Seems like I have been singing Pete Seeger tunes all my life, both knowingly and as covers by other well known artists.
As a tribute here is a selection ….
Seeger also had a hit with the popular song, Little Boxes, although he did not write it.
I think this video is a fitting tribute…..
Pete Seeger dead: American folk singer dies in New York aged 94 – News – People – The Independent.
I’m not having a pop at One Direction.
As far as I know, I have never heard a One Direction track and have never seen them perform on TV, so I really have no view on them as a band. I do have a general aversion to the “boy band” phenomenon and the screaming fanatics that follow them.
All that aside, this video was too good not to share.
Enjoy
Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers Dies At Age 74 « K-EARTH 101.
Phil Everly, one half of the Everly Brothers duo that provided part of the musical backdrop to my youth. Who can forget hits such as “Cathy’s Clown,” “Wake Up Little Susie,” “Bye Bye Love,” “When Will I Be Loved” and “All I Have to Do Is Dream.”
The Everlys are cited, by many, as having been an influence on their musical careers and Phil Everly, with brother Don, has left behind a fabulous legacy for generations to come.
My thoughts go to his friends and family.
Or rather Jools Holland and His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra to give the correct name.
On Saturday 21st December Jools and the team took Portsmouth by storm. The review by Portsmouth News writer Rachel Jones does not convey the excitement, the energy and the sheer power of the show.
“A fanfare of trumpets heralded the arrival of Jools Holland”
But that’s where any ceremony ended because an evening with Jools and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra is a laid-back affair.
I agree that group may appear laid-back but that is because they are all extremely talented musicians. They are comfortable with their instruments and they are comfortable with their fellow orchestra members. Always in control but not so rigid that they can’t have fun with the music and each other.
The fanfare paved the way for Jools to turn on the Boogie-Woogie piano playing for which he is renowned. As always the opening number set the standard for the rest of the evening, got our feet tapping and our hands clapping. And then the brass section came in full tilt and blew us all away.
This was the third time I have been to see Jools and each time the effect of the opening number reminds me of that Maxell Tape advert, the one where the guy is pressed into the back of his armchair by the sound coming from his Hi Fi.
Once started the pressure is maintained. Sure the pace slows a little from time to time but the entertainment level and the quality of the music and the musicians remains at the very highest levels. This is demonstrated throughout the show as each individual musician takes centre stage to solo on their chosen instrument. Even the backing singers step into the spotlight to take the lead. This all serves to keep the show simmering along nicely.
However, the heat really turns up when the power house that is Ruby Turner takes to the stage. Ruby is the resident “guest star” and boy has she got a voice. She wrings every ounce of emotion out of every word and note. Ruby was definitely cooking with gas on Saturday night.
Jools likes to bring other guest stars to his shows. Saturday was no different. In the past we have been treated to performances by Lulu and Marc Almond, both superb vocalists. On this occasion it was former Spice Girl Melanie C. who performed a mix of songs, her own and covers. As on previous occasions taking a well known singer out of their usual context shows what talent they truly have. Mel C. was no exception and showed that she was up to performing familiar songs supported by Jools and the team. Strutting from side to side of the stage she had both the audience and the orchestra in the palm of her hands.
Sadly the show came to an end, but not until Jools and the orchestra returned for an encore and finished with the entire audience on their feet.
I left Portsmouth Guildhall with my feet and hands buzzing. The ultimate sign of a great show.
Review: Jools Holland & His Orchestra at Portsmouth Guildhall – Portsmouth News.
First they play Loreena McKennitt’s “Kecharitomene”, Now they hit me with Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir”. Sounds that are so evocative of far away places.
Damn you Radio Paradise, I can’t get any work done while you are playing such quality tunes.
Today was a good day. I will reveal all in a future post.
This post will concentrate on this evening.
We have just returned from a concert at the Astor Theatre, Mount Lawley, Perth where we have just seen Hot Chocolate perform.
This post is aimed directly to at a group of ignorant, rude and disrespectful folks seated in the middle of rows M and N of the stalls.
Hot Chocolates support act was a solo acoustic performer, Jason Ayers, a local Perth talent. He was really quite good, performing a number of his own compositions along with some more well-known songs. Unfortunately, we could not give him the attention he deserved due to the noise of the prats seated in Rows M and N.
To you, the rude, the ignorant, the disrespectful I say
I call you rude because you inflicted your conversation on the rest of the audience, most of whom were actually interested in listening to Jason Ayres.
I hope you are pleased that you have annoyed me enough to write this post. You probably view this as confirmation of your own self importance. Your rudeness was noted by several other members of the audience who commented to me and other members of our party.
You are yet another example of what is wrong with society today.
I was very much saddened to hear of the death of JJ Cale. He was 74 and died of a heart attack.
JJ Cale helped found the “Tulsa Sound”, a fusion of blues, rockabilly, and country. Whilst mainly known for his guitar playing, JJ Cale also played piano, keyboards, bass, drums.
He was a prolific singer / song writer and many of his songs were covered by other artists. These included covers by musicians such as “After Midnight” and “Cocaine” by Eric Clapton, “Clyde” by Waylon Jennings and “Call Me the Breeze” by Lynyrd Skynyrd and Johnny Cash. Other artists that have recorded Cale’s work include Carlos Santana, Tom Petty and Randy Crawford. JJ Cales songs could be best described as laid back, mellow, yet with a driving groove and over the years he has collaborated with many artists. Many more, including Neil Young, Bryan Ferry and Mark Knopfler, cite him as one of the influences of their own music.
Once again the world has lost a major talent. But, thanks to his magic, the world is a richer place and his influences on other current musicians ensures that his legacy is carried forward.
And folks, if you don’t know the works of JJ Cale, there are over twenty albums out there for you to dip into.
Richie Havens has died, of a heart attack, at the age of 72.
Who can forget the intense and frenetic performance of “Freedom” that he gave, opening the 1969 Woodstock festival.
Seems to me we are losing to many of our music icons. I know that this is selfish of me, that none of us live forever and that we will always have the musical legacy that such as Richie leave behind.
My thoughts are with Richies family and friends.
Thanks to youtube we are able to relive those classic moments so here are a couple of reminders of his talent.
Storm Thorgerson, designer of the iconic album cover for Pink Floyds “Dark Side Of The Moon”, has died at the age of 69.
Thorgersons 40 year career started at Hipgnosis and he was responsible for the album artwork for other Floyd albums e.g Atom Heart Mother, Wish You Were Here and Animals. Much in demand Storm also created the cover art for other artists such as Led Zeppelin’s “presence”, 10CC’s “How Dare You”, Black Sabbath’s “Technical Ecstasy”, Peter Gabriel’s “Scratch”, Muse’s “uprising” and many, many more.
Storm has left the world an enormous legacy.
My thoughts are with his friends and family.
Great performance from Nils Lofgren
WrAnTz 