brian F. Ritchie with the same birthday, hair color, weight, and eyes, was wanted for murder. It took several hours for Ritchie to convince them that he was not Brian F. Ritchie, but rather Brian E. Ritchie. The entire incident ended up in the USA Today newspaper.

* The Femmes did a gig with Bob Dylan. Dylan did not listen to the band, despite the fact that he is obviously heavily influenced by Gordon Gano's singing and songwriting.

*Brian and Victor ran into Yes/King Crimson drummer Bill Bruford on the plane. They introduced themselves and Bruford said, "I have never heard of you." However he did put them on the guest list for that evenings show.

* Victor and Brian bumped into Uriah Heep drummer Lee Kerslake in the hotel lobby. They introduced themselves and Kerslake said, "I have never heard of you." Then he asked, "What kind of crowd do you have, are there any girls?" DeLorenzo said, "About 50/50 boys and girls." Kerslake said, "You are lucky, we only have boys."

* Horns of Dilemma saxophonist Steve Mackay is also a member of the Stooges. He told Iggy Pop that he was going on tour with the Femmes. Iggy said, "I have never heard them."

* Pink Floyd saxophonist Dick Parry is also a member of the Horns of Dilemma. He mentioned to David Gilmour that he was going out on the road with the Femmes. Gilmour said, "Who?"

* Ritchie was staying at the Randolph in Oxford, England. David Bowie was also a guest in the hotel. They did not talk to each other or have any drinks together.

* Kinks guitarist Dave Davies came to see the Femmes. They asked him to sit in on "Add It Up" telling him there were only two chords. Davies declined, saying, "That's one chord too many!"

* The Femmes showed up at a gig in L.A. and were surprised to find American game show host Pat Sajak in the dressing room. When they asked him why he was there he replied, "I am a big fan of yours."

* Another time VF went into their dressing room and crooner Tony Bennett was there. The Femmes asked if he knew their music and Bennett said, "No." VF were puzzled what he was doing there.

* Teen actress Mayim Bialik of the show "Blossom" told Gano, "Don't get married until I reach the age of consent." Gano did not comply with this request.

* The Femmes were eating at Spanish restaurant Mallorca in Ohio. When the desserts came Gano was appalled to discover that his flan was a lighter shade of brown than the flan of manager Darren Brown. Gano summoned the waitress who told him there was nothing she could do, it was the last flan. Brown made things OK by trading flans with Gano.

* The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland had a display of famous drummers sticks. DeLorenzo was represented by the only pair of brushes.

* The Femmes asked Tom Waits to produce one of their albums. Waits said, "No."

* The Femmes asked Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr to produce one of their albums. He said, "OK", then never returned the Femmes calls.

* The Femmes asked brilliant guitarist Tom Verlaine to open up a tour for them in Australia. Verlaine said, "No."

* The Ramones were supposed to play before the Femmes at Lollapalooza in Canada. Bassist CJ Ramone was "detained at the border" so the Femmes ended up playing first. Another time the Ramones were supposed to open for the Femmes in New Jersey. The Ramones cancelled the gig rather than open for the Femmes. Later on drummer Marky Ramone said in an interview that the Femmes were one of the only bands who kept punk alive in the dark days of the 80's and 90's.

* Rolling Stone magazine said Gano's voice "can clear a room faster than a methane explosion."

* NME magazine in England said of Ritchie, "Technically the most advanced bassist of his generation, the pretentious conch blowing dork."

* Show biz bible Variety called DeLorenzo "the worst drummer in any professional band".

* Allman Brothers guitarist Dickie Betts was cruising in his limo when he saw a commotion at a record store in Milwaukee. He asked the driver to pull over and checked out the Femmes doing an in-store performance. Betts said, "This is the best band I have seen in ten years."

* Gano and Ritchie were having a drink at a bar. Ritchie was approached by a fan asking for an autograph. Ritchie signed the kids paper and said, "Here's Gordon, would you like his autograph as well?" The fan looked at Gano and said, "No."

