THE BABA O'REILY FACTOR

OK OK, so I've been gone for a while. I left you with that Big Man on Bleecker Street piece and then I disappeared. First thing's first. Sorry about that.

I've since moved from the big city and my new role as Bob Vila has taken up much of my time. But I'd be dead without constant music bellowing through the rafters of my 100 year old house. The house Gods have tried to tear out my spirit and keep me occupied thinking that if I don't tend to and think about the house 24/7 then it's going to fall down.

But, lately I've deviated from that attitude and wandered back into my comfort zone. It's been hard to find time but thanks to The Who and 9/11, I'm back in the game. On 9/11, Q104.3 played excerpts from the The Concert for New York City. I remember the Who, after all those years, completely sending 25,000 firemen, cops, and fans into a complete frenzy when Baba O'Reily, perhaps the best "turn up the volume when it begins" song began with it's famous keyboard intro. To put the icing on the cake, those same 25,000 kept up with Pete Townsend word for word when he cut into the "Don't Cryyyy, don't raise your eyeeee, it's on-leeeeee teen-age waste-laaaaand" interlude. Chills, tears, thoughts of what it was like to be in a completely changed New York and country in the weeks and months following 9/11, you name it, I had the feelings.

Thank you Roger, Pete, John, and Keith for getting me back to what I love.

STAGE ONE: BIG MAN ON BLEECKER STREET

Taking a day off from work after a holiday weekend is something everyone should do at some point in their life. And I don't mean staying out of town a couple of days after. I mean just taking the day off in your own part of town and acting like the complete tourist you wish you could be when you rush to and from work and race to stay with your daily routine.

Living in one of New York's most tourista neighborhoods,and only blocks from about 10 others, I find myself on this Tuesday after Memorial Day enjoying a morning sitting at a wobbly table outside an overpriced cafe on Bleecker and MacDougal Streets in the West Village, eating stale scones, drinking bitter coffee and loving every second of it (I hope the cafe manager doesn't monitor this 'cause this is their wireless service I'm using).

When I got here, the manager had something resembling 9 inch nails going on the speakers. It quickly changed to someone resembling Roy Orbison singing in the style of Johnny Cash. I was able to hear it until a table full of ladies who must meet here on a regular basis, showed up simulataneously and started exchanging holiday weekend stories. No matter, I never do this and I will soak up the Johnny Orbison while the loud trucks and street sweepers barrel by to help the ladies drown out the music until I stop writing this entry.

Today, or this morning anyway, I am the Big Man on Bleecker Street. Not Mulberry Street, like the Billy Joel song - come to think of it, that's another great street to do this. Yes I'm huddling around my laptop (pause for deafening street sweeper - ok I can think again) staying low profile, and according to all who pass, another pretentious tourist who must seem starved to feel important. But what they don't know will be their downfall. Today, I blend into the neighborhood as an out of towner even though I live 100 feet from this cafe. But nobody will know. I will keep my secret identity and roam the streets fighting crime and....oh wait, jeez, I gotta cut down on the comic books.

Johnny Orbison sounds more like Dean Martin now. Perhaps the cafe has run its course. Coffee done, scone done - hey wait, did I even eat it? No big deal friends. Stage one of the day after Memorial Day is complete. What does the day have in store? Perhaps a restaurant playing Symphonic Queen with a bunch of construction workers on break?

Stay tuned to find out.

59th STREET SMACKDOWN: 50 CENT VS. RUSH

The following is an account of events that took place at a watering hole on 59th Street aptly named "Bar" following Serenity Now's one run softball victory about 30 minutes earlier.

WECLOME FANS TO THE MUSIC EVENT OF THE CENTURY!

It all comes down to this, it's the end all be all of civilization as we on the music circuit know it. It's the war to settle the score, the whole 9 yards, kit and kabudle, shootin' match, and enchilada in one.

WHOA NELLY, wait I mean 50 Cent, wait I mean Ludacris. Honestly folks I don't know what I mean. The euphoria has just taken over.

Where is Popeye Doyle when you need him because this place looks like a scene right out of The French Connection or maybe The Pope of Greenich Village! The black and white tile floors, no beer on the tap, the Yeungling as the most appealing bottled beer on the shelf. I tell ya, the only thing missing folks are the sweathogs from Welcome Back Kotter.

OK, and now the teams seem ready to face off at the juke box. The home team gets first dibbs.

Oh, what a move, regular lonely single guy at end of bar, whiskey sour in hand, inserts 5 dollars - this guy means business folks - and he starts off with 50 Cent. Hey, you want a little drink with your ice there my friend? He grips the straw tightly and ohhhhhh, it's 50 Cent again. The softballers look shaken, I don't know, will they be able to counter this magnificent display of music selection, so far away from their home turf? In the meantime, it looks like a clean sweep of 50 Cent -dollars spent and Mr. Whiskey Sour goes back to his corner. The bartender and patrons shake and move to the sounds of 50 Cent while the newcomers aren't even in it eating pizza and watching baseball. Looks like it's over before it starts. BUT WAIT, what's this?

Jason, Will and Chris approach the middle - the patrons look on in disbelief. In goes the money and the softballers put their faith in Jason to counter the horrific blows they just took.

We wait patiently.....and, what's this? IT SEEMS THE GAME IS AFOOT! CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS? NEVER IN MY YEARS DID I EVER THINK I'D SEE SUCH BOLDNESS! ESPECIALLY FROM NEWCOMERS.

It's AC/DC folks and Hells Bells, and it puts the softballers back in the game. What a counter but ohhhhhh my lord....the comeback is almost complete.....it's BECK baby....BECK with Where It's At.....oh this isn't fair....where did these guys learn how to do this......? OH NO....the bartender looks scared now. Whiskey Sour lonely man is now sucking on the watered down $10 drinks for dear life now! And while we....oh wait...no it cant' be, where did they the brass ones big enough to....could it be folks....YES! It's the Trump Card I never thought would be played again but the softballers have done it!

