Category: Pop Culture

Concerts, Concerts, Concerts – The 80’s

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I have been going through this rock & roll trip down memory lane with this blog.  It started with the vinyl records I found in a box and than last week with the posters.  I actually found one more box from my younger days and this one had a ton of concert ticket stubs from over the years.  I also found a couple concert T’s and a couple programs as well.  I still can’t believe I kept all this stuff, but I am glad I did.

Going to a concert nowadays, they don’t give you a physical ticket anymore.  If they do, they charge you for it.  Nope, tickets are on your phone and get scanned in or you print it out on your printer.  Not the same as those dot matrix printers from the old days.

You also used to stand in line for tickets.  You had to arrive an hour or two before the tickets went on sale whether it was hot, cold, raining or snowing.  We did it each and every time we wanted to go see a show.  And we loved it!  Now you go online from the comfort of you home…not the same.

Whether you want to or not, I am going to take you on a journey of my musical concert experiences…at least most of them because I think I am missing quite a few ticket stubs.

The 80’s

Our journey begins back around 1983.  I was only 14 years old.  My parents finally agreed to let me go to a concert, but I had to go with my sister…REALLY!!!  Actually, it was okay.  My sister and I have been to many concerts together and even went to one 2 years ago some 3o+ years later.

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The Top Albums of 2016

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The year is almost over so it is time to look back at what was awesome in music during the year.  I have already looked back at the Top Rock Albums of 2016 (click to read).   This list will cover all other genres that I listened to over the year including Pop, R&B, Christian and whatever other genre you want classify these albums.  Rock is my favorite genre that is why it gets it’s own list, but that doesn’t take away from any of these choices as I think they are great on their own.

Note:  These albums were my favorites and not necessarily the most played on the radio (which I hate the radio) or even the biggest sellers.  These are just what I came across during the year and connected with me in some way.  So, we might as well get started…

The #1 Album of 2016

cover170x170-33Lady Gaga – Joanne (Interscope Records): This was an easy pick for me.  The album was such a pleasant surprise and a departure from her last album.  It had a little bit of everything from Pop to Country to Rock to Folk.  It was such a great mixture of songs that gave us one cohesive album.  The title track, “John Wayne”, “A Million Reasons” and “Perfect Illusion” were all great songs.  Even the Deluxe Edition was great with “Grigio Girls”.  All around classic album for Lady Gaga.  Check out my review here.

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The Top Rock Albums of 2016

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2016 is about to be over so it is time to look back on the year and see what amazing albums rocked my world this year.  It was a great year indeed.  This was the year I started this blog back in April and it has been a blast. I have listened to a lot of albums this year so I had stuff to write about and it really made the year special.

This list will be my favorite “Rock” albums of the year.  All other types of music will be for a later post.  I am going to leave this one to my favorite genre.  It is a broad genre, but these are the albums that I consider to be ROCK!!

Also note, these are MY FAVORITES!!  These are not the most popular or possibly even the ones that have sold the most.  These are the albums that I connected with during the year and kept coming back to again and again.  And without further adieu, here are the Top Rock Albums of 2016:

My #1 Album of the Year:

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Hellyeah – UnDen!able (Eleven Seven Music):  This album screams Rock & Roll to me!  It is heavy and pounding with aggressive vocals and lyrics and was perfect for me when I got stuck in traffic and needed to vent a little.  With songs like “Startariot”, “X”, “Scratch A Lie” and “Be Undeniable”, I was completely satisfied with this gem.  Check out the review at this link to see what I thought in detail about the album.

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My Sunday Song – “Good To Be Alive Today” by Michael Franti & Spearhead

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My Sunday Song #19 is from Michael Franti & Spearhead called “Good To Be Alive Today”. The song is a very poignant song for what is going on in the world today.  It would be nice to wake up one day and everything was perfect and every one could say it is a good day to be alive.

I think that way everyday. No matter how bad things get, I feel a day above ground is better than a day in the dirt.  If we all do our little part to make the world better, maybe someday it will be.  For my kids sake, I hope so.  During this Holiday Season, it would be nice if everyone does a little something to make this world a better place.  I know my family will, I hope yours does too!

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Friday New Releases – December 2nd

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As we get closer and closer to Christmas, there will be fewer worth while releases.  However, we aren’t there yet as the Rolling Stones are set to release their new album “Blue & Lonesome”.  This will be tops on my list for today. The others I will check out are highlighted in Blue.

  • cover170x170-32  The Rolling Stones – Blue & Lonesome – (Promotone B.V):  The Stones are going back to their roots and bringing us an old school Stones album and it sounds great from what I have heard so far.  Can’t wait for the rest.

  • cover170x170-40  Night Ranger – 35 Years and a Night in Chicago – (Frontiers Music Srl):  Wow!  35 years of Night Ranger.  I will celebrate by listening to their new live album.  I just picked up their first 3 on vinyl and still love them.

