Giddy over Geddy

Paste Magazine has a nice interview with Geddy Lee, the singer/bassist for Canada’s premier power trio, Rush (sorry Triumph, better luck next time). Count me among the many “geeky nerds” (as Geddy himself says) who have always liked Rush. They were the first band I saw in concert, back in ’81 on the Moving Pictures tour, and they blew me away. I’ve seen them more than a dozen times over the ensuing years. They always put on a fantastic live show, which is a huge part of their enduring appeal. Better yet, they don’t seem to take themselves too seriously – must be that Canadian upbringing.

rush trio

It seems that Neil Peart, the Rush drummer, doesn’t want to tour anymore. Can’t blame him. He’s the best drummer in the world but kids a third of his age wouldn’t be able to keep up with the demands of single Rush set, much less an entire tour. I certainly hope  they still make studio albums, but if not it’s been a fantastic 40+ years. And as their R40 tour proved, they still have the chops.

Here’s a clip of one of their more recognizable songs…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PaSQHNg9UtE&feature=em-subs_digest-g-vrecs

 

… and this one’s for the geeky nerds:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlmvdK3yzvs&feature=em-subs_digest-g-vrecs

 

Here’s a closing thought to keep in mind:

geddy

 

Favorite albums of 2015

Back by unpopular demand, it’s the dubbatrubba list of last year’s top albums, in no particular order, with a video from each album, because I don’t know how to do a Spotify playlist.

Calexico – Edge of the Sun

 

Royal Headache – High

 

Kacey Musgraves – Pageant Material

 

Jason Isbell – Something More Than Free

 

CHVRCHES – Every Open Eye

 

Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell

 

Tame Impala – Currents

 

The Mountain Goats – Beat the Champ

 

Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think and Sometimes I Just Sit

 

Father John Misty – I Love You Honeybear

 

 

 

Brandi Carlile – The Firewatcher’s Daughter

 

Waxahatchee – Ivy Tripp

 

Dwight Yoakam – Second Hand Heart

 

Patty Griffin – Servant of Love

 

Built to Spill – Untethered Moon

 

Chris Stapleton – Traveller

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwaryV4h3M4

 

Tallest Man on Earth – Dark Bird is Home

 

Titus Andronicus – The Most Lamentable Tragedy

 

Low – Ones and Sixes

 

Kurt Vile – b’lieve i’m goin down

 

Youth Lagoon – Savage Hills Ballroom

 

Houndmouth – Little Neon Limelight

 

Searching for Syd

Do they still put photos of missing persons on milk cartons? If so, we need to put Syd Straw on a few half gallons. She’s a wonderfully gifted singer and songwriter, a former member of the Golden Palominos waaay back when, who has put out only a handful of solo albums in the past 25 years. I always loved her voice, and would like to hear more of it.

I turned to the ol’ Interwebs in an effort to find out what  she’s been up to, but it was no help. (Well, at least Wikipedia told me that she started her professional career as a backup vocalist for Pat Benatar.)

Syd’s website has expired. I even resorted to Facebook – and I’m not even on Facebook! – but her Facebook page  has no posts since January of this year, and the previous post was from May of 2014. “Reclusive” doesn’t do her justice.

syd straw facebook

 

The most recent references I could find were from an NPR story about a Harry Nilsson tribute and she sings one song on a 2015 folk album of kids nursery rhymes. She used to do a yearly “Heartwreck” Valentine’s Day show, but that ended in 2014.

At least there are a few videos of Syd performing.

Here she is with the old Letterman band and Dave Alvin:

Here’s a song from her 1996 album:

 

I think Syd is right up there with Emmylou Harris as a harmony vocalist/backup singer. Check out her work on this tune from former Go-Betweens frontman Grant McLennan.

 

And here’s one where she sings with Michael Stipe. I think he was in a band of some note.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJajD3zuUKM

And a fun live song with Dave Alvin at McCabe’s Guitar Shop in Santa Monica, CA (side note: McCabe’s is a fantastic place to see a show.)

 

The video of the Harry Nilsson session features Syd for a second, and as a special bonus to middle-aged fans of obscure artists (I’m on that list), also includes Bob Forrest, formerly of Thelonious Monster and The Bicycle Thief.

 

Hope springs eternal… maybe Syd Straw will put out a new album in 2016.

 

 

 

The sure cure for lame Christmas songs

99% of radio stations play the same handful of Christmas songs, over and over and over again. Tired of hearing Mariah Carey? Aren’t we all.

Last year I wrote a post about my favorite holiday tunes, i.e. songs that don’t suck. Here’s a nice article from American Songwriter about one of them, “Father Christmas” by The Kinks. It includes a funny story about how the song was such a crowd-pleaser in concert that the band The Kinks were opening for back in ’77 tried to keep them from doing it because Ray Davies dressed as Santa and rocking the rafters was a tough act to follow.

 

Looking forward to Forecastle

The Forecastle Festival just announced some of the 2016 lineup. I’m in heaven already.

forecastle

R.I.P. Allen Toussaint

Allen Toussaint passed away earlier this month. This article is a fine tribute.

I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Mr. Toussaint back in 1993, when I was working at a radio station and got to be the on-stage host for the Cincinnati stop of an “In Their Own Words” songwriters tour featuring 4 performers doing acoustic tunes and answering questions about their craft. Allen was part of a quartet that also included Guy Clark, Joe Ely and Michelle Shocked. He was the epitome of grace, class, humility and charm.

Most of his work was behind the scenes – writing songs for other performers, playing sessions, producing other artists – so he doesn’t get nearly the  credit he deserves. (He was even covered by Devo!) The article referenced above says, “he was arguably the greatest songwriter/producer to ever come out of New Orleans.” To me, there’s no argument – Allen Toussaint reigns supreme.