New Elvis "ICON" Exhibit at Graceland

The yearlong 35th anniversary commemoration of the life and legacy of Elvis Presley continues in Memphis, TN with the third and largest exhibit to launch at Graceland in 2012. "ICON: The Influence of Elvis Presley Presented by Fender" opened this week and will run through February 2013.


photo from Goldmine Magazine

The exhibit features mementos from today's musicians who have been inspired and influenced by Elvis Presley over the years, and have tailored their own work and design to reflect that nod to the original King of the Hipsters.

Curated by the Graceland archives team in partnership with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, this groundbreaking exhibit features 75 artifacts on loan from the famed Cleveland museum, along with items from the collections of many of today’s biggest names in music who have been influenced by the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. The exhibit celebrates Elvis’ status as a music pioneer and icon that paved the way for many of today’s artists and celebrities.

Items on display in this exhibit include Bono’s “MacPhisto” suit from U2’s Zooropa performances, Bob Dylan’s leather jacket that appears on the album cover "Real Live,” James Brown’s jumpsuit and vest worn in concert in the 1970s, along with artifacts from Elton John, Trisha Yearwood, Joan Jett, Wanda Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, The Beatles, Katy Perry and many others.

Here's a promo clip about the background for this exhibit by Graceland's Director of Archives:

Skrillex - Light Switched On!

I don't follow electro/dance music too much, so it was a bit of a surprise to learn about electro DJ-artist Skrillex, and his winning three Grammys a few weeks ago.



Rolling Stone's Neil Strauss spent 8 days with Skrillex (aka Sonny Moore) and in the article, we learn that:

- he's young and full of energy "He's inhuman," says his European booking agent, Simon Clarkson. "We gave him only one night off in Europe, and he calls and tells me he's putting together a party that night so he can DJ. He doesn't stop." Check.

- he's sorta shy at the moment (or feeling overexposed). "I don't like being overexposed," he says. "I don't like being on covers. And I don't like people talking about me." Check.

Here's 'Rock n Roll (Will Take you to the Mountain)'


- he's turned his fortunes around in less than two years. "Just 21 months ago, Skrillex was at an all-time low. A solo rock release on Atlantic Records had been delayed for months because of an obscure legal dispute; he had spent the entirety of his advance, was living off his credit card, and touring expenses and medical bills had left him about $60,000 in debt." Check.

- He likes how his music helps the party. "He's not an entertainer, but the host of a party that never stops. Party in the sense of constant good times, close friends and overstimulation." Check.

Here's his title track video for "Bangarang"


- he sang, recorded albums and toured with the emo-screamo band From First to Last on Epitaph Records, but left when his throat gave out from all the screaming. Check.

- he has a gal pal singer-guitarist Ellie Goulding. "She's made me more secure," he said. "It's hard to explain, but I try to be less and do more." Check.

Skrillex is performing Down Under in Australia this week.

Van Halen - 'Eruption' - Live at Madison Square Garden, NYC

Photo by G at According to G review.


Yes, Eddie Van Halen can play a mean fucking guitar!

He proved it so last night when his band Van Halen rock and rolled its 2012 tour into Madison Square Garden - arguably the most famous rock and roll concert hall in America. Read the review of the show by The New York Times, whose Nate Chinen wrote:

"The band’s center has always been Eddie Van Halen, who still deserves his exalted stature among rock guitarists. Even his heavier riffs came threaded with filigree, and his solos were bold in their extravagance. The one solo that didn’t come fastened to a song, late in the show, featured not only his proprietary tapping technique but also a drift of cascading arpeggios, rendered beautifully strange by his finessing of a volume knob. There could have been more of this."

In the clip below, Eddie unleashes a torrent of musical notes called 'Eruption' that took the form of electrical impulses from his fingers to his guitar fretboard into his guitar's sophisticated electronics and out through his decibel-heavy amplifiers to the hall's sound system. Ears were bled, guitar players wept, and women frowned.

