The pattern of developing a new musical artist in late Seventies’ New York City was fairly predictable. In those days when the mighty record machine of the major labels still controlled things, I could see it coming. It started with radio exposure for a few songs from an artist’s debut record getting played by the […]
I have been to over 1,500 rock concerts and have seen more than my share of unfamiliar opening acts. I’m not talking about the first to play on a double bill where both acts are established performers. I am referencing that fresh, young singer-songwriter alone with an acoustic guitar or that fledgling rock band. I’ve […]
I totally let the music of Morrissey–both solo and with his earlier band The Smiths–slip by me. The somber sounds and depressing lyrics never interested me. Curiosity recently got the better of me, so I decided to listen (via greatest hits records of both) and later attend Morrissey’s show at the Ryman. Despite being twice […]
In describing how hard it is to keep up with new music these days, a friend of mine coined the expression, “it’s raining music.” I couldn’t agree more, and it takes quite a bit of discernment these days to select what to listen to. Two storms collided recently when both the on-line edition of Paste […]
Business travel frequently took me around these United States of America in the 80’s. Many trips were short notice, and most of my evenings were free to go hear live music. In the pre-internet days, it wasn’t easy to find out in advance what concert opportunities might be awaiting me. Sometimes, I’d call ahead to […]
Most everyone familiar with the early career of Bruce Springsteen knows about Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes. Both Johnny and Bruce started out on the Jersey shore music scene around the same time. E-Streeter Steve Van Zandt was an original Juke in addition to a songwriter and producer for most of their early recorded […]
In the late Seventies, I closely followed the releases of England’s Stiff Records. One of Stiff’s best-selling artists was the late Ian Dury who amassed major stardom in his home of England. In fact, I believe that his only tour of the States was for his debut record in 1978, opening for Lou Reed. (Yours […]
Over 30 years ago in 1983, I was thrilled to be introduced to the talents of a 19-year old Roddy Frame through the praises of Elvis Costello. I was further privileged to see Frame’s band, Aztec Camera, open three dates on Costello’s American tour that year. Despite some later moderate success over here, Aztec Camera […]
In honor of last week’s 40th anniversary of Jon Landau’s famous quote about Bruce Springsteen, let me say that “I have seen country music future, and its name is Greg Garing.” Really, this is just wishful thinking on my part that country music would shed its current tired face and go back to its great lost traditional sound. While most of what plays on country radio today […]
I have complained before that when I lived in San Antonio I often had to travel to Austin to see my favorite artists. But every now and then something special would sneak into town that I could see without suffering the long drive. It turns out that the last show I went to in SA before moving to Music City was […]
Music City Mike 