A Rant on Radiohead - The Future is Now

I attended a Radiohead show a couple of weeks ago at Great Woods, and the uniqueness of the show that they put on struck me immediately. There really is no band around that sounds like these boys from Manchester. The vibe the band created in the venue that night was intensely otherworldly and intimate. I would describe it as breakbeat-fuzz-guitar-trance. Thom was decked in tight red jeans, and danced and raved onstage like an angelic, melodically inclined alien with something to prove. The fantastic light show, comprised of futuristic LED light sticks suspended above the band's head, accented and perfectly complemented the surreal soundscape of Radiohead's patented ambient show. At the best moments, the band's spacious sound and Thom Yorke's pixie falsetto combined with the intensely colorful light show to induce a trance-like, space-ship bliss-out. At one moment I felt as if I was experiencing the final scene of the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind, where Thom was the alien, extending a sad, yet euphoric offering of music to us Americans. After tonight's show, it leads me to believe that Manchester, UK might as well be another planet relative to New England, as the musical realm that Radiohead lives in is truly a foreign place to us.

Thom Yorke commands attention. The crowd was not talkative, as Thom Yorke's delicate performance demanded an intimacy from all who were present. His falsetto pipes really act as an instrument that is essential to the band's sound. There were times in the show when he played the role of a theramin, sliding up and down the upper register in his own haunting tone. At its most delicate and gentle, his voice quieted the entire amphitheater of people. At his most jubilant, Yorke was a trance-induced shaman, chanting and gasping his voice to drive the breakbeat rhythm forward. Johnny Greenwood proved to be a master of nuisance and atmospheres, and played the role of creating soundscapes all night, switching between guitar, pedals, and keyboards.

The band's excellent setlist choice showcased songs from every album, with no songs from OK Computer played until at least 40 minutes into the set. The band delivered what seemed like endless encores, and with the show peaking in the last minute to a Technicolor static light show, Yorke chanted the band to a climax with an abrupt, grinding halt. Always leave them wanting more. With Radiohead's performance, we were more than happy to get what we got, as it seemed like the band gave us their all.

Keeping the Torch of Fusion

After seeing Return To Forever perform at the Pavilion a few weeks ago, it got me thinking about Jazz Fusion, and where it has gone in the past 25 years or so. When it first emerged in the early 70's this electrified jazz was approached by its musicians as the next step in their musical evolution. Jazz veterans from the 60's, many of whom were taught in the Miles Davis school, were freed by Miles' embracing of the rock sound and electric instruments. Many formed their own ambitious groups, which evolved through the 70's into bands where the chops and complex musical ideas of these jazz guys were beefed up with electric guitars and synthesizers.

The first tier of Fusion groups included Tony Williams' Lifetime, John McLaughlin's Mahivishnu Orchestra, Weather Report, Herbie Hancock's Headhunters, and Return to Forever, all of which were formed by Miles Davis alumni. These groups peaked through the mid to late 70's with a catalog of complex, unbelievable electric music, some of which was accessible enough to become commercially popular. Albums like "Headhunters," "Heavy Weather," and "Romantic Warrior" all sold an unprecedented amount of albums for jazz, and set the bar higher than ever for the amount of popularity jazz music could achieve.

But somewhere around the late 70's and early 80's, something happened. Fusion, or at least quality Fusion, dissappeared. Throughout the 80's there were musicians who definetely kept the torch alive, including Billy Cobham, John Scofield, and Allan Holdsworth. But for the most part, this amazing genre of music was corrupted and diluted by the greedy 80's. In a quest for mass appeal, much Jazz-Rock became shitty, soulless pop improv, with an emphasis on empty virtuosity. One of the few exceptions to this rule throughout the decade was Pat Metheney, who was part of the next generation of Fusion, and continually put out quality music throughout the black hole that was the 80's.

Today, there are bands that still play this type of mind-blowing music, and seeing Bela Fleck and the Flecktones perform an opening set for the re-formed Return to Forever, there definetely was a feeling of tradition being handed down to the next generation. Musicians like Medeski, Martin and Wood, John Scofield, Soulive, Jeff Beck, The Bad Plus, Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey, and Bela Fleck and the Flecktones are still holding it down for this generation, thank God. There is nothing like good Fusion live, and unfortunately many people do not know this, as they have not experienced such an event. Though there was a near-capacity crowd for RTF, Fusion certainly will never be in the mainstream as it was in the 70s.

