Moody Blues @Hollywood Bowl 6/17/2017

 

The Moody Blues wowed it’s capacity audience with an assortment of signature songs as well as music from the “Days Of Future Passed” LP on Saturday June 17, 2017.  The event marks the 50th Anniversary of the famed LP that as Justin Hayward, lead guitar and vocals, stated “changed our lives forever.”

Attendees were singing along with the Moody Blues and were howling with a great deal of exuberance.  Young people as well as senior citizens attended the concert and all had a rousing good time.  An ocean of happy singing people is always a good indication of success in my book.

The Moody Blues had the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra playing behind them led by conductor Thomas Wilkins whose leadership added to a flawless performance by the band as well as the orchestra. For the Moody Blues’ record label, this was the first recorded concept LP and considered a masterpiece as well as a ground breaking effort.

Who knew when Decca Records asked the band to record an album to test “stereo recording” that history would be made?  Decca had been known primarily as a classical music label and the decision was made to fuse rock with classical music and viola “Days Of Future Passed” was crafted and was a success.

Sadly, “Go Now” , a tune that had been originally recorded by Bessie Banks, was not included in the first part of the show, but they came blasting onto the stage with “I’m Just A Singer” which made the crowd clap loudly with glee and forget about the rest of world.  The Moodies also performed the classic “Say It With Love” from their LP “Keys To The Kingdom” which hints at the greatness that the Moodies have become.

There were times that I kept getting distracted by Norda Mullen, Flute, guitar and vocals, as she  was dressed in some pretty awesome “Steam Punk” gear, but had a forehead that reminded me of a Klingon from “Star Trek”.  The other backup members : Julie Ragins, keyboards, guitar, sax and vocals; Allen Hewitt, keyboards and vocals; Billy Ashbaugh on drums performed exceptionally well and rendered up an absolutely flawless performance and were able to not be crushed by the Moodies as well as the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra.

During the intermission I was able to recall the first time that I had seen the Moody blues so many years ago.  It was November 30, 1968 at the Shrine Auditorium and they shared the bill with Jeff Beck, The Faces with Rod Stewart.  10 Years After and Mint Tatoo were also on the bill, but I cannot remember anything  about their paticipation in that show.

The bands were level to the audience and I was right in front of all of them and was totally enjoying the Moodys when someone handed me a joint and I took a huge hit and promptly passed out and fell backwards.  When I came to Hayward was looking at me like “WTF?”  That was 49 years ago and the Moodys have only gotten better if that’s possible.  Their voices are right on the mark and are live as well as their musical prowess.

As the Moodys broke into “Days Of Futrue Passed” I began wondering if any of the three of them had read Robert Graves’ “White Goddess or “The Battle of The Trees” for starters as so much of the lyrics kept harkening back to a time that I am well acquainted with now that I am older and wiser.

 

The first time I saw the Moodies I was only 17-years-old and quite ignorent of so much of what I was going to learn.  I think that the Moodys helped usher me into that new realm of understanding and knowledge.

Throughout their performance there was quite an eclectic “light show” going on behind them with so many wonderful images, including that commanding voice that opens up the LP with images of the man behind the voice with orbs behind him.  It was surely a space odyssey to behold.  Drifting in space while listening to the lilting tunes of “Days Of Future Passed.”

An interesting aside to the song “Knights In White Satin” is that it found a home on the soundtrack of Johnny Depp’s 2012 film “Dark Shadows.”

The Moody’s encore song was “Question” which goes into “A Miracle In My Life” which always brings a lump to my throat as it reminds me of a time long ago where I had a love and he was lost to me.

All this on the season opener of Hollywood Bowl  2017…an iconic place with an iconic rock n’ roll band!

Dawn is a feeling…this day will last a thousand years if you want it to.

 

 

“8 Days A Week” Arrives In Time

Just in time to watch instead of the new president elect’s inauguration, my DVD “8 Days A Week, The Touring Years” arrived with little fanfare or mailbox watching.  In fact, no trumpets blared when I gingerly opened the mailbox or when this fan opened the DVD…but there it was to rescue me.

