Watch Beatles' Early Concert Footage in Ron Howard's New Doc?
Yes, please ...
Showing posts with label The Beatles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Beatles. Show all posts
2.10.2014
The Beatles at 50
I've been soaking up all the media buzz and reflection the last couple weeks about the 50th anniversary of The Beatles first trip to America and their legendary Ed Sullivan appearance.
Last night, we set our DVR to record "The Night That Changed America." We started it a couple after airtime after putting the girls to bed, and I was not going to bed until I watched every minute of it. So I was up until nearly 1 a.m.
Maroon 5's opening performance of "All My Loving," taking off a clip of The Beatles' original on Ed Sullivan was pretty great. And their follow-up of "Ticket to Ride" kept the energy going. The show was only getting started and I was already thinking Maroon 5's performance could be my favorite of the night.
Then Stevie Wonder cranks out his version of "We Can Work It Out." Jeff Lynne, Joe Walsh and Dhani Harrison performed "Something. John Mayer and Keith Urban did a fantastic "Don't Let Me Down." Imagine Dragons did a sweet acoustic take on "Revolution." But even after all that, I have to say Dave Grohl's "Hey Bulldog" was arguably my favorite performance -- not by a Beatle. I'll give a nod to Pharrell Williams and Brad Paisley for "Here Comes the Sun" as well -- a song that will always have a special place in my heart. And finally Gary Clark Jr., Grohl and Joe Walsh on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." ... wow.
Ringo Starr's set was a charm with him arming the drum set for "Boys" and then leading the star-studded crowd in a sing-along of "Yellow Submarine." Paul McCartney's set, of course, was brilliant with "Birthday," "Get Back" and "I Saw Her Standing There."
The two of them teaming up on "Sgt. Pepper" and "A Little Help With My Friends" seemed like a fitting enough ending. ... Not so fast. How could they not end with a rousing sing-a-long of "Hey Jude." Complete with all the performers joining Paul and Ringo on stage, dancing in the aisles and Cirque performers twirling from the rafters. It was ... beautiful.
I found the conversations with David Letterman, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney on the stage of the Ed Sullivan Theater particularly entertaining, as well as the interviews with audience members and crew members there that night . ... Letterman's Beatles Tribute Week, by the way, also has been excellent TV. Watching Letterman do his Late Show in that theater and thinking about the history of that stage still fascinates me.
Kudos do CBS for doing The Beatles legend right last night. It was 150 minutes of music magic.
(Updated 04.14.2014) Good reads & stuff ...
a Unpublished Images of the Beatles’ Historic First Trip to the U.S.
a Memories of the Beatles' US television debut
a Watch Rare Beatles Footage From 'The Ed Sullivan Show' in 1964
a 50 Years Later, Beatles Steal Another Show
a Fifty years ago today, the Beatles gave birth to a new world
a Historic Hysterics: Witnesses to a Really Big Show
a The Beatles, by the Numbers
a Love Them Do: The Story of the Beatles' Biggest Fans
a Jimmy Fallon and Fred Armisen Reimagine '@theBeatles' on '#Sullivan'
Last night, we set our DVR to record "The Night That Changed America." We started it a couple after airtime after putting the girls to bed, and I was not going to bed until I watched every minute of it. So I was up until nearly 1 a.m.
Maroon 5's opening performance of "All My Loving," taking off a clip of The Beatles' original on Ed Sullivan was pretty great. And their follow-up of "Ticket to Ride" kept the energy going. The show was only getting started and I was already thinking Maroon 5's performance could be my favorite of the night.
Then Stevie Wonder cranks out his version of "We Can Work It Out." Jeff Lynne, Joe Walsh and Dhani Harrison performed "Something. John Mayer and Keith Urban did a fantastic "Don't Let Me Down." Imagine Dragons did a sweet acoustic take on "Revolution." But even after all that, I have to say Dave Grohl's "Hey Bulldog" was arguably my favorite performance -- not by a Beatle. I'll give a nod to Pharrell Williams and Brad Paisley for "Here Comes the Sun" as well -- a song that will always have a special place in my heart. And finally Gary Clark Jr., Grohl and Joe Walsh on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." ... wow.
Ringo Starr's set was a charm with him arming the drum set for "Boys" and then leading the star-studded crowd in a sing-along of "Yellow Submarine." Paul McCartney's set, of course, was brilliant with "Birthday," "Get Back" and "I Saw Her Standing There."
The two of them teaming up on "Sgt. Pepper" and "A Little Help With My Friends" seemed like a fitting enough ending. ... Not so fast. How could they not end with a rousing sing-a-long of "Hey Jude." Complete with all the performers joining Paul and Ringo on stage, dancing in the aisles and Cirque performers twirling from the rafters. It was ... beautiful.
I found the conversations with David Letterman, Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney on the stage of the Ed Sullivan Theater particularly entertaining, as well as the interviews with audience members and crew members there that night . ... Letterman's Beatles Tribute Week, by the way, also has been excellent TV. Watching Letterman do his Late Show in that theater and thinking about the history of that stage still fascinates me.
Kudos do CBS for doing The Beatles legend right last night. It was 150 minutes of music magic.
(Updated 04.14.2014) Good reads & stuff ...
a Unpublished Images of the Beatles’ Historic First Trip to the U.S.
a Memories of the Beatles' US television debut
a Watch Rare Beatles Footage From 'The Ed Sullivan Show' in 1964
a 50 Years Later, Beatles Steal Another Show
a Fifty years ago today, the Beatles gave birth to a new world
a Historic Hysterics: Witnesses to a Really Big Show
a The Beatles, by the Numbers
a Love Them Do: The Story of the Beatles' Biggest Fans
a Jimmy Fallon and Fred Armisen Reimagine '@theBeatles' on '#Sullivan'
2.03.2014
Reunited ... and it sounds so good
I got my wish a couple years when Ben Folds Five hit the road together again. Toad the Wet Sprocket is playing again, too.
Even Fleetwood Mac -- with Christine McVie, finally! -- recently announced its reuniting ... Though tickets to see one of their shows will likely be far more than I'm willing to pay.
And the Beatles, well, their Grammys reunion was a dud. And half of them are dead. ... But hey, we have the 50th anniversary of their U.S. debut to bask in. So that's something.
But lately, there's one band I've wished would reunite more than any other.
I gasped out loud when I saw the email tonight and then the headline.
Here's looking forward to their new album and hoping they stop at a venue near me.
Enjoy.
Even Fleetwood Mac -- with Christine McVie, finally! -- recently announced its reuniting ... Though tickets to see one of their shows will likely be far more than I'm willing to pay.
And the Beatles, well, their Grammys reunion was a dud. And half of them are dead. ... But hey, we have the 50th anniversary of their U.S. debut to bask in. So that's something.
But lately, there's one band I've wished would reunite more than any other.
I gasped out loud when I saw the email tonight and then the headline.
Here's looking forward to their new album and hoping they stop at a venue near me.
Enjoy.
5.13.2011
Paul Simon, Rayna singing "Duncan"
Paul Simon rocks. And this video totally had me tearing up.
Can you imagine what this woman must have been thinking?!
And in the related videos, check out this oh, so sweet version of "Here Comes the Sun," which may forever more be known to me as "Phoebe's Song."
Can you imagine what this woman must have been thinking?!
And in the related videos, check out this oh, so sweet version of "Here Comes the Sun," which may forever more be known to me as "Phoebe's Song."
12.13.2010
11.16.2010
Then again ...
I, too, watched the Twitter-verse explode this morning with excited Tweets about the Beatles catalogue finally being available on iTunes. For more of the story click here.
My reaction was: Eh.
The Chicago Tribune wrote it best this morning ...
Painting the classic red Wrigley Field marquee purple, on the other hand, just seems very, very wrong.
Update 11.22.2010
Speaking of wrong ...
Here are a couple good reads about the "unique" football game played at Wrigley over the weekend ... I'm sorry I missed it.
a Danger of Wrigley end zone was obvious from start
a Whatever we saw at Wrigley, it was worth seeing
Back to good. Here's more of the Beatles ...
a The 50 Best Beatles Covers of All Time
My reaction was: Eh.
The Chicago Tribune wrote it best this morning ...
"This isn't for the die-hards. We bought the revamped stereo CD reissues a year ago. ... What you don't hear is the kind of gushing that accompanied last year's reissue of the entire Beatles catalog in its first major upgrade/ remastering since 1987. Then, the talk was all about the immediacy of the recordings, how you felt like you were in the studio with the band."Pretty much. That was fun. Hence, my ultimate Beatles playlist.
Painting the classic red Wrigley Field marquee purple, on the other hand, just seems very, very wrong.
Update 11.22.2010
Speaking of wrong ...
Here are a couple good reads about the "unique" football game played at Wrigley over the weekend ... I'm sorry I missed it.
a Danger of Wrigley end zone was obvious from start
a Whatever we saw at Wrigley, it was worth seeing
Back to good. Here's more of the Beatles ...
a The 50 Best Beatles Covers of All Time
9.09.2009
Beatles for sale
All this Beatles buzz surrounding the new “Rock Band” video game and the release of their remastered albums finally got to me last night ..
I pulled out my Beatles collection on the iPod and blared it in the kitchen as we cleaned up from our dinner and started getting Phoebe ready for bed …
As we sang and danced to almost every song, I couldn’t help but smile when I realized I was wildly singing “Eight Days A Week” note for note the same way I probably sang it when I was 8 years old and mimicking a rock ‘n’ roll star on my keyboard.
It also struck me – for the umpteenth time – that not only are the songs so uber singable, but after 40-some years, they stand up amazingly well. Some of those guitar riffs could easily be pulled off today, and I'd be willing to bet their sound would still be at or near the top of the charts if it were brand new today … But the Beatles came up with that music way ahead of their time. And that is what makes them so enduring.
EW has a good ranking of the Beatles’ albums that, for the most part, is right on in its descriptions and highlights. Although I'd rank the frontrunners a little differently ...
I'd start, hands down, with "Abbey Road" at No. 1. Then I'd have to go with "Magical Mystery Tour" at No. 2, and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" at No. 3, before putting "Revolver" at No. 4 and on down the line with the way EW ranks them ...
Paste also produced worthy reviews of every Beatles album. And Chuck Klosterman has a good read about the reissues.
EW also has a ranking of the 50 best Beatles songs, complete with YouTube videos.
Adding to the unending rankings and lists, Ann Powers has been pondering what might go on a Beatles mix tape.
Without going into too much explanation, I think mine would have to go something like this -- if it were put on a 90-minute cassette tape, 45 minutes to each side ... Because a 60-minute tape would have been far too short ... Maybe I should have gone with one of those newer 120-minute tapes. Then, I'd be able to include "In My Life," and "A Day in the Life," and "Day Tripper," and ... Hmm ...
SIDE A
1. I Feel Fine
2. Here Comes the Sun
3. Magical Mystery Tour
4. She Loves You
5. Eight Days A Week
6. A Hard Day's Night
7. Ticket To Ride
8. Help!
9. Yesterday
10. Penny Lane
11. We Can Work It Out
12. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
13. Lucy In the Sky With the Diamonds
14. Hey Jude
SIDE B
1. Strawberry Fields Forever
2. Baby You're A Rich Man
3. Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da
4. Lady Madonna
5. Lovely Rita
6. I Will
7. Hello, Goodbye
8. Octopus's Garden
9. Something
(... and I'd end it with the brilliant B-side medley from "Abbey Road" -- minus "Sun King" -- to stay within the time constraints, of course ... )
10. Because
11. You Never Give Me Your Money
12. Mean Mr. Mustard
13. Polythene Pam
14. She Came In Through the Bathroom Window
15. Golden Slumbers
16. Carry That Weight
17. The End
I'm so far removed from video gaming at this point that I have no idea what gaming platform "Rock Band" is played on -- and I don't own a video game system. I also have no intentions of racing out to buy the new, remastered versions of the albums -- because I'm in the camp that thinks all the recordings I have now are perfect already, thank you very much.
