Happy Birthday, Minnie!

Minnie Driver's birthday was yesterday. I had the good fortune to see her perform three times in Los Angeles in 2009 before I moved back to Wisconsin. Yeah - she sings, writes and performs guitar. One of the best voices I've had the pleasure to hear in years.

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Happy Birthday, Denny!

Happy Birthday, Dennis Wilson! December 4, 1944 - December 28, 1983. Drummer & co-founder of The Beach Boys. He is the BB I most identify with. You are missed - and loved, Denny.

Check out this re-imagined version of Denny's "Forever". Also, check out his solo PACIFIC OCEAN BLUE (1977) here. POB has appeared on several "best-of" lists including Robert Dimery's "1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die," Mojo's "Lost Albums You Must Own" and "70 of the Greatest Albums of the 70s" lists. In 2005, it was ranked #18 in GQ's "The 100 Coolest Albums in the World Right Now!" list.

Photos 1, 2 and 4 by Dean Torrence (Jan & Dean).

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Happy 74, Gordo!

Gordon Lightfoot - Canadian songwriter, musician, minstrel and poet. Can't figure for the life of me why he's not in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I know he's "folk" and "adult contemporary". So what. Leonard Cohen isn't "rock and roll" and he was inducted. Hell...Gordon should get inducted solely on "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald".

GORDO! Listen here.

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BARTON HOLLOW goes GOLD!

The Civil Wars' debut album is celebrating in Nashville on September 26th! If you haven't heard of Joy and John Paul...well, you should. Grammy Awards, Americana Music awards....I'm beginning to lose track. I first caught wind of them in April 2011 - saw them here in Milwaukee in November 2011.

Here's the official music video for the song "Barton Hollow". I should fly off to Nashville...

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TGIF! presents...Johnny Cash's "The Caretaker"!

For Bryan, Bernie & myself.

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TGIF! presents...The Beach Boys' "Do It Again". Redux!

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Beach Boys tuneage. My "tops" list.

(pictured in 1966, clockwise, starting at bottom: Dennis Wilson, Al Jardine, Mike Love, Brian Wilson & Carl Wilson)


In anticipation of seeing The Beach Boys' 50th anniversary reunion concert at the Marcus Amphitheater @ Summerfest tomorrow evening, I pondered the question, "what are my favorite BB songs?". People always ask me that. When you've been following a band since high school and are a "groupie" like me, that's a difficult question. However, when pressed to answer, I've come up with a few that stand out. Some you'll recognize - most you won't (unless you're a big fan). NOTE: This list DOES NOT reflect solo efforts by individual members and this list is not in any preferred order.

Add Some Music To Your Day
Barbara Ann
Do It Again
Don’t Worry Baby
God Only Knows
Good Timin’
I Can Hear Music
I Get Around
She Knows Me Too Well
Surf’s Up
Surfer Girl
The Lonely Sea
The Trader
This Whole World
Time to Get Alone
Wendy
von null auf hundert komm auf einen ritt mit mir adapter din auf cinch karaoke cd auf pc kofferraum geht nicht auf kurse als punkte auf einem blatt auf ihren hintern wandern auf korsika konvertieren auf schlag auf den nackten arsch keine lust auf frauen liebesspruch auf italienisch fernsehprogramm auf einen blick partition auf usb stick divx auf dvd brennen mpeg auf dvd player auf der gmx konfiguration auf outlook das haus auf den klippen kein problem auf der welt ist reime auf englisch Wouldn’t It Be Nice

Click this link to hear a few of these - and other BB "related" tunes. Can't remember what row we're in tomorrow but we're pretty close to the stage. My only regret is that brothers Carl & Dennis won't be there in person..... ;) Beach Boys RULE!

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TGIF! presents....Chicago's "Wishin You Were Here"!

Another one of my favorite bands - Chicago. I chose this song because my Beach Boys are singing back up. AND because in their infinite wisdom, the jackasses at Summerfest booked The Beach Boys and Chicago at exactly the same time this Sunday evening. Come on - a little research would show these two bands have a ton of history together and share audiences....why would you eliminate a possible surprise visit by Chicago band members on the stage where The Beach Boys are performing??

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TGIF! presents....Terri Nunn & Berlin's "Metro"!

What can I say about Terri Nunn that I haven't already said on this blog? Having only met her once, she embodies everything I appreciate in a woman - which would make her the ideal catch in a perfect world. She makes you feel like you're the only one in the audience.

