Friday, November 4, 2016

Whoops, I lost

Well I guess I'll just go ahead and admit it.
I got sick. I don't ever get sick. I'm not used to it, I swear. If I was, I probably could've continued, but I couldn't.
I failed at the 30 days of Floyd thing. THERE I SAID IT.
Whatever sickness I had, it was just an energy drain. It wasn't even the worst thing ever, but juggling school and sickness meant that I just didn't have time for Floyd.
I did start writing something when I was sick, though, which I will post here after this page break, as is. Because I love things unfinished for some reason. There's some weird life in it.
I ended up wanting to do the first Dark Side concert because it is special for many reasons. I think I even say that somewhere. I already did a Dark Side concert here, and I danced around things I already said. So there.
I will be back for the Early Years box set. I am throwing a party just for it. There will be pulled pork and plates of ketchup packets that spell out "it's only a lifetime".

Saturday, October 29, 2016

An old W.I.P. paper on Altamont

I did this sometime this year, but never finished it. I really wanted to, too, but I just ran out of motivation. I'm sick, and I'm not used to being sick, so instead of Pink Floyd I'll just post this as is. I love posting unfinished works for some reason, especially one like this where there's some small notes.

I think this started as a sort of documentary-based script that just ended up a report as time went on. I just really wanted to includes sources.

I spent a lot of time with that's already here, diving into personal accounts, old newspaper articles around the time (very interesting actually due to all the false information further away the source) and the remaining footage, as well as cross referencing concerts the bands played around the same year for comparisons in set list and "comfortability" levels. Interestingly enough, through this I found out that 1969 Santana is pretty unknown territory. There's not a lot of known set lists from this time period besides the obvious Woodstock concert. There's a little more information for 1968 live Santana, though, so it's just really weird.
And yes, those MLA sources are wrong, but I like having web URLs in my sources for easy access.

Tuesday, October 25, 2016

30 Days of Floyd, Day 15 - May 15, 1988

May 15, 1988

Veterans Stadium, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Welcome to the month of Pink Floyd, where I’ll be celebrating the 30-day countdown until the release of the Early Years box set. Technically, it’s 31 days, but I’ll be celebrating the 31st day differently… maybe. I’m bad at commitment.
The plan is to look at 30 random concerts from Pink Floyd history, even going past the content covered in the Early Years.

I finally get to talk about a 1988 concert. It’s one of my favorite for several reasons, and it’s in Philly. May 15, 1988.
This is rated M for Philadelphia.

Monday, October 24, 2016

30 Days of Floyd, Day 14 - September 17, 1969

September 17, 1969

Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Welcome to the month of Pink Floyd, where I’ll be celebrating the 30-day countdown until the release of the Early Years box set. Technically, it’s 31 days, but I’ll be celebrating the 31st day differently… maybe. I’m bad at commitment.
The plan is to look at 30 random concerts from Pink Floyd history, even going past the content covered in the Early Years.

I think it would be a national crime if I didn’t talk about this concert. September 17, 1969, the most popular recording from Floyd.

Friday, October 21, 2016

30 Days of Floyd, Day 11 - June 30, 1990

June 30, 1990
Knebworth Park, Knebworth, England
Welcome to the month of Pink Floyd, where I’ll be celebrating the 30-day countdown until the release of the Early Years box set. Technically, it’s 31 days, but I’ll be celebrating the 31st day differently… maybe. I’m bad at commitment.
The plan is to look at 30 random concerts from Pink Floyd history, even going past the content covered in the Early Years.

It’s the only Pink Floyd concert from 1990, it’s the Knebworth Park Festival from June 30, 1990.

Thursday, October 20, 2016

30 Days of Floyd, Day 10 - February 7, 1980

February 7, 1980

Exposition Park, Los Angeles, California

Welcome to the month of Pink Floyd, where I’ll be celebrating the 30-day countdown until the release of the Early Years box set. Technically, it’s 31 days, but I’ll be celebrating the 31st day differently… maybe. I’m bad at commitment.
The plan is to look at 30 random concerts from Pink Floyd history, even going past the content covered in the Early Years.

