Well, I’ve heard of a couple reunions that are going to happen this year…and both get a fuckin’ rousing thumbs up from this rock-bloggin’ fool! The one I JUST heard about today is Mott the Hoople…yes please. They only have a couple London dates lined up thus far, but they best bring their asses across the pond!
And this one I heard rumblings about last year, like Flea will play bass, but it has been confirmed since the start of 2009…The Faces!
Bring ‘em on! I just hope that tickets for these shows aren’t through the roof (who am I foolin’…they will be). I’m actually pretty tired of big gigs any more. There’s so much about them that’s unappealing. First, the ticketing ‘class system’ is a shame. It means that the kid that loves the band the most will never get good seats because he can’t afford them and rich douchebags will have all the good seats. But rock & roll isn’t about them, it’s about that little kids dreams and the blues of the blue-collar working man.
And also the way that shows ‘sell out’ within minutes of going on sale, but then tickets magically appear on a scalper site…which Ticketbastard and Jive Nation claim to have no hands in. Bullshit.
My advice is to seek out the up-and-coming great rock bands and catch them at small clubs for $10-$15, and be able to say you saw them before they were huge. And ususally those shows are more fun anyway! The big problem with it though is for those kids in Kansas and East Buttfuck, Wherever. Nobody comes to their town. There are no cool rock clubs there. Well, find all that cool music online, and move when you turn eighteen…to a city that rocks!
Okay, big tangent there.
In summary, big ‘YES’ for the Mott and Faces reunions! And a big ‘NO’ to the current class system of live music ticket sales. I’ve said my peace.
Well, the most recent reunion rumor involves some sort of incarnation of the once-mighty Rainbow, but under the moniker, Over The Rainbow. Here’s the lineup…
Over The Rainbow is:
Vocals: Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow 1980-1984)
Keyboards: Tony Carey (Rainbow 1975-1978)
Drums: Bobby Rondinelli (Rainbow 1980-1983)
Bass: Greg Smith (Rainbow 1994-1997)
Guitar: Jurgen (“J.R.”) Blackmore
That last one is Ritchie’s son, who could give some legitimacy to this project, if you ask me. I don’t think I’ve heard anyhting J.L. Turner has done since those Rainbow days, but I quite liked his presence in Rainbow at the time. Of course, I was also in middle school. But who can deny the power of “Street of Dreams”? Well, probably many of you…but I think it’s a great one, perhaps even ‘classic’. Take a listen…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyXZnQ9jj7U]
Right? So what do you think about this reunion, amidst the onslaught of reunions that have been taking place the last couple years? Weigh in below…
[polldaddy poll=1123355]
On the same day that the phrase “Yes We Can” became the United States’ official new governing philosophy, the premier progressive rock band of all time, Yes, kicked off their In The Present 40th Anniversary tour…with at least one big but. Due to some respiratory health problems that have plagued long-time Yes singer and spiritual leader, Jon Anderson, the band has replaced him for this tour with Canadian Yes tribute band singer, Benoit David. And the smaller but is that keyboardist, Rick Wakeman, who has always been a little flighty anyway, has been replaced by his son, Oliver. The band is rounded out by Yes mainstays Steve Howe (guitar), Chris Squire (bass) and Alan White (drums). Replacing Anderson has been more than controversial to Yes die-hards (including this writer) and even to Anderson himself, but reports from early In The Present gigs are very positive and Benoit David really does nail Anderson’s vocals perfectly (perhaps too perfectly). Even so, many fans still won’t be rushing out to buy Yes concert tickets until Anderson is back in the band. And to bide time until that happens, those skeptics can turn to Yes – The New Director’s Cut from MVD Visual.
Recorded during Yes’ 35th Anniversary tour in 2003, Yes – The New Director’s Cut, features two full length concert performances from the classic line-up of Yes (Anderson, Wakeman, Howe, Squire, White) from the N.I.A. Birmingham and Glastonbury Festival. This DVD edition sets out to appease fans who were a little less than pleased with the editing, narration, and interview clips (during songs) of the original tour document, Yesspeak. And it succeeds greatly. There is a great venue vibe contrast from show to show, as the first DVD is indoors and the second is outdoors, at the Glastonbury. And although the set lists are very similar, fans will love the two equally amazing takes of the 15-minute plus masterpiece epic, “Awaken”, from 1977’s Going For The One album…the highlight for this Yes fan.