Terri & Berlin performed at Milwaukee's Pridefest this past Sunday. This is the 4th time I've seen her perform - last time was in 2009 when I saw her show 3x in one year just before I moved back to Milwaukee from Los Angeles. She looks better than she did in the 80's and her voice is just as good.

I only wish more people had turned out to see this performance - kind of embarrassing when less than 1/4 of the bleachers are filled at the Miller Stage. And mind you - Terri has been taken in by the LGBT community as sort of their poster girl (or one of them, and she's straight). I guess most of the crowd that was there (which was scant) wanted to be in the techno tent instead.

Honestly, if no one had shown up and I had Terri all to myself, that would be fine.

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TGIF! presents...The Beach Boys "Re-Do It Again"!

I love that headline.

The Beach Boys (my favorite band of all-time) began their 50th anniversary reunion tour and will headline the Marcus Amphitheater on Sunday, July 1 at Summerfest in Milwaukee. My brother and I will be in the 3rd row, front center. Let's make a party of it!

In this video:  Brian Wilson (whom I met), Al Jardine, Mike Love, Bruce Johnston & David Marks (playing guitar at the 1:30 mark and who was a BB for a year and eight months and performed on their first four albums), various members of Brian's touring band including Jeff Foskett singing high notes at the :40 mark (whom I know and who's been playing with the BB's & Brian Wilson forever)  and at the :29 mark playing drums is John Cowsill (who's been playing drums for Love & Johnston's BB group for a few years) of The Cowsills, who I also met. Sadly, but forever in our hearts and souls, Dennis & Carl Wilson have both passed.

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So long, Dick Clark. You get a 100.

Great song and interview with my boys, The Beach Boys, on their first American Bandstand appearance. You will be missed, Mr. Clark.

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Safe journey, Eric Lowen...

Eric Lowen, of the singer/songwriting team Lowen & Navarro, passed away yesterday after a 9-year battle with ALS. I was acquainted with both Eric & Dan (Navarro), originally turned on to their music by my high school friend, Tina, and have seen them perform several times. Eric's courage and strength while battling his illness was quite remarkable. I also became friends with Eric's caregiver of 5 years, Julie and it was Julie who called me last night about Eric's passing.

Eric put up a helluva fight, outlasting his illness many years in comparison to others. His music will live on and will continue to inspire. I feel blessed to be privy to all that he was - and still is.

Here's Eric singing one of my favorite L&N's tunes, "If You Loved Me Like That".

This job is not a chosen one, it chooses one. It has never been easy and it is getting harder now, but I would never trade the experience for anything. The mysterious and magical thrill of writing a song, the charge of being in front of an audience, and also the exhilaration of speaking in the language of music with other musicians. It will end for me, but the songs will go on and the memories are mine forever... - Eric Lowen

I encourage you to explore the music of Lowen & Navarro. They are quite excellent. Thank you, Eric...and God Bless you.

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TGIF! presents..."Your Wildest Dreams" by The Moody Blues!

I'm a big "Moody" fan. Got it from my father. This is one of my favorites. And it goes out to a long lost friend of mine....I hope she is well. I miss her.

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TGIF! presents....The Doors' "Peace Frog"!

Not a huge Doors fan but this may be my favorite. And I like the name. Oh - a BONUS "TGIF! presents..." can be watched here.

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LIGHTFOOT! Gordo joins U.S. Songwriters Hall of Fame!

'About time' is all I gotta say. Saw him on two occasions and I was very pleased both times.

The 73-year-old Canadian, to me, is one of the most prolific "poets" in music. Ever. Read about Gordo's "feting" here. And listen to his most popular classic here - "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald".

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TGIF! presents...The Civil Wars on Letterman!

The Civil Wars are meticulous about promoting their touring - from pics to videos. Here's one in New York prior to their appearance on Letterman. The show starts around the 1:30 mark. In anticipation of the duo performing on Sunday's Grammy's (they're nominated for two Grammys), here they are - John and Joy - performing "Poison and Wine".

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More news on The Civil Wars...

Not that Civil War. These guys.

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Carl Wilson Remembered.

Carl Wilson, one of the founding members of The Beach Boys (brother to Brian and Dennis) passed away 14 years ago today. I never met Carl but I've met his sons several times -Jonah and Justyn. If they are any measure of what their father was like....

Here's a Carl solo tune, "Heaven" . Enjoy.

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A Civil Wars' Christmas tune.

A

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Happy Birthday, Gordo!

Gordon Lightfoot turned 73 on Thursday. One of the greatest singer/songwriter/poets of our time. Here's a favorite Gordo tune I'm sure you've heard.

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