I was amazed when I mentioned Sister Rosetta Tharpe and so few people even knew who she was. I found this documentary made by the BBC. It’s a must-watch for any music lover. I hope once you watch this 15 minute video, and then you’ll want to learn all about her music. She was truly amazing, and needs to be appreciated for the unique talent she was. Here’s another gr8 example of her playing and singing.
Author: Matthew King Kaufman
BEST SINGLE OF 2017
Refreshing, refreshing, refreshing you get to listen to a song!!
Might I mention, this concept is refreshing?
This single is 5 Star
I love the singer!
I love the trombone playing!
That’s right. This is the band that walked off stage at the Bumpstock Festival.
Space Mountain Blues is The 1stBorn’s first recording. It’s intriguing, catchy, upbeat power-pop which is soo missing from today’s music scene.
The other donated songs are great.
I can’t wait to hear more music from this band and their noble audio experiment.
Best Music Performance Of 2017 Answering The Five Questions of Rock
THE UPTONES
I saw and heard so much good new music in 2017, I didn’t think I’d be telling you a band that was formed in 1981 could rock my world, but that’s exactly what I’m going to do. The Uptones @ Ashkenaz in Berkeley, CA. put on the best show I saw this year. I loved the collective effort of the musicians. I also love great sonics, and every member of the band had a great sound! The blend and natural chemistry between the players made the overall sound larger than life.
The songs were unique. They ranged from the political (some of the songs written in the 1980s seem even more relevant today) to a wonderful song linking pelicans and mankind’s evolution, and also some ska classics. The political songs that stood out for me were “Radiation Boy,” a comic-book tale of nuclear disaster, and “Burning Sky,” a social comment about the horrors of bullying the world.
There are three very different vocalists in the band – Eric Din, Moose Lethridge and The Rev. Paul Jackson, all of whom composed most of the group’s originals. Horn players Jeanne Geiger, Adam Beach and Jay Sanders each played scorching solos, and their section work was beyond tight. The ska classics “Skanking Fool” and “Too Much Pressure” fully delivered the Two-Tone feel which The Uptones originally embraced as high schoolers, with the bass and drum powerhouse of Bennie Wood and Mikey Stevens basically making it impossible not to dance.
This show fulfilled my Five Questions of Rock!
Can the band play their instruments?
Can the singers sing?
Are the songs good?
Am I having fun?
Is the band having fun?
I was so disappointed when the set was over, encore and all. But I had Fun Fun Fun!
Once Upon A Time In LA
“All the elements of a satisfying read”
Breezy and deep, this book has all the elements of a satisfying read. I vividly remember the era, and have met many of the characters the author describes. Just like the first time I saw This Is Spinal Tap and I cringed instead of laughing at myself, Howard’s characters are that real and I can truly identify with the his depiction of the period. I highly recommend to any music fan.
Radio Glory
Got to love this madman. His song about the radio is raw and truthful just like his message:
Stop paying to police the un-policeable.
Stop jailing sick people.
Collect revenue, eliminate the criminal incentive,
and legalize all crimes against one’s self.
Little But Loud
My favorite loud mouth:
This combo rocks, and singer Emily Jayne gets autobiographical when she talks about being a loud mouth.
Check out more.
Sing and Swing
(music to improve your game)
This intriguing song discusses the tempo, timing, and other ingredients for an under-control golf swing.
Vocalist Keta Bill and the 1st Born have made great sports music.
Any golfer would benefit by adding some tempo to their game.
THE BIRTHPLACE OF JAZZ
A must for any student or lover of the jazz. New Orleans is the capital of JAZZ. A new wonderful site devoted to the history of jazz is a must for any one who is headed to this “Mecca of Jazz.” New Orleans’ walking tours thru significant music creation areas are explained and they sound great! I know what I’m going to do on my next trip to this wonderful town.
I just love their mission:
“The history of the city’s music, and its outsized influence in popular music everywhere, can be traced to creole cottages, parlors, churches, and street corners as well as concert halls and auditoriums,” a note on the site reads. “Some are still active; others have been transformed or demolished. A Closer Walk highlights and contextualizes these sites, to advocate for their future, to celebrate their memory, and to honor the men and women who have shared their music with us.”
“IT TAKES MONEY” BY HOBO
This song about Money is so true it’s scary.
“IT TAKES MONEY TO MAKE MONEY”
Performed by Hobo, written by Paul Jackson, this classic was recorded by The Uptones. With the country run by billionaires this song makes an interesting comment on the role of $ in today’s world.
BEST MUSIC FILM THIS YEAR
Bang! The Bert Berns Story is strong.
The Music is GR8! The Story compelling.
It rates
We highly recommend it.
It’s based on the book Here Comes The Night.
As someone who remembers this era, the songs in the movie were the soundtrack of our lives. For one man to make such a large contribution to my soul in such a short time is truly remarkable. The movie made me realize how radio and jukeboxes (the new technology) were responsible for my early music upbringing. Plus I thought of how much money I spent on jukeboxes that never made its way to Bert. There is much to enjoy and think about in this film.
Please help me repay my cultural debt to a great record man and extraordinary songwriter. GO TO SEE THIS FILM.
There will never be another Bert Berns.
