GraniteGrok |
|
gran·ite n. 1. A common... hard igneous rock... used in monuments and for building. 2. Unyielding endurance or steadfastness: a will of granite.
|
|
Ted Nugent speaks his mind on Texas PBS. He reminds us that while the Second Amendment is important, we must remember that it is a right we are BORN with, regardless...
[One wonders whether the poor PBS host will ever be right again... 
]
Great band. Great song from a classic album. And a fine sitcom the likes of which hasn't been seen on TV for many years. Apparently, this particular clip is not included in reruns...
[H/T Kevin N]
This is a rather interesting story about a new song making the rounds on the Internet. From Andrew Breitbart on the Big Hollywood blog:
Jon David, our anonymous Hollywood player known for trolling for liberal starlets and reporting back to his conservative compatriots at Big Hollywood, was inspired to write, perform, finance and record “American Heart” after a recent run-in with a cynical L.A. woman who at a Venice-area party admitted her contempt for the United States of America. But when Jon David asked her to name a better country, she couldn’t.
Read the rest of the hysterically funny and all-to-familiar story behind the song here.
‘American Heart’ — let’s get this song on the radio.
Let’s get it going viral.
We’ve needed something like this to rally around for a while. It’s got a perfect American blend of pop, rock and country flowing through its patriotic veins.And if it does well enough, Jon David can come out of the shadows and announce who he is. Until we support our own, the Hollywood conservative is going to have to fly under the radar undetected by the town’s well-coiffed totalitarian liberals.
American Heart written by Jon David
c&p: J.David 2009They say
Our reputation
Needs a new coat of paint and a delicate melody
But I say
I like the bruises
And a melody don’t mean a thing
If we don’t have the strength to singI won’t be made to ever feel ashamed…
…that I’m American made
I got American parts
Got American faith
In America’s heartGo on raise the flag
I got stars in my eyes
I’m in love with her
And I won’t apologizeThey say
That we need changin’
As if all the Founding Fathers seem to get it wrong
But I say
I still believe in
the greatest Liberator, Innovator, Cultivator
Freedom’s ever knownSo I suggest you take a look inside
I think you changed already
You went and lost your prideBut I’m American made
I got American parts
Got American faith
In America’s heartGo on raise the flag
I got stars in my eyes
I’m in love with her
And I won’t apologizeDress her up so that you don’t recognize her
She’ll still be there if you wake up in the night
‘Cause a mother can always find her child
Even when that child don’t know he’s lostI’m American made
I got American parts
Got American faith
In America’s heartGo on raise the flag
I got stars in my eyes
I’m in love with her
And I won’t apologize
I’m in love with her
And I won’t apologize
I’m in love with her
And I won’t apologizeClick here to listen to it
GTLO photo by Scott Weiner
by Greg Salts
If you're like me, you were devastated in 1980 when you found out that John Henry “Bonzo” Bonham, the drummer of Led Zeppelin died in his sleep after consuming 40 measures of vodka in a 24 hour period.
I was not surprised when I went to school the next day at CVHS to see a half a dozen of us wearing black armbands. We were all looking forward to the upcoming American tour of Led Zeppelin with much anticipation.
I had the pleasure of seeing the Page and Plant tour in 1994 but without John Paul Jones and John Bonham, it lacked the anticipated energy from the footage seen on The Song Remains the Same http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcYZlRWWxO0 .
Imagine my thrill a couple of weeks ago when I stumbled across a radio station promoting a Led Zeppelin cover band called Get the Led Out http://www.gtlorocks.com/ that was going to play at the Capitol Center in Concord. I took me all of ten minutes after getting home to plunk down $98 for two tickets for row three dead-center.
I went as a skeptic, even though I had visited their web site and watched footage of them on You Tube, I was expecting them to sound like an amateur copycat. I was wrong. They completely blew me away. They sounded about as exact to the actual recordings as you could hope for in a live concert.
