This just in from our musical informants down at Auburn U:
AUBURN-Arista recording artist and former Auburn University
student Taylor Hicks will be featured during the Auburn University
Marching Band's show during the Mississippi State at Auburn football
game on Sept. 15.
The Auburn University Marching Band, under the direction of Dr.
Corey Spurlin, will perform a medley of songs with Hicks during halftime
of the game set to kick-off at 11:30 a.m.
Taylor’s artistry was reaffirmed and validated, as he won the
fifth season of FOX’s American Idol after a lifetime steeped in the
blues and soul and R&B of his native Southern heroes — Ray Charles, Otis
Redding, James Brown and Sam Cooke. Hicks' win on American Idol in 2006
was viewed by 36.4 million households with some 63.4 million votes cast
for the eventual champion.
Hicks enrolled at Auburn in 1995 where he studied business and
journalism for three years. His life as a working musician was
established while at Auburn.
A native of Birmingham, Hicks is currently touring the country
performing tracks from his latest CD entitled, Taylor Hicks.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
A giant starts to fall
News from northern Italy isn't good on one of the greatests artists of all time. Luciano Pavarotti, the 71-year-old tenor who became the ordinary gal's image of what an opera singer should/would/could be, is failing fast.
Pavarotti, who has been treated off and on for pancreatic cancer in recent months, is more than a name on a marquee, more than an obscure footnote in musical history. He was operatic pop culture, referenced in everything from sitcoms to newspaper columns as an example of someone who did something so well, so unique, he stood alone in recognition of his craft. For so many people who never imagined they'd like opera, Pavarotti was a way to appreciate beautiful music and identify with it. Before there were The Three Tenors -- of which he was one -- he was simply Pavarotti, and you'd have to be an idiot not to know who he was.
His later concerts, of which I was lucky enough to attend in 2001, didn't have the range of his earlier recordings. The drama wasn't there, and the supporting musicians and cast brought more technically to the performance than he did. What Pavarotti brought, however, was the sense of fun and realism that eludes so many High Culture performers. We had fun that night in November, five rows back at the BJCC. He led a sing-along to end the night, and it was great to listen, sing and soak in a moment that felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Pavarotti, who has been treated off and on for pancreatic cancer in recent months, is more than a name on a marquee, more than an obscure footnote in musical history. He was operatic pop culture, referenced in everything from sitcoms to newspaper columns as an example of someone who did something so well, so unique, he stood alone in recognition of his craft. For so many people who never imagined they'd like opera, Pavarotti was a way to appreciate beautiful music and identify with it. Before there were The Three Tenors -- of which he was one -- he was simply Pavarotti, and you'd have to be an idiot not to know who he was.
His later concerts, of which I was lucky enough to attend in 2001, didn't have the range of his earlier recordings. The drama wasn't there, and the supporting musicians and cast brought more technically to the performance than he did. What Pavarotti brought, however, was the sense of fun and realism that eludes so many High Culture performers. We had fun that night in November, five rows back at the BJCC. He led a sing-along to end the night, and it was great to listen, sing and soak in a moment that felt like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Worst concerts ever
I was thinking about the worst concerts I've ever seen. As a music writer for 15 years, I saw plenty of stinkers. But I also saw a bunch of wretched ones as a teenager and young adult. Here's my list, what's yours?
Tesla. Oak Mtn. Amphitheatre. Birmingham. Must've been about 1990 because they had a hit with their virtual note-for-note remake of "Signs" by the Five Man Electrical Band. Tesla was so drunk they couldn't play. I mean at all. One of the few concerts I've ever given Zero stars to as a reviewer.
Harry Connick Jr. BJCC Concert Hall, Bham. 1994. Another Zero stars show. This was during the period when Connick moved out of Frank Sinatra-style jazz and into New Orleans funk. Well, this white boy has had a rhythm bypass. It sounded like guys who'd never played together tuning up in a concrete garage. About 45 minutes into the show, I leaned over to my date and said, "This sucks." She said, "OH thank god! I thought I just wasn't getting it."
