Are The Who Breaking Up?

The future of Rock legends The Who may be in jeopardy as guitarist and songwriter Pete Townshend’s tinnitus has returned with a vengeance.

Rolling Stone and NME Magazines are both reporting that Townshend’s tinnitus has become such an issue that he is considering calling it quits. "If my hearing is going to be a problem, we're not delaying shows, we're finished," the legendary guitarist said. "I can't really see any way around the issue. (Rolling Stone)"

This year was supposed to be a triumphant one for The Who. 2010 began with a performance at the Super Bowl, considered by many to be the biggest gig in the world at this time. They planned a Spring tour which would include a performance at the big New Orleans Jazz Festival, but had to cancel the tour when Townshend became ill.

Rolling Stone reports that Townshend’s tinnitus returned while working on his new musical, Floss. He developed tinnitus through a lifetime of high volume exposure, including revolutionarily large speakers and an 1967 incident where drummer Keith Moon blew up his drum set on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.

Before The Who retires, Townshend is going to try one last option. Working with an audiologist, he will use an in-ear monitor to help minimize damage. He will try the set up out at a London performance of Quadrophenia on March 30th.

Meanwhile, in New York City, Carnegie Hall will be hosting a tribute concert to The Who on March 2nd. The show will include artists such as Living Colour, Bobby McFerrin, Robin Hitchcock, and Mose Allison.

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Gordon Lightfoot: Not Dead Yet

Despite a rumor to the contrary, Gordon Lightfoot is denying that he is dead with his own rich, perfectly timbred voice.

Billboard Magazine is reporting that the 71 year old Canadian Lightfoot is alive and well. The news of his demise came from an internet prank begun on the Twitter social networking site. News sites quickly picked up on the rumor and tried to make it fact through repetition.

As the rumor snowballed, Lightfoot was contacted by Toronto news station CP24. “I don't know where it come from,” Lightfoot said “. . . I was quite surprised to hear it myself.”

The singer songwriter is best known for carrying his Canadian croon through songs such as “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,” “Sundown,” and “If You Could Read My Mind.” His most recent album was released in 2004.
 
I would just like to add that I like Gordon Lightfoot, and I don't think that makes me any less of a man.  Now if you excuse me, my vagina is itching.
 
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The Craiggers CD of the Week: The Watson Twins, Talking to You, Talking to Me

Today marks the beginning of a new feature at Highway 9 Music News, the official Craiggers CD of the Week. Every week we will review one album that really reached us, either by being great or being awful. Perhaps even awful to the point of greatness.

First up is the Watson Twins’ new release, Talking to You, Talking to Me. This album is pure country flavored candy, like a Kentucky Fried Pixie Stick. The Twins (who are actual twins, not like the Thompson Twins) have an instinctual harmony with each other, and their gentle voices blend perfectly.

At times the Watson Twins seem more innocent than a thousand Taylor Swifts playing with a thousand and one kittens. Their Poppy goodness is most apparent on songs such as “Tell Me Why,” which is so sweet that you should beware of cavities.

At other times, like on “Midnight,” the duo moves into a more soulful sound. Not quite baby making music, but more like “thinking about baby making” music. Or maybe “regretting the baby making from listening to baby making music” music.

In either case, they are lyrically nothing special, at least so far. If you asked me to repeat any of the lyrics, I would be hard pressed to do so. Talking to You, Talking to Me focuses more on their voices than on the songs themselves. But that’s ok. When the music is this soothing, who wants to be bogged down with lyrics anyway?

Grade for Talking to You, Talking to Me:  B

Opinion: In Defense of John Mayer and His Playboy Comments

John Mayer’s use of the N-word (I will continue to say N-word, due to my TOS with Google Adwords), as well as his other quotes in Playboy are being chopped up by the media to sound much worse than they are. There is no context anymore, just naughty words thrown around like a tasty bowl of Alpha Bits.

Take the original quote where he used the N-word. He went on to say, “I can’t really have a hood pass. I’ve never walked into a restaurant, asked for a table and been told, ‘We’re full.’” So what he’s saying is that even though he seems to be accepted by Black folk, he will never know what its like to be one because he doesn’t suffer the same racism.  Only if he did suffer the same racism could he call it an N-word Pass instead of a hood pass.

This doesn’t excuse the use of a word that contains as much negative impact (500 years worth) as the N-word, but at least he understands that there is a difference between the Black and White Experience that no “hood pass” can circumvent. He wasn’t being edgy, he was being honest.