That is Neal Purtz and yes that is RUSH I hear, and YYZ no less. And wait, that's it! The Ref has stepped in and is stopping the match! 50 Cent is down! Down I tell you, sprawled out like a bully who took one too many lunch moneys!

It's over and Rush with the help of AC/DC and Beck has helped the softballers get a key victory on the road.

But what's this now?

The crowd is going wild! The softballers are up and leaving now ladies and gents. They are just leaving with police escorts....the bottles and napkins come in from every which way. I wouldn't want to be them now. Here come the mounties...ohhhhh there'll be retribution for this, but in the end, this cinderella story will be one for the ages.

For now, we sign off, but we'll back on June 4th. Will the softballers go to 2-0?

Be there to find out!

COOL THOUGHTS IN THE HEAT OF DAY

Man oh man how the weather changes here in a hurry!

Just a few days ago I was freezing my butt off thinking of beaches and steel drums. Now, just a few days removed, the weather is bright, the sun feels warm and my IPod finally randomly selected more than 2 songs in a row that I was in the mood to hear!

Going for a casual walk and running errands on the back streets of New York's Meat Packing district, The Cowboy Junkies' Anniversary Song quietly moves me along Hudson Street. Turning left onto West 13th, Johnny Cash's only known collaboration with U2 - The Wanderer - lights up the headphones. As I turn right onto 9th Avenue towards Chelsea Market, the view of New York's newest "Most Trendiest Area" is in full view. Restaurants galore, sidewalk cafe's packed with brunchgoers, I laugh as Rod Stewart's Some Guys Have All the Luck finds its way into the random selection (how many guys do you know that would admit they have this song in their collection).

Random Thought: 5 Years ago, this area was deserted. The Old Homestead and the Western Beef supermarket were the only reasons you came to this area, other than Hogs n' Heffers. Now it's another place. Stella McCartney opens a store here and now its Rodeo Drive. No matter, the sun and the music have me on another planet.

At Western Beef I head straight for the freezer - it's a walk in room where the temperature is like 12 degrees but feels great coming in out of the sun. You can take it for 5 minutes before growing frost on your mouth.

Random thought: The register lines at this place are legendary. The prices are cheap so people load up. If it takes less than a solid 15-20 minutes to be checked out, you've won.

It was right then that Phish's You Enjoy Myself makes a cameo. The song is 11 minutes in length and gets me through the line in fine fashion. Back to West 4th, and this is no joke, John Denver's Take Me Home Country Roads chimes in.

Random thought: This is my least favorite part about going to Western Beef...West 4th is narrow and brunch is all of a sudden the new "dinner." Why did NY restauranteurs think it was a good idea to put restaurants on the sidewalk that accommodate huge groups when there is no room on the sidewalk in the first place? Or better yet, how many licks does it take to get to the Tootsie Roll center of a Tootsie Pop?

The world may never know.

WARM THOUGHTS IN EYE OF THE STORM

Let's just get this out of the way: I despise the word "NOREASTER."

Not only because it's a corny fashionable word used by cheesy weather people, not only because it translates into: "Don't leave your house because you will perish," but mostly because they are cold, raw storms that happen right when you think the weather is going to turn warm. It's like mother nature saying "Ah ah ah, spring isn't here yet, I've still got 2 blizzards to unload!"

The other night I was out with a friend who was more than happy to share her suggestions for future podcasts and other things for the blog. But the one that stood out was the Steel Drums version of Brown Eyed Girl. With this latest wave of crappy weather more fit for inhabitants of Mount Doom, producing more "Calgon, take me away" moments than I'd like to admit, the thought of this song done to island music, immediately put me on a beach in the Caribbean, mixed drink in hand and not caring about anything except how to keep it going.

Thanks M (first initial of nameless friend because I don't have her consent).

In summary, Steel Drums, Cover of Brown Eyed Girl, Warm thoughts, good times. Check into it.

FUN SONG TITLES, FUN SOUNDS, DEPRESSING SONGS

The song Peace Frog by Jim Morrison and Co. (aka The Doors) is a terrific party song. OR IS IT?

While the song title is kooky and the song's tempo is upbeat and great to listen to after a couple of beers while socializing with your peers, this song is really a cry to end bloodshed and violence. Knowing this, why do we still start pseudo-dancing, drink in hand when we hear this song at bars? Consider it WRONG Music for the Situatino. And why stop here.

There are tons of songs out there that people party to and even have as a first dance song at their wedding that couldn't be further from appropriate. Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U," sounds like a love song, right? Sure. But the song is more anti-love than a get together at Darth Vader's place. Sinead was basically saying that she'll come across lot's of mean people in her life but Nothing Compares to you, the one who caused me more pain and suffering than anyone I've ever met.

One line that most folks know from The Pretender's "My City Was Gone," is "Ayy oh way to go Ohio." A tribute to the Chrissy Hynde's home state - because she's so proud to be from there right? Guess again. Until I listened closely to the words, I had no idea this song was even called "My City Was Gone." The song is a tribute, but it's a tribute to how the state of Ohio had lost it's character after she came back from living in Sheffield, England. Not so upbeat - even though I turn up the radio every time I hear it.

So is it us, the fans, or the musicians? Are we bad people for not listening to the words, or are the musicians just that twisted to sing about depressing things while surrounding them upbeat tunes? We may never know, but one thing's for certain, I won't stop pseudo-dancing.

THE TRUTH ABOUT RADIO EDITS

When I'm not listening to an IPod or Internet Radio, I listen to New York City's classic rock station Q104.3(WAXQ).

I stopped listening to top 40 stations the minute after I heard The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again," perhaps one of the greatest rock songs ever made, on a local top 40 station. Why? You ask?

Because they play the edited version from The Who's Greatest Hits which cuts out the most amazing 1 minute of music ever recorded. I'm talking about the keyboard solo, which as far as I'm concerned, can be the whole song and they can cut out the other 7 minutes.

How can you make that song a radio edit? The Who is one of the greatest international rock bands ever (as I wrote that, Who Are You came on Q104), and editing any of there music is like allowing the Vatican to put advertising billboards on St. Peter's square. Sac-relig to the fullest extent. Radio edits are reserved for the one hit wonders, or the ones who don't write their own material and get contracts courtesy of American Idol, or by marrying record execs. What stinks is that radio stations have no idea how to edit songs.

