Category General Music Interest
Rock Music Points of Interest in Ireland
With international travel back in my game plan, I recently made my first trip to Ireland. And while my passion for rock music did not influence my itinerary, there were a few unexpected finds worthy of sharing. Beginning the journey in Dublin, my arrival city, I did have two destinations on my radar. The first […]
Fountains of Wayne – Lyrics Full of Proper Nouns
I’ve forever been a huge fan of this fabulous band that took its name from an old lawn and garden store in Wayne, NJ that I used to drive by all the time. While I’m willing to bet that you saw their sexy video for “Stacey’s Mom” on MTV, I also hope that you have […]
Back to the 80s – “Jungleland” Mural in Austin, TX
I’m not sure if the name has held up, but back in the 80s when I lived in Texas, Austin’s Guadalupe Street near the University of Texas campus was called “The Drag.” And, just off The Drag on 24th Street, there used to be a great beer and burger joint called Mad Dogs & Beans. […]
Socially Distanced Concerts Come to Music City
While we all continue to cope with the pandemic and learn to apply some common sense to our behavior, we have evolved to a state where some things we once avoided are now conducted within new parameters. By now, many of us have returned to our workplaces and are eating out at restaurants while keeping […]
Muscle Shoals Alabama Musical Journey
Having had enough of being stuck at home during this pandemic, I made a Saturday getaway and escaped to the Northern Alabama area known as the “Shoals” to check an item off my musical bucket list. With safety protocols in full force, the time seemed right for this two-hour drive from Music City to visit […]
My Life as a “Taper” (of Live Concert Recordings)
This autobiographical saga was sent to Music City Mike in an audio file through Bit Torrent from a stranger who identified himself only as the “Mystery Taper.” He said: “I am concealing my name to protect the guilty.” He also said that he recorded this with the same gear he uses to record live concerts. […]
Me and Mr. Cigar, a Fictional Novel by Gibby Haynes
I became intrigued when I heard that an old acquaintance of mine, Gibby Haynes, had written his first novel. Afterall, I witnessed the beginnings of Gibby’s publishing career with his self-made ‘zine entitled Strange VD which he produced on the photocopy machine at the office where we both once worked. Following this unusual ode to […]
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band—Six Random Thoughts About a 2020 Tour
Lately, I have been spending an unhealthy amount of time pondering what the at-this-point likely 2020 E Street Band tour would look like. This state of mind has been heavily influenced by the steady diet of live Bruce shows I’ve been listening to. This nourishment comes courtesy of Springsteen’s monthly archive releases on download and […]
Cruel to Be Kind: The Life and Music of Nick Lowe by Will Birch
The recent rash of biographies of my contemporary musical heroes is sure making me feel my age. Self-written tomes by Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, and Squeeze’s Chris Difford were three that I had a hard time putting down. Having lived through the cycles of their record releases and touring, I was able to slot my […]
A Squeeze Sojourn Through Blackheath and Greenwich
My annual trip to London would not be complete without a visual exploration of the history behind one of my favorite musical artists. For my fourth such adventure, this year’s subject was an easy choice after hearing Janice Long’s BBC Radio 2 program “A Long Walk With….” featuring Chris Difford of Squeeze. Listening and viewing […]
Music City Mike 