Another Place Another Time by Jerry Lee Lewis

2009 (18 tracks, 1:01:29)

rock

El compositor y guitarrista Joe South escribió la canción que hoy enfrentamos con sus versiones. Puede que su nombre no os diga nada, pero antes de escribirla, ya había compuesto para Gene Vincent, y más tarde ganó varios Grammys gracias a su espléndido y exitoso Games people play, versioneado después por multitud de artistas, desde Dolly Parton a Inner Circle, pasando por Johnny Cash & Lulu y Jerry Lee Lewis entre otros.

Joe South también fue músico de sesión de Aretha Franklin en su magnífico y premiado Chain of Fools y de Bob Dylan en el mítico disco Blonde On Blonde. Aunque él mismo se encargó de interpretarla como podemos ver en el video, (I never promised you a) Rose Garden se convirtió en un gran éxito pero no en la voz de su autor como veremos más adelante.

En 1970 la cantante Lynn Anderson fue la artífice de que se convirtiera en la canción más vendida por una artista country femenina y que este récord durase hasta 1997. Si hoy se recuerda a Lynn es fundamentalmente por esta versión (y viceversa) ya que no pudo igualar su repercusión ni en ventas ni en posiciones en las listas de éxitos, a pesar de tener una carrera extensa y fructífera.

El grupo donostiarra Duncan Dhu hizo una adaptación de la mano de Diego Vasallo a la que titularon Jardín de Rosas, que junto a Cien Gaviotas, Esos Ojos Negros y No Puedo Evitar (pensar en ti) conformaron un segundo disco Canciones (1986) que les llevó a vender cantidades indecentes de discos y a iniciar una carrera con un éxito que no les abandonaría hasta el final. Abajo tal como la grabaron aunque a lo largo de las siguientes giras la tocarían de forma más rockera y acelerada.

Modest Mouse—The Moon and Antarctica
Epic, 2000

Despite the overwhelming success of 2004’s Good News for People Who Love Bad News, The Moon and Antarctica still seems to inspire the most resounding acclaim from longtime Modest Mouse fans. It highlighted a point in Modest Mouse’s storied career where, even though radio still wasn’t really playing them, they were becoming impossible to ignore. Their enormous fan base was built almost solely from extensive touring, and when a band plays together that much for that long, the music can reach insane highs. Moon proved two things about Modest Mouse to the world: 1) They weren’t going to be fading away any time soon, and 2) They were capable of much more than ripping off Black Francis. Those things were important to establish, but the record is actually much more than a stone of proof—though thematically similar to MM’s other albums, Moon has the ability to work on many levels. There’s a sort of code of ethics to its moral ambiguity, a kind of spirituality to its atheism. It’s a very human record that deals with human afflictions, while not failing to comment on how silly many of these afflictions are and how badly they cause some people to screw up. “3rd Planet” and “Dark Center of the Universe” have both become anthems on this topic in their own right, boasting melodic yet dreary guitar lines that tend to inspire ornery grins—the stuff from which rock and roll is brewed. Amazingly, Modest Mouse never lose themselves in this process of reinvention, a sure-footed attitude that no doubt helped to poise them for the great takeover. (Note: Though this album was reissued in 2004 with a new mix and new artwork, all the info in this review is based on the original 2000 release.)

My Morning Jacket—Z
ATO/RCA, 2005

Like Summerteeth did for Wilco in 1999, 2005’s Z changed how the world listened to My Morning Jacket. It showed the band taking their alt-country upbringings, slingshotting them as far off into the mountains as they would go, and replacing them with a more psychedelic-pop-oriented approach. Jim James’ songwriting may have taken a more upbeat turn on this record in favor of commercial appeal, but he sounds more driven than he ever has before or since. Plus, the songs on Z are still as emotionally immediate as his earlier gospel-inspired work; and on top of that, it’s easy as hell to rock out to them. “Anytime” sounds like a radio hit in all the best possible ways—the verse feels like a chorus, the chorus feels like a verse, and the bridge feels like Jerry Lee Lewis somehow avoided self-sabotaging his career back in the 50’s. “Off the Record” is probably what Sticky Fingers would have sounded like with some more reggae thrown in, with an extended end-solo a la “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking?” that feels more tip-of-the-hat than uninspired rip-off. James’ ability to humbly wear his influences on his sleeve while still creating unique rock music is one of the many things that make MMJ so much fun. (Note: This was the RGH selection for Best Album of 2005.)