This wasn’t to be the first time that I had seen the carefully curated Ron Howard film, I had also viewed a Universal Studios screening, they own Capital Records, and hosted by KLOS 95.5 “Breakfast With The Beatles”host Chris Carter in Hollywood, CA early on as well as a screening in Santa Monica, CA.  I like that first screening in Santa Monica as we got to sip wine while watching the film.  It was a bit marred by one attendee who thought it a good idea to bring their chatty two-year-old with them.  At that point I needed the wine.

“8 Days A Week, The Touring Years” is the latest addition to a very large Beatles’ collection which sports several Beatle films from “A Hard Days Night” and”Help” to Beatle’s related films such as “The Magic Christian and “Across The Universe.”  One of the collection was produced by my friend John Slot’s, a well known poet,  brother  Andrew Slot…ah “Imagine.” The collection includes many books, some written by John Lennon such as “A Spanard In The Works” and “In His Own Write” as well a little book titled “Japan Through The Eyes of John Lennon” which is full of Lennon’s art. There’s also a bit of Beatle jewelry.

There’s buttons, playing cards, bubble gum trading cards, posters, a special mounted photograph of the lads at a news conference in LA by Lord Tim, lots of special issue magazines, music and a few collages assembled from my magazine collection.  5 collages have been assembled in all of which I only have 2 with me.

As for “8 Days A Week,” it’s a very well crafted Beatlementary about the Fab 4 and their cheeky life on the road and in the studio from 1963 to 1966 and they show footage of their last, rooftop “concert” on Abby Road Records which was shut down by the police. Stunning examples of their famous, sold out shows with screaming , crying and fainting fans.  It also is great for footage of their very off the cuff interviews, how well they worked together and just The Beatles in general.

An amazing fact that this Beatle fan had not known until just prior to this film being first seen, is that they refused to play before segregated performances.  The concerts had to be inclusive and as Ringo Starr put it “We weren’t playing for this gruop of people or that group of people. We wanted to play for everyone.”  Paul McCartney added that there had to be a collective vote of 4 in order to move on an idea, so this concept of no segregation had been agreed upon by all members. It did appear in their signed contacts.

Did I see The Beatles live at anytime? Why yes, yes indeed I did.  The Hollywood Bowl show in August 1964  where Jackie DeShannon opened, with my brother.  Our mother had made him take me.   The whole experience was amazing and left a lasting impression upon my music soul.  At one point I owned all of their LP’s.  I did manage to ware them all out.

Hats off to Ron Howard for this wonderful piece of Beatles history and a day in the life of  attitude.  The reminiscences of the interviewees was a compliment to this film and the fan footage blended with news footage provides a marvelously woven story which ends with the rooftop concert.  The background narrative added to the pieces of the puzzle and brings to light the dissatisfaction that The Beatles had been developing toward touring and how they could not hear themselves above the roar of the crowds’ screaming.

Who is my second favorite band…Led Zeppelin.  Be warned though that there isn’t nearly the amount in that collection as there is for The Beatles.

Many thanks to my bank’s credit card for giving me monthly bonuses which I can use to purchase items such as “8 Days A Week.”

PEACE FROG ROCKS THE DOORS

Went to see a Doors tribute band yesterday at Venice Beach Bar and I must admit that going in I wasn’t too sure what to expect.  Once the decision was made to attend, the arduous jouney to Venice Beach began.  Peace Frog has had a few notices on Facebook, but this gig caught my attention with Venice Beach as it’s place of origin, just like the original Doors.  As the lead singer for Peace Frog put it, it was where the guys would gather and consume LSD and Croissants.

Man do I remember those days well.  Wild, strange days of LSD indulgence and dancing barefoot until my feet would bleed…yes those were the days.

I remember one time going to a show with my first love in Woodland Hills, CA to the Theater In The Round to see them.  My love and I got so hot that we hurridly left the gig to get into his panel truck and screw each other’s brains out…Come On Baby Light My Fire.