And for that reason, it is my duty to make you aware of the Aussie female bassist for Jeff Beck's most recent band. Her name is Tal Wilkenfeld, and she is utterly nasty. She is also a 22 year old hottie. She is the future of Fusion, and I love her, probally along with every other male musician who has seen and heard her.

Another hope for Fusion's future is Hiromi, a 29 year old Japanese pianist/composer hottie. She is incredible, an d should be a superstar.

These young women and the incredible music they create give me hope for Fusion's future. I would suggest seeking them out immedietely.

What the fuck is up with that Roger Waters scream?

Seriously, what is the deal with that sound that Roger makes with his throat? You know, the one that sounds like a bird call, like a rapid succession of high pitched, other-worldly noises. He did it a lot more in the early years, like in "Careful with that Axe, Eugene," but he does do it on the Wall once. You can hear him do it 1:00 into this version of "Run Like Hell," and again 5:00 in. Though the best example of Roger's bizzare vocal abilities would be the Ummagumma track "Several Species of Small Furry Animals Gathered Together in a Cave and Grooving with a Pict," which is a vocal collage of his ravings sped up in the studio to sound like small furry animals. The noises that this man emits are freaky enough as they are, so to modulate them like this makes for one unnerving listening experience.
I can't really think of a vocal trait in rock any more distinctive and quirky than this screeching that Roger does.

Archive II - New Orleans 2005

Going back, I lived in Nawlins for the Summer of 2005 interning at the local music monthly, Offbeat Magazine. I got to review some great shows and albums, and have them published. I left Nawlins for Fall Semester of college 2 weeks before Katrina, and the last issue I was in didn't get distributed until November because of the hurricane. Here are some of the published articles:

Buckwheat Zydeco

Victor Wooten's Soul Circus

Etta James

Avocado Love

The avocado is my favorite vegetable (though it is really a fruit). It has substance, a high fat content, and is a spreadable and filling buttery treat that is absolutely delicious. I often just cut one up and eat it with some lemon juice, salt and pepper, though guacomole is obviously the ideal preperation.

It has an awesome name, which is derived from ahuacatl, the Aztec word for testicles, and was known by the Aztecs as "the fertility fruit," which is badass.

This Blog is called the Ripe Avocado, as that image somehow brings to mind a kind of calm but rich anticipation... The fruit's green lustre, massive pit, and leathery exterior all give it a unique personality that is unlike any other friut or vegetable. It also exudes a zen-like aura in its simple appearance. Due to this, it is not surprising that the avocado has often been used as the subject for Rock Art over the years. Here are some examples:

Pearl Jam - Self-Titled

Hellogoodbye - Self-Titled

And my favorite:

Led Zeppelin @ Fillmore West and Winterland, April 1969

I hope that this vegetable rant has given your perspecive of the avocado new insight.

Dead End Job

It's a dead end job, and you get tired of sittin'
And it's like a nicotine habit you're always thinking about quittin'
I think about quittin' every day of the week
When I look out my window it's brown and it's bleak

Outta here
How am I gonna get outta here?
I'm thinking outta here
When am I gonna get outta here?
And when will I cash in my lottery ticket
And bury my past with my burdens and strife?
I want to shake every limb in the garden of Eden
And make every lover the love of my life

I figure that once upon a time I was an ocean
But now I'm a mountain range
Something unstoppable set into motion
Nothing is different, but everything's changed

Paul Simon - "Once Upon A Time There Was An Ocean"

The Clintons

Look at this photo of Bill and Hillary in the 70s, and tell me Bill never inhaled. He looks like the coolest mofo around with his sweater and jacket, I would totally do a J with both of them. Hillary looks like she was an annoying feminist, and I guess she was never attractive. But that's a hell of a couple; they look pretty damn good if you ask me.

Female Bass

A female playing the bass guitar is probably the hottest thing ever.

The bass is responsible for the drive in the music, and when girls play the bass, if it grooves, that right there is it. I could watch that all day.







Tina Weymouth, Talking Heads