|
July 24 2007
Hooty Hoot Glennmovie peeps!
What a busy few months we’ve had. Before we get to
all of the ROCK gossip, I want to announce that there will be a
screening of GT:OFTR in Baltimore, Maryland! If you live nearby in DC,
or Virginia, do pop in to say hello. The rather fantastic
Baltimore Music
Conference invited GT:OFTR to screen on Thursday, August 2nd at
9:00pm at the Cinema Lounge on the 3rd Floor at GARDEL’S. The
screening is at 9pm and we’re going to do a Q and A afterwards and
then there is a fun 80’s costume after party at 10:30pm. There will be
lots of Squeeze music of course, dancing to the rockin’ sounds
of the 80’s, prizes for best 80’s outfit, drink specials, (I’d like to
suggest a refreshing Cruisemaster Cocktail!), raffles and giveaways.
The cost is $5 for movie only/$10 after party only/$12 movie and
party! The bad news is, it’s on a school night, but the good news is,
it should be a right larf! And, what better way to gear up for
Squeeze’s appearance in Baltimore just one week later?? More
information can be found at
www.BMCon.org or
www.myspace.com/bmoremusic. Now...where are my pink converse?
I attended the fab Crowded House warm-up gig
in Pomona, CA and it was highly enjoyable. The band sounded fantastic
and they seemed happy to be onstage and grateful that they had the
opportunity to share the love! The crowd sang along often and even
Neil was surprised at how in tune everyone was while we were singing
our guts out for him! They have a new album “Time On Earth”,
which I’ve yet to purchase, but it is definitely on my wish list. They
were ‘warming up’ for their appearance at the music festival
Coachella.
Coachella takes place in the desert every year in Indio, California.
It was my first time at the festival and I was prepared for oppressive
heat, sore legs and feet, dehydration and lots of queuing for the loos:
all things that I frown upon in my old age. But, I had a VIP
press/photo pass and found the whole festival to be incredibly
enjoyable and amazing. Some of the highlights for me: The Feeling,
Crowded House, Willie Nelson and Explosions in the
Sky. I was down in the pit taking pics for the first few songs.
Rage Against the Machine were headlining the day we went and let’s
just say that they were raging against everyone but the Machine. I
noticed a dark, angry energy take over the crowd ‘round about Willie
Nelson’s set, which the first 80 rows of Rage fans completely ignored.
By the time CH bounded onstage after Willie, the crowd were restless
and Raging Against Any Band That Wasn’t Rage. As Neil Finn opened the
show to my fave CH song “When You Come”, I was overwhelmed with
happiness because I was five feet in front of the band in the pit...
until I got beaned upside the back of the head with a full bottle of
water thrown by a Rage fan. Warm feeling over! Showing my age, I was
most excited about the CH reunion at Coachella... whereas everyone
else under 35 were there to see Rage. Oh well! Neil got hit by a water
bottle later as well, but I buffered the first tag for him! No need to
thank me Neil.
In other news-the Squeeze gigs have begun and
apparently, they’ve been fantastic! All Squeeze news can be found on
www.squeezefan.com
but of course, my personal favorite is
www.packetofthree.com! Glenn and Chris have certainly made the UK
radio/press rounds in support of the “Essential Squeeze” and
it’s great to really feel a tangible groundswell of Squeeze love
taking place. Lily Allen, The View, and now Travis
are doing covers of Squeeze songs and it’s about damn time!!
I saw The Police in concert at Dodger
Stadium. Some of you may remember the love fest that was The Police
press conference/rehearsal at the Whisky A Go Go in February. Well,
yes, they rocked in person... in February... from the front row.. in a
tiny club. Did they rock at Dodger Stadium? Not so much. I was not
rocked in the least. So, I’d just like to send out a personal “WHAT
ARE YOU GUYS THINKING???” message to Sting and the boys. The tour
was advertised as no new material... just hit after luscious Police
hit. No backing horns or dancing ladies. Perfect. Just the ROCK. I was
freaking out with joy over seeing all the merchandise for the tour -
they were rocking it old school in all the shirts and posters with
images of the band from the 80’s. That led me to believe that I was
going to be in for a real treat. I knew my seats were horrible and
that the sound in the stadium would be less than stellar. However, I
was traumatized over the neutering.... the castration.... the complete
lack of rational thinking over the way they decided to present their
back catalogue. Not one single Police song played that night was in
the original tempo or key. Every single song was filled with jazzy,
noodly bullshit. (yeah, I said it!) My concert mate and I were playing
“Guess the Police song” when each one started and we couldn’t guess
any of them because they were so unrecognizable!
