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Gem of the Week: Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet

6 Aug

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My gem this week goes out to Canadian instrumental rock band, Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet.

This is one of those under the radar bands that I listened to in my teens. No one I ever talk to recognizes them by name but are usually familiar with their most well-known song, Having an Average Weekend, from their 1990 album Savvy Show Stoppers. The 90s sketch comedy show Kids in the Hall used the song for its theme.

Since I am reflecting on them this week and it’s been so long since I have even thought about them, I tried researching to see what’s new with the band.

I couldn’t find an official website but they have a Facebook page showing they are together and playing local shows in Toronto, Canada.

I am really glad to see they are still around because they are a talented  band.

According to their Facebook page they have been playing since 1984.

I was not a huge fan of Kids in the Hall but I loved the theme song. I didn’t know the name of the song and I remember the credits to the show always ran too fast for me to catch it.

So while out shopping one day I decided to ask someone at the record store in the mall. I walked straight up to the store clerk and started telling him how I liked this song but I didn’t know the name of it. I got stuck for a moment trying to figure out how to describe how it sounds since the song is an instrumental. I then blurted out, “Hey! Have you ever watched The Kids in the Hall?!”  Before I could finish he ran over to an aisle and came back holding a CD that had a bold orange cover. He handed it to me and pointed on the back telling me the song title and indicating the track number, of course I was ecstatic. He also told me the band was from Canada and that I would love them.

The clerk was right because I ended up liking that entire album. The first track Good Cop Bad Cop just starts the album in a badass direction and I use to really like the scratchy riff in Run Chicken Run. My favorite song from the whole album was Bennett Cerf. I felt it was even more catchy then Having an Average Weekend.  All I can say is that it’s simply an amazing instrumental rock/ alternative album.

This band has a special place in my collection because I can specifically remember that whole experience of buying the album, discovering this band and how great I thought the music was when I first  listened to it.

I would also like to compliment them for choosing one of the coolest and most creative names for a band!

I have shared the link of the band performing Having an Average Weekend live from  Rivum_nation’s You Tube Channel.

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Gem of the Week: “Misirlou” By Dick Dale

30 Jul

 

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Phone shot from the show

I finally saw Dick Dale, king of the surf guitar, in action last Wednesday!  Dale performed at the Magic Bag in Ferndale, MI.

He has played shows there pretty much annually for years. This year was my first time going to see him and it was long overdue.

The show was awesome and he can pick a guitar with crazy speed.

I’m still buzzing this week from show and my gem of the week is of course, Misirlou.

According to his official site www.dickdale.com, he became famous for creating the surf sound in the 50s and he use to break attendance records when he would play live shows in CA with his band The Del-Tones during the 60s. He is also a cancer survivor.

Dale’s era was before my time but I gained exposure to his music in 1994 after Quentin Tarantino opened his hit movie Pulp Fiction with the song Misirlou. Tarantino’s use of the song gained Dale a new younger fan base and I’m happy that I am one of them.

I have listened to his early albums mostly and I really like King of the Surf Guitar ’63.

My favorite songs are Nitro, Spanish Kiss, Let’s Go Trippin‘ and his cover of Riders In The Sky.

He actually opened the show with Nitro which kicked things off to a great start. The best aspect of the show was that it was an intimate setting and you can enjoy and appreciate the music.

Dale was quite the entertaining guy on stage too. During the show he joked that he might start a song and then in the middle start playing a different song. He further stated if he does this it’s because he forgets what song he was playing and for us fans to consider it as a two for one.

He is a phenomenal guitar player that is amazing to see live and I look forward to attending the next show!

Below is the clip of the opening credits to Pulp Fiction shared from Manoffaith108’s You Tube channel.

 

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Gem of the Week: “In The Blood” By Better Than Ezra

9 Jul

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I saw an e-mail flyer that Better Than Ezra was coming to Detroit on October 18th. I didn’t know they were still around but their 90s hit In The Blood sticks out in my head.

The band left their mark in the 90s back with their hit Good from their 1995 album Deluxe. I did not particularly care about that song but I loved In The Blood.

