SCHLOCK, THE MONKEY - cultural claptrap

What You'll Find Here: Music, Movies and Me

Since May 1976, I have written in journals. When I have nothing particularly resonant to say about my own inner turmoil, philosophic ramblings, sexual peccadillos or whining on about the state of the world around me...I have always fallen back on reporting the cultural time consumption that takes up in inordinate portion of my daily goings on.

In the 40+ years since my first concerts seeing Children's Symphony presentations on Sundays at the Pasadena Civic or The Hot Jazz Society's monthly Dixieland romps in an old meeting hall on the edge of the L.A. "River" across from Griffith Park, I have been sold heavily on the magic of live music. As Neil Young so aptly put it, "Live music is better bumper stickers should be issued."

Growing up a few orange groves and canyons length away from Hollywood also contributed greatly to my family's addiction to movie going. From the time I was a small there were weekly trips to the drive-in theaters that dotted the landscape, or the local Temple theater for the Saturday matinees. Once in a while we'd drive the 12 miles into Hollywood and see something in one of the magnificent old movie palaces like Grauman's Chinese, the Egyptian, The Pantages or later the Cinerama Dome. My dad loved Westerns and War movies, as if he didn't get enough shoot-'em-up as an L.A. County Sheriff in his day gig, my mom adored musicals and comedies. My brother and I loved them all.

At SDSU, I played in my first gigging band and began booking concerts on campus as part of the well-funded Cultural Arts Board, kindling for my future life in and around music.

So it's not surprising that my first jobs out of college were working in local video rental places (which were all the rage) or managing a couple of Sam Goody record stores in Mall's on the East Coast where we marveled at the new CD format and sold the first home computers and video games (yes Commodore and Pong and Atari).

So these are really just extensions of all of those journal entries talking about the great new movies I was seeing and LPs/CDs I was listening to.

Though iPODS/iPADs, apps, smart phones and downloads now make music and movies accessible in your own pocket, there is still nothing like sitting in front of a stack of speakers with a room full of people swaying to music created before your eyes. Nor is there anything that works quite so well for me to escape the real world and all of it's pressures just outside than two hours in a dark theater, absorbing the stories flickering across that wide screen as they pull you into their world.

But a really good taco runs a close third...

Saturday, January 4, 2014

R.I.P. - Phil Everly 1938-2014

Hi y’all… So I haven’t had time to write much here what with so many gigs of my own this past year…but I would be very remiss to not comment on the passing today of seminal rock n roll and country artist Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers at age 74.

As members of both the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Everly Brothers string of 19 Top 40 Hits between 1957 and 1962 cemented their reputation as the premier vocal duo of the early rock era. Their songs "All I Have To Do Is Dream" and "Cathy's Clown" topped both Billboard's Pop and R&B charts. "Bird Dog" and "Bye Bye Love" were #1 Country hits and their first hit in 1956, "Wake Up Little Susie" rose to the top of all three charts. All told the duo charted 12 Top Ten hits. In the 55-year history of Billboard's Hot 100 charts only two other duos had more chart success, Hall & Oates and The Carpenters.

Performing professionally together since their childhood years, first on the family’s country radio show and a few years later as one of the most influential early rock acts of the music’s formative years, their music greatly influenced not only the vocal harmonies of The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel, The Hollies, CSN, Gram Parsons and all of their progeny but their own songwriting and the writing of their main songwriting team Felice and Boudleaux Bryant have produced a rich catalog of pop compositions covered by artists from across the musical spectrum such as Simon & Garfunkel, Emmylou Harris, Gram Parsons, . Most recently, Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong and Norah Jones have released an album, Foreverly of their interpretations of songs from the Everly's influential 1958 country album, Songs Our Daddy Taught Us.

For a brilliant documentary on their career through 1984 check out this wonderful offering from the BBC…

I was lucky enough to see them at a date a the Valley Forge Music Fair in Devon, PA on the 1984 Reunion tour. While I was familiar with there influence on my favorite acts via interviews and articles touting them, I had one greatest hits LP and really didn’t comprehend the scope and beauty of their musical world until I attended this show. I was at first taken with the band. I was already an Albert Lee fan from his work with Emmylou Harris but it didn’t take but a song or two to set my goosebumps arise. I’d not heard the Beatles sing together in person, nor Gram and Emmylou or Paul and Artie. But this night I couldn’t imagine anyone touching these guys. Every song was a classic. Even the new stuff like “Why Worry” or “On The Wings of a Nightingale” that came out on their follow-up releases were just jawdropping pop masterpieces of taste, precision and heart. Wow.

