Norman's Rockwell 2

Top Tens of the 00's and 2009

2010-01-04T13:34:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year.
Here are my year ending lists. First the Top Tens for the past year, 2009. Followed by my selections for the past decade. Interestingly, one of my favorite acts of the decade, Franz Ferdinand, fell short of the best of the 00's, but dominated year-ending lists in '04, '05 and '09. And Prince's 3121 was probably in 11th place on the decade best lists. Huh? Don't ask me.

Top 10 LPs of 2009:
10. Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
9. Bruce Springsteen - Working On A Dream
8. Hockey - Mind Chaos
7. downhere - How Many Kings: Songs for Christmas
6. Noisettes - Wild Young Hearts
5. Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King
4. Adam Marsland - Go West
3. Arctic Monkeys - Humbug
2. Franz Ferdinand - Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
1. Maxwell - BLACKsummers'night. Imagine if Prince had done an album of slowjams only in 1987. There you go, there you go.

Top Singles of 2009:
10. Arctic Monkeys - Cornerstone
9. Phoenix - Lisztomania
8. U2 - Magnificent
7. Dave Matthews Band - Funny The Way It Is
6. Dizzee Rascal w. Calvin Harris - Dance Wiv Me
5. Ne-Yo - Never Knew I Needed
4. Maxwell - Pretty Wings
3. Friendly Fires - Skeleton Boy
2. Noisettes - Wild Young Hearts
1. Franz Ferdinand - No You Girls. FF strikes back!

TOP TEN'S FOR THE 00's

After some internal debate and revisiting of tunes from the past ten years, here are my top 10 recordings (i.e. singles and tracks) for the 00's. Who knows how I'll feel about these songs in another decade? I reserve the right to change this list eventually. In ascending order:

10. Fill My Little World - The Feeling
9. Last Nite - The Strokes
8. Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
7. 99 Problems - Jay-Z
6. SexyBack - Justin Timberlake
5. Valerie - Mark Ronson feat. Amy Winehouse
4. Everything My Heart Desires - Norman Kelsey
3. Hey Ya - Outkast
2. Flourescent Adolescent - Arctic Monkeys
1. Girls In Their Summer Clothes - Bruce Springsteen

Choosing Bruce as #1 was a combination of how many times did I listen to the song, how badly do I wish I had written it and will it stand the test of time? The Arctic Monkey's cut is thrilling, too. So, it was tough picking one song to represent a decade, but I think this one is representative of my own feelings and the artistry of 10 years. And in fairness, I didn't want to load up the top 10 with my own compositions, because frankly I love my recordings. LOL.

OK, now the double whammy; my top 10 LPs of the decade. The only rule here, it had to have its first official release during the 00s. So you are going to see one album that was recorded in 1971 and withheld by Motown until 2004 for release (which pushed McCartney's Memory Almost Full or maybe Gnarls Barkley's St. Elsewhere out of the #10 perch). There is also a jazz title that constitutes one of my most listened to long players from the past 10. But cheers to the late David Ruffin for putting out my favorite "new" LP that I didn't record during this decade. Otherwise, peers Orson (whose CD has remained in the player for nearly 6 years) are the kings of the 00's.

Top 10 LPs of the 00's:
10. Life On Other Planets - Supergrass
9. Is This It? - The Strokes
8. Love And Theft - Bob Dylan
7. Back To Black - Amy Winehouse
6. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
5. Magic - Bruce Springsteen
4. Gardenias For Lady Day - James Carter
3. Bright Idea - Orson
2. David (The Unreleased LP) - David Ruffin
1. A Talent For Loving - Norman Kelsey

Happy New Year! Happy New Decade of Music!

Post Christmas/Top 30 Chosen for Decades' Top 10

2009-12-28T20:36:00.000-08:00

I hope you all had a Happy Christmas! I sure did. Lots of church. I sang solos at both of our worship services. Performed a newer song by downhere called How Many Kings. I'm also pleased to announce my next show will be Friday, Jan. 22, 2010 at the Joint. The Joint is at 8771 W. Pico in LA. I've played there dozens of times, but not in 2+ years. There will be no cover, i.e. a free show!

Well, I've narrowed down the nominees for my own decade ending Top 10 lists. I will begin with the Top 30 recordings (as in singles and tracks) from the past 10 years. There was some great music once I dug through the virtual crates that are my iPod. There are bound to be songs that slipped through the cracks, but if they did, how could they have been one of my top 10 for the 00's?

I'll confess, two of my own sides are listed, but I'd be lying if they weren't among my fave 30 from the past ten. I've turned these 30 cuts into a playlist on my iPod that I will put on shuffle. Then, I will whittle this list down to 10 by Thursday. Here they are, in no particular order:

Hey Ya - Outkast
SexyBack - Justin Timberlake
Last Nite - The Strokes
Crazy In Love - Beyonce
Flourescent Adolescent - Arctic Monkeys
Girls In Their Summer Clothes - Bruce Springsteen
Crazy - Gnarls Barkley
A Talent For Loving - Norman Kelsey
Fill My Little World - The Feeling
Valerie - Mark Ronson feat. Amy Winehouse
White Winter Hymnal - Fleet Foxes
99 Problems - Jay-Z
Warwick Avenue - Duffy
Ms. Jackson - Outkast
Bright Idea - Orson
Grace - Supergrass
Black Sweat - Prince
No You Girls - Franz Ferdinand
Is It Any Wonder? - Keane
How Many Kings - downhere
Gold Digger - Kanye West
You Know My Name - Chris Cornell
Everything My Heart Desires - Norman Kelsey
Are You Gonna Be My Girl - Jet
Guerilla Radio - Rage Against The Machine
Plug It In - Basement Jaxx feat. JC Chasez
Chasing Pavements - Adele
Do You Want To - Franz Ferdinand
Toxic - Britney Spears
Beautiful Day - U2

Let the shuffling commence!