Deep Purple. 1976. Omni, Atlanta. On the "Come Taste the Band" tour, guitarist Tommy Bolin was so smacked out, he couldn't play. He kept whacking the back of his guitar with the palm of his hand, making it thrum through the speakers. It sounded better than his soloing. When Deep Purple hit the stage, there were 18,000 in the Omni. When they came out for their encore, there was maybe 300.
2 Live Crew. Boutwell Auditorium, Bham. Don't remember the year. Sometime in the 1990s. I've tried to block it out of my head. I'm damned near impossible to offend, but this show was so disgusting and crude, it even offended me. And besides, 2 Live Crew has Zero ability at rapping.
Spin Doctors. Alabama Theatre, Bham. 1991. These guys fancy themselves a jam band, I guess because, when they were coming up, they often played for NY frat parties and were forced to play and play and play. Well, drunk frat boys aren't the best critical audience; if you can play the riff from "Louie Louie" for 45 minutes, you're a god. Spin Doctors jammed and jammed and jammed. Endless noodling by musicians not capable of turning endless noodling into anything interesting.
Kiss. 1975. Omni, Atlanta. No one expects Kiss to be consummate musicians. But hell, at least they don't have to be virtual lip-sync artists. "Kiss Alive" was big stuff at this time and the band started with the first song on Side One (we're talking LPs now, for all you young folks) and played songs in the exact same sequence right through to the end of Side Four. Paul Stanley even said THE EXACT SAME THINGS between songs. What a rip.
Chuck Berry. City STages 1989. First City STages. Berry was the headliner. Didn't even bother to tune his guitar. Wanging all over the place, sounded horrible. A pick-up-the-check performance.
Bob Dylan. Coleman Coliseum, Tuscaloosa. Not sure of the year, probably about 1988 or 89. Bob had picked up a new band a couple of days before this show and every song was a train wreck. I didn't even recognize "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" until the third verse. The guy sitting next to me was a Dylan fanatic and he said, "Ooooh, tonight he's not interested in the music, he's being a poet, trying to find the inner meaning of the words." I said, "Well, whatever he's doing, it sucks big time."
Tesla. Oak Mtn. Amphitheatre. Birmingham. Must've been about 1990 because they had a hit with their virtual note-for-note remake of "Signs" by the Five Man Electrical Band. Tesla was so drunk they couldn't play. I mean at all. One of the few concerts I've ever given Zero stars to as a reviewer.
Harry Connick Jr. BJCC Concert Hall, Bham. 1994. Another Zero stars show. This was during the period when Connick moved out of Frank Sinatra-style jazz and into New Orleans funk. Well, this white boy has had a rhythm bypass. It sounded like guys who'd never played together tuning up in a concrete garage. About 45 minutes into the show, I leaned over to my date and said, "This sucks." She said, "OH thank god! I thought I just wasn't getting it."
Deep Purple. 1976. Omni, Atlanta. On the "Come Taste the Band" tour, guitarist Tommy Bolin was so smacked out, he couldn't play. He kept whacking the back of his guitar with the palm of his hand, making it thrum through the speakers. It sounded better than his soloing. When Deep Purple hit the stage, there were 18,000 in the Omni. When they came out for their encore, there was maybe 300.
2 Live Crew. Boutwell Auditorium, Bham. Don't remember the year. Sometime in the 1990s. I've tried to block it out of my head. I'm damned near impossible to offend, but this show was so disgusting and crude, it even offended me. And besides, 2 Live Crew has Zero ability at rapping.
Spin Doctors. Alabama Theatre, Bham. 1991. These guys fancy themselves a jam band, I guess because, when they were coming up, they often played for NY frat parties and were forced to play and play and play. Well, drunk frat boys aren't the best critical audience; if you can play the riff from "Louie Louie" for 45 minutes, you're a god. Spin Doctors jammed and jammed and jammed. Endless noodling by musicians not capable of turning endless noodling into anything interesting.