From that night on their influence on my own music and musical tastes have been greatly colored by the esthetic, songs and sound of the Everly Brothers. In SILVER MOON, we currently perform 56 tunes associated with the Everly Brothers. But we only perform half of any of them in that as a duo with only one singer something missing looms heavy everytime I sing one of these great songs. Everytime, I hear Phil’s invisible harmony in my head and while I always will, the sadness that his living voice will no longer be heard in real-time is a great shame.

Check out video from 1983-84 REUNION…

Unfortunately for my generation, chances to see the Everlys perform would be few and far between. Like many of the greatest sibling duos in rock the long familiarity and struggles for ego gratification between uber creative people living, working and existing in close proximity pulled the brothers apart again and again. Then again, those are often some of the same factors that makes their collaborations so essential, unique and unduplicatable. Think KINKS. OASIS. BEACH BOYS. BEE GEES. And no, the Ramones don’t count). Onstage fisticuffs, separate interviews and travel arrangements. Lawsuits. Not so easy it seems.

But seeing these teams work when things are right is hard to fathom that they could find any better partners for their musical creations.

By the way, rumor has begun again that a long awaited KINKS reunion is in the early talking stages. If it happens don’t miss this one. Dave Davies has recovered from a stroke and released a strong album full of guest stars such as and older brother Ray remains of songwriter of individuality and talent who is long overdue for a big creative splash. Cross your fingers.

Ten years ago, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel convinced Phil & Don Everly to reunite for a tour with both often fractuous duos on the bill and anyone who saw the shows will not see anything as sublime again.

Watching Phil & Don sing “So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)” while eye to eye in the videos above illustrates directly that no matter the divisive quality of our lives, our egos, and our differences that harmony, compassion and love are really what we all must strive for in life everyday. Another essential lesson that great art offers us if we only open ourselves to it.

More of the passing of Phil Everly here…

http://music.yahoo.com/news/phil-everly-half-pioneer-rock-duo-dies-74-032650788.html

http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/5862255/don-everly-on-losing-his-brother-phil-everly

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

LINK HAZE: LINKS TO TODAY'S CULTURAL CLAPTRAP

Solid. Links to some cultural claptrap from the front lines. Random bits and species.

DEREK JETER BACK AT SHORTSTOP

ERIC CLAPTON’S NEW RELEASE

DAVID BOWIE'S FIRST RELEASE IN A DECADE

36th ANNUAL FREIHOFER's SARATOGA JAZZ FESTIVAL LINE-UP

IGGY & THE STOOGES NEW ALBUM AND TOUR

JAZZ TIMES: CHARLES LLOYD TO PLAY 75th B'DAY AT KENNEDY CENTER

NEXT GENERATION JAZZ FESTIVAL

JERRY GARCIA SYMPHONIC CELEBRATION fet. WARREN HAYNES at WOLFTRAP

And more on the JERRY GARCIA SYMPHONIC CELEBRATION TOUR:

Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration featuring Warren Haynes:

A new symphonic project celebrating American music icon Jerry Garcia. This ground-breaking orchestral adventure features Garcia's storied original compositions as well as classic interpretations of timeless standards that were hallmarks of Garcia and the Grateful Dead's shows. Renowned vocalist/guitarist Warren Haynes collaborates with the nation's finest orchestras, lending his soul-soaked, introspective blend of rock, blues, R&B and jazz to Garcia's masterworks.