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Turntables & Vinyl #4 – The 80’s Are Back!

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I have been going to records stores way too often as I continue my obsession on buying vinyl.  On the flip side of that, I also don’t feel like I have gone enough.  Confusing I know. I actually enjoy just browsing through the store and seeing what is there.  It is rare I go into the store and I don’t buy anything, but lately I am picking up 5 or 6 at a time and I am loving it.

Most everything I am picking up is of course from the 70’s or 80’s since vinyl died out in the 90’s.  The new releases that are out now are too expensive to make it a habit so I focus on the used record.  There are no shortages of those, but what I want is seldom available on my visits.  It is hit or miss.

Lately, it has been more hit than miss.  And it has mostly been 80’s records so I guess the 80’s are back.  Yes, I am buying records for albums I had already purchased back in the 80’s whether on cassette or CD, but I don’t have any of those anymore so I actually only have the one physical copy of the album.  The other copy is now digital and you can’t really hold that in your hand.

So, what I have been picking up on my adventures you might ask that is from the 80’s?  Well, you probably aren’t asking but I am going to tell you anyway.

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Giving “Thanks” – Playlist – Happy Thanksgiving

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It is Thanksgiving time here in the States and I definitely have a lot to be thankful for.  In celebration of this wonderful Holiday, here are a collection of songs about giving thanks or at least things we should be thankful for.  Happy Thanksgiving to you all and thank you for taking the time to stop by and check out the blog.  It is much appreciated.

“Thank You For Loving Me” by Bon Jovi off the album ‘Crush’.  If you have that special someone, make sure to tell them Thank You for being a part of your life and for loving you for you.  If you don’t have that special someone, I love you!!  So you are welcome!!

“Give Thanks And Praise” by Bob Marley off the album ‘Confrontation’.  Actually not a bad way to start everyday by giving thanks for waking up and giving praise to our maker.

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My Sunday Song – “Bill Murray” by Matt Nathanson

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My Sunday Song #16 is completely different than any other song I have posted on this series.  It is one of the strangest and at the same time one of the coolest and best songs I have heard lately.  The song is “Bill Murray” by one of my favorite artists, Matt Nathanson.  It is off his latest album ‘Show Me Your Fangs’ and worth buying if you don’t already have it.

The official video came out this week and is strange and glorious just like the song.  I am going to let Matt explain the song from what he wrote for the posting of the song on Youtube.

Celebrity is such a huge part of our culture. So much so that whenever I’m interviewed I’m asked, without fail, “if you could hang out with one celebrity who would it be?” well, the list is short. it’s really a list of one: Bill Murray. In a Kardashian world, Bill Murray is the anti-Kardashian. he lives his public life in this amazingly unselfconscious, passionate way. makes creative decisions – from what i can tell – based purely on what he WANTS to do and he refuses to play the game of celebrity the way it’s played by everyone else and that is super inspiring. so i wrote this song about Bill and me hanging out for 100 days, Thelma and Louise-ing our way across the world. In the song, Bill rains down sage advice on me about the world and relationships and love, like I imagine he does with his actual, real-life friends.

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The Top 5 Disney Songs – I Never Want to Hear Again!!

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After spending 3 straight days at Disney last week, I can say it is definitely a magical place. At the same time, it is the scariest of places.  With the Magic Bands, Disney can track your every move in the park.  They know where you are and what you are doing at all times.

img_0971There were two instances where we got freaked out.  The first was at the It’s a Small World Ride.  When we were coming into the last section that has the Goodbye signs in different languages, there was a Monitor that flashed Goodbye and named each member of my family.  How did they know we were on the ride and in that spot at that exact moment? We did not use our magic bands when we entered the ride.

The second instant happened at the Be Our Guest Restaurant.  We did have reservations, we had placed our lunch order online, and we did check in, however, they told us to pick any seat available in the restaurant.  We went and got our drinks and silverware and found a table.  Nobody came to our table to see who we were or get a name.  A few minutes later, a very nice lady came up to the table with all our food.  Again, how??  Obviously the magic bands are how.  They are tracking you always with whatever chip is inside the magic bands.

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The Worst Song Ever?

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Every decade gives us crappy songs and the 80’s probably gave us one of the worst songs I have ever heard.  I find it amazing that this song actually received steady rotation on MTV. What is the song you ask?  It is “Fish Heads” by Barnes & Barnes.

Now I think the song actually came out in 1978 and was a favorite of Dr. Demento’s radio show, but that doesn’t help its case for me.  Even knowing that actor, Bill Paxton, was the appeared in the video still doesn’t help.  I think I saw somewhere he was also the director. That just makes me think less of Bill Paxton (that and Twister didn’t help).

I know this was a comedy bit, but it is so gawd awful.  I can’t find one redeeming thing about this song.   Maybe I am too dense to be in on the joke.  See what you think and if you don’t die from a brain hemorrhage, let me know your thoughts.

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