The Music Court

The Red Hot Chili Peppers may be receiving another piece of recognition to store away in their awards cabinet. Yet, instead of a trophy or framed album, this may come in the rectangular shape of a Guitar Hero video game box.

According to a survey forwarded to Kotaku.com, a website devoted to gamers, Guitar Hero publisher Activision may be interested in creating a Guitar Hero specific to the band. This would most likely follow a similar design to previous games that highlight a specific band. Activision has released a Metallica, Van Halen and Aerosmith game before.

The ever-expanding Guitar Hero franchise had previously announced last year a plan to decrease the amount of Guitar Hero games made, but, this rumor may prove that statement false.

The survey states, “”Celebrate the entirety of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ life, starting with their early days in LA, to their famous Hyde Park concert to their highly anticipated new studio album,” notes the purported survey. “Discover the story behind their legendary music as you unlock interviews, retrospectives, concert footage and other commentary.”

This sounds almost identical to past Guitar Hero games that have focused solely on one band.

According to the survey a Guitar Hero: Red Hot Chili Peppers would feature, “By The Way, Californication, Give It Away and the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “upcoming studio album to be released in 2011.”

This project sounds intriguing. I have never been much of a Red Hot Chili Peppers fan, but, their brand of rock n’ roll is certainly diverse enough to surround a game around. They are modern, well-liked and entertaining. There band biography is interesting and Australian-American bassist Michael Balzary, Flea, is insanely talented. I would also like to see how the video game creators design drummer Chad Smith, who, is practically actor Will Ferrell’s clone. Seriously, the resemblance is striking.

Do you see? I do not lie

While the project seems intriguing and reasonable, we must still mark it as a rumor.

Article: http://kotaku.com/5528597/rumor-guitar-hero-red-hot-chili-peppers-in-the-works

Pic: PA Photos

The always enthralling Paul McCartney admitted in an interview with Q magazine that the Fab Four all discussed  possible reunions, but nothing materialized and this was for the best.

“What used to happen was three of us would fancy it and then maybe George or John or I wouldn’t,” McCartney said. “In a way it was a blessing. We’d done it, why spoil it? Whether it’s god given or not those four people was a pretty good mix.”

I can see where McCartney is coming from. There is no need to continue tapping from the perennial well of success. Yes, the Beatles’ well is lined with gold and would have made them an outstanding amount of money, but there was no need to spoil a career which shot the Beatles’ to the status of best band ever. There is not much higher that you can go.

McCartney also stated in the interview that he is a better emotional lyricist compared to the late John Lennon, who wrote more shocking political commentaries, especially after the Beatles’ split. “Love songs like ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’. That’s my forte. I’d love to write more protest songs, but I don’t think I have the knack for it that other people do. I’ve complained about situations but they’re not necessarily my better songs.”

I agree. McCartney could never have written a song like  “God” or “Give Peace a Chance.” And, similarly, if Lennon tried “Maybe I’m Amazed” it would come out, well, pretty awful. That is why they made for such a dynamic lyric duo. Their weaknesses fell into the other’s lyrical strength. They went together like peanut butter and jelly, or, better yet, a guitar and a bass guitar.

Article: http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/sir-paul-mccartney-its-best-beatles-didnt-get-back_1140636

McCartney at his best:

I have spent several minutes this morning wondering if I should even entertain this statement by Usher. In an interview, Usher stated, “You haven’t seen the best of him. He is a pop craze like The Beatles. They started out as pure pop artists and look what they became over the years.” He went on to say that Bieber is a more talented musician than he was when he was a teen performer. I appreciate the honesty Usher. I really do. But, just no. Listen.

Article: http://www.3news.co.nz/Usher-Justin-Bieber-more-talented-than-I-was/tabid/418/articleID/152845/Default.aspx

Since the boy band craze hit the United States in around 1997, there has been a teen idol dependence, much like the one that hit with performers like Frankie Avalon and Fabian in the early 1950’s to mid-1960’s. Bieber is simply another pawn in 12-year-old girls’ game. He is lucky because he is 16. Would I be surprised if Usher’s predication holds some water in 10 years. No, maybe this kid will become something of a Justin Timberlake. But, I doubt it. Timberlake is about as rare as a musician as they come. He changed with the times extraordinarily and has truly thrived in a popular niche. Bieber may grow and be like Timberlake, but, statistics show it is just not very likely. Now, on to my next point.