Memories are the gift that Peace Frog gave me with their incredible performance that lasted nearly 3 sweaty hours.  I’ve been sending copies of the videos that I taped yesterday to friends that have also seen The Doors and they are blown away.

To read more of what I have to say and watch my videos stay tuned for my next column for the NoHo Arts District coming out in a few weeks.

Montmartre Adventure and Jim Morrison

It’s uncanny how large Jim Morrison looms in the vortex of my life!  From my first time in Paris to today when I booked my apt for my next trip to Paris in Montmartre, the place where Morrison first haunted me in 2014.  Today, I confirmed that I was going to see Peace Frog in Venice Beach, California for an afternoon gig.  Peace Frog is a tribute band to The Doors, the band fronted by Morrison.  Next thing I know, I’m booking an apt in Paris for 2018.

This trip will mean going over to Pere Lachaise to visit Morrison’s grave for certain and mayhaps visit the SOUL KITCHEN CAFE in Montmartre to say hello.  I accidently stumbled upon this place my first time in Paris when I got lost and took it as an omen to pay my respects to the Lizard King.

Morrison kept haunting me all over Paris, even got into into my iPod and stuck it on my selection of The Doors’ songs over and over and over.  without knowing it, my apt was on Rue Muller not far from the stairs of the Sacre Coeur where Morrison used to hang out and people watch.  Still sends shivers down my spine to think about that.

While at Pere Lachaise in 2014 I met a young singer by the name of Nelson Vard who was also there to pay his respects to the Lizard King.  Vard offered to put my ODE TO JIM MORRISON on his gravestone along with white roses and baby’s breath as well as my brother’s ashes in a canister.  Vard also sang a few of The Doors’ hits and reminded me of Donovan, “Try To Catch The Wind”, and found his demeanor pleasant.  Toward the end of the meeting, Vard told me that he had won a slot on Nouvelle Star which is similiar to American’s Got Talent.  At the time, I didn’t know that Vard had picked up a heart shaped stone there and would use it to channel Morrison while he belted out “Light My Fire” on Nouvelle Star. He was a hit with that performance and lasted into the final round, but as all French know techno pop gets signed and not rock n’ roll.  Rock n’ roll is assigned to the underground music scene that abounds in Paris and for a consideration Paris Mojo will squire you around to the club scene that is a vibrant part of Parisian nightlife.

So here we are today, going to Venice Beach to see Peace Frog perform The Doors’ hits and hopefully channel the Lizard King.  And now, I’m going back to Paris to read Hemingway’s “A Moveable Feast” at Shakespeare & Company and revel in the essance that is Morrison’s Paris.

Songwriters Equity Act

It appears that the music industry owns the streaming sites and are making huge profits and then hiding their assets in off shore accounts using shell corporations to hide the fact. more important now that Congress and the Senate pass the Songwriters Equity Act to reform digital copyright laws and abolish the consent decree. Urge your reps to vote YEA on HR 4079 and S2321!