For pre-sale information on many of these shows check in at

The Official Jerry Garcia Website

Tuesday, June 18th, 2013 - 7:30pm Heinz Hall - Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Presents Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration
Featuring Warren Haynes
in association with Princeton Entertainment
Conductor: Fawzi Haimor
Ticket Price: $78, $56, $48, $40, $30
General On-Sale begins: Monday, March 25th at 9am ET via PittsburghSymphony.org

Saturday, June 22nd, 2013 -- 8:30pm Tanglewood Music Center -- Lenox, MA
Boston Pops Present a Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration
Featuring Warren Haynes
Conductor: Keith Lockhart
Ticket Price: $79, $52.50, $23.50
Tickets available now via BSO.org

Tuesday, June 25th, 2013 -- 8:00pm The Mann Center for the Performing Arts - Philadelphia, PA
The Mann Center Presents Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration
Featuring Warren Haynes and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
in association with Princeton Entertainment
Conductor: Fawzi Haimor
Ticket Price: $75, $52.5, $35, $19.5
Tickets available now via: MannCenter.org

Wednesday, June 26th, 2013 -- 8:15pm Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts - Vienna, VA
National Symphony Orchestra Present a Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration
Featuring Warren Haynes
Conductor: Emil de Cou
Ticket Price: $75, $52, $42, $35, $20
General On-Sale begins Saturday, March 16th at 10am ET via Wolftrap.org

Thursday, August 1st and Friday, August 2nd, 2013 -- 7:30pm Davies Symphony Hall - San Francisco, CA
San Francisco Symphony Performs a Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration
Featuring Warren Haynes
Conductor: Sarah Hicks
Ticket Price: $100, $75, $55, $30
Tickets available now via: www.garciaorchestra.tickets.musictoday.com and www.sfsymphony.org

Sunday, August 4th, 2013 - 8pm Greek Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration
Featuring Warren Haynes and 55-piece Orchestra
Ticket Price: $100, $85, $70, $55, $40
General On-Sale begins: Saturday, March 30th at 10am PT via GreekTheatreLA.com

Saturday, February 23, 2013

OSCAR PICKS

One of the hardest years in ages to pick my own favorites in all of the Oscar categories, in part because my favorite film of the year was only nominated for one major Academy Award and that was MOONRISE KINGDOM for WRITING (Original Screenplay). I think a nomination for Best Picture was warranted for this quirky, funny, moving though little-seen film from director Wes Anderson. Watch for an upcoming column going into my favorite films of the year in the next couple of weeks.

I'm currently up late with last minute prep for ur sold-out show at the Queen Theatre in Wilmington, DE. SHINE A LIGHT ON THE QUEEN is our 2nd annual benefit for the newly remodeled concert hall, a tribute to The Rolling Stones and the vibrant Wilmington music scene. But, again more on that later. Here are my Oscar picks for those keeping score:

Best Picture: LIFE OF PI
Best Actor in a Leading Role: DENZEL WASHINGTON (Flight)
Best Actress in a Leading Role: JENNIFER LAWRENCE (Silver Linings Playbook)
Best Supporting Actor: ROBERT DeNIRO (Silver Linings Playbook)
Best Supporting Actress: ANNE HATHAWAY (Les Miserables)
Best Director: ANG LEE (Life of Pi)
Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay): LIFE OF PI
Best Writing (Original Screenplay): MOONRISE KINGDOM
Best Foreign Film: AMOUR
Animated Feature Film: BRAVE
Cinematography: LIFE OF PI
Costume Design: LES MISERABLES
Documentary Feature: SEARCHING FOR SUGARMAN
Film Editing: LIFE OF PI
Make-Up and Hairstyling: LES MISERABLES
Music (Original Score): LIFE OF PI
Music (Original Song): SKYFALL (Skyfall)
Sound Editing: DJANGO UNCHAINED
Sound Mixing: LES MISERABLES
Visual Effects: LIFE OF PI
Short film: I didn't see any of the nominations i nthis catagory while I did see 98% of the nominees in all other categoreis combined. There was a short film that blew me away this year which I didn't see until I watched the DVD versio of BRAVE and that was the wondrous and unforgettable film LA LUNA.

I will comment more on these later. Let me for now say that the closest races and most difficult categories for me to judge personally this year were the Best Actor (Cooper really was fantastic and SO Philly in his role in Silver Lining Playbook), Best Supporting Actor (Christph Waltz was truly memorable and inventive in Django Unchained), Make-Up and Hairstyling because I believe that the vastly under-rated CLOUD ATLAS was completely robbed of recognition for its major achievement in this category.

I also believe LAWLESS was a spectacular film from top to bottom and sorely ignored by the Academy as was BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, one of the most heartwarming and fun films of the year.

We'll be back after Sunday night's show to see how we did.