Some Old Music For Young People, and Some Young Music For Old People: Chapter One
A Sampling Of The Music, Both Old and New, That Has Inspired Me And Helped Me Survive A Crazy World.
No matter what has happened in the context of the world, or personal life events, the one element that has always sustained me is Music. Thank God for the inspiration and nourishment that only the Universal language can provide. It has sustained me in ways I can’t fathom. Not that this is some revelatory, unique view.
So, in an attempt to bridge generations, I thought I would share some of the unique songs, albums, and bands that I grew up with, as well the newer music by younger artists that I listen to today. This is not an “OK Boomer” Classic Rock extravaganza or an old man rant about what happened to music. It’s, hopefully, inspiring, eclectic and fun.
So, let’s begin with some new music:
Goose. If you wander around in the hallways of YouTube long enough, you are bound by magical algorithms to luck into brand new music, and that’s exactly how I discovered Goose. Imagine a jam band with stellar musical chops, great vocals, and a rare sense of musical adventurism that has gained them sold-out audiences around the world. Audiences screaming “GOOOOOOSE!” between songs and sets is the 2022 version of 1970s era E Street Band audiences screaming “BROOOCE!” Calling them a “jam band”, is a bit of a misnomer, they rarely noodle pointlessly, they take the listener on a journey to a place outside of the song and back again. I love their vibe, and they are a band tailor MADE for live performance.
Ray LaMontagne: Another YouTube happy accident, Ray LaMontagne is a songwriter/musician from Western Massachusetts who has put out some of the most haunting and moving music I’ve heard in many years. He creates such an intimate and emotional space with his songs that it’s almost uncomfortable. This is music that evokes feelings on a one-to-one basis. I highly recommend his “experimental” excursion “Ouroboros”. (sort of Ray meets Pink Floyd) It is said that upon hearing the Stephen Stills song “Treetop Flyer, Ray quit his job and pursued music full time. For that, IMHO we can all be grateful. Also good and recommended: “Monovision”.
Sarah Jarosz: About five years ago I saw Sarah in a write-up in an online music magazine. She is a graduate of Berklee School of Music and is one of the few artists who has risen to achieve Grammy nomination status by building an audience the old-fashioned way: through making great records with stunning songs and touring. Speaking of old-fashioned, Sarah has roots in the great American traditions of Folk and Bluegrass, but yet manages to sound completely contemporary due to the sparkling quality of her live and studio performances. In some ways, I think of her as the female Ray LaMontagne, her songs reach out straight to the heart in an intimate way as well.
Vulfpeck/Fearless Flyers: Another online intersection that had little, or nothing to do with YouTube. Who discovers new music on Facebook? Yet that is exactly what happened with this outfit. Vuflpeck and its subvariant, The Fearless Flyers play the tightest, nastiest Funk jams since the days of James Brown and Parliament-Funkadelic. These guys are SO good. They are, at once, incredible, prodigious musicians (Nate Smith’s speedy 16th notes and wire tight groove are enviable for drummers) and comedians. Some of the best musicians in the world reject fan worship and don’t take themselves seriously. I would NEVER have been able to predict that a band that is largely instrumental would be able to sell out Madison Square Garden as Led Zeppelin did in the 70s. Yet their fans packed MSG and sing along, astoundingly to instrumental passages.
Tal Wilkenfeld: This is sort of a “cheater” or bridge to the next five old-school musicians. Tal is from Australia and she first came to my attention (and no doubt the attention of millions) as the youngest member of Jeff Beck’s touring ensemble. She first turned heads with her solo sections for massive Festival audiences in Becks’ live performance. Her incredible soloing on the classic ballad “Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers” no doubt bought Tal from a backline musician to the forefront. Tal has moved on from performing as a backup to writing, recording, and performing her solo material for appreciative audiences. She is, at least in my mind, already a musical icon.
Now, for some “Old School Music”
Wishbone Ash: I had borrowed my Mom’s FM “Table radio” back in the early 70s, and while spinning the dial I discovered both a radio station and a band.
It was on the short-lived “progressive” radio format of a station in Norfolk, Virginia, WOWI FM, (pronounced “WOW WEE”) that I heard an ad for the first Wishbone Ash record. Besides the hard-rocking sound, extremely appealing to my adolescent ears, what stood out was the twin lead guitar harmonies. Even before bands like Thin Lizzy, Wishbone Ash had made the twin guitar lines a signature of their sound. Wishbone’s debut album remains a favorite. One of the founding members, Andy Powell, still tours a version of Ash that features himself as the only remaining member, but the music remains timeless.
Little Feat: In 1981, a feature article for “People” magazine (of all places,) called Little Feat “America’s best unknown band”. To a large degree, in terms of the general public, that was true. But to their fans, who followed them to their live gigs with enthusiasm and loyal support, they were one of the greatest bands ever. Lead by the songwriting of the late Lowell George, and propelled by the unique and powerful drumming of Richie Hayward with stellar musicianship in the persons of Bill Payne on keyboards, along with guitarist Paul Barrere, percussionist Sam Clayton, and bassist Kenny Gradney, Little Feat was a “band’s band”. They encapsulated so many styles and genres in almost every song they played that they were indefinable. Little Feat recorded one of the very best live albums of all time in the document “Waiting For Columbus”. Lately, to feed the need for my Feat addiction I downloaded the “legitimate” copy of the bootleg radio broadcast Little Feat did called “Electrif Lycanthrope”. “The Fan” with its odd-time signature and explosive jamming is as good as music gets. Feat was a favorite of Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, and Mick Jagger among others.
NRBQ: NRBQ is an acronym for “New Rhythm And Blues Quartet”. I love “the Q” in the same way many people embrace and have affection for a good friend or family member. In 1982, my college friend Jay introduced me to their music via one of their very few, if only major label releases called “At Yankee Stadium”. In typical, self-deprecating fashion, the cover featured a picture of an empty Yankee Stadium on the front, and the back revealed a “binocular” close-up of the band, the sole residents. Coincidentally I also caught them at a local dive bar called “The Elbow Room” in Harrisonburg, Va. soon after discovering them. It was like a religious conversion, and I was fortunate enough to have caught them in two or three live performances beyond that. The “Classic” lineup I saw: Keyboardist Terry Adams, Guitarist Big Al Anderson, Bassist Joey Spaminato, and the late Drummer Tom Ardolino no longer exist, but Adams continues to tour with himself and a new lineup, who are terrific.
Henry Gross: Henry was originally a member of the group Sha Na Na and performed with them at Woodstock. It wasn’t long before Henry was signed as a solo artist to A&M records, where he made an imprint on people of my generation for his impossibly high and beautiful falsetto vocal range, outstanding songwriting, and unique musical presence. Henry is primarily known for his biggest hit “Shannon” an ode to Beach Boys Dennis Wilson’s beloved four-legged friend who was lost at sea, but IMHO his best work was spread across two solo releases, one titled “Henry Gross”, and the other, “Plug Me Into Something” his first and last efforts for A&M. Henry is still writing and performing at the age of 71, and is better than ever. He was, and is, one of my musical heroes and I’m happy to say a friend on Facebook.
Rory Gallagher: Even today, Rory Gallagher remains a legend in his native Ireland. He was one of the most unique voices on guitar ever committed to record. My introduction to Rory’s music was through the live document “Irish Tour ‘74” and the sparks created at that concert were something I had never heard before. The intense soloing on songs like “Walk On Hot Coals” “I Wonder Who” and “Cradle Rock” made this, in my view another in my top five live records of all time.
I hope you enjoyed this selection, please like and subscribe or share. Thanks for reading.