Thanks to the VH party boys who shot this:

Monkees' Davy Jones dies of heart attack at 66

Davy Jones, British born actor and singer in the 1960s for The Monkees TV series, has died today in Florida of a heart attack. The Monkees' web site shows a picture of young Davy in memoriam.

[Oh, the numbers coincidence - Jones was 66; The Monkees launched in '66.]

The NY Times writes:

"Davy Jones, a former actor turned singer who helped propel the TV rock band The Monkees to the top of the pop charts and into rock 'n' roll history, died Wednesday in Florida. He was 66. Jones, lead singer of the 1960s group that was assembled as an American version of the Beatles, died of a massive heart attack in Indiantown where he lived, his publicist Helen Kensick confirmed."

Sad news. Jones will be remembered for his sweet public disposition, his humor and charm in life and his lead singing on some of the biggest Monkees' hits. Here are a few clips below.

Here's Davy singing 'Daydream Believer' at NYC's Beacon Theater last summer:

International Pop Overthrow hits PHX this weekend

The International Pop Overthrow music fest hits Phoenix this weekend. It's a music institution labor of love that's been run for over a decade by devoted pop music fan David Bash.

He writes on the IPO site:

"The purpose of International Pop Overthrow is two-fold: one aim is to give every worthy band who’d like to play their music in a festival atmosphere the chance to do so, and the other is to bring pop music the attention it so richly deserves. We have made great strides to that end, garnering press in several noteworthy papers in each city in which we hold the festival, and creating a very positive buzz about pop music within the inner circles of major labels. We’re looking forward to the very real possibility that a number of bands who have played IPO will grab the brass ring and receive major label deals."

Guitar-based melodic powerpop music is alive and well, it's just not heard in the roar of all the other genres of music out there. You just gotta search it out. And that's where Bash does a service to fans around the globe, by bringing out those musicians in each local city who still aim to play guitar-based pop rock 'n roll.

Both nights of music will be held at Hollywood Alley. The schedule of bands for Phoenix is as follows:

Friday, March 2:
Hollywood Alley (2610 W. Baseline Rd. Mesa, AZ)
7:30 Lunatics & Lovers
8:15 Pawl
9:00 Cait Brennan
9:45 Carol Pacey and The Honey Shakers
10:30 The Naked Chollas
11:15 Bad Kids
12:00 Dave Rave

Saturday, March 3:
7:30 Cyril of The Fairchilds
8:15 Young Mothers
9:00 Ed Masley (of The Breakup Society)
9:45 Daren Sweet (of Veyron Crash)
10:30 Source Victoria
11:15 Randy Forte & The Reconstruction
12:00 Hey Pilgrim

Review/Pics - Hugh Cornwell, Glen Matlock, Glass Heroes (Crescent Ballroom, PHX)

It was billed as "Heavyweight Rock n Roll" and that's what old school punk rock fans and interested newbies got Saturday night at Crescent Ballroom in PHX.
Glen Matlock and Hugh Cornwell have teamed up to play a tour doing separate sets using the same rhythm section (Clem Burke (drums, vocals) and Steve Fishman (bass, vocals).

Each punk legend kicked out songs from their checkered past. Glen Matlock played a few songs from the Sex Pistols (God Save the Queen, Pretty Vacant) and Rich Kids (Ghosts of Princes in Towers) to satisfy the punters, but most of his set were songs from his more recent LP 'Born Running, like Idiot, Yeah Right!, Somewhere Somehow, and Hard Work.

Matlock had a few laughs onstage, Steve Fishman rocked the bass and backing vocals and drummer Clem Burke kicked out the drums like the consummate professorial professional that he is after 35 years behind the skins.

See my set of photos from the show.

Hugh Cornwell's set seemed a little darker right from the start. Maybe it was due to the dark blue lights, the ominous Stranglers opener of 'Toiler on the Sea', more minor chord usage in Cornwell's writing and the general menacing demeanor of this punk survivor. Mixed together, it was tough and tense.