Peace & Disco Beats

Citywalk Video Clip

2009-12-12T09:02:00.000-08:00

Here's a taste of the Dec. 4, 2009 show on Citywalk. It is the first verse of Everything My Heart Desires.
Enjoy!

Heifer Project Benefit Show Recap

2009-12-06T22:04:00.001-08:00

Today's Heifer Project Benefit at the NOHO FUMC raised a grand to feed some hungry folks around the globe and make them more self-sufficient by providing them with livestock to use to produce more livestock and sustainable food. Thank you to everyone who attended and donated to a truly worthy cause. Thanks to the organizers for inviting me to perform. I hope the set wasn't too indulgent. It was fun to share the bill with improv geniuses USS Rock & Roll.

My solo acoustic set list was:
The First Noel
This Christmas
What Child Is This?
Father Christmas
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Happy Christmas, one and all.

Cityrockin' Holiday Show Recap

2009-12-05T00:35:00.001-08:00

Hey Soulsters,
the show tonight at Universal Citywalk was grand. How'd you like the snow and Santa? The band was in top form. We had a lot of fun throwing in our covers and a song or two that we hadn't done in a long time. Thanks to everyone who was there. It was a festive crowd and it is always a blessing to hear everyone singing along.

Here's the set list:
Fall Out
Everyone's Ingenue
You've Got To Hide Your Love Away
Everything My Heart Desires
Supermodels With Gatling Guns
U Had The $
Done Lost My Mind
Put A Little Love In Your Heart/Give Peace A Chance
Hold On, I'm A Comin'
I Can't Cry For You
A Talent For Loving

Keep your eyes peeled for video clips and lots of great photos from the show.Thanks to Citywalk and the Hard Rock Cafe for the booking and sponsorship.And there's nothing like hitting Aroma post-show for Apple Cider. That's how I roll.

Peace and have a wonderful Saturday.

Tonight On Citywalk

2009-12-04T00:34:00.000-08:00

Before I turn in for the night, a reminder: I will be performing on the outdoor stage at Universal Citywalk as part of their Hard Rockin' Holidays. The event is sponsored by the Hard Rock Cafe and is geared to raise awareness for WHY's Imagine There's No Hunger campaign. Even Yoko Ono has lent her support by allowing the organization to adapt the lyric and feature John Lennon's artwork.

The set list is set. Of course, I will trot out a John Lennon classic that I have not covered in 20 years. I'll also be performing another cover that has never been in my show. I'm excited to take the stage with the same lineup of musician that accompanied me this Summer.

The show begins a little after 8 PM. It is free and open to all ages. There will be a tree lighting ceremony and an appearance by Santa Claus, hisself. Then, let your soul glow! The set is going to be a little more mellow than usual. Temperatures on Citywalk will be in the 50's, so dress accordingly.

In non-music news, I'm really excited about this morning's FIFA World Cup 2010 draw. We get to find out the group stage match-ups finally. The previous World Cup Finals co-incided with my first tour of the UK. Warm memories of being at the studio in Wales and watching England's tune-ups; and then catching their first match on TV in a lively pub in London.

Peace & Soul

Imagine There's No Hunger

2009-11-11T08:58:00.000-08:00

Hey Soul Mates,

the show on Friday, December 4 on Universal Citywalk is being sponsored by the Hard Rock Cafe and will benefit WHY's Imagine There's No Hunger Campaign. Approved by Yoko and the Lennon Estate, this should be an exciting event and a great way to kick off the holiday season. I'm wearing my No Hunger bracelet as I type.

I hope that you will support this cause and come out to the show on Friday the 4th. There will be plenty of musical surprises and holiday cheer! The show will be outdoors; Free and open to all ages.

Peace

Show Announcement For December 4

2009-11-04T21:29:00.000-08:00

Just announced: I will be performing with my band at Universal Citywalk on Friday, December 4th. This will be an outdoor show in front of the cinema. It is a charity event sponsored by the Hard Rock Cafe and Imagine There's No Hunger. It will be my first holiday date in a long time, so I am exploring a seasonal song to add to the set. I will also be adding Done Lost My Mind to the set. Haven't performed that number in some time.

The shows at Citywalk are open to all ages and the show time should be 8 PM, however I will confirm that soon.

Hope to see you there.
Peace & Disco Beats

Original Cinnamon Posse Soundtrack 20 Years Later

2009-10-31T14:13:00.000-07:00

So, it occurred to me a few weeks ago as things were spinning on my iPod and after a visit to Amoeba for some 12" vinyl that the Cinnamon Posse turns 20 this semester. It was my Junior year at Georgetown. I got to DC early to ramp up New South with my fellow SMs. That opening weekend of the year old friends got together and a few new faces infiltrated the inner circle.

