Nostalgia in Musica

As a fan of many styles of music, I often lose countless hours searching for material that moves me. It could be a blistering metal jam, a classical score, a hip-hop beat or a power ballad. Regardless of the genre, music with an "it" appeal tends to be hooky and palatable for me.

In my taste, more often than not, it has to be smart also. You will never watch me Whip or Nea Nea. I'm just not built for it, and have no interest in the dumbing down of culture. I know I am in the minority, and I'm fine with it. No bueno.

This past week I have been listening to a large amount of nostalgic (for me) music. In particular, honest music. I found some new favorites along the journey.

Let me start with a song that tears at my artist soul. It's a bit cliche, but I can listen to Thunder Road on repeat fortnightly. The poetry of the lyric, in its simplistic honesty, is a guilty pleasure. I relate to the idea of escapism, having escaped a few times in my own life story.

From there I am drawn to the Dawes song "All Your Favorite Bands." I get weepy when I hear it. I find myself being proud of strangers for writing such a simple, yet powerful message of hope. It's a lyric I wish I would have written.

I absolutely love that music can still have some effect on me. At 41, I am a little less connected to the "flavor of the month" music, and can cut straight through to what I enjoy. Trying to be cool carries little weight these days. It's liberating not caring what anyone thinks about my tastes.

Which brings me to Big Wreck. My son loves this band as much as I do (more actually). Musically, the band is on another level. Lyrically, the band is metaphorically brilliant. "Albatross" is a song I carry with me daily. It's relate-able to my life, and how I feel most days. It's a classic "carry that weight" lyric. "It's OK, and I'm alright." Muy Bueno.

I'm getting a little off track here. However, if Big Wreck is amazing due to musicianship and traditional metaphor, Nahko and Medicine for the People are great for their musicianship and nontraditional metaphor. I was turned on to them by a friend I hold dear, even though we don't speak anymore. This song (and my friend) taught me about my ego, and how I really didn't understand it at all.

"Wash it Away" reminds me of the 90's. It has hints of Rusted Root minus the over the top delivery.

So concludes my gospel for this amazing Friday night. Stay safe. Love one another equally. Be a man among men, a women among women, be a guardian. I leave you with a song I wrote: Cold.

Nago

Glenn Frey, an interesting guy.

The Stars keep falling. It shouldn't come as a surprise, everyone dies. Time is the great equalizer.

I can't write anything about Glenn that is new news. Anyone who knows the Eagles (or at very least, has seen the 3 hour long documentary) knows about Glenn's legacy. I'm not even really a huge Eagles fan. Maybe I was at one point, but it was a right of passage thing versus actual lifelong fandom. I tend to gear my interests toward the underdog (Don Felder is my favorite Eagle), and the Eagles are not in any way underdogs.

So how do I write a tribute to a man who needs no introduction? The only way I know how I guess. With a story about an experience I had listening to the Eagles.

I was 2 when Hotel California was released. My earliest memories of music did not include Album Rock. Mom dug Disco. I don't remember Hotel California being on in the background at any point of my early childhood. My first memory of the song was 9 years (or so) later, watching the live video on MTV's Closet Classics.

I can't speak for modern 11 year old kids today, but in 1986, a video from 1977 might as well been from 1950. These guys looked ancient to me then.

The song speaks for itself. However, the coolest part of the song/video was Don Felder and Joe Walsh dueling leads in the last act. They looked to be having a blast and made a beautiful racket.

Being a bit nerdy even then, I knew the "You Belong to the City" guy was strumming an acoustic on the stage next to the other guys. It peaked my interest. I remember thinking "How do you go from a "Hotel California" dude to "Smugglers Blues" narc?"

This is in no way a diss on Glenn's solo work. My frontal lobe was still very detached at the time, and an underdeveloped brain in an over-analytical stage goes weird places. Yngwie Malmsteen was my favorite artist back then, so forgive me.

Glenn's career was full of twists. From background vocals on a Bob Seger tune, to Miami Vice, with a stop off to be a founding member of the Eagles machine, is pretty impressive. Dude made a boatload of cash and had a huge impact on this crazy American culture, how many people can say that? 

I had the Eagles song "Take it Easy" on my mind tonight. I tend to let the sound of my own wheels make me crazy. It's good advice (taking it easy). 

Glenn, I hope you have as much impact in the next life as you did here. Godspeed and thank you.

Nago

Slashing through the boundaries.

As according to Eddie Trunk, the Guns N'Roses camp has not officially called the upcoming shows with Slash and Duff a "reunion." He's absolutely right. It's not. In order for a true reunion to happen, Axl would have to make concessions to the other guys, right? Possibly even give up some control? Also, with the exclusion of Izzy or Steven, it's absolutely not a reunion.