Portastatic—Be Still Please
Merge, 2006

Superchunk may be the banner under which Mac McCaughan achieved his status as indie cult auteur, but Be Still Please (the 2006 offering from Portastatic, McCaughan’s solo project) is one of the finest records he has made—bold proof that he not only deserves more credit as a songwriter, but is in fact one of the indie generation’s greatest. As an album, it is a departure from everything McCaughan has done in any of his projects, boasting Dylan-esque arrangements and loads of unorthodox instrumentation like clarinet, oboe and bassoon. Given this fact, as well as the ultra-personal nature of the songs, one could wonder why McCaughan didn’t choose to release the album simply under his own name. It probably has something to do with the fact that—despite the overall melancholy tone of Be Still Please—he is still too rock and roll to pull that move. He could easily become the old guy who is still making music because a handful of people like him enough to buy his records, and to make it easier for them, he records and performs Michael McDonald style. But, as proven by the track “You Blanks”, he is anything but that guy: “All my songs used to end the same way/Everything’s gonna be okay/You fuckers made that impossible to say!” Whomever those “blanks” are, the tone is not an accommodating one, and it’s clear from this album’s beautiful beginnings to its whispery end that McCaughan is doing this for himself.

Fredagen den 2009-11-20 var jag och såg den store rock ‘n’ roll legenden Jerry Lee Lewis uppträda på Cloetta Center i Linköping. Det var en helt fantastisk konsert. Trots att Jerry Lee Lewis är över 70 år gammal och har varit med i många år så bjuder han på fantastiska svängiga rocklåtar som man verkligen njuter av. Två av mina favoritlåtar Whole lotta loving och Great balls of fire sjöng han som avsluting. Dessutom så framförde han Roll over Beethoven och en låt som jag tyvärr inte kan namnet på som var lite lugnare och lite bluesing i sitt format. Helt underbart. Pianospelet var på topp och en riktigt kul grej var när han körde som en konversation mellan sitt eget pianospel och de andra musikerna i bandet som svarade på gitarr. Rösten växte efter hand och fungerade bäst på de lite lugnare mer country-influerade låtarna.

Innan Jerry Lee Lewis kom upp på scenen så körde hans kompband bland annat den härliga Professor Longhair låter Rockin pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu. Hade varit riktigt kul att få höra Jerry Lee Lewis på piano till den låten.

Förutom den store legenden Jerry Lee Lewis så var kvällens andra stora behållning hans syster Linda Gail Lewis som även hon verkligen kunde spela piano. Hon la till och med upp ena benet på pianot. Hon körde flera härliga klassiker som Blue suede shoes och Lets have a party med ett härligt ös och glatt humör.

Dessutom så spelade The Refreshments och Eva Eastwood samt Nisse Hellberg som lite förband. Samt en märklig äldre man med akustisk gitarr som framförde bland annat Folsom prison blues på ett mycket trevligt sätt. Eva Eastwood sjöng en fin countyaktig låt och Nisse Hellbergs bidrag blev En doft av läder.

Det var en oförglömlig kväll med underbar musik och en legend som är en musikalisk länk tillbaka till rockens barndom i Memphis och Sun studios med Sam Phillips och de fantastiska artisterna som Johnny Cash och Elvis Presley när de spelade in musiken som senare blev The million dollar quartet. Han träffade säkert också legender som Buddy Holly och Richie Valens. Denna konsert kommer värma min själ och mitt hjärta under återstoden av mitt liv. Otroligt att ha fått uppleva detta!

Martedì 17 Novembre 2009, ore 5:30. Mentre la Piccola città di Parma e i suoi cittadini sono ancora immersi nel sonno e nella nebbia di una uggiosa giornata di metà novembre, due giovani si preparano a Partire per un Viaggio che non è un semplice viaggio, ma è, come lo definiranno poi, un piccolo Salto nella Storia del Rock’N'Roll.

Matteo MonkeyBoy e Lisa Cherry si sonomessi in marcia per raggiungere la cittadina austriaca di Linz, dove da mesi è preannunciato il concerto di una delle leggende del Rock’N'Roll internazionale fin dagli anni ‘50. Non si tratta di Jhonny Cash, ne di Elvis, ma di uno che li ha conosciuti entrambi e che ha suonato con entrambi e con alcuni dei più famosi  musicisti della scena americana che hanno dato vita a quello che ora è il Rock. JLL sono le sue iniziali, il piano è il suo strumento e le sue dita toccano i tasti come se toccassero una donna. Gentilmente ma con quella voglia di andare oltre quello che sono le regole fondamentali. Andare oltre le righe, oltre il seminato, oltre quello che era convenzionalmente ritenuto “buono” è sempre stato un presupposto per molti musicisti che si sono affermati e che sono diventati leggende.

Jerry Lee Lewis martedì sera, ha dato prova di essere ancora nel mood di quando era giovane, di saper infiammare i cuori di persone dalle età più diverse e dagli stili di vita completamente diversi. Non a caso mentre aspettavamo che aprissero i cancelli per prendere posto, abbiamo notato che giovani, persone “anziane” (ma che erano giovani quando Jerry Lee era ancora in forma) erano riunite insieme per rendere omaggio a un grande Artista.

