I couldn’t call this blog “We Rock” without watching a Dio DVD!
This one had pretty good editing and sound. Rudy Sarzo played bass (which reminds me to get his biography from the Ozzy days someday soon). I didn’t recognize the guitar player. He looked like Sebastian Bach, but he played and acted somewhat like Zakk Wylde. I think he did a good job, and I found out in the bonus material that he got the gig at the last minute. It was so last minute that he was actually using the replaced guitarist’s amps. One odd thing I noticed, though, was that he had a big country-western size belt buckle that looked to have scratched the heck out of the back of his guitars. Leave it to me to notice something like that, but what is he thinking! Guitar abuse! Somebody call Social Services.
I always like hearing Rainbow in the Dark, which is a long-time favorite song of mine (they played it tuned down to “D,” I believe). Actually, in this particular concert, I think Heaven & Hell sounded really good, and course – WE ROCK!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmbTBvRl_mE
Saturday
Video #5: Pink Floyd - Live at Pompeii
David Gilmour is one of my all-time favorite guitar players, right up there with Alex Lifeson. For some reason, I’ve never gotten around to watching this video until now.
Overall, this DVD was a little too artsy for me, but it had good moments. It was made in the early 70’s, before they wrote a lot of my favorite songs. However, the DVD did have some added studio footage from the making of Dark Side of the Moon, which was great.
It was strange to see them playing live to nobody in the middle of the outdoor arena. Typically, a band would feed on the audience’s energy to elevate their performance. I don’t know what Nick Mason was feeding on, but I was the most impressed with him. He was rockin'. And because there was no audience to consider when they were filming, they were able to get great camera shots of Nick. Check it out One of These Days:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgvAwBDbuIo
Overall, this DVD was a little too artsy for me, but it had good moments. It was made in the early 70’s, before they wrote a lot of my favorite songs. However, the DVD did have some added studio footage from the making of Dark Side of the Moon, which was great.
It was strange to see them playing live to nobody in the middle of the outdoor arena. Typically, a band would feed on the audience’s energy to elevate their performance. I don’t know what Nick Mason was feeding on, but I was the most impressed with him. He was rockin'. And because there was no audience to consider when they were filming, they were able to get great camera shots of Nick. Check it out One of These Days:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgvAwBDbuIo
Friday
Video #4: Paul Gilbert - Silence Followed by a Deafening Roar
This was an instructional guitar DVD with some concert footage at the end. Paul is quite a player, and I love his sense of humor, too. In the introduction to the DVD, he was a wandering samurai in full costume.
There is lots of shredding in this DVD (surprise, surprise) but to get the most out of it, you’d want to have the accompanying tablature booklet, which NetFlix doesn’t send along.
I think his pinky is as long as my index finger. I can’t spread my hand across the fretboard like he does, but it was comforting to know that I can still keep up pretty well with his speed picking exercise. So even though I’m not practicing all the time, at least I have that going for me. Which is nice.
The bonus concert footage of Paul playing in South Korea was fun. In it, he delivered a hilarious song introduction. He read it aloud to the audience in broken Korean from a notebook, where it was probably written down phonetically. The audience roared its approval. Luckily, there was an English translation added at the bottom of the screen. And it went something like this…
There is lots of shredding in this DVD (surprise, surprise) but to get the most out of it, you’d want to have the accompanying tablature booklet, which NetFlix doesn’t send along.
I think his pinky is as long as my index finger. I can’t spread my hand across the fretboard like he does, but it was comforting to know that I can still keep up pretty well with his speed picking exercise. So even though I’m not practicing all the time, at least I have that going for me. Which is nice.
The bonus concert footage of Paul playing in South Korea was fun. In it, he delivered a hilarious song introduction. He read it aloud to the audience in broken Korean from a notebook, where it was probably written down phonetically. The audience roared its approval. Luckily, there was an English translation added at the bottom of the screen. And it went something like this…
“This next song is by Racer X.
It originally had 64,250 notes in it.
Tonight, however, I will play a lot more than that!”
Saturday
Video #3: U2 - Vertigo in Chicago ‘05
I read somewhere that this was a fantastic concert DVD. And I felt like seeing a U2 concert after recently watching the Edge in It Might Get Loud. I liked it, but I did fast forward through a bunch of slower songs that I wasn’t crazy about. Bono talks too much, too. But I admit that Bono is definitely a charismatic guy. I give him credit for trying to use his influence to make the world a better place. I’ll bet he could start his own religion and could give L. Ron Hubbard a run for his money.