Billy Joel's "Pressure," a prime example of a song that gets the greatest hits treatment on top 40 stations, never includes the "Two Men Out and Three Men On" verse. Classic rock stations like Q104 play The Nylon Curtain version as it was meant to be played. Even Joan Osbourne's "One of Us" is edited badly - The album verion starts with a sweet old lady singing a gospel tune followed by an instrumental lead in - I heard the radio edit first and when I heard the album version, it completely changed the face of the song.

Bottom line is, the truth about radio edits is that they are unnecessary, and folks who want to hear good music will never know that other versions of songs exist if all they listen to is top 40. If you happen to be reading this and your name is Casey Casem, no disrespect.

PODCAST 3 - COVER SONGS

Guess what folks - Podcast 3 Cover Songs is now ready to go. I decided to take this one on myself because I love doing this so much so enjoy and let's hear some feedback. It's always welcome.

Some show highlights:
FEATURED ARTISTS: The Beatles, Our Lady Peace (Tomorrow Never Knows), The Clash, Annie Lennox (Train in Vain), Black Sabbath, The Cardigans (Iron Man) LISTEN HERE

VIRGIN RADIO UK - WORLD RADIO SUPERPOWER

One of the best innovations of the past decade for music lovers - only second to the IPod - is no doubt Internet Radio.

Some of you may have no idea what I'm talking about, but if you were a child of the 1980's when leg warmers, Cabbage Patch Kids, and Pac Man Fever ruled the earth, you had a boom box - you know the kind you could either carry around as one unit or use as a stereo when you detached the speakers, and waited desperately to hit play and record on your tape deck when a great song came on the top 40 stations. Lot's of times you were pissed because the DJ would talk over the music.

Then Internet Radio comes along in the mid 90's and all of a sudden you start listening to radio stations from cities across the world from Budapest to Dublin to Fresno. And when you listen to the commericals and the DJ's, they talk about local happenings, advertising local TV and local businesses, as if you lived there. Not sure about you but when I hooked onto this, I stopped listening to local radio all together. But through all the stations that became known through the internet, the undisputed heavyweight champion that has set the standard in internet radio becoming the world's most listened to station, is no doubt, VIRGIN RADIO UK. Yeah, the company that Richard Branson owns. In the words of Kelly LeBrock, don't hate him because he's beautiful!

Listening to this station has meant many things for me. It's meant a whole new level of great rock and pop music that you almost never hear in the US. It's meant revisiting all those bands from my childhood, who made it here for 15 minutes in the early 80's but continued on to great things in the UK. It's meant a whole new fresh perspective on music not readily available on local top 40 hit stations that have libraries the size of my hand. It's meant realizing just how many points the UK is above us on the hip and happening scale (A recent article in New York magazine totally supports this point).

Most of all it's meant a large expansion of my music horizon - which consisted of top 40 until the arrival of the world radio superpower that is Virgin Radio UK.

A LILY IN THE FIELD

I'm a big fan of Saturday Night Live and have been for years. But I hate to say that my love for SNL has diminished a good amount because let's face it, the writing just sucks. Tina Fey leaves and the writing goes to garbage.

I've therefore concetrated my viewership of each show to the musical guest. I've found that SNL's musical guests are mainly in sync with that of the British Music Scene and what you can hear on Virgin Radio UK - http://www.virginradio.co.uk.

Some bands that have been on both include Franz Ferdinand, The Scissor Sisters, Keane, and Snow Patrol. But the one act I recently caught on the episode with Drew Barrymore (which was hilarious by the way), was a very fresh and original sound by the name of Lily Allen. She performed her pop hit "Smile" and I did one of those "Oh that's who sings this?" when she started playing. How to characterize her?

Think Nora Jones meets Sid Vicious.

After seeing her, I went to ITunes the next day and sampled her music. I loved it so much that I downloaded the album. I look for original sounding stuff all the time and lemme tell you, if you're into off the wall and out of the ordinary, Lily Allen is a great alternative. Her voice is sweet but she herself is anything but. She's kind of strange looking and has that ska Sex Pistols underground Bri-ish way about her and also sings with a British accent. She doesn't hide it like many other rock stars. The beats are original and even though the songs are fun sounding, the words are completely depressing. NO WEDDING SONGS HERE!

The bottom line about Lily Allen is, she's found a way to take many approaches to music and create one sound. She's also probably very self accomplished, unlike the American Idolers who are told what to sing and when. If you listen to songs like LDN and Take What You Take, you'll know right off that these songs were not created by record execs.

I just hope she's not a one album wonder. I'd love to see her around for years to come.

THIS IS DEFINITELY OUR COUNTRY - MELLENCAMP'S REBIRTH

As a big reader of ESPN's Page 2, I am always intrigued how columnist opinions sway the millions who can't think for themselves towards their own opinions. Ever since the Chevy ads sporting John Mellencamp's "This is our Country" came out, every columnist on this site has been calling Mellencamp a sellout, and saying things like, "the official passing of John Mellencamp." Some more than once.

I've now been hearing this song on the radio quite a bit, and guess what - this is a GREAT song! Not only that, I'ts a welcomed return for Mellencamp to the raw grass roots music we all love him for. Even if you hate this song because of what it was done originally for, you can't hate the song itself. And ONLY John Mellencamp can sing it. PAGE 2 ers need to develop their own opinions and tell those overhyped morons just looking to get a response, "Hey, you're way off base. You wouldn't know good music if it swam up and bit you in the ASS!"

Compare this "Anthem" type song to a similar song written by Paul McCartney specifically for the 9/11 Concert for New York City. Country flows nicely, and is great to listen to and it took more than 7 minutes to write. As a New Yorker, I was totally embarrassed by that McCartney song "Freedom," the supposed anthem we should all sing when we band together for 9/11. Everyone praised McCartney for writing such a great song that embodied our very souls and made us proud to be Americans and blahdee blahdee blahhhhshut the bleep up!

