Brian
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Post by Brian on Apr 4, 2010 0:06:07 GMT -8
I couldn't trace that photo but it was obviously snapped at the beginning of the 2010 Ray Davies U.S. tour. Google Images linked it from the RMP blog, for Resident Media Pundit, appearing captionless and accompanying a review of Ray's Feb. 27 show in Westbury, Conn. We saw a longer concert at the end of the tour in Agoura Hills, Calif., but didn't get songs such as "Autumn Almanac," "Harry Rag" and "A Rock 'n' Roll Fantasy" that he whipped out inbetween. We got other gems instead. I had planned to write a formal review that would have been worthy of being published in Heritage Southwest Jewish Press or the L.A. Review back when print was still a viable medium, but luckily this guy noted most of the facts about Ray's Canyon Club gig in his blog on March 29: www.sonicboomers.com/boomerangst/well-respected-rock-starSo I'm free to ramble from time to time about that evening and hope others have things to add as well. I already wrote that this was "the best show by Ray Davies of my life" because it achieved the finest focus of the two dozen concerts I'd seen by him in the past 34 years. Instead of trying to craft a solo career from a draining well of new songs, he relied upon Bill Shanley to lay the foundation for a Kinks reunion. The turnout and response proved there's a market. All he needs is Dave Davies. Ray mined our affections throughout the set and told us he was just "waiting for the call." Some wise man in the audience (not me) who might have read Dave's recent online comments shouted back, "Call him!" Our discussion of Ray Davies' show with the 88, including my bona fide true setlist, starts on the previous page of this thread. Here's a quick link: montrosepeacevigil.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=talk4&action=display&thread=120&page=4
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Post by Dan on Apr 4, 2010 13:00:52 GMT -8
Thanks for the mini=review and the photo, Brian. While we're talking about possible reunions, I just read this in the Wiki article on Chris Difford: "In January 2010 Difford announced from the stage of the 'Half Moon', Putney, that he would be renting a villa in Italy this coming summer with Glenn Tilbrook - to write songs together for the first time in over ten years." The Squeeze Official site seems to corroborate this (probably in an update written one year ago): "Squeeze are resting before summer dates in 2009 and a new album early 2010." www.chrisdifford.com/But you probably know about this already!
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Post by Skipper on Apr 5, 2010 11:01:36 GMT -8
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Brian
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Post by Brian on Apr 5, 2010 21:49:07 GMT -8
Skipper, thanks for posting that Amazon link to the Kinks DVD biography. I'm going to use it to pre-order before it comes out May 18. I can't think of any other video retrospectives of the Kinks -- but I remember that VH1 criminally skipped over them with their "Behind the Music" series in the 1990's, back when boomers were a desirable demographic and every network programmed for us. While we're talking about possible reunions, I just read this in the Wiki article on Chris Difford:
"In January 2010 Difford announced from the stage of the 'Half Moon', Putney, that he would be renting a villa in Italy this coming summer with Glenn Tilbrook - to write songs together for the first time in over ten years." The Squeeze Official site seems to corroborate this (probably in an update written one year ago): "Squeeze are resting before summer dates in 2009 and a new album early 2010."
www.chrisdifford.com/
But you probably know about this already! No, I did not know that, Dan! Last week I read a post on another message board by someone who's always been plugged in as a Glenn Tilbrook fan saying that Squeeze was planning a U.S. tour for August. If Chris and Glenn pull all of this off, we will have to start an official Squeeze thread.
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Post by Skipper on Apr 6, 2010 7:56:28 GMT -8
Brian, have you read this copy of Mojo? Great brief history. It also came with a tribute CD, "The Modern Genius of Ray Davies". Some great covers by great bands. I don't think I ever mentioned to you that Eric Bloom of Blue Oyster Cult and Ian Hunter collaborated on each others albums. Ian & Eric wrote a great song for BOC on the Specters album called "Going Through The Motions". Eric sang back up on "Your Never Alone with a Schizophrenic They were good buddies and both had "Fros" and Sunglasses in the 70's
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Post by Dan on Apr 6, 2010 18:10:47 GMT -8
I bought two copies of that issue with the CD, Skipper! I know Brian has at least one.
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Brian
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Post by Brian on Apr 6, 2010 23:01:06 GMT -8
I bought two copies of that issue with the CD, Skipper! I know Brian has at least one. Dan speaks the truth, Skipper. I got mine at Tower Records in Pasadena. The apex of print and recorded music must have intersected in March 2006, only four years ago. I've seen that CD in the used bin every time I've gone to Amoeba. But the song selection's great and the artists are still happening, like Fountains of Wayne and Yo La Tengo. And let me say that "You're Never Alone with a Schizophrenic" is one of the greatest rock albums of all time.
