Woodstock #4... how about a new idea?

Yes! A 40th anniversary of Woodstock this May? No!

it hasn't been planned, or booked or financed but that doesn't mean that there aren't people trying to make it happen. 

are you excited? especially since the promoters are trying to get original acts from the original Woodstock to perform, like Joe Cocker and Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. How is this not happening? 

don't you remember the easily forgettable 25th anniversary Woodstock? How could you forget the horrific events that occurred during the 5th anniversary of the 25th anniversary of Woodstock? I believe there were riots, fires, mass violence and danger that goes beyond the thrill of rock and roll. 

let me get serious for a moment....

Does this seem like a bad idea? No, it's a festival and festivals like Coachella or Bonnaroo have been widely successful without creating havoc. Is it a good idea? to some it might be, others might not care and in the background, somebody is making money. 

the organizers of this event, if it does occur might try to promote the idea of peace, love and rock and roll but in a musical climate were politics and social awareness seem taboo what would be the message - hope, political correctness and pop? I am not bashing hope, being PC or pop music but the only time musicians have the brass to say anything political these days is during a presidential voting year. And bringing back Joe Cocker wouldn't do much to create the original feeling of love, CSN & Y cannot recreate peace and I doubt much of today's generation could name 5 tunes by either of those artists. In the end isn't it about making money? 

is there a need for another Woodstock when there are plenty of other options for music festivals like SXSW, Coachella, Bonaroo, Lollapalooza, Langerado (cancelled this year) and the Newport Folk Festival? 

Woodstock is a memory, a story, and a myth slightly disfigured by the commercialism of the two previous concert events but the original still has a place in the cosmic landscape of musical relevance and the 60's. I think we se should try creating new memories and stories that will become the stuff myths and legends are made of. just a thought. 

It's Like That And That's the Way It Is... Run-DMC and Hip Hop

On April 4 this year the first great act in Hip Hop music will be celebrated and inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Cheers to Run-DMC, along with Jam Master Jay they would pave the way for LL Cool J, the Beastie Boys, Def Jam Records and many more acts to follow. They pioneered Rap Rock with their version of "Walk This Way" with Aerosmith while they made Kangol and Adidas the hip thing to wear.

Run-DMC not only made rap music something special for your feet but crafted a message for your ears, heart and mind. with their induction to the Rock Hall I am reminded of one song that proves how great they were. "It's like That" was released in 1983 and is still relevant. Its simple beat never stops being catchy and despite sounding retro or 80's, it does not deter it from being an unbelievable pop tune or club hit. Don't dismiss the retro sound, current acts like Common and Kanye West are banking on capturing the 80's hip hop sound again, unfortunately acts like Afrika Bambaataa, Curtis Blow or Run-DMC can only teach so much about how it should or can be done.

In my lifetime I have heard many arguments against hip hop. Some stating that it is not music, or that it takes little talent to create and perform, or that it is not relevant. First, it is music. Second, from personal experience it is very hard to create and I have never tried to perform it. Thirdly, it is relevant. Try telling Chuck D that hip hop is not relevant. Tell that to Nas or the Roots, Eminem or Mos Def. Hip Hop might be dominated by club anthems about gang violence, bling, rims, bitches/hoes and keeping it real but hip hop is urban folk music. It is the music of a people, by the people and made for all the people. That is what great music is, that is what great rock is or great soul or country or hip hop is.

In 1983, "It's Like That," speaks of economic uncertainty, high unemployment, war, racism and the difficulties of the rat race. It reminds us that love doesn't buy you cloths and that we all face the hardships of life. It pushes to the center that success starts at home, at work, at school or at church. The simplicity of youth has passed, unity might be fragile but despite our glasses blurred, we are all in this together and "it's like that and that's the way it is."

Thank you Run-DMC and Jam Master Jay.

A reason why parents might be more stupid than you think...

Now, when you read this sign what comes up to mind?

.... are you unaware that parents love their children?
.... are you shocked and amazed that parents would love their children at all?
.... are you shocked and amazed that parents would love their children even if they are playing in the dangerous suburban streets, where the speed limit that this sign is posted is a rampaging 35mph?

.... are you dumbfounded that somebody found a need to produce and hang this sign a priority?

you know what I think? I think parents should teach there kids not to play on the street or at least any street where in coming traffic is a high probability. I think drivers driving should be more concerned about where they are driving and be mindful of children at play. I would like to give the human race a little more credit and think that parents are teaching their children what they should and should not be doing, like they should not be playing on roads with heavy traffic. I would like to think that when driving, the driver's first responsibility is safety.

studies estimate that there are over 6 million car accidents per year and over 45,000 of them result in death but does that mean we need a sign to state the obvious? I am sick of stupid drivers and there are lot of them. I am sick of parents who blame there child's death on everyone but themselves. Car accidents are not a laughing matter and generally are the fault of more than one person. Nobody can be careful all the time and sometimes the one mistake made can be the most costly.

I hate signs like this for many reasons. For parents, it does not show your children that you love them... if anything it is a lazy way to suggest that if an accident does occur it is the driver's fault instead of your own for allowing your children to play in the street. For the driver, you should be following the speed limit regulated by law enforcement at all times.

Are we better of for having the sign? Possibly, but I think it is a sad state of affairs when we need the sign.