Feel Good Hit Of The Summer 02.09.06: My Grammy Review
Posted by Frank Estrada on 02.09.2006
Did you watch the Grammy’s? Yea I got tricked too. This week’s Coachella Update. And I think Coldplay is becoming the new Bon Jovi. (In the best way possible)
The Grammy Awards
Thank you for another weak award show. Madonna and Gorillaz. It lasted Two seconds and then she took over and you didn't see the Gorillaz again. I was good to see De La Soul jump in. I thought the attraction was the 3D Gorillaz. I guess not. U2 was awesome. Hearing them playing with Mary J. Blige was cool, but nothing new. She was feeling the music up there. WHAT HAPPENED TO DAVID BOWIE? He was awarded a lifetime achievement award. Then we get, "Before we announce the Best Rap Artist, David Bowie was given a lifetime achievement award. Ok back to the rap." What was that crap? The same thing happened to Cream.
Other Grammy highlights were Bruce Springsteen playing Devils and Dust. That's a great song. Jay-Z, Linkin Park and Paul McCartney! How cool was it to see those three up there. I know a lot of people don't like Linkin Park and a lot more people don't like Jay-Z. Look at it in their shoes. They are singing with a Beatle. At this rate Jay-Z is becoming the Kevin Bacon of the music industry. Is there any one he won't perform with? He performed with Phish and his "enemy" Nas. This guy has the life. I believe him when he says he has "99 Problems but a bitch ain't one". He should be at 98 by now.
My personal highlight was seeing Sly Stone perform live. For those not in the know; Sly and the Family Stone were one of the most creative, innovative bands ever. In a turbulent time after the 60's into the hippy era, this band of misfits sung about the issues of the day and let you know we are all the same. Everyday People, Everybody Is A Star, Stand, Dance To The Music, Family Affair, Hot Fun In The Summertime, the list of songs go on and on. But sex drugs and rock and roll got into the way. A little jail time and retirement, it was rare to hear let alone see Sly Stone in any fashion. Tonight's tribute did no justice to their legacy. I'm not going to talk about those performances. When Steven Tyler called out Sly Stone, Sly walked out with a white Mohawk and sang I Want To Take You Higher. Not acknowledging the audience and TV cameras, most of the time when he was on stage, Sly finally walked out to the foot of the stage like an old pro. Then he walked off stage, while the song was still going on. Who knows when we will hear or see Sly again? It was just good to see him once in my lifetime. I read that he did appear at the Rock and Roll Hall of fame ceremony. So I am going to have to locate that. Did you notice he was wearing his white Sly belt that he was wearing in the old concert footage that was shown? I thought that was really cool.
Coldplay morphs into Bon Jovi
I saw Coldplay in concert this week and it occurred to me; they are becoming Bon Jovi. What I mean is this: who was the last successful arena band? U2 has been doing it for years and so has Kiss. Before grunge and Lollapalooza changed music, rock concerts were held inside arenas and filled with drunken people who like to fight or take their tops off. When Kurt Cobain slayed the hair bands, he also slayed the arena band. See Nirvana was suppose to be the next big arena band, but we know what happened there. While alternative music was giving MTV a new face, everything music was changing too. CD's were replacing tapes, and Perry Farrell and co. ushered in the traveling outside festival into this new time. We know this also lead to Ozzfest, The Warp Tour, The Lilith Fair, Smoking Grooves, etc. Not there were still shows in arenas, but the "event" was taken out of the arena. Possibly the last big "Arena" shows was the Zoo TV Indoor Broadcast. When U2 came back with the Pop Mart Tour, they evolved to a "Stadium" band, joining the ranks of The Rolling Stones and Guns and Roses, being able to bring that many people to one show.
So watching Coldplay this week, I saw the beginnings of them being the new "arena" band. I don't think they have it to move up to Stadium Band status. They did sell out 3 nights in the Southern California area. Armed with a hand full of sing-a-long songs, they appeal to a variety of people. Remember the Bon Jovi videos when they showed them in the arena getting ready and performing. It was exciting. I think Coldplay needs to put down their copy of Vertigo live in Chicago and start watching the videos for Slippery When Wet and New Jersey. I think they can learn more.
Coachella Update: 2nd Wave
The second wave of Coachella Artist were just named. Only 4 acts were named. When I heard who was being added, I nearly crapped my pants. I confess this week's article was going to be about conceding Concert of the Year honors to the Bonaroo Festival. Good thing I waited. You see Bonaroo secured headliners Radiohead and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. Can you see why I was going to concede? What a great one-two punch. I was going to skip the desert and head to Tennessee. But I waited. I knew the good people at Goldenvoice, the people who bring us Coachella every year, were going to add someone. The lineup seemed lopsided. One more person was going to be added. Then I can weigh which show was going to be better. Goldenvoice pulled the Coup of the Year. Who did they ask? Ted Leo and the Pharmacists. Who? Wait there's more. Eagles of Death Metal. Again don't know those Guys? O.k. How about Daft Punk? O.k. am I speaking your language. And oh yea, Massive Attack! The desert meets Daft Punk. The Robotic French Duo who haven't been to the States in six years. Indio meet Massive Attack. You can all get your wish lists and cross off the biggest name in trip hop. We haven't seen them in these parts in nine years. I love Radiohead to death and admit they are probably the best band making new music right now. But if you have read my past articles, I have mentioned that Tool would be the only band to balance them out. And Coachella have Tool back this year. Now adding Daft Punk and Massive Attack to Tool and Depeche Mode, you have the right ingredients for a great weekend. Eagles of Death Metal have Josh Homme. This will probably be some of the funniest slash rocking-est music you will hear that weekend. Ted Leo and the Pharmacists are a popular Indy ban that I have never heard. I have read a lot about them and do realize that a lot of people are excited about this add.
So that leads me to…
COACHELLA ARTISTS OF THE WEEK: Daft Punk and Massive Attack:
What can I say that hasn't been already said about these artists? Bottom line what are you going to listen to this week.
Daft Punk – Homework and Discovery
Massive Attack – Blue Lines and Mezzanine
Extra credit:
Daft Punk – Human After All, Alive 1997, watch the D.V.D. D.A.F.T
Massive Attack – 100th Window, Massive Attack vs. Mad Professor: No Protection. Watch the D.V.D. Eleven Promos