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Post by Skipper on Apr 15, 2010 8:43:17 GMT -8
Hey Brian, Can we talk about Dave now? Are you cashing in your El Rey tickets. Sheesh I wish they would just give us a hint as to if the tour (El Rey show) will still happen. I have to make other plans for the Summer but if Dave reschedules I sure wouldn't want to miss him. Looks like I will take a pretty big hit from Ticketf@#kers if I do cash em in. Been listening to Unfinished Business lately as well as the loose (free) tracks I down loaded from Dave's site. Love that live version of Lincoln County from the Rock Bottom Album. www.davedavies.com/rockbottom.htmHave you read this excerpt from his book "Kink"? Dave Davies of the Kinks talks about the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame in his book "Kink". In 1990 the Kinks were inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame. Ray and I both felt a little uncomfortable with the idea at first, but it was a nice tribute, a show of respect for a body of work that has spanned some thirty years. The Kinks have influenced so many people in the music business. It was a gesture that was well appreciated. It was also quite a touching irony that Graham Nash was the one who inducted us, especially since all those years ago he had been such a staunch supporter of the band. As much as I appreciated the recognition, I've always had my own ideas about how these particular ceremonies should be conducted. So I'd like to announce here the winners of the Dave Davies Special Achievement Award. Two awards go to Ray Davis of the Kinks. First, a Lifetime Achievement awards for 'The Most Exasperating and Impossible Creative Genius I have ever worked with'. Second, 'The Most Important and Influential Rock Singer/Songwriter of Our Time'. Bruce Springsteen will get the award for 'Appearing at the Most Hall of Fame Awards Ceremonies'. Don't worry, Bruce, you'll get the proper award when it's your turn. Be patient. To Chuck Berry, for 'The Longest Running Cool Guitar Player Award'. Bruce, please, hang on, not yet, not yet. Jeez, some people. Now, 'The Greatest Guitar Player in the History of the World Ever to Play in Clogs Award' goes to Brian May. 'Best Rock 'n' Roll Band in the History of Rock' goes to (shit, these envelopes, you can never open them when you want to) aah... um... to the Rolling... sorry, wrong envelope, that was for the 'Oldest Rock 'n' Roll Band Still Playing Live Award' and the 'Oldest Rock 'n' Roll Band Still Alive Award'. Oh, here it is. The award goes to the Kinks. Bruce, stop it, you're gonna get it in a minute... if you keep on the way you're going. Remember, Bruce, patience is a virtue. Oh, all right. 'The Most Talented Singer/Songwriter, Guitarist, Performer, Rock Video Star, Humanitarian, Working Class Hero Award' goes to, shit, sorry Bruce... goes to Ray Davies. Never mind, Bruce, maybe next year, tell ya what, we can all get up on stage at the end and sing Chuck Berry songs. Or 'Born in the USA'. We could do 'Born to Run' as an encore. Or 'Born Near a Factory in the USA' or 'Seen Running from a Factory Some Years After Being Born in the USA'. I could sing 'Born in the UK Now Living in the USA'. We'll have such a great time, it'll be such fun. We can all meet in a bar around the corner beforehand, get really pissed or drink loads of Perrier water, ha, ha, ha, and let Weird Al Yankovic 'do' all of us. * Recently we were invited to play at the opening of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland. Bruce was there, as well as hosts of others. I thought it was fitting that Chuck Berry, who had inspired us and all the British Invasion bands, closed the show. It was great fun to spend a few days with all these music legends, although I did find it curious that the Kinks were the only British band on the bill.
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Brian
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Post by Brian on Apr 17, 2010 1:10:40 GMT -8
Skipper, I've been wanting to get back to Dave too. Anni told me that you sent an e-mail to Ticketbastards even more recently than me, and you got the same answer. This is what I wrote last week:
I am still holding my tickets purchased from Ticketmaster for Dave Davies at the El Rey Theater on Feb. 5, 2010. I have not gotten any further notification from Ticketmaster since Jan. 20. What is the status of this postponed event?
In reply, I got a couple of stock corporate sentences followed by: "Regretfully, we have not receive (sic) any new information in regards to a new date being set. We recommend that you check periodically on Ticketmaster.com for updated information."
Dave's website just confuses me more. For two months, his Tour Info page invited us to watch that space for more news soon. I just checked, and now that advisory is missing. They still list the old dates with links to the venues. It's a mess.
Like you, I worry that Dave will decide to redeem the $88 I spent for those two tickets on some night when we won't be able to go. That "Spiritual Journey" DVD that was supposed to come out before his little tour in February is going to be released in August or September, Dave Emlen reported last week. So I'm betting that Dave will show up to promote the DVD by holding onto our tickets.
Thank you for running his book excerpt, Skipper. Anni and I are going down to the desert again this weekend, so we'll have more to say about Dave next week.
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Post by Dan on Apr 17, 2010 20:35:27 GMT -8
Skipper, that quote from Dave Davies is hilarious! Brian, the number 88 is auspicious. All will be good. Finally, Squeeze is touring the East Coast with Cheap Trick. Their only West Coast date so far is July 30 at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, Calif., with the English Beat. Oh, one more thing: Gypsy Camp the Fifth is tomorrow in Oak Park/Agoura Hills, under the great Kraken Tree. I helped Flip Cassidy find the site. All are invited -- and it's free! www.avantgardenias.com/gypsycamp/about.htm
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