Tuneage Tutelage Music Review Friday

Sparks Of Insanity By Vinny "Bond" Marini Friday, September 05, 2008

Sorry, but I have some questions and I need to ask...

1) Why is it OK to slander a candidate, put false words into their mouth and lie about their record (Obama sponsored over 800 bills in the IL Senate), but when you ask another candidate questions about their position on a subject it is being salacious and undignified?

2) Explain why you now proclaim you never supported the 'bridge to nowhere', yet it is on record that you actually did support it, until the federal funds disappeared?

3) Why did you fire a decorated head of law enforcement when he refused to fire your ex brother in law because he was going through a custody battle with your sister?

4) Did you not do any investigation into the man you selected to replace the above mentioned head of the State troopers? Since he had to resign two weeks later after issues of his being accused of sexual harassment were found?

5) When you were Mayor, why did you force the police chief, librarian, public works director, and finance director to resign, and then institute a policy requiring department heads to get your approval before talking to reporters? Is this your management style?

5) Why are you such a strong advocate of using my tax money to teach only abstinence in our schools when you yourself got pregnant out of wed-lock and now the same has happened to your daughter?

6) If family is "out-of-play" in this campaign, why did you use your two sons to your advantage the other evening and why would you allow your youngest daughter to appear in a video on John McCain's daughters website?

7) You specifically stated that families with special needs children would have a friend in Washington if you were elected. Is this the same friend who cut funding for special needs families and refused to fund a teenage mothers shelter while you were Governor of Alaska?

Just asking....



Back again with some more new music to share. I also received the AC/DC DVD today. Unfortunately, they did not send a second copy to use as a give-away.

BUT WAIT! That does not mean I will not be giving this copy away after I view it. I have to see....

NOTE: If the players appear as blank boxes, refresh and they should appear. This seems to be getting more prevalent with my friends at lifelogger.

Today I am bringing you two artists who are on different sides of the music spectrum. Please take a few minutes over the weekend and give them a listen and cast your votes.


First up is Christian Brown. Hailing from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Christian counts as his influences Elton John, Thursday, Johnny Cash and Death Cab for Cutie; a wildly diverse base, his music certainly shows it.

His biography belies his lyrics. Born in Alaska, his family relocated to IA when he was 7. Christian was a loner who marveled at technology like TV and radio. He began a love affair with the music of the 90's and immersed himself in that genre.

He took up saxophone in grade school and became obsessed practicing 20 hours a week. Christian loved to jam and loved jazz improvisation. He quickly accelerated to studying college level Jazz theory by the end of junior high. Earning the high school label "band nerd," Christian spent countless hours skipping classes to hide out in practice rooms and jam on his new found favorite music maker, the piano.

In his teens he joined two friends in a band that drove audiences away because they could not enjoy Christian's vocals!

Over the years he remained in the background until he finally decided to break out and begin writing songs that anyone could understand and sing...

The first song is "A Mile Above A Small Town". An upbeat fun song about a 'losers' view of his town. Be warned there is one F-Bomb in it. The band in the back is tight and remind me of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones in a lot of ways.


The next song from Mr. Brown is "Here We Go Again Anyway". This one did not grab me as much as his other. It seems too familiar.
You decide...You can find his myspace site HERE


Next up is a band that I really like. The Charlie Wheeler Band is from Ridgway, PA and they claim as their influences Eric Clapton, Steely Dan, Rolling Stones and The Black Crowes. Now tell me kiddies, how can you go wrong there?!?!?!

The band is Charlie Wheeler on guitar and vocals, Anthony Brown on keyboards, Greek Cheronis on vocals and harp, Chuck Jaques on Bass and Darren Payne on Drums.

This is the quote that caught my attention, "What happened to the guitar solo, the piano solo, the instrumentation?" Wheeler asks, directing the question at today's popular music. "Where did it go? Isn't playing your instrument to your fullest potential one of the bedrock priciples that rock n' roll was founded upon?" Struck a chord with this imrov-band lover.

Wheeler writes songs in a variety of styles, ranging from riff based blues-rock to roadhouse-rockabilly to monster power ballads.

First up "Highway Run". Hard driving with a good mix of guitars and harp. The rhythm section lays down a pulsing beat that just grabs me.


The next song is "When The Lord", a true blues-rock composition.


The only dates on their calendar are Nov. 1st at Nelsons Ledges in Garrettville, OH and Nov 21st at the Library Theater in Warren, PA. Their website can be found HERE and their myspace page HERE.



HAVE A MARVELOUS WEEKEND....

22 Of Your Sparks

  1. Travis Cody Says:
  2. I was liking the music from the first guy...then he opened his mouth. Did not care for his voice.

    I really enjoyed the second band.

    And I think it's fair to ask the questions of our candidates.

    Have a fantastic weekend!

     
  3. Anndi Says:
  4. Good questions. A lot of people are asking those very questions. Unfortunately, I don't think you'll get the answers.

    How come we only had two options for the Charlie Wheeler Band? Unfortunately, I don't reallt see anything new in them. Might be a good show in a small venue... but I guess that's about it.

    Christian just didn't do it for me. Maybe my Chicklet would like it.

    Hi Vince's Mom and Dad!

     
  5. Twyla Says:
  6. Yet another reason I stay FAR away from politics.
    Thanks for introducing me to some new music. I'm going to check out more songs this weekend.
    Have a great one! :-)

     
  7. Dana Says:
  8. Oh Vinny ...

    You know, I've found this election quite interesting. It seems that perception and political affiliation "blind" people to what their own candidates are saying. Obama/Biden are JUST as guilty of the inaccuracies you mention - really - they are! It's the nature of the beast.

