Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Whatevs Kenny Chesney and Steve Miller's Hot Date at Tootsie's
Posted by Adam Gold on Wed, Mar 3, 2010 at 3:46 PM
Comments (16)
Showing 1-16 of 16
No, I think Steve Miller became popular during a time before the x-factor was invented.
like
dislike
I used to listen to the "Best Of" tape a lot when I got my first car. It came with car.
Oh come on people. Isn't this a forum for informed music connnoisseurs? Don't some of you defend Cali-era Fleetwood Mac fer chrissakes? (I like it too) Yes it's overplayed in the extreme but "Fly Like An Eagle" is a fantastic album. And if you really want to know the skinny, pick up a copy of "Brave New World" or "Sailor" or "Children Of The Future". I don't follow what the guy is doing these days but those first 3 albums from the '60s are really great. I listen to them more than I might normally admit. And he's got an honest-to-god Nashville album, "Number 5" that was recorded with Wayne Moss (Area Code 615 and Barefoot Jerry) at Cindrella Sound here in town. We got an old vinyl copy in recently here at Grimey's. I put it on and we were marveling at how good some of the songs were. Investigate before you hate.
All points well taken. I'm really not a Miller hater though, I was more saying that when it comes to opinions on his music, I'm like Switzerland. I think some of the songs are good and all,it's more that I can't think of a classic rock band that I'm more neutral about.
The first two Steve Miller albums that got repackaged as a double album at some point early 70s kick ass, too. But the Greatest Hits album is one of the most played out comps EVER.
yeah those first 2 albums are "Children Of The Future" and "Sailor" although "Sailor" was re-titled "Living In The USA" for that repackaged reissue to highlight the hit tune included in the album. It's interesting to listen to those records and "Brave New World" with hindsight. You'll hear riffs you know from "Fly Like An Eagle" here and there. Steve was into recycling before it was cool. He's a solid economical blues guitarist who had some interesting ideas. Check out the first track on "Sailor", "Song For Our Ancestors". It sounds dead-on like "Meddle"-era Pink Floyd ('Echoes' in particular), trippy as all hell, and that's 4 years before Floyd recorded that album.
@Gold if you don't dig "keep on rocking me baby" then well that's ok, I feel like it'd be awkward if we ever heard it and I'd be like I love this song and you would check your phone but whatev they'd probably play some Petty which is equally benign aka critically mediocre but'd smooth it out.
I think that the Steve Miller band earned their dues. I think that I would prefer to hear them in a live setting in a bar instead of an expensive concert. I'm not a die-hard fan, but I would enjoy it. If you don't like it, go home and give your seat to someone who does.
Doyle, you hit it on the head with the "investigate before you hate" comment.
Also, to answer your question, "Oh come on people. Isn't this a forum for informed music connnoisseurs? " I don't know, is it?
You see how quick the Cream is take unified stand against something like Steve Miller, because it's uncool or dad rock or whatever.
To the Nashville Cream, when someone like Doyle says this to you, you should listen up and stop being the reactionary, self-righteous critiques manques that you are.
Lastly, Gold, as a drummer, you should dig Gary Mallaber's drumming on Stever Miller's hits. He's grooving damn hard and has readily identifiable ride cymbal work. "Fly Like an Eagle" rules in this department...
Let's face it, all of the Cream writers are myopic hacks, and this post just proves it once again. Gold, you just got owned twice by Doyle, so take some fuckin' notes! I read Cream regularly, not really to enjoy or reflect on honest music journalism, but just to see what an utter disaster it is. The parade of incredible music that regularly crosses the stage at the Station Inn gets absolutely no coverage here, but man we got a million articles about utter shit like MeeMaw and JEFF!
Gold's statements weren't "hating." I'm well aware what "hating" reads like. I will say I not a HUGE Steve Miller fan. I did pick up "The Joker" on vinyl, and it's a very decent record once you get past the OVERPLAYED title track. I also found a very mind-f***ing Chuck Berry record, where the Steve Miller Band backs Chuck-B...so that's got to stand for something. Also - They recorded Johnny "Guitar" Watson's "Gangster of Love," and brought some attention to a WOOFULLY under noticed talent. So, not even playing with Kenny Chesney can make me hate on him.
Sidebar Band Story:
On the road with The Ex-lovers, "Rockin' Me, Baby" comes on the radio.
"Wow, he went from Phoenix Arizona all the way to Tacoma Washingon...then back across the country to Phillidelphia, then to Atlanta, and then BACK to L.A. Steve Miller's booking agent sucked at routing." pipes Hartwell Littlejohn
"No man, that's why he had that Big Old Jet-Airliner." replies Billy Wayne Goodwin.
Steve Miller's hits are AWESOME. Great stories in his songs. Great performances and production. If it makes me feel something besides "bored" I dig it. Happy, sad, horny, melancholy, 10 ft. tall, etc the list goes on. That's the only criteria I go by but I'll admit I let things creep in that have nothing to do with the aural experience like it's a cool video, I like the artist's personality or it's something that makes me feel nostalgic. But I'm usually honest with myself when I like something for reasons other than the way it makes me feel and it's rare that those things last for very long on my iPod.
I remember getting free tickets to the Steve Miller Band concert at Starwood back in the day and really enjoyed the show. Was it mind blowing? No, but good enough to keep a 17 year old occupied for a few hours.
Granted, this was in the period of time where you bought 1 ticket to Starwood and upon entrance they handed you a ticket to a future show no one was buying tickets for. I miss those days.
Just got back from Warren Haynes Benefit Christmas Jam 2010, where Steve Miller was the highlight act. Knowing how great these have been, I didn't let that fact put me off, even though I only knew Steve's work from the way overplayed hits on the radio.
I was blown away by Steve's playing and blues improv. My favs, btw, are Derek Trucks, Joe Bonamassa, Warren, Clapton, Buddy Guy, Jonny Lang, etc...and have seen all of those live multiple times. I don't say it lightly when I state Steve Miller is a phenom guitarist and well worth catching again soon.
While driving back, an XM radio DJ mentioned there was a recent large controversy about whether or not a youtube posted video was actually Steve playing. He said it was "Can't Find My Way Home" and it was only Steve with an acoustic guitar sitting by a fireplace. Steve finally verified it was him, one take, no edits. I thought this might be something worth providing to people when I try to convince them of my above statements.
However, I can't find this video. Anyone know of it?
Vote here for best Band of the Week
Slideshows
Top Commenters