But it sure is fun to "Meet The Beatles" again and again.
8.04.2009
A rockin' review
At this point, I can only dream of ever getting myself to a Paul McCartney concert ...
I'm still trying to decide whether this review makes that notion even more agonizing or helps fill the void ... Either way it's an excellent read that puts you there, even if you weren't.
There's another great read about Paul here.
And in case you missed it (I caught it -- and loved it -- on DVR ...) here's some stuff from his excellent Letterman appearance ...
I'm still trying to decide whether this review makes that notion even more agonizing or helps fill the void ... Either way it's an excellent read that puts you there, even if you weren't.
There's another great read about Paul here.
And in case you missed it (I caught it -- and loved it -- on DVR ...) here's some stuff from his excellent Letterman appearance ...
6.09.2008
Phoebe's Rock 'n' Roll Playlist
Last week, we gave you Phoebe’s Lullaby playlist. Tonight, we give you Phoebe’s Rock ‘n’ Roll (aka playtime) playlist …
This one didn’t take near as much time and thought as the Lullaby list, and it’s about half as long – though we might continue adding songs as we come across them …
For this playlist, my goal was simply to find a collection of songs that were fun, sing-able and clean. I wanted songs that are classics and songs that are popular today. Songs that have brought lots of smiles to mine and Kates’s faces, and songs I could envision Phoebe smiling with too …
So here it is, Phoebe’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Playlist …
This one didn’t take near as much time and thought as the Lullaby list, and it’s about half as long – though we might continue adding songs as we come across them …
For this playlist, my goal was simply to find a collection of songs that were fun, sing-able and clean. I wanted songs that are classics and songs that are popular today. Songs that have brought lots of smiles to mine and Kates’s faces, and songs I could envision Phoebe smiling with too …
So here it is, Phoebe’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Playlist …
- 1-2-3-4 (Feist) … Not only was it one of the defining songs of the last year, it’s a great counting song. I didn’t realize how appropriate it was for kids until reading the Mates of State blog a few weeks ago.
- Come to Me (Koop) … This one had been on the Lullaby list for awhile, but Kates argued -- and won – that it was better suited for this list. It’s a great tune nonetheless. (Hear it here)
- We Are the Sleepyheads (Belle & Sebastian) ... One of the most fun songs I've ever heard in my entire life. Seriously. (Hear it here)
- Fun, Fun, Fun (Beach Boys) … One of my all-time favorites. When it comes on, I wail. It had to be on this list. Period.
- The Middle (Jimmy Eat World) ... It's just a feel-good song.
- Hound Dog (Elvis Presley) ... You ain't nothin but a hound dog / Cryin all the time. (Classic video here)
- Feeling Alright (Joe Cocker) … One of Kates’s all-time favorites ... I like it too. (Hear it here)
- Happy Together (The Turtles) ... Imagine me and you, I do / I think about you day and night, it's only right / To think about the girl you love and hold her tight / So happy together.
- Good Vibrations (Beach Boys) … Another one of my all-time faves. Aptly titled, it doesn’t get a whole lot better than this one. (Vintage video here)
- Lovely Rita (The Beatles) ... A great, bouncy, singable Beatles tune. (Hear it here)
- Funny Little Frog (Belle & Sebastian) ... Honey, lovin' you is the greatest thing / I get to be myself and I get to sing / I get to play at being irresponsible / I come home late and love your soul / I never forget you in my prayers / I never have a bad thing to report ... It's a sweet sounding song, with some sweet lyrics, and a sweet video too. (Hear and watch it here).
- Rockin’ The Suburbs (Ben Folds, Over the Hedge version) ... Great song by the one and only ... But did you really think we'd put the "R" version on poor Phoebe's playlist!?
- She’s a Woman (Chikezie) ... Chikezie's "American Idol version was way cool.
- Put Your Records On (Corinne Bailey Rae) ... Girl, put your records on, tell me your favorite song / You go ahead, let your hair down / Sapphire and faded jeans, I hope you get your dreams, / Just go ahead, let your hair down. (Hear and watch it here)
- You Baby (The Turtles) ... A little ray of sunshine, / A little bit of soul / And just a touch of magic, / You've got the greatest thing since rock 'n' roll!
- Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da (The Beatles) ... So fun to sing.
- I’m Looking Through You (The Wallflowers) ... Great cover of the Beatles song. (Hear it here)
- Sloop John B (Beach Boys) ... Really, I could load this thing with Beatles and Beach Boys songs, but Phoebe needs some variety (Video here)
- Daddy’s Girl (Peter Cetera) ... The title and lyrics say it all ... Who else remembers it from "Three Men and a Baby" !?
- New Soul (Yael Naim) ... See I'm a young soul in this very strange world / Hoping I could learn a bit bout what is true and fake (Video here)
3.18.2008
Idol chatter
I wasn’t thrilled that “American Idol” was doing The Beatles again tonight. I’m a strong believer in the notion that it’s nearly impossible to duplicate a good thing, and tonight was proof of that … There were only two clear successes. Meanwhile, the race for who goes home this week is wide open …
Amanda Overmyer started it off tonight with “Back in the U.S.S.R.” … I liked it, and she looked tonight like she was having as fun as ever. It definitely showed in her performance -- she looked good. … But about midway through the performance I also started thinking exactly what Simon said when it was over, she’s starting to get boring. And we’re hearing the same style from her week after week
Kristy Lee sang “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” -- great song! (Which she had never heard before!? Kristy Lee, c’mon!) … I kind of liked the arrangement, but she was pitchy and clearly unsure of the melody …
David Archuleta did “The Long And Winding Road.” One of my least favorite Beatles songs, definitely my least favorite of their hits … David sang it well, but that was it. He totally played it safe. He picked an easy ballad. And all the teenie girls go wild. He’s like Amanda -- it’s getting to a point where -- no matter how pure his voice is -- we know what to expect every week …
Michael Johns sang “A Day In the Life.” Nice, I was thrilled to hear he was trying it (and that there finally was a contestant who had heard of The Beatles! … Seriously, were you kids raised in Antarctica!?) … But it didn’t translate well on the stage. The judges are right, he’s gotta stop sorting himself out and just bring it -- which he hasn’t done since he blew us away with his “Bohemian Rhapsody” during Hollywood week.
Brooke White… Have I mentioned how much we love her!? The yellow dress. The charm. Singing “Here Comes the Sun.” … So the judges didn’t like it. Fine. She’s still great.
David Cook did “Day Tripper” … and rocked it! Performance of the night! Liked the vocoder, too… I never thought I’d be saying this a couple weeks ago, but he’s really starting to grow on me. He’s definitely a sleeper in the competition …
Carly Smithson sang “Blackbird” … One of our favorite songs, and she nailed it. She’s the girl to beat.
Jason Castro sang “Michelle.” Didn’t like it.
Syesha Mercado sang “Yesterday.” … Tough song. Big risk. I thought it was all right.
Chikezie sang “I’ve Just Seen A Face.” … I cheered out loud when I heard the song choice. Another one of my favorites … But I didn’t at all dig the slowed-down beginning. Then he sped it up and added the harmonica. Then, like Simon said, he went all “Achy Breaky.” It was definitely schizophrenic. I think he tried, but there was no way he was going to top last week …
Ramiele sang “I Should’ve Known Better” … Good song. Poor performance.
David Cook and Carly Smithson were my favorites tonight -- hands down … I’m picking Ramiele, Kristy Lee and Jason Castro in Wednesday’s bottom three.
Amanda Overmyer started it off tonight with “Back in the U.S.S.R.” … I liked it, and she looked tonight like she was having as fun as ever. It definitely showed in her performance -- she looked good. … But about midway through the performance I also started thinking exactly what Simon said when it was over, she’s starting to get boring. And we’re hearing the same style from her week after week
Kristy Lee sang “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” -- great song! (Which she had never heard before!? Kristy Lee, c’mon!) … I kind of liked the arrangement, but she was pitchy and clearly unsure of the melody …
David Archuleta did “The Long And Winding Road.” One of my least favorite Beatles songs, definitely my least favorite of their hits … David sang it well, but that was it. He totally played it safe. He picked an easy ballad. And all the teenie girls go wild. He’s like Amanda -- it’s getting to a point where -- no matter how pure his voice is -- we know what to expect every week …
Michael Johns sang “A Day In the Life.” Nice, I was thrilled to hear he was trying it (and that there finally was a contestant who had heard of The Beatles! … Seriously, were you kids raised in Antarctica!?) … But it didn’t translate well on the stage. The judges are right, he’s gotta stop sorting himself out and just bring it -- which he hasn’t done since he blew us away with his “Bohemian Rhapsody” during Hollywood week.
Brooke White… Have I mentioned how much we love her!? The yellow dress. The charm. Singing “Here Comes the Sun.” … So the judges didn’t like it. Fine. She’s still great.
David Cook did “Day Tripper” … and rocked it! Performance of the night! Liked the vocoder, too… I never thought I’d be saying this a couple weeks ago, but he’s really starting to grow on me. He’s definitely a sleeper in the competition …
Carly Smithson sang “Blackbird” … One of our favorite songs, and she nailed it. She’s the girl to beat.
Jason Castro sang “Michelle.” Didn’t like it.
Syesha Mercado sang “Yesterday.” … Tough song. Big risk. I thought it was all right.
Chikezie sang “I’ve Just Seen A Face.” … I cheered out loud when I heard the song choice. Another one of my favorites … But I didn’t at all dig the slowed-down beginning. Then he sped it up and added the harmonica. Then, like Simon said, he went all “Achy Breaky.” It was definitely schizophrenic. I think he tried, but there was no way he was going to top last week …
Ramiele sang “I Should’ve Known Better” … Good song. Poor performance.
David Cook and Carly Smithson were my favorites tonight -- hands down … I’m picking Ramiele, Kristy Lee and Jason Castro in Wednesday’s bottom three.
3.11.2008
America's Top 12
And suddenly there were 12.
Without Danny Noriega. I wasn't over it when "Idol" started tonight ...
But, hey -- for the first time in Idol history -- tonight was a tribute to John Lennon and Paul McCartney. We were totally having fun, and by the end, I'd almost forgotten last week's travesty ...
It also helped a lot that the guy I thought should have gone before Danny gave the performance of the night and, arguably, one of the most memorable of the competition so far ...
Holy crap, Chikezie! He blew the roof off the studio!!… The dude, who I’ve never completely understood, did “She’s A Woman” and started it off with a down home “O Brother Where Art Thou?” thing (Kates was beaming when she called it before the judges). Then the band kicked it in high gear, and there was Chikezie totally rocking out. Kates and I loved it so much we were left as breathless as he was after the performance. Who knew he had it in him!? And if he can keep it up, he’s totally in …
And that means, by george, David Archuleta is human! I picked out his Stevie Wonder version of “We Can Work It Out” the moment he stepped from the stairs. He fumbled the words. He seemed totally out of place. And if there’s anything we’ve learned from our years watching “Idol” -- never start on the stairs.
Carly Smithson barely stood a chance of me liking her performance because she sang “Come Together,” one of my least favorite Beatles songs. But she still sang it well enough to remain the girl to beat.