The core group still corresponds and has reunions occasionally. Speaking of which we are overdue. I'm the furthest one away, so it does my heart good when I hear that the folks in DC are doing well. The original 4 were Christo, Rick, Goff and myself. Portner quickly fell in with the crew and actually christened the group when lyrics to Bust A Move were misheard. Our final official addition was Mr. Thad. A more seasoned and reasonable voice amongst the insanity that is/was.

We did synchronized dances at parties; wore matching pink and blue striped shirts; participated in lip-sync contests; we were very vocal when it came to GU hoops; and owned a corner of Village A and annexed New South cafe when necessary. Ridiculous? Well, these were the days of New Kids on the Block and Dikembe Mutombo.

As I mentioned it was music that brought back the memories of a particular rooftop soiree the summer of Do The Right Thing. These were some of the songs that seeped through our stereos and walkmen. Here are my top 20 posse tunes from 20 years ago that you might have heard when the Cinnamon Posse was in sonar range. Over the course of the next three semesters, a number of summers and numerous Homecoming weekends, we've added to our soundtrack. But this is where it started for me and these songs always bring back good memories of my homeboys and our entourage.

By the way these make a great mixtape or playlist for your iTunes, etc.

In no particular order:
Bust A Move - Young MC
Hey Ladies - Beastie Boys
Back To Life - Soul II Soul
Miss You Much - Janet Jackson
Partyman - Prince
Every Little Step - Bobby Brown
Mixed Emotions - Rolling Stones
Doowutchyalike - Digital Underground
Magic Number - De La Soul
Fight The Power - Public Enemy
Cold Hearted - Paula Abdul
Just A Friend - Biz Markie
Sowing The Seeds Of Love - Tears For Fears
It Takes Two - Rob Base & DJ EZ Rock
Love Shack - B52's
Batdance - Prince
Shake Your Rump - Beastie Boys
Used To Love Her - Guns & Roses
Baby Don't Forget My Number - Milli Vanilli
She Drives Me Crazy - Fine Young Cannibals
Keep On Moving - Soul II Soul

Of course, I expect the Posse and the extended family to chime in and refresh my memory on any I've forgotten from the Fall of '89. Please do, homies. Internationally known. X-post Christo. Big love. Hoya Saxa. Peace!

This Is It

2009-10-28T00:14:00.000-07:00

We're just in from an opening night screening of "Michael Jackson's: This Is It." Phenomenal. He is so outta this world. You must see it. Michael is clearly the most creative performer of the past 100 years. To watch him go through the rehearsals is to see an artist at the peak of his powers. He may have been 50 but he moved like he was 27. His voice was strong. The songs he selected for the shows were not shabby either.

After seeing this movie, I firmly believe This Is It would have been the greatest live performances ever. These shows would have blown everyone's collective minds: the music, the moves, the multimedia. I don't want to give too much away, but his vision for what the concerts would have been make this an unforgettable journey. It almost makes me want to put music away forever. There's no way anyone could have ever topped MJ's London concert run.

If you love Michael even half as much as I do, you owe it to yourself to see this movie. Many of the performances are incomplete, they are rehearsals. But there is so much warmth, depth and humor to Michael that you normally don't see or have forgotten that you'll have to remind yourself that he is gone. I spent the first 40 minutes or so in tears as each number revved up.

[SPOILER ALERT]
Highlights for me:

I'll Be There. This is a complete perf and he reclaims this song from all of the pretenders who've ever tried to cover it. This was easily my favorite number in the whole movie.
Thriller. Complete with new filmed elements that amped up the performance and that iconic dance. Talk about reclaiming something and reminding people who did that choreography first (it wasn't a prison in the Philippines, y'all).
The Way You Make Me Feel. Watch all that dancing.
I Just Can't Stop Loving You. Features a vocal throw down at the end that Michael downplays and even gets upset that he did during a rehearsal.
Smooth Criminal. Starring Rita Hayworth and Humphrey Bogart. No, really.
The movie ends with one of the greatest pop moments ever: Billie Jean. The suspense is agonizing. You'll never spend so much time watching one man's feet!

I know I'm forgetting some (and leaving some out for you to experience yourself). Everything about This Is It will amaze you. We will never see the artistic likes of MJ again. See this movie on the big screen. Immediately. You get so close to the performers and Michael that you feel as though you are on stage. Don't be surprised if director Kenny Ortega finds his work up for major awards at year's end. Mr. Ortega avoids any eulogizing and doesn't linger on the interview pieces. He sticks mainly to the "sizzle." Liz Taylor was only exaggerating a little when she touted the artistic value and excitement of this film.

Long Live The King of Pop!

It's Not Insomnia If The Dog Wakes You

2009-08-23T06:27:00.000-07:00

Up early. The pawps has been getting me up at odd hours to walk. And on Sunday mornings, I simply stay up. Last Sunday, she behaved which was good. That was the first time that I led worship at the main 10:30 service in our church sanctuary. I've been doing the preaching every third Sunday of each month in the small chapel, so it was a double header.

This morning, I decided to stay up. I'm listening to Mozart's Mass No. 6 ("Missa brevis") K. 192 in F Major. I heard a bit of it on NPR driving to the studio yesterday. So I downloaded it at 5 AM. Nothing like instant gratification from iTunes.

