Beatin’ the bushes for a little culture & diversion
by Tom Neal on July 14th, 2008 • 7 Comments »
On my Roundtrip radio show (WNRB-LP, 93.3 FM, Wausau) this past Thursday night (7-9), it was all about rain.
Starting things off with a couple of soulful numbers:
Buddy Guy, Feels Like Rain
Temptations, I Wish It Would Rain
Then, I just let it pour:
Moby Grape, Sittin’ By the Window … some flower power rain ruminations
Blind Melon, No Rain … saw these guys at Woodstock ‘94 (great tune)
Led Zeppelin, The Rain Song … dedicated to my boy Ian, lead guitarist of Freedown
Tom Waits, Rain Dogs
Lovin’ Spoonful, Rain On the Roof
Beatles, Rain … surely, all listeners were waiting for this one
Peter Gabriel, Red Rain
White Stripes, Red Rain … no relation
Counting Crows, Rain King
Hollies, Bus Stop
Robert Johnson, Come On In My Kitchen … “’cause it’s gone to be raining outdoors”
Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Sky is Crying
Jimi Hendrix Experience, Rainy Day Dream Away … phone request (I was planning to play it anyway)
Jimi Hendrix Experience, Still Raining Still Dreaming … these 2 tunes were made to be together
Rolling Stones, She’s a Rainbow
The Kinks, Rainy Day in June
Traffic, Coloured Rain
Rod Stewart, An Old Raincoat Won’t Ever Let You Down
Counting Crows, Raining in Baltimore
Paul McCartney, Too Much Rain
Grateful Dead, Box of Rain
Bob Dylan, A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall … rain as a metaphor (live version … amazing memorization of 8 minutes worth of lyrics, xlent performance)
Todd Rundgren, Rain … a faithful cover of the Beatles’ number
This was fun. What did I miss?
Uncategorized
by Tom Neal on July 10th, 2008 • No Comments »
Beautiful day today. Sunny, pleasant. Forecast says chance of rain tonight and tomorrow.
But, tonight there’s one place where the rain will be pouring … guaranteed: on your radio from 7pm to 9pm. On my Roundtrip program (WNRB-LP, 93.3 FM, Wausau), I will feature only tunes about rain. From the likes of Bob Dylan, Hendrix, Kinks and many more. Of course, with two hours, I’ll only scratch the surface of the subject; rain is one popular song theme! But there will be some greats in the mix tonight.
I hope you’ll join me.
Oh, and catch my post below about a guitar (etc.) event I’m trying to get going. Maybe you’ll climb aboard for that, too.
Uncategorized
by Tom Neal on July 8th, 2008 • 4 Comments »
Been thinking: I’m one of those people who “plays guitar.” That is, I play at guitar, own guitars, covet guitars, like guitar music, and am always interested in … guitars. And, I know I’m not alone. Now, I’m not necessarily talking about professional, performing, repertoire-toting serious guitar slingers (although I’m not excluding them, either). I’m talking about all those closet guitar people. The ones who play to amuse themselves or abuse their families. We’re people who think you can never have too many guitars. We may not be hot, but we’re dedicated.
I cruise by the 400 Block in Wausau and, on occasion, see guitar people out there playing solo or jamming with friends/strangers. Does my heart good. Sometimes I see Jim Carlson on the 400; he’s a guitar advocate … out there playing, bringing people together, keeping the spirit alive.
So, I’ve been thinking: If you’re a guitar people, would you come out for a large guitar gathering? I mean, a LARGE GUITAR GATHERING! An event where guitar people bring their guitars en masse, to jam, meet, trade tips/riffs, swap, sell, listen, covet, form groups … all those things guitar people just do naturally. I’m talking hundreds and hundreds of guitar people. I’m talking a mass rendition of Louie Louie or All Day and All of the Night.
The air, filled with that distinctive guitar smell … and with the sound of guitars. Lots of ‘em.
How many guitar people do we have in Wausau? In surrounding communities? In the region? The state? What if we put out a mass call to all of them to get together? Free. No strings (oh, yeah … lots of strings).
Is this crazy? Not to guitar people!
Maybe we have the makings of a unique Wausau event with this.
This post is my first tickle to test the waters (mixing metaphors). Let me know if you’re a guitar people. And if you’d go to a guitar event like this.
ON SECOND THOUGHT:
Having mulled this and talked to some folks, the question arises: What about bongo players or African drummers? Harmonica blowers? Saxophonists for that matter? And, of course, people who love to listen. Because I suffer from guitar myopia, I easily overlook these other population segments. But, I see no reason to be elitist and exclude anyone.
