... And it Stoned Me...

... down to my soul...I want to take a minute to clue you in to my latest faves, the Belfast Cowboys, a Van Morrison tribute band I caught at one of the free stages at the Minnesota State Fair last night. Led by frontman Terry Walsh (who does a spot-on Van Morrison impersonation) and featuring local lounge lizard Vic Volare on tenor sax, this nine piece band plays the Van the Man catalogue with note-for-note precision, and a lot of soul. I especially liked Terry's numerous local references during an extended version of "Gloria." So, if you're in the Twin Cities, check 'em out at the Fair tonight, or at their site http://www.reverbnation.com/thebelfastcowboys#, or with their numberous YouTube vids. Thanks, and keep on rockin', "Van the Man" style!

I Was Born a Ramblin' Man...

... tryin' to make a livin', doin' the best I can...Today in rock history,on this date in 1973, 'Brothers and Sisters,' by the Allman Brothers Band, is released. It is their highest charting (#1) and longest charting (56 weeks) album. I've always been a big Allman Brothers fan (on constant rotation on my garage 8-track player - "Live at Fillmore East"). I was fortunate enough to see them in 1971 before Duane passed, and they're the only band I've seen then or since where the roadies set up more equipment during the break, so that the band can come back and jam for 45 minutes on "Mountain Jam." So let's enjoy the video of this memorable Allmans tune, and keep on rockin". Thanks to http://rockhall.com/story-of-rock/today-in-rock/ for the info.

Just a Chip Off the Old Block...

Today in rock history, Peter Edward "Ginger" Baker was born in Lewisham, South London, in 1939. I won't bore you with details of Ginger's life (I probably wrote a post last year at this time when he turned 70). What is pretty cool though (and something I didn't know), is that his son, Kofi, is also a professional drummer. This hits home for me, as I have three sons, aged 14, 17 and 21, and they are all drummers as well. So it can be a noisy house at times! Check out this drum solo duet from Ginger and Kofi back in 2000, thanks to http://rockhall.com/story-of-rock/today-in-rock/ and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ginger_Baker for the info, and keep on rockin', family style!

You Can’t Raise a Caine Back Up…

… when he’s in defeat… Today in rock history, in 1971, Joan Baez hits #3 with the Band song "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down." This song has a special interest to me for several reasons. I’m an American Civil War buff, and, since the song has a “war between the states” theme to it, I like to listen to the lyrics for Civil War references. In my band “North of Nowhere,” we cover the Band’s version of the song, which to me is notable in that I had to transpose the bass part up ½ step (the guitarists get to use a capo, but no self-respecting bassist is going to use one of those contraptions, so you gotta transpose), so the song ends up in the key of A#, which is a strange key, to say the least. Plus, I just like the song! Thanks to www.rockhall.com for the info. Check out the Band’s version from “the Last Waltz,” and a cute clip from "The Muppets" featuring Joan Baez (lookin' mighty fine, I might add), and keep on rockin’!