What a “Homecoming”: Johnny Winter, The MC5, and Kellie Pickler!!!

Posted on July 30, 2014 by PhilMaq

With guitar great Johnny Winter’s recent passing, it made me think that he is the person who got me started on the blues. I didn’t think of it as the blues back then. I just thought of it as “good music.” His “growl” and fluid slide guitar work are distinctive and unmatched! Here he is in his prime, from his Woodstock performance:

Detroit had a couple of birthdays recently–one good, one bad. Here the MC5 sing about the 1967 Detroit riots that started on July 23rd in “The Motor City Is Burning.” Check out those outfits!:

Kellie Pickler is the featured performer on Saturday at Dearborn’s Homecoming. She keeps evolving as an artist since her days on “American Idol.” Here she is kicking up her “Red High Heels!”:

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Phil’s Faves: Songs, July 20, 2014

Posted on July 27, 2014 by PhilMaq

This will be a weekly Top Ten list of what I consider to be the best songs that I listened to the previous week. Most songs will be current, but there are no boundaries. I’ve already stated on this web site that I am obsessed with music. I am constantly hunting it down whether it’s online, on CD, from my personal collection, from a library (Yes, I think the library is a great source of music–especially for music that you aren’t sure about.), TV, or radio. Since most of these sources mostly emphasize new music, the odds are pretty good that most of the songs on this list will be new. But in my search, I don’t use any boundaries for the other sources. I am just looking for good music that I haven’t heard, or happened to forget about. Everyone, including myself, has forgotten way more great music than they can ever remember-even if they are also music fanatics.
Also, there will be no rules concerning songs on this list. A song can show up or drop off a number of times. This will be the most volatile of my lists. It all depends on how much music I am exposed to during the week and what I find interesting. On really obscure stuff, I will try to include the source, if I know it.

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Top Ten Songs for the Week of July 20, 2014

1. Swingin’ the Night Away—Rosewater
2. Helpless—Jillian Rae
3. Shootin’ Beer Cans Off My Fence—Travis Whitelaw
4. Get to the Sun—Secret Colours
5. The Buzz—The Brother’s Groove
6. It’s a Beautiful Day—Bus Stop Poets
7. Debout Les Morts—Mac Abbe Et Le Zombi Orchestra
8. Yellow Dog Stretch—Randy Tessier
9. Back on Track—David Reinstein
10.Lovin’ Heart—Mick Clarke
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Phil’s Faves, Videos: July 27, 2014

Posted on July 27, 2014 by PhilMaq

This will be a weekly Top Ten list of what I consider to be the best videos currently available on TV. I don’t, as a rule, go searching for old music videos, so that’s why it will focus mostly on current or recent videos. For this category, I am also going to include any live performances on talk or variety shows that I see during the week.

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Top 10 Videos and Performances for the Week of July 27, 2014

1. River Bank—Brad Paisley
2. Summer—Calvin Harris
3. Am I Wrong—Nico & Vinz
4. Rude!—Magic
5. Somethin’ Bad—Miranda Lambert
6. Come Get It Bae—Pharell
7. Come With Me Now—The Kongos
8. Automatic—Miranda Lambert
9. Drunk on a Plane—Dierks Bentley
10. Birthday—Katy Perry

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Phil’s Faves: Songs, July 13, 2014

Posted on July 24, 2014 by PhilMaq

This will be a weekly Top Ten list of what I consider to be the best songs that I listened to the previous week. Most songs will be current, but there are no boundaries. I’ve already stated on this web site that I am obsessed with music. I am constantly hunting it down whether it’s online, on CD, from my personal collection, from a library (Yes, I think the library is a great source of music–especially for music that you aren’t sure about.), TV, or radio. Since most of these sources mostly emphasize new music, the odds are pretty good that most of the songs on this list will be new. But in my search, I don’t use any boundaries for the other sources. I am just looking for good music that I haven’t heard, or happened to forget about. Everyone, including myself, has forgotten way more great music than they can ever remember-even if they are also music fanatics.
Also, there will be no rules concerning songs on this list. A song can show up or drop off a number of times. This will be the most volatile of my lists. It all depends on how much music I am exposed to during the week and what I find interesting. On really obscure stuff, I will try to include the source, if I know it.