Evident from these performances, these guys are some of the best players in the business and are all still on top of their game. It seems like Yes really shines its brightest (and the fans the most satisfied) when playing the deeper cuts like “Don’t Kill The Whale”, “South Side of the Sky”, “To Be Over” and the aforementioned “Awaken”. They are most certainly the highlights of Yes – The New Director’s Cut. The only times the shows sag a bit are during the Yes super-hits which the band sometimes seem to sleepwalk through. Maybe we’ll get to see a ‘Yes – Deep Cuts’ tour where Yes abandons the usual must-play hits and provides the fans with more of the magical surprise songs when Anderson returns for their 41st year (you reading this, Yes?). But until then, dig into the excellent 4 hours-plus footage of Yes – The New Director’s Cut and send out your good vibes to Jon Anderson’s health.
Well, as Hampton will be coming alive again in March 2009, and ‘The Phish’ from Vermont will be playing their first shows in 4 1/2 years…I started wondering what would be the first song that they play the first night back together at Hampton Coliseum.
I’m gonna pick “The Boys Are Back In Town”! I know, not likely, but at a Phish show anything is possible.
What’s your first song pick?
So how much bullshit is this new Led Zeppelin reunion report, by Jess Rogers at The Sun, on a scale of 1 to Coda?
Led Zeppelin 1 = It’s on! It’s 100% true story.
Houses of the Holy = 50-50. Maybs
Coda = No chance! Total bullshit.
Rate the likelihood of this newest Zep reunion rumour below… (I’m going with IV, or ZOSO, or Runes, or what have you)…
Well, I hate to say I told you so, but it looks like my being ‘precious’ about Yes and not really accepting their new direction to replace Jon Anderson with Yes tribute band singer, Benoit David, is now proven to be the way Jon sees things too. Just moments ago Jon Anderson posted this blog post to his MySpace friends…
“Not Yes”
September 18, 2008
Disappointed, and very Disrespected
Disappointed that, with the exception of one phone call from Alan, none of the guys have been in touch since my illness, just to find out how I am doing, and how we will foresee the future for YES. And disappointed that they were not willing to wait till 2009 when I’m fully recovered.
And I feel very disrespected, having spent most of this year creating songs and constant ideas for the band, spending time with Roger Dean creating a stage design, also working with VH1 and Sirius and XM Radio to help promote the welfare of YES.
Getting sick was not “on my radar”, and I thank my own angel Janeee and my family for helping me through this difficult time, and the many well wishers, friends and fans alike, for understanding that ”things happen”.
Of course I wish the guys all the best in their ‘solo’ work, but I just wish this could have been done in a more gentlemanly fashion. After all YES is a precious musical band.
This is not YES on tour…
I send best wishes to one and all,
Jon Anderson
September 2008
So I’m with Jon on this one and I won’t be supporting the ‘Not Yes’ band that will be touring for the actual Yes’ 40th Anniversary. But I will see Jon when he tours solo when he makes his full recovery in 2009. Sorry Benoit…I hope you have a blast and make some nice ducats, but unfortunately your rise to fame isn’t coming up completely roses.
Best wishes, Jon… see you in 2009!
Start drinking your bleach and smoking those banana peels, because the good ol’ bad boys from Philly are back at it! They’ve just been announced on the Fun Fun Fun Fest schedule in Austin, TX on November 8 &9.
And this is what Dean Clean (of the Dead Milkmen) says:
Yes its true. Looks like they posted about it in the newspaper already. Keep your browser pointed here to find out more as it develops: http://www.funfunfunfest.com/
Of course I”ll be posting info about it on the home page when more details are available.
So…y’all come on down to Austin to see us ya’hear?!
– Dean
I’ve gotta say that I am officially giddy, and praying that they’ll be touring full-on! But what band just reunites for one show? Oh yeah, Zep! Obviously, this Milkmen formation will be without the late Dave Blood on bass, but I’m sure everyone invloved, from fans to band to the new bass player, will all be remembering him fondly as we get to hear the songs performed live again.
Burrow owl, burrow owl, burrow owl…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVkD0RKAjt8&hl=en&fs=1]