Ad aprire il concerto, la sorella di Jerry Lee, Linda Gail Lewis che proprio dal fratello ha preso il modo di suonare il piano con tutto il corpo, ha preso il modo di vivere la musica e di voler far partecipe il pubblico di quello che sente dentro. Ad accompagnarla la sua band composta dalla figlia (alla voce) e dagli elementi tipici di una band Rockabilly (contrabbasso, batteria, chitarra). Guardando in rete, abbiamo scoperto che il modo di suonare di Linda Gail proviene proprio dal fratello che le ha insegnato come muovere le dita sulla tastiera per arrivare ad avere un suono molto simile al suo, ma al contempo, diverso.

Dopo una breve pausa, in cui il piano è stato raccordato per Jerry Lee, appaiono sulla scena 4 personaggi molto particolari. Ad accompagnare Jerry Lee al basso scopriamo un grande David Cunningam, esponente dei Los Hombres, che per presentarsi meglio al pubblico austriaco propone una fantastica versione di “Let it go” (hang out). Finita la presentazione della band, eccolo che sale sul palco, piano piano, The Killer. Come detto all’inizio Jerry Lee non ha più la forma fisica di un tempo, alcune volte le parole sembrano quasi dimenticate, ma le dita sulla tastiera volano leggere come sempre. Il fascino di Jerry Lee trascina la maggior parte delle persone vicino al palco, per scattare foto e registrare filmati dell’Artista. Ma non solo di giovani, ma anche persone “datate” (come le chiama mia madre) si accalcano civilmente per poter portare a casa un po della Magia sprigionata dalla Musica del Killer.

Ritmi incalzanti che si susseguono a ballate e a gospel sono gli ingredienti giusti che portano ad affermare senza ombra di dubbio di essere saltati per un’ora e mezza nella Grande Storia del Rock.

———————————————————————————————-

Matteo MonkeyBoy e Lisa Cherry

Linda Gail Lewis’s Band

Linda Gail Lewis

(le altre foto analogiche arriveranno presto…tempo di sviluppare il rullino e scansionare tutto)

After watching the movie “walk the line” with a friend of mine, I’ve been thinking. Wow, what a bitch Johnny Cash was. God forbid, he’s a good man, by all means, he fitted perfect for the time period, but what would he be if he grew up in the world of today? He’d be just like the Norwegian singer “Sissel Kyrkjebø”.

Which is a person well famous in certain groups of people, but she’s just for particularly interested beings. 

Thus, it’s rightful to say that he does not deserve his fame. Especially after his death. He would have been labeled as emo, partially due to his depressing and dark themes in his songs, but mostly because of his “life is worthless” attitude and/or constantly black clothing.

He started playing in a band back in Memphis (since all great music comes from Memphis; Ref: Elvis), Tennessee, the man in black signed for the same label Elivs had signed for years before him. But before he could sign for Sun, the music label, he presented gospel music. Tragically enough, rumor have it that the producer: Sam Phillips told him to go home and sin, then come back with a song he could sell. But Cash refused to confirm the allegations against his old producer in the interview in 2002.

Even before this, he married Vivian Liberto in Santi Anne’s catholic church, only to file for divorce 12 years and 4 kids later, due to Mr Black’s constant alcohol and amphetamine abuse, constant touring and affairs with other women. It seems that he’s a really good guy, or is it just me? Let us backtrack, the year is 1950’s early 1960’s, where Christianity (conservatively) ruled as a general “moral code” in USA.

By the time he released his most famous songs; he was 27, married, 4 kids, and soon to be divorced. As he carried on into the 60’s he got an even worsening image, during the late 50’s his addiction started to spiral out of control into a problem that he soon could not keep hidden. Publicly notice came in 1965 where he were arrested in El Paso, Texas for trafficking narcotics, but the charges was laid of as the nature of the drugs was prescription amphetamines hidden inside his guitar.

He went on to driving his career into a halt around the 1960’s where his drug addiction was at his worst, creating a few “concept albums”, but nothing that really matter in the general opinion. The same period he parted with his Vivian Liberto, due to his worsening addiction and destructive behavior. Thus, after a highly (drug induced) Christian experience in the Nickajack Cave where Mr. Black wanted to “just lay down and die”, he came out a new man, throwing his addictions behind him and begin a new life.

In 1968, two years after divorcing his former wife, he remarried with his career long companion June Carter, co writer on the song Ring of Fire.

After following years, he began the 70’s with a world that was moving to fast for him and people began to loose interest after the song “Man in Black” aired and found it’s place with the number one badge for over 20 weeks on the top twenty in the country.