It was a catchy song with a cool b&w music video. It’s been years since I have listened to it but I still think it’s a great song.

I never really became a big fan of the band but they were in my album collection during the 90’s.

I guess they kept in the game all these years. I checked out their official site www.betterthanezra.com and it shows that they released their eighth studio album this past year called All Together Now.

I listened to their new single called Crazy Lucky and it sounds like they have gone in a more popish direction now.

I had the album Deluxe on cassette (I feel so old) and I remember only liking a couple of songs. But I played and rewinded the heck out of In The Blood.

The more I reflect about the 90’s rock era the closer those old gems keep popping out at me!  Not that I ever tire from revisiting old gems or discovering new ones!

Below is the link to the video shared from the You Tube Channel of Skappyj.

 

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Gem of the Week: Beck’s Unforgettable Live Show in Detroit

2 Jul

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Beck had no problem pulling double-duty for his Detroit show Saturday night at The Fox Theatre after his openers canceled. Detroit fans got treated to one amazing night filled with a crazy animated extended set.

His performance was one of the best and most diverse shows I have ever been to. Watching him live changed my initial perception of thinking he was still this odd guy from the 90s who marches to his own drum. I found that Beck is sexy, fun, charismatic and clad in his black suit and hat.

The opening act scheduled was Sean Lennon’s Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger who According to an article from The Detroit News, canceled because of issues with crossing the Canadian border.

With Beck’s sense of humor loosely in tact he decided to open up for himself and kicked off the first half of the show by performing a slower melodic acoustic set. He opened with The Golden Age from his 2002 album Sea Change and he ran through songs from his latest album Morning Phase.

Beck then took a short break and what came for the second half of the show was an unforgettable break dancing, beat slammin’ party kicking off in full force with Devils Haircut and the vibe ran from there.

Beck absolutely killed it performance wise. He poured through hits like New Pollution, Hell Yes, Girl, E-Pro, Loser (of course) and he even tossed in a Donna Summer cover of I Feel Love. He can throw down rap, funk, slow jams and hip-hop all in one big explosive punch.

He is pure talent who knows the art of putting on a great live show. If you can do that for your fans then I say you are as good as gold and Beck is definitely golden.

I also have a lil’ bit of Beck fever now because the impact of the show has left me talking about him to my friends and family like a nerdy teen. My husband and friend were with me at the show and it’s now days later yet we are still reflecting about our favorite moments from the show.

A few reasons I feel Beck’s performance came out so strong is that he actually has a bond with his band mates and you can sense it. He also has a great sense of humor, James Brown dance skills and the talent and freedom to create music in whatever mood and genre he has his mind-set to.

My music taste is not pinned to any specific genre and neither is Beck and that is what attracts me most to his music.

I actually found some fan shot footage from the Detroit show. This clip is of the encore shared from Robert Ferry’s You Tube channel.

 

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Gem of the Week: Pearl Jam’s cover of “Let It Go”

25 Jun

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During a live performance in Italy last week, Pearl Jam spontaneously covered part of the Disney track Let It Go from the movie Frozen.

Frontman Eddie Vedder’s rock twist to the popular children tune has been trending over online media and is definitely a gem to check out this week.

The song has been impossible to get away from if your around children. I know I’m tired of hearing it.

According to the article in People.com, the band went into the cover while they performed their song Daughter during their concert in Milan last Friday. The performance was a present for Vedder’s two young daughters.

As I have previously stated in my post from October about their album Lighting Bolt, I’ve been a Pearl Jam fan since they hit the grunge scene in the early 90s.

I think it’s cool that Vedder did this Disney cover for his kids.

Below is the short and sweet clip that will not disappoint fans shared from Nolatiles You Tube channel.

 

 

 

 

 

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Gem of the Week: Remembering Michael Jackson and His ’83 Moonwalk Debut

18 Jun
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Five years old and rockin’ out my Billie Jean t-shirt

Next week marks the fifth anniversary of the untimely passing of Michael Jackson. This weeks gem goes to remembering his debut of the moonwalk in 1983.

