Tag Archives: Prince

Yes, Know, Maybe So

32nd Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Barclays Center
April 7th

There have been 32 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremonies, and I’ve sadly only attended three of them.  For a long time, they weren’t open to the public, and were held in either Cleveland or the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel only for industry people  

As soon as they did open them to the public, and in my neck of the woods – starting with the 2014 show – I HAD to be there.  Somehow the demand wasn’t as high with the 2016 show (guess Cheap Trick as a headliner didn’t do the trick), and I somehow snagged a pair of tickets for a paltry $26.06!!!

For the 2017 show, I knew that that would not be the case, with Pearl Jam and Journey getting in, who both have strong fan bases that would just have to be there.  I had to be there too, no matter what.  I’d go even if the inductees were the now eligible Spin Doctors, EMF, Letters To Cleo, Color Me Badd, and Right Said Fred!!  (come to think of it – I’d actually love to see a concert of all those bands together!!!)

E.L.O.

Last year’s show led off with a David Bowie tribute, and so of course an obvious Chuck Berry one was due this year, and of course, the obvious choice to kick things off was E.L.O. and their outer-spaced out version of his ‘Roll Over Beethoven’, and of course, that is what happened, and of course it rocked.  I know it would, having been lucky enough to see Mr Jeff Lynne and his orchestra do that song + ‘Evil Woman’ and ‘Mr Blue Sky’ this past September, like he totally rocked them again this night  

E.L.O. is a well deserved entry into the Hall, although I strongly feel that Lynne’s other project – The Traveling Wilburys – deserve a place there too.  Mainly cause I want him to reunite with Dylan and Petty (and maybe get George Harrison’s son Dhani, who inducted E.L.O., plus someone else to stand in for Roy Orbison) and play the songs they NEVER toured, EVER

Joan Baez

I know Joan Baez, but if you asked me to name her 5 most famous songs, I’d probably not even get to 2.  Yikes, but I know she’s important, and while not the most rockiniest choice for the Hall, a vital one nonetheless.  And with today’s politically charged climate (although seriously, what day and age’s climate is NOT politically charged), Joan brought a taste of injustice and protest from times past to the present, playing ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’ + brought out Mary Chapin Carpenter and The Indigo Girls to strum ‘Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)’ and ‘The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down’.  I’m all for her making a statement, but I would have preferred a little more rockin – like her cover of ‘House of The Rising Sun’ (if you can call that ‘rockin’)

Yes

One of THE best things about the Rock Hall inductions is the once in a lifetime reunions AND collaborations, and the band Yes, gave both of those an emphatic YES!!!  The band has had many many many formations in its history, and currently tour the world in two different factions, but on this night, they didn’t come from a place of ‘no’, and all came together to say ‘yes’ to Yes!!!  And superfan Geddy Lee (and Rush bandmater Alex Lifeson) as the inductor, not only had high praise for the group, but filled in admirably for the departed Chris Squire on ‘Roundabout’.  The long song only allowed for a second tune, the 80s staple ‘Owner of a Lonely Heart’

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSnF4W0jQfi/

Tupac

You’d think that a posthumous induction would not be all that great, but you’d be DEAD wrong.  Poor wording, but totally true.  The Kurt-less Nirvava performance was one of the most bestest things I have ever witnessed, musically.  When Linda Ronstadt (who is not dead) missed her induction 3 years ago, the performance put on in her honor was udderly fantastic.  Same was true for Tupac’s big night.  I missed the Snoop Dog speech while taking an extended wizz, and didn’t really know all the songs in the medley, but what a medley it was…

Ambitionz az a Ridah / I Get Around / I Ain’t Mad at Cha / Dear Mama / Changes (see below) / 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted / Gangsta Party / Hail Mary / Keep Ya Head Up

all with the help of Alicia Keys, YG, TI, Treach from Naughty By Nature, and of course the Snoop man himself!

No hologram needed – as 2Pac’s music brought him back to life!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSnJNQIjcOY/

Journey

The night’s most memorable moment was the one that didn’t happen.  Steve Perry joined his former bandmates on stage for a heartfelt reunion that didn’t continue into the post-speech performances, leaving everyone VERY happy to see him, but VERY sad that we didn’t really get to hear him (sing)

Steve Perry can do whatever Steve Perry wants to do.  If he wants to accept an award and not play with Journey ever again, that’s his choice, but in choosing to not perform (perhaps for the last time and chance ever to do so… but never say ever), he denied the audience, the fans, and humanity the opportunity to witness perhaps THE music moment of the decade  

It may be time to stop believing in a Steve Perry reunion, but with current frontman Arnel Pineda perfectly imitating his chops, there’s plenty to lick and believe in here.  Pineda & co rocked the arena and our world with ‘Separate Ways (Worlds Apart), ‘Lights’ and ‘Don’t Stop Believin’

Pharrell Williams then inducted Nile Rodgers with the Award For Musical Excellence, but sadly Daft Punk did not show up to make us all ‘Get Lucky’

this was followed to a nice, but not anything super special Lenny Kravitz tribute to Prince, featuring ‘When Doves Cry’ and ‘The Cross’.  Prince should never not be memorialized and honored, but I feel a little Prince-tributed out.  Maybe they could have done a nice Leonard Cohen tribute, and have all the 1284384288424842 people who have covered ‘Hallelujah’ play it all together as one

Pearl Jam

Save the best for last, and Pearl Jam did, bringing up the rear for this show.  While Neil Young called in sick, David Letterman came out of hiding and brought well needed non-musician humor and heart (and beard) to the proceedings 