After this there’s just not been much to say about Mr Black, other than what I think; What an ass. After this brief  explanation of his career, it’s obvious that this is not what we would like to show our kids as one of the greatest people in history, is it? It’s like putting Lady Gaga’s Love Game on a “Hits for kids”.

Oh wait. We have…
(Ref; Hits for kids 22, if I remember right.)
But that’s for another post.

Point is, I don’t understand that we wanted this much moral decay in a time that stood for the Christian values that should provide a deep moral ground for the youth at the time? Since it’s pretty much the same story with both Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis. Sadly.

Sincerely
Ole H. Berg

Päivän kysymys oli mikä on se kappale, joka saa sinut hylkäämään tuopin ja rynnistämään tanssilattialle? Onko se hillitön humppa, seksikäs slovari, riimillinen räppi, darraava dance, ryytynyt rokki, sensuelli samba tai pirtsakka pop?

Ei ole yhtä kappaletta, eikä mikään noista!

Introduction:

Warm up:

C’mon lets have a party:

And this is how it looks like:

Ei siis ole yhtä kappletta, mutta on rockabilly. That’s enough!

]]> http://jordanandjax.com/2009/11/19/sun-studios/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:34:58 +0000 jordanandjax http://jordanandjax.com/2009/11/19/sun-studios/ http://cherrypic.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/jerry-lee-lewis-ready-to-go/ Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:27:22 +0000 photomaneki http://cherrypic.wordpress.com/2009/11/16/jerry-lee-lewis-ready-to-go/

Domani mattina si parte! Presto ma si parte verso l’Austria per andare al concerto del grande Jerry Lee Lewis, consociuto anche come “The Killer”. Per coloro che pensano che sia morto: NOOOOO è ancora vivo! E tutto questo grazie al Rock’n'Roll! Un motivo in più per ascoltare sia Jerry Lee che gli altri grandi di questa musica ad alto contenuto di buone Vibrazioni!

http://www.jerryleelewis.com/

Compagni di Viaggio?? 1, il più importante della Mia Vita.

Emozione?? un sacco!!

Macchine fotografiche?? 2 (la Holga che è stata rimessa a posto e la Compattina digitale, perchè può succedere che qualche foto la scatti e che riprenda la retta via!)

Vince Lombardi Story May Be Broadway Bound
Based on the book Pride Still Matters by David Maraniss, a new Broadway play may be on the way about the life of legendary Green Bay Packers football coach, Vince Lombardi. The production, if it makes its way to The Great White Way, will be produced by Tony Ponturo and Fran Kirmser of Hair fame.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Lombardi coached the Packers from 1959 to 1967, racking up 5 league championships and two Superbowl wins during his tenure. His name has become synonymous with the NFL and he is widely known for his motivational skills on and off the field.

Look for a possible Fall 2010 debut for Lombardi on Broadway.

Million Dollar Quartet Set for Nederlander Theatre
After a year long run in the Windy City, Million Dollar Quartet has announced that will make it’s Broadway debut next Spring at West 41st Street’s Nederlander Theatre.

Million Dollar Quartet captures the excitement and the sounds of the night when music legends Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley all came together for a one-night jam session at Sun Records’ storefront studio in Memphis. Featuring songs like “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Fever,” “Sixteen Tons,” “Great Balls of Fire” and “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On,” Memphis is a treasure trove of the greatest rock, rockabilly, gospel, R&B and country standards of the 1950s.

Here’s a quick video clip from Million Dollar Quartet which is scheduled to begin previews on March 13th, with opening night set for April 2010 at the Nederlander.

More Wishful Drinking
Carrie Fisher’s one-woman show, Wishful Drinking, has announced that it will extend it’s run at Broadway’s Studio 54. Originally scheduled to go dark on January 3rd, the limited engagement will now add two more weeks of performances, with January 17th now set as its final night.

The daughter of Hollywood legends Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, Fisher’s show is a tell-all about her life as the child of Hollywood royalty. Tales of her parents’ divorce, her own divorces, her various romantic involvements, and even her experience after starring in Star Wars are all part of this honest and often humorous look at the star’s life.

And that’s today’s ShowBus Buzz. Check back here often because we’ll be back with more news from Broadway very soon.

The ShowBus Team
http://ShowBusTours.com
info@showbustours.com
(800) 882-6400

This week, we’re getting into our virtual car and stepping on the gas pedal in Songs About Driving. Read on to find out what tracks are accompanying the girls speeding through their work and all the way into the weekend…

Sostylistic selects: Tracy Chapman – Fast Car.

Sartoriology recommends: Chris Rea – Road To Hell.

A Work In Progress picks: Madness – Driving My Car.

Ellie chooses: Iggy Pop – The Passenger.

New Favourite Thing suggests: Prince – Little Red Corvette.

Frankie opts for double whammy as it’s her turn to own the phrase “BECAUSE I’M LEAVING!”: Cyndi Lauper – I Drove All Night.

And..

Chris Rea – Driving Home For Christmas.

Soldiersailor elects: AC/DC – Highway To Hell.

In tune with Battersea Park love themed fireworks, things got a bit slushy in the office last week. Find out what tracks we chose in Songs Inspired By Love.

Janelle Rominski, NBC Chicago Street Team

Chicago’s hit rock ‘n’ roll musical, Million Dollar Quartet celebrated its one-year anniversary this month.  Having rocked Chicago at the Apollo Theater for a year, this inspiring show has been extended through March 28, 2010.  In the springtime, Million Dollar Quartet is set to rock Broadway.

Million Dollar Quartet is inspired by an actual event that occurred on December 4, 1956, when Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins came together at the Sun Records’ studio in Memphis.  Sam Phillips, the “Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll” discovered the four musicians and brought them together for the only time in their careers for one of the greatest rock jam sessions of all time.

You walk into the theater as if you’re in Sun Records’ studio where a drum set sits, an upright bass is rested on its side, a piano stands still, guitars are propped up ready to be strummed and four shiny, classic, chrome microphones lay resting on mic stands waiting for soulful vocals to be sung into them.

The performers walk out and embrace the stage singing an unbelievable collection of featured songs including “Blue Suede Shoes”, “Who Do You Love”, “Great Balls of Fire” and many more hits.

The stars of the show have an uncanny resemblance to the star recording artists they’re portraying.

Their musical talent and acting abilities work very well together.

The production stars Eddie Clendening as Elvis Presley; Lance Guest as Johnny Cash; Levi Kreis as Jerry Lee Lewis and Rob Lyons as Carl Perkins.  Chicago’s very own Tim Decker plays the “Father of Rock ’n’ Roll” Sam Phillips, and Chicago-based actress Kelly Lamont plays Elvis’ girlfriend Dyanne.

Throughout the performance, audience members were tapping their feet, rocking their bodies, shaking their heads and singing along to the tunes.  This musical journey to the past is a “must-see”!

For more information visit www.MillionDollarQuartetLive.com

Want more Rominski reads? Read more right HERE!

1833 – Composer Alexander Porfirievich Borodin was born.
1966 – Donovan’s “Mellow Yellow” was released.
1967 – Jerry Lee Lewis records “To Make Love Sweeter for You.”
1970 – The Doors made their last appearance with Jim Morrison in New Orleans.
1984 – Madonna released the album “Like A Virgin.”
1996 – The album “Evita: The Complete Motion Picture Music Soundtrack” was released.

Killer

rock n roll

kick ass not fade away

they were so afraid of you

they blamed it all on Elvis

rock n roll

kick ass not fade away

somewhere there’s the killer

ain’t never been no fuckin’ king

soft girls

hard liquor

get ‘em movin’

get ‘em dancin’

wherever you are

somewhere in that pure American night

hope you’re bangin’ a piano

hope you’re ready for a fight

( for jerry lee – who else?)

from the soon to be published volume from Lapwing Publishers Belfast NI.

i love rock n roll

Jerry Lee Lewis singing 52 years ago in 1957.

Jerry Lee Lewis was born on September 29, 1935 in Ferriday, Louisiana just eight months after the birth of Elvis Presley.

He played the piano with his cousins Mickey Gilley and Jimmy Swaggart.

He had a setback in his career when he married his third wife Myra Lewis who was a first cousin once removed in December of 1957. They would be married for 13 years. His next two wives both drowned in the swimming pool at the Lewis home.

After marrying his cousin he experienced a downturn in his career when the marriage caused him to have to accept $250 for a concert when he had been receiving $10,000 a concert previously.

Jerry Lee Lewis singing Whole Lot of Shakin’ Going On in second appearance on the Steve Allen show in 1957.

Jerry Lee singing a medley of rock and roll hits on Midnight Special television show in 1973.

Jerry Lee singing Great Balls of Fire in 1997.

Jerry Lee singing in July of 2009 a country song She Even Woke Me Up To Say Goodbye in Madrid, Spain.

Jerry Lee Lewis is now 74 and still active and in January he will enter his seventh decade of entertaining music fans in the United States and around the world.

(Above: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band back Chuck Berry at the 1995 Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland.)

By Joel Francis

“Rock Hall Live,” an exquisite nine DVD box set of performances and speeches from the past 25 years of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremonies is a treasure trove for all music fans, but it should especially attractive to Bruce Springsteen fans. Springsteen appears on all but two of the discs in more than a dozen performances and nearly as many speeches. As the unofficial MC of the collection, Springsteen makes more appearances than anyone else.

On Monday, The Daily Record examined the first half of Springsteen’s performances on the “Rock Hall Live” box set. Today, we look at Springsteen’s appearance at the Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, his triumphant E Street reunion kick-off and sitting in with U2.

