Son's Guitar Recital
Here's what he looked like a few years ago shortly after he got his electric guitar.
Rock on.
Deep Purple No No No
Jon Lord, of Deep Purple (for most of its history), is the apotheosis of a hard-rock organist. And he's probably the greatest influence on my own Hammond style.
Sure, Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman each had a better classical technique. But Emerson was much more of a Jazzer, and Wakeman was just, well, kind of effete, what with his flourishes and ornamentation. Both fantastically talented, but neither really representative of rock and roll.
Lord, on the other hand, manhandled the Hammond organ. Made it a coequal to Blackmore's overdriven guitar and Ian Gillan's wailing vocals.
Check out this classic video of a riff-based jam, entitled "No, No, No." Lord's solo kicks in at around 3:45 and the song just builds from there:
Enjoy.
Variations on a Theme From Youtube
The hilarious Barats and Bereta (check out their many other fine videos):
And more Ben Folds:
Ben Folds Five - Philosophy
I've previously mentioned in passing that Ben Folds is one of my favorite contemporary musicians. His first group was a hard-rocking piano trio (piano-bass-drums) known as the Ben Folds Five.
I first learned about them when I saw them play "Song for the Dumped" on David Letterman. (Hilarious song, at least for guys). Ironically, it was that performance that triggered (or at least coincided with) their decision to break up.
Anyway, check out this amazing 1998 performance of their song "Philosophy," available on this DVD:
The Ecstasy of Gold
One of my favorite musical themes of all time, Ennio Morricone's masterful The Ecstasy of Gold from his soundtrack for The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly:
My favorite version is the one performed by Yo Yo Ma on his Yo Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone album.
Halo Lego Videos
I love the "narrowcasting" enabled by the ubiquity of television channels and the internet. But d-i-y videos can be a hit-or-miss proposition. So I'll do a little filtering for y'all. A "value add," if you will.
Hit:
A nicely done reenactment of the Halo 2 trailer using stop-motion Lego animation:
Miss:
A mixture of live action and crude stop motion to tell an original story set in the Halo universe:
If I had a few more hours a day to goof off, I could see the fun in putting something like these together. And now there's a global audience ready to consume whatever is posted for their viewing pleasure. Maybe someday...
Must-See YouTube
I wonder if the officer giving this speech, LTC Randolph C. White Jr., has read Heinlein's Starship Troopers? This is powerful stuff. Makes me feel somewhat "lesser" for never having served in the armed services. But at the same time thankful for everyone who has. Watch the whole thing.
(Seen almost simultaneously at INDC Journal and Target Centermass).
Some Gothic Music
Go check out the unplugged video version of Peter Murphy's A Strange Kind of Love, as performed by Trent Reznor (of Nine Inch Nails), Jeordie White (of Marilyn Manson and A Perfect Circle), and Murphy himself (Bauhaus and solo).
Via Bill INDC Ardolino.
I had to google Jeordie White to find out he is the bass player for A Perfect Circle. But before Jeordie, APC had quite a striking bassist: Paz Lenchantin. Great player, but check out her especially unique move from around 1:50 to 2:05 in Judith:
Online Video Debut
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you a short nature documentary produced, directed, filmed, and edited by yours truly, via the magic of YouTube. Enjoy:
Yet Another Video: Star Lords
YouTube: A lazy blogger's best friend.
Give this Star Wars/Lord of the Rings hybrid a chance... from 2:10 to the end it is a simply brilliant mashup:
Medeski Martin and Wood's Uninvisible
I was first introduced to acid jazz trio Medeski Martin & Wood about 4 years ago when a bass player in my old group who knew that I liked Emerson Lake & Palmer loaned me his Uninvisible CD. John Medeski, the organist, is one of the best (if not *the* best) Hammond organ players working these days. Check out this super trippy video of the song Uninvisible:
Girls Aloud - Love Machine
Check out this great Brit-pop video (first found via Beautiful Atrocities):
Instead of a Sci Fi babes poll, let's have us a "Girls Aloud" poll. Watch the video and vote Green (my favorite), Blue, Pink, Yellow, or White.
Tongue Tied and Twisted
Lots to say, but no time to say it, really. Hoping to reengage here really soon.
In the meantime, enjoy this video of that new Burger King commercial (I Am Man, Hear Me Roar), found thanks to Lynn:
Nothing much to add, except to note that the product being hawked is NOT the Massachusetts Double Whopper. I wonder why.
Heh.
They Are Made Out of Meat
Check out the winner of the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame's Short Film Festival, They Are Made Out of Meat, based on a short story by Terry Bisson.
The guy in the fez was Francis Dolarhyde in the excellent 1986 film, Manhunter.
Thin Wall
One of my all-time favorite bands, Ultravox, with a fine specimen of early-1980s New Wave:
Music Video: Asperges Me - Kyrie Cantico Cybernetico
Reminds me of a hybrid between Kraftwerk and Cirque du Soleil. Very interesting. And check out the real Mellotron.