I haven't had lots of time to think about blogging. Perhaps I'll change the gist of my postings. There is a new project afoot for me, musically. We'll see where the road takes us. It's a collaborative thing with my compatriot, Mitch. He's performed duets with me on stage the last two shows I've performed. We are formulating a show that will incorporate the rejuvenation of soul music, vintage arrangements with a modern twist. We have been culling our record collections and discussing repertoire. I'll keep you posted.

I've been listening to a lot of the music of David Ruffin. His "Unreleased LP" has been in heavy rotation on my iPod and in the car. It may be the most elegant and danceable R&B statement of its era. I'd put it up against anything contemporary from Marvin Gaye or Stevie Wonder. I also packed the iPod with 4 other disc's worth of Ruffin's solo albums. The 5 albums (the "Unreleased" would have come smack in the middle) are a perfect portrait of the organic growth of 60's R&B becoming Disco, in a good way. Ruffin's disco material was produced by genre genius Van McCoy (The Hustle) and it is always tasteful. Helps to have that gritty voice up against McCoy's orchestral pulse. As you know, I'm a sucker for good disco, Chic especially.

My friends on FaceBook have seen some of my crazier linkages to Ruffin's TV performances from the 1970's. This one for Common Man features a wild battle of the Afros between David and Soul Train's Don Cornelius. For those curious, David was the lead vocalist for the Temptations' smash hits: My Girl, Ain't Too Proud To Beg and I Wish It Would Rain. To name just three. Not being a composer, Ruffin was simply the greatest interpreter of songs Motown ever had.

Back to disco, there are lots of new bands who are successfully bridging the rock/dance gap. One in particular is England's Friendly Fires. Their video for Skeleton Boy is pretty wild. I still can't figure out how they did the effect. Reminds me of early MTV when videos were as impactful as the song. The Skeleton Boy track sounds like my defunct peers Orson. Man, I miss Orson. Their first disc, Bright Idea was in my CD player for a year solid it seemed. Also watch out for Hockey, out of Eugene, Oregon. They are channeling the B-Boy era Clash, which was heavy dance music with clever rhymes.

Been spending my spare afternoons at the Huntington Garden in San Marino. Idyllic, in a word. Last Monday when we went, it was like we had our own oasis. Very few folks; a few Russian and French tourists wandered by us. It's a great place to read and write.

Time to make some coffee and get ready for church! We'll get to talk about football soon. Go Browns! They actually scored a touchdown in a game for the first time since November '08.

Peace

Hot August Night at Molly Malone's (Show Recap)

2009-08-08T08:34:00.000-07:00

Thanks to everyone who made the scene at Molly Malone's Wednesday night. And special thanks to impressario David Bash for putting on such a great bill. We sure worked up a soul sweat. Along with Bryan and Larry, Adam Marsland brought the heat for us on keys once again. And (shades of things to come?), soul shouter Mitch Berlow joined me for two numbers. It was a beautiful night!

The set list was:
Fall Out
Everyone's Ingenue
Everything My Heart Desires
U Had The $ (featuring Mitch Berlow)
Hold On, I'm Coming (featuring Mitch Berlow)
A Talent For Loving

The International Pop Overthrow Festival has been so good to me for the past decade. We have had the honor of playing the fest in Liverpool, San Francisco and here at home. Be sure to check out the pictures of the show.

Peace and Disco Beats

Please, Please Tell Me Now

2009-07-13T16:00:00.000-07:00

It's a blazing hot Monday afternoon in Los Angeles. I'm just back from a fantastic chicken dinner at Knott's Chicken Dinner restaurant. I know, I couldn't believe it was called exactly that either. But it was good. Patty and I went to lunch with our good friend Jim (who recommended the place). The first time Jim had the chicken dinner was 1943 when he was in the service. Slightly more expensive now, but just as delicious.

This past week, I got in some good 80's concert-going. I even wore the double-polos at Patty's request. With special thanks to our friend Jen, we saw Duran Duran on Saturday at the Pacific Amp. It's been 25 years since the first time I saw D2, and 5 years since the last. The show was lots of fun, even though Simon Le Bon was suffering from whatever is going around. By the start of the encore he was spent, but he got through it. Duran Duran began the set with "Wild Boys" and hit highlights like "Hold Back The Rain," "Planet Earth," "Rio" and "Notorious." They avoided anything from Seven & The Ragged Tiger and instead did several songs from their latest Red Carpet Massacre.

I was only disappointed that they didn't perform anything from their upcoming disc, Duran Duran Hearts Mark Ronson. It's an amazing band that can put on a 100 minute show and not perform 3 of their biggest hits ("Is There Something I Should Know," "Hungry Like The Wolf" & "The Reflex"). They did throw in rarities like "Skin Trade," Arcadia's "Election Day" and "Do You Believe In Shame?"

The encore began with Nick Rhodes and the new guitarist doing a medley of James Bond themes which led into a great arrangement of "A View To A Kill" Simon returning to the stage in a white tuxedo. They ended with "Girls On Film/Le Freak." A natural confluence since John Taylor, and Duran Duran in general, owes much to Chic and Bernard Edward's bass playing. John even referenced "Billie Jean" during the band intros. He is one funky Brit.

Two nights previous was the Regeneration Tour 2009 stop at the Gibson Amphitheatre. Hadn't stood next to the stage at that venue in a mighty long time. ABC were the headliners and as usual they put on an entertaining show. They even snuck in a new song "Ride" from their latest LP, Traffic. I could tell Martin was pleased I knew the words. ABC's set relied heavily on Lexicon of Love. No complaints about that. Didn't get to catch up with Mr. Fry after the show. My band had worked up his song "Only The Best Will Do" for the CityWalk show. But it was cut due to time constraints. I did get to chat up ABC's lead guitar player, Matt Backer. We traded CDs. Turns out we have several mutual friends. Very cool dude.