Uncategorized
by Tom Neal on June 27th, 2008 • No Comments »
Well, a 2-hour radio show liberally peppered with Kinks’ tunes … can’t be bad. Hope some of you were able to tune (WNRB-LP. 93.3 fm, Wausau) for Roundtrip last night. Here’s what happened:
Kinks, You Really Got Me … their first hit (’64)
Taste, Blister on the Moon … Rory Gallagher’s big “hello” to the rock world
Jimi Hendrix Experience, Little Wing
Velvet Underground, Run Run Run … from the album with the Warhol banana peel cover
Thee Shams, Please Yourself … Midwest rockers in the Iggy/Stones school of rock
Kinks, Powerman … featured on soundtrack for last year’s The Darjeeling Limited
Kinks, Sunny Afternoon … one of the all-time best tunes
Ry Cooder, The Very Thing That Makes You Rich (Makes Me Poor)
Son Volt, Streets That Time Walks
Mahavishnu Orchestra, You Know You Know … a sublime jazz interlude in an otherwise rockish show
Kate Bush, Aerial … laughing with birds
Kinks, Waterloo Sunset … released a couple weeks before Sgt. Pepper
Kinks, Picture Book … one of their billion songs adopted for TV commercials
Nazz, Meridian Leeward … “you look like a person, but you know you’re a pig” Todd Rundgren’s boyhood band
Counting Crows, Hanging Tree
Ray Davies, The Tourist … Kinks’ front man from his album released a couple years ago
Kinks, Have a Cuppa Tea … very British
Paul McCartney, Mr. Bellamy
John Lennon, Remember
George Harrison, Party Seacombe … from his obscure Wonderwall Music album
Kinks, Tired of Waiting for You
Savoy Brown, Stay While the Night is Young
Grateful Dead, Morning Dew
James Gang, Thanks
Kinks, Mister Pleasant … “how is Mrs. Pleasant?”
Check out the Battle of the Bands at Coral Lanes tonight and make big noise for Freedown!
Uncategorized
by Tom Neal on June 26th, 2008 • 5 Comments »
Tonight’s episode of Roundtrip, my 2-hour radio show on WNRB-LP (7-9 p.m., 93.3 fm, Wausau) will feature one of my favorite-ever bands: the Kinks. This group’s cavalcade of hits and lesser-known albums is just packed with anthems, ditties, rave-ups, stories, heroes, villains, animals, riverbanks and streets. So, if you like You Really Got Me, All Day and All of the Night, Apeman, Sunny Afternoon, Lola, Waterloo Sunset, Village Green Preservation Society … heck, all that Kinks’ stuff … listen tonight and be prepared for that sound and that voice to emerge at any moment. I can’t wait.
Almost forgot: the Battle of the Bands culminates Friday night at Coral Lanes. Be there and cheer for Freedown, Wausau’s most interesting young band.
And if you like a bit of country, LeAnn Rimes at Marathon Park on Saturday will be class show to catch. Includes James Otto (”The Biggest Voice in Country Music”) and newcomer Emily West. Be there and help support The Children’s Miracle Network.
Uncategorized
by Tom Neal on June 19th, 2008 • One Comment »
My son Ian’s band … Freedown … will engage in a battle of the bands tonight at Coral Lanes (you know, that place where you can go “pizza bowling” … says so on the sign outside). So, I will do an abbreviated Roundtrip radio show tonight (7-9, WNRB-LP, 93.3 FM, Wausau) to enable me to get over to the Lanes and catch the action. You might enjoy stopping by yourself; it’s great to see young guns carrying the torch of rock forward. Freedown is a very good band, and I’m sure there will be others that will amaze. See you there maybe.
Uncategorized
by Tom Neal on June 16th, 2008 • 2 Comments »
Just had a nice out-of-town long weekend in Milwaukee and only now getting around to posting the song list from this past Thursday night on my Roundtrip show (WNRB-LP, 93.3 FM Wausau). It was a 2-hour show, sort of broken up into a mellower first hour and slap-dash second hour:
Pink Floyd, Fearless … just feels good to hear this one
Robert Plant, Little Hands … from tribute album to Skip Spence (former Moby Grape and Jefferson Airplane high flyer)
Grateful Dead, Help on the Way / Slipknot! … sweet suite
Neil Young, A Man Needs a Maid … pretty intense plea from ol’ Neil
Pete Townshend & Ronnie Lane, Heart to Hold Onto … from Rough Mix, very nice collaboration
Uncle Tupelo, Slate
Counting Crows, Raining in Baltimore … I plan to do a show with nothing but rain songs
Cream, Doing That Scrapyard Thing
Fleetwood Mac, Coming Your Way … Peter Green’s guitar always spooky
Traffic, Giving to You … Steve Winwood and the boys get jazzy
Steve Winwood, Raging Sea … brand-new from ex-Traffic front man
then on to hour #2:
Led Zeppelin, Black Mountain Side … Jimmy Page playing acoustic in DADGAD tuning
Rolling Stones, 2000 Man … “and my kids just don’t understand me at all”
Wilco, I Am Trying to Break Your Heart … Jeff Tweedy in pain
Ray Davies, Is There Life After Breakfast?
Tom Waits, Diamonds and Gold … with Keith Richards on guitar
Canned Heat, So Bad (Life’s in a Tangle)
John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, What’d I Say … young Eric Clapton, old Ray Charles tune
Paul McCartney, How Kind of You … his Chaos album, I think, is one of his best
Nina Simone, Ne Me Quitte Pas … sad as heck, and I don’t even speak French
Kate Bush, Army Dreamers
Steve Miller Band, Kow Kow
James Brown, Doing It to Death
Let me know of any rain songs you think will be good for a rain show. Tune in Thursday night 7-9.
