Paul McCartney - Live And Let Die (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada - November ...

Just one more!

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Paul McCartney - Live and Let Die / Hey Jude (Edmonton Nov 28 2012)

Paul McCartney - Live and Let Die / Hey Jude (Edmonton Nov 28 2012)

Thank you, Sir Paul, for braving Edmonton's icy cold and giving two of my friends the time of their lives. Due to circumstances I could not be there, but next time I'll try harder. And I have to thank you on another front as well, for allowing these clips to stay up on the 'Tube. It is obvious that you understand that your millions of fans aren't out to make money off the footage, but simply want to share the experience you give them. 

Merry Christmas, one and all!

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JOURNEY live in Edmonton - Encore: LOVIN', TOUCHIN', SQUEEZIN'

When I heard that Journey was coming to Edmonton, I was thrilled. Until I hit the band website and saw that Steve Perry had quit the band in 2007. Who's this Arnel guy, I wondered. No way was I going if Steve wasn't there.

With this clip, I see that Arnel Pineda is a man who, without aping Perry, works his butt off to hit the notes that the Journey classics demand, all while keeping his energy and crowd interaction at a fever pitch. Given the astronomical ticket prices these days, I really can't say if I'll be there next time. But it'll be a bucket list item for sure!

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JOURNEY live in Edmonton - DON'T STOP BELIEVIN' / SEPARATE WAYS

Edmonton's rock and roll week, part one. I wasn't actually there, but it sure looked like fun!

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Herman's Hermits - Listen People (Live 1966)

For some reason, the Hermits have never really gotten their due as one of the most commercially successful of the British Invasion bands. Sure, they may be better known for being a cheekier version of the early Beatles, with hits like I'm Into Something Good, and I'm Henry VIII, I Am. But the fact is that Listen People cuts to the heart of the human condition in under three minutes. In concert, the impossibly youthful Peter Noone says it's his favorite. And now it's mine too.

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Traveling Wilburys - End Of The Line

Traveling Wilburys - Handle With Care

Just a cool song with some great legends.

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RIP Tony Scott

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJ1bsQ9cVGA

An absolutely fascinating interview with late director Tony Scott, recorded in November 2011 to promote Unstoppable. Whatever the causes of his suicide in late August, Scott's love of film craft and focus on his process (other works include Top Gun, True Romance and Man on Fire) will be sorely missed.

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Warner Brothers Does The Right Thing

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/warner-bros-gangster-squad-january-11-reshoot-theater-354623

In the wake of the mass Dark Knight Rises theatre shooting in Colorado, Warner Brothers decided yesterday to move its upcoming Gangster Squad from September 7 to January 11, out of  respect for the  victims, due to a reshoot of an intense and prolonged shooting scene in a movie theater. Classy move.

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RIP Jerry Nelson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7hTkzEwFZ0&feature=related

You might not know Jerry Nelson by name, but if you were a child in the 1970s or 1980s and watched Sesame Street, you certainly heard his voice. Jerry died this week at the age of 78, Here he is performing his most famous character, the Count (he was also known for Robin the Frog and Floyd Pepper from the Dr. Teeth band). Rest in peace, sir. You will be sadly missed.

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Hot Dr. Pepper commercial

I am extremely curious...did anyone actually try this in the '60's...or recently? Note to self...must try at Christmas.

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I Want My MTV!

Oh, to remember a time when MTV didn't stand for Metrosexual Testosestrogenal Vidiots! Enjoy!

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xqqnbf_mtv-first-day-saturday-august-1st-1981-

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More Robin

This clip is from 1997's "One Night Only" show, recorded (if memory serves) on New Year's Eve at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. As a young, impulsive 26-year old, I plonked down $29.95 to watch what I assumed would be a one-time event on pay-per-view, never suspecting that it would be recycled on PBS almost every year since. Nevertheless, let us enjoy what will likely now become Robin Gibb's signature tune.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSxuvNGSrmc

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RIP Robin Gibb

After a morning spent trying to find a clip where Robin Gibb and Donna Summer might have performed together, I finally settled on this clip of  "(How Do You Mend) A Broken Heart", which happened to be #1 when I was born on August 21, 1971. Enjoy...and remember.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPuIoVOEx1I&feature=related

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A Hobbit Christmas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T90Holdcrps

After almost ten years, we have two Hobbit Christmasses coming, courtesy of Peter Jackson.
Can't wait!

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What Price Fame?

As I watched this remake of the 1980 classic Fame, it occured to me that, thanks to a decade of American Idol, our culture has been dumbed down as far as the expectations from, and just plain hard work required, for a career in the arts. People, "Gee, you've sung really well at our family party. You should go on American Idol!" just dosen't cut it in the real world. As Debbie Allen, star of the original film and subsequent TV series as Miss Grant, says in the series opening montage, "Fame costs. And right here (the New York City High School of Performing Arts) is where you start paying, in sweat!" The students in the original film deal with such issues as homosexuality, rape and sexual harassment, and the fact that though you may idolize a TV star, there is no guarantee that you will have that TV star's career...even if you work as hard as you can.

In the new film, the students deal with the following:

1) The hot girl from the wrong side of the tracks has a romance with (gasp!) the rich hot guy.
2) When a girl goes to see the one guy who happens to (unbelieveably) make it on his soap set, he (gasp!) makes a pass at her.

3) Teachers who unfortunately studied at the College of American Idol, unable to offer much beyond "Follow your dreams and work really hard" . This is especially tragic in the case of Kelsey Grammer, playing the idealistic teacher. He's the one adult in the cast with the chops to play the hell out of whatever backstory that would be there...except it's not.

I could go on, but you get the idea.

Here's the Fame TV opening and 1980 movie trailer:








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Congrats Dick!

http://news-briefs.ew.com/2012/03/09/dick-van-dyke-marries-makeup-artist/

This proves that it's never too late to find love. For a man who has broght the world so much joy and love, it is nice to see him get some back at the age of 86.

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The Monkees - Pleasant Valley Sunday - Live 1996

To remember Monkees lead singer Davy Jones, who died of a heart attack today in Florida at age 66, here is the band singing Pleasant Valley Sunday in a Los Angeles club in 1996. I chose that particular year because I saw them in the spring at Edmonton's Telus Field following a baseball game. Though the band only got to play four songs due to impending rain (including the quickest ever version of I'm A Believer as the rain started spitting), they displayed just as much fun and energy as they do here. Rest in peace Davy, and thank you!

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