Another lovely moment was the appearance and reunion with their original drummer Dave Krusen, who sit in with the band for ‘Alive’, for the first time since he departed the group in 1991(!!!!!)!  Personally, I would have let the group play Ten in its entirety, but they chose to sprinkle in other works, like ‘Given to Fly’ and ‘Better Man’  

The only other moment that would have been super epic, was the show’s all-star jam closing number ‘Rockin’ in the Free World’.  The jam WAS super epic, but without Neil Young, it was a little less super-y epic-er than it could have been.  But who cares!!!  When George Harrison’s son is jamming with Geddy Lee, Eddie Vedder, Jonathan Cain and Neal Schon of Journey, and Trevor Rabin of Yes, you’ll take that over not taking that.  TAKE THAT!!  I will, thanks!  

Keep these shows a coming and a rocking Rock Hall, and especially to Brooklyn! and with more capes!!!!

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Thighs Wide Music 2016

I bought more CDs this year than I probably have in an entire decade!  it’s TRUE!!!! I WILL NOT LET PHYSICAL MEDIA DIE!!!

here’s what I listened to in 2016!!  all certified thightastic!

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you know my theory – see your favorite musicians in concert before you or they die…

 

Live By Night!

toht raiders axl roses guns

Raul Malo @ City Winery

31st Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony (Deep Purple / Ste ve Miller / NWA / Chicago / Cheap Trick(  @ Barclays Center

David Gilmour @ Madison Square Garden

Pearl Jam @ Madison Square Garden

Flight of The Conchords @ The Heath at The McKittrick Hotel

Ellie Goulding @ Madison Square Garden

Guns N’ Roses @ MetLife Stadium

Paul McCartney @ MetLife Stadium

Pitbull @ the Prudential Center

Willie Nelson @ the Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk

The Bangles @ Irving Plaza

Jeff Lynne’s E.L.O. @ Radio City Music Hall

Cat Stevens/Yusuf Islam @ Beacon Theatre

Brian Wilson presents Pet Sounds – Celebrating the 50th Anniversary with Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin @ Beacon Theatre

Tidal X 10/15 @ Barclays

Sia @ Barclays

https://www.instagram.com/p/BE7i-7_G315/

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here’s a bunch of misc music junk from TWS in 2016…

 

The The and They They

elton bat

freedie darth

believe it or not, in my adolescents, I used to be even angrier about really dumb stuff

mr kite poster

stuff auctioned off from The Estate of the late Syd Barrett, in 2006

billy spakrs

Bantha 8-Tracks

wish you were here outtake

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it sucks the most when musicians die, cause you can never relive their greatness visually like you can with actors.  it’s true!

 

Goodnight Sweet
Prince & Princesses

leonard-cohen

prince

george martin

glenn frey

sharon-jones

phife-dawg-waves-goodbye

changes bowie

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April Rain

I’m ashamed to admit it – but last night was the first time I had ever seen Purple Rain

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEsBq1qm33w/

and to my surprise – it was an incredible movie!!!

here’s why…

(and we don’t even need to list the music as a reason)

 

Apollonia’s treasure chest and ASSets

appzz

appzz openm

appa

apps pricne

app touch

purple rain barn

appss

although she does look a bit like Tim Curry as Dr Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show

the way Morris Day moves, and his eyes pop

morris mirror

morris moves

morris day appolonia

morris slides

morris slaps

morris day moves

morssi slick

morris bird

dumpster

that motorcycle is mad RAD!!!

prince bikes

motorcycle

and the movie has a sorta Batman feel to it!!

batgirl prince

there’s a dark city, lots of smoke, good guys, bad guys and some of them wear capes!

The MUSTaches

prince purple stache

morris day

Clarence Williams III

billy spakrs

brown mack

Jesse Johnson

jermoe

bobby z

a woman gets tossed in a dumpster!!

dumpster prince

which ends up being the least harshest thing that happens to a woman in this movie

the editing is amazing – and the cinematography too – and the make-up also also!!

purp2 purp

the guy who played the bouncer was also Prince’s real-life bodyguard!

prince chick

prince bodyguard

chez chick purple

pruince bdy

Charles ‘Big Chick’ Huntsberry

this guy and his nods of approval

that guy

Prince being Prince

prince danncnce

prince hair

prince finmgers

prince hair look

prince smile

prince get up

prince momey

prince monkey

monkey prince

prince kiss

prince smile 2

 

thank you Prince

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This Is What It Sounds Like When Everyone Cries

Peace The Forks Out
Goodnight Sweet

Prince

prince cover

prince ball

prinmce music

purple rain

prince bike

prine smooth

purple prince

princ tube

prince rs 2

prince

prince batdance

oprince v

prince eyes open

prince hear

prince 7

prince pic

goodnigth sweet prince

nothing compares 2 u, cause u got the look, u sexy MF.  u made us party like it was 1999, told us to go crazy, get all delirious, live up the pop life, do the batdance - all the sign o the times.  i would die 4 u, or give you diamonds and pearls or a little red corvette.  how about 7 raspberry berets? we’d kiss you if we could, but we longer can.  the cream off the peach is gone.  you were the most beautiful girl man in the world, even on alphabet street.  the thieves in the temple took your life, but we’ll have your music from our generation, to the new power generation, and for every generation 9ever.  this is what it sounds like when doves cry, and when humans do too :(

perviously – when I saw him in 2004

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