And Brooke White is right behind her. Love her! Loved seeing her at the piano. Her version of “Let It Be” was passionate and heartfelt and priceless.
David Cook’s rock-out version of “Eleanor Rigby” was pretty sweet. And Amanda Overmyer finally looked like she was having some fun tonight -- I really liked her version of “You Can’t Do That” too.
Michael Johns' version of “Across the Universe” was OK. So was Syesha Mercado’s version of “Got To Get You Into My Life” -- though I really loved the brass on it.
I couldn’t have agreed with the judges more on Ramiele Malubay's boring version of “In My Life.” And the same happened on Jason Castro’s “If I Fell.” Which sucks because those are two of my most favorite Beatles tunes.
Didn’t like David Hernandez at all.
But he wasn’t near as bad as Kristy Lee Cook’s “Eight Days A Week.” I was totally OK with the idea of a country version, but her arrangement of it was plain awful. The look on my face when she finished it must’ve looked like I had a toothache …
I predict Kristy Lee goes tomorrow night.
Without Danny Noriega. I wasn't over it when "Idol" started tonight ...
But, hey -- for the first time in Idol history -- tonight was a tribute to John Lennon and Paul McCartney. We were totally having fun, and by the end, I'd almost forgotten last week's travesty ...
It also helped a lot that the guy I thought should have gone before Danny gave the performance of the night and, arguably, one of the most memorable of the competition so far ...
Holy crap, Chikezie! He blew the roof off the studio!!… The dude, who I’ve never completely understood, did “She’s A Woman” and started it off with a down home “O Brother Where Art Thou?” thing (Kates was beaming when she called it before the judges). Then the band kicked it in high gear, and there was Chikezie totally rocking out. Kates and I loved it so much we were left as breathless as he was after the performance. Who knew he had it in him!? And if he can keep it up, he’s totally in …
And that means, by george, David Archuleta is human! I picked out his Stevie Wonder version of “We Can Work It Out” the moment he stepped from the stairs. He fumbled the words. He seemed totally out of place. And if there’s anything we’ve learned from our years watching “Idol” -- never start on the stairs.
Carly Smithson barely stood a chance of me liking her performance because she sang “Come Together,” one of my least favorite Beatles songs. But she still sang it well enough to remain the girl to beat.
And Brooke White is right behind her. Love her! Loved seeing her at the piano. Her version of “Let It Be” was passionate and heartfelt and priceless.
David Cook’s rock-out version of “Eleanor Rigby” was pretty sweet. And Amanda Overmyer finally looked like she was having some fun tonight -- I really liked her version of “You Can’t Do That” too.
Michael Johns' version of “Across the Universe” was OK. So was Syesha Mercado’s version of “Got To Get You Into My Life” -- though I really loved the brass on it.
I couldn’t have agreed with the judges more on Ramiele Malubay's boring version of “In My Life.” And the same happened on Jason Castro’s “If I Fell.” Which sucks because those are two of my most favorite Beatles tunes.
Didn’t like David Hernandez at all.
But he wasn’t near as bad as Kristy Lee Cook’s “Eight Days A Week.” I was totally OK with the idea of a country version, but her arrangement of it was plain awful. The look on my face when she finished it must’ve looked like I had a toothache …
I predict Kristy Lee goes tomorrow night.
2.10.2008
Grammy night
Is it just me or did the Grammys really sneak up on us this year?
I say it all the time: the Grammys mean to me what the Oscars mean to a lot of other people I know …
But this year I’m about as excited for them as I get for the next snowstorm. (While we were huddled inside away from the 1 degree weather outside, I did an interview this afternoon with a guy in L.A. who was sitting in a park and enjoying 70 degree weather ... Not cool, man. Not cool.)
Plain and simple, I’m really disappointed with the nominees this year … And don’t get me started on what I think about Amy Whinehouse and Rihanna’s music …
Plus, last year’s show was an extraordinary night that I’m not sure will be topped for awhile …
But here we go, my minute-my-minute thoughts on this year’s Grammys …
7:13 p.m. -- I’m not a big Alicia Keys fan, but she’s already got her first Grammy in what should be a good night for her. “No One” was easily the best R&B song, hands down. And that sleek green dress she’s wearing also deserves a nod for the best dressed of the evening …
Carrie Underwood looked good too … Too bad her performance of “Before He Cheats” lost its zest somewhere between the radio and the Grammy’s. Her performance of it tonight fell flat, though the whole percussion thing with the dancers beating the set with tubes was kind of cool …
7:22 p.m. -- Yep. Still can’t stand Rihanna.
7:33 p.m. -- Beatles tribute featuring Cirque de Soleil doing “Day in the Life” and cast members from “Across the Universe" doing “Let It Be.” Very nice.
Oh, and here we go with the only category I’m really looking forward to tonight: Best new artist. And the winner is …
Amy Winehouse.
Bleh. Should’ve been Feist.
And by the way, I really doubt Miley Cyrus will be winning a Grammy next year, as Cyndi Lauper, the 1985 Best New Artist, predicted. But hey, Cyndi still rocks.
7:39 p.m. -- Kanye West looks good in his Michael Jackson get-up. Not liking the song though.
… His performance of “Hey Mama” was moving-sweet-good.
And oh, Fergie, how you’ve grown. Her duet with John Legend was lovely, sweet. A long way from "My Humps."
Here’s best soundtrack album -- wow. What a category !?!? “Across the Universe.” “Hairspray.” “Love” “Once.” And “Dreamgirls.”
I’m rooting for any of the first three, though I’d be happy with either of the five.
“Love” wins. Nice. I’m clapping.
How cool is it that two of the albums in the category -- “Across the Universe” and “Love” -- are re-done Beatles material. And better yet, both albums are full of pretty good stuff and not cheap knock-offs.
8:05 p.m. -- Beyonce was totally lip-syncing in that dance-off intro of Tina Tuner.
Tina’s singing “What’s Love Got To Do With It.” She’s still got it. Says Kates, “Look at how good she looks!”
Ok, I was expecting big things when Beyonce came back out to join Tina for “Proud Mary,” but this slow version isn’t working …
… Ah. Never mind. They just turned up the tempo to do it right …
Still didn’t do it justice though.
8:13 p.m. -- Burt Bacharach is a Grammy Lifetime Award recipient. I can’t think of anyone more deserving … But surely he deserves a more worthy tribute than the brief pause and a swift transition into the next category …
And Amy Winehouse wins for “Rehab” in the best songwriting category. Pitiful … She was up against Carrie Underwood‘s “Before He Cheats,” The Plain White T’s “Hey There Delilah,” Corrine Bailey Rae’s “Like A Star,” and Rihanna’s “Umbrella.” For my money, “Before He Cheats,” “Delilah” and “Like A Star” are far superior songs lyrically.
8:21 p.m. -- Ann Marie Calhoun was the hands-down My Grammy Moment winner in that contest to play with the Foo Fighters.
8:34 p.m. -- We’re about halfway through the show and we’ve reached the Valley of Boredom.
8:41 p.m. --You know Kanye’s the man when he gets the award for Best Rap Album. The get-off-the-stage music starts playing midway through his acceptance speech. He tells the sounds guys to make it stop … and they listen.
8:57 p.m. -- Feist is performing "1-2-3-4." Yes! ... Love the acoustic, down-on-the-corner take on it with the brass. I miss the rousing sing-along rendition of the album version. But this is good. It's different.
9:14 p.m. -- Now Alicia Keys is doing "No One." She and the band seem to have taken it a little more upbeat and freshened it up a little -- I love it! ... Aw, and John Mayer comes on with a guitar solo -- real nice! Kates: "Makes tha song a little better." (She hates this song.)
9:19 p.m. -- Vince Gill just got his award for Best Country Album and accepted it from Ringo Starr. Vince says: "I just got an award from a Beatle." Then he looks off to his left and says, "Have you had that happen yet, Kanye?" That's the line of the night.
9:28 p.m. -- Gosh, I love Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue."
9:43 p.m. -- I'm not even going to talk about Amy Whinehouse's performance ... and just as I write this she finishes her first song and starts up "Rehab." It's catchy. Dang.
9:50 p.m. -- Record of the Year. Amy Whinehouse. Of course. Ugh.
10:26 p.m. -- Will.I.am's rap montage of great Grammy songs was brilliant.
10:29 p.m. -- And Herbie Hancock just won for Album of the Year with "River: The Joni Letters" !! Wow!! Upset city ... Good speech, Herbie.
10:37 p.m. -- It's over. Thank you and good night.
I say it all the time: the Grammys mean to me what the Oscars mean to a lot of other people I know …
But this year I’m about as excited for them as I get for the next snowstorm. (While we were huddled inside away from the 1 degree weather outside, I did an interview this afternoon with a guy in L.A. who was sitting in a park and enjoying 70 degree weather ... Not cool, man. Not cool.)
Plain and simple, I’m really disappointed with the nominees this year … And don’t get me started on what I think about Amy Whinehouse and Rihanna’s music …
Plus, last year’s show was an extraordinary night that I’m not sure will be topped for awhile …
But here we go, my minute-my-minute thoughts on this year’s Grammys …
7:13 p.m. -- I’m not a big Alicia Keys fan, but she’s already got her first Grammy in what should be a good night for her. “No One” was easily the best R&B song, hands down. And that sleek green dress she’s wearing also deserves a nod for the best dressed of the evening …
Carrie Underwood looked good too … Too bad her performance of “Before He Cheats” lost its zest somewhere between the radio and the Grammy’s. Her performance of it tonight fell flat, though the whole percussion thing with the dancers beating the set with tubes was kind of cool …
7:22 p.m. -- Yep. Still can’t stand Rihanna.
7:33 p.m. -- Beatles tribute featuring Cirque de Soleil doing “Day in the Life” and cast members from “Across the Universe" doing “Let It Be.” Very nice.
Oh, and here we go with the only category I’m really looking forward to tonight: Best new artist. And the winner is …
Amy Winehouse.
Bleh. Should’ve been Feist.
And by the way, I really doubt Miley Cyrus will be winning a Grammy next year, as Cyndi Lauper, the 1985 Best New Artist, predicted. But hey, Cyndi still rocks.
7:39 p.m. -- Kanye West looks good in his Michael Jackson get-up. Not liking the song though.
… His performance of “Hey Mama” was moving-sweet-good.
And oh, Fergie, how you’ve grown. Her duet with John Legend was lovely, sweet. A long way from "My Humps."
Here’s best soundtrack album -- wow. What a category !?!? “Across the Universe.” “Hairspray.” “Love” “Once.” And “Dreamgirls.”
I’m rooting for any of the first three, though I’d be happy with either of the five.
“Love” wins. Nice. I’m clapping.
How cool is it that two of the albums in the category -- “Across the Universe” and “Love” -- are re-done Beatles material. And better yet, both albums are full of pretty good stuff and not cheap knock-offs.
8:05 p.m. -- Beyonce was totally lip-syncing in that dance-off intro of Tina Tuner.
Tina’s singing “What’s Love Got To Do With It.” She’s still got it. Says Kates, “Look at how good she looks!”
Ok, I was expecting big things when Beyonce came back out to join Tina for “Proud Mary,” but this slow version isn’t working …
… Ah. Never mind. They just turned up the tempo to do it right …
Still didn’t do it justice though.