We’re doing the Wall! It’s February 7, 1980 in good old Los Angeles.

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

30 Days of Floyd, Day 9 - September 13, 1967

September 13, 1967

Star Club, Copenhagen, Denmark

Welcome to the month of Pink Floyd, where I’ll be celebrating the 30-day countdown until the release of the Early Years box set. Technically, it’s 31 days, but I’ll be celebrating the 31st day differently… maybe. I’m bad at commitment.
The plan is to look at 30 random concerts from Pink Floyd history, even going past the content covered in the Early Years.

Another 1967 concert, this time its September 13, 1967. I’m tired today, so a shorter concert is a more realistic option for me.

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

30 Days of Floyd, Day 8 - March 18, 1973

March 18, 1973

The Palace Theater, Waterbury, CT, USA

Welcome to the month of Pink Floyd, where I’ll be celebrating the 30-day countdown until the release of the Early Years box set. Technically, it’s 31 days, but I’ll be celebrating the 31st day differently… maybe. I’m bad at commitment.
The plan is to look at 30 random concerts from Pink Floyd history, even going past the content covered in the Early Years.

Continuing our apparent streak of Dark Side concerts, this takes place on March 18, 1973 during the second half of the Dark Side tour.

Monday, October 17, 2016

30 Days of Floyd, Day 7 - December 5, 1972

December 5, 1972

Forest National / Vorst Nationaal, Brussels, Belgium

Welcome to the month of Pink Floyd, where I’ll be celebrating the 30-day countdown until the release of the Early Years box set. Technically, it’s 31 days, but I’ll be celebrating the 31st day differently… maybe. I’m bad at commitment.
The plan is to look at 30 random concerts from Pink Floyd history, even going past the content covered in the Early Years.

The concert in review is from December 5, 1972, from the Dark Side of the Moon tour. Yes, we’re here. I actually picked this one because it’s my personal favorite. I cannot do this concert justice.

Saturday, October 15, 2016

30 Days of Floyd, Day 5 - January 27, 1967

January 27, 1967

UFO Club, London, England

Welcome to the month of Pink Floyd, where I’ll be celebrating the 30-day countdown until the release of the Early Years box set. Technically, it’s 31 days, but I’ll be celebrating the 31st day differently… maybe. I’m bad at commitment.
The plan is to look at 30 random concerts from Pink Floyd history, even going past the content covered in the Early Years.

I’m on vacation, so I’m cheating today. It’s, as far as I know, the first concert bootlegers have of Floyd, which is from the Granada TV documentary “Scene Special”, recorded January 27, 1967 and broadcasted on March 7, 1967.

Friday, October 14, 2016

30 Days of Floyd, Day 4 - April 29, 1970

April 29, 1970

Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA, USA

Welcome to the month of Pink Floyd, where I’ll be celebrating the 30-day countdown until the release of the Early Years box set. Technically, it’s 31 days, but I’ll be celebrating the 31st day differently… maybe. I’m bad at commitment.
The plan is to look at 30 random concerts from Pink Floyd history, even going past the content covered in the Early Years.

The concert in review a soundboard recording from the Fillmore on April 29, 1970. Thank you, Fillmore, for hosting the majority of my early 70s soundboard bootlegs. Well, it’s mostly Grateful Dead, but there’s others too.

Thursday, October 13, 2016

30 Days of Floyd, Day 3 - July 18, 1994

July 18, 1994

Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Welcome to the month of Pink Floyd, where I’ll be celebrating the 30-day countdown until the release of the Early Years box set. Technically, it’s 31 days, but I’ll be celebrating the 31st day differently… maybe. I’m bad at commitment.
The plan is to look at 30 random concerts from Pink Floyd history, even going past the content covered in the Early Years.

Today’s concert is from the Division Bell tour from July 18, 1994. The last (full) North American concert ever.

