#31 Searching for the main line with the Velvet Underground

Never in the history of rock has there ever been a band so hotly debated as the Velvet Underground. They are a group that you either love immensely or totally despise but either way, the Velvets always get a strong reaction. They were in many ways the first indie band and most often referred to as rocks first alternative band. To understand a bit more about that designation you have to realize that the Velvet Underground burst onto the scene in 1965. This was the era of the Beach Boys, and Sonny and Cher in the USA. These were the days when the Beatles were singing 'Eight Days a Week'. Meanwhile, in dingy apartments in some of the seedier parts of New York, Lou Reed and the band were beginning to write songs about heroin abuse, prostitution, sadomasochism and sexual deviancy.

Much of their instrumental sound was conceived by the groups multi instrumentalist and bass player John Cale. Together with Reed they crafted their sound around de tuning their guitars or by tuning each string on the guitar to the same note ( a technique Reed had 'invented' that he named Ostrich Tuning). John Cale was always very intrigued by using alternative ways of producing sound in music and was immediately interested in making music with Lou Reed who believed in the same approach towards writing lyrics. Cale used to love tuning his guitar way lower then normal because he thought it gave the music a lower, richer sound that he described as 'Sexy as hell'. His use of the Viola throughout the bands career, especially notable on tracks such as the terrific 'Venus in Furs' gave the band that awesome musical drone of notes that all seemed to blend together.

The Velvet Underground first began gaining prominence as the house band of Andy Warhol's Factory and at his Exploding Plastic Inevitable events. The initial lineup consisted of Lou Reed (vocals, lead guitar), John Cale (electric viola, piano, celesta, bass guitar, vocals), Sterling Morrison (rhythm guitar, bass guitar and vocals), Maureen Tucker (drums, percussion). Their constant musical experimentation and nihilistic outlook was pivotal in the rise of both punk rock, and later, alt rock. Their dark lyrics which were rooted in the work of beat poets such as William Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg and the drugged loner artist look to the band helped shape the image of the band. The music of the Velvet underground which was highly simplistic and stripped down to the bare bones of rock. The overall sound was further laid down by Reed's deadpan, vacant vocals. Although they were never very commercially successful as a group, the Velvet Underground are generally recognized as one of the most influential groups in rock history. There had never been a band that so blatantly exploded the normative model of music like them. There are probably hundreds of artists and bands throughout the last 40 years that would never have formed if it weren't for the Velvets. Love them, or hate them, you have to admit that they sure left a mark on music for ever after.


My Fave Album:
- My fave Velvet Underground album would have to be their debut 'The Velvet Underground and Nico' from 1967. Not only is the album #13 on the Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, it is also one of my absolute faves. I first got into the Velvet Underground with this album when I was about 18. My great friend Joyce (who has been mentioned many times previous as the person who has gotten me into countless bands) lent me the cd of this fantastic album. This album also features the immensely talented Nico who was the muse of both Jim Morrison and Jimmy Page. She has one of the most unique sounding vocal styles of any musician I have ever heard. Her voice is overflowing in mellow, soft moaning passion that is so hypnotic it just seems to lure you away like the voices of mythical sirens. Check her out on tracks like Femme Fatale, or All Tomorrows Parties and you will see what I mean. Sunday Morning is an amazing track which blends the vocals of Reed and Nico with wondrous results. This album also has the drug opus Heroin, which showcases heroin use and abuse with a zest that no band had ever had the stones for before and few have since. This album is so full of amazing grooves and wonderful rich tones, while at the same time it is for the most part stripped down and minimalistic and primal. I highly recommend this album if you have never heard it before, but I will add, you will either love this or hate it.

Check out this rare video of the Velvets at work. This is Sunday Morning. Enjoy

#30 The Master is in... John Lee Hooker

Behold, behold, the grandfather of rock. John Lee Hooker was one of the biggest innovators of the blues and the creator of what would later be referred to as the 'talking blues'. His boogie-woogie style of instrumentation mixed with his early proto-rap style of vocals was a huge influence upon the early rock and roll scene in the early 60's. Groups such as the Rolling Stones and the Fleetwood Mac, as well as artists like Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton. At first glance it almost seems odd that his influence in the early 60's was so much greater throughout Europe then it was back in the USA. At the time though, there were so many fantastic blues musicians coming out of the USA that American listeners probably didn't know who to listen to first. Also, the civil rights battles in the states in those days really divided the music for a lot of people and many would be unwilling to listen to music from black musicians.

