“If he (Jack Kerouac) hadn’t written On The Road, The Doors never would have existed.” — Ray Manzarek Manzarek might have added that if Jack Kerouac hadn’t written On The Road, none of the late 60’s might have happened the way they did, … [Read more...]
The Naked Beat
The Love Electric's new video was filmed in New York City, Lisbon, Berlin, and Woodstock. You can get "The Naked Beat" here. About A Love Electric The Love Electric is a band that does things differently. An art rock trio of three … [Read more...]
Book Review – Roger Waters: The Man Behind The Wall
Roger Waters: The Man Behind The Wall by Dave Thompson / Backbeat Books / 978-1-61713-564-4 271 pages Music journalist Dave Thompson's new book Roger Waters: The Man Behind The Wall is an entertaining intro to the music of the former Pink Floyd front … [Read more...]
Review – Les Paul: The Lost Interviews by Jim O’Donnell
Les Paul: The Lost Interviews: Five Never-Before-Published Talks With a Guitar Genius by Jim O'Donnell / 978-1492218913 / 152 pages What comes to mind when you hear the name "Les Paul"? Maybe the iconic guitar, launched at the dawn of rock and roll and … [Read more...]
Beat Generation film – “Kill Your Darlings” trailer released!
Kill Your Darlings dramatizes an actual event that took place in 1944, as the writers who would later be identified with the Beat Generation became embroiled in a murder that made headlines. While attending Columbia University, Allen Ginsberg became … [Read more...]
Book Review – Erik Verhaar’s Andalusian Dogging
Andalusian Dogging by Erik Verhaar, translated by Jonathan Ellis / The Reception Game / 2013 / 17 pages In Erik Verhaar's short story, inspired by Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dali's 1929 film An Andalusian Dog (Un Chien Andalou), the film itself becomes a … [Read more...]
Review – I Dreamed I Was a Very Clean Tramp by Richard Hell
I Dreamed I Was a Very Clean Tramp: An Autobiography by Richard Hell / Ecco / 978-0062190833 / 304 pages Where do ideas come from? How does an individual up with an idea that starts a whole movement? Does he or she think it up in a momentary flash … [Read more...]
On The Road Again With John Renbourn
Back when the M1 motorway was first built, journeying to London from anywhere north of the Midlands was a tiresome, all-day exercise, especially if you were hitch-hiking. This story takes place in 1968 and although by then the motorway had pushed a little … [Read more...]
Book Review – Love Him Madly: An Intimate Memoir of Jim Morrison, by Judy Huddleston
Love Him Madly: An Intimate Memoir of Jim Morrison, by Judy Huddleston / Chicago Review Press / June 1, 2013 / 978-1613747506 / 240 pages The story begins just like many young girls' rock star fantasies do. Judy, a high-school senior, and soon-to-be … [Read more...]
Bob Dylan, John Tams, and the Commissionaire
Whenever Bob Dylan’s 1966 UK Tour is discussed, all we ever hear about is the infamous “Judas” incident from the Free Trade Hall, Manchester. But there were several other dates on the tour and on May 16 (just one day before the Manchester show) Dylan … [Read more...]
Music Review – Amelita by Court Yard Hounds
Probably Emily Robison and Martie Maguire have been best known as two-thirds of The Dixie Chicks. But as Court Yard Hounds, the duo has created a very different sound, one which has something for their longtime country music fans, and also for … [Read more...]
Ray Manzarek
I turned my laptop on just after dawn this morning, as I usually do, and sat down with a cup of strong black coffee to see what was happening in the world. Two stories caught me like punches to the stomach and I woke up without any need for caffeine: a … [Read more...]
Music Review – Bee Thousand by Guided By Voices
"I love the sound of background noise I wanna hear the crack in the singer's voice Fingers moving on the fret board Every time he plays a new chord" (Art Brut, "Slap Dash For No Cash") When most people think about the best records of the 90’s … [Read more...]
5 Recurring Themes In Early Bob Dylan Songs
One of the most important people in music history, Mr. Bob Dylan still stuns music lovers worldwide with his witty rhymes and colorful guitar sound. With his music being the definition of timelessness, now is the perfect time to revisit his early albums … [Read more...]
Love That Loves Us: The Two Loves of To the Wonder
note: Here there be spoilers By now it is cliche to label a Terrence Malick film a "visual poem," but in the case of To The Wonder, that is what it is. Malick's cinematic eye defers to poetry more strongly than that of cinema and though I'm certain … [Read more...]
Richie Havens at the Festival of the River: Photos
[Note: I took these photos in 2009, and present them here again in memory of Richie Havens, who passed away on April 22, 2013 at the age of 72. Rest in peace, Richie.] Richie Havens played the Festival of the River & Pow-Wow, sponsored by the … [Read more...]
Book Review – Jimi Hendrix FAQ: All That’s Left to Know About the Voodoo Child
Jimi Hendrix FAQ: All That's Left to Know About the Voodoo Child / Gary J. Jucha Backbeat Books / 978-1617130953 / 363 pages I've been a listener of Jimi Hendrix's music for several decades. However, anything beyond the bare basics of his life and … [Read more...]
Film Review – Searching for Sugar Man
Searching For Sugarman (2012) 4 stars A documentary about the mysterious Rodriguez, the singer/songwriter who released the album Cold Fact in 1970. Directed by Swedish-British filmmaker Malik Bendjelloul, this is a well told underdog story that left … [Read more...]
Paintings: Kristen Stewart as Marylou Moriarty in On the Road
T.E. Priemon - Encaustic Artist Artist's Statement I am an artist who paints using a 2000-year-old painting medium used in the way the Fayum Egyptian artist used their encaustic paints for portraits, which have survived in much the same way as they were … [Read more...]