With the throbbing bass from Fishman, the Stranglers' songs came alive. Highlights were 'Toiler' to open, 'Peaches', 'Goodbye Toulouse' 'Golden Brown' and maybe one or two others (Did they play Hanging Around while I stepped out?), plus a fair selection of Cornwell's more recent songs.

Cornwell is still sharp on guitar. Watch the video below for "Goodbye Toulouse" (my camera's sound is poor, but his leads shine through).



Phoenix own Glass Heroes opened with a loud and proud set of originals and classic covers like The Saints' 'I'm Stranded' and The Professionals' 'Kick the Door Down'. Their twin guitar attack is nothing less than awesome, and the band''s rhythm section is lock tight for their odes to the sound of classic punk rock.

Sex Pistols Sign New Deal for Back Catalog Action

News from the official Sex Pistols web site today reads:

"Sex Pistols sign to Universal Music Catalogue UK for back catalogue

SexPistolsOfficial.Com can confirm the Sex Pistols have left Virgin Records to sign to Universal Music Catalogue UK. The back catalogue deal will be for the world excluding North America. An expanded and repackaged edition of 'Never Mind The Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols' will be scheduled for release later in 2012 to commemorate its 35th anniversary. There will also be other releases throughout 2012 and beyond.

"Music can be great, when done by the great.
The Sex Pistols are the greatest.
Universal now has a trophy room,
Music is the imitation of nature,
The Sex Pistols are nature,
So please give generously.
Thank You"
Johnny Rotten"

Will be interesting to see how the limited amount of recorded songs the Pistols did will get repackaged into new versions. And more importantly, I suppose, does the world need another remastered, digital version of 'Belsen Was a Gas'?

Read an in-depth article from 2004 about the recording of the classic single "Anarchy in the UK".

Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks (Bennie & The Jets cover)

Steve Malkmus & his Jicks performed in Phoenix on Friday night and The Phoenix New Times has a fine review that captures all the musical essence of the show.

I'm posting to share the cover of Elton John's 1970s smash hit "Bennie & The Jets" that Malkmus and the Jicks peformed during the set. Who knew that EJ's smash AM radio single could be turned into a proggy, experimental raveout? Fun! Thanks to Melissa for shooting this.



I spent Saturday night at the Crescent Ballroom digging old school punk rock. More on that later.

FanFarlo - First listen to new LP 'Rooms Filled With Light'

Fanfarlo is a band that defies general categorization. NPR writes:
"Is "charming" a genre? Because pinpointing Fanfarlo's precise spot on the rock-pop-folk spectrum has only gotten trickier since the U.K. band released its debut album, Reservoir, in 2009. Mostly, the group splits the difference between two very different styles — sweetly shambling, occasionally orchestral pop and the wirier, less emotive rock sounds of bands like Talking Heads — with the common thread being its fundamentally approachable nature. This is hug-and-a-handshake music, as ingratiating as it is inspired."

NPR is writing about the Fanfarlo's new release "Rooms Filled With Light", which will start gathering good reviews once it's heard by more pop critics.

I liked Fanfarlo's earlier material as well - check some earlier mentions on Waved Rumor.

Give the band a listen - You can stream their new release 'Rooms Filled With Light' at NPR. You'll hear whimsical musicality, emotional songwriting and groovy dynamics. And that's all in the first song "Replicate"!

Fanfarlo is finishing performance dates in the UK this week and will be headed to Boston next week to start their US tour! Click for the dates.

Rock Clip of the Week - The Atlantics "Lonely Hearts"

Here's this week's "Rock Clip of the Week" - a throbbing rock 'n roll track called "Lonely Hearts" from the late, great Boston band The Atlantics.