8:13 p.m. -- Burt Bacharach is a Grammy Lifetime Award recipient. I can’t think of anyone more deserving … But surely he deserves a more worthy tribute than the brief pause and a swift transition into the next category …
And Amy Winehouse wins for “Rehab” in the best songwriting category. Pitiful … She was up against Carrie Underwood‘s “Before He Cheats,” The Plain White T’s “Hey There Delilah,” Corrine Bailey Rae’s “Like A Star,” and Rihanna’s “Umbrella.” For my money, “Before He Cheats,” “Delilah” and “Like A Star” are far superior songs lyrically.
8:21 p.m. -- Ann Marie Calhoun was the hands-down My Grammy Moment winner in that contest to play with the Foo Fighters.
8:34 p.m. -- We’re about halfway through the show and we’ve reached the Valley of Boredom.
8:41 p.m. --You know Kanye’s the man when he gets the award for Best Rap Album. The get-off-the-stage music starts playing midway through his acceptance speech. He tells the sounds guys to make it stop … and they listen.
8:57 p.m. -- Feist is performing "1-2-3-4." Yes! ... Love the acoustic, down-on-the-corner take on it with the brass. I miss the rousing sing-along rendition of the album version. But this is good. It's different.
9:14 p.m. -- Now Alicia Keys is doing "No One." She and the band seem to have taken it a little more upbeat and freshened it up a little -- I love it! ... Aw, and John Mayer comes on with a guitar solo -- real nice! Kates: "Makes tha song a little better." (She hates this song.)
9:19 p.m. -- Vince Gill just got his award for Best Country Album and accepted it from Ringo Starr. Vince says: "I just got an award from a Beatle." Then he looks off to his left and says, "Have you had that happen yet, Kanye?" That's the line of the night.
9:28 p.m. -- Gosh, I love Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue."
9:43 p.m. -- I'm not even going to talk about Amy Whinehouse's performance ... and just as I write this she finishes her first song and starts up "Rehab." It's catchy. Dang.
9:50 p.m. -- Record of the Year. Amy Whinehouse. Of course. Ugh.
10:26 p.m. -- Will.I.am's rap montage of great Grammy songs was brilliant.
10:29 p.m. -- And Herbie Hancock just won for Album of the Year with "River: The Joni Letters" !! Wow!! Upset city ... Good speech, Herbie.
10:37 p.m. -- It's over. Thank you and good night.
10.20.2007
Across the Universe
So Kates and I went out on the town last night and caught "Across The Universe."
That was one trippy film.
A trippy love story, actually.
Kates and I were blown away when we caught the trailer for the musical/film on TV a few weeks ago. That was the only time we saw anything regarding the film, and it was playing in limited cities ...
This weekend we discovered it had come to ours, so we broke at the chance to see it ...
Without giving too much away, the film takes place in the 1960s as a young British lad travels to America in search of his father, who he'd never met. In the states, he befriends a rebellious college student and his sister. They eventually fall in with a bohemian enclave with whom they share an apartment and embark on a journey that's full of love, romance and anti-war sentiment ...
If you know your Beatles stuff. It's all there, and it makes the movie a lot more fun ... The main characters are Jude and Lucy. Their friends include Maxwell. Sexie Sadie. Prudence. JoJo. Mr. Kite. Dr. Robert. And Rita, though she was contortionist, not a meter maid ...
A lot of Beatles lyrics and references are smartly thrown in some of the dialogue as well. Early in the film an elderly man tells Jude: "I thought I'd be doing something different when I'm sixty-four." ... When Prudence arrives in the apartment, the characters point out she came in through the bathroom window. ... While Sadie is giving Max a tour of the apartment she comments that Max seems like a guy who could have murdered his grandmother with a hammer. And in another scene Max is holding a silver hammer ... Jude, an artist, is seeing drawing an apple, like the Apple Records logo ... There's also a rooftop concert at the end of the film ...
And though I would've liked to to see it once more to be sure, there's a split-second shot at the end of the film with Lucy standing on the top of a building, and there's a railing in front of her. The camera angle portrays her with a perfect blue sky behind her, and I swore the railing in front of her was decorated with diamonds = Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.
(Wikipedia does have a good post about some more of the film's insights ...)
Having had some time now to think about it and take it in, I thought the film was pretty good. Not great, though ...
At times, especially throughout the first half, the film feels disjointed and clunky and forced -- as though a group of writers, who happend to be huge Beatles fans, sat around a table and said "Hey! Let's try to write a Beatles movie that incorporates a bunch of Beatles songs!" It's a genius concept, that doesn't necessarily translate well on film ... But I can't blame the creators for trying, because it's something I'd try to do too ...
I've been a fan of Evan Rachel Wood's for awhile, and I thought she succeeded again here, along with Jim Sturgess as Jude, grouped with a decent supporting cast ... Joe Cocker and Bono were added bonuses too.
Really, for me, the highlights of the film were almost all of the musical numbers, each of them built like their own little music video ... with "I've Just Seen A Face," (this is only a snippet of the video, so you won't see the dazzling visual effects as the cast dances across the bowling lanes...) "Dear Prudence," and "Because" among my favorites. Though all of the Beatles songs are given a refurbished edge for the film, all of it proves once again just how defining and remarkable the band was ...
If you're a Beatles fan, I say go see it ... and go with an open mind.
7.01.2007
Summerfest '07: Day 2
Kates and I hit up another night of Summerfest on Saturday night, this time with our attention set on Lindsey Buckingham ...
But priority No. 1 after parking the car was finding something to eat, since neither of us had a solid lunch in between all of our running around earlier in the day. We passed through the gates a little after 5 p.m. and embarked on our first pass through the grounds, looking for the most appetizing menu ... Soon enough, Martino’s caught my eye and I went for a Chicago style hot dog piled with relish, onions, a couple tomatoes and, wouldn’t you know it, the first pickle I’ve ever eaten in my life. Funny, I was so hungry that for once even a pickle looked appetizing to me. And it was pretty tasty, too -- I just might have acquired a new taste ... Then after a little more browsing, Kates settled on a gyro from Greek Village, and from there we carried our food baskets to the M&I Classic Rock stage on the south end of the grounds for The Britins ...
We arrived at the stage about 10 minutes into their show, and I think we found the last available picnic bench in the place. All you had to do was look at these guys dressed in their gray Beatles suits and you understood why the place was packed. People are suckers for Beatles bands, especially when they dress the part … These guys had people dancing on the picnic tables in no time as they ran off “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” “All My Loving,” “Boys,” “Hard Day’s Night,” “I Should've Known Better,” “Help!” “I Feel Fine,” “In My Life,” “Day Tripper” and “Drive My Car.”
These guys looked the part, played the part and talked the part, British accents and all. I loved 'em from start to finish ... Kates was a little more critical, however, pointing out the guys went slightly out of tune when they needed to hit higher notes, and she was having trouble overlooking a fifth Beatle, who accompanied the band with a keyboard and other instruments ...
No matter, the band pulled out “Twist and Shout” as the final number of their "pre Sgt. Pepper" set, and the number of people dancing on picnic tables nearly doubled. The star in our corner of the stage area was a middle-aged man who took to a picnic table without any regard of who was watching him. And when an grandmother handed him an inflatable Spongebob Squarepants, he used it as a dance partner ...
After a 15-minute break, the Britins returned to the stage for its "Sgt. Pepper" garb and they just might have been the worst Beatle costumes ever worn. The looked like cheap knockoffs; like Halloween costumes made out of that cheap plastic or vinyl material
To start off the set, they offered up “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band / A Little Help From My Friends,” “Hello Goodbye,” “Good Day Sunshine,” “Fixing A Hole” and “Eleanor Rigby,” which is when Kates and I decided to move on ...
* * *
On our to-do list in between catching the Britins and heading to the Briggs & Stratton stage for the rest of the night's performers was taking a ride on Summerfest's iconic Skyglider. In five years of going to Summerfest, I'd never hitched a ride on the thing, and darn it, this year I wanted that experience ...
Like a ski lift, the glider takes patrons from one end of the grounds to another. Kates and I paid the $3 apiece to get our tickets and then took our place in the line, which moved swiftly as the glider's attendants herded riders in and out of the area. "This is quite the operation," I mused to Kates ... The gliders don’t stop, so when they tell you to go, you go and you get to the yellow box painted on the ground as quickly as possible. Within moments there’s a glider coming up fast behind you, taking your feet out from under you and lifting you high into the air above Summerfest … Talk about a rush.
The sensation of being lifted above the grounds, my feet dangling to nowhere, was a little bit of an adjustment for the first couple minutes or so of the ride. Then the awe of the scenery set in -- seeing all the hordes of people wandering below, sampling each stage we passed, pretty much seeing the magnitude of the Summerfest grounds from a bird's eye view. Again, a rush.
* * *
Afterward, I purchased my bucket of Mountain Dew for the night and Kates went for a cup of raspberry sherbet at Cold Stone Creamery. Then we headed for the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard to catch the remainder of the Briggs Bluesbusters show and then Lindsey Buckingham at 10 p.m.
About those Bluesbusters: Don’t let the “blues” in their name fool you. I was mesmerized by these guys last year, so I was thrilled when I noticed they were opening for Buckingham last night. Year after year, this huge collection of amateur, but very talented, musicians has got to be one of most entertaining bands to play Summerfest ...
The membership of the house band for Briggs & Stratton includes employees, friends and family members who make up a wide range of ages and abilities. The band numbers fluctuate from song to song, but they capped out tonight at 13 strong with the help of Reed Kailing, a former member of the Grass Roots and Badfinger.
We caught them charming yet another crowd with their covers of Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash. We caught them singing McCartney's “Band on the Run,” Petty’s “American Girl,” Bryan Adams’ “Summer of ‘69,” Melissa Etheridge’s “I’m The Only One,” The Grass Roots’ “Temptation Eyes,” and The Boss’s “Born to Run.” As usual they raised the energy bar with every number, and their finales are something to savor. Tonight, the band wrapped their set with their fantastic take on The Who’s “Baba O’ Riley,” -- keytar and all -- and a crowd sing-a-long of Dylan’s “Like A Rolling Stone.”
The Bluesbusters were off the stage by 9, although I’m not sure the crowd was ready to see them go. I’m thinking they easily could have stolen another 30 minutes on the stage before Buckingham came on …
* * *
To pass the hour between the Bluesbusters and Buckingham, Kates and I tag-teamed with some Solitaire on the iPod … For the record, I’d played about 20 games since discovering the game on the iPod a few weeks ago, and I’d settled on the idea that it was impossible to win. … Last night was Kates first-ever attempt at the game and she endured just six or seven losses before she won, not once, but two consecutive games …
In the meantime, I surveyed the crowd and decided Kates and I were two in maybe a dozen or so twenty-somethings sprinkled throughout the crowd. Yep, with Buckingham, an icon of the '70s pop scene, scheduled to play, we were surrounded by Baby Boomers.
… But after hanging in a bowl of somewhat immature college-aged fans at Friday night's OAR show, it was a welcomed change of pace. Still, I did see a few of the boomers, albeit a little slower and with more regard for their beverages, push their way through the crowd in pursuit of the best seats ...
No doubt the place to be last night for the young bucks -- at least for those who couldn’t afford to hit the Marcus for The Fray -- was the Miller Lite Oasis for the Goo Goo Dolls. That place already appeared packed at 6 p.m., and once again, I might have been in the mix had we not seen them perform last summer… Surely Lifehouse drew a crowd at the Zippo Rock Stage, too.