I was excited to see three musicians at the peak of
their musicianship, kicking the asses of all the young bands out
there. What I found was on par with a Kenny G show. The main
thought that ran through my mind was that Squeeze would NEVER
do this to their fans. For those Police sycophants who are gearing up
to email me in angry protest - shut up. I didn’t go expecting versions
identical to the albums. What I expected was rock and roll not easy
listening smooth jazz. Squeeze play the hits but with extra added
goodness.... they don’t play their songs in such a way that you can’t
recognize them anymore! Sting... listen up... pay attention to Glenn
and Chris.
The highlight of my life so far: I was lucky enough
to see
Paul McCartney’s ‘secret’ gig in Los Angeles. Macca
decided to do a few ickle gigs to promote his new album “Memory
Almost Full”. I really admire Paul for taking his career to the
next level. He’s thinking outside the box by signing to the Starbucks
label, premiering a video on You Tube, blogging, posting videos
online, providing giveaways and contests online for the fans, etc...
He’s proactive when he doesn’t have to be and I think he’s fab. Seeing
him live, in a tiny record store (Amoeba Records in Hollywood) from
about 30 feet away was an amazing, exhilarating, inspiring experience.
It’s easy to dog on Paul for his thumbs aloft persona, but when you
see him so close in such an intimate gig, you realize that he’s an
amazing musician and he fucking rocks. He shredded the bass on “Drive
My Car” and “Only Mama Knows”. My head blew off of my body
when he rocked “I’ve Got a Feeling” and went into the screechy
Paul bits of “OH YEAH!!”. Ringo was there a few rows
over from me and it added to the special feeling in the room. Tears
were shed, we sang along, we nodded our heads and we all felt very
grateful. It still blows my tiny mind when I think about it. I wish
Paul could play more tiny surprise gigs. I think it would reinstate
his ‘bad ass’-ness. Yep, he’s old enough to be my dad, but he
ROCKED. I left thinking that there IS nothing you can do that
can't be done!
So please everyone, have a safe and fun summer.
Squeeze are touring the US and you’ll be able to buy the GT:OFTR DVD
at the merch stand if you haven’t bought it already!! Spread the
glennmovie love while you’re at the shows. Recommended ever so casual
conversation in the beer line between two of you:
Squeeze fan #1: (loudly) “Gosh that critically
acclaimed feel good DVD “Glenn Tilbrook: One For The Road”
sure is a fine movie.”
Squeeze fan #2: (even louder) “Do you mean the
documentary that follows Glenn on his first solo tour of America in
an unreliable RV?”
Squeeze fan #1: “Yes! I not only bought the DVD,
but I watched it when it aired on VH1Classic. It also features live,
acoustic versions of all the Squeeze songs we know and love!”
Squeeze fan #2: “ I heard that it was fabulous,
but where can I buy it so I can watch it repeatedly without ever
leaving my house?”
Squeeze fan #1: “After we get our beers and corn
dogs, we can go over to the Squeeze merch table. They are selling it
there for a very convenient, low low price. It’s worth every penny!”
Squeeze fan #2: “That is a great idea!!!! And you
know what? I’m going to post a review on
Netflix AND
Amazon after I watch this fantastic film to spread the love even
more!”
and... scene. You could also have a similar
conversation in the bathroom, in the line at the merch stand, (Hey,
even if you have the DVD, pretend you don’t and ask the merch guy
about it so others will hear you talking about it. Talk it up people!)
Thanks y’all!!!
See you at
the Squeeze shows!
wif luv,
amyx
[Previous] [Archive] [Next]
|