Also on the bill were Cutting Crew and Terri Nunn from Berlin. We had seen Terri before, but Thursday night she was in rare form. She whipped the hometown crowd into a frenzy with "The Metro" and the megasmash "Take My Breath Away" from Top Gun.

The most intriguing band of the evening were Wang Chung. I saw Wang Chung at Grad Nite '87 in Orlando. They were on a bill with Oran "Juice" Jones and Run-DMC. This was Wang Chung's first tour of the States in 20 years. They played a rousing set that included "Dance Hall Days" a stripped down version of "To Live and Die In L.A." and their top 10 "Let's Go" and "Everybody Have Fun Tonight." Yes, everybody wang-chunged. I got to meet Nick and Jack (aka Wang Chung) backstage and talk to them about the show and 1987. They were enthusiastic during our conversation and told me they were working on new material and what they had been up to the past 20 years. I 'fessed up to having shouted out "Hypnotize Me" during their set. Nick laughed and Jack said he'd liked to have performed it. When Mosaic came out my senior year in high school, I loved blasting side A from the cassette deck in my '76 Chevy Nova. Yeah, I was cool like that.

I must admit, I really geeked out backstage when I saw Micky Dolenz from the Monkees. Just the day before, I told Patty that when I was a kid, I used to think it would be cool to live in the Monkees' house and play music with them. Of course, I had to say hello and get a photo with Micky. I told Patty with Michael passing that life is too short to not show appreciation for artists you like (nor to ask for a picture). If they say no, that's on them. But musicians and their art have a profound affect on our culture and selves, whether you want to admit it or not.

Which leads me back to Duran Duran. Even when a band doesn't play your favorite tunes, there's much to love about what they are doing. The energy and good will they are sharing. Any opportunity to see the Durans, I will take. You never know how many times you'll get a live experience with artists you love. When I was 13, Duran Duran were the Beatles, Michael was Elvis. I'm not opening a debate, because that was my world. So, if a 13 year old tells me that the Jonas Brothers are the Beatles and Miley is Elvis... OK. Art is always subjective. Long live Duran Duran.

Finally, the new issue of SPIN with the 25 anniversary report on Purple Rain and the Rolling Stone commemorative for Michael are worth the price of admission. Get them now.

Peace & Disco Beats

BET Awards Rundown

2009-06-29T09:06:00.000-07:00

Last night's BET awards show did a nice job of honoring Michael Jackson's legacy. Seeing New Edition complete with the new heavy edition of Bobby Brown was fun. I remember the hype surrounding them back in middle school when Candy Girl came out. They were the new J5 or so we were told. Of course, no one ended up being the new J5, let alone the new Michael.

Ne-Yo did a moving version of Lady In My Life. The choice was smart, since it was one of the rare "non-mega hits" from Thriller. Apparently, I missed the end of the show, even with the DV-R rolling. So I didn't see Janet's appearance or the show closing version of I'll Be There. Jamie Foxx's opening monologue was all wrong and all right. His celebration of Michael's style was filled with love and humor. And when he mentioned the steep ticket prices for the Victory tour he wasn't kidding.

My favorite performance was non-Jackson related. Jay-Z slayed everyone with his new single D.O.A. (Death Of Auto-Tune). He rapped truth to power as he went verbally head on with many performers in the audience who have relied too heavily on the gimmicky auto-tune to enhance their vocals, host Jamie Foxx included. Not only does Jay-Z not use auto-tune, he used a real band for the show. Props to Hova. I downloaded the single from iTunes earlier in the week, the clean version, no less. Man, I'm getting old. So, it was a treat to hear Jay-Z do D.O.A. live.

Finally, the Mighty O'Jays took home the lifetime achievement award and performed a medley of their hits. Eddie Levert leading the way, they showed the audience what live performances used to look like on a consistent basis for all acts. They had more musicality and showmanship than most of the night's other performers. Didn't hurt that they were trained in choreography by the immortal Cholly Atkins from Motown. For a bunch of older dudes, they still have the moves.

Peace & Disco Beats

Photos from Citywalk

2009-06-29T07:47:00.001-07:00

Hey Y'all,

go HERE to check out a grip of pictures taken by Patty from the show at CityWalk.

My next show is still more than a month away, but no time like the present to mention it.

August 5, 2009

8 PM

At Molly Malone's

Los Angeles

This show is presented by International Pop Overthrow. The $10 cover includes a full night of entertainment and a free 3-CD set featuring acts from the festival and a free deluxe program of the event. Due to the venue, this show will be for ages 21 and up.

Peace & Disco Beats

Universal CityWalk Show Recap

2009-06-28T20:15:00.001-07:00

First off,
thanks to everyone who attended the show last night on Citywalk. It was a great challenge, but the show must go on, as they say. There are no excuses in Rock and Roll. Thanks for the energy you gave back to me. Thanks for all the long-distance well-wishes and texts, too. That really warms my heart.

There were several hundred people in attendance and the feedback was tremendous. So many beautiful faces. Many I haven't seen since my last show. It was also a thrill to share the stage with some truly talented musicians: Larry Doran, Bryan Farrar, Adam Marsland and Mitch Berlow.