* Another time Ritchie and Gano were smoking cigars at Mercury Lounge in New York. The bouncers threw Gano out but left Ritchie alone. The next day Gano said, "They don't pick on him because he is big."

* The Femmes were eating dinner at Doyle's Seafood in Sydney. Ritchie ate a live lobster served sashimi style. When Gano saw the arms of the lobster waving around while Ritchie munched the raw flesh he called a taxi and went back to the hotel. The next day Gano announced he was becoming a vegetarian and has never eaten meat since then.

* The Femmes were playing in Germany but when they showed up at the gig there was no PA system. It looked like the gig would be cancelled so Ritchie drank a bottle of Pernod and got drunk. Miraculously the PA showed up and was set up in record time. The show went on but Ritchie was so inebriated he kept calling out songs they had played earlier in the show. Finally Victor got angry and said, "Brian, we already played "Prove My Love"!

* Femmes manager Darren Brown was originally hired as lighting director. After his first gig with the Femmes he was sleeping and heard a commotion. He looked around the room and saw Horns of Dilemma keyboardist Sigmund Snopek III having sex with a tattooed punk with a mohawk wearing nothing but combat boots. The next day Snopek announced to the band, "I gave the new guy a good initiation."

* Since the band started they have played in over 500 different cities, but the members can't remember all of them.

* Mark Van Hecke who "produced" the Femmes first two records,once boasted,"I will go down in music history as one of the great record producers alongside George Martin and Phil Spector!" Instead he is currently making music for video games."

* Femmes singer Gordon Gano's brother Glenn recorded his own CD. Brian Ritchie played it for Femmes recording engineer David Vartanian and Horns of Dilemma member Sigmund Snopek III, saying it was a demo of Gordon's new songs. Although Dave and Sig had both been working with the Femmes for over a decade they couldn't tell that it was not Gordon.

* Gordon wrote "Country Death Song" in the tenth grade studyhall.

* When Nirvana opened for the Femmes in Australia, singer Kurt Cobain refused to go onstage unless someone got him some drugs. Femmes tour manager Willie MacInnes gave him two Tylenol, but told Kurt they were powerful narcotics. A few minutes later Kurt hit the stage, saying,"I feel much better."

* The Femmes played at the North Pole with the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The Chili Peppers celebrated this rare opportunity by arguing and splitting up the band.

* Former President Jimmy Carter once opened up the show for the Femmes. When he met Brian Ritchie, he shook his hand and said,"Pleased to meet you."

* When former Talking Head Jerry Harrison produced the Femmes, Gordon was shocked to find him drinking from a little bottle clearly marked,"For External Use Only."

* When the Femmes worked with producer Michael Beinhorn (Chili Peppers, Soundgarden, Soul Asylum, etc.) he threw a temper tantrum because the recording studio refused to provide him with a playpen for his dog who had been pissing all over the sound board.

* Gordon Gano is one of the closest living relations to eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes.

* Gordon and Brian played their first show together at Gordon's National Honor Society Program. Gordon told them he would play an innocuous song, but instead the duo performed "Gimme the Car." When a riot erupted, Gordon was expelled from the honor society.

* When the Femmes did an acoustic show at Warner Bros. Records to celebrate the release of "Why Do Birds Sing?" WB President Lenny Waronker called Brian Ritchie aside and told him,"That was excellent, Gordon."

* Horns of Dilemma musicians Sigmund Snopek III and Peter Balestrieri played with the Femmes at Carnegie Hall. A few days later they had a gig at a bowling alley in Wisconsin. They told the audience, "We just played at Carnegie Hall." no one believed them and one audience member shouted out, "Yeah, sure!"

* Gordon Gano's mother worked in the movies as a double for Paul Newman's wife, Joanne Woodward.