Why is anyone surprised at what John Mayer said? He loves being edgy. Like every other Jewish guy from New York (now I’m being edgy, He’s from Connecticut and only half Jewish), he thinks that’s he’s a stand up comic. And you know what? He’s a funny guy.

This is a guy who said in the Playboy interview “ . . . I’ve got a Benetton heart and a fuckin’ David Duke cock,” when talking about why he isn’t attracted to black women. It’s the same guy who dressed up in Borat’s nut catapult bathing suit. Very nice, high five.

One thing about John Mayer, he loves talking about race and his penis. Take this quote from a Rolling Stone interview from 2006: “I'm not worried about how small my penis is — I'm worried about how dark it is. I have a Dominican penis. My penis hit six home runs last year; my penis wears shoes without socks.” Sensitive or not, that is just funny. It he was a comedian instead of a slightly effeminate musician, people would have loved it.
Yes, John Mayer said some stuff that was insensitive, but that doesn’t make him a racist. If anything it proves that people can‘t deal with entertainers stepping out of their comfort zones. They like their singers to sing and their comics to . . . Um . .. Com?

And isn’t Mayer sensitive enough in his music already?

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John Mayer Bares All For Playboy, Apologizes Afterwards

John Mayer has spent the last day or two covering his ass after an attempt to be “edgy” in an interview went awry. The singer-songwriter apologized for using the N-word in a very candid interview with Playboy Magazine.


According to Rolling Stone Magazine, Mayer has been doing damage control on Twitter (the new home for random thoughts) and also apologized during a concert in Nashville.

Mayer’s use of the N-word comes from the discussion of his perceived acceptance among Black folk. He says that he was once asked what it was like to have a “Hood Pass” and then explains “if you really had a hood pass, you could call it a nigger pass. Why are you pulling a punch and calling it a hood pass.” Ironically, his attempt to not pull a punch and be authentic is what caused the damage.

In a poetic twist, Mayer also discusses his need to be liked and fear of being disliked in the Playboy interview.

The jury is still out on whether this gaffe will damage his career, but the author believes that people will forget by the end of the news cycle.

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Ozzfest returns, but no Zakk Wylde with Ozzy

Did you actually think you could stop the Rock?
Ozzfest is back this year after a one year hiatus. Ozzy, however, has a new look to his band. Rolling Stone is reporting that he replaced long time guitarist Zakk Wylde.

Zakk Wylde has been a member of Ozzy’s band since 1988, and has been there through all of Ozzy’s resurgence, but Ozzy said that he wants a change. Taking Wylde’s place is Greek guitarist Gus G. of the band Firewind, considered by many to be one of the best guitarists in the world.

Despite the new guitar player, Ozzy insists that he and Wylde have not fallen out. “No, I haven’t fallen out with Zakk. I mean, he doesn’t need me anymore,” says Ozzy. “He actually has his own fucking thing, you know. I knew I had to get another guitar player for a while. I just kept putting it off and putting it off.” Wylde is also the founder and guitarist for the band Black Label Society.

Regarding Ozzfest, no official tour dates or bands have been announced, but they are soon to come. Ozzy took a year off to finish work on his new album. You can expect that the Prince of Darkness will be back with a vengeance, and hopefully without all of Sharon's annoying little dogs.

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Opinion: Who Dat Think They Can Film The Who?

Not the NFL.

The Superbowl hafltime show has become the biggest concert in the world, a 12 minute set that reaches dozens of millions of people. So why can’t they get better people to produce it?

The Who were pretty good on Sunday. They were loose, if a little sloppy at moments and overshadowed by the incredible light show. But the direction was some of the worst I have ever seen. It was like the show was done by a pair of A/V inclined chimpanzees who pushed switches by flinging poo at them.

So why does the biggest show on earth (with apologizes to PT Barnum) have such awful crew? Because sports guys will never do as good a job on it as music guys. If the NFL wants to put on a good show, they need to bring on a film crew experienced in concert production.

Yes, there is a difference between concerts and sports events. Think about the different kind of shots involved. To use less than the best is to do a disservice to the band playing and the audience watching.
The lightshow was pretty cool though.

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Bob Dylan Song to Become Children’s Book?

In “best thing to ever happen to a Christian children’s book” news, Rolling Stone is reporting that Bob Dylan‘s religious song “Man Gave Names to All the Animals” is now the basis for a children’s picture book.