O.K. it’s not comparable to my brother seeing the Zeppeliin reunion tour in England in December of 2007 but I can assure you, the quality and mannerisms were every bit as good.
Unfortunately, if you’ve ever seen a concert at the Capitol Center, you know that as a seating establishment with season ticket holders, they tend to run a tight ship. I was stunned when a couple of cougars went up front to shake their collective booties when an usher showed up with a flashlight scattering them like a couple of roaches.
I vowed right then and there to go see this band in a real venue. One that is more conducive to the energy that GTLO emanates.
Man, just how many great speeches WERE given on Tea Party Day, anyway? Wow! 
This should be fun. From Variety:
CMT has ordered eight episodes of "Runnin' Wild ...From Ted Nugent," a reality-competition series that will feature the right-wing rock star and hunting advocate teaching contestants how to survive in the wild, then chasing after them along with his 18-year-old son, Rocco. Series will begin running on the MTV Networks channel in August.
Or, as Uproxx's Warming Glow puts it,
Ted Nugent Will Hunt Humans on TV
I can't wait. Could this be a possible solution to the problem of what to do with the Gitmo prisoners once it is shut down? Indeed-- the "most dangerous game."
[H/T Conservative Grapevine]
. 
Hmmm. First I found out he was one of the prime speakers at the upcoming April 15 Tea Party. Now I learn there's a Governor Mike Huckabee deal going on in that he's rather proficient at the guitar. Is Franklin Mayor Ken Merrifield GOVERNOR material? Based on his track record of sound management guided by core conservative principles-- and the ability to articulate them-- I'd say yes. And now that he's been inducted into the Nashua Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame, well, perhaps the time is right.
Mayor Merrifield not only plays, but can sing as well. Who knew? Apparently back in the 80's, PLENTY of people knew. Congratulations, Ken!
Boss gets 7 pages
In addition to being featured in Andrea Peyser's new book, Celebutards, when one looks up the word "dope" in the dictionary lately, most likely a person would expect to see an accompanying picture of Bruce Springsteen (inexplicably nicknamed "the Boss"). After diving completely in the tank for the Magic Obama and his socialism-- sure to be funded by the ordinary folks he claims to care so much about --sure to upset a sizeable chunk of his Boomer fan base-- he now proceeds to attack an American institution serving those same millions all across the USA. Indeed, the aging pop star, starting to look more like some silly looking gramps trying to relive his teenage years with body piercings and the "doo" (click the Yahoo!News link below), has been caught red-handed in both a case of rank hypocrisy, and biting the hand that feeds in a near perfect storm of stupidity. From Yahoo! News, via Drudge:
The Boss is owning up to a mistake. In an interview with Sunday's New York Times, Bruce Springsteen says he shouldn't have made a deal with Wal-Mart. This month, the store started exclusively selling a Springsteen greatest hits CD.
Some fans were critical because Springsteen has been a longtime supporter of worker's rights, and Wal-Mart has faced criticism for its labor practices.
Springsteen told the Times that his team didn't vet the issue as closely as he should have, and that he "dropped the ball on it."
Springsteen went on to say: "It was a mistake.
Hmmm. I wonder how many millions he's made off this deal before one of his fans (actually believing that Springsteen thinks the crap he routinely foists on his fans actually applies to HIM) caught him red handed partaking of the very success (of Wal Mart) against which he rails.
Yeah, I used to actually enjoy this man's gift and talent as a musician, but he lost me a long while ago. As a friend recently said in an email, "I can't run to the radio fast enough to change it when this America-hating jerk comes on!" Yep...
[UPDATE] Oh, and if I was Wal-Mart, I'd tell him to clear his stinkin' CDs off my shelves. Pronto. I'll bet that'd put a dent in the Boss's racket. (Actually, I'd probably tell him where to stick them if I really WAS Wal-Mart). Bruce Springsteen, man of many millions, thy name IS hypocrisy!
.
.
You've heard of the great conquerors: Alexander the Great. Genghis Khan. Napoleon I. Tamerlane. Axl Rose...
