Not Fade Away The Music of Buddy Holly by Brian Arsenault That ass Gene Simmons saying the other day that rock was dead got me to thinking about living through its whole lifetime. Not that Simmons was right. Hell, he wouldn’t know, coming out of a band so devoid of musicality they had to dress… Read More Brian Arsenault Takes on Buddy Holly
By Mike Finkelstein Man, oh man, oh man! When I first saw that Jeff Beck and Brian Wilson were going to tour and share the stage together on Sunday night at the Greek Theatre, I knew this promised to be one very special show. Much anticipation was in the air for this gig. We’re not… Read More Live Music: Brian Wilson and Jeff Beck at the Greek Theatre
The Wind Cries Jimi The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Purple Box Set) (Legacy Records) By Brian Arsenault The four disc Jimi Hendrix Experience “purple box set” is being released today for the first time in over a decade, with some previously unreleased tunes as well. If you’ve any room on your credit card or have some… Read More CD Review: “The Jimi Hendrix Experience” (Purple Box Set)
By Mike Finkelstein ModRock had its official opening Sunday evening at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood. It’s an entertaining, feel good, romp through some very important times in popular culture. In the mid ‘60s London was ground zero for popular culture. Long lasting fashion trends like the miniskirt came out of the London… Read More Live Music: “ModRock” at the El Portal Theater
Of Americana Rock, American Tenor Sax and American Genius Reprised By Brian Arsenault The range of great American music never ceases to amaze me. When they’re writing about our civilization, such as it is, a number of centuries hence I am quite sure it will be our music that is most treasured and remembered. Unless… Read More Record Rack: Steven Casper & Cowboy Angst; Noah Preminger and Terri Lyne Carrington
Not Fade Away After Half a Century By Brian Arsenault Vinylphiles rejoice. If you still have a vinyl player that turns at 45 revolutions per minute, ABKCO has a very special treat indeed for you in honor of Record Store Day this Saturday (April 20). Remarkably, there are 700 independent record stores still around in… Read More Record Rack: The Rolling Stones and the Animals (Reissues)
Ike & Tina Turner Ike & Tina On the Road 1971-72 (MVD Visual) By Brian Arsenault The story of what was bad with Ike and Tina Turner has been much told and neither this DVD nor I have anything to add to it here. What this DVD is about is what was good, even astonishing,… Read More DVD Review: “Ike & Tina On The Road 1971-72”
Two Marvelous Double LPs in Vinyl from Eagle Rock Entertainment (With CDs tucked in each three-panel sleeve for the disadvantaged) By Brian Arsenault Last check, the Rolling Stones are still a very fine rock ‘n’ roll band but they aren’t what they were in 1978. Who is? And they can’t play any more with Muddy.… Read More Short Takes: LP Reissues from the Rolling Stones and Muddy Waters
Jeff Beck Group Jeff Beck Group (Audio Fidelity in Vinyl) by Brian Arsenault Rod (“Where’s my next blond?”) Stewart was gone. Ronnie (“I’ll be a Face of the Stones someday”) Woods was gone. The bluesier Bob Tench was brought in to sing and the late Cozy Powell showed why he was maybe the best of… Read More Record Review: The Jeff Beck Group (Vinyl Reissue from 1972)
By Mike Finkelstein On Friday night at the Egyptian Theatre, the American Cinematheque screened what could possibly have been the only showing of Midnight to Six, a truly entertaining and satisfying tutorial on the career of the legendary Pretty Things. This is one of five (so far) projects focusing on influential bands of the British… Read More Film: “Midnight to Six” at the Egyptian Theatre
The International Review of Music 