Roy Clark played a hayseed on the long-running show HeeHaw. He had some serious chops on both guitar and banjo, and Buck Trent was no slouch either. Ignore the title of the vid and the mugging and be amazed.
The Bros. Landreth cranked some serous swamp rock with “Runaway Train” recorded 9 February 2015. Every country band should have a song about a runaway train in my opinion.
“We researched these dangerous Hollywood-style stunts and my best friend Jim Connor volunteered to let me set him on fire inside my house.” –Rev. Peyton.
Have a great weekend folks, and make sure that you eat or drink at least one thing that someone says is bad for you.
[Free audio download of Sousa’s recording here. Wanna see the Conductor’s Sheet Music? Click here.]
It’s been a century and a quarter yet it’s still one of the most recognizable marches in the world, especially around July 4th. An Act of Congress adopted it as the National March of the USA… in 1987. What I didn’t know is that Sousa penned lyrics for his timeless classic, and here is the last refrain:
“Hurrah for the flag of the free! May it wave as our standard forever; The gem of the land and the sea, The ban-ner of the right. Let despots remember the day, When our fathers with mighty endeavor, Proclaimed as they marched to the fray, That by their might and by their right It waves forever.”
Note that The Founding Fathers were all British citizens, right up until the Declaration of Independence. If you’ve never read it, read it; and if you’ve read it, read it again. Then read the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. Out loud.
Teach your kids and grandchilluns the meaning and importance of Independence Day, because nobody else will. Tell them how pissed off the colonists were, and why, and then tell them what they eventually did about it. Then grill a buncha hot dogs and hamburgers, take ’em to a local fireworks show and have a great Independence Day Celebration. See ya there!
Very few people could play Chuck Berry and out-do him on one of his own songs, but the late Peter Tosh pulled it off. Anyone ever hear Berry play reggae? Tosh is probably the reason.
Have a great holiday weekend, folks, and remember what it’s all about. More coming up tomorrow.
I don’t like the title of this YouTube video at all because mocking young naïve idealistic Marxists is not a good way to explain basic economic principles and move them toward a rational frame of thought. On the other hand, this video illustrates the patience, sentience, and simple brilliance of the late Milton Friedman.
OKAY NEXT.
The Knitts. I like the sound. Kinda retro, kinda young, kinda wow. There’s hope for music after all.
This video annoys the hell out of me, but it’s kinda fun at the same time. Rev. Peyton’s Big Damn Band is Rev. Peyton-Guitar, Washboard Breezy Peyton-Washboard, Ben “Birddog” Bussell-drums.
Have a great weekend, folks. Be back here tomorrow for more really important worldly stuff.
Apparently anthropomorphic global warming existed before anthropomorphs did. Dinosaur skulls have been found as far north as what is now Alaska (which in the Cretaceous Period was mostly within the Arctic Circle). Pachyrhinosaurus is now my favorite Sauropod. What did they do in the Arctic darkeness?
Corey Hart sends mixed messages and I have no idea who he is.
Happy Fathers’ Day to all Fathers who ever Fathered. To you Proto-Fathers and Fathers-In-Training, your prime responsibility is to Father forever more.
“Waiter, there’s a table in my soup.” -YouTube Commenter
It’s a compilation. Dates, locations and ships are not indicated, but that’s some serious listing. I’d have been hiding in my cabin and praying that the Dramamine didn’t wear off [via].
How about some retro rock?
This one dates from the mid to late 80’s during a resurgence of roots rock / rockabilly spearheaded by The Stray Cats. This was the heyday of The Fabulous Thunderbirds, and Keith Ferguson was their left-handed bassman before he left to form his own band The Tail Gators (yeah, I have some of their vinyl). Ferguson died in 1997 at the age of 50 from liver failure according to Wiki.
Big Guitars From Texas didn’t hit my radar, but there they are, live at Dixie’s Bar and Bus Stop in Austin TX, and featuring Evan Johns, Don Leady, Denny Freeman, Frankie Camaro, Keith Ferguson and Mike Buck, Circa 1985-86.
Have a great weekend folks, and we’ll be back here tomorrow for more awesome.
Nice groove with a great message from Mavis Staples.
[h/t windbag].
The Staple Singers, a family gospel/soul group had a number of hits in the 60’s and 70’s, and “I’ll Take You There” was my favorite due to the killer bass line.
I’ve never seen a single episode of “Parks & Recreation,” but this advert featuring actor Nick Offerman is mildly amusing [via]. It doesn’t go far enough IMO. Someone tell Nick that I’d be happy to outline a horror story based upon actual events.
John Edmark creates some amazing stuff using the irrational number Phi, laser cutters and strobes [via].
“Buy The Ticket, Take The Ride” is a 2006 documentary about rogue reporter Hunter S. Thompson, narrated by Nick Nolte. Thompson was an amusing unhinged journalist who set the standard for inserting himself into every story he ever covered.
Gotta have at least one music vid, and we haven’t posted any Roy Buchanan in a while, so there you go.
Have a great Memorial Day Weekend, folks, and please take the time to remember what it’s all about.
Wow. I haven’t heard stuff like this since the Blues Brothers promoted it. Okay I have, but not as far as you know.
St. Paul & The Broken Bones does retro soul / R&B, with a sound that is pure Stax/Volt from the Big O days. They’re from Birmingham, not Memphis, and I’d post a direct link to their website, but it froze up my computer twice (you’ve been warned).
Let’s continue our stroll down Soul Street, shall we?
Booker T. & The M.G.’s were about as close to the center of the Soul Circuit as anyone. (Members of San Francisco’s CCR were in the wings during this performance taking notes).
Okay, let’s jam the gears. How many influences can you cover in one song?
Bunkessa volunteers at a local radio station occasionally, and The Knitts showed up to play live in-studio. The band is getting a following, have some tours lined up (and they know she has a Class B license).
Have a great weekend, folks. See you back here tomorrow for more fun stuff.
Tacky Raccoons 