miklos000rosza: How does one qualify for a Chelsea residency?

Patti Smith bridged that gap too. When her album “Gone Again” came out in 1996, I got caught between the two sides when I claimed the song, “Dead to the World,” was Patti’s posthumous tribute to Jerry Garcia of the Dead, which offended the punkish, Velvet sentiments of the Patti Smith camp.

Nonetheless, the interpretation fits the song: “DEAD to the World,” the magical musician with “life in his fingers,” and the delicate, spiraling Garcia guitar licks which embroider the edges of the lyrics in this Smith song and no other.

In a subsequent tour Patti would place an empty chair on the stage for Jerry to sit, showing her special affection for the man and his music.

QED.

I was friends for years with rock critics Richard Meltzer, Mikal Gilmore and Jimmy McDonough, and whereas we often agreed there were areas in which never the twain shall ever meet. Somethis seemed to be a matter of maybe two years or so difference in ages/. And Meltzer liked the Grateful Dead while they seemed to me one of the worst bands in the history of Rock. (They just flat-out couldn’t sing.)

I connected with the Velvet Underground when I was 13, connecting their use of dissonance by means of piano and violin to music by Bartok and Prokofiev. I also liked the Doors.

The album “Zuma” by Neil Young (Jimmy McDonough, his biographer, approved). The Sex Pistols, Iggy Pop (before he got old), early Patti Smith, then Joy Division and Nirvana (with their suicidal singers), even Depeche Mode.

Their are clubs in Eastern Europe, that is, Budapest, Prague, Sofia, Warsaw, Saint Petersburg and so on, which are only called Depeche Mode. That’s the only music they ever play. “Twilight” brand heroin (named after the vampire series) is usually available to enhance ther atmosphere.

I also still enjoy the music of Tricky (the originator of triphop — the only music I listened to during my year at the Chelsea), Burial (dubstep), and so on.

No nostalgia acts. It tends to be a form best realized when you’re young. The Rolling Stones’ blues album a couple years ago was surprisingly good. I’d previously regarded their creative years as ending in 1975. And yes, Robert Plant with Alison Krauss.

Bands make a lot more money on tour, and many performers simply become addicted to applause. It makes you high.

Bluegrass music is about basic human values and shooting somebody.

Plant’s last solo hit, “Big Log,” seems to be the link between him and Alison Krauss. Her brother, Viktor Krauss, covered “Big Log” with Alison killing the vocals, so dreamy and gorgeous. I like it better than Plant’s original. Three years later Alison and Plant collaborated on “Raising Sand.”

“Alison Krauss & Viktor Krauss – Big Log”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFg1vS7OXdU

Speaking as the resident stoner in these parts, I say “Big Log” is one of the finest song evocations of the marijuana reverie around — hypnotic, moody, timeless, leading on to some vague, yet certain destination.

The “Big Log” is the big joint. “Red-eyed and fevered with the hum of the miles” — hah!

The Bangles version of ‘Hazy Shade Of Winter’ came out while I was in high school and had never heard the original at that point. Really I would say the Simon and Garfunkel type of folk music or whatever it’s called is one kind of music that has never appealed to me. Just too sleepy for my taste. Don’t dislike it as much as Springsteen whose music I hate with a passion but that’s just me.

As for Plant I happened to DVR an interview he did with Dan Rather of all people and watched it this morning. I think it was from last year as he is referred to as 69 years old. Really interesting to hear him talk about the US. Speaks fondly of driving around backroads and visiting small towns. Interesting guy.

And I would say that he is the greatest rock frontman. Had the whole package vocals, songwriting (Daltrey’s one weak spot) and charisma.

Obviously they came from two very different musics. They found common ground in a smoldering, timeless rockabilly. Beautiful. It’s almost shocking to see Plant so restrained and subtle.

“Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Rich Woman/Gone, Gone, Gone/Done Moved On (Grammys 2009)”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siMngU66j1Q&index=2&list=RDoPggeBUVZmI

They also did a low-key version of Zep’s “Black Dog” good for a burn and a sting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siMngU66j1Q&list=RDoPggeBUVZmI&index=2

AMartel: Yes indeed.

“The Rolling Stones Glastonbury Festival 2013 06 29 Full Concert”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9NaxP7VCCc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxrwImCJCqk

As a sixties kid I was miffed with 80s rock. But three decades later it looks like a Golden Age.