I understand that Usher was not implying that Bieber was at all better than the Beatles. He just said Bieber is a similar pop craze to the Beatles. Yeah, so was Ricky Martin. The Beatles had staying power. They were exceptionally talented and after their pop stage they moved on to complicated rock n’ roll that maintained an infectiousness that just latched into listeners. They were above and beyond every musician out there and they still are today. So, putting Bieber in the same sentence as John, Paul, George and Ringo, is both asinine and silly. Please Usher, stick with comparisons to Justin Timberlake. He is much more similar.

Photo: Michael Ochs Archive/Getty

E street band guitarist and former Soprano’s star, Ronnie Van Zandt, loves The Rascals. Who can blame him. The pop quartet banged out numerous hits in the 1960’s before dissembling. This past Saturday, for the second time time in 40 years, the Rascals reunited at the Kristen Ann Carr benefit at New York’s Tribeca Grill. The event honored Van Zandt and his wife, Maureen. The Rascals played 14 tracks, highlighted by a performance of “Good Lovin,” that included Bruce Springsteen. Springsteen cannot sit through a show without playing music with someone.

Setlist:
I’ve Been Lonely Too Long
In The Midnight Hour
I Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore
You Better Run
It’s A Beautiful Morning
Love Is A Beautiful Thing
Groovin’
A Girl Like You
How Can I Be Sure
Come On Up
What Is The Reason
People Got To Be Free
Good Lovin’ (with Bruce Springsteen)

Wow. That sounds like an amazing concert. The Rascals, led by Felix Cavaliere, had enough of a falling out that guitarist Gene Cornish stated, “I speak on behalf of the band when I say all the money offers in the world could not entice the Rascals to reunite,” he said, “but four phone calls from Stevie and without hesitation we enthusiastically and immediately agreed to both support this wonderful cause and honor Stevie and Maureen.”

Article: http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/04/26/the-rascals-reunite-for-charity/

Hear the Concert: http://www.megaupload.com/?d=NLHPOWZ4

What do you get when you combine The Killers’ drummer Ronnie Vannucci, Mumford and Sons’ banjo player Winston Marshall, Noah and the Whale’s fiddle player Tom Hobden, Keane’s keyboardist/songwriter Tim Rice-Oxley and bassist Jesse Quin? My best guess would be an odd ode to Indie country music with an electronic twist and a maraschino cherry on top. Seriously, I have absolutely no clue what to expect from this interesting combination of musicians that have collaborated to record an album under the name Mt. Desolation.

Their album will be released sometime this year, but, information outside what has been provided by their official blogspot account has been kept mum. What we do know is that the group will perform at the Luminaire in London on June 4. I am psyched to hear how this combination will sound. I am a fan of each of these individual musicians and their larger projects, and a conglomeration of their talents has potential to be extraordinary and fresh.

Link: http://www.nme.com/news/the-killers/50726 and Blog: http://mtdesolationofficial.blogspot.com/

Deb Tallen and Steve Tallen do not only have similar last names, but, after a chance encounter, they have married and become a fantastic musical group called The Weepies. They are yet another example of musicians combining to form a great band. Of course, they are established. Their fourth studio album is rumored for a May 25 release and my friends and I are excited. Their melodic brand of folk-rock is soothing and just a pleasure to listen to.

Link: http://all-aroundsound.blogspot.com/2010/03/weepies-announce-release-of-new-album.html

I love Willie Nelson. The 76-year-old country musician is fantastic and he also seems to know how to have fun. When I had the privilege of interviewing Mickey Raphael, Nelson’s long-time harmonica player, I asked him if anything would ever slow down Nelson. He responded, “He is playing music and golf. What is there to retire from?” That sounds like a magnificent life.

Nelson also knows where he stands on issues and he is never afraid to express himself. On April 15, Nelson appeared on “Larry King Live” and was asked by King if he smoked marijuana. Nelson quickly responded, “Yes, sure,” and admitted to King that he smoked just minutes before he appeared on the show. U.S. viewers were stunned by this admission. Are you kidding me? Willie Nelson is synonymous with marijuana usage. Come on guys. There are far more people in this country that know Nelson passes joints in his eco-friendly bus than people who know the capital of Nevada (hint: it’s not Las Vegas).

The fact that people were shocked by his live proclamation is just hilarious. When I read the article (linked below) my immediate response was right on Willie. Nelson does not care. He added in his interview, “You could arrest me.” He has a sense of humor and stands up for what he believes in. I have personally never taken a hit. This is my own personal choice. But, Nelson has, and he is not afraid to come out there and say it. I respect that. Like I said, I love Willie Nelson.

Article: http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/story/nelsons-drug-admission-stuns-us-viewers_1139377

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoiDCaxYiUE (This is the link to the Larry King Live segment. It is GREAT.)

My Favorite: