(TV) R&R Hall of Fame

["gregg luvoxx" <murderedman@earthlink.net>]

Oh how I regret leaving NYC all those years ago to peruse fame and
fortune in Tinsletown. Yeah I'm talking about your wide screen HDTV
compared to our little Sony Watchman TV performance. I know we
should be lucky they even stepped foot in our little gauche corner
of the country but c'mon. Anyway, while you were all basking in the
glory of the most important rock show of the past ten years I
settled down with The Rock and Roll Hall of fame induction ceremony
in the comfort of my living room, three hours earlier than it
actually took place (I don't know how that works) and it was as if
the VH1 gods felt a little sorry for me. I tuned in just in time to
see that hardcore punk rocker Eddie Vedder inducting The Ramones.
Johnny says, "God Bless George Bush", Dee Dee thanks himself. Green
Day slams through Teenage Lobotomy and Blitzkrieg Bop and the
camera pans the audience, guys in tuxedos jerking their heads back
and forth, eyes glazed. In a private moment I actually got up and
danced to this. Then a coked-up Anthony Keidis babbled the Talking
Heads induction, comparing the first time he heard Psycho Killer to
a girl's first period (followed by a bit of silence and audience
discomfort) Then the Heads reunite for Burning Down The House and
Life During Wartime. If they asked me I wouldn't have picked those
songs but that doesn't matter now. Then it happened, Gene f'ing
Pitney(!) doing Town Without Pity. The old B&W Pitney footage was
superb. I've been getting into Pitney a lot recently so this was a
treat, and the orchestra sounded superb. The only weak spots on the
telecast were Tom Petty, looking haggard, older than Willie Nelson,
no voice no energy (I hope he's okay), and oh yeah Jewel and Rob
Thomas doing Here Comes The Sun backed by Paul Schaeffer and the
CBS orchestra, that was a disaster. That Rob Thomas has a crazy
look in his eyes, man. A tribute to Stax Records, more great
vintage clips. Sam from Sam and Dave brings the house down with
"Something's wrong with my baby", w/ Isaac Hayes on piano - chills.
(Hayes also did "Shaft" and again the orchestra was right on, the
wah wah guitar out front). Then this: "When Brenda Lee made her
debut at the age of eight, no one believed such a strong mature
voice belonged to a child and not in fact a midget." Again I was
alone so no one got to see the perfect spit-take here, so let me
just say it was fabulous, precise, robust. If they rerun this,
don't miss it (and crank it up) and don't drink seltzer water
during the Brenda Lee montage. It was some of the best televised
music I'd seen in a while. Usually those TV sound guys who hark
back to the Jackie Gleason days delight in emasculating rock bands
(SNL is a big offender in this area) The sound mix was surprisingly
good. I had it hooked into my stereo and delighted in thick bass
and ringing guitars. There was plenty of music and the yip-yap was
kept to a minimum. Lucky me. Lucky you.

_____________________________________
http://www.gregglopez.com
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