Here's the set list:
Fall Out/Wanna Be Starting Something
I Can't Cry For You
Everyone's Ingenue
Supermodels With Gatling Guns
Everything My Heart Desires
U Had The $
Hold On I'm Coming (with Mitch Berlow)
A Talent For Loving
Get Back

This show was dedicated to my Dad, who took me to my first concert, the Jackson 5 in 1974; my Mom who took me to see the very expensive Victory Tour; and our dear Michael. I've been watching lots of MJ videos while I've been awake today. Amazing.

Thanks again and God bless you.

JAM!

Beyond Sad Right Now

2009-06-25T15:44:00.001-07:00

The King is dead. LONG LIVE THE KING!

Perfect Calm

2009-06-21T15:39:00.000-07:00

"The Perfect Calm" was the title of the sermon I delivered this morning. It was based on Mark 4:35-41, in which Jesus stops the sea from raging. If there is enough interest, I will figure out a way to post the text of the messages. Might have to save them as pdf's or something like that. I'm thankful so many brothers and sisters were there to worship to early in the morning.

I was thrilled this afternoon by the result in USA's football match with Egypt in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. It's part of the build up to the World Cup in South Africa next Summer. With some skilful play, winning 3-0, and help from Brazil, USA advanced to the semi-finals where they'll play Spain. Spain are the best side in the world right now. This will be a good workout for the Americans. Clint Dempsey and Jozy Altidore have come on strong in this tournament. I will have to DV-R the match on Wednesday. USA! USA!

Music news: Friday's rehearsal was cool. Our guest vocalist was there to work on parts for our duet. I think you'll like our take on Sam & Dave. I also found out that the full-size Bumble Bee from Transformers is gonna rock out next to the stage. Oughta be worth a few photos. And Corey Feldman, my bill mate, is bringing a carbon-foot-print eliminating generator to power the stage for our show. Very thoughtful, Corey.

Gotta run to the bookstore and then get the Missus from the airport.

Peace

A Second Premiere

2009-06-15T15:47:00.001-07:00

Here it is! My new blog going all the way live. Cleverly titled "Norman's Rockwell 2." Thanks to my web service migrating without any foreknowledge, I am unable to continue the original Rockwell until further notice. The day my ability to post blogs coincided with the day my service changed. Strange... and very frustrating. Perhaps someone out there can offer some advice on how to get my FTP to work properly.

It's been a busy four months since my last successful post. Mainly, I've been preparing to be the opening act for the 2009 Celebrity Summer Concerts series at Universal CityWalk, Saturday June 27 at 8 PM. The show is free and open to all ages. Hopefully we'll have great weather and a lot of fun. The stage is in front of the Cinemas & Hard Rock Cafe. You can't miss it.

Rehearsals have been progressing. The band is honing the material and working with producer Adam Marsland, who'll join us on keyboards to add all of the embellishments from the album. The set list will focus on A Talent For Loving, but there will be a few surprises thrown in for good measure. We have learned a new cover, unearthed a Bat Country oldie and have invited another friend to duet with me on an R&B classic that has been part of my set already.

Thank you for coming back to read my new online journal. More to come. You'll find a few "lost posts" from this Spring.

Peace & Harmony

A Spike Lee Joint Revisited

2009-03-18T08:57:00.001-07:00

Da Mayor: Doctor, always do the right thing.
Mookie: That's it? I got it, I'm gone.

Last night, I watched "Do The Right Thing" all the way through for the first time in six or seven years. The first time I saw it was on July 4, 1989 with my mother. Pure cinematic fireworks. All-American and revolutionary. We were both intrigued by this movie that had made such a splash at Cannes earlier that year. We didn't know anyone else who'd seen it, but we had seen Spike Lee's previous movie ("School Daze" featuring my Dad.) There were only another dozen viewers in that theatre in Jacksonville. We had no idea what we were getting into. When the movie was done, we all sat through the credits in stunned silence.

DTRT became a lightning rod that summer amid blockbusters like "Batman," "Ghostbusters 2," and "Indiana Jones 3." The opening sequence is iconic: Public Enemy's aural assault, the visual style of DP Ernest Dickerson and the electrifying solo dance routine of Rosie Perez. From the get go, DTRT is on fire. One hot day in a Brooklyn furnace.

So many classic lines fill the script. I won't even try to quote them. But I know that my GU posse brothers and I could recite most of the movie by the time September '89 rolled around. It was all we could talk about for days at a time.

Many careers were launched by DTRT along with Rosie Perez: Samuel L. Jackson, Martin Lawrence, John Tutturro, Robin Harris, Giancarlo Esposito, Bill Nunn. Oh how young they all look. And it brought Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee to a whole new audience. The only actor Oscar nominated from the cast, Danny Aiello was in the middle of a career high ("Moonstruck" preceded it). Speaking of Oscars, so many of the performances could have been recognized. Especially, Davis & Dee's work. In a just world Bill Nunn's doomed Radio Raheem would have been honored, too. The fact that DTRT wasn't even nominated for Best Picture is silly, considering "Driving Miss Daisy" won. Whew, what was we thinking, America!?