Everyone crucifies Mellencamp for doing the Chevy ad. But why? I don't know why Chevy didn't get him as the spokesperson years ago. Springsteen would have been the only person more perfect.

My advice for Page 2 folks whether you're a columnist or a reader, if you're so hung up on Mellencamp the sellout, then turn off your TV and put on the radio for a change, and listen up!

CORNERSHOPPING THE MARKET ON ROCKY BALBOA

Back in the mid 90's, an Indian-British Alternative Rock act emerged from under the wing of the immortal Oasis and combined rock with ska with rap. The band: Cornershop.

Many of their songs I would only recommend for personal listening pleasure. They are a weird group with a host of different sounds. They're a great escape from all the one dimensional sounds out there. If you're in the mood for funky and different, these guys are perfect.

But I'd love to know where these guys get their album and song titles.

My favorite song of Cornershop's is a fast moving southern rock sounding number called "Lessons Learned from Rocky I to Rocky III." The album it came from? "Handcream for a Generation."

I've listened to the song easily 20 times. Not only will I never be able to figure out what this song even remotely means, but I still can't understand every word sung, even by listening closely (and don't give me that lyrics.com shit - you're a bunch of sell out cheaters!).

Some lines I do know are "Super Models and they can't get enough of it, oooooh, the over grown super shit," or "Lesson 3 is to ignore 4." I think that's my favorite. Rocky III was the peak of the Rocky franchise. Rocky IV was just a video game. So heed the lesson all of you who will see Rocky Balboa and have not seen any of the first 5. Ignore 4, and 5 for that matter because neither of them happened.

As for the song, it's great to listen to get yourself going, and especially before a sporting event. With the Super Bowl coming up and all, give it a shot. If it doesn't float your boat, then lesson 4 is to ignore ME!

THE MYSTERIOUS ANNIE LENNOX - COVER DIVA

Ever since her debut as the buzz cut red head from Eurythmics in the "Sweet Dreams" video, I had always been on the fence about Annie Lennox. She has to great a voice to ignore her talent but for some reason, her music didn't do it for me.

Maybe it was because of her mass "girl power" appeal or maybe it was just that as a solo act, she just didn't appear enough in the public eye to make me notice.

It wasn't until I heard the album MEDUSA that I finally got over the fence and became an Annie Lennox fan. MEDUSA for those of you who haven't heard it, contains a collection of covers (and some of her own) by a an eclectic group of artists, beautifully transformed by Lennox into her own artistic realm.

Among the covers are The Animals "Whiter Shade of Pale," The Talking Heads "Take Me to the River," and my personal favorite, The Clash's "Train in Vain." On this one, she takes it down about 10 notches and creates a classy and catchy tune that could easily be mistaken for a new song. It's also as if she's winking at you saying "Yes, I know it's the Clash but nothing's out of my league."

If Joe Strummer were still alive he would surely give his blessing.

WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED

Like filmmakers of recent years, musicians have lost originality and have run out of ideas for new music sounds. When this happens, we hear music that is regenerated by new artists, and this is known as COVERING.

Now I love cover songs. I love hearing how artists can take and old song and modernize it or make it more lively than the original. But there are also too many times that an artist covers a song in a “Why the hell did they remake that song” light. If you’re going to cover it, remake it. Don’t sing it and play it exactly as the original…otherwise, what was the point of taking the time to remake it?

You’re going to start seeing a lot of entries here having to do with covers, mainly because it’s the way of the world now. Original ideas are few and far between and there’s a big risk in artists killing the legacy of once cherished bands and excellent songs.

But, I will be the first to say that there’s nothing like hearing a song completely re-done in a way you never thought a song can be heard. Those are the cover songs we will be covering in this blog, the good ones.

But be forewarned: In order to put the good covers in a good light, I can’t do that without making reference to the bad ones. So let’s get on with it….

ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL...AND LUCINDA WILLIAMS?

Does my image of watching football on Sunday's match yours? Let's see......

-10 guys in a living room all with Packer/Steeler/Giants/Cowboys jerseys
-All guys are overweight
-Beer and artery clogging food as far as the eye could see
-Tailgates at 10am in the parking lot of your team's stadium
-High fiving when your team makes a great play
-Bratwursts, sausages, big strong burly guys with their last name on the back of their favorite team's jersey (IE a Giants jersey with 56 and my last name on the back)
-Getting pumped for a bone crunching bloodbath....YEAH BABY YEA BABY YEEEEEEEA!

OK, did I hit at least some similarities as to what your Football Sunday looks like? Doesn't matter because I left one out. My image of football is forever changed. I now add the immortal LUCINDA WILLIAMS to my stereotypical image of football. The country/pop/adult contemporary artist is now my pump up music before a Giants game. You've think I've gone crazy? Well, let me tell you....

I was in line behind someone who looked like The Rock waiting to get my Chicken Cheese Steak (not really a steak because it's chicken), and I noticed he was wearing one of those black concert tshirts that seem so Molly Hatchet nowadays.

Anyway, I look and do a double take. This guy is easily 6-4, 230 pounds and on his shirt it says "LUCINDA WILLIAMS" US TOUR 2005 - and then goes on to list the cities. LUCINDA WILLIAMS? The country singer turned pop star back to country? Since when is she stimulating music for a Sunday of football? And not to mention for a guy who looks like a football player? Wacky I tell you. Not so wacky as my friends, The Berkley All Blues Women's Rugby team who listen to Brandi Carlisle before each game (not music to pump you up - I do a tribute to these ladies in my second Podcast), but not far from it.

Thank you sir, whoever you are for giving me something to write about and changing my preparations for Sunday football forever. Are you ready for some football? After Lucinda Williams, I'm ready for anything.

LIVING IN OBLIVION - DISCO LIVES!

Does anyone know the name Bill Veeck?

For those of you that don't, his name lives in baseball and music infamy. He was the owner of the Chicago White Sox through the 1970's and is best known for his promotional gimmicks and off the wall antics.