The Edge sounded great. I put the laptop down, and played along with some of it, and was surprised that they tuned down for some of the songs – like Pride in the Name of Love. Usually, I can just tell by listening when a band does this, but for their songs, I couldn’t until I tried to play along.
The highlight for me was One. It’s not exactly the same as Metallica’s One, but this One was powerful in its own subtle way, and I love the Edge’s playing in it. Check it out - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY0UueqC07E
The Edge sounded great. I put the laptop down, and played along with some of it, and was surprised that they tuned down for some of the songs – like Pride in the Name of Love. Usually, I can just tell by listening when a band does this, but for their songs, I couldn’t until I tried to play along.
The highlight for me was One. It’s not exactly the same as Metallica’s One, but this One was powerful in its own subtle way, and I love the Edge’s playing in it. Check it out - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY0UueqC07E
Wednesday
Video #2: Phish: Live in Walnut Creek
No, not the Walnut Creek in the Bay Area, but in North Carolina.
This concert had some of the best editing I’ve seen, and my biggest pet peeve with concert videos is the editing. There are so many tragic concert videos I can’t watch because of choppy editing going from one quick cut to another. But like I said, this one was good, and you could really see Trey’s fingers zipping around on the guitar.
Although I don’t listen to jam bands too much, I think Trey Anastasio is a terrific guitar player with a distinctive rock tone and great chops. When I was taking guitar lessons years ago, Alex and I would figure out his licks. I still remember some.
Phish was jamming around so much in this concert that the show had to be put on two DVDs. This was a really good one to watch while working on my laptop. However, I usually prefer songs that are more succinct or at least have more structure. Or maybe I’m just too impatient in this fast paced modern life where my Blackberry is always flashing at me, and I can never stay on top of my incoming emails.
But one song that returns me to serenity is Bouncing Around the Room, which they play here. I just love everything about this short song - the timing between the drums and the bass, the perfect little piano fills, the harmony guitar/piano at the end. Check it out.
This concert had some of the best editing I’ve seen, and my biggest pet peeve with concert videos is the editing. There are so many tragic concert videos I can’t watch because of choppy editing going from one quick cut to another. But like I said, this one was good, and you could really see Trey’s fingers zipping around on the guitar.
Although I don’t listen to jam bands too much, I think Trey Anastasio is a terrific guitar player with a distinctive rock tone and great chops. When I was taking guitar lessons years ago, Alex and I would figure out his licks. I still remember some.
Phish was jamming around so much in this concert that the show had to be put on two DVDs. This was a really good one to watch while working on my laptop. However, I usually prefer songs that are more succinct or at least have more structure. Or maybe I’m just too impatient in this fast paced modern life where my Blackberry is always flashing at me, and I can never stay on top of my incoming emails.
But one song that returns me to serenity is Bouncing Around the Room, which they play here. I just love everything about this short song - the timing between the drums and the bass, the perfect little piano fills, the harmony guitar/piano at the end. Check it out.
Thursday
Supplemental Entry: The Wall
I’m sitting in front of the TV working away on the laptop again. No new NetFlix DVDs today. The Wall is on VH1 Classic (my favorite TV channel, even if they do edit the movie). It’s hard to feel sorry for myself with whatever problems I have when I see the sad life of our poor protagonist Pink - dad died in the war when he was so young, no father figure, smothering mom, abused by the schoolmaster, wife cheating on him, severe mental illness, smashing up his guitars, filled with hate, isolated, alienated.
We all have our issues. I once heard that people seems normal until you get to know them. That sounds about right. I’m a little afraid to get to know people who I really look up to for fear that I’ll be disappointed in some way. That groupie thought Pink was really cool until he freaked out and smashed everything in sight when she came on to him.
I like to think that the message with the children in the epilogue “outside the wall” is that we can all reboot and start again with our lost childhood innocence. For me that comes from being a parent, and cleaning up my act in so many ways because of my kids being around.
I thank God for my blessings.
We all have our issues. I once heard that people seems normal until you get to know them. That sounds about right. I’m a little afraid to get to know people who I really look up to for fear that I’ll be disappointed in some way. That groupie thought Pink was really cool until he freaked out and smashed everything in sight when she came on to him.
I like to think that the message with the children in the epilogue “outside the wall” is that we can all reboot and start again with our lost childhood innocence. For me that comes from being a parent, and cleaning up my act in so many ways because of my kids being around.
I thank God for my blessings.
After all it's not easy,
Banging your heart against some mad bugger's
wall.
Wednesday
Video #1: It Might Get Loud
Jack White has to be one of the luckiest guitarists in the world. He got to hang out with Jimmy Page and the Edge, trading licks and sharing stories for this movie. Actually, when Jimmy launched into Whole Lotta Love, both the Edge and Jack White looked like they were in awe. Can you blame them?
