Flashback Friday! Southern Fried Boogie edition

Once upon a time in this Country we had a plethora of what was dubbed “Southern Rock”, and while I’m not from the South, (heck the closest I’ve ever been to “the South” was a trip to Dallas decades ago!) a lot of this music really spoke to me. Maybe it’s that Tennessee Rebel blood in my veins, who knows…

Anyhow, it was a good time in music, just good, old fashioned Rock and Roll! Musicians that could actually play their instruments, solid songwriting, some clever lyrics along the way… Good times!

I recently heard a song on the radio – yes, that’s right, I still occasionally listen to <gasp!> “terrestrial” radio – that sparked the idea for this flashback.

I present some of my old favorites from the Southern Boogie days. And just for kicks, and to really get at the heart of the music, I searched out live versions of my favorites. Enjoy!

Last but certainly not least, and sort of an “honorable mention” as most people don’t consider them a Southern Rock act, but Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers originally hail from Gainesville, FL which as I understand it is every bit as Southern as the rest of “the South”, despite the influx of retirees from up North. The Southern charm just oozes outta their music!

Enjoy your weekend! And thanks for stopping by!

Flashback Friday! Hairspray and Distortion Pedals

As I have mentioned in previous posts, my musical inclination runs more toward ‘alternative’ music, but long before that label was tacked on, we were just called ‘punks’, and if you were part of that clique, listening to the music of the “Top 40” was heresy, much less heavy metal.

That being the case, 80’s metal was sort of my ‘dirty little secret’… I certainly was not a metal head or ‘headbanger’, but I can’t deny a good song, regardless of the genre.

In all honesty, in the case of most metal bands, I like A song of theirs. There are a couple bands that had a few songs that grabbed me. If I had to name one metal band from the era that I actually liked, without question I’d say RATT, was the one. For me, Warren DiMartini was the best lead guitarist in the genre and drummer Bobbi Blotzer was top of the pack too.

Likewise, there were a TON of bands from that era that were simply horrible. Just gawd-awful, cheap imitators, trying to make the record labels some money. And don’t even get me started on “Power Ballads”!!!

Anyhow, here are a few from back in the day that I still get a kick out of. Let your hair down, crank up the speakers to ’11’ and let ‘er rip!

If you get this, you’re my kind of people!

Enjoy your weekend. Thanks for stopping by!

Flashback Friday: Get your brass up!

Today’s Flashback is dedicated to the musicians that are literally breathing life into their music, the Horn Section. Enjoy!

SUPERGROOVE, The best thing to ever come outta New Zealand!
Diamond Dave and his monsters having some fun.
I wish they did more like this one!
Joe, telling it like it is.
Kid Creole, one of a kind!
A comedy classic, with a legendary riff!
A funky groove will always be hip!

Have a great weekend everyone.

Thanks for stopping by!

Flashback Friday!

It’s been awhile since I’ve done a Flashback Friday, but I recently went down a wonderful musical rabbit hole and felt compelled to share.

Today I present “the Jangle Sound” from the 1980’s. Enjoy! Rickenbackers and reverb, oh my!!

One of my Top 10 favorite songs of the era! And a great live band!
Unlike anything anyone had ever heard before. Groundbreaking.
Another college radio darling from when college radio was THE source for new music.
Awesome band, too clever for the mainstream.
This guy…should have been a household name.
No idea what this song is about, but always liked that pulsating bass line.
Not necessarily my favorite tune from these guys, but an eternal classic nonetheless.

Thanks for stopping by! Get out and enjoy the weekend!

Flashback Friday: Deja vu edition

I first heard this song my Freshman year of high school and it resonated with me immediately.  It was the era of the Reagan/Bush years, the Cold War, iran-contra, the moral majority, holes in the ozone layer…  To say the least, I felt the future was beyond uncertain and my distrust in “the powers that be” – whether gov’t or religion began to take root.

Some 40 years later, those roots have become a mighty tree and the lyrics of this song ring more true than ever.  Sadly… 

Not that I was ever naive enough to think “rock and roll can change the world, man!” but you’d think if this stuff was so obvious 40 years ago we’d have fixed at least something by now. Alas, we’re still being taken for fools.

Anyhow, I’ve had a dark cloud hanging over me all week and this tune just seemed to fit. My apologies for the gloomy nature. I’m heading to the coast to clear out the sludge.

Enjoy the weekend everybody!

Friday Flashback! Reminiscing…

After a short break on drumming due to *life getting in the way, I’m getting back into the groove (no pun intended) ‘cuz I have an audition coming up next week. More on that later, maybe.

Anyhow, when I practice by myself, I typically pull up one of two playlists on Spotify that I curated specifically to drum to, pop the in-ear monitors on and let ‘er rip.

I’ve got some studio time this weekend to practice prior to the audition and decided it’s time for a new playlist for inspiration.

The band I’m going to play with is a cover band doing old-school R&B, funk, disco…you know, the typical wedding reception band. So in anticipation of that vibe, today’s Flashback Friday is the Reminiscing edition, going back to the tunes I was hearing as a kid on the ol’ AM transistor radio. Enjoy!

To be perfectly honest, as a drummer these are not exactly exciting songs. But strictly as a fan of music, you cannot deny the appeal, and longevity of the old-school groove!

Have a great weekend everybody! And thanks for stopping by!

Flashback Friday! Tropical edition.

Trying to get into the proper mindset for the upcoming trip! Enjoy!

Now before anyone goes bustin’ my chops, I’m fully aware that none of these bands are from the tropics. The music just evokes that vibe, in me at least. Must be cuz this is what I was listening to on a million trips to the beach over the last 35 years or so… Good times!

Ok, one more for good measure. After all, what fun is a beach trip without a Rock Lobster?!?

Thanks for reading!

Flashback Friday! Ladies edition.

I’ll be honest, I’ve had a tremendous love for women in music as early back as I can remember as a child. My mother was a huge fan of Cher back in the 60’s and 70’s, so that’s probably where it started, but as I came into my pre-teen years, glued to the radio, I really found myself drawn to bands with a female vocalist. Not just any female vocalist mind you, but the kick ass, rock & roll women that made you sit up and take notice.

So here we go, some kick ass women, rockin’ out to get your Friday moving in the right direction!

Note that I am only incuding female fronted BANDS, no solo artists. That’s a Flashback for another Friday. In no particular order/decade/genre, just some stuff I love!

Too cool for words. Love this lady and this band!
I was simultaneously infatuated and terrified of this woman. One of a kind!
Johnette, the only artist that ever compelled me to write a fan letter!!
Three Zappa alumni and the wildest Glam Girl of the era!
Patti had a way of making you believe every word she sang.
Still hanging ’round the Paisley Underground, before becoming a household name.

Thanks for listening! Now go out and enjoy your weekend!

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