Kiss. 1975. Omni, Atlanta. No one expects Kiss to be consummate musicians. But hell, at least they don't have to be virtual lip-sync artists. "Kiss Alive" was big stuff at this time and the band started with the first song on Side One (we're talking LPs now, for all you young folks) and played songs in the exact same sequence right through to the end of Side Four. Paul Stanley even said THE EXACT SAME THINGS between songs. What a rip.
Chuck Berry. City STages 1989. First City STages. Berry was the headliner. Didn't even bother to tune his guitar. Wanging all over the place, sounded horrible. A pick-up-the-check performance.
Bob Dylan. Coleman Coliseum, Tuscaloosa. Not sure of the year, probably about 1988 or 89. Bob had picked up a new band a couple of days before this show and every song was a train wreck. I didn't even recognize "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" until the third verse. The guy sitting next to me was a Dylan fanatic and he said, "Ooooh, tonight he's not interested in the music, he's being a poet, trying to find the inner meaning of the words." I said, "Well, whatever he's doing, it sucks big time."
Lyrics anyone?
The other day a song came on the radio. My boy, age 8 with ears like a bat, was trying to figure out some of the lyrics to "Black Dog" by Led Zeppelin. It brought to mind a slew of other songs that, to me, are incomprehensible. I don't mean I can't make out the words; I mean that I can make out the words, but they simply make no sense.
Some of the more non-sequitured songs: Long Cool Woman, Mony Mony, and of course anything by Bob Dylan.
Some of the more non-sequitured songs: Long Cool Woman, Mony Mony, and of course anything by Bob Dylan.
Galactic Web cast tonight
Watch as one of New Orleans' hottest funk bands lays it down at home on your computer. The site says 6 p.m. and is based in California so I assume it will be 8 p.m. Central Time.
Link to Web cast
These guys put on a great show.
www.galacticfunk.com
www.myspace.com/galactic
Link to Web cast
These guys put on a great show.
www.galacticfunk.com
www.myspace.com/galactic
Led Zeppelin are definitely reforming says Robert Plant
From NME.com
Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant has confirmed that the legendary rock band will be reuniting later this year.
A reunion has been strongly rumored for the last week or so and today (September 5) the singer confirmed it's definitely on.
A fan who met Plant in London today contacted NME.COM explaining that the singer said he was on his way to meet bandmates Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones.
"How did you find out about this?" asked Plant when asked about the prospects of a reunion show by the autograph hunter. "Well we've got a band meeting about it this afternoon about it. There's not a lot to work out as it's only going to be one-off gig."
NME.COM has also learned from a music industry source that the show, possibly to take place in November at the 02 in London, will be a charity gig organized by promoter Harvey Goldsmith.
What do you think about the band getting back together? Have your say on MyNME below and the best comments will appear throughout the day, so keep checking.
Note: This could be rumors or speculation but it's exciting nonetheless.
Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant has confirmed that the legendary rock band will be reuniting later this year.
A reunion has been strongly rumored for the last week or so and today (September 5) the singer confirmed it's definitely on.
A fan who met Plant in London today contacted NME.COM explaining that the singer said he was on his way to meet bandmates Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones.
"How did you find out about this?" asked Plant when asked about the prospects of a reunion show by the autograph hunter. "Well we've got a band meeting about it this afternoon about it. There's not a lot to work out as it's only going to be one-off gig."
NME.COM has also learned from a music industry source that the show, possibly to take place in November at the 02 in London, will be a charity gig organized by promoter Harvey Goldsmith.
What do you think about the band getting back together? Have your say on MyNME below and the best comments will appear throughout the day, so keep checking.
Note: This could be rumors or speculation but it's exciting nonetheless.
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