Comment Archives: Stories: Music: Features
Re: “New York duo Secret Keepers brings thoughtful free-jazz explorations to Zeitgeist's new digs”
Thanks Jazz! I assume that's Seeds in Brooklyn?
Re: “New York duo Secret Keepers brings thoughtful free-jazz explorations to Zeitgeist's new digs”
Nice review! For those wondering what this is all about, you may include a link to their performance at Seeds: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyBh9wvQeqQ
Re: “Kris Kristofferson explores the limits of authenticity on his latest, Feeling Mortal”
I met Kris Kristofferson as a college freshman when Kristofferson appeared with Ian & Sylvia at the Cellar Door in Washington, D.C. shortly before the (1970) release of his first album, KRISTOFFERSON.
As the (unspecified) release date approached, I asked a record shop (you remember record stores) clerk if he had gotten word when Kris' album would be available?
"Who is Kris Kristofferson?," he asked.
"In about six months you won't be asking me that," I replied.
Kris' debut album (I have the one with the original artwork and, as previously indicated, before it was retitled) was his best. Kristofferson's second album was almost as good. His third proved Kris incapable of making a bad album but, once that vinyl platter's release, it was clear songwriting was not his top priority.
By the time Kris went Hollywood I was no longer buying albums, I was reviewing them.
At that point Kris' record label publicist(s)- and later independent publicist- weren't sending me promotional copies, so I didn't have a chance to hear them. (They weren't selling and radio wasn't playing them. I understand that's because Kris' music was becoming a reflection of his political opinions which, I understood, polarized those segments of his audience who were politically-engaged and were of no interest to his other, apolitical fans.)
I was, of course, familiar with Kris' song list when he performed as one of The Highwaymen and I did manage to hear Kristofferson's TV performance of the title song of his 1995 album, A MOMENT OF FOREVER (which proved to me that Kris still had it, as he made me fall in love with his music all over again).
If I receive a copy I'll be happy to review FEELING MORTAL.
As for Kris' early days, specifically "hanging out with Donnie Fritts and Tom T. Hall." I know for a fact that Kris spent a lot more time, then as now, with Donnie than with Tom. (Hall thought Kristofferson was "strange" and Tom was known to be jealous of Kris, presumably because Kristofferson personified what Hall wished to be: well-educated, exceedingly handsome and seemingly comfortable in his own skin.)
On the other hand, "Funky Donnie Fritts," as Kris used to call the musician whom I best remember for his unrequited interest in me some forty years ago, has been Kris' Band of Thieves keyboardist over a period of decades.
Stacy Harris
Publisher/Executive Editor/Media Critic
Stacy's Music Row Report
http://stacyharris.com
Re: “Alt-rock heroes The Breeders celebrate the 20th anniversary of Last Splash with a deluxe reissue and tour”
They played in the Blueberry Hill's basement Duck Room in St. Louis, Missouri about four years ago, and yep, the venue was packed like sardines. 'Cannonball' was the fourth song, and the room seemed to bounce with the force of heads and bodies moving in rhythm with that crazily infectious guitar thread.
Oh what a night, indeed.
Re: “Alt-rock heroes The Breeders celebrate the 20th anniversary of Last Splash with a deluxe reissue and tour”
Excellent article!
Re: “Produced in Nashville by Buddy Miller, Richard Thompson's latest is a tale of marriage and its discontents”
Nice writing, Mr Hurt. Enjoyed the Thompson review. Good insights.
Re: “Kris Kristofferson explores the limits of authenticity on his latest, Feeling Mortal”
I love Kris Kristofferson's album, "Feeling Mortal" it's a beautiful album, full of emotion, wisdom, and incredible imagery. Kris' voice has aged beautifully, and listening to him moves my heart, and makes me feel all he has been through.
In response to your rotten review about this superb Album, I quote Kris' words quoting Sam Peckinpah in Guy Terrifico "'Shut your mouths and listen, you bunch of fuckin' Hollywood rump-wranglers! The man's a poet!' "
'nuff said.
Re: “Two-and-a-half years after moving to Nashville, The Black Keys have their first hometown homecoming”
@Bummed...You nailed it. We even left early it was so disappointing. Flaming Lips killed it though. Stick to smaller venues Black Keys.
Re: “Two-and-a-half years after moving to Nashville, The Black Keys have their first hometown homecoming”
I thought it was a disappointing show...and am a little heartbroken...The Keys were off, bad mixing and echo. Their sound is better suited to multiple gigs at the Ryman b/c it didn't work in the arena. The Lips were on, and despite the fact I prefer the Keys' music, The Flaming Lips put on a better quality set.
Re: “Justin Bieber, the most hated man in music, returns to Nashville”
When the world is in need of grounding, moral soundness, good role models for our children, etc and Bieber comes on the scene telling the media that kids shouldn't look up to him as a role model after he gets caught with pot ... This is the reason I don't like Bieber. I hope he finds his way and is not swept away by the media-lords into a life of star-ridden seclusion and disillusionment.
Re: “Justin Bieber, the most hated man in music, returns to Nashville”
Eh. Justin Bieber, in these days, is quite a douchebag if you ask me. I used to be a fan, and "Mistletoe" was actually quite adorable, but if I were to meet him now, I would punch him hard, to knock some senses into that star-lit brain of his. I can even write an essay of undeniable hatred to him.