Going in to last night, I tried not to get my expectations too high. In the last couple years, seemingly out of nowhere, I’ve developed quite an admiration for Fleetwood Mac. Like any fan of the band, I assume, I’ve become a huge fan of the “Rumours” album and I enjoy their self-titled release almost as much.” Kates and I both adore “Never Going Back Again,” (there's a sweet live video of it here!) and Buckingham’s guitar work and vocals on songs like “Go Your Own Way,” “Second Hand News” and “Don’t Stop” thrill me every time I hear them (especially on THIS version)…
But, I knew next to nothing about his solo work. In fact, I hardly realized he had an established solo career until I began reading more into Fleetwood Mac and I caught some of the reviews for his “Under The Skin” release last year …
So I'd decided I was ready for anything ...
* * *
In the end Buckingham was more than satisfying Saturday night, offering a solid two-hour set steeped with a bountiful mix of Fleetwood Mac favorites and his solo work.
In between repeated standing ovations, thunderous clapping and uninhibited cheering, there were several words and classifications thrown out throughout the night to describe Buckingham -- an American treasure, uber-amazing, eccentric -- and all of them fit the bill.
Buckingham took the stage alone and kicked off the intimate performance with “Not Too Late,” as the sight of his fingers galloping effortlessly on his guitar strings nearly sucked the air out from underneath the Hoan Bridge. He followed it up with another solo effort, “Trouble” and then opened the lid on his Fleetwood Mac catalog with “Never Going Back Again,” though his vocals on the latter were shaky, raspy, forced and, well, disappointing.
Quickly afterward, he was joined on the stage by a three-man backing band and the group wasted no time plowing into an energizing “Second Hand News” that dynamited the crowd to its feet while transporting a good portion of them back to younger days (after the song, a giddy older woman standing next to me was giggling like a starstruck teenager), or in my case to driving my car earlier in the day ...
Buckingham cemented his reputation as a tremendous guitar player early in the set and ran from stage right to stage left, rocking with a youthful exuberance throughout the night. But at times he failed to keep the momentum going and that had the crowd playing a game of stand-up, sit-down for parts of the set.
That game was quite a bit easier to endure, however, than the deafening and distorted sound quality, which I don’t think was any fault of Buckingham’s crew but rather the poorly placed Briggs stage, which sits squarely underneath the Hoan Bridge. Near the end of the performance, several fans could be seen holding hands to their ears, trying anything to stop the numbness, and I think the young girl seated on the bench in front of us and huddled under her mother’s wing was actually crying from the pain of the noise. Kates and I were wearing ear plugs, but I’m still dealing with an intense ringing in my ears this morning.
But on with the show. Buckingham moved on to another one of his solo efforts with “Castaway Dreams,” a take on growing up, then the self-described “uber-strange” Fleetwood tune “Red Rover.” He also turned in some dazzling guitar work on “Big Love” and “World Turning.”
And on the percussive “Tusk,” Buckingham got the crowd bursting to its feet once again. I had briefly fantasized that perhaps the UW marching band would appear from behind the stage with the accompaniment, but instead the backing musicians worked their keyboards and drums to replicate the sound originally recorded by the USC Trojan marching band (another great live version here!). In the meantime, a man in front of me whaled on his air horn.
Buckingham closed the first part of his set with a ferocious “Go Your Own Way” that had him punching and swatting at the neck of his guitar. And then after a short breather, he returned to the stage with the bouncy “Holiday Road” and a lovely “Show You How.”
As the clock struck midnight, Buckingham was wrapping up his performance -- and his nine-month tour. The band got a little mushy on each other as Buckingham introduced the others and gushed about hos great their tour had been -- with his “Shut Us Down.” In the background, the PA system was announcing the grounds were closing and patrons were being encouraged to leave the grounds. But Buckingham hardly seemed to care, bowing into his guitar and singing softly, “No, I will stay around / As long as I can /As long as I can.”
But priority No. 1 after parking the car was finding something to eat, since neither of us had a solid lunch in between all of our running around earlier in the day. We passed through the gates a little after 5 p.m. and embarked on our first pass through the grounds, looking for the most appetizing menu ... Soon enough, Martino’s caught my eye and I went for a Chicago style hot dog piled with relish, onions, a couple tomatoes and, wouldn’t you know it, the first pickle I’ve ever eaten in my life. Funny, I was so hungry that for once even a pickle looked appetizing to me. And it was pretty tasty, too -- I just might have acquired a new taste ... Then after a little more browsing, Kates settled on a gyro from Greek Village, and from there we carried our food baskets to the M&I Classic Rock stage on the south end of the grounds for The Britins ...
We arrived at the stage about 10 minutes into their show, and I think we found the last available picnic bench in the place. All you had to do was look at these guys dressed in their gray Beatles suits and you understood why the place was packed. People are suckers for Beatles bands, especially when they dress the part … These guys had people dancing on the picnic tables in no time as they ran off “I Want To Hold Your Hand,” “All My Loving,” “Boys,” “Hard Day’s Night,” “I Should've Known Better,” “Help!” “I Feel Fine,” “In My Life,” “Day Tripper” and “Drive My Car.”These guys looked the part, played the part and talked the part, British accents and all. I loved 'em from start to finish ... Kates was a little more critical, however, pointing out the guys went slightly out of tune when they needed to hit higher notes, and she was having trouble overlooking a fifth Beatle, who accompanied the band with a keyboard and other instruments ...
No matter, the band pulled out “Twist and Shout” as the final number of their "pre Sgt. Pepper" set, and the number of people dancing on picnic tables nearly doubled. The star in our corner of the stage area was a middle-aged man who took to a picnic table without any regard of who was watching him. And when an grandmother handed him an inflatable Spongebob Squarepants, he used it as a dance partner ...After a 15-minute break, the Britins returned to the stage for its "Sgt. Pepper" garb and they just might have been the worst Beatle costumes ever worn. The looked like cheap knockoffs; like Halloween costumes made out of that cheap plastic or vinyl material
To start off the set, they offered up “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band / A Little Help From My Friends,” “Hello Goodbye,” “Good Day Sunshine,” “Fixing A Hole” and “Eleanor Rigby,” which is when Kates and I decided to move on ...
* * *
On our to-do list in between catching the Britins and heading to the Briggs & Stratton stage for the rest of the night's performers was taking a ride on Summerfest's iconic Skyglider. In five years of going to Summerfest, I'd never hitched a ride on the thing, and darn it, this year I wanted that experience ...
Like a ski lift, the glider takes patrons from one end of the grounds to another. Kates and I paid the $3 apiece to get our tickets and then took our place in the line, which moved swiftly as the glider's attendants herded riders in and out of the area. "This is quite the operation," I mused to Kates ... The gliders don’t stop, so when they tell you to go, you go and you get to the yellow box painted on the ground as quickly as possible. Within moments there’s a glider coming up fast behind you, taking your feet out from under you and lifting you high into the air above Summerfest … Talk about a rush.
The sensation of being lifted above the grounds, my feet dangling to nowhere, was a little bit of an adjustment for the first couple minutes or so of the ride. Then the awe of the scenery set in -- seeing all the hordes of people wandering below, sampling each stage we passed, pretty much seeing the magnitude of the Summerfest grounds from a bird's eye view. Again, a rush.* * *
Afterward, I purchased my bucket of Mountain Dew for the night and Kates went for a cup of raspberry sherbet at Cold Stone Creamery. Then we headed for the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard to catch the remainder of the Briggs Bluesbusters show and then Lindsey Buckingham at 10 p.m.
About those Bluesbusters: Don’t let the “blues” in their name fool you. I was mesmerized by these guys last year, so I was thrilled when I noticed they were opening for Buckingham last night. Year after year, this huge collection of amateur, but very talented, musicians has got to be one of most entertaining bands to play Summerfest ...
The membership of the house band for Briggs & Stratton includes employees, friends and family members who make up a wide range of ages and abilities. The band numbers fluctuate from song to song, but they capped out tonight at 13 strong with the help of Reed Kailing, a former member of the Grass Roots and Badfinger.
We caught them charming yet another crowd with their covers of Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash. We caught them singing McCartney's “Band on the Run,” Petty’s “American Girl,” Bryan Adams’ “Summer of ‘69,” Melissa Etheridge’s “I’m The Only One,” The Grass Roots’ “Temptation Eyes,” and The Boss’s “Born to Run.” As usual they raised the energy bar with every number, and their finales are something to savor. Tonight, the band wrapped their set with their fantastic take on The Who’s “Baba O’ Riley,” -- keytar and all -- and a crowd sing-a-long of Dylan’s “Like A Rolling Stone.”
The Bluesbusters were off the stage by 9, although I’m not sure the crowd was ready to see them go. I’m thinking they easily could have stolen another 30 minutes on the stage before Buckingham came on …
* * *
To pass the hour between the Bluesbusters and Buckingham, Kates and I tag-teamed with some Solitaire on the iPod … For the record, I’d played about 20 games since discovering the game on the iPod a few weeks ago, and I’d settled on the idea that it was impossible to win. … Last night was Kates first-ever attempt at the game and she endured just six or seven losses before she won, not once, but two consecutive games …
In the meantime, I surveyed the crowd and decided Kates and I were two in maybe a dozen or so twenty-somethings sprinkled throughout the crowd. Yep, with Buckingham, an icon of the '70s pop scene, scheduled to play, we were surrounded by Baby Boomers.
… But after hanging in a bowl of somewhat immature college-aged fans at Friday night's OAR show, it was a welcomed change of pace. Still, I did see a few of the boomers, albeit a little slower and with more regard for their beverages, push their way through the crowd in pursuit of the best seats ...
No doubt the place to be last night for the young bucks -- at least for those who couldn’t afford to hit the Marcus for The Fray -- was the Miller Lite Oasis for the Goo Goo Dolls. That place already appeared packed at 6 p.m., and once again, I might have been in the mix had we not seen them perform last summer… Surely Lifehouse drew a crowd at the Zippo Rock Stage, too.
Going in to last night, I tried not to get my expectations too high. In the last couple years, seemingly out of nowhere, I’ve developed quite an admiration for Fleetwood Mac. Like any fan of the band, I assume, I’ve become a huge fan of the “Rumours” album and I enjoy their self-titled release almost as much.” Kates and I both adore “Never Going Back Again,” (there's a sweet live video of it here!) and Buckingham’s guitar work and vocals on songs like “Go Your Own Way,” “Second Hand News” and “Don’t Stop” thrill me every time I hear them (especially on THIS version)…
But, I knew next to nothing about his solo work. In fact, I hardly realized he had an established solo career until I began reading more into Fleetwood Mac and I caught some of the reviews for his “Under The Skin” release last year …
So I'd decided I was ready for anything ...
* * *
In the end Buckingham was more than satisfying Saturday night, offering a solid two-hour set steeped with a bountiful mix of Fleetwood Mac favorites and his solo work.
In between repeated standing ovations, thunderous clapping and uninhibited cheering, there were several words and classifications thrown out throughout the night to describe Buckingham -- an American treasure, uber-amazing, eccentric -- and all of them fit the bill.Buckingham took the stage alone and kicked off the intimate performance with “Not Too Late,” as the sight of his fingers galloping effortlessly on his guitar strings nearly sucked the air out from underneath the Hoan Bridge. He followed it up with another solo effort, “Trouble” and then opened the lid on his Fleetwood Mac catalog with “Never Going Back Again,” though his vocals on the latter were shaky, raspy, forced and, well, disappointing.
Quickly afterward, he was joined on the stage by a three-man backing band and the group wasted no time plowing into an energizing “Second Hand News” that dynamited the crowd to its feet while transporting a good portion of them back to younger days (after the song, a giddy older woman standing next to me was giggling like a starstruck teenager), or in my case to driving my car earlier in the day ...