Uncategorized
by Tom Neal on June 12th, 2008 • No Comments »
First time I read these words: Harmonious Pulsations … I envisioned an amoeba quivering, then splitting in 2 and both ensuing organisms squelching off together just as happy as can be. Donnie Forti most likely has his own interpretation of the phrase, but what’s important is that it’s the name of his brand-new 2-hour radio program debuting tonight (Thursday) on WNRB-LP (93.3 FM, Wausau) right after my show (Roundtrip 7-9 p.m.).
Donnie will feature R&B and soul music spanning the decades. I invite you to tune to catch Mr. Forti’s show … and mine of course. Last week, I featured music from artists I’d seen in concert at one time or another. Tonight, I’ll be going theme-less (unless I come up with something between now and then). Tune in. Call in (842-8390 ext 210). Join in. It’s radio that’s different.
Uncategorized
by Tom Neal on June 6th, 2008 • 5 Comments »
On last night’s Roundtrip show on WNRB-LP (93.3 FM, Wausau), I was basking in memories of night clubs, arenas, stadiums, auditoriums and hillsides where I’ve seen memorable concerts by some of the biggest names in the biz. Every tune last night was by artists I’ve seen at some time and place. I feel very lucky to have seen all these artists, and to be able to play them on the radio. This show certainly transported me to many of those experiences … I hope the listeners enjoyed the lineup:
Bo Diddley, Bo Diddley … Bo passed this week (see my earlier post below about an encounter with him)
Grateful Dead, Golden Road to Unlimited Devotion … a Dead show is just an experience unlike any other
Kinks, Dandy … seen ‘em bunch of times, met Ray Davies once
July ‘69 Milwaukee outdoor festival (race track):
Led Zeppelin, Communication Breakdown … their encore at that show (wow!)
Taste, Blister on the Moon … Irishman Rory Gallagher was one of the friendliest shows I’ve ever seen
Blind Faith, Can’t Find My Way Home … what luck to catch this group
August ‘69 Woodstock:
Crosby, Stills & Nash, Long Time Gone … this was time travel for me; got a bit of a chill up my spine
Jimi Hendrix, Izabella … recorded live at Woodstock
Sly & the Family Stone, Stand! … one of the festival’s many show-stoppers
4 acts that Jane & I have seen together:
Todd Rundgren, I Went to the Mirror … the pride of Philadelphia (seen this guy all over the place)
Joe Jackson, Be My Number Two
Squeeze, Satisfied … British pop polished to perfection
Counting Crows, Catalpult … we have tickets to see them again this summer
Bo Diddley, Who Do You Love? … starting off hour #2 with more Bo
Iggy Pop, Real Wild Child … caught him at grand opening concert for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Lou Reed, I’m So Free … also at the R&RHOF gig (backed here by David Bowie)
Elvis Costello, Goon Squad
U2, Gloria … these guys are unbeatable in concert
Roxy Music, Street Life … they owned the Masonic Auditorium in Detroit
The Clash, Clampdown … caught these Brit legends at a little auditorium in Dallas
The Who, Call Me Lightning … several times (Woodstock tops the bunch)
Bruce Springsteen, 4th of July Asbury Park (Sandy) … east coast blue collar angst from a group that kills in concert
Peter Gabriel, No Self Control … there is only one Peter Gabriel, period
Alvin “Youngblood” Hart, Moonlight Mile … Stones’ tune by this young guy who played Wausau a couple years back
Rolling Stones, Let It Loose … seen ‘em a bunch; once in the driving rain in the Cotton Bowl (they had a very good time) … catch their new concert movie “Shine a Light”
Frank Zappa, Montana … “… and ride like a cowboy into the dawn of Montana … yippee-eye-oh-ty-ay!”
So, from Bo to Zappa … that was it. Please tune in next week 7-9 Thursday night for who knows what.
Uncategorized
by Tom Neal on June 5th, 2008 • No Comments »
Tonight’s Roundtrip radio program (7-9 p.m., WNRB-LP, 93.3 FM, Wausau) will be a bit of a rave-up for me. I’m going to feature music from performers I’ve seen in concert at one time or another. I will certainly feature Bo Diddley who passed this week. I might toss in an anecdote or two to put some memories in context. The music, as usual, will reflect a certain “underground” sensibility: some obscure artists, some obscure cuts by well-known artists. But the real big news for tonight is that when I finish up at 9:00, I’m pretty sure I’m being followed by a brand-new announcer with a cool show concept. Donnie Forti (pronounced “forty”) is lined up to debut tonight with a 2-hour show dedicated to R&B and soul … this is very exciting news. I don’t know if Donnie has a name for his show, but with a last name like “Forti” there are certainly some cool potentials. So, got 4 hours to kill tonight? Don’t do it with the tube or the Web, do it with the radio and with a friend.
Uncategorized