I loved seeing the huge rig that the Edge uses. He can play a riff that seems boring and repetitive, but with the right effects and attitude it sounds so great. When I was learning to play back in the ‘80s I was more into flashier playing, but I’ve really grown to appreciate what the Edge does. (Mental note...rent a U2 concert sometime soon.)
And I couldn’t believe the historical footage and places they showed for U2. The Edge took the camera crew to the school where the band used to practice, and pointed out the spot on the school wall where he saw the “guitarist wanted” add to join the band. He was wondering what would have happened if he didn’t see the ad. He joked that he would have been working in a bank today! I hope he still would have been into guitar, even if it was just in the bedroom.
It just goes to show that a tiny little thing can have a huge impact on your life. I hope I haven’t missed out on a life changing opportunity because I wasn’t paying attention or take a chance. If the Edge didn’t see that ad, would U2 become one of the biggest bands in the world? I doubt it. His playing is so distinctive, and he did a lot of the writing. As a matter of fact, it was really cool to hear him play old demo songs from his 4-track recorder - songs that would become such big hits.
It was fun seeing Jimmy Page, too. I like how he doesn’t try to look young and dye his hair like so many other aging rockers. Although the Edge was the one who said, “It might get loud,” it was something that Jimmy said that really resonated with me. He said that every show he played with Led Zeppelin, he felt fully alive. He felt like he was totally living. In the different bands I’ve played in, I never quite had that feeling. I’m not sure why. I was mostly performing overs and songs for people to dance to. But I really liked some of the songs I played. Was Jimmy playing more from the heart? Whatever the reason, Jimmy and the boys certainly took their performances to quite a high level. God willing, I hope to someday have the same feelings when I’m performing, whenever and wherever that may be. To be in pure rock bliss.
I loved seeing the huge rig that the Edge uses. He can play a riff that seems boring and repetitive, but with the right effects and attitude it sounds so great. When I was learning to play back in the ‘80s I was more into flashier playing, but I’ve really grown to appreciate what the Edge does. (Mental note...rent a U2 concert sometime soon.)
And I couldn’t believe the historical footage and places they showed for U2. The Edge took the camera crew to the school where the band used to practice, and pointed out the spot on the school wall where he saw the “guitarist wanted” add to join the band. He was wondering what would have happened if he didn’t see the ad. He joked that he would have been working in a bank today! I hope he still would have been into guitar, even if it was just in the bedroom.
It just goes to show that a tiny little thing can have a huge impact on your life. I hope I haven’t missed out on a life changing opportunity because I wasn’t paying attention or take a chance. If the Edge didn’t see that ad, would U2 become one of the biggest bands in the world? I doubt it. His playing is so distinctive, and he did a lot of the writing. As a matter of fact, it was really cool to hear him play old demo songs from his 4-track recorder - songs that would become such big hits.
It was fun seeing Jimmy Page, too. I like how he doesn’t try to look young and dye his hair like so many other aging rockers. Although the Edge was the one who said, “It might get loud,” it was something that Jimmy said that really resonated with me. He said that every show he played with Led Zeppelin, he felt fully alive. He felt like he was totally living. In the different bands I’ve played in, I never quite had that feeling. I’m not sure why. I was mostly performing overs and songs for people to dance to. But I really liked some of the songs I played. Was Jimmy playing more from the heart? Whatever the reason, Jimmy and the boys certainly took their performances to quite a high level. God willing, I hope to someday have the same feelings when I’m performing, whenever and wherever that may be. To be in pure rock bliss.
Monday
Supplemental Entry: Grammys
I almost forgot about the Grammys. I usually tape it and watch it later with the fast forward button. I don’t care who won, I like to see the performances.
Was it me, or did Beyonce rock harder than Geen Day? I like Green Day, and have played (and even sung!) their songs. And of course they’re East Bay and all, but I think they may have finally jumped the shark with that big Broadway production of 21 Guns from American Idiot.
The Les Paul tribute with Jeff Beck was my favorite performance. I don’t know how he does it without using a pick! I just wish he could have played for as long as they let the rappers play toward the end of the show.
Was it me, or did Beyonce rock harder than Geen Day? I like Green Day, and have played (and even sung!) their songs. And of course they’re East Bay and all, but I think they may have finally jumped the shark with that big Broadway production of 21 Guns from American Idiot.
The Les Paul tribute with Jeff Beck was my favorite performance. I don’t know how he does it without using a pick! I just wish he could have played for as long as they let the rappers play toward the end of the show.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
