Music

[ Humor ] [ Frank Black/Pixies ] [ R.E.M ] [ The Smiths ] [ Charlatans UK ] [ Catherine Wheel ] [ The Clash ] [ Rush ] [ Boston Bands ] [ 80's ]

Music Humor and Parody

Rock School

If you've ever been in a band this page will look real familiar! I first saw this in cartoon format in a local music scene magazine a couple of years ago. I especially like the " Making the Correct Facial Expressions While You Rock". :)

  !!!!!!!!!!! ROCK !!!!!!!!!!!

Bands

Frank Black / The Pixies

He's a former member and founder of the Pixies. He now is on his 4th commercial solo album under the name "Frank Black and the Catholics". I got to see him during his last tour in support of the first Catholics album 3 times and he is always a great show. He now has the guitarist for the legendary Boston band Human Sexual Response playing with him. (He even plays Los Angeles with a drumstick!)

I enjoy most of the solo albums, but his new lo-fi albums with the Catholics lack that special something sometimes and the new drummer from Miracle Legion kinda stinks.

The Smiths

R.E.M

The first R.E.M song I ever heard was So. Central Rain and I remember not knowing who it was for over a year. The song wasn't played that often on the radio so it was tough to find out who the artist was. The local music store was no help either. Some people say that they are the most influential American band *EVER*.

I like their earlier stuff more but even the albums prior to New Adventures in Hi-Fi are still very good. I couldn't get into Hi-Fi and have yet to even buy Up. I own all of their albums except Up... Pete Buck has an excellent style of playing, but unfortunately he has "grown out" of the electric guitar and prefers acoustic guitar and the mandolin. Too bad.

Charlatans UK

I got into this band when Between 10th and 11th (above pic is cover) came out. That album was their sophomore effort and to this day it is still my favorite. They have had a tragedy when their keyboardist (who to me was the cornerstone of the band) Rob Collins passed away. He definetly had a great sound with the Hammond. His replacement is Tony Rogers.

Catherine Wheel

The Clash

RUSH

One of my guilty pleasures left over from my childhood. Being a drummer you can't help but like Neil Peart, even if he plays with the feel of a robot most of the time. He played some of the coolest drum parts I've ever heard. He also had a HUGE drum kit, which I don't like anymore (less is better, at least for me). He's a good lyricist too if you're into geeky stuff.

They have at least 13 studio albums, and 4 live albums. I've seen them 7 times live and it's a pretty good show. They have a new album out called "Vapor Trails" which is pretty good. I did get to catch them live at the Tweeter center.

Local Music (Boston area)

These are some of the local bands I like ( most aren't around anymore... <sigh> )

It's pretty surprising how many bands have come out of the Boston area... The music scene doesn't seem to be as big as it used to be. The "Rat" (Rathskeller) is longer around which was an automatic gig for almost any band. The Channel, Edible Rex, Bunratty's, and other rocks clubs are gone, replaced by dance clubs or gone altogether.

Jocobono, The Heretix, Tribe, Bim Skala Bim, Morphine/Treat her Right, Sebadoh, The Cars, Galaxie 500, Dinosaur (Jr), Mission of Burma, The Pixies, Buffalo Tom, Orbit, Belly, Gigolo Aunts, Juliana Hatfield/Blake Babies, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, The Del Fuegos, The Atlantics/Ball 'n Chain, The Neighborhoods, Chucklehead, Til Tuesday, O Positive, Jen Trynin, Farrenheit, Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers, Cliffs of Dooneen, Bullet LaVolta, Face to Face.

I've lost touch a little with the scene but the latest local album I've bought, Jocobono, is excellent. It's on the CherryDisc label. If there are any interesting bands that are playing in Boston that anyone could recommend give me an email.

80's Bands and other 'One Hit Wonders'

Some of my favorite 80's bands:

Gary Numan, B-52s, Depeche Mode, New Order, The Waitressess, Flash and the Pan, Sisters of Mercy, The Jam/Style Council, Concrete Blonde, Murray Head, Translator, Echo and the Bunnymen, Tears for Fears, Squeeze, The Fixx, China Crisis.