1995 – “Johnny B. Goode” (with Chuck Berry)

In the classic Chuck Berry film “Hail Hail Rock and Roll,” Springsteen tells the story of how he and his pre-E Street band backed Berry in the 1970s. More than two decades later, at the Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Springsteen reprises the role here, this time with his E Street brothers in tow. Springsteen is relegated to backing vocals and rhythm guitar, but Clarence Clemons punctuates Berry’s lyrical bursts with stings of saxophone a la King Curtis. Sporting a goatee and ear-to-ear grin, Springsteen sheds his backup roll to peel off a brief solo after Berry’s duckwalk.

1995 – “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On” (with Jerry Lee Lewis, rehearsal)

In this bonus feature Springsteen and the E Street band rehearses “Whole Lotta Shakin’ Going On” with Jerry Lee Lewis before the Concert for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The musicians soundcheck their instruments as the crew preps the stage. There’s one dry run through the number, which is unfortunately edited out. Even though everyone is just messing around they still earn applause from the resting workers on the side of the stage. The footage isn’t incredible enlightening or interesting, but it’s worth watching once.

1999 – “The Promised Land,” “Backstreets,” “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out,” “In the Midnight Hour” (with Wilson Pickett)

The E Street Band were on the cusp of their first tour together in 11 years when they teased the world with a four-song set at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York. Although the entire performance is captured in the “Rock Hall Live” box, it is frustratingly spread across four discs. Springsteen calls each band member one at a time to join him during onstage during his induction to the hall. While there’s no rust from the decade apart in the opening “The Promised Land,” the band is still getting warmed up. There’s no sweat on Springsteen’s dress shirt at the end of the number.

One can tell from the opening chords of “Backstreets” that this is going to be a special performance. Springsteen unloads every ounce of his soul into the microphone and beats a great solo out of his battered Telecaster. The band is majestic and powerful and inspired the normally staid attendees to dance around their banquet tables.

As photos of a young Springsteen flash on video boards behind the band, the Boss drops to his knees as the classic Little Steven horn arrangement to “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” kicks in. Sans guitar, Springsteen uses his arms, legs and hips to cue the band and animate the crowd. It works. Everyone onstage and in the crowd is firing on all cylinders when Billy Joel slips beside Roy Bittan on the organ bench and Wilson Pickett enters to deliver “In the Midnight Hour.” Pickett’s voice is as powerful as ever and Springsteen draws on his years of “Detroit Medley” experience to match that ferocity while delivering the second verse. The band burnishes their credentials as the best house band in the business. If anyone were looking to update “The Last Waltz” and showcase a classic ensemble and their influences, the E Street Band should be the top candidate.

2005 – “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” (with U2)

“When I say that America is not just a country, but an idea, I’m thinking about people like Bruce Springsteen,” Bono says, introducing the song over The Edge’s chiming guitar chords. As the second verse starts, we catch a glimpse of Springsteen in the wings, waiting for his entrance. It takes the Boss a moment to get oriented before delivering the third verse, which kills the momentum of the performance. The moment is a bit superfluous – U2 doesn’t need his help – bit it’s a nice gesture. Springsteen matches Bono’s vocal passion and closes the performance on a powerful note.

Keep reading:

Bruce Springsteen and Tom Morello – “The Ghost of Tom Joad”

Wow, Jerry Lee Lewis is a creep.

This rockin’ biopic depicts the meteoric rise of rock and roll’s most daring living legend, Jerry Lee Lewis (Dennis Quaid). Concentrating on the years from 1956 to 1959, the film features the songs and escapades that catapulted Lewis to the top of the charts, as well as his controversial third marriage to his 13-year-old cousin, Myra (Winona Ryder), which almost destroyed his career.

Much like all rock biopics, the artists eventual rise-and-fall is documented in such a soap opera way. Look at La Bamba or The Doors, you will see these stories eventually all end up the same.

The film is one of the more exciting rock biopics. It shows the fun side of rock-and-roll rather than it’s disadvantages. Much of the energy comes from it’s great upbeat soundtrack as all the songs were re-recorded by Jerry Lee himself, and add a great deal of excitement to this film. The editing that goes a long with the music, that influences many other films today, it shows the story developing as the music continues so it doesn’t become boring.

The only problem with the film was that I didn’t quite get inside of the person of Jerry Lee Lewis, instead I got the artist who the public could always see, not the man behind the scenes. Jerry Lee’s life had a lot more problems than just a little short period of time. His life was battled with a lot more violence, sex, drugs, and drinking than this film showed me, and I didn’t quite get to know Jerry Lee as well as I thought I could.

I think the story really does run out of steam by the end. When the film goes to his marriage between him and his cousin, the film has no where to go and comes up with a really dumb ending, which was trying to stay upbeat with the whole film itself but didn’t seem like it meant anything to the whole film.

