Newest Music Blogs (1,259)

So it's a lazy rainy day here in central NJ.
I wake up early (I guess my mind is in get up to get to the flea market mode),
and I turn on the TV to see some morning show on CBS.
I don't know which, as I hardly ever watch a morning show on CBS.

The odd part, is the 3 hosts (2 women and 1 man) are sampling rye (whiskey) live at 7:30 am. I guess different people define breakfast differently.

Next up a musical performance (2 songs separated by a commercial).
I'm thinking, "oh geez, what commercial crap will this be ?".
And for the most part, I was correct.
Except for the keyboardist (a little talent), not much talent at all, basicly background music.

But, then the vocalist, who looks more like a gay chef, or accountant, or bank teller,
sings. I tell you what, although it looks out of place, the man has soul and a good voice.
You may hear more from him, especially if he goes solo, or gets a better band.
It's as if Elton John got possessed by Aretha Franklin.

I found them on youtube. The name of the band is St. Paul and the Broken Bones.
Here's one of the "tiny desk concerts" (bad acoustics) from NPR

From an underrated artist/singer/songwriter

It all starts with communication

...25 years since he left, and now one billion hits. Albums like "Never Mind", and songs like "Smells Like Teen Spirit". Began a whole genre of rock. Biting lyrics. GF choices could have been better. We all have our weak points. Sorely missed.

I've always wanted to do a historic blog about the Hammond organ.... it's one of the most famous musical instruments in the last century. Consider this the first installment.

Hammond electric organs came into manufacture in 1935. They were large dual 61 note manual consoles mounted in wooden cases. The sound they make is synthesized/created by rotating tonewheels and magnetic pickups. The tone is shaped by controls called drawbars that can be pulled or retracted changing the harmonics and the overall sound. Over the years various model added features. The B-2 manufactured from 1949 to 1954 was very popular and had a vibrato circuit added to it's sound. The model B-3 is by far the most popular Hammond. it was produced from 1954 to 1974. The B-3 was used in Jazz, Gospel, Blues, Rock and many other genres.

In the beginning Laurens Hammond had a speaker system to go along with his brand of organs. Donald Leslie created a speaker cabinet with a rotating horn and baffle that created a chorale or tremelo effect to emulate the sound of a theater/pip organ. His attempt was to market his product with Hammond but Laurens wasn't interested. Leslie Tone Cabinets were sold as a stand-alone product around 1941.

To the ear, the combination of a Hammond with a Leslie was awesome!

Many of us remember Jim Stafford for some of his songs like 'My Girl Bill' or 'Spiders and Snakes' but here is a little gem that I've not heard in decades, love the graphics:





If you have any of you Jim Stafford songs feel free to add them.....

I got that message from K on Friday evening. I had never heard the band live before, so I replied "Sure, I'm up for that!"

So we met up in the train, and decided to hit a bar, before the show. There was a great one 30 seconds from the venue, so we sat down and ordered. I went for a regular coke, while K went for a double vodka/fanta. Once the bartender came down with our drinks, he went "Double vodka/fanta for the lady, and a rum and coke minus rum for the gentleman".. I was going "But I didn't ord.. Aaah, I see what you did there . Clever"

We finished our drinks and headed to the venue. The first band on stage was a band called Ankona, and they were a Russian folk metal band, complete with bagpipes and flutes. It was absolutely brilliant! They blended good old fashioned folk metal with black metal. Mind blowing! They had 45 minutes to play, and I loved every minute of it!

Then it was time for Delain, the main event. You could feel the atmosphere in the venue building! Once they got on stage, they literally blew the other band away. Symphonic metal is amazing live!

Charlotte, the lead singer, was amazing on stage! I have never seen a person belong on a stage that much! She ruled the show with precision and a fantastic voice! It was heavy, yet melodic at the same time. It reminded me of the early Within Temptation. Maybe because the bassist in the band was a former member of Within Temptation.

It was one of the best nights in a long time! One I would gladly do again!