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Top Ten Songs for the Week of July 13, 2014

1. Get to the Sun—Secret Colours
2. Shootin’ Beer Cans Off My Fence—Travis Whitelaw
3. Temporary Sun—Kris Delmhorst
4. I Got Love—Bend Sinister
5. Blue Baby Blue—Billy Brandt & The Sugaree’s
6. Greenwood Sidee—Bill Grogan’s Goat
7. No Harm—The Rich Hands
8. Bathroom Tile Blues—The Orwells
9. Bright Green World—Kris Delmhorst
10.Yellow Dog Stretch—Randy Tessier
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Phil’s Faves: Videos, July 20, 2014

Posted on July 24, 2014 by PhilMaq

This will be a weekly Top Ten list of what I consider to be the best videos currently available on TV. I don’t, as a rule, go searching for old music videos, so that’s why it will focus mostly on current or recent videos. For this category, I am also going to include any live performances on talk or variety shows that I see during the week.
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Top 10 Videos and Performances for the Week of July 20, 2014

1. Wayne Kramer [Hall of Fame] and Melvin Davis Rock and Soul Review Live, July 13, 2014 at The Concert of Colors, Detroit, MI at the Max M. Fisher Center
2. Sean Dobbins Organ Quartet Featuring Marcus Elliott (Saxophone), Kary Kocher (Vibes), and Glen Tucker (Keyboards), Live, July 13, 2014 at The Concert of Colors, Detroit, MI at the Max M. Fisher Center
3. The Howling Diablos Live, July 13, 2014 at The Concert of Colors, Detroit, MI at the Max M. Fisher Center
4. Sean Kuti With Fela’s Egypt 80, Live, July 13, 2014 at The Concert of Colors, Detroit, MI at the Max M. Fisher Center
5. Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, Live, July 13, 2014 at The Concert of Colors, Detroit, MI at the Max M. Fisher Center
6. Sheila Landis and Rick Matle, Live, July 13, 2014 at The Concert of Colors, Detroit, MI at the Max M. Fisher Center
7. Allen Barnes, Live, July 13, 2014 at The Concert of Colors, Detroit, MI at the Max M. Fisher Center
8. River Bank—Brad Paisley
9. Summer—Calvin Harris
10. Am I Wrong—Nico & Vinz

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Unlikely Pairings:The Ramones, Brad Paisley, and Secret Colours!!!

Posted on July 23, 2014 by PhilMaq

With the recent passing of Tommy Ramone, it seemed appropriate to revisit my favorite Ramones’ [Hall of Fame][GSER] song “Blitzkrieg Bop!” The band was all about garage band rock n roll. Just straight up with no solos:

Chicago band Secret Colours shows off their musical chops in a live studio performance. Their most recent album “Positive Distractions” is full of present day sounding throwback tunes!:

Brad Paisley is one of the most underrated guitarists in all of musicdom! He’s also pretty good at turning a phrase inside out. Here he is showing both parts of his artistry on “Ticks”:

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Phil’s Faves: Songs, July 2, 2014

Posted on July 20, 2014 by PhilMaq

This will be a weekly Top Ten list of what I consider to be the best songs that I listened to the previous week. Most songs will be current, but there are no boundaries. I’ve already stated on this web site that I am obsessed with music. I am constantly hunting it down whether it’s online, on CD, from my personal collection, from a library (Yes, I think the library is a great source of music–especially for music that you aren’t sure about.), TV, or radio. Since most of these sources mostly emphasize new music, the odds are pretty good that most of the songs on this list will be new. But in my search, I don’t use any boundaries for the other sources. I am just looking for good music that I haven’t heard, or happened to forget about. Everyone, including myself, has forgotten way more great music than they can ever remember-even if they are also music fanatics.
Also, there will be no rules concerning songs on this list. A song can show up or drop off a number of times. This will be the most volatile of my lists. It all depends on how much music I am exposed to during the week and what I find interesting. On really obscure stuff, I will try to include the source, if I know it.