Buckingham cemented his reputation as a tremendous guitar player early in the set and ran from stage right to stage left, rocking with a youthful exuberance throughout the night. But at times he failed to keep the momentum going and that had the crowd playing a game of stand-up, sit-down for parts of the set.
That game was quite a bit easier to endure, however, than the deafening and distorted sound quality, which I don’t think was any fault of Buckingham’s crew but rather the poorly placed Briggs stage, which sits squarely underneath the Hoan Bridge. Near the end of the performance, several fans could be seen holding hands to their ears, trying anything to stop the numbness, and I think the young girl seated on the bench in front of us and huddled under her mother’s wing was actually crying from the pain of the noise. Kates and I were wearing ear plugs, but I’m still dealing with an intense ringing in my ears this morning.
But on with the show. Buckingham moved on to another one of his solo efforts with “Castaway Dreams,” a take on growing up, then the self-described “uber-strange” Fleetwood tune “Red Rover.” He also turned in some dazzling guitar work on “Big Love” and “World Turning.”
And on the percussive “Tusk,” Buckingham got the crowd bursting to its feet once again. I had briefly fantasized that perhaps the UW marching band would appear from behind the stage with the accompaniment, but instead the backing musicians worked their keyboards and drums to replicate the sound originally recorded by the USC Trojan marching band (another great live version here!). In the meantime, a man in front of me whaled on his air horn.Buckingham closed the first part of his set with a ferocious “Go Your Own Way” that had him punching and swatting at the neck of his guitar. And then after a short breather, he returned to the stage with the bouncy “Holiday Road” and a lovely “Show You How.”
As the clock struck midnight, Buckingham was wrapping up his performance -- and his nine-month tour. The band got a little mushy on each other as Buckingham introduced the others and gushed about hos great their tour had been -- with his “Shut Us Down.” In the background, the PA system was announcing the grounds were closing and patrons were being encouraged to leave the grounds. But Buckingham hardly seemed to care, bowing into his guitar and singing softly, “No, I will stay around / As long as I can /As long as I can.”
6.03.2007
Sunday reading
Some of the headlines and stories that caught my eye this past week ...
TV ...
a 'Star Wars' on TV: These are the clones you're looking for
a Saluting TV's best: Small characters made a big impression this television season.
a Season wraps up -- now it's grading time
Music ...
a The post-50 Police rock: For the reunited trio, 2007 is the new '80s as it enthralls fans on the first tour stop.
a Paul McCartney is a man on the run
a It Was 40 Years Ago Today
Other entertainment ...
a Which way now, Lindsay Lohan?
a For the Shues, 'Gracie' Is One From the Family Heart
a Feeling at home in Carnegie Hall: A band teacher and his students first taught kids at a Santa Ana homeless shelter to play, then invited them along on a little gig in New York.
a The Risque Rites of 'Spring': Creators of Hit Musical Embraced a Touchy Subject: Teen Sexuality
Baseball ...
a They showed him the money
a All-you-can-eat seats a hit with Dodgers ... I want to go to a Dodgers game just so I can be a part of this thing ...
Life & other stuff ...
a Venice officials crack down on eating, trashy habits of hordes of tourists ... darn. And Kates and I were just talking about our desire to visit Venice ...
a Teen Tests Internet's Lewd Track Record ... Fascinating story; it's terrible what's happened to this girl ...
a Is It Summer Already? Time to Let the Dogs Out.
a Police: Man Stole 1,500 Pairs Of Shoes To Sniff ... ugh.
TV ...
a 'Star Wars' on TV: These are the clones you're looking for
a Saluting TV's best: Small characters made a big impression this television season.
a Season wraps up -- now it's grading time
Music ...
a The post-50 Police rock: For the reunited trio, 2007 is the new '80s as it enthralls fans on the first tour stop.
a Paul McCartney is a man on the run
a It Was 40 Years Ago Today
Other entertainment ...
a Which way now, Lindsay Lohan?
a For the Shues, 'Gracie' Is One From the Family Heart
a Feeling at home in Carnegie Hall: A band teacher and his students first taught kids at a Santa Ana homeless shelter to play, then invited them along on a little gig in New York.
a The Risque Rites of 'Spring': Creators of Hit Musical Embraced a Touchy Subject: Teen Sexuality
Baseball ...
a They showed him the money
a All-you-can-eat seats a hit with Dodgers ... I want to go to a Dodgers game just so I can be a part of this thing ...
Life & other stuff ...
a Venice officials crack down on eating, trashy habits of hordes of tourists ... darn. And Kates and I were just talking about our desire to visit Venice ...
a Teen Tests Internet's Lewd Track Record ... Fascinating story; it's terrible what's happened to this girl ...
a Is It Summer Already? Time to Let the Dogs Out.
a Police: Man Stole 1,500 Pairs Of Shoes To Sniff ... ugh.
3.18.2007
Sunday reading
Some good reads from the last few weeks ...
Entertainment ...
a It’s hard work to become a Blue Man
a Mr. Television: Familysomething ... I stumbled across this one while searching for this story about Calista Flockhart.
a Heather Graham: Fun Is Her Middle Name
a 'Grease' is the word
a A bigger share of the couch: The late shift is starting to pay off for talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel. If not, Costco is calling
a With New Quiz Shows, 'Boob Tube' Earns Its Name
Media ...
a ABC News nipping at NBC's heels
a Big Profits in Small Packages: Little Newspapers Prosper With Narrow Focus on Very Local News
a Jailed Man Is A Videographer And a Blogger but Is He a Journalist?
a It's a new platform for comedy: For aspiring performers, Internet video sites are the new club circuit.
Sports ...
a Bush, Mantle Show Up on Derek Jeter Baseball Card
a Struggling Blackhawks losing games, fans
Music ...
a Piracy isn’t the only enemy
a Radio Stations and the Promotional Game: A Fatal Attraction
a Rougher around the edges: Jones sought a less refined feel for her latest album, "Not Too Late."
a Anniversary revives dark memories on Penny Lane
Everything else ...
a A Chip Off the Old Pringle? Not Exactly.
a Diaper Demographic: TV, Video Programming for the Under-2 Market Grows Despite Lack of Clear Educational Benefit
a Students Say Locker Size Is Cramping Their Style
Entertainment ...
a It’s hard work to become a Blue Man
a Mr. Television: Familysomething ... I stumbled across this one while searching for this story about Calista Flockhart.
a Heather Graham: Fun Is Her Middle Name
a 'Grease' is the word
a A bigger share of the couch: The late shift is starting to pay off for talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel. If not, Costco is calling
a With New Quiz Shows, 'Boob Tube' Earns Its Name
Media ...
a ABC News nipping at NBC's heels
a Big Profits in Small Packages: Little Newspapers Prosper With Narrow Focus on Very Local News
a Jailed Man Is A Videographer And a Blogger but Is He a Journalist?
a It's a new platform for comedy: For aspiring performers, Internet video sites are the new club circuit.
Sports ...
a Bush, Mantle Show Up on Derek Jeter Baseball Card
a Struggling Blackhawks losing games, fans
Music ...
a Piracy isn’t the only enemy
a Radio Stations and the Promotional Game: A Fatal Attraction
a Rougher around the edges: Jones sought a less refined feel for her latest album, "Not Too Late."
a Anniversary revives dark memories on Penny Lane
Everything else ...
a A Chip Off the Old Pringle? Not Exactly.
a Diaper Demographic: TV, Video Programming for the Under-2 Market Grows Despite Lack of Clear Educational Benefit
a Students Say Locker Size Is Cramping Their Style
2.19.2007
Here comes the sun!
The temperature was in the 40s today!! ... I forgot what that felt like!!And the sun was out!!
... I was actually sweating a little as I walked out to my car this afternoon.
See you later, you stinkin' frigid February ...
Bring on the March madness!
* * *
I finally got a hold of a copy of The Beatles' new Love album today ...
I have to admit, I had my doubts when I heard George Martin and son Giles were playing around with the Fab Four's original tapes. That's like Madonna trying to cover "American Pie," right?
Then I popped it in this afternoon ...
Wow.
It a hodgepodge of drum beats, guitar riffs and anything else the Martins could pull from some of the Beatles greatest hits and deepest cuts -- all of it welded into 78 minutes of pure Beatles bliss that will play with your mind and have you sitting back in your chair, realizing just how great of a band they were ...
If you're an avid Beatles fan, you'll recognize just about every single moment of this album, no matter how many layers are piled on ...
I'm almost finished with my second listen, and still catching things I didn't hear the first time around ...
My favorite track? Has to be "Strawberry Fields Forever" ... it's completely rearranged, includes an orchestral clip of "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band," the harpsichord section from "In My Life," the brass section of "Penny Lane," the harpsichord from "Piggies" and the end vocals from "Hello, Goodbye."
Wow.
Other reviews from...
a Entertainment Weekly
a All Music Guide
a Pop Matters
a The Observer
1.25.2007
Feelin' groovy
I went to the library after work today to pick up a few CDs I ordered: Abbey Road, the Stones’ Get Yer Ya-Yas Out and the Scissor Sisters …
“Ah, you have good taste,” the clerk said as she retreived the CDs. “Abbey Road, Get Yer Ya-Yas Out. And what‘s this one?”
“Scissor Sisters?” I said.
“Nope. Don't know them.”
“They’re a newer rock band.”
“I know some 80s bands but then I know I grew up with the best music.”
I nodded and smiled. We had made a connection. She continued ...
“I saw an ad in the paper today for a guy who was looking for 33s. And I thought well, should I get rid of my records, but it’s like saying goodbye to a child,” she said shrugging her shoulders and raising her arms. “And then I see some of these people that put the records in frames and hang them on the wall ... ”
She was talking so fast I didn’t have a chance to tell her I’m one of those people.
“… and then I figure well maybe if I wear out the records, at least I can get rid of those and still hold on to the album covers.”
All the while, I’m thinking if only I could lean in and tell her I talked with Peter Noone today...
* * *
… so my phone rang at exactly 1 o’clock. I took a deep breath and answered it.
“Hello, may I speak to Mark, please?”
It was Peter Noone. His voice was still blaring with that same youthful energy that comes through on all those Herman’s Hermits records. And, oh, that British accent …
I’ve cherished Herman’s Hermits’ music for as long as I’ve been able to control a car radio. Their “Greatest Hits” disc was one of the first I bought after I’d saved enough money to buy my first CD player. “I’m Into Something Good” remains one of my favorite songs of all-time. I even named the first of our pet hermit crabs Herman. And here I was today, talking to the voice of those hits. And next weekend he's bringing his act to the Genessee in Waukegan.
So how have you been? I asked.
“Good, I’m doing extremely well. It’s been a fruitful day,” he says, telling me about his fan club and the joy he takes in responding to letters. “… I think in my business, you have to do that …”
He tells me about splitting his time between Santa Barbara and London. And I ask if he’s ever been to Wisconsin …
“For some reason Herman’s Hermits play more in Wisconsin than any other state,” he says. “That’s where we started out. That’s one of the places we worked really hard … They were one of the places to discover us really. On our early tours we played in Chicago and then we’d play all over Wisconsin and over the world.”
By the time the Hermits got into something good with their first hit single in 1964, Noone was already a household name in England, something I hadn’t realized until I started my research. He’d become a recognizable child actor in the long-running British soap opera “Coronation Street” and other television series like “Knight Errant,” “Family Solicitor” and “Monro’s Saki Stories.” As a child he studied at St. Bede’s College and the Manchester School of Music and Drama.
His passion always was the music, he told me.