Huh-- did I say Axl Rose? Yup- I sure did. While Axl Rose hasn't technically attacked anyone save the occasional videotaper and hotel security guard (a mere bite 'o the leg), it seems the Chicoms are taking no chances... From the AP:
BEIJING (AP) - A newspaper published by China's ruling Communist Party is blasting the latest Guns N' Roses album as an attack on the Chinese nation.
[snip]
In an article Monday headlined "American band releases album venomously attacking China," the Global Times said unidentified Chinese Internet users had described the album as part of a plot by some in the West to "grasp and control the world using democracy as a pawn."
The album "turns its spear point on China," the article said.
No word on the rumored two followup albums to the newly released Chinese Democracy, Islamic Freedom or Venezuelan Capitalism. If only George Bush had called up the lads from Guns N' Roses instead of the military, perhaps things would have turned out differently.
In all seriousness, it's rather telling that the mere release of music can cause such consternation within a supposed all-powerful government. Can you imagine if America's leaders got so uptight every time some musician somewhere released an anti-government/politician rant?
This song by the original Guns 'n Roses lineup called it right, for sure, because it's what their fans have needed: a
...little patience, mm yeah, ooh yeah,
Need a little patience, yeah
Just a little patience, yeah
Some more pati... (ence, yeah)
I've been walking these streets at night
Just trying to get it right (Need some patience, yeah)
It's hard to see with so many around
You know I don't like being stuck in a crowd (Could use some patience, yeah)
And the streets don't change but maybe the name
I ain't got time for the game
'Cause I need you (Patience, yeah)
Yeah, yeah well I need you
Oh, I need you (Take some patience)
Whoa, I need you (Just a little patience is all we need)
Ooh, this ti- me....
Oh yeah, baby! This ti-me! No way, really? From the Wikipedia:
According to a March 2005 New York Times article, production costs for the album have reached $13 million, making it probably the most expensive recording "never made."
Requiring more than a little patience and who knows how much more money, the day has arrived: the long awaited release of the new album. Years in the making, and not after an extended period of being the butt of cracks and knowing snickers while continuously claiming to be "the creative catalyst behind the group's success" W. Axl Rose, albeit sans any original member of note such as Slash, Izzy or Duff, has finally managed to release a complete CD of brand new music from Guns 'n Roses.
It might be hard to believe, but it's true- Chinese Democracy, the first new studio material recorded since 1994 was released today. And in case you didn't know, the band never really broke up-- they just sort of all left over time, leaving only Axl. I haven't heard it yet, but I will give it a listen. Axl sang a couple of tunes on Sebastian Bach's latest effort and didn't sound too bad. Guns 'n Roses, while not always having the most "G-rated" lyrics, if you know what I mean, was a band I always found to contain immense musical talent. Hopefully Chinese Democracy will follow on that legacy...
Oh, and one last thing-- if you're like me and plan on purchasing Chinese Democracy (unlike those who will simply 'rip' it)--once I've heard enough snippets to determine if it sounds worthy or not-- you should note that the only place you'll be able to do so is at Best Buy, as they are the exclusive retailer of the album in the United States... you can't even get it at Amazon. Seems to be a big score for Best Buy. Will this end up being a shrewd move on Rose's part (and Best Buy)? We'll have to wait and see. And, of course, it will, at the end, depend on whether the music is any good...
Regular 'Grok readers know that on occasion we veer away from politics when something worthy catches our attention. If you were to ever check out my "about" page, you would find this:
Doug has long been a non-conformist who, while generally despising the 60's antiwar hippie types and their ilk, shares their questioning of authority... and loves the music!