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

30 Days of Floyd, Day 2 - October 17, 1971

October 17, 1971

Golden Hall, San Diego, CA, USA

Welcome to the month of Pink Floyd, where I’ll be celebrating the 30-day countdown until the release of the Early Years box set. Technically, it’s 31 days, but I’ll be celebrating the 31st day differently… maybe. I’m bad at commitment.
The plan is to look at 30 random concerts from Pink Floyd history, even going past the content covered in the Early Years.

The concert in review is from October 17, 1971, the second performance from the Meddle Tour.

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

30 Days of Floyd, Day 1 - April 26, 1975

April 26, 1975

Los Angeles Sports Arena, Los Angeles, CA, USA

Welcome to the month of Pink Floyd, where I’ll be celebrating the 30-day countdown until the release of the Early Years box set. Technically, it’s 31 days, but I’ll be celebrating the 31st day differently… maybe. I’m bad at commitment.
The plan is to look at 30 random concerts from Pink Floyd history, even going past the content covered in the Early Years.

The first concert is, actually, the best sounding audience recording available.

Saturday, May 28, 2016

Pink Floyd - Sources of live versions (dates, songs, location, etc.)

The Pink Floyd Concerts
Looks can be deceiving.
Because none of these concerts were fully released.
One was fully released on film, one released minus encore.

The Monkees - Good Times (2016)

The Monkees

Good Times!

The Monkees’ Good Times! The first album of newly recorded material since 1996’s Justus. That’s right, The Monkees name is alive again for the fourth time (original run, Pool It!, Justus, Good Times!). And even Michael Nesmith joins us!
                Don’t forget that we’ve been getting a lot of unreleased material for the last 15 years, in Rhino’s deluxe edition releases (the last new album being the Summer 1967: The Complete U.S. Concert Recordings album in 2001, and the last re-issue being The Monkees in 2014). For some reason, no one asked for a Monkees resurgence, but here we are.

Monday, January 18, 2016

David Bowie - David Bowie (The 1967 Album)

David Bowie

David Bowie

1 June 1967

                Bowie’s first album has a very different tone than what you expect. It’s pop. A sort of baroque pop.
                It’s actually very hard to talk about this album seriously, due to its content and what came after it. That and I can’t even compare it to any other artists. No one but Bowie can do this drastic change of genre. Even ELO’s first band, The Idle Race, has the themes that continued into ELO. David Bowie the album is almost generic, but Bowie’s songwriting saves it.
                I think the right thing to say about this album is that it doesn’t fit. It doesn’t fit in Bowie’s catalogue, it doesn’t even fit in 1967 standards. Lyrically it does fit into Bowie’s catalogue, with some lyrics mentioning abortion and cannibalism and overall pushing the edge with storytelling.
                Bowie’s vocals are strange. I feel like he’s not putting as much effort into it as he would later, and it shows. Rubber Band is an exception, as Bowie’s vocals slowly become more powerful. He even yells off-mic to “play that thing!”  
                The album starts off pretty weak, but starting at Rubber Band it gets better. There Is a Happy Land has an enjoyable premise and We Are Hungry Men is the real Bowie trying to shine; more of a rebellious theme which just sounds silly in a baroque pop album. It does end in the best way; Bowie singing in the rain while digging a grave with no instruments in the background while he occasionally inserts an "oh god..." That's great. 

                I just think it’s weird that I don’t like this. I’ve got albums from bands like The Left Banke that have the same baroque style, and The Left Banke’s album Walk Away RenĂ©e/Pretty Ballerina was also released in 1967. But I’d take that album (with a name so generic that you’d think the songs would follow suit) over David Bowie (the 1967 album).
                But thank God he’s David Bowie, and there is something for everyone.

Overall:
                Generic 60’s pop sound with Bowie’s songwriting and voice. For me, it just doesn’t reach anything higher than average. Even after having this album for a while.
Highlights:
·         Rubber Band (because it’s how the whole album should be)
·         Love You till Tuesday (because it’s how the whole album also should be)
·         We Are Hungry Men (because the vocals are good and cannibalism)
·         When I Live My Dream (if you are like me and imagine Roy Orbison singing this song)
·         Please Mr. Gravedigger (because it’s perfect)