I had a really good time at the R.E.M. concert I saw last week. I have to say that first because some of the things I say later might sound like I am complaining. I will be. I just want to make it clear that I still loved the show despite the things that bothered […]
I have a funny thing about rules. I really like to live in the moment and enjoy plenty of freedom, but I think we need certain guidelines to keep people from going crazy. Lately, I have noticed one place which needs a little less freedom and a few more rules. The radio. I listen to […]
The band has played three legs on the show, and I already wonder if I have died and gone to heaven. Because these are set lists that just defy earthly thinking. Last night in L.A., they not only played Pretty Persuasion, they opened with it. Two Three songs later, they played Sitting Still. I shit […]
Tonight’s the night. I know the band has played a few live shows already, but R.E.M. starts its summer tour for real tonight in Vancouver. To say I am excited is an understatement. I won’t get my chance to see them for a couple of weeks, but I will pore over tonight’s set list to […]
As we drove to my in-law’s for Mother’s Day, Maria flipped around the radio to find something she wanted to hear. At one point, she got frustrated. “What is this, Stevie Nicks Day?” I should have sympathized her because we kept finding bad songs. There was only one problem – none of them were by […]
One of the greatest crimes of the last 20 years is the decline of the music video. MTV has turned into a shell of itself with horrible “reality” shows designed to feed the egos of vapid youngsters eager to shock the world. Should I have prefaced that with [cranky old man]? Anyways, I previously mentioned […]
As the tour to support “Accelerate” approaches, Peter Buck has started to puff out his chest because, as he puts it, he finally got his way. I always complained and I always suggested that we work quicker and more spontaneously. The other guys weren’t into it. I think maybe the reception (‘Around the Sun’) got […]
Normally, I have no problem entertaining myself with the many cable channels we get. For some reason the other day, I decided to explore some of the extras that come along with our Tivo. They had some special feature featuring music videos which I checked out. I didn’t have a lot of interest in a […]
I will touch more on this topic in tomorrow’s newspaper column, but I have to sing the praises of “Totally 80s” on VH1Classic. The show runs most mornings, and I like to catch it on weekend mornings. There’s nothing like drinking coffee and watching some of the greatest music videos ever to kick off your […]