Indeed, I do love the music-- and a lot from the 70's, 80's, 90's, etc. Anyway, when I got notice of this show via the email, I almost couldn't believe my eyes:
Celebrate the music & legacy of Jimi Hendrix with this 2008 tribute tour featuring:
Original Jimi Hendrix Experience rhythm section
Mitch Mitchell & Billy CoxBuddy Guy
Jonny Lang
Brad Whitford of Aerosmith
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
Eric JohnsonAlong with special performances by
Chris Layton from Stevie Ray Vaughan's double trouble
David Hidalgo & Cesar Rojas of Los Lobos
Hubert Sumlin legendary Howlin' Wolf Guitarist
Mato Nanji of Indigenous
Bernard Allison
Eric Gales
What a lineup! If you're into the Hendrix-style heavy electric blues, it really couldn't get much better save perhaps Jimi himself showing up with Elvis in tow... I got my tickets to the Hampton Beach Club Casino (lousy venue, great lineups) show this morning at 10:15. As I write, it is now sold out but there are still tickets available at RI's Providence Performing Arts Center (great venue).
.
In legal documents in its federal case against Jeffrey Howell, a Scottsdale, Ariz., man who kept a collection of about 2,000 music recordings on his personal computer, the industry maintains that it is illegal for someone who has legally purchased a CD to transfer that music into his computer..The industry's lawyer in the case, Ira Schwartz, argues in a brief filed earlier this month that the MP3 files Howell made on his computer from legally bought CDs are "unauthorized copies" of copyrighted recordings.
The RIAA's legal crusade against its customers is a classic example of an old media company clinging to a business model that has collapsed. Four years of a failed strategy has only "created a whole market of people who specifically look to buy independent goods so as not to deal with the big record companies,"
Every day in this country, according to the Department of Justice and other studies, armed, law-abiding citizens stop dangerous, violent confrontations from escalating into death and tragedy simply by having a gun handy to provide real "equality" on the mean streets of America..Dedicated cops will tell you that they can't possibly be there to protect us. By the time the police show up, many innocents will likely perish at the hands of evil while good people hang around hoping and praying..I would highly recommend that we finally learn from all these senseless tragedies. Get real. Get rid of politicians who support gun-free slaughter zones. Get rid of gun-free zones. Get a gun, learn to use it and do the right thing..Bad guys should be shot dead, not Christmas shoppers.
For all of his wild-man antics, the politically conservative Nugent is talking about following in the footsteps of celebrities such as actor Arnold Schwarzenegger or wrestler Jesse Ventura, who won gubernatorial races.."That would be beautiful," Nugent said when asked if he would run for governor of Michigan in 2010. "I have threatened to do so and I was sincere."
You didn't come here to be mellow tonight, now did you?.Anybody wants to get mellow, you can turn right around and get the [BLEEP] outta here!
"Does anybody join me in realizing that 32 people were killed because the killer wasn`t stopped?"
Keith Richards has acknowledged consuming a raft of illegal substances in his time, but this may top them all..In comments published Tuesday, the 63-year-old Rolling Stones guitarist said he had snorted his father’s ashes mixed with cocaine.
.”The strangest thing I’ve tried to snort? My father. I snorted my father,” Richards was quoted as saying by British music magazine NME. ”He was cremated and I couldn’t resist grinding him up with a little bit of blow. My dad wouldn’t have cared,” he said. ”... It went down pretty well, and I’m still alive.”
.Richards’ father, Bert, died in 2002, at 84.
