Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Paul McCartney's Return To Hollywood Bowl

John Lennon is singing "Stand By Me" on the radio, which is odd because I'm listening to my favorite sports talk show with Petros and Money, not an oldies rock station. It inspires me to sit down and write something but I'm not sure what. I started reading Philip Norman's biography of Lennon last week and I've been mowing through the 800 pages as if I was reading a John Grisham novel, instead of a John Lennon bio called "The Life." Part of a larger story that never fails to fascinate me. I've read countless books about the Beatles yet there is always more to learn about the greatest musical group in history. Norman's highly detailed account of Lennon perfectly mirrors the Paul McCartney bio by Barry Miles (Many Years From Now)
which I read last year. Its always good to hear both sides of the story. Who knew that folkie Delbert McClinton met Lennon in 1962 and showed him how to play harmonica?

And the story continues every day, even in this digital-I-don't-care world of 2010. What could be further from the idealism of the Beatles than the current narcissist trend which has pervaded our society? Somehow the Beatles survive: all four on CDs and film, Paul and Ringo in the flesh. The latter just released a fine new album called "YNot?" and will be touring this summer at the ripe old age of 70! At his Hollywood Walk of Fame induction last week he looked twenty years younger while announcing his upcoming tour with his All Starr band.

Then within a minute of hearing Lennon on the radio I found out Paul McCartney will be playing the Hollywood Bowl at the end of March and I hope I can get a ticket. Even the dear departed are represented in the modern day Beatle world. Tim Piper is performing to sell out crowds in Studio City as John Lennon in the "Just Imagine" play. George Harrison's spirit will forever live on in the Beatles LOVE show at the Mirage in Las Vegas. He was the one who had the foresight to create this incredible show before his untimely death.

Heck: all the Beatles are alive and well when I put on one of their records. While reading about Lennon's early days as a Beatle, I dragged out my Beatles at the Star Club 2 LP set (vinyl baby!) and listened to the whole thing while reading about the Hamburg days. Then I pulled out the Decca sessions LP and the Tony Sheridan LP. Man o man, I have not heard this stuff in ages
and the book and music really made things come alive.

Oh yeah, Petros and Money had a segment on their show about "things we appreciate."
Like I said, when you're a Beatle fan, there's plenty to appreciate.

And I did get a ticket to see Paul after all. Being a member of his fan club helped me get an $80 ticket at the presale. I'm so happy I won't even complain about the extra $20 in Ticketbastard fees! I missed seeing him and the boys at the Bowl in '64 and '65 but I'll be there March 30th ready to twist and shout.










Monday, February 1, 2010

Late To The Party But Lovin Elvis Costello's Spectacle

Last year when I first heard about Elvis Costello hosting a show on the Sundance Channel I laughed out loud. Surely this surly rocker was the last person anyone would choose to host a party, much less a television show. Yet Elvis Costello's "Spectacle" -which just completed its second season- is not only a musical treat but a sincere surprise from the chameleon crooner. On a foggy Saturday afternoon I watched 5 different hour-long episodes which left me wanting more. For that I'll have to wait until Wednesday Feb. 3rd when Sundance will televise the December episode featuring Bono and The Edge. I didn't see it when it originally aired because of a dispute with my cable company, Time Warner. I bet nearly everyone reading this has had a dispute with Time Warner, starting with their refusal to carry the NFL channel. Once I smoothed things over I began to catch up on some lost programs.

"Spectacle" is remarkable not only for the wide swath of guests who've appeared and often perform together (Norah Jones with John Mellencamp, Diana Krall (Elvis's wife) with Elton John (one of the show's producers), but also the enthusiasm which radiates from Costello as he interviews his guests. You could hear the reverence in Bruce Springsteen's voice as he discussed his Inauguration Day performance with folk legend Pete Seeger. The Boss also related his love for early punk music and the British band The Buzzcocks. Then the two of them blasted through a duet of Sam and Dave's "I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down." When Bruce took center stage he settled down with a touching version of "Galveston Bay" (a request by Elvis) before ripping through "The Rising," strumming his guitar with a ferocity I haven't seen from him in years.

I have been going to Springsteen concerts since 1975 and I've read about five books on the guy but I learned more about The Boss in the "Spectacle" two-part episode than anywhere else. Prodded by Elvis, he kept referring to his songwriting as "just trying to figure things out. As a writer I'm trying to make sense of my own life and then what's going on around me." Then he shared one of his favorite quotes about rock and roll: "It creates an energy that pushes you into the future. It's about what's coming next, trying to pull tomorrow into the present."

On another episode Elvis sat in the guest chair and was interviewed by Mary Louise Parker who was thrilled to hear a solo acoustic take of "Brilliant Mistake." He talked about song writing with Paul McCartney before delving into a full band version of their unreleased song "So Like Candy." His band consists of long time sidemen Steve Nieve (keyboards) and Pete Thomas (drums) who play like its 1979 while backing up the musical guests. One performance included a line-up of Richard Thompson (guitar), Nick Lowe (bass), Allan Toussaint (piano) and Levon Helm (drums). The music was great but the stories they told were even better.

My thanks to Elvis Costello for allowing their stories to be told and their songs to be sung. Though I'm hoping for more, it looks like this will be the final season of "Spectacle." Repeats are shown Wednesday evenings on The Sundance Channel. (Season One is now available on DVD and Blue Ray).