But if you hit Google for articles about this guy, you'll find out that many of his gimmicks were famous failures. Namely, the season he made the White Sox wear short pants with uniforms that looked like pajamas (obtain any baseball card of a 1978 White Sox player and you'll see what I'm talking about), and most famously, 1979's DISCO DEMOLITION NIGHT in which Veeck sold tickets for under a dollar, invited a local disco hating radio DJ to be the MC and encourage the raucous crowd to bring disco records to be destroyed in a bonfire in centerfield between games of a double header with the Tigers. This event was one of the catalysts for the T-shirts that read "Disco Sucks."

While the golden age of disco was dying out at this point, it did combine itself with punk and give way to the new wave movement of the early 80's which included The Cure, Echo and the Bunnymen, New Order, and a host of respectable mainstays in the club music scene. Nowadays, we are treated to house and club music that goes beyond the club and is actually good music to listen to in the confines of your own home (IE Fatboy Slim, Chemical Brothers, Crystal Method, Thievery Corporation and the like).

With all this evolution however, I'm here to tell you that vintage disco is NOT DEAD! While disco still does suck, IT LIVES! While I was never a dance club guy, I went to my share and the last time I was in one is surely over 10 years ago. New York City, once Dance Club Central, has seen it share of clubs close down for various reasons of drugs, crime, and all around unpleasant hooliganism happening inside. The Palladium, The Limelight, Twiloh, Club Metro, and of course Studio 54 (now a broadway theater eeeesh!).

But a couple of weeks ago, on the Nautical Mile in Freeport, Long Island, (a mile long strip along a marina of restaurants, bars, fish markets and fishing boats), you could hear and see nothing except the pulsating bass of each and every dance club along the line. The cheesy disco balls, the colored lights, ABBA, Donna Summer, Rob Base, big hair, knee high socks...IT WAS EVERYWHERE!

The golden age of disco lives...IN FREEPORT...and where else? The pockets of resistance are probably infinite. Disco Waarrriorrrrs - come out to plaaay-ay!

A great shock to my system but what the hell did I know. I became a conformist rock and pop pinko! Disco hadn't been on my radar since I left my college years in Miami.

I calmly strolled down the mile, hearing the transition of music from place to place, finally releived to be on the other side of the train tracks, back in my comfort zone. But I was a bit wiser for the wear.

The end of the DISCO DEMOLITION NIGHT story in 1979 is, when the bonfire and destruction of the disco records went up in a blaze of glory, the drunk raucous crowd who paid $1 to get in stormed the field, ripped it up and field was destroyed and the 2nd game of the double header was automatically rewarded as a victory for the visiting Tigers. Nice going Mr. Veeck!

We were oblivious then and we're oblivious now. So all of us oblivious guitar toting rock mongers who spit on Special Sauce with our Lipps Incorporated, take note, because disco is here to stay.

PODCAST 2: SPORT & SOUNDTRACK

This edition of Music for the Situation (Click here to listen) features music you might listen to prior to a sporting event - playing in one or watching one...so basically, music to get you pumped or ready to take the field of battle. Also, music for the soundtrack situation from movies and television you may not be familiar with.

Artists featured: Republica (Ready to Go), Brandi Carlile (What Can I Say), Red Hot Chili Peppers (Rollercoaster), The Who (Baba O' Reily).
SPECIAL FEATURE: A tribute to the Berkley California All Blues Women's Rugby Club - National Champs 10 Years Running! Check out their website http://www.berkeleyallblues.com

YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS

NOTE: This entry was inspired by my son who has slept 11-12 hours each night for the last several nights falling asleep to James Taylor and John Denver.

By far the most overplayed soft rock artist on the radio, on CD’s and pretty much any media that can play music is James Taylor.

James Taylor along with John Denver, who, while not quite as overplayed, has enjoyed eternal life in every music collection of every white suburban child of the 1970’s.

You have to admire these guys for 2 reasons:

1. They both made music that went against industry standards at the time they made it and were successful.
2. They made Granola famous.

Even though these two artists are probably the two you are most emabarrassed about having a soft place in your heart for, I’m here to tell you that it’s ok to dust off these gentlemen’s greatest hits albums, because I’ve found anew use for them.

Before I tell you this use, let me begin by saying that I would see neither of these guys in concert (especially John ‘cause he’s dead), and by no means do these men stretch the boundaries of musical diversity. Between Fire and Rain, You’ve Got a Friend in Carolina, and Country Roads, Take Me to the Rocky Mountain High, it all sounds like one song to me.

Traditional uses for this music for me at least, were always reflection, and nostalgia for those road trips I used to take with my folks that featured famous phrases like “Are We There Yet”and “Don’t Make me Come Back There and Slap you Silly.”

But now, in fatherhood, my advice to you is throw away every piece of Barney you have and break out the JT and JD, turn the lights down and turn the music up and watch your child drift into Granola eatin’ oblivion as he/she falls asleep with ease. A few nights of this and your alarm clock will be a pleasure to turn off at the time you set it for.

It started as me, hoarse voice and all, singing You’ve Got a Friend to my son, and watching him get the greatest sleeps since his existence started several months ago. Then I thought since JT sings that song way better than me, why not just put the whole album on, and it kept working. As an add on, I tried JD’s Greatest Hits as a way to chill him out before bed, and let me just say that the JD experiment is on its way out of Beta and into the mainstream.

Now after I finish this entry, he probably won’t sleep a wink for nights to come. But if you think like I do…that Barney is an overhyped freak of nature and a strain on our brains and well-being, then reacquaint yourself with my new best friends, John Denver and James Taylor.

LOVE AND WINE ON LONG ISLAND

There's nothing like taking a roadtrip to a peaceful country setting on an 85 degree sunny low humidity day, away from the daily grind of New York City where the air is clean and the color green dominates the landscape.

Hmm, now let's see if we can make the situation better by surrounding ourselves with…….WINERIES, beautiful open fields on the edge vineyards, where we can kick back, relax, have a picnic, taste our wine-loving asses off, and lose ourselves inside a $4 glass of pinot or chardonnay where the only worry is what to have for dinner.

