Thursday, December 21, 2006
ZEITGEIST - ANOTHER "VINTAGE" ROCK BAND
Here is another case of the big record companies immediately writing off anything outside the norm a "vintage" rock band. As if its a temporary condition. All alternative rock bands are "Vintage" and all crappy metal bands are "classic".... immediately, no exceptions, those are the categories. Such a world we live in.
The Reivers were what the band Zeitgeist was later called. The airwaves in 1985 were cramming the next Van Halen hopefuls down our throats. After seeing the Xth version of Honeymoon Suite I know yours truly here was about to jump out the window, (and I lived on the first floor). But Zeitgeist showed a lot of promise, they hailed from Austin, Texas and I was thrilled to hear of a indy music scene.
This video is dated but the energy in it was great. The song, "Things Don't Change" prompted me to run out and get this on as soon as I heard it. The drummer for this band was incredible. He had the energy of Keith Moon -- seriously - he weighed in a little over 100 pounds but he could really wail on the drums. I was able to see this band live too at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor. I met the guitarist Jim Croslin and the energy in the room was about as good as you see here in this clip. I really dug them and I will always remember seeing them belt out, "The Sound and the Fury".
The reason why I got so excited about seeing them on IRS, The Cutting Edge tv show was because there was news of underground rock scenes breaking out all over the country. And it wasn't long hair glitter rock. This stuff had soul. And I was a greedy eyed vampire who couldn't wait for things to BUST OPEN.
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Cantu Fascube 2006
The Reivers were what the band Zeitgeist was later called. The airwaves in 1985 were cramming the next Van Halen hopefuls down our throats. After seeing the Xth version of Honeymoon Suite I know yours truly here was about to jump out the window, (and I lived on the first floor). But Zeitgeist showed a lot of promise, they hailed from Austin, Texas and I was thrilled to hear of a indy music scene.
This video is dated but the energy in it was great. The song, "Things Don't Change" prompted me to run out and get this on as soon as I heard it. The drummer for this band was incredible. He had the energy of Keith Moon -- seriously - he weighed in a little over 100 pounds but he could really wail on the drums. I was able to see this band live too at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor. I met the guitarist Jim Croslin and the energy in the room was about as good as you see here in this clip. I really dug them and I will always remember seeing them belt out, "The Sound and the Fury".
The reason why I got so excited about seeing them on IRS, The Cutting Edge tv show was because there was news of underground rock scenes breaking out all over the country. And it wasn't long hair glitter rock. This stuff had soul. And I was a greedy eyed vampire who couldn't wait for things to BUST OPEN.
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Cantu Fascube 2006
THE TOY DOLLS - PLAYIN A BIT SLOW TONIGHT !!!
The track, "Yul Brenner" is a kicked up over the top turbo overdrive tune de force. But you'd never know it by listening to this live version, (sorry kiddies). The studio one is much better. Up until a few years ago this was very hard to find. Now you can get this CD online or in very smart music shops, (think Reckless Records).
These guys still tour, (even after their late 80's heyday) and I caught them in Chicago playing at the Metro of all places. They are still worth seeing. I was a bit surprised to see that the lead singer, Olga, hadn't aged! When they hit the stage I thought I was in some sort of time warp. They played, "Dig That Groove Baybeee" and all the hits that made them famous.
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Cantu has just created WebCrush - you can read about it here.....
These guys still tour, (even after their late 80's heyday) and I caught them in Chicago playing at the Metro of all places. They are still worth seeing. I was a bit surprised to see that the lead singer, Olga, hadn't aged! When they hit the stage I thought I was in some sort of time warp. They played, "Dig That Groove Baybeee" and all the hits that made them famous.
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Cantu has just created WebCrush - you can read about it here.....
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Tom Snyder Interviews The Clash
A lot of people get on Tom Snyder and imitated him on Saturday Night Live. Some people really hated him when he was on television and found him to be a kiss up or to be very condescending. But in the early 80's. Snyder was a punks best friend.
In fact, Snyder interviewed a lot of acts the media wouldn't touch such as The Jam, The Pretenders, Iggy Pop, PIL just to name a few. He had a show that would not only let them have talk but also perform. I would stay up and see these new groups being interviewed and was very fascinated with it all. If it wasn't for Snyders interviews I would have no real insight to what any of these groups were all about. Aside from an occasional video here or there on a late night video show you would never hear about these acts.
From a journalists perspective he really seemed to care about these acts. From a fans perspective he was an odd choice. This was long before any type of video djs from MTV. Now you can see why Martha Quinn and JJ Jackson, (who just died by the way) were such a big deal. Snyder comes off as a concerned dad who has just been brought up to speed on what the young kids have been up to while he was away on a business trip.
The Clash seems to be pretty sedate on this appearance. Its funny when the drummer leans over and puts a button on Snyders jacket. The button seems to have lost its place in modern day pop culture. But back then it was a real statement to wear them. You never see them anymore. It was seen as being a bit rebellious. Over the years its lost its meaning.