The book, with pictures by artist Jim Arnosky, is due out this September, according to a press release from Sterling Children’s Books. To help lull the unsuspecting child to sleep, Man Gave Names to All the Animals will come with a CD containing the original song.

"Man Gave Names to All the Animals" was copywritten in 1979, more than 15 years after Dylan made his name on the New York City folk scene. The song appeared on 1979’s Slow Train Coming, Dylan’s first album after converting to born again Christianity, and first good album after a couple of “Meh“ late 70 attempts (Desire, Street Legal). Not that Dylan should be blamed, there was more than a little awful music in the Late 70s.

Jim Arnosky was always entranced by the imagery in Dylan’s song. "From the first time I heard it, the lyrics created pictures in my mind of a land of primeval beauty," said Arnosky. "I thought this vision would make a dream of a book, and I asked for Bob Dylan's permission to make this dream come true. Happily, he said yes."

The author is hoping for a sequel where Dylan’s animals eat the Jesusy Produce from Veggie Tales

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Neil Young Working on New Album

Paste Magazine is reporting that Neil Young has already begun work on a new album. This new album--still unnamed--is meant to be a follow up to 2009’s awful release, Fork in the Road.

Fork in the Road was a concept album by Young that dealt with the auto industry. It was not his best work.

In what could be a threat as much as a statement, Young says “I’ve already written four or five songs and I don’t want to stop. And I hope to be able to continue for a really long time.”

Young has been in the news a great deal lately. He recently won his first Grammy in his nearly 50 year career (obviously not for Fork in the Road, but for Best Art Direction on Archives Vol. 1). Young also performed with Dave Matthews at the Hope For Haiti Now concert.

Neil Young has always been one to experiment (in the 80s he did an electronic album), but another Fork in the Road may be difficult for the author to take. The author decides to sigh and put on his copy of Harvest.

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Pete Doherty Assaulted By Bagels

God, I love this guy!
Gossip rag fodder, drug addict, and occasional front man for Babyshambles Pete Doherty faced a barrage of bagels upon taking the stage in Moscow Jan 31st. According to The Daily Mail, one struck him on the shoulder, another landed on the stage, where he promply ate it.
It is unknown if the eaten bagel had poppy seeds.

The attack of Jewish bread products was sparked by Babyshambles taking the stage an hour and 20 minutes late. NME says that “Doherty failed to show up on time for the gig because he overslept.”
Pete Doherty’s antics have been far more entertaining that his music, which isn’t terrible. A few weeks ago, Doherty was arrested for drug possession inside a courthouse. Yes, he brought drugs to a court hearing.
On more tragic level, Doherty recented dated Robin Whitehead, who died of a drug overdose January 24. The Daily Mail reports that Whitehead and Doherty had a serious argument the day of her death. Whitehead was heiress to the Goldsmith fortune.

For those of you wondering why I waste time covering this guy, let me tell you why. Pete Doherty is Rock and Roll. He is the energy and attitude of Rock that the corporations try so hard to leech from it. Doherty is Ozzy, Doherty is Keith Moon. Doherty might be John Bonham, but I don’t think anyone can compare with Bonzo.

Doherty has the soul of a rocker. Unfortunately that sometimes makes you bring drugs to a courthouse, and other times leads to you being pegged by delicious bagels.
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Opinion: Grammys Not Awful

I have to admit, the Grammys made some good choices last night. Not in the major categories, I could care less about them (though isn’t Taylor Swift just adorable?). But in the categories that matter, the people that should’ve won almost always did.
Check it out:
Best Americana Album: Levon Helm, Electric Dirt

This was my choice to win. Great great album.
Best Traditional Blues Album: Ramblin’ Jack Elliot, A Stranger Here

The old man from Brooklyn does it again. Seriously, how old is he? He used to hang with Woody Guthrie.
Best Bluegrass Album: Steve Martin, The Crow

Its hard to take the funny man seriously, until you hear him play.
Best Contemporary Blues Album: Derek Trucks, Already Free

Has he been around long enough that we can stop calling him a prodigy and just call him “The Man?”
Best Traditional Folk Album: Loudon Wainwright III, High Wide & Handsome

The Grammys are fond of the old guys this year.

Best Contemporary Folk Album: Steve Earle, Townes

My pick was Neko Case’s Middle Cyclone, but Earle put out a great tribute to Townes Van Zandt.