Not only is this a cool song for the "Rock Clip of the Week", but whoever uploaded this song set it to a thrilling car chase scene from 1973's gritty cop movie The Seven Ups" starring Roy Scheider. Cool! You never see long car chases like this in movies anymore (do you?).



More info on THE ATLANTICS 1976-1983

The Atlantics were formed in January 1976 by guitarist Tom Hauck and bass player Bruce Wilkinson, two students at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, just outside Boston. A mutual friend introduced them to drummer Boby Bear and lead guitarist Jeff Lock. To complete the lineup Bruce recruited singer Bobby Marron, a friend from his hometown in New Jersey.

The Atlantics played their first show in the spring of 1976 at The Rat in Kenmore Square. In May of 1976 they scored the opening slot for the Ramones, who were playing two nights at The Club in Central Square. The band made their first trips to New York in the summer of 1976, playing at CBGB and Max's Kansas City. The band quickly became an important and authentic part of the emerging punk/new wave movement.

The following spring Ray Fernandes replaced Boby Bear on drums. In the summer of 1977 the band recorded its first independent 45 on Jukebox Records, “When You're Young” by Bruce Wilkinson, backed with “Where Would I Be Without Your Love,” by Jeff Lock. A thousand copies were pressed but never released, and the single is now considered a collector’s item. In the spring of 1978 Jeff Lock left the band and was replaced by Fred Pineau.

The Atlantics were signed to ABC Records that summer, and in December the band recorded their album “Big City Rock” at the Hit Factory in New York. The record dropped in March, 1979, but a few weeks before the release ABC Records was sold to MCA Records. Their new label, together with Premier Talent, put the Atlantics on a nationwide tour with Roxy Music, followed by a regional tour throughout New England. The band performed with artists including The Ramones, Cheap Trick, Boston, The Cars, Graham Parker, and many others. The single “One Last Night” by Bruce Wilkinson received regional and international airplay, and the album garnered a glowing review in Rolling Stone.

Hugh Cornwell - Glen Matlock show in PHX Sat night

Two titans of the classic punk era team up in separate sets on Saturday night at Phoenix's Crescent Ballroom for a rock night of classic punk and more.

Hugh Cornwell, original singer-guitarist for The Stranglers and Glen Matlock, ex-Sex Pistols-Rich Kids bassist and singer, are on tour and the tour hits Phoenix on Saturday. Punk veteran and Blondie drummer Clem Burke is drumming for both Matlock and Cornwell.

From the blurbsters:
"Hugh Cornwell is one of the UK's finest song-writing talents and accomplished live performers. The original guitarist, singer and main songwriter in The Stranglers enjoyed massive UK and European success with ten hit albums and twenty-one top forty singles, etching himself into the UK's musical psyche with Peaches, No More Heroes, Golden Brown, Always the Sun, Grip, Nice N Sleazy, Duchess, Walk on By, Strange Little Girl and Skin Deep."

"Glen Matlock an English bass guitarist most famous for being in the original line-up of the punk rock band the Sex Pistols. Drummer Paul Cook has said that Matlock came up with much of the music for the band's songs and most of the lyrics, while lead singer Johnny Rotten made some adjustments. Matlock is credited as a co-author on 10 of the 12 songs on Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols. He also continues to make his own records and tour with various bands, including the Sex Pistols."

Openers Glass Heroes may be the hit of the night - the band is always tight, dedicated and they rock hard to their late 70s punk roots. Glass Heroes leader Keith Jackson has been a longtime pal of both Cornwall and Matlock, and has hosted Cornwall and Burke's band a few years at his old stomping grounds. They say this:
"Big money and media overload have destroyed what we held sacred. Thats why we play our style of punk, street rock,glory rock..whatever you want to call it..because we refuse to recognise groups calling themselves "Punk Rock" with no idea of its roots. We just keep doing what you do, and reaching people that "get it" - that's what matters."

Here's the Glass Heroes doing what they do best with "Backbiter"