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cantu fascube 2006
In fact, Snyder interviewed a lot of acts the media wouldn't touch such as The Jam, The Pretenders, Iggy Pop, PIL just to name a few. He had a show that would not only let them have talk but also perform. I would stay up and see these new groups being interviewed and was very fascinated with it all. If it wasn't for Snyders interviews I would have no real insight to what any of these groups were all about. Aside from an occasional video here or there on a late night video show you would never hear about these acts.
From a journalists perspective he really seemed to care about these acts. From a fans perspective he was an odd choice. This was long before any type of video djs from MTV. Now you can see why Martha Quinn and JJ Jackson, (who just died by the way) were such a big deal. Snyder comes off as a concerned dad who has just been brought up to speed on what the young kids have been up to while he was away on a business trip.
The Clash seems to be pretty sedate on this appearance. Its funny when the drummer leans over and puts a button on Snyders jacket. The button seems to have lost its place in modern day pop culture. But back then it was a real statement to wear them. You never see them anymore. It was seen as being a bit rebellious. Over the years its lost its meaning.
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cantu fascube 2006
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
IMAROBOT - LIVE ON DAVID LETTERMAN
OKAY - Before you jump all over me I know this isn't the right album cover. I also know this live performance on the David Letterman Show is a little crappy. Okay okay, so its a lot crappy.
BUT OH WHAT ENERGY these louts have eh? I rather enjoy them. And cheers to Dave for putting them on TV in the first place. You know he always had an eye for upcoming talent no matter how bad, strange or off the wall it may seem at the time.
This act though is kind of funny because halfway through it is completely unmusical. They lose the entire musical narrative and then the whole thing sort of falls apart. The audience starts to laugh but the frontman never cracks and just delivers the entire number no mater how terrible it looks.
And it does look terrible. But this album, this track rather.... Dynamite... actually got really great critical reviews and I liked them immediately when I saw them on MTV2. The studio version is pretty catchy and its great.
___________________
Ted Cantu is the creator of Fascube 2006, and most recenty WebCrush.
BUT OH WHAT ENERGY these louts have eh? I rather enjoy them. And cheers to Dave for putting them on TV in the first place. You know he always had an eye for upcoming talent no matter how bad, strange or off the wall it may seem at the time.
This act though is kind of funny because halfway through it is completely unmusical. They lose the entire musical narrative and then the whole thing sort of falls apart. The audience starts to laugh but the frontman never cracks and just delivers the entire number no mater how terrible it looks.
And it does look terrible. But this album, this track rather.... Dynamite... actually got really great critical reviews and I liked them immediately when I saw them on MTV2. The studio version is pretty catchy and its great.
___________________
Ted Cantu is the creator of Fascube 2006, and most recenty WebCrush.
Monday, December 18, 2006
JAMES - SOULFULLY CHARGED
James is a popular alternative rock band from Manchester, England, formed in 1981. After an uphill struggle throughout the 1980s, they went on to become one of the most consistently successful acts of the 1990s, scoring a string of hit singles throughout the decade including "Sit Down" and "Laid". Following the departure of lead singer Tim Booth in 2001, the band has been inactive, although a split has never been officially confirmed.
Source Wikipedia.
These guys were also on 120 Minutes - A LOT in the early 90's. Yet when you go to search for them on www.CDUniverse.com nothing comes up -- you actually have to search for them by song title. And when you finally get there you will see something about.... 20TH Century Masters. Funny how in America you can be labled a 20th Century Master so quickly. I think I figured out the formula.
1. Be a sensation from some other country
2. Get one or two songs on American FM Radio
3. Get that same song included in a film
4. Disappear for 14 years.
5. Wait patiently and BOOM ...
6. Congratulations lad, you're a 20th Century Master.
I remember the clips in the early 90's heyday from the EP "Sit Down". In those clips I also remember seeing screaming fans and a myriad of lights. These were packed houses. The song, "Laid" from the same album also got a lot of airplay and made it into a few film soundtracks.
They may resurface again.
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Ted Cantu fascube 2006
Source Wikipedia.
These guys were also on 120 Minutes - A LOT in the early 90's. Yet when you go to search for them on www.CDUniverse.com nothing comes up -- you actually have to search for them by song title. And when you finally get there you will see something about.... 20TH Century Masters. Funny how in America you can be labled a 20th Century Master so quickly. I think I figured out the formula.
1. Be a sensation from some other country
2. Get one or two songs on American FM Radio
3. Get that same song included in a film
4. Disappear for 14 years.
5. Wait patiently and BOOM ...
6. Congratulations lad, you're a 20th Century Master.
I remember the clips in the early 90's heyday from the EP "Sit Down". In those clips I also remember seeing screaming fans and a myriad of lights. These were packed houses. The song, "Laid" from the same album also got a lot of airplay and made it into a few film soundtracks.
They may resurface again.
_---------------------------
Ted Cantu fascube 2006
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