Jackson made history with that iconic dance move during the NBC TV Special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever.

There is so much to say about his talent that I’m not sure where I would start or finish. I feel that no artist has since come through that can compare to his talents in dancing, singing, entertaining and album sales!

I thought it was interesting and weird that the 2014 Billboard Music Awards featured a hologram live performance of Jackson. Then there was the recent viral clip of a California high school student who did a flawless re-creation of the Billie Jean dance for a talent rally. It’s amazing to me how Jackson’s talents never get old to watch.

I have always loved his music and I also use to try to do the dance moves to Thriller and Billie Jean. The Thriller video and choreography were my favorite as a kid. I really liked the spooky narration done by Vincent Price. (Price was an actor famous for his horror film career and his distinctive voice)

My favorite albums are Thriller, (1982) Bad (1987) and Dangerous (1991) because I recall listening to those the most while growing up.

To focus on a few favorites, Billie Jean from Thriller of course will never get old in my book!  My favorite from Bad is Dirty Diana, it’s so passionate and I love the way he sings it. I loved Will You Be There which was off Dangerous and on the Free Willy movie soundtrack. It was one of my favorite songs as a kid.

Jackson passed away on June 25, 2009 and I unfortunately heard the news over the radio because there had been a power outage in my neighborhood.

It really sucks to have lost a great talent so early but there is no doubt that his dance moves and music will continue to inspire artists. He truly is the one and only King Of Pop.

Below is the iconic moonwalk clip from ClipMan2008’s You Tube channel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXhy7ZsiR50

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Gem of the Week: “Living in Shame” by Diana Ross and The Supremes

11 Jun

Motown music holds a big place in my heart right along with my rock ‘n’ roll soul with a side of hip-hop. My gem goes out to one of my favorite Diana Ross and The Supremes songs, (1969) Living in Shame.

This week Ross will begin her In The Name of Love 2014 Tour on June 13th here in Detroit (also her hometown) but since it’s a weekday I will unfortunately have to miss out on seeing this Motown legend!  I will however reflect on how much I loved listening to The Supremes as a little girl.

I’m proud that Detroit is known for the Motown Sound! The Supremes had several number one hits and gold records throughout their career. I think it’s safe to say they are one of the most influential and succesful groups to come out of the Motown era.

According to the website Classicmotown.com, The Supremes commercial appeal during the 1960’s actually rivaled The Beatles! In the about section for The Supremes it further stated how their music helped redefine America as a multi-cultural society. 

My exposure to their music happened when I was eight and my mom played a cassette mix tape of Diana Ross and The Supremes songs. I loved listening to that tape. I didn’t know the song titles then because none got written on the tape. I use to identify it as the white tape and I loved listening to the whole thing. I even use to tell my moms friends that Diana Ross was my favorite singer and they would laugh at me and ask me how I knew who she was.

I now have the names to those songs from that tape. The ones I remember listening to the most were: Love Child, Reflections, Someday We’ll Be Together. And my featured favorite song Living in Shame, which told a sad story with lyrics that I remember to this day. The song carries a lesson for everyone to just love your mama no matter what!

I wish I was going to the show this week but in the meantime, I have shared the link from theSUPREMEscene You Tube channel for Living in Shame. It really is a gem to listen to.

 

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Gem of the Week: Viral Rant By Staind Frontman Aaron Lewis

4 Jun

 

Staind frontman Aaron Lewis made headlines after he stopped his performance during a music fest to yell and curse at fans who he witnessed groping a teen girl as she crowd surfed.

You can read the article from New York Daily here for the detailed expletive rant that has now gone viral.

I admire Lewis for actually stopping his performance to address the situation. Now that I am older I see more danger in crowd surfing than thrill and issues like younger girls being groped should not happen.

I crowd surfed once a long time ago and I found it an obnoxious experience. You definitely get manhandled through the crowd and I remember feeling people tugging at my clothing. I never desired to try it again.

Lewis had the guts to call out and shame these groping offenders and I think he is awesome for it.

It’s been awhile since I have heard anything new from Staind.