His recording career began in 1948 when he recorded his infamous "Boogie Chillen." Released on the Modern label, the song introduced Hooker's standard for hypnotic, rambling, one-chord guitar playing and his deep, haunting vocals. "Boogie Chillen" was a throwback to prewar country blues and the antithesis of the slick rhythm & blues that filled out the charts in the years immediately following World War II. Incredibly, "Boogie Chillen" made it all the way to number 1 on the R&B charts in early 1949 and today is considered one of the all-time classic songs in the blues treasury. Over the many decades since then, Hooker has released over 100 albums, has won several Grammy awards including a Grammy lifetime achievement award and has been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame (1980) and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1991) for his vast influence upon a vast majority of rock and roll alumni. His induction into the Rock n' Roll Hall Of Fame was totally called for in my opinion for the man who has influenced countless fans and musicians who have in turn influenced many more.

As an artist, John Lee Hooker's style has always been unique, even among others of the blues greats. While retaining that foundation he has never shied away from breaking new ground musically and commercially. At the age of 80, John Lee Hooker received his third and fourth Grammy Awards, for Best Traditional Blues Recording "Don't Look Back" and for Best Pop Collaboration for the song "Don't Look Back" which Hooker recorded with his long time friend Van Morrison. This Friendship and others are celebrated on Hooker's album, The Best Of Friends. The album also celebrated a return, exactly 50 years later, to Hooker's first hit, Boogie Chillen and serves as a perfect bookend for Hooker's fifty years in the business.



Check out this clip, this was the first I had ever heard or seen of John Lee Hooker. Childhood memories! Thanks Mom!

Check out the Old Man's Beard

From the the deepest recesses of British Columbia's southern interior, the group Old Man's Beard began as a project for friends Michael Shaver (vocals and guitar) and Jesse Clarke (vocals, guitar, mandolin). Since forming their songwriting partnership in early 2008, Mike and Jesse have toured and worked hard to create a terrific album of original music that showcases both a catchy folk rock sound and the spirit of what it is to be a British Columbian. As a duo they have been exciting audiences with their unique live show consisting of a blend of reggae, boot-stompin' folk, and rock and roll. Over the last few years, the duo has evolved into a five-piece unit that includes Darrin Herting (bass), Leon Power (drums), and Stephanie Webster (vocals and additional percussion). Together, this five piece has built a sound complete with rich, home brewed harmonies, catchy rhythms and streamlined guitar work. After a winter of writing and recording, the band has released its first album, 'The River' and are currently touring in support of the disc. <

Old Man's Beard have had their song 'Dawson Bound' featured on the popular television show Daily Planet. Since mid-July, 'Tofino' (the song I first heard of theirs) has received play on CBC radio's province-wide program, All Points West. The group recently performed as part of the 2009 Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival and participated in the 2009 British Columbia Interior Music Awards (BCIMA) as a performer and nominee in the Best New Artist category. Old Man's Beard clearly love playing music together and this love of music is definitely helping to grow their fan base beyond BC's boarders to all across Canada. I first heard them earlier today after my mom sent me the Tofino song that she had heard off the radio. I really liked the track and dug some more of their stuff off the cbc and off their myspace page
http://www.myspace.com/oldmansbeardmusic

I really like the track Dawson Bound as well. The vocals on this track really seem to remind me of Brandon Boyd (Incubus) and that actually goes for the album as well. It is kind of an interesting mix of Incubus, Bedouin Soundclash, and the Fleet Foxes. The album is really good and totally catches the spirit of BC rock. I think this is a pretty awesome start for these guys from the interior and I hope this isn't the last we hear from them. If you like folk rock in the vein of the new folk revival that is happening then totally dig these guys, especially if you have dug the Fleet Foxes or Mumford & Sons articles that I have written lately.
Cheers all,
See you on Monday!
-Tosho
Check out this awesome live cut from a radio show performance in Medicine Hat.