unsigned podcast » Music

Save Me, San Francisco

podcaster — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:59:48 +0000

The album by Train called, “Save Me, San Francisco” is a really good album. I have been listening to it on Spotify.

I was not a fan of the music group, Train, until i saw them perform on a morning TV show. For some reason they were not being played on the local radio stations and I just had not heard of them. The TV show was a quick listen, but it was enough to peak my curiosity and check them out.

That is one of the best parts of joining Spotify. I can listen to music that I would not otherwise get to hear because it doesn’t cost me the out of pocket expense of a while CD to listen to just one song that I might like or might not like.

Cristofori’s Dream

podcaster — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 05:50:28 +0000

There was a compilation album of new age or easy listening music that included a delightful instrumental by David Lantz called, “Cristofori’s Dream.” As I was not familiar with David Lantz, I did a little surfing to see what I could find.

Turns out that Bartelomo Cristofori was an Italian inventor. He toiled away in a little shop working on harpsichords, one of the primary instruments of the day. He was intrigued with finding a way to make the sound less harsh and worked on modifying the design until he found a way to make the sound he was looking for. Thus, in 1709 the piano was born in his modest Florence shop.

David Lantz wrote this song as a tribute to Cristofori – and it’s beautiful.

Their “Russdriver”

podcaster — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 02:37:57 +0000

Teeny Bopper Night

podcaster — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:17:07 +0000

Last night the Jonas Brothers came to town. All of Nashville’s teeny boppers were in heading to the Sommet Center in droves. Like the little lemmings they are. Can you even name a single Jonas Brother song? I can’t think … Continue reading →

Romantic Gesture

podcaster — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 22:00:22 +0000

My girl was down in the dumps – don’t know what was wrong, but she needed some cheering up. I stopped by the grocery store at lunch and picked up a few things to fix for dinner. this stuff needs almost no chef-attitude or skill – just open bags and boxes, heat up and put on the table.

I got a bag of salad greens and a little box of grape tomatoes. Then I got a package of potatoes in a tub, already mashed and seasoned with butter. I got a plank steak and a bottle of A-1 Mesquite marinade. And a bottle of merlot.

On the way to the checkout counter I picked up two eclairs from the bakery and a pair of votive candles.

No she doesn’t have to do anything to cook – I can handle the grill and the microwave on my own. I might let her set the table and light the candles, and she can choose the tunes on the stereo – maybe some jazz by chris Isaac.

Love my girl and want to cheer her up – hope this does it tonight.

Channel Surfing

podcaster — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:53:47 +0000

Can’t sleep. The past couple of days have been really hard on everyone in the family. I got back to the hotel tonight around 10:00, took a shower and just fell across the bed with the TV’s remote. Watched as much of the local channel news and reruns of sci-fi that I could stand and then I started flipping through the other cable channels. The hotel doesn’t have all that many channels, but there must be something on TV at 2:00 am besides infomercials with Susan Lucci’s skin care and the next great kitchen gadget.

As I was sufing the channels I came across a headshot of someone that I recognized immediately – Steve Cropper. Now I have been a big fan of Steve Cropper for many many years and I was intrigued – what is this show about? Turns out I struck gold and had come upon a special documentary show about Staxx records in Memphis back in the 1960′s. It had info on Booker T and the MGs, Otis Redding, Isaac Hayes, Sam & Dave, and all the greats of the Memphis sound, narrated by Samuel Jackson.

Great show – what a lucky break that I found it this morning.

Going for a Spin

podcaster — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:52:44 +0000

Normally I don’t read Spin Magazine. I’m not into the grunge rock and punk music, and that’s what they seem to focus on. I think it’s great that some of these kids have a shot at a singing or performing career, but since I don’t have college age kids I just can’t get my head into what they are singing about or how they look. The extreme hair and makeup, the tattoos, the piercings – it’s so boring. Really boring. What I’d like to see is kids that are clean and groomed and take music seriously along the lines of lyrics meaningful to more than just 13 and 14 year old spoiled brats.

But I do like reading the ads in this magazine. You can learn a lot about a variety of things in today’s pop culture by reading the ads. Especially if you have an interest in liquor and electronics. You’ll read about things you aren’t exposed to in any other popular medium. That’s the downside of targeting ads to narrow demographics. The slick marketing pros in NYC and LA don’t always get it right.

Thanks for the Riffs, LeRoi

podcaster — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 00:26:27 +0000

Bummed out to learn this morning of the death of the sax player in the Dave Matthews Band, LeRoi Moore.

Beside some hit tunes, one of the things I really liked about the Dave Matthews Band is that it was a true college band gone golden story. The band was formed in Charlottesville, VA, which is a little college town in central Virginia.

LeRoi was a sax player trying to chase dreams of a jazz band but ended up hooking up with his friend and fellow jazz player, Carter Beauford (drums) and Dave Matthews who was working as a bartender, back in 1991. They went on to create a great sound and the band has a string of hit records and tours constantly.

LeRoi was riding an ATV on his farm in Charlottesville on June 30 when he wrecked it and got hurt. He’s been recovering at his L.A. home while Jeff Coffin filled in for him on the Dave Matthews Band summer gigs, but was rushed to the hospital yesterday where he died from “complications.”

Jeff Coffin has played with Bela Fleck and I wonder if he will end up staying with Dave Matthews? He has big riffs to fill with the loss of LeRoi.

New CD

podcaster — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 01:43:56 +0000

My family has a long tradition of being musicians and I have a deep appreciation for music. Everyone in my family has, at the very least, a piano in the house. With my uncles and cousins bringing their musical instruments, we could have a full fledged orchestra.

I still love to listen to piano instrumentals and am a Jim Brickman fan. I like Yanni, too, but a lot of his music is over produced and too complicated. I recently discovered another pianist that I like, David Lanz. I bought a two CD set from Amazon, The Ultimate David Lanz Narada Collection, that just came and I’ve been listening to it. There are only two songs on it that I skip over – the rest is really good and easy on the ears.

Long Road Out of Eden

podcaster — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 18:09:57 +0000

One of my birthday presents was the new Eagles album, “Long Road Out of Eden.” I’ve heard one of the cuts on the radio, “Just Too Busy Being Fabulous,” which is a good song and an interesting commentary to people of my generation. So I cuoldn’t wait to hear the other songs on the double CD.

First time all the way through, my first impression was that the whole album sounded very typically Eagles. There were a couple songs that were easy on the ears and a couple that sounded a little edgey, and an instrumental that was absolutely haunting.

I had to listen to it a second time before I could say that I really like it. Now I am really starting to like a couple of the songs, especially “Waiting in the Weeds.” Now, I don’t really know what the song is totally about, but the tune is very catchy and I find myself humming along to it. I just need to listen for the words a little harder and figure it out. But overall, I like this album a lot.