Well, that's exactly what my family and I actually did on a recent Saturday. We trekked eastward to Long Island's North Fork for a day of wine tasting, wine drinking, and The day was memorable and to make sure I remembered it clearly, I made sure to note the music that defined each part of it.  

The following account is described in the order of music highlights that occurred throughout the day…..

8:30am   The Mad Rush to the Train

Cat Stevens – Here Comes My Baby

The subways of NYC are a pain in the ass at all hours of the day.   Your timing is either very bad or perfect, there is no in between.   The one thing about early Saturday mornings is that they hardly ever come, so if you just miss a train (especially ones where they do construction on the weekends), count on waiting at least another 15 minutes on a steaming 140 degree platform for another one.

At 8:30am, I had 35 minutes to get a train up to Penn to catch the LIRR out to my father in-law's house.   Plenty of time, and I thought, since woke up before 7am and was still sluggish, I needed some music to get me going and luckily my Ipod came right up with Cat Stevens' Here Comes My Baby .   A depressing song lyrics-wise but with incredibly uplifting flowery 1960's flare.   Most love songs are contradictory this way.   IE Sinead O'Connor's Nothing Compare's 2 You – not a love song by any means but the title and melody suggest totally otherwise.   Anyhow, the song is vintage Cat, and thanks to him for lighting a fire under my ass to book down the corridor and just catch the C train going to Penn.   If not for Cat, I have a steaming platform and a missed LIRR train staring me in the face.

11:30am    - The Longest Wait for a Sandwich

Various Soft Rock Artists

After an uneventful train ride and some pleasantries exchanged with wife, child, and father in law (I had stayed back in Manhattan because of a prior engagement), we set out on our eastward journey.   First stop, the supermarket, where we would pick up snacks to compliment the wine, always a fun thing.

But not on this day.

35 minutes after we ordered our sandwiches at the deli, we were still waiting for them.   Our ticket was 61, and by the time our last sandwich was handed to us, they had looped the “Now Serving” clock and it read “Now Serving 02.”   And it's not like we ordered anything fancy.   Salami, Ham Sandwich, Roast beef on a roll.   My biggest mistake was asking for sun dried tomatoes where the guy actually had to get out from behind the deli, walk to the produce aisle and grab a handful of them.

The only saving grace was the frivolous music being played over the speakers.   An assortment of soft rock from the late 70's and 80's like Ruppert Holmes's Escape (The Pina Colada Song), Lionel Riche's Say You Say Me (From White Nights),   and one I hadn't heard in a while….the ever popular Swing Out Sister with Am I the Same Girl.   I always find in irritating situations like this, it's always best to think of silly songs to get your mind of being annoyed at the Forrest Gumpness of those serving you.

At the stroke of noon, sandwiches were in hand, money was out, and we were off.   Next stop Wine Country!

12-2pm   The Drive

The Cowboy Junkies – Studio.

Having been a previous resident of Long Island, I can attest to the amount of traffic, the attitude of many of its residences, and the utter displeasure of simply being here.   But over the last several years as a resident of Manhattan, I see it in a totally different light.  

You see, in Manhattan, we have 40 times the amount of traffic, 100 times the amount of people, no front lawn, 1/8 the space, and it never quiets down except for between the hours of 5:30-8am.   But it has everything you could ever need times 1000 without the use of a car or a gardener.    That's why we live here.   No other reason.   We are a much simpler people than you think.   All we want are our conveniences and we'll pay to get them.

But after a while, with a family, conveniences take a back seat and the noise eventually gets to you and then you start to wonder why you can't ever relax or kick back.   And then….you see life away from Manhattan.

Trips to Long Island are now relaxing getaways.   I get a lot more out of Long Island than I used to.   I guess the years of separation helped me out. I get a relaxing calm from seeing lawn and sidewalks with nobody on them, and GRILLS!  

Now, I never thought of Long Island as a great place to go for a drive and hit the open road, but beyond Nassau County and through to Eastern Suffolk, the traffic goes away on the LIE and it becomes something like driving in the Midwest, just you, the road and your trusted driving music.

Driving music is my favorite type of music.   Even while not driving, hearing driving music makes me think of a sunny day on the open road and those are relaxing thoughts on anyone's calendar.   And because I hardly drive anymore, driving music while in a car takes on an extra special trait for me nowadays.

I had a bunch of options:   Zeppelin, Steely Dan, Allman Brothers, even a special mix I made called “Travelling Music.”   But today's winner:    The Cowboy Junkies compilation album, Studio.  

How could you go wrong with song titles like “Lost My Driving Wheel” and “Shining Moon.”   The real draw of the album though is the heavenly vocals of lead singer Margo Timmins , as her voice flows out of the speakers and out over the trees that line the LIE and the country roads leading to the wine country on songs like Sweet Jane (a Lou Reed cover) and A Song For Elvis orchestrated to the tune of Blue Moon except without all the doo-wop.

The pairing of the music and the drive resulted in every tense feeling in body going away…if only for an hour.

2:15pm Beverage Run

Some Spanish Singer

All my tense feelings returned upon our arrival in Riverhead, the last conceivable exit on the Long Island Expressway.   When we last visited the wine country, I always said how great it was because of it's beauty and non-New York feel.   Everyone always goes south to the Hamptons or Montauk, but the wine country was New York's best kept secret.  

But Riverhead changed my perception.   All of a sudden there was development out here.   Chain stores, malls, and YIKES!   A TRAFFIC JAM!   How long was this going to last?   Had the North Fork of Long Island become the new South Fork?   What was with the 4 mile backup leading up to the traffic circle?   Was Sideways r eally that influential of a movie?   Get out of here people, this is my spot and you will not corrupt it!

But my fear was short lived as it was only the traffic circle that caused the backup (I mean where in the US except for New England do they have roundabouts that cause legendary backups?)   The answer:   Riverhead Long lsland!).

Before we were to stop at our first winery, we naturally needed non-alchoholic beverages like soda and water to offset the possible dehydration that comes with wine tasting.   So among all the traffic and mini malls with Quik Marts and Delis, we chose to stop at one that had seen better days.