A decade ago, the AFI 100 was first published and I was personally outraged by DTRT's dismissal. Frankly, I would argue that Spike Lee's magnum opus is the most important American movie of the last 30 years. We are still struggling with the issues and the aftermath in our "post-racial" America. I have talked to people who think "Malcolm X" is Lee's best work. No disrespect, but as far as original material goes DTRT can't be touched. The film is a bit of a time capsule with its nods to Africa medallions, Air Jor-DANS, and day-glo biker shorts (au courant for 1989), but the themes are timeless. There may be better films that this, but none that can spark conversation, evoke a laugh or make me weep for humanity like it.

When Radio Raheem's body shudders to its end and falls face first onto his "LOVE" brass knuckles, I break down like a baby. Every single time.

I encourage you to watch "Do The Right Thing" and revisit the power of cinema, great storytelling and potent acting and vibrant direction. I remember many critics thought Lee was copping out. He was supposed to give us solutions, he was supposed to work it out for us, give us answers. Says who? The best art asks us to search ourselves for the answers. DTRT forces us to.

That's my 2 cents.

Peace... always

Not Desert Island, But the First 10 Discs I Bought

2009-03-12T07:49:00.000-07:00

After talking with John Murdy yesterday, I realized that a top 10 albums list would take me too much thought right now. And I would have to go through all of my ticket stubs to rank the top 10 concerts I've attended. But John and I got to discussing the first CDs we purchased, back when buying a CD meant something. They were about $15 a pop on average in 1988. Doing the inflationary math that's roughly $27 to you and me now. And you think music is a rip-off today! Ha ha ha.

The very first title I bought, sheepishly, because I didn't actually own a CD player and somehow I thought the store clerk would know, was the Beatles' "Help!" Got it at the Wiz in the Pentagon City metro stop in NoVa after doing a tour of *duh* the Pentagon. So jogging my imperfect memory, between May and July 4th of 1988, I purchased, in order...

1. The Beatles, "Help!" The Wiz, Pentagon City.

2. Prince & The Revolution, "Parade." The Wiz, Georgetown.

3 & 4. The Beatles, "Beatles For Sale" and Prince, "Lovesexy" (the day it was released). The Wiz, Georgetown. The store clerk was pissed at me for my indecisiveness and said of Lovesexy, "Buy it now, you're going to eventually. Get it now!" I managed to borrow a floor mates CD player to listen to each of the above once before school was out for the semester.

5. Jimi Hendrix Experience, "Are You Experienced?" This I bought with my $70 Sanyo portable CD player at Coconuts in Jacksonville. I think that was every cent I had saved during the school year.

6. The Rolling Stones, "Rewind." The first used CD I ever got, from Vintage Vinyl in Jax.

7. The Clash, "Combat Rock." Coconuts. Should I Stay Or Should I Go became a belated party anthem for my apartment the next 3 years at college.

8. Tracy Chapman, "Tracy Chapman." What can I say, Fast Car and Baby, Can I Hold You? are great songs. But I returned it the next day for Steely Dan, "A Decade of Steely Dan." The Record Bar, Regency, Jax.

9. John Mellencamp, "The Lonesome Jubilee." Vintage Vinyl.

10. Paul McCartney, "All The Best." Coconuts, Orange Park. I think I shelled out $18.99 (a whopping and wallet-numbing $34 in today's cash) for this to the amazement of Mike and Mark who were with me that night.

Of these 10 CDs, I still possess 8 of them. Mellencamp was sold back shortly after buying it. The Steely Dan was replaced by the monster "Citizen Steely Dan," which was one of the first collections loaded onto my iPod. At the time, I was still alternating between CDs and vinyl. Not a whole lot of titles were available, but by the end of Summer I trucked back to Georgetown with about 40 CDs, including 90% of the Beatles' titles and popular party choices like "License To Ill" and the soundtrack to "Cocktail."

Don't Worry, Be Happy!

Pressing On

2009-03-01T21:33:00.000-08:00

Hey Family, this morning, church was wonderful. Pastor Joey's message was deep. He discussed how our personal faith is a private matter. You've got as much right to ask me if I've been saved as I have to ask how much money you make. You can probably guess, no alter calls at our church. I know for a fact that I'm loved and I'm trying to get right with Christ. Life is still challenging and exhausting, but the reward is greater for the effort.

Today during worship, I sang Pressing On from Dylan's 1980 LP Saved. This evening, I bought the whole disc (thanks Jackie & Medardo, it's a Birthday present!) from iTunes. It's an underrated work. I prefer it to Slow Train Coming, Dylan's first born-again record. I'm digging the title track, What Can I Do For You? and Solid Rock, particularly. This lyric hits me in the breadbasket:

I know all about poison, I know all about fiery darts
I don't care how rough the road is, show me where it starts
Whatever pleases You, tell it to my heart.
Well, I don't deserve it but I sure did make it through.
What can I do for You?
Copyright ©1980 Special Rider Music

Pressing On first made an impression on me when I saw Todd Haynes' Dylan-approved Sci-fi-non-biopic I'm Not There. In it, John Doe does a vocal that Christian Bale mimes. A wonderful, life-altering performance. I give Bale credit (he can sing, but he didn't for this movie) for a truly believable moment. For all of those giving him grief, I give him props. I think Christian is quite an artist. Prior to that, I had not heard much of Dylan's music from the period. This number, though, I point to as a watershed in my journey.

