July 21, 2008Question of the week: Who is your favorite local keyboard playerThe field is not nearly as wide for this one. But there are some daggone fine ones plunking keys around here. Tell us your favorites in the Roanoke and New River valleys. July 14, 2008Question of the week: Are you going to FloydFest? Who do you want to see?Another July, another FloydFest, another massive lineup of acts, eclecticity inherent. (I think I just made up a new form for "eclectic.") Are you going? Who do you want to see? Are you worried that you'll miss one band, because another favorite is on stage elsewhere at the fest? If you aren't going, do you have any festival plans for the rest of the summer? Or have you had your fill? June 30, 2008Question of the week: Does Amy Winehouse matter?Oh, the promise. Winehouse's "Back to Black" was critically and commercially successful. And you know the rest. She started the game so troubled that she was unable to enjoy it -- producer Mark Ronson told Rolling Stone magazine that recent attempts at recording her were "heartbreaking." You could easily say that Ronson made Winehouse, who had done pretty well in England with a previous, jazzier CD. And his method is surely working for Sharon Jones, whose Dap Kings also recorded "Back to Black." And now there's Duffy. People say that she's mining the same vein, although I think her debut, "Rockferry," is a good deal lighter than Winehouse's hit. Still, it's good, and as pop culture cycles go, we seem to be looking at a return to 1960s production values. In other words, if Duffy gets growing success out of this (and this record sounds like one that can sell through a couple of seasons), we're going to hear a lot more producers framing their performers in Motown, Stax, Hi and other classic sounds. Muscle Shoals, represent! So, back to the original question. Does Winehouse matter to you? Do you care? June 23, 2008What are your favorite summer songs?We posted a little story over the weekend with a list of favorite summer songs. Here's Ralph's list. It proves that he is way cooler than I am: 1. "Little Red Corvette," Prince. This was my favorite song in the summer of '83, right before my senior year of high school. 2. "Hot Fun in the Summertime," Sly and the Family Stone 3. "In the Summertime," Mungo Jerry 4. "Can't Hardly Wait," The Replacements 5. "Train in Vain," The Clash -- Ralph Berrier Jr. Here is my list. It proves that it doesn't take much to be cooler than I am: 1. "Thunder Island" Jay Ferguson 1978. Lord, the cheese! But this song, still occasionally played on oldies radio, still takes me back to burgeoning adolescence and that one girl who was just too good for me. 2. "Summersound," sElf Little-heard tune from Beck sideman Matt Mahaffey, whose career has turned from an attempt at solo success to cartoon soundtrack and commercial jingle work. Why? Because the music business sucks. Full disclosure: I grew up with Matt's older brother and collaborater, the late Mike Mahaffey. But the song is great. Hear it yourself: www.self-centered.org/media.php?pmg 3. "So Like Candy," Elvis Costello Bad relationship. Depressing summer. Perfect song. Go figure. 4. "Heavy Metal Drummer," Wilco "I sincerely miss those heavy metal bands/She used to go see on the landing in the summer/She fell in love with the drummer ... " 5. "Stone in Love," Journey Summer of 1983. Isle of Palms, S.C. A phonograph player in the rental house basement. Volume at 11. So shoot me. -- Tad Dickens What are yours? June 16, 2008Question of the week: Your can't-do-without recordHere's a little change of pace from the recent "who's your favorite (band, guitarist, etc.) questions. We had a couple stories recently about a woman whose mother accidentally sold her album collection in a yard sale. Late last week, she got them back. What record, vinyl or CD -- or cassette, for that matter, could you not do without? June 9, 2008Question of the week: Your favorite local drummerThere are a bunch of fine skin-slappers around the valleys. Tell us your favorite. June 2, 2008Question of the week: Your favorite guitaristAre we lazy? Or do we just know a good thing when we see one? Either way, we're sticking to a formula with this week's question. Tell us who is your favorite guitar player in the Roanoke and New River valleys, and why. Send us a link to music, if there's one available. May 27, 2008Question of the week: Your favorite local actsWe've touched on this one a little bit recently, but haven't fully fleshed it out. May 19, 2008Question of the week: Your favorite shows, venuesI had an interesting e-mail conversation last week with one of my bosses (too many bosses, I tell you!) Anyway, we were trading thoughts on favorite concerts, venues, hangouts, and the idea morphed into a question of the week. So tell me: What's your favorite haunt of today, yesterday or both? It can be in Roanoke, Blacksburg, the town where you went to college -- or all of the above. What are some great shows you saw there? Continue reading "Question of the week: Your favorite shows, venues" » May 12, 2008Question of the week: Slacking on a busy MondayToo much to do today. So here's an idea: You ask us a question. Or questions. And we'll try to answer them. May 5, 2008Question: Your thoughts on contemporary songwritersOver the weekend, cable viewers could see documentaries on Bob Dylan and the late Townes Van Zandt. That inspires this week's question: Who among the new breed of songwriters can build a legacy that will last decades down the road? Is there even one out there now? Continue reading "Question: Your thoughts on contemporary songwriters" » April 28, 2008Question of the week: What did we miss?I was on vacation last week. Ralph wasn't around too much. April 14, 2008What would you pour over Heather Mills' head?We begin a new feature on the old blog: The question of the week. It'll usually be about music, or something related to music -- in today's case, Heather Mills, who is now Paul McCartney's nouveau riche ex-wife. As you know, if you follow the pop culture maelstrom, she poured a jug of water over the head of Macca's divorce attorney. If you don't know, here's the story. So, here we go -- what would pour over Heather Mills' head? We promise a more substantive question next week! Maybe ... |
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