    I just find it interesting that no matter which "side" people are on, they see the faults of ONLY the other side.

     
  9. TRAVIS: Thanks for the opinions...I tned to agree an d thanks for the validation on the questions

    ANNDI: Just missed the third option is all...

    TWYLA: Try to do this each Friday so come on by

    DANA: I certainly do not think the other side does not have faults, but since she was selected they have kept her away from the press except for local Wasilla reporters and she came out of no where and no one really knows her and I wonder why she is so insulated.

     
  10. Travis Cody Says:
  11. Dana - I'm not naive...perhaps not so politically savve, but I do understand that all politics is about deception. Elections are about getting elected, not about governing.

    But those questions do need to be asked and answered, as those kinds of tough questions are asked and answered with the other candidates. It's not unreasonable to expect those kinds of questions for a candidate that we've just met who is a comparative newcomer to the current process.

    Why is that about partisan politics?

     
  12. Anndi Says:
  13. Vince, she's "insulated" cause it gets dang cold in Alaska (bwahahahahahaha I crack myself up).

     
  14. Liz Hill Says:
  15. Good questions.

    And is it really an effective answer to say 'the other side does it too?". I ask questions of ALL and I call bull---- on ALL when I see it.

    She has no palatable answer for those questions.

    Because then she'd have to admit she was being a 'politician' rather than the non-threatening 'hockey mom' that she proclaims herself to be.

    Meh on the music

    SMOOCH to you though;-)

     
  16. vinnie i think she's tits! but you know that. i think she is real and hard working and caring and i also think biden looks bad next to her. he has quite alot of baggage himself you know...

    still friends?

    smiles, bee
    xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

     
  17. TRAVIS: I want answers from them all...but it seems asking them of her is off-limits

    ANNDI: Funny from a Canadian! LOL

    TURNBABY: Exactly...and SMOOCH to you

    BEE: Of course friends and I never said the other candidates do not have baggage, but why can't these questions be asked of her. Why is she being insulated ... for the last year the press has questioned and bashed Senator Obama...If she wants to get on this roller coaster, she has to pay the fare.

     
  18. Ralph Says:
  19. I try to avoid the politics on blogs, not because I have a don't have a point of view (I certainly do), but I wouldn't want to argue with other POV's!

    For the decline in political discourse, look at the comments you see in any post on 'The Politico'. Not good on either side, not being civil to opposing sides...I'd hate to devolve to those depths of meanness when I like reading blogs that I like for enjoyment.

     
  20. Kimmie Says:
  21. Great post Vinny! Your questions are good ones. I find myself hearing all the contradictions and wonder what in the world was McCain thinking? She is an embarassment! So she acts and talks tough. That doesn't impress me at all. I want to be able to look at a record of positive accomplishments. Obama is a very organized package. From his Campaign to his Convention I was very impressed. McCain almost dropped out, and has been all over the place. He is not organized and it shows...bigtime. I don't know about anyone else, but I would rather vote for someone who has it all together. Not for someone who is trying to throw it together in the last 8 weeks of his campaign. I so pray that he is NOT the one in the White House if that phone should ever ring at 3:00am. Be Blessed Vinny.

    I have something for you at my blog.

    Hugs,
    Kimmie

     
  22. Lol...k I hate politics so um yeah.

    But really likes that Christian Brown song.

    Have a great weekend!

     
  23. Wow Vinny we both bit the bulllet and went political today! Go us :P

    I can't do the music now because I am just slammed at work and will be for the next several months. I will be back to tonight. Cause Steely Dan? MMMMMMMMMMMMM!!

     
  24. Bud Fisher Says:
  25. The hypocricy of which you speak is overwhelming. I had a comment about my inerview that "Sarah rocked the house..." I thought, "It's all republicans. If she doesn't get their support shge has none..." I honestly believe this election will not be close. Back to Alaska then Sarah...

     
  26. The Charlie Wheeler Band, huh? That's fantastic stuff.

     
  27. TopChamp Says:
  28. Hello - I had NO idea what you were on about at the start there. I checked the BBC website though today and it said opinion polls have it fairly evenly split between Republicans/Democrats... sound about right?

    Music: Liked the first (it has brass in it). Didn't see the innovation in the second, although it's ok.

     
  29. STUPID WORK COMPUTER....Vinny if I don't comment on the music by tonight send me a smack via email to remind me. I am running around like a crazy woman.

     
  30. Anonymous Says:
  31. **From a kiosk in North Sydney** Some peeps are so busy pointing out the specks in other peoples' eyes, they can't see the logs in their own eyes. This is especially true of politicians.

    From the Mind of Meribah

     
  32. Fred Says:
  33. I forgot to say thanks for granting the photo request. I promise I won't screw up who's in the picture.

    But, Palin sure gives a good speech. I'm sure the Dems will have commercials soon that ask some of the questions you've listed.

    Have a great family weekend.

     
  34. RALPH: Understood ..thank s for your opinions...

    KIMMIE: Thanks for your viewpoint...I am not going to continue a political discourse, but hope some of these can get answered over the next month and a half

    JUST ME: Miranda..thanks for the vote on the poll

    STARR: Does not happen often here on The Couch

    BUD: It will be very interesting what happens

    RWA: I liked it also

    TOPCHAMP: Thanks...glad you liked some of the music

    MERI: Now that is an expression I have never heard before

    FRED: THanks bud..photos to come

    STARR: Thought you might

    SCHMOOP: Right to the point as always

     
  35. Maggie Moo Says:
  36. Excellent questions Bond-excellent questions indeed. It's sad to me that a potentially historic VP is one step forward for women yet so many steps back.

     

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