Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Klaatu - Calling Occupants of Interstellar Craft

One of my favorite prog songs is this one, Calling Occupants of Intersteller Craft by Klaatu:



This song feels like such a clear connection the band's name - as if calling out to the pilot of the spacecraft from The Day the Earth Stood Still.


I first encountered this song as a cover on The Langley Schools Music Project. Next I heard the Klaatu version, and then finally the version by The Carpenters.

The Carpenters:

The Langley Schools Music Project

Oh, and trivia - the owl sound at the beginning is one of the band members blowing across a half-empty Labatt 50 shortie's open top.

Sunday, August 29, 2021

Rancid - Live at Randall's Island, 1998

This is most of Rancid's set from July 1st, 1998, at the Vans Warped Tour.

I'm out there, somewhere, off to stage left (and to the back left of that VANS tent. I was up against a barrier, and basically got ground against it during that big circular mosh pit during "St. Mary."

It was a brutally hot, dry, and dusty day. I was literally sneezing out and coughing up dust for days after this . . . we'd laughed at the people we saw wearing masks. Next outdoor show I go to on a dry field, I'm bringing a dust mask and a hat that covers my ears. I spent the day in the sun and dust and drove us all home exhuasted and dehydrated, for this one little set.

Still worth it. I don't regret going. It was the first time I heard "Hooligans" live, and the first time I heard them cover Jimmy Cliff's "The Harder they Come," ever. I hadn't heard "The Brothels," either, but subsequently tracked it down.



Not great video, not great sound quality, but I've never seen any other footage of this set. Sadly it cuts off while Tim climbs up the amps on stage left.

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

The Ventures - Wipeout (Live in Japan, 1966)

Here is an outstanding live version of Wipeout:



That's some excellent drumming.

Sunday, August 8, 2021

Tuff Darts - (Your Love is Like) Nuclear Waste

For reasons I can't adequately explain, the Tuff Darts "(Your Love is Like) Nuclear Waste" has been stuck in my head this week.

I heard it today on the radio!

So now here it is for you, too.