Dennis Quaid really does shine here as Jerry Lee. He is cocky, but also very energetic and brings a lot to the table, and gives the look at Jerry Lee, and becomes a lot more convincing than I thought he was, but it surely is an understated performance.

Consensus: Jerry Lee Lewis’ life had a lot more than this film gave us, but it is highly energetic and features a great understated performance from Dennis Quiad.

5/10=Rentall!!!

Dans la ville célébrée par Vincente Minnelli dans la légendaire comédie musicale Meet me in St. Louis, Bruce Springsteen et le E Street Band oont livré (si l’on en juge par le setlist…) un concert sans grande surprise, à part… Surprise Surprise et Roll Over Beethoven, reprise d’un classique de Jerry Lee Lewis.

La setlist (source LOHAD)
Start : 8.24
1) Wrecking Ball
2) Seeds
3) Prove It All Night
4) Hungry Heart
5) Working On A Dream
6) Thunder Road
7) Tenth Avenue Freeze Out
Night
9) Backstreets
10) Born To Run
11) She’s The One
12) Meeting Across The River
13) Jungleland
14) Waitin’On A Sunny Day
15) Working On The Highway
16) The Promised Land
17) Lonesome Day
18) The Rising
19) Badlands
20) No Surrender

21) For You (Solo Piano)
Raise Your Hand (Instrumental)
22) Roll Over Beethoven
23) Surprise Surprise
24) Detroit Medley
25) American Land
26) Dancing In The Dark
27) Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)

End : 11.23

Le commentaire (mitigé) de Backstreets
October 25 / Scottrade Center / St. Louis, MO
Notes: Let’s not pull punches: tonight was a disappointment. As this leg moved into the Central time zone, hopes were high, and you can take your pick why: Bruce and the band coming off of a remarkable four-night run in Philly (St. Louie show-goers hoping those shake-ups were indicative of where Springsteen’s at in general as the tour enters its final month, rather than just pulling out the stops for the Spectrum’s last hurrah), or the fact that the Gateway to the West got one of the very best shows of the Magic tour. In any case, this stop was surprisingly by-the-numbers.

Need we say that a by-the-numbers E Street Band show is still a hell of a show? At this point, we’ll take that as a given. Hey, we got “Wrecking Ball” to open (demonstrating that the song ain’t just about shutting venues down), and some sweet fretwork from Nils on “Prove It.” Born to Run live holds up the album’s masterpiece status, and “Backstreets” was a stunner tonight. But post-”Jungleland,” the main set was as pedestrian as it gets.

Where things got interesting was the encore. Sign collection brought an open-ended request for Bruce to play piano — “An elegantly made sign… somebody wen to the stationery store and did themselves proud!” — and he obliged with a solo rendition of “For You” at Roy’s station. “Roll Over Beethoven” was a late shot of adrenaline: very little prep, just slam-bang into it, “This is the way it’s done on E Street!” “Surprise, Surprise,” a request for a Sweet Fifteen birthday, was a refreshing and rare offering from the new record, and the “Detroit Medley” got things rocking the way an encore should. Too little, too late? Perhaps. But of course, they’re just warming up for a Kansas City blow-out, right?

I was looking on the Music Charts and noticed that “Maxwell” is #1.

I had read about him working with Adam Lambert on his new album and I’m just getting around to seeing who he is.

I’m not sure if it’s the same Maxwell, but I’m liking his jazzy, orchestra styled modern music.

This is great for a cocktail party!

Having this playing in the background, while serving drinks and little hors d’oeuvres.

Christmas time is coming and November is the time for Business Christmas Parties.

My favorite recipe was a salsa, nacho dip and pizza dip.

I used to love a girl named Heather’s delicious snacks.

Once I tried the garlic and anchovies salsa dip at a party, and I’ve been hooked on it ever since.

All week I’ve been craving nachos, cheese and salsa.

I ate the whole bag in three days as a snack, while watching TV and movies.

There were some great oldies on the other night.

One was with Dean Martin and Jerry Lee Lewis, an army movie, I don’t remember the name of it.

But it was really refreshing to see.

Not only because of the talented acting, but the story line was really comical and it made me feel good inside.

This week I reached a goal that I’ve been working on for the past year.

I finally wrote my first novel!

Now I’m scared about it being rejected, but I’m going to work on the synopsis, query letter and put my best foot forward.

Remember how I was agonizing over which genre to file it under?

It was two weeks ago and I had decided it would be Romance.

This week, I’m looking under Literary Agency Information and classified Romance categories  want a happy ending, with no incest or violence?

Well that rules me out!

I wrote a book that addresses many social issues, I wanted it to be real.

I want my readers to relate to the characters, and my so called romance is no fairy tale.