Re: “Eddie Stubbs just celebrated an unparalleled 15 years at his unparalleled radio show”
I live in East Tennessee (Knoxville) and usually listen to Eddie Stubbs several nights each week and have done so for years. As far as I am concerned Eddie is a walking encyclopedia of country music. He tells interesting stories and speaks with authority about the artist, songs, and the history associated with each. Eddie Stubbs is a total professional and sets the De facto standard in country music D.J.' ing. In my opinion he has no equal. Ironically, today was the first time that I have ever seen him or even a picture of him. I watched him do the George Jones funeral. Eddie is consistent and did his usual "outstanding job". Eddie Stubbs is another country music icon, legend and treasure.
Re: “A little bit of everything rules at much-anticipated East Nashville emporium Fond Object”
I finally made it by the shop this weekend and I will tell you this....I've been collecting records for 20 years and I found stuff at this store I've never seen in a record store. Hell, some of it I have a hard time finding on ebay. Kudos to these guys. I'll be back often.
Re: “With a new Hall of Fame exhibit and a second soundtrack on the way, it's time to unpack the impact of ABC's Nashville”
Wow, Stacy Harris can write some controversial stuff sometimes but she hit the nail on the head on this one. The Nashville tv show does not exist in my life. I don't watch the show or pay any attention to the news about it much less search out the music that is in the show and promoted afterwards. I really don't give a f about the Nashville tv show or the money profits it may be bringing to the music town. I have to add: I'm sick and tired of seeing the Nashville tv people being invited to appear on bunches of the awards shows around the Nashville town. What the fuck is that about music industry people???
Re: “With a new Hall of Fame exhibit and a second soundtrack on the way, it's time to unpack the impact of ABC's Nashville”
The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (http://stacyharris.com/adultery.html) fancies itself as an educational and preservationist institution and has convinced the IRS that, as such, it deserves tax breaks. (Great PR, that tax burden has seamlessly shifted to the rest of us.)
But while those who seek to "fund-raise" (or, less politely, "buy") their way into the Country Music Hall of Fame are "All for the Hall" (to date, a very profitable strategy) when it comes to perpetuating the myth of inclusion, these same voices fall silent, ignoring a pressing need for authenticity in the form of allocating exhibit space for artifacts from the careers of those historic figures whose names the museum's patrons should know (or be educated about, by presumably educated docents, if they don't): Dick Curless, Dottsy, O.B. McClinton, David Rogers, Susie Allanson, Tommy Overstreet, Connie Cato, Bob Luman, K. T. Oslin, the Duke of Paducah, Darryl and Don Ellis, Norma Jean, Stu Phillips, Billy Gilman, Connie Eaton, Cal Smith, Jan Howard, Archie Campbell, Johnny Counterfit, Sylvia, Roy Drusky, Tommy Jones, Jerry Clower, Tommy Cash, Del Reeves, Mel Street, Billy Dean, Chris LeDoux, Merle Kilgore, Kenny Starr, George Hamilton, IV, Kenny Price... I could, and probably should, go on, so as not to leave out anyone who ever had a national and, in some cases, international country-music fan base, but you get the idea....
If and when there is any exhibit space left in the museum after recognizing the contributions of the folks whose careers paved the way for today's A-listers (whose current popularity the Hall relies on to sell tickets), THEN I will understand prioritizing space for fictional TV characters.
Stacy Harris
Publisher/Executive Editor/Media Critic
Stacy's Music Row Report
http://stacyharris.com
Re: “A little bit of everything rules at much-anticipated East Nashville emporium Fond Object”
Apology accepted, as I said it was just frustrating! And just remember that there are some of us who don't tweet and/or FB all the time, so keep us in mind too when making those decisions. But as I said, the store is great- and there's a lot of amazing vinyl there so it won't stop me from shopping at your store! Thanks!
Re: “A little bit of everything rules at much-anticipated East Nashville emporium Fond Object”
Sorry about that record-shopper! We posted on our facebook (www.facebook.com/fondobject) this morning that we'd be closing at 5 pm (for re-stocking) after yesterday's Record Store Day whirlwind. We appreciate your business and do apologize! We here at Fond Object hope this doesn't dissuade you from returning.
We will be abiding by our hours as best we can! Thanks again for coming by yesterday.
Re: “A little bit of everything rules at much-anticipated East Nashville emporium Fond Object”
I went by there yesterday on the 4/20 opening, and it seems like a good record store for sure. I've been collecting for 30+ years and sometimes feel like I've "seen it all", but there were things in there I hadn't seen in a store before- which is cool. Even though there were some items I was interested in buying, it was too mobbed to shop comfortably so I looked at the hours on the door for the next day (Sunday) which I'm pretty sure said 11-8 and planned to come back when the crowd had died down.
So today I went back, and pulled up at 5.15 only to find a hand written sign that said "hours today 12-5". Yes, there's some great records there, but driving all the way over there today ready to spend some money and seeing that sign was a bit of a bummer.
My feedback is: if you post hours of operation, please stick to them!
Re: “A little bit of everything rules at much-anticipated East Nashville emporium Fond Object”
I thought a**holes like buysmusicontheinternet were limited to my end of state, but congratulations, you would fit right in. I was at the store today; it's a great addition to East Nashville. Records you're not going to find anywhere else with dedicated art and design spaces. Whether it lasts 20 years or 20 weeks, it makes Nashville a better place. And I am counting on 20 years. dfk
Re: “Kris Kristofferson explores the limits of authenticity on his latest, Feeling Mortal”
Kris' music has evolved and if anyone takes the time to listen to it for any length of time, they'd know that. He is a poet of the highest order and his songwriting is legendary. To each his own, of course, but I strongly disagree with nashvillescene's commentary. Still, I believe in freedom of speech, even if the words are hogwash.
Susan L.
Northbrook, IL