* Slash Records President Bob Biggs did not like "Country Death Song". He complained,"It's OK until that piano comes in and ruins it." The band was puzzled since there is no piano on the song. Obviously Biggs could not tell the difference between a piano and a banjo.

* Biggs later took the master tape of "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?" and overdubbed samples of James Brown and the Beach Boys. In the process, he erased some of Victor's drum parts.

* In an interview with the L.A. Weekly, Biggs admitted that he couldn't remember much of the eighties, because he was on drugs all the time.

* Warner Bros. Vice President Karin Berg once told the puzzled Femmes, "Biggs' strengths are his weaknesses."

* The Femmes played with Dennis Rodman at the Field Museum in Chicago for New Year's Eve '97. The audience was climbing on the elephants and the museum was strewn with used condoms.

* For the same show Rodman jammed with the Femmes and showed the audience his butt and pee-pee.

* Femmes drummer Victor DeLorenzo and family was there to witness the debauchery. The Femmes hired Victor's son's band to open the show, because the opening band from England never showed up.

* Rodman poured a beer over Gordon's head, but Gordon didn't retaliate because Gordon is small and Rodman is very big. * Brian put his bass neck into Rodman's ass.

* One of the Femmes earliest gigs was opening up for Guy Hoffman's band the Oil Tasters. The Femmes were paid nothing for that gig.

* Jazz great Ornette Coleman listened to all of the Femmes albums in one sitting. He said, "The music's great, but the words get in the way."

* Another Jazz great, Don Cherry, called Brian and asked if he could sit in with the Horns of Dilemma.

* Jazz great Sun Ra liked Brian's song, "Sun Ra-Man from Outer Space".He listened to it over and over on his tour bus. Ra told Femmes promoter Peter Jest, "I love it when the teenagers sing about me."

* Yet another Jazz great, Bassist Percy Heath of the Modern Jazz Quartet came to an early Femmes show and came backstage to try Brian's trademark acoustic bass guitar. Said Heath, "This is the bass guitar. That shit the other cats play is just a toy."

* Smiths singer Morrisey attended a Femmes show in London. Informed of his presence, the Femmes came out for the encore and sang the Smiths song,"I would go out tonight, but I haven't got a stitch to wear" clad only in their underwear.

* Another British popstar, The Jazz Butcher, was very excited to open up for his heroes, the Femmes. Unfortunately, he liked the Femmes too much, because upon hearing them, he fired his entire band and fled the venue in tears.

* Pop songstress Jewel, came into the Femmes dressing room and posed the question,"Would you rather be a fish or a star?" Gordon said,"Neither." Brian said,"A fish because you can eat other fishes." Jewel's response to this was,"That's disgusting!"

* In a German interview the Femmes were asked, "Ja, vat do you sink about the reunification of Chermany?" To the chagrin of the assembled journalists they responded,"We don't think the question is whether there should be one or two Germanies, but rather if there should be any Germany."

* The Femmes were going through Canadian customs when they were approached by bald TV excercise and diet guru Susan Powter. She said,"You look like rock musicians. So, what do you think, should Joni Mitchell be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?" The entire band and crew replied with a scornful,"No!!!" "Why not?" asked Powter. Guy Hoffman replied,"Because she doesn't play rock and roll. If they let her in, then they'll have to let Barbara Streisand in too." Brian Ritchie said,"The closest Joni Mitchell came to rock and roll was having sex with Crosby, Stills, and Nash."

* The Femmes were staying in a fancy hotel in Memphis, Tenn. They had to check out early to go to the next gig, and Horns of Dilemma musician Sigmund Snopek III fell asleep on a chair in the lobby while the rest were checking out. He was woken by a kick in the shin and a fruity voice yelling,"Come on, look lively, it's too early in the morning to be taking a nap!!!" Snopek opened his eyes to gaze upon TV excercise and diet guru Richard Simmons. Snopek then uttered the phrase,"Fuck off."