Putting the politics aside for a moment (why can't they just "shut up and sing?"), the Roger Waters concert was a disappointment of monumental proportions. The first set contained several songs from one of my personal favorite Floyd albums, Wish You Were Here. They weren't too bad at first, but the more it went on, the more I asked myself, "Is it live, or is it Memorex?".[snip].Every song sounded EXACTLY as they do on the albums- nothing special- no extended solos. Nothing. Last night, I could have stayed home, played a Pink Floyd album, added audience noise (and barf on the seats) and simulated exactly the performance I witnessed for some 75 bucks..The disappointing "performance" was bad enough. When playing "Dogs" from my favorite Floyd album, Animals, a large pig balloon was released. Pretty cool, right? Just like the old days of Pink Floyd, right?.Well, not really. Painted on both sides were the words, "Save your bacon. Vote for Democrats this election." The movie screen behind the stage flashed George Bush images- not portraying him in a good light for sure. Then came the images of the bad "wall." Some of the Berlin Wall. Then, images of the wall Israel has built to stop the homicide bombers- portrayed to be the moral equivalent of the Berlin Wall. Then he sang a new "song" called "Leaving Beirut". It is all about how wonderful the Arab people are, and how WE are the cause of the problems in that area of the world..I should have left the concert early on, instead of staying to the bitter end. When I left, not only was I totally pissed off about the fact that much of the "music" was obviously tape, I was angry about having anti-American sentiments shoved in my face- and am now convinced that Roger Waters stands as a good example of the rebirth of European anti-semitism..Sometimes fond memories of people and events from times past are best left that way- memories. I will continue to listen to my collection of Pink Floyd and Roger Waters music- but will save money in the future by not going to any more of his "live" performances (Democratic rallies) and will not be purchasing any new "music" he might put forth.
"Whatcha gonna be, whatcha gonna be brother? Zero the hero..."
MC: And now, this weeks sermon is from our beloved the Reverend Cleophis James..
Reverend: And now people. And now people. When I woke up this morning, I heard a disturbing sound. I said, when I woke up this morning I heard a disturbing sound. What I heard was the jingle-jangle of a thousand lost souls. And I'm talking about the soul of modern men and women, departed from this life. Wait a minute, those lost jangle souls roamin' unseen over the earth, seek the divine light, they'll not find. Because it's too late... too late yeah, too late for them to ever see again, the light they once chose not to follow! Alright, alright, don't be lost when the time comes. For the day of the Lord cometh, as a thief in the night. Amen..
People: Amen!
"I want one with no felt on it. Get me a cheap mike. I made all those hits on a cheap mike."
Now he explains to the band that it's not going to bother with the track it recorded before he arrived. Go figure: Hollie was right. "Sounds good," James Brown says, "but it sounds canned. We got to get some James Brown in there." Here it is, the crux of the matter: He wasn't in the room; ipso facto, it isn't James Brown music. The problem is fundamentally one of ontology: In order for James Brown to occur, you need to be James Brown.
Guns N' Roses canceled a performance in Portland, Maine this week after being told by state officials that the band could not drink on stage..Inspectors from the state fire marshal's office gave the band the no-drinking order when they came to look over the pyrotechnics planned for Monday's scheduled concert at the Cumberland County Civic Center, said Stephen McCausland, spokesman for the Maine Public Safety Department..McCausland said the band had wanted to drink beer, wine and Jagermeister while performing. A couple of hours after being told that would violate state law, Guns N' Roses canceled its concert, he said.After the cancellation, a band spokesperson blamed fire marshals for "making it impossible for the band to perform their show to the usual high standards that their fans deserve."
Continue reading " Grok 'n Roll: Some really good new music" »
Continue reading "I knew Pink Floyd, and you Mr. Roger Waters, are NOT Pink Floyd!" »
If the Rolling Stones (and other aged rock stars) have successfully avoided growing up, they have not, as has been duly noted, successfully avoided growing old.
Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun.Shine on you crazy diamond.Now there's a look in your eyes, like black holes in the sky.Shine on you crazy diamond.You were caught on the crossfire of childhood and stardom,blown on the steel breeze.Come on you target for faraway laughter, come on you stranger, you legend, you martyr, and shine
Continue reading "Jim Morrison- "This is the End" July 3rd, 1971" »
If anybody happens to read the “about Doug” link on this blog, they will note several references to “rock ‘n roll” in my bio. That’s right- in addition to being a political commentator (junkie, really), my other love (besides God, family, and country, which come first, of course) is music. Not playing it, mind you- just buying and listening to it. After a half-hearted attempt at mastering the guitar, I decided that all the good tunes have already been played (or yet to be played) by others and I am best suited to fan status. This short piece is the kickoff to what I hope will be a regular weekly posting on this topic...