No matter, on this glorious day, I waltzed into Juevos y Juevos Latino Grocery, where they sold the complete line of Goya products, and an assortment special vegetables.   It smelled like a Latino household (the smell of beans, rice, various sauces, spices, and in this case, throw up).   I tracked down the beverage cases, and next to El Presidente, 15 varieties and brands of Malta (the latino equivalent of Malt Liquor), and other Spanish language labeled soft drinks, I found Coke, Poland Spring, and Ginger Ale (Funny that the only brand of Ginger Ale they carried was the obscure White Rock).  

As I paid the nice lady for the drinks, I started to hone in on the music.   Some singer belting out a classic ballad in Spanish with quite the impressive Spanish guitar was blasting throughout the place.   Complete with the phrase found in every ballad of this caliber   “Para siento, mi corazon…..”     I have no clue what it means but I love hearing it.

I previously tried blocking it out but the sheer volume didn't allow it.   If only for a split second, it amused me to no end as I looked forward to telling my family what I had just witnessed.   One of those “You had to be there” moments.

2:35pm   Arrival at Osprey's Dominion

Live House Band – Covers of Me and My Bobby McGee, Volcano Blows, What I Got?, and Proud Mary (Rollin' on the River)

Destination reached at last!   Osprey's Dominion, one of the furthest wineries down the trail and for good reason…it's also one of the best.   Think Field of Dreams without the baseball diamond and the sweaty players, and add in a big tent and free flowing wine….and a live band!

Yipee…a live band!   What could be better than singing along with a live band with only a select few in attendance sitting on the edge of vineyards that at least look like they go on for miles (but this is Long Island so the end can't be that far away).

Having been to Osprey's Dominion twice previously, I had concluded three things about this winery:

1. It's my favorite winery on Long Island – the wine is superb and moderately priced – something not usually scene nowadays since the beloved Sideways .   You can get a glass of really damn good merlot for $4, and most of the tastings don't cost anything except for a few select vintner's reserves and specially made limited editions.   So basically, you can get wasted by just tasting if you felt like it and only drop a couple of bucks on a tip for the wine pourers (believe me, they appreciate it – I mean how many times do they have to help patrons correctly pronounce Gewürztraminer in one day?   They're smiling but I know they just want to knock folks in the head with a bottle of it).
   
   
   
   The field out back is ideal for a picnic and there's tons of space so it never feels like being on the Jersey Shore on a holiday weekend.   There's an outdoor bar so you don't have to walk all the way back to the tasting room and battle through the beginners just to get a glass. And did I mention they always have a live band!
   
   


2. Because of its distance from civilization, it will be a less traveled winery than those closer for years to come, and that's just awesome – So basically what I'm saying here is, even though I said it was my favorite, it doesn't have to be your favorite.   There are tons of other wineries that you may find just as appealing, plus it's a long drive so stay away cretons, don't have your summer wedding here, I'm actually lying, the place sucks.   Get out, beware of dog, no trespassing, you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law blah blah blah…oh heck, what's the use, this place rules, it's only a matter of time before commercialism reaches here.
   
   


3. Did I mention they always have a live band? – Word of caution for serious musicians – unless it's only a weekend job, if you get booked here, it's not necessarily a good thing .
   
   
   
   With that said, in my previous visits here, the bands have been…well let's say interesting at least.   The variety is astounding and the setup is even more astounding.   Two previous visits saw a 7 piece band totally rocking out in the middle of the back field.   There were maybe 10 couples in attendance, it was 4 th of July weekend and the 7 piece band was jam packed into a gazebo smaller than my bathroom.   But they sounded great.
   
   
   
   Second time we looked forward to the gazebo band again, but this time no rock.   Instead, the weirdest possible music style for the surrounding for 4 th of July in 85 degree heat:   A Cabaret Lounge Act.   The lead singer looked like a Russian prostitute post-communist era (her makeup was oozing off of her and the goth look made me aware that possibly any minute, the KGB would rush the gazebo with barking dogs and drag the band off to the gulag).   We were one of two couples in attendance.
   
   
   
   This time, things had taken a noticeable turn.   DRAT!   Commercialism had reached here! The gazebo was engulfed in ivy, and there was a large tent set up for those looking to escape the heat.   This is where the band also took up residence.
   
   
   
   The tasting room was packed, and outback there were 3 very large groups of ladies each with their own bottle in hand and a wedding party….aw man, now we're in for it.   If the band plays I Will Survive , while the ladies dance and raise the bottles in the air dancing like mutant white chicks, well then, it's duck season so just shoot me now Mr. Fudd!
   
   
   
   Thankfully they did not and the wedding party dispersed, but I still loved the fact that each wedding party participant had their own bottle – no proper ladies here – maybe this place with bigger crowd and all wasn't so bad after all.   (Woo hoo!)

On a scale of 1-10, this band was a 50 on the unintentional comedy scale.   4 members:   2 Guitarists, one lead singer, a saxophonist (who looked more fit to be jamming with Becky Ann and Marty Culp who head up the music department at Altadina Middle School), and NO DRUMMER.   No drummer?   I guess we're in for an afternoon of folk music or James Taylor or something – not bad but a whole afternoon?   Where's the upbeat music? It just didn't fit with the gorgeous weather and free flowing wine.

Then they cut into their first song (they were on break when we got there).   My perception totally shifted when I heard When the Volcano Blows by Jimmy Buffet .   It brought a huge smile to my face as I watched them jam on stage with no drummer and trying to work in the saxophone on this song.   The saxophone for this band's selection of music may have been the worst idea since New Coke.   He was by far the most unintentionally funny person of the day.   The song itself was perfect for the situation, and my slow journey towards inebriation didn't hurt either.

The next song brought on one of those “Wow, I haven't heard this song in so long, and why are they playing it here” kind of moments.   What I Got by the mid 90's one hit wonders Sublime , just made me want to drink even more.   Think poor man's Sugar Ray and you have Sublime .    Problem was, this song lives off of its drum beats and did I mention that this band had NO DRUMMER?

