In which Broadway’s Broadwayest musical turns 45 There’s no shortage of subjects I could chase this week. The album Taylor Swift surprised us with that no one was emotionally ready for. The utter circus my expat life is becoming as I wait on important answers from oversaturated offices. The fact that I’m using my limitedContinue reading “Singular Sensation”
Category Archives: Music
A Moment Alone in the Shade
In which I contemplate a pilgrim’s progress I would bet a ten-dollar-Founding-Father bill that you expected my title to refer in some way to the room where it happens. Well, kids, I’m full of surprises. Besides, there is no longer one ‘room’: everyone who has witnessed the production of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton available on Disney+Continue reading “A Moment Alone in the Shade”
Stones Studies, Part III: The once and future Mr. Jones
In which I am blinded by one brief shining moment Let me tell you about my favorite member of the Rolling Stones (though I can’t seem to shut up about Charlie, so). He’s dead; he’s been dead a long time. Fifty-one years to the day, in fact. As the received wisdom among fans goes, “noContinue reading “Stones Studies, Part III: The once and future Mr. Jones”
Stones Studies, Part II: Character portraits, best practices
In which I dip into the cult of personality Welcome back. Or, if you’re new here, welcome (and go get up to speed). As I’ve mentioned, in paring down a fifty-plus-year career to what resonates with me, I arrived at the material spanning 1968-72, give or take a bit on each side; okay, let’s sayContinue reading “Stones Studies, Part II: Character portraits, best practices”
Stones Studies, Part I: Watts happening
In which I pay tribute to the single one of these people that I know what to make of Consider a band. They build a reputation on noise and pugnacity, in both their music and their behavior. One of them has wildly surpassed the once-improbable fantasy of upward mobility he set for himself. One has,Continue reading “Stones Studies, Part I: Watts happening”
Stones Studies: An Overview
In which I introduce a thermostat-inspired trilogy Something happens to me as spring turns into summer. It’s been an annual occurrence since 2012. The change in the weather, the ratcheting-up of the heat, impels me to spend some amount of time (brief or not) absorbing everything the “World’s Greatest Rock & Roll Band” did betweenContinue reading “Stones Studies: An Overview”
The Manly Men of Motown (& More)
In which I give into temptation (I’m so sorry, please don’t leave) This week is the week I sit down and hash out something I’ve had on the brain for years now, which involves taking a closer look at two musical factions which were essential to my musical education. I do say factions, because theyContinue reading “The Manly Men of Motown (& More)”
Every Musical Biopic Ever
In which I map it out (trailer is a miniature of the following) ACT I Establishment of band of hometown/university friends. Shots of small-time gigs at local clubs. Unrecognizable snippets/early drafts of what will evolve into hits. Idiosyncratic performance methods (e.g., dancing) which lead family/naysayers to ridicule the band’s dream of mainstream success. Band membersContinue reading “Every Musical Biopic Ever”
One Great Music Video: “Sledgehammer”
In which I get animated A literary magazine recently sent me one of the best rejection letters I could hope for. Even if the short story in question didn’t make their cut, they did call the opening sentence ‘a sledgehammer of engagement.’ This was pretty good bad news because 1) I had done something right,Continue reading “One Great Music Video: “Sledgehammer””
Always hoped that I’d be an Apostle…
In which I dive down the rabbit-hole I warned you about way back when Holy Week is one of my favorite times of year, ostensibly because it’s the high point of the Church calendar and all that, but really because it grants me total immunity to have Jesus Christ Superstar—the original 1970 concept album—on anContinue reading “Always hoped that I’d be an Apostle…”