“What happened was I was at the school of music and then one day this guy came around from a local TV station looking for a boy who could play piano and sing a song and I got that job. And then I was in the union and once you were in the union, every time they were looking for a young boy – and I could play younger then myself … I was into the music and I just got jobs as an actor. I never wanted to be an actor … I was on ‘As The World Turns’ and around people where I had no idea you had to be talented to be in a soap opera … I thought I could do that and tour. Then I’d realize I’ve got 30 pages of script I have to learn.”
Noone was just 15 when he became the lead singer of Herman’s Hermits, and in 1964, the band joined groups like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Hollies and The Yardbirds as British rock bands who were invading the U.S. charts. Though the clean-cut Hermits never approached the status of The Beatles or The Stones, they managed to sell more than 60 million records, with 14 singles and seven albums reaching gold status.
Their hits included “I’m Into Something Good,” “Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter,” “I’m Henry VIII, I Am,” “Silhouettes,” “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat,” “Just A Little Bit Better,” “Wonderful World,” “There’s A Kind of Hush,” “A Must To Avoid,” “Listen People,” “The End of the World” and “Dandy.”
So I asked Noone, what were some of your thoughts when Herman’s Hermits went big?
“What went through my mind is I think I was trying hard to impress the guys in the other bands and not to the point where I thought the most important thing was to have a hit … I was very young and I think probably in retrospect I was pretty arrogant. But I was also right. It all kind of worked for a long time … I didn’t need friends, I needed hit records … Consequently it all worked pretty well for 10 years until people lose focus and stuff like that …”
By now, I’m feeling really comfortable talking with Noone. The conversation is going as well as I could’ve imagined, and Noone seems genuinely interested in answering my questions.
So next up, one of the questions I was dying to ask: I’ve heard and read the Herman’s Hermits might have been “the big thing” coming out of Europe, had the Beatles not beaten them to it. I ask him if there was any rivalry between them.
Noone scoffs at the notion there was any rivalry, but reassures me it’s a pertinent question and says he’s glad I asked it.
“That is purely an America idea, there was never any competition. Everybody tried their own style. If we had tried to compete with The Beatles, you know what would have happened? We would’ve been gone in a week. We were quite content to be Herman Hermit’s. It was really a camaraderie …We all chose to be Herman’s Hermits. We did ‘Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter.’ We probably could have done ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’ or ‘Ob-la-di, Ob-la Da,’ but we didn’t … We let the kind be the kind that were the Stones … It wasn’t a rock ‘n roll league, and we were ranked No. 7 in the American League. Everybody liked each other. I tried to impress them and that’s what we did. We all recorded in the same studios, we heard their stuff, but if we were in the competition, they weren’t that interested …”
I was thrilled with his answer.
So what's your favorite Hermits song?
“ ‘There’s a Kind of Hush’ and ‘I’m Into Something Good.’ They both stood the test of time. When they were made nobody believed they would stay around …”
I was beyond thrilled to hear him say “Something Good” was his favorite. Mine too. Why, I asked.
“It’s just a perfect record to me. It was like a bunch of teenage boys made a record. It’s just absolutely a natural record. Not, let’s hope it’s a hit, that feeling … I can remember every minute of the recording session …”
What do you remember about the recording session, I asked.
“It was always extremely good fun. Everybody always said they liked Hermits sessions because they were always fun … We argued, but you’d have someone say idiot or something. We were all attempting to have hit records.”
Delving into some of the things I’d discovered in my research, I asked about “Mrs. Brown.” From what I’d read, it was another song the Hermits didn’t expect to be successful. And my editor wanted confirmation of a story he’d heard that about Hermits guitarist Derek Lekenby putting a handkerchief under the guitar strings to get the song’s signature banjo sound.
Not true, Noone said. It was an old touring tale (in fact, you can see a handkerchief under the strings if you watch this YouTube video closely), that got taller as years went by. The sound actually came from a Gretsch Country Gentleman with a damper on it. And Keith Hopwood played it.
“We threw it in because it was cute,” Noone said. “And Keith played it brilliantly …It was filler. We needed to fill up a long album … It was a song we learned from early on. And halfway through the recording session we were running out of songs. Mickey Most says ‘OK, we can hide it somewhere on the album.’ It was the same thing with ‘Silhouettes,’ we were just trying to come up with a song. Jimmy Page came up with that,” Noone says, singing the song's rolling guitar part.
I also was curious about “I’m Henry VIII.” I had read it too was a farce, a song some British crooner by the name of Harry Champion performed “with gusto” in 1910 or something. And the song apparently had a lot of verses, but the Hermits didn’t care to learn all the verses. So Noone spontaneously yelled out “Second verse same as the first …”
Noone answered: “It was an old Harry Champion song from 1911 or something. It was from all our grandfathers and it was one of those pop songs we had a reference to … There’s lot of verses and a whole story but we didn’t know all that and I just said second verse same as the first …”
He confirmed the story! Yes!
“ … It was just a laugh really, we were having a laugh. We thought this’ll be fun to stick on a record. Derek played the guitar solo and lifted the song into its Chuck Berry riff. It was his greatest moment in the music business … We were really singing the chorus but we didn’t know what the song was. It just sort of evolved and that was the best. All music should be like that and then it just evolved then. We thought it wasn’t really long enough, if we have thought ahead we could have found the second verse
So “Mrs. Brown” and “I’m Henry VIII,” were number ones in United States, and the songs weren’t released in Britain. Is it true you guys didn’t like either song?
Like the Beatles rivalry question, I get the sense I rubbed Noone wrong again, and he’s eager to dispel whatever I’ve heard.
“We thought ‘Mrs. Brown’ was a bad idea because we didn’t think it would represent Herman’s Hermits. We didn’t think it was a rock song and we thought of ourselves as a rock band at the time. But we liked it … That song was on a movie soundtrack. It gave it the opportunity to be played without being played on BBC. We knew how to manipulate the radio stations … One of Herman’s Hermits most played songs in Britain is ‘Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter.’ People begin to stand up and cheer because they‘ve heard those more than any other songs. It was a radio hit.”
But the evolution of Herman’s Hermits slowed toward the end of the1960s,and Noone split from the band in 1971. He quickly returned to acting and performed in some of Great Britain’s major theaters. In the 1980s, Noone also reached Broadway, performing in “The Pirates of Penzance.” His performance was so well received, he continued to play Frederic in touring productions of the show.
I asked him to talk about his decision to leave the group in 1971.
“The band was having a bad time with bad music,” Noone said. “It just wasn’t a good time to be in a ’60s band. I left thinking we could leave and one day come back, and I didn’t want to go from Madison Square Garden to the Holiday Inn and that’s what was being offered. So I thought let’s stop it here then like Simon & Garfunkel we can come back and play one tour a year or something … What I didn’t realize is the others didn’t have anything else they could do. I didn’t realize I selfishly stopped the band for my one and I was able to work, I was busier than everyone. All the things I couldn’t do when I was in Herman’s Hermits I can do … I needed to do all that stuff. I left the band because I wanted to go on and be on Broadway …but you need some more talent, being able to sing ‘Mrs. Brown’ and ‘Henry the Eighth’ wasn’t an instant ticket into a Broadway show.”
These days, Noone and the band stay active, playing about 120 dates a year and reeling off hits from a catalog that reaches nearly 300 songs — in addition to charming fans of all ages.
I’m one of those kids who grew up listening to my dad’s 45s and that’s how I started to like your music, I tell Noone. How does that make you feel when you hear stories like that? How do you feel about Herman’s Hermits’ legacy?
“In retrospect, the music was much better than we thought we were doing - it’s nice that you can enjoy it. I think probably, I stepped behind it for years and when I came back I was able to appreciate it more … I came back, I had to listen to the records and learn the words again. It’s kind of sad really, we kind of have to sit down and listen to the recordings and see if we can recreate that and it’s hard to do that, to play it with the same spirit as in those days. It requires constant attention. On the other side it becomes a hybrid, we don’t want to be a Herman’s Hermits tribute band, we want to be the real thing. It’s a constant challenge to do that and retain the joy of the music. It requires an hour before the concert …”
What do you think of today’s music? Is there anyone that stands out?
“We appreciate everything. I’ve got a 20-year-old daughter … now it’s all encompassing. It’s really like my childhood, like Julie Andrews in one room and Little Richard in the other -- like today’s country western and the rap being Little Richard. My parents never designed my music …whenever I played, I went …now I go into my daughter’s room and I say, ‘that’s great, turn it up!’ It’s good to be a musician, you don’t want to look a like a chump and not know everything …I even like hip hop, I turn it up in my car!”
I ask if he’s working on any new material.
“Right now I’m just really touring my ass off … It’s not like the world is saying I wonder what happened to the Herman’s Hermits … What I’m trying to do is be one of those entertainers who go out and do great shows and have people be interested in whatever I come up with.”
So tell me a little bit about your show? What can people expect on Friday night?
“It’s Herman’s Hermits and parodies of other musicians like Davy Jones, Johnny Cash and parodies,” Noone says. “People sometimes think I’m an impersonator, it’s parodies … We have 300 songs and we’ll play our 10 biggest hits. It depends on what the other bands do, and where what they do puts me. If they’re slow and dreary, I go out and do the fast show. If they’re fast, I go do the slow show. It’s based on the energy of the show … It’s different every night fortunately in the music business.”
I’m ready to wrap up the interview and say good-bye. I ask Noone if he has anything else he wants to say.
“Do you got a Starbucks there?” he asks.
Yeah, we have two of them. You like Starbucks? I say.
“I like the idea of them and I do all my fan mail there. I take a laptop …”
Do a lot of people recognize you? I ask.
“ … I’m like Paul McCartney, I like people,” Noone says. “People don’t disturb me, I like that energy. I mean, I don’t want people sitting down and telling me their life story … but that’s one of the pluses of the music industry … the people who know me, they’re adults …”
I was out of questions and glanced at the clock, realizing Noone and I had been talking for 40 minutes. I thanked him for talking with me, though the words hardly expressed how thankful I really was. He tells me to try keeping the weather from getting too cold, and we say good-bye.
I hung up the phone, as a wide smile spread across my face and I leaned back in my chair.
“Ok, Mark, who was that you were talking too?” asks a cohort sitting behind me.
“Peeeeeeeter Noone,” I say, still smiling.
“Ah, you sounded like you were having a lot of fun,” she said.
I was. I did.
“Ah, you have good taste,” the clerk said as she retreived the CDs. “Abbey Road, Get Yer Ya-Yas Out. And what‘s this one?”
“Scissor Sisters?” I said.
“Nope. Don't know them.”
“They’re a newer rock band.”
“I know some 80s bands but then I know I grew up with the best music.”
I nodded and smiled. We had made a connection. She continued ...
“I saw an ad in the paper today for a guy who was looking for 33s. And I thought well, should I get rid of my records, but it’s like saying goodbye to a child,” she said shrugging her shoulders and raising her arms. “And then I see some of these people that put the records in frames and hang them on the wall ... ”
She was talking so fast I didn’t have a chance to tell her I’m one of those people.
“… and then I figure well maybe if I wear out the records, at least I can get rid of those and still hold on to the album covers.”
All the while, I’m thinking if only I could lean in and tell her I talked with Peter Noone today...
* * *
… so my phone rang at exactly 1 o’clock. I took a deep breath and answered it.
“Hello, may I speak to Mark, please?”
It was Peter Noone. His voice was still blaring with that same youthful energy that comes through on all those Herman’s Hermits records. And, oh, that British accent …
I’ve cherished Herman’s Hermits’ music for as long as I’ve been able to control a car radio. Their “Greatest Hits” disc was one of the first I bought after I’d saved enough money to buy my first CD player. “I’m Into Something Good” remains one of my favorite songs of all-time. I even named the first of our pet hermit crabs Herman. And here I was today, talking to the voice of those hits. And next weekend he's bringing his act to the Genessee in Waukegan.