According to a wiki search for his latest news, Lewis ventured into country music which doesn’t surprise me as he seems to transition well from his debut metal roots.

I remember when the band gained popularity in 1999 with their song Mudshovel and how I was immediately drawn to Lewis and his vocals. You can feel his passion and emotions as he sings.

I still hang on to the band’s 2001 album Break the Cycle as another gem in my collection. I loved the acoustic version of the song Outside. I also got to see Staind perform live with the rock and hip-hop tour Family Values back when they toured Detroit in 2001. It was a great show full of raw emotion and passion.

I have shared a link below from Nathanael Krska’s You Tube channel of the rant.

 

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Gem of the Week: Slayer Cover On Ukulele

28 May

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I clicked on the trending video created by a guy named Rob Scallon and watched him rock out with his ukulele, in his flawless cover of Slayer’s War Ensemble.

While I have never been a huge Slayer fan, I still respect them for having awesome metal guitar solo’s In their songs. I also know their songs are not that easy to play.

I’m impressed with Scallion’s cover and it worked out well on the uke. I love it when someone can put a new spin on things and this guy is doing just that.

The uke seems to have grown in popularity over the years. I even got one as a Christmas gift last year.

Maybe the appeal is that it’s inexpensive and adaptable to any music genre.

Either way Scallon’s song covers are impressive and entertaining to watch. He has a lot of other videos on his You Tube channel that I’m looking forward to checking out.

I have shared the link from Rob Scallon’s You Tube channel below. Check out his cover for War Ensemble.

 

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Gem of the Week: R.E.M.’s Complete Unplugged Sessions

21 May

 

I rushed out first thing in the morning to purchase R.E.M.’s Unplugged: The Complete 1991 and 2001 Sessions that became available on CD and for digital download on May 19th.

After R.E.M. mutually split up in 2011 fans like myself now look forward to these hidden gem compilations.

The band actually released the unplugged sessions last month in limited edition vinyl for Record Store Day held on April 19th.

I couldn’t get a copy of the unplugged sessions for my collection on Record Store day. I also got disappointed after seeing inflated prices for the vinyl edition that showed up the following day on eBay and Amazon, ranging from $299 as the lowest to over $1,000 being the highest. I knew it would be available digitally on May 19th  and I was counting the days!

I never get tired of mentioning that R.E.M is my favorite band on earth. I wish I could find the right words to sum up what their music means to me. In the meantime, I thank R.E.M. for their gifted talent that stirred inspiration and freedom inside me throughout my teens and even now.

The Unplugged: The Complete 1991 and 2001 Sessions, is a  fantastic collection of their songs and R.E.M. did a great job performing their songs acoustically.  The simplified versions of their songs will appeal to fans but I also hope it will attract a whole new generation of listeners.

My favorites from the unplugged sessions are World Leader Pretend, End Of The World As We Know It, Fall On Me, So Central Rain and the best version ever of The One I Love.

Mike Mills of R.E.M. got interviewed by Gary Graff for the Billboard.com article: R.E.M. Has a ‘Lot of Stuff in the Vaults.‘, which covered what the band plans to do with their previously unreleased material.

” We know we’ve got some really good things hanging around. We just want to put them out in a way that makes them as special as possible, because they’re special to us. I mean, if we’ve been sitting on stuff for this long, why go cheap with it now? Let’s try to make it be special rather than just dumping out the vaults.” Mike Mills stated.

The band has compiled the rare recordings and it’s already available on Amazon. The first compilation is: The Complete Rarities: I.R.S. 1982-1987 and the other is The Complete Rarities: Warner Bros: 1988-2011.

The B-side track listings from their early I.R.S. days are not that rare to me however, as most of those songs were on their 1987 Dead Letter Office album.  The second compilation from their Warner Bros years has a few I want to check out.  Either way I’m excited and will be getting both along with any future archival special releases and box sets. When it comes to R.E.M.’s music they can keep it coming.

The clip below is from R.E.M.’s 2001 unplugged performance of So Central Rain linked from Peace Atom’s You Tube Channel.

http://youtu.be/n1IqdpAwgDA

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