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Top Ten Songs for the Week of July 2, 2014

1. Get to the Sun—Secret Colours
2. Shootin’ Beer Cans Off My Fence—Travis Whitelaw
3. I Got Love—Bend Sinister
4. Temporary Sun—Kris Delmhorst
5. Come Take My Hand—Randy Cherkis
6. Serenity Road—Annie and Rod Capps
7. Greenwood Sidee—Bill Grogan’s Goat
8. No Harm—The Rich Hands
9. Stop Your Crying—Lake Street Dive
10.This Kind of Week—A Science Experiment
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Phil’s Faves: Videos, July 13, 2014

Posted on July 20, 2014 by PhilMaq

This will be a weekly Top Ten list of what I consider to be the best videos currently available on TV. I don’t, as a rule, go searching for old music videos, so that’s why it will focus mostly on current or recent videos. For this category, I am also going to include any live performances on talk or variety shows that I see during the week.

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Top 10 Videos and Performances for the Week of July 13, 2014

1. George Bedard, Randy Tessier, and Rich Dishman, Live at Top of the Park, Sunday, July 6, 2014 in Ann Arbor, MI
2. The Brothers Groove Live at Top of the Park, Sunday, July 6, 2014 in Ann Arbor, MI
3. Am I Wrong—Nico & Vinz
4. Summer—Calvin Harris
5. River Bank—Brad Paisley
6. Rude!—Magic
7. Automatic—Miranda Lambert
8. Birthday—Katy Perry
9. Somethin’ Bad—Miranda Lambert
10. Drunk on a Plane—Dierks Bentley

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Phil’s Faves: Videos, July 6, 2014

Posted on July 20, 2014 by PhilMaq

This will be a weekly Top Ten list of what I consider to be the best videos currently available on TV. I don’t, as a rule, go searching for old music videos, so that’s why it will focus mostly on current or recent videos. For this category, I am also going to include any live performances on talk or variety shows that I see during the week.

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Top 10 Videos and Performances for the Week of July 6, 2014

1. Phil Maq, Emmanuel Garza (Detroit Blues Band, Motor City Sheiks), Jim Finch (The Rood Brothers), and Al Rood (The Rood Brothers) Live at The Blue Goose Inn, St. Clair Shores, MI, June 29, 2014
2. Am I Wrong—Nico & Vinz
3. Summer—Calvin Harris
4. Rude!—Magic
5. River Bank—Brad Paisley
6. Birthday—Katy Perry
7. Automatic—Miranda Lambert
8. Drunk on a Plane—Dierks Bentley
9. Somethin’ Bad—Miranda Lambert
10. Get Me Some of That—Thomas Rhett

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Wayne Kramer and Melvin Davis, Howling Diablos, and Sean Dobbins: An Incredible Concert of Colors, 2014!!!

Posted on July 16, 2014 by PhilMaq

The Concert of Colors in Detroit always seems to have its own kind of magic! I got involved with radio station WHFR after attending one of the events, and every year I am left speechless after attending so many performances of adjective depleting musical artists!

Probably the biggest highlight at this year’s event was the pairing up of Wayne Kramer (of the MC5 [Hall of Fame]) and local R&B singer Melvin Davis for a Rock ‘n’ Soul Revue! The horns sounded GREAT and the band tore through each other’s songs switching off after every two. The biggest surprise for me, and I guess I should have expected it–but not with Melvin sitting in on drums, was when they cranked out “Kick Out the Jams!” The sonic attack was raw and amazing! I’m stunned that there is actually a video of it!:

Detroit rockers, The Howling Diablos, were their usual amazing selves and “Go Gene Go” was a special highlight for me since it focused on Gene Krupa and Tino Gross’ autobiographical lyrics. Another drummer bonding with another drummer:As far as I’m concerned, is there a better storyline?

Speaking of incredible drummers, another awesome event for me this weekend was my introduction to Sean Dobbins and his “Sean Dobbins Organ Quartet!” Sean is a phenomenal drummer and the other members are phenomenal as well:Marcus Elliott on sax, Cary Kocher on vibes, and Glen Turner (?) (sitting in for Chris Codish) on keyboards. They were so tight, but especially on the interplay between Sean and Cary! I wish I had a video to show from the event, but I settled for an interview of Sean telling everybody about his passion for jazz. He is absolutely one of the best drummers playing today!

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