STREET ART & POLITICS: TEACHR & JOHN ENNIS

Everyday cars fly past Teachr’s “All You Need Is The Right Kind Of Love” on a utility box at Universal Studio’s backlot gate. Most never notice that it’s there let alone know who the Street Artist is. News From The Front was just as guilty until one day last year it stopped and noticed…that was October 2014.
The work wasn’t signed so News From The Front had no idea who it was until several months later in July 2015 at Ringo Starr’s birthday party when a well connected Street Artist by the name of Jimmy Ray Flynn and News From The Front began a dialog. Flynn began asking us if we knew about Street Art and News From The Front began telling him about the pieces that had been seen and had taken photos of during many jaunts around Los Angeles.
When Flynn was told about the electrical box Street Art he said “Oh, that sounds like Teachr. He’s got a grant or something to do electrical boxes.” Flynn added that Teachr had his Street Art all over including Downtown LA. From there the “Google” search was on and News From The Front was truly amazed and felt as if it had hit the mother lode. Excited, we began gingerly clicking the links. News From The Front was curious about this Street Artist named Teachr.
During the link clicking News From The Front also stumbled upon “PAY 2 PLAY” and it’s Director John Ennis. Teachr’s art is featured in this documentary on getting big money out of politics and what an eye opener the featured trailers of the film are.
During our research News From The Front noticed that many journalist’s have written that this Street Artist or that Street Artist is the most prolific Street Artist, but they are wrong…Teachr is the most prolific Street Artist around Los Angeles at the moment.
From Skid Row and Indian Alley to the Los Angeles Arts District to Hollywood and then to the NoHo Arts District there is Teachr’s thought provoking Street Art.
Once there was enough info gleaned from “Google”, it was time to arrange meetings. An awesome piece of Native American themed Street Art on a billboard in Studio City brought home the message. There was Teachr’s brand “TEACH PEACE” cross next to Bandit’s wheat paste depiction of a Native American “Chief” in full headdress…half face and half skull.
Director Ennis was very helpful in tracking down all of the Street Artist’s that were rattled off to him. Turns out Ennis has a book coming out in early October of this year titled “WHERE ELSE BUT THE STREETS” which Ennis describes as a Street Art dossier. According to Ennis, he had a lot of Street Artists’ footage left over from the final cut of “PAY 2 PLAY” and he wanted to use it in another form…the dossier.
When contact was made with Teachr, it was evident that this artist has a deep intellect as well as a lengthy background in the realm of art. Teachr allows that the birth of his twins and their subsiquent public school attendance made him aware of the funding discrepancies in the arts. His campaign began as a result of his realization that he had to get his word out there. When asked if his message was “Peace through art” he concurred.
We began chatting about the book “Gallerie de Street Art:Paris” and how it had been dedicated to the victims of the terrorist attack upon Charlie Hebdo in Paris, France,  he dug out his stencil for the same subject matter…syncronicity.
Syncronicity is the key factor here. Even though our generations are far apart and his art is much different from our collage art, we totally agree about where our country is heading if we don’t get down to business and our art work is reflecting that.
On a musical note, Teachr listens to many different genres while he creates his stencils. For inspiration he’ll listen to the likes of Woody Guthrie to Sean Price to Juliette Lewis’ band “The Licks.” For Teachr it depends upon the piece he’s working on…oh my and so it is with our iPod when working.
Ennis has a sterling background in the field of rock music as well as television. He has worked on Reality TV for MTV and has been a writer /producer for FreeMantle Media. In addition, he has also worked on a AOL show titled “Sessions” where he worked behind the scenes with high profile acts such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, MAROON 5, Rihanna and Audio Slave. He worked in the background and would tape the acts as they did their thing. In essance, he was a “fly on the wall” at these “Sessions” and was privy to what the actual range was of these acts and added that no two situations are alike when taping them.
Combined, Teachr and Ennis create a picture worth a thousand words that is manifested through Street Art.  Teachr1 and John Ennis can be found on Instagram.  Ennis can also be found on Twitter and Facebook with a page devoted to “PAY 2 PLAY” which also features links to his website and a clip of his very relevant documentary.  Stay turned folks, because the political climate is about to get interesting.  Ennis has handed over a copy of “PAY 2 PLAY” which will more than likely yield another blog. Is it safe to say that News From The Front found these two gentlemen very inspiring?  News From The Front isn’t interested in debating the merits of Street Art or it’s prolific “Artisans Templar”.  MOCA staged an art exhibit a few years ago that David Geffin and world famous Street Artist “EXIT THROUGH THE GIFT SHOP” Banksy funded and featured Street Artist’s such as recent headline grabbing Shepard Fairey. This lends credence that it is a legit art form.

The trouble with John Ridley’s ‘Jimi: All Is By My Side – NoHoArtsDistrict.com

The trouble with John Ridley’s ‘Jimi: All Is By My Side – NoHoArtsDistrict.com.