Book Review – Love Me Do: Behind the Scenes at the Recording of the Beatles’ First Single
Bill Harry's chronicle of the Beatles road to their first single release may not get any awards for journalistic style, but it is still a fascinating rundown of the lucky breaks, perseverence, and machinations it can take to get even a talented band … [Read more...]
The Art of the Statement – Be the Mule
I found humanity through music. I lose focus and grow cynical at times, but if I am honest as a listener, and remain receptive, the chance of transcending my emotional disturbances and triumphs through music remains. There's the possibility of unity, and … [Read more...]
Music Review – Son Volt’s new Honky Tonk delivers a fresh take on old-school country
There's continuity between Son Volt's last album, American Central Dust, and Honky Tonk: … [Read more...]
Review – Living with the myth of Janis Joplin: The history of Big Brother & the Holding Co.
Living with the myth of Janis JoplinThe history of Big Brother & the Holding Co. 1965-2005 by Michael Spörke (English Translation by Sam Andrew) "The fame of Big Brother is like a golden albatross, it hangs around your neck like a curse. But the … [Read more...]
The Time that John Lurie Called Me
My artistic, maybe even my personal, aesthetic had me identifying with the music of John Lurie the first time I heard his compositions on record. Close to a bunch of things I cannot, or do not care, to be. The celebration of the idea. The joy in … [Read more...]
Terrence Malick, Badlands and Caril Fugate: An Interview
Photos courtesy of Jeff McArthur (All Rights Reserved) Jeff McArthur is the author of Pro Bono: The 18-Year Defense of Caril Fugate. Mr. McArthur’s grandfather, John C. McArthur, defended Caril Fugate in her trial for her part in the Starkweather … [Read more...]
An Essay on the Arcana Series
I sat down to write this as a commentary on the series of books edited by John Zorn, all of which are entitled Arcana. The series comes in six parts, including hundreds of essays written by musicians, artists, on their creative process, technique, … [Read more...]
Music Review — Sentimental Journey by Emmy Rossum – A Musical Calendar
Emmy Rossum is a multi-talented performer. As an actress, she currently stars in Showtime's Shameless, and the forthcoming film, Beautiful Creatures. Her new CD, Sentimental Journey, is her second. Its twelve songs, each an American classic, correspond at … [Read more...]
Jack Kerouac – “Big Sur” Movie Trailer
The film, Big Sur, based upon Jack Kerouac's novel of the same name, released nationwide on November 1, 2013. Directed by Michael Polish, who also wrote the screenplay, it stars Jean-Marc Barr as Jack Kerouac. Other cast are: Stana Katic as Lenore; … [Read more...]
Bob Dylan reads “The Night Before Christmas”
Bob Dylan reads "The Night Before Christmas" for us. Happy Christmas Eve, everyone. … [Read more...]
How Dennis Hopper Conquered the American Century
Dennis Hopper’s extensive filmography is filled with an array of painfully bad films. His early career saw him appear in any number of B-Movies and exploitation flicks; his late eighties/early nineties excursion into mainstream blockbusters such as Super … [Read more...]
Review – The John Lennon Letters
It's the small artifacts of everyday life which reveal so much about us - the notes, letters, photos, lists, all capture our daily moods and thoughts. Some are intimate; others are mundane, but all have the capacity to shed light on who we … [Read more...]
Review – The Abbey Road Sessions by Kylie Minogue
I was in college back in 1987 when Kylie Minogue had her first hit with "Locomotion," which I remember dancing to on nights out. But after that, though I occasionally heard songs on the radio, I confess her music mostly fell of my radar. (I mostly listen … [Read more...]
The Official Kerouac “On the Road” Movie Trailer is Here!
"On the Road," the movie based on Jack Kerouac's novel of the same name, will be released in the United States on December 21, 2012. Produced by Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope, it's directed by Walter Salles (Motorcycle Diaries) and stars Sam … [Read more...]
The Biggest Mystery in Hollywood History
"An author should have no other biography than his books." “The biography of a creative man is completely unimportant.” - B. Traven Warner Brothers bought the novel THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE in 1941 with John Huston in mind as director. When … [Read more...]
Interview with Steve Andrews of the band, Beyond from Within
Steve Andrews is the musical force behind … [Read more...]
Music Review – Ringo 2012
Ringo Starr has been on a roll the past several years with the well-reviewed 2010 release "Y Not," a successful tour, and now a lively new album called "RINGO 2012". This marks Ringo's 17th solo outing as well as his first self-produced effort, and is an … [Read more...]
Music Review – Robbie Robertson’s How to Become Clairvoyant
When I finally got my hands on How To Become Clairvoyant, I could hardly wait to take it home and play it. I had to hear what Robbie Robertson had created, and was convinced that anything Robbie Robertson did with Eric Clapton would be good. And it … [Read more...]
Book Review – Bob Dylan and the Beatles by Al Aronowitz
Al Aronowitz is often referred to as "the godfather of rock journalism." But his roots are in the tradition of the writers who trailed behind the Old West's outlaws and revolutionaries, embellishing the truth to delight an eager readership. However, Al … [Read more...]
Book Review – Moondog: The Viking of 6th Avenue by Robert Scotto
Moondog: The Viking of 6th Avenue by Robert Scotto / Process Media / 2007 / 280 pages / ISBN # 978-0-9760822-8-6 Born in Marysville, Kansas in 1916, the son of an Episcopal minister, Louis Hardin Jr. lived a relatively simple life in America's … [Read more...]
Tom Waits’ Influence On Modern Jazz
When I first wrote about the influence that Tom Waits had on me as a songwriter (Introduction to Alchemy), I had one thing on my mind: publicity. When the idea for the second article (Applied Alchemy) hit me like an epiphany (or maybe a migraine), I knew … [Read more...]