The substitute?   The Altadina Middle School saxaphonist.   As a bonus, they did the extended version and as I sat with wife, child, and father in-law and ate sandwich and drank Osprey's Cabernet Franc, my son's stuffed animals came alive and asked to get in on the some of the wine action.   Just because they were inanimate objects didn't mean they didn't have feelings too.   Mr. Frog and Mr. Dog were toasted after a couple of sips and before I could offer them more, they said thanks and passed out.

Song 3 of 4 in the set was finally one this band could handle.   The band with no drummer asked Altadina to sit this one out as they cut into Rollin' on the River by Credence Clearwater Revival or Tina Turner – whatever version floats your boat.   By this point, I was feeling just grand and enjoyed every minute of it.   Altadina looked pissed, either ‘cause he knew he was out of place or because of the heat, not yet sure.   I wanted so badly for the female lead to pull a Tina Turner where she headlocked the microphone and made the constipated face, while she and the guitarists engaged in the “Rollin”   Hooo!   Rollin' Hoooo, Rollin' on the river…”   exchange.   But they took the Mississippi River route which was just fine too.  

But seeing the other version would have continued the session along the surreal path…which in turn would make this blog entry more interesting.   And if you're still reading this, thanks for sticking around, it's almost done.

Last song before break was the cake topper.   Before they started, the female lead had to break out the sheet music so basically now we're just watching glorified karaoke.   Altadina came back and was ready for action.   And yet another 180 was done when they began Janis Joplin's Me and My Bobby McGee .

Since when is the saxaphone a driving force on this song?   This may very well have been the first time this band performed this song and after the female lead missed a few words and Altadina looked just plain lost (occasionally belting out notes where he thought he could fit them in), the Bobby McGee experiment had gone horribly awry.   Aw well, we applauded their efforts for at least giving it a shot.

5pm   Last Stop:   Peconic Bay

Sarah McLaughlin – I Will Remember You

After our fill of Osprey's Dominion, it was time to get on to one more of our favorite wineries situated back towards the west, Peconic Bay .   Our last visit here was a little more of your mainstream non-surreal barrel of fun and relaxation.   The last band here was a serious band, covering plenty of Fleetwood Mac, Steely Dan, and other classic rock selections with confidence and ease.   They had a drummer and there was no saxaphone for miles.   Sorry Altadina.

Only thing, it was late and it didn't look like much of a scene on the outdoor lawn.   The inside was packed however.   We figured, oh well, one more glass for the road (yeah, that sounds like a recipe for safety doesn't it? – but alas my sober father in-law did the driving so there).

This winery's location always makes us laugh.   If you're on the grounds and look at the vineyards, it looks like you're in the middle of nowhere.   Turn around and look across the county road and there's Pathmark with a rather large mini mall right across the street.   So much for the seclusion.

No band but a nice breeze blowing and the faintest hint of music coming out of the outdoor speakers onto the patio.   The sun had gotten a little weaker and the quietness and breeze (and of course the red wine) really complimented the music that was playing.   And the first chance I had to tune into the music, my heart melted.   It was Sarah McLaughlin's trademark song I Will Remember You.

The DJ at my wedding stuck this song in unplanned right after that part at every wedding where the bride and groom shove cake down each other's throat in front of 150 family and friends.   But if you were to ask me what part of my wedding made me truly happy to be alive, it was that part as soon as the song started playing.

Fast forward back to now, the song played and I began to feel that feeling again where all the muscles in my body turned to Jello.   With us being the only ones outside (the inside room must have been sound proofed or something), it was truly a perfect end to a great day on the North Fork.



Maybe I'll call up Altadina and we can write a song about it.

EXCITEMENT OF THE JUKE BOX VARIETY

For the last 6 years, I've played on a local coed New York City softball team called Serenity Now! (Yes, taken from the Seinfeld episode).

And for the last 6 years, the big event has always been going out to a bar in close proximity following the game, win or lose, but win usually means more drinks consumed and better time had by all. And for 6 years, music has mostly been at the forefront of post game conversations. I always find that going to a bar with a formidable juke box where we one can program the music and not be at the mercy of the bartender's taste is certainly the better way to go.

The best thing about NYC bars and pubs is that the juke box selections vary over an incredibly wide range of music depending on the neighborhood you're in. Sure you have your standard bar w/juke box featuring nothing but greatest hits albums and the best selling albums of pop groups (IE Bob Marley, Fleetwood Mac's Rumors, Any Nirvana album) and so on. The beer on tap is usually Rolling Rock, Bud, and Bud Light, and sometimes really bad Guiness, but even these bars have their loyal patrons. The more power to them.

But playing softball in every corner and far reach of Manhattan Island, and sometimes Roosevelt Island over a 6 year span has seen a variety of bars and a variety of juke boxes featuring music you thought you'd never see except for in your own music collection.

Most recently, our post game visit to the Dive Bar on Manhattan's Upper West Side (we won our game by the way) saw pitchers of Paulaner HefeWeizen and Lagunitas IPA on the table, along with The Crystal Method playing on the juke box. What is Lagunitas and who is The Crystal Method? While some of you may know them, the brew is Californian and the music is anything but like what you'd hear at a pub. Check either of them out. I have to say, they paired quite nicely. Especially after a hard fought softball victory.

Over the years my teammates and I have played music trivia, covered every wacky top 10 list having to do with music (IE The top 10 songs with the word "Rain" in the title), and tracked careers of musicians from their original bands to their solo careers and back again. And while we've done this in every corner of the Island, from the Lower East Side to Harlem, it had been some time since there was a formidable juke box to slip money into instead of a punk bartender with his/her IPod hooked up to the sound system.

It was beautiful. CSN's Southern Cross, Etta James's At Last, The Cure's Lovecats, and Elvis Costello's Watching the Detectives were some that I chose. There were a bunch of selections I had never heard of and when you spend money to hear them, it's probably best to stay clear and not risk it. If not for the barkeep giving us 6 free songs after the juke box crapped out eating my $2, all would have been lost and we would have been stuck listening to the Yankees/Devil Rays game.

But alas God was watching us on this night.