Tag: classic rock
Classic and Southern Rock Rolled Through Local Benefit Concert
Sean, Terry and I ventured downtown Saturday evening to listen to several local bands perform in a benefit concert at the American Legion hall to help raise funds for Sara Warren. Wolfguard‘s lead guitarist, Steve Bequette, had reunited with former band mates to play a couple of sets as the old Junction Box band. Other local bands included Silas Dogan and Southern Reign. I must apologize for the blurriness of the two photos I took last night with my cell phone. If I’d been thinking, I would have brought my good Canon digital camera along to get back shots.
We were fashionably late, arriving just as Junction Box finished setting up their equipment. We missed hearing the Silas Dogan band, but enjoyed hearing Junction Box cover ‘Takin’ Care of Business’ (BTO), ‘Dreams’ (Molly Hatchett), ‘Gimme Three Steps’ (Lynard Skynard), ‘Three ‘Whiskey in a Bottle’ and other classic and southern rock favorites.
Between sets (Junction Box switched out the percussionist and bassist once each), raffle prizes were drawn. I had purchased a few tickets when we arrived, but didn’t expect to win anything. The third ticket drawn happened to be one of the ones I’d purchased, so I retrieved a nice golf or polo shirt sporting ‘Effen Vodka’ on one sleeve. Being a medium, I handed it to Terry.
After Junction Box wrapped up, Southern Reign took the stage again, but not before local guitar legend Eric Gassen (current project the Edge of Forever tribute band) treated us to a song that’s primarily a guitar solo … Nugent’s Stranglehold (also the first song I ever heard Terry play on his Ibanez Artist). Eric borrowed Steve’s guitar and Line 6 pedal while Southern Reign’s guitarist, bassist and percussionist provided the backup.
Southern Reign closed out the concert with a short set including ‘Can’t You See’ (Marshall Tucker Band), ‘Don’t Stop Believin’ (Journey), and ‘I’m the Only One’ (by Leavenworth’s very own Melissa Etheridge). Terry and I left, waving goodbye to the band, as they performed the last song of the evening ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’ (Guns & Roses).
A few minutes later, we were on the road, headed south through Leavenworth and Lansing. Once back in the house, I removed the present my daughter and her boyfriend gave me for Christmas: opal earrings. Opals are my birthstone, since I’m an October baby.
We had a good time listening to some local Leavenworth talent and hopefully helped ease the burden for Sara Warren.
The Little Lost and Forgotten Canon That Could
During the drive in to work today I heard one of my favorite Baroque music pieces, albeit not in performed as originally written or arranged. A piece of music history that lay forgotten for centuries and only a single original manuscript copy survives to this day. Rediscovered in the early 20th century, it’s popularity remains undimmed nearly another century later. I’m speaking of Pachelbel‘s Canon.
The version I heard this morning via KLOVE had been massaged by the Trans Siberian Orchestra and transformed into a ‘Christmas Canon Rock.’
I can’t explain my reaction to this music. Just three notes into this song and my chest tightens, I have trouble breathing and my eyes tear up. No wonder this piece is wildly popular at weddings. And it doesn’t matter what form or genre morphs this music. The original genius and simple beauty always shines through.
My tiny bit of research this morning yielded an entire site devoted to this piece of music and how often it shows up in modern music. Admittedly, the chord progression contained in the Canon in D is very common (I -V-vi-iii-IV-I-ii-V). A few of the modern songs that caught my eye were:
- “Cryin” by Aerosmith
- “Let It Be” by the Beatles
- “Tunnel of Love” by Dire Straits
- “We’re Not Gonna Take It” by Twisted Sister
- “With or Without You” by U2
And I’m glad I clicked on the videos link there or I would have never watched this comedian’s rant on his cross to bear in Pachelbel’s Canon in D:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM]
While I enjoyed TSO’s ‘Christmas Canon Rock’ version, I think, at the end of the day, what really puts a smile on my face and a zing in my spring, would be the ‘Ultimate Canon Rock’ as seen here:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMWl_5NujBw]