So how have you been? I asked.
“Good, I’m doing extremely well. It’s been a fruitful day,” he says, telling me about his fan club and the joy he takes in responding to letters. “… I think in my business, you have to do that …”
He tells me about splitting his time between Santa Barbara and London. And I ask if he’s ever been to Wisconsin …
“For some reason Herman’s Hermits play more in Wisconsin than any other state,” he says. “That’s where we started out. That’s one of the places we worked really hard … They were one of the places to discover us really. On our early tours we played in Chicago and then we’d play all over Wisconsin and over the world.”
By the time the Hermits got into something good with their first hit single in 1964, Noone was already a household name in England, something I hadn’t realized until I started my research. He’d become a recognizable child actor in the long-running British soap opera “Coronation Street” and other television series like “Knight Errant,” “Family Solicitor” and “Monro’s Saki Stories.” As a child he studied at St. Bede’s College and the Manchester School of Music and Drama.
His passion always was the music, he told me.
“What happened was I was at the school of music and then one day this guy came around from a local TV station looking for a boy who could play piano and sing a song and I got that job. And then I was in the union and once you were in the union, every time they were looking for a young boy – and I could play younger then myself … I was into the music and I just got jobs as an actor. I never wanted to be an actor … I was on ‘As The World Turns’ and around people where I had no idea you had to be talented to be in a soap opera … I thought I could do that and tour. Then I’d realize I’ve got 30 pages of script I have to learn.”
Noone was just 15 when he became the lead singer of Herman’s Hermits, and in 1964, the band joined groups like The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Hollies and The Yardbirds as British rock bands who were invading the U.S. charts. Though the clean-cut Hermits never approached the status of The Beatles or The Stones, they managed to sell more than 60 million records, with 14 singles and seven albums reaching gold status.
Their hits included “I’m Into Something Good,” “Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter,” “I’m Henry VIII, I Am,” “Silhouettes,” “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat,” “Just A Little Bit Better,” “Wonderful World,” “There’s A Kind of Hush,” “A Must To Avoid,” “Listen People,” “The End of the World” and “Dandy.”
So I asked Noone, what were some of your thoughts when Herman’s Hermits went big?
“What went through my mind is I think I was trying hard to impress the guys in the other bands and not to the point where I thought the most important thing was to have a hit … I was very young and I think probably in retrospect I was pretty arrogant. But I was also right. It all kind of worked for a long time … I didn’t need friends, I needed hit records … Consequently it all worked pretty well for 10 years until people lose focus and stuff like that …”
By now, I’m feeling really comfortable talking with Noone. The conversation is going as well as I could’ve imagined, and Noone seems genuinely interested in answering my questions.
So next up, one of the questions I was dying to ask: I’ve heard and read the Herman’s Hermits might have been “the big thing” coming out of Europe, had the Beatles not beaten them to it. I ask him if there was any rivalry between them.
Noone scoffs at the notion there was any rivalry, but reassures me it’s a pertinent question and says he’s glad I asked it.
“That is purely an America idea, there was never any competition. Everybody tried their own style. If we had tried to compete with The Beatles, you know what would have happened? We would’ve been gone in a week. We were quite content to be Herman Hermit’s. It was really a camaraderie …We all chose to be Herman’s Hermits. We did ‘Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter.’ We probably could have done ‘Maxwell’s Silver Hammer’ or ‘Ob-la-di, Ob-la Da,’ but we didn’t … We let the kind be the kind that were the Stones … It wasn’t a rock ‘n roll league, and we were ranked No. 7 in the American League. Everybody liked each other. I tried to impress them and that’s what we did. We all recorded in the same studios, we heard their stuff, but if we were in the competition, they weren’t that interested …”
I was thrilled with his answer.
So what's your favorite Hermits song?
“ ‘There’s a Kind of Hush’ and ‘I’m Into Something Good.’ They both stood the test of time. When they were made nobody believed they would stay around …”
I was beyond thrilled to hear him say “Something Good” was his favorite. Mine too. Why, I asked.
“It’s just a perfect record to me. It was like a bunch of teenage boys made a record. It’s just absolutely a natural record. Not, let’s hope it’s a hit, that feeling … I can remember every minute of the recording session …”
What do you remember about the recording session, I asked.
“It was always extremely good fun. Everybody always said they liked Hermits sessions because they were always fun … We argued, but you’d have someone say idiot or something. We were all attempting to have hit records.”
Delving into some of the things I’d discovered in my research, I asked about “Mrs. Brown.” From what I’d read, it was another song the Hermits didn’t expect to be successful. And my editor wanted confirmation of a story he’d heard that about Hermits guitarist Derek Lekenby putting a handkerchief under the guitar strings to get the song’s signature banjo sound.
Not true, Noone said. It was an old touring tale (in fact, you can see a handkerchief under the strings if you watch this YouTube video closely), that got taller as years went by. The sound actually came from a Gretsch Country Gentleman with a damper on it. And Keith Hopwood played it.
“We threw it in because it was cute,” Noone said. “And Keith played it brilliantly …It was filler. We needed to fill up a long album … It was a song we learned from early on. And halfway through the recording session we were running out of songs. Mickey Most says ‘OK, we can hide it somewhere on the album.’ It was the same thing with ‘Silhouettes,’ we were just trying to come up with a song. Jimmy Page came up with that,” Noone says, singing the song's rolling guitar part.
I also was curious about “I’m Henry VIII.” I had read it too was a farce, a song some British crooner by the name of Harry Champion performed “with gusto” in 1910 or something. And the song apparently had a lot of verses, but the Hermits didn’t care to learn all the verses. So Noone spontaneously yelled out “Second verse same as the first …”
Noone answered: “It was an old Harry Champion song from 1911 or something. It was from all our grandfathers and it was one of those pop songs we had a reference to … There’s lot of verses and a whole story but we didn’t know all that and I just said second verse same as the first …”
He confirmed the story! Yes!
“ … It was just a laugh really, we were having a laugh. We thought this’ll be fun to stick on a record. Derek played the guitar solo and lifted the song into its Chuck Berry riff. It was his greatest moment in the music business … We were really singing the chorus but we didn’t know what the song was. It just sort of evolved and that was the best. All music should be like that and then it just evolved then. We thought it wasn’t really long enough, if we have thought ahead we could have found the second verse
So “Mrs. Brown” and “I’m Henry VIII,” were number ones in United States, and the songs weren’t released in Britain. Is it true you guys didn’t like either song?
Like the Beatles rivalry question, I get the sense I rubbed Noone wrong again, and he’s eager to dispel whatever I’ve heard.
“We thought ‘Mrs. Brown’ was a bad idea because we didn’t think it would represent Herman’s Hermits. We didn’t think it was a rock song and we thought of ourselves as a rock band at the time. But we liked it … That song was on a movie soundtrack. It gave it the opportunity to be played without being played on BBC. We knew how to manipulate the radio stations … One of Herman’s Hermits most played songs in Britain is ‘Mrs. Brown You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter.’ People begin to stand up and cheer because they‘ve heard those more than any other songs. It was a radio hit.”
But the evolution of Herman’s Hermits slowed toward the end of the1960s,and Noone split from the band in 1971. He quickly returned to acting and performed in some of Great Britain’s major theaters. In the 1980s, Noone also reached Broadway, performing in “The Pirates of Penzance.” His performance was so well received, he continued to play Frederic in touring productions of the show.
I asked him to talk about his decision to leave the group in 1971.
“The band was having a bad time with bad music,” Noone said. “It just wasn’t a good time to be in a ’60s band. I left thinking we could leave and one day come back, and I didn’t want to go from Madison Square Garden to the Holiday Inn and that’s what was being offered. So I thought let’s stop it here then like Simon & Garfunkel we can come back and play one tour a year or something … What I didn’t realize is the others didn’t have anything else they could do. I didn’t realize I selfishly stopped the band for my one and I was able to work, I was busier than everyone. All the things I couldn’t do when I was in Herman’s Hermits I can do … I needed to do all that stuff. I left the band because I wanted to go on and be on Broadway …but you need some more talent, being able to sing ‘Mrs. Brown’ and ‘Henry the Eighth’ wasn’t an instant ticket into a Broadway show.”
These days, Noone and the band stay active, playing about 120 dates a year and reeling off hits from a catalog that reaches nearly 300 songs — in addition to charming fans of all ages.
I’m one of those kids who grew up listening to my dad’s 45s and that’s how I started to like your music, I tell Noone. How does that make you feel when you hear stories like that? How do you feel about Herman’s Hermits’ legacy?
“In retrospect, the music was much better than we thought we were doing - it’s nice that you can enjoy it. I think probably, I stepped behind it for years and when I came back I was able to appreciate it more … I came back, I had to listen to the records and learn the words again. It’s kind of sad really, we kind of have to sit down and listen to the recordings and see if we can recreate that and it’s hard to do that, to play it with the same spirit as in those days. It requires constant attention. On the other side it becomes a hybrid, we don’t want to be a Herman’s Hermits tribute band, we want to be the real thing. It’s a constant challenge to do that and retain the joy of the music. It requires an hour before the concert …”
What do you think of today’s music? Is there anyone that stands out?
“We appreciate everything. I’ve got a 20-year-old daughter … now it’s all encompassing. It’s really like my childhood, like Julie Andrews in one room and Little Richard in the other -- like today’s country western and the rap being Little Richard. My parents never designed my music …whenever I played, I went …now I go into my daughter’s room and I say, ‘that’s great, turn it up!’ It’s good to be a musician, you don’t want to look a like a chump and not know everything …I even like hip hop, I turn it up in my car!”
I ask if he’s working on any new material.
“Right now I’m just really touring my ass off … It’s not like the world is saying I wonder what happened to the Herman’s Hermits … What I’m trying to do is be one of those entertainers who go out and do great shows and have people be interested in whatever I come up with.”
So tell me a little bit about your show? What can people expect on Friday night?
“It’s Herman’s Hermits and parodies of other musicians like Davy Jones, Johnny Cash and parodies,” Noone says. “People sometimes think I’m an impersonator, it’s parodies … We have 300 songs and we’ll play our 10 biggest hits. It depends on what the other bands do, and where what they do puts me. If they’re slow and dreary, I go out and do the fast show. If they’re fast, I go do the slow show. It’s based on the energy of the show … It’s different every night fortunately in the music business.”
I’m ready to wrap up the interview and say good-bye. I ask Noone if he has anything else he wants to say.
“Do you got a Starbucks there?” he asks.
Yeah, we have two of them. You like Starbucks? I say.
“I like the idea of them and I do all my fan mail there. I take a laptop …”
Do a lot of people recognize you? I ask.
“ … I’m like Paul McCartney, I like people,” Noone says. “People don’t disturb me, I like that energy. I mean, I don’t want people sitting down and telling me their life story … but that’s one of the pluses of the music industry … the people who know me, they’re adults …”
I was out of questions and glanced at the clock, realizing Noone and I had been talking for 40 minutes. I thanked him for talking with me, though the words hardly expressed how thankful I really was. He tells me to try keeping the weather from getting too cold, and we say good-bye.
I hung up the phone, as a wide smile spread across my face and I leaned back in my chair.
“Ok, Mark, who was that you were talking too?” asks a cohort sitting behind me.
“Peeeeeeeter Noone,” I say, still smiling.
“Ah, you sounded like you were having a lot of fun,” she said.
I was. I did.
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