I'll be doing the song again for Wesley School's chapel in the AM. My new guitar rang clearly and true in the sanctuary. All for God's glory. I'm looking forward to the privilege of playing for Him tomorrow. It's funny how this musical career is being steered. I love the venue and I really love playing for my audience of Three-In-One.

Coming up: A reprise of Take Me To The River at the end of the month. Pastor Joey has also put in a request for Dylan's What Was It You Wanted? for Palm Sunday. Got my work cut out for me. And then I'll open the Sign "O" The Times songbook for my 8:15 on March 15 & Easter. I know in some traditions, Lent is a time to give things up. I see Lent as a time to take things ON.

But right now, it's time for rest.

Love & Peace

Random Notes From Hollywood On Ash Wednesday

2009-02-25T19:15:00.000-08:00

Hey Y'all.
Been a good week for you, I hope. Got in a little while ago from communion for Ash Wednesday. God only knows how much I needed it. It was a silent service in Boyer Chapel. One of my favorite spaces.

Last night, we went to the Groundlings' theatre to see Jeremy Rowley reprise his show Inland Empire. Some bits were reruns and there were several new sketches, but it was all inspired illness. Jeremy plays these unhinged characters from the Riverside area; his mathematically challenged Dad in "Family Dinner" was a favorite of mine. You may know Jeremy's voice from the Lost Untangled shorts on ABC. Or check out his shorts on YouTube: Kids are Safe is Germanic madness and I don't even know how he filmed Trippin' At D-Land.

Something that struck me going to the Groundlings on Melrose was the loss of the Gig. I must have played the Gig several dozen times between 1997-2006. It had been two-plus years since my last appearance there with R.H.S. Another venue bites the dust. Now it's just reopened as another bar. The doorman was adamant about never having live music there again. Yikes. Wha'ppen?

I'm listening to Tom Waits right now, Used Songs. Just read a story in the latest GQ about 50 years of the L.A. Music Scene. Well seal the coffin, it's gone now. But there are nice (brief) interviews with the likes of Tom Waits, Dick Dale and the ever-cool Joan Jett. All three look fantastic in the accompanying photo spread.

If you like, I invite you to the church I attend (check the links to the right) between now and Easter and beyond. I will be doing several pieces during the main 10.30 services. This Sunday, I'm singing Dylan's Pressing On. Later in March, I'll reprise Take Me To The River. Just 'cause I'm singing isn't the reason to get to church, but I figured some of you might be interested. I should know shortly the dates of my Summer performances. There will be at least one performance up on the Universal Citywalk and International Pop Overthrow in L.A.

Slumdog Millionaire certainly deserved all of the Oscars it won. Like I said "random notes." Got to get ready for Lost.

Peace & Disco Beats

No Sophomore Slump

2009-02-15T22:42:00.000-08:00

[This was my last successful post to the original Norman's Rockwell blog]

I just finished doing something I haven't done in a decade or two. I played several dozen Beatles songs, including I'll Be Back, Tell Me Why, Julia and Michelle, on my (new) acoustic guitar. Picked up an inexpensive Yamaha with birthday funds. It occurred to me that I've never actually owned a real acoustic guitar. The first guitar I ever bought, and it's displayed in the corner of this very room, is not a hollow body, but is considered an acoustic electric. It's not really good for either, but it's a piece of my musical history. Anyway, after the old Ibanez couldn't hold a tune in church today, I determined that it was time for a new member to join the family. It took me about 90 minutes to pick out a guitar and then the salesman brought out a minty fresh one from the stock room. Trying to help the musical economy!

So this evening, I unwrapped the new guitar, tuned it up and went to town. First I worked on what will be the special music at church next month: a little spiritual from Sign "O" The Times. Then I spent an hour with the Fab Four and a fake book I bought at Olsson's in Georgetown during the Reagan administration. I learned this past month that Olsson's finally shuttered. I've always loved playing the Beatles, ever since I first taught myself how to strum chords on a borrowed guitar.

This morning, I lead the 8:15 worship service in the beautiful Boyer Chapel at church. My second sermon was entitled "Drop Me In The Water." It was based on an Old Testament text, 2 Kings 5, which was a challenge. From all accounts it served its purpose in proclaiming God's greatness. The special music today was Rev. Al Green's Take Me To The River. Rivers (the Jordan, Hudson and Cuyahoga) were a central motif.

I've got my work cut out for me as I have claimed the 3rd Sunday of every month to preach at church. Since my next sermon will be between Lent and Easter it might be a little heavier that the first two. I've selected John 2 from the choices of readings. I'm having fun, though it is a bit like walking a tight rope. Between the sermons and homilies once a month for the youngsters (and faculty) at Wesley School's chapel, I'm getting my church on. If you are in the L.A. area on a Sunday, join me. I'll spring for coffee afterward.

A note of thanks to my amigo, Christo, who sent me Prince's 21 Nights. It's a lavish coffee table book that came with a fantastic live CD, that went straight into the iPod. The album, not the book.

In non-musical news, non-church news, congrats to my driver Matt Kenseth who won his first Daytona 500 today in the driving rain. So what if the race was shortened. A win is a win!
I hope that you had a love-filled Valentines' Day or at least a pleasant Saturday night. As for tomorrow: Happy Presidents' Day. My top 5 favorite Presidents, in no order:
Abraham Lincoln
James K Polk
Barack Obama
Woodrow Wilson
Theodore Roosevelt

Peace & Disco Beats