If anything it could be a reality check to some, because it talks about the dark side in humans.

How they hide in a shell to their friends and family and have another side to them that no one really knows about.

Kind of like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde scenario, only my characters have to face consequences for their actions.

We find that the characters do something and it not only affects them, but the people and community around them.

It’s a novel about Six Degrees of Separation, and how we know someone that knows and is connected to someone else we know.

In the game of love, Joseph Munroe who is a virgin slayer, seeks out his next victim.

The Munroe Mansion is my first novel, and it’s book one of The Munroe Series.

Technically I have started 15 manuscripts (each with 10,000 to 20,000 words) and they are slowly being developed into a series of books.

When I tell people that I wrote the books in a matter of two months time, they think I’m crazy.

It’s true, the original draft was written in 2 months, the revising took a year.

I gave up on trying to make it into one book.

Instead I decided it would be fun to make it into a larger series.

It was a good idea, because on my first manuscript (the munroe mansion) I wrote that in June 2009 within a week I had come up with 80,000 word count.  I split the book in half and now I have 62,000 word count from using only 40,000 words.

All these numbers are confusing.  The point is, that once I start writing, I can’t stop and my books get too big, so then I divide them into another story.

Each book has a certain set of family characters (three generations are included) and a host of guest characters (over 100 characters are in all of the books) so it’s fun playing creator!

I’m finding the how to videos on youtube are awesome and I’ve added some to my Idea Girl Consulting Playlist (along with music, meditation, positive thinking, chakra balancing , writing, publishing, manuscript tips and more).

Jerry Lee Lewis / House of  Blues New Orleans/ January 1999 /Jim Piccirillo

I love New Orleans. There is no greater city to wander around aimlessly. Down the narrow little dark alleys among the ancient buildings, one never knows what you will come across. But it usually involves drinking, eating and lots of music at least.

One night in January 1999, I was in town working a project for FOX. My colleagues and I had dined in the French Quarter and retired back to the hotel for an early evening. I was still restless and sat in my room shuffling through the usual magazines and entertainment guides that are always on the hotel coffee table.

I’m looking at concert listings and see that Jerry Lee Lewis, the Killer himself, is playing at the House of Blues…. Tonight!

It is already around 9 pm.. but no worries, I know the headliner at HOB never goes on before 10 pm. I quickly call up my other friends staying in the hotel but not one wants to venture back out. Everyone has an excuse. Well, I am not going to sit there watching lame hotel movies when  The Killer is literally playing several blocks away!

Fifteen minutes later I am walking briskly alone in the quarter near the House of Blues. I cut down the alley behind the venue and end up at the side door by the artists’ entrance. Literally, right when I walk up, a long, white stretch limo pulls up. Out hops a giant beast of a man, and several mobster looking guys… followed by the one and only, Jerry Lee Lewis.

Several savvy fans lined up out back catch his attention and start screaming… the body guards’ focus turns to the fans as Jerry Lee grins at them like a Cheshire cat… I am about five feet away moving toward them on the sidewalk. As I get closer the first of the bodyguards move right by me, still with an eye on the fans making sure no one makes a break towards them.

Jerry Lee passes within several inches of me… he is wearing some type of Liberace-looking jacket with a fur collar, white, patent leather, pointed shoes and dark sunglasses… exactly what you would expect!

Out of instinct, the moment he passes me, I turn and fall in line with his entourage, blending into the middle of the pack. We are hustled through the side door, down a long hallway, to the backstage area. I am trying to look like I belong while keeping an eye out for any of his bouncers who may notice that I have encroached their tight little formation.

Suddenly, the entire group comes to a stop as they encounter someone from HOB… to the right is a sign that says, “dressing rooms”.. everyone starts that way and I knew that if I followed my cover would quickly be blown.

As the group moved down the right hallway, I took a chance and walked left through an unmarked door…. Wala! It was a direct path to the back of the stage left bar… I walked right through the bar area, behind the bartender and the barbacks, out the other side and directly into a packed house of  honky tonk fans!  What seemed like an eternity had in reality taken about 2 minutes… from the sidewalk to the front of the stage in a flash!

Jerry Lee came out and did a short but rousing forty minute set. I was close enough to see the gaudy gold rings on his fingers and that he didn’t play or sing like the young Jerry Lee….

..but he still had enough fire and showmanship to leave the crowd wanting more.

In the end, he was a sweaty mess, his perfectly coiffed hair falling in his face, and his shirt unbuttoned as he kicked away his stool for the finale, Great Balls of Fire!

As I walked back to the hotel, through the dark streets of the quarter, strains of music pouring out of every door way… I thought how lucky I am and how fortunate I was to not settle for a mediocre evening inside my hotel room. Sometimes you just got to make the extra effort to be rewarded.

As I always like to say.. run the maze, ring the bell, get the cheese!