* Femmes were playing "Confessions" at a club in D.C. when they noticed that all of the young girls in the front several rows began grimacing and covering their eyes. When they looked behind them they realized why. Sigmund Snopek III was blowing a hunting horn completely nude.

* Horns of Dilemma sax man Peter Balestrieri had seen Brian jump into the audience and get passed around by the crowd and wanted to try it for himself. However, when Peter jumped the Australian audience parted and Pete landed on his butt, breaking his tailbone. He was not able to sit for the rest of the tour. When the band flew the other passengers were nervous when they saw someone with strong mediterranean features pacing up and down the aisle wearing sunglasses and drinking whiskey during takeoff.

* Brian Ritchie was having a beer with Fishbone singer Angelo. Angelo asked, "Brian, do you ever see angels?" Ritchie said, "No." Angelo responded, "I frequently see them flying around the room, but i can never tell if they are real or if I'm imagining them."

* The Femmes were playing at a rock festival with Lou Reed and Bonnie Raitt. Brian gave Lou a large cigar, and they were approached by Bonnie. Raitt asked, "Brian, do you have anything about that size I can put in my mouth?"

* A girl was lost in the Amazon for three days. When she was rescued the journalists asked her how she kept up her spirits during the ordeal.She replied,"By singing songs from the Violent Femmes album, "Hallowed Ground".

* When the Femmes were on their first tour, they had a gig at a foul club in Dallas. The club had giant statues of frogs playing musical instruments on the roof. The clubowner told the band,"This is not good music. I will pay you not to play." The band refused and performed anyway. They were shocked when they looked in the crowd and saw singing legend Tony Bennett.

* Years later the band was travelling in Texas, and they saw the musical frogs for sale in the parking lot of a gas station.

* The Femmes went to a sushi bar in L.A. Former Partridge Family bassist/actor Danny Bonaduce was the maitre'd. When he found out it was the Femmes, he invited them to go to the parking lot and smoke drugs.

* Another time Ritchie went to the same sushi bar, but when he sat down, they started playing the Femmes on the stereo. Brian summoned the waitress and requested to hear something else. She said,"What's wrong, don't you like the Femmes?" Ritchie told the confused waitress,"No, I love the Femmes. In fact, I've been to every one of their shows!"

* Brian Ritchie went to Femmes booking agent Frank Riley's office. Upon leaving he entered the elevator where he was joined by actor Sly Stallone. The elevator door did not close immediately, which visibly agitated Stallone. Rather than pressing the 'Door Close' button Stallone issued the following instruction,"F---in' door, CLOSE!"

MUSIC and MOVIES: A Bizarre Video Using Albums Covers

My much younger brother, Harmonica 23, once again sent something hilarious that I have to pass unto you.

WARNING: It makes much use of blood!

A bizarre video using albums covers

MUSIC: List of song from the mixed tape I was listening to

This is just for the people who saw this tape listed in "CD's I'm currently listening to" and wondered what was on this tape. It was a tape I made in 1987 from my older brother's records.

ASSORTMENT VII

Side A
Free Flight - Ted Nugent
Radio Waves - Roger Waters
I Saw Her Standing There - Johnny Bugger and the Dirtboxes
Psycho Killer (live)< - Talking Heads
Third Hoorah - Jethro Tull
Three Sunrises - U2
The Raven - Alan Parsons Project
If You Love Somebody, Set Them Free - Sting
Think Zinc - T. Rex
Gemini Dream - Moody Blues

Side B
Speed Your Love to Me - Simple Minds
The Boys are Back in Town - Thin Lizzy
Sleepless - King Crimson
Sheriff from Omaha - Omaha Sheriff
Whisper to a Scream (Birds Fly - Icicle Works
Long Hard Ride - Marshall Tucker Band
In a Big Country - Big Country
All the Way From Memphis - Mott the Hoople
Heaven - Eurogliders
Heaven - Psychedelic Furs
Mountain of Needles - David Byrne and Brian Eno