Slash is once again a hired gun. He joined GN'R as a guitar player and is on Axl's payroll. I'm sure the tight lipped approach from all parties is a attempt to avoid a potential catastrophic scenario if things don't work out. I am equally sure he will be well compensated for his involvement.

In years past, a more opinionated Nago called Axl many a bad name. This is my public apology. I have no idea the amount of pressure he is under, or the amount of work it takes (and took) to keep the GN'R machine running for 20 years without the players that made the band great to begin with. No pressure there at all, right?

The eventual breakup of the last of the original lineup has been well documented. Slash was vocal about the bad vibes in the band and Axl's need to have control. In defense of Axl, can you imagine having to see your iconic partner suffering the dregs of alcoholism while trying to maintain a career? As fans, the collective opinion says Axl is a control freak. Maybe so, but Guns N' Roses survived the last 20 years somehow. The CEO of the brand kept the train a-rolling. If ego is the conductor, so be it.

Many fans (myself included) took serious issue with Axl's solo band called GN'R. Why?

If you're my age and grew up in a world that included the original Guns N' Roses, I don't need to explain any further. The following is for those that weren't there (physically or spiritually).

The Metal community was drenched in Glam. Poison and Def Leppard dominated the MTV generation. Thrash bands were the underground and top 40 radio made everyone soft and glossy. Hip-Hop was not dangerous at all yet. Even traditionally volatile bands from the '70's pumped out goofy rubbish (Dude Looks Like A Lady?) to the hairspray masses.

On the surface, 1987 looked like a fun time. It was all about the party. Pre-Internet, no cell phones, all frills. Bullies still bullied, and awards were given for actual achievement. If you took a knife to school it ended up in the Principals desk drawer, not the police station. Underage drinking got you a ride home in a cop car, not always a trip to court, and a "keg party" invite was brag worthy.

In my neck of the woods, guys had long hair and girls wore theirs high above their forehead. We all looked ridiculous. Our televisions tuned in to Alf, Cheers, Family Ties, Growing Pains and McGuyver. Again, all frills with not much substance. By the summer of 1988 pop culture needed a cleanse. Not the slow build up like the Thrash movement. Immediate culture colon cleansing.

Enter "Appetite for Destruction." It was a Hard Rock/Heavy Metal LP, but more Aerosmith than Van Halen. I can honestly say GN'R's first major label album is probably a point of source material I have heard more than any other in this crazy life of mine. Originally because it was everywhere: on every tape deck, turn table and television I walked past for 2 years straight. I know every note and nuance of that LP by heart. I've recently heard criticism regarding the piss poor timing of the LP. I'm nerdy, but not nerdy enough to actually set up a metronome to test the drummers time keeping ability. It's a perfect album. It took it a year to get over, but went on to sell over 30 Million copies.

For the next few years, musically GN'R could do no wrong, but these guys were train wrecks in their personal lives. They fought, swore on live TV, used controversial lyrical content and reminded the world what a Bad Boy really was. They smoked, drank, took drugs and dressed like glam rock hobo thugs. 

Their stock rose high enough to be considered the biggest band in the world. Even after achieving legendary status, the controversy got worse. Inciting riots, pissing off fans, media verbal wars, physical confrontations with other musicians and insane behavior adding fuel to the nuclear bomb called Guns N' Roses.

There was a beauty in their madness. "Sweet Child of Mine" is one of the greatest rock recordings of all time. It's become a "Free Bird" over the course of the ages. It's still universally loved almost 30 years later.

OK, Enough with the generic "Behind the Music" chatter. They gave a type of gift to the world can't be understated. They surpassed all of their peers coming out of the LA Glam scene. They bridged gaps in music which needed bridged. They wrote their legacy on their own terms. It was a wonderful period in time to be a Rock fan.

"November Rain" holds a very large piece of my memory. It's a soundtrack to one of my most favorite periods of my young life. It's a time machine for me. We all have those songs that take us back to better times. "November Rain" makes me a 17 year old kid on a motorcycle in the rain, free, with young heart believing in something bigger than himself.

So even if this is not an official "reunion," it matters. I'd like to think that the last 20 years of shit throwing was all planned out leading up to this ginormous payday for the 3 guys taking the stage at Coachella. Wouldn't it be great if Slash, Axl, Duff and the boys all walked into MTV and exclaimed "GOT YA!!!!, We've been bro's the entire time, here's 3 LP's we recorded over the years!" As much as I'd love to think someone out there is Kaufman enough to pull off a 20 year joke (Dumb and Dumber 2?) none of them are smart funny. Smart? Sure. Funny? Absolutely! Not smart funny though.

It's still Axl's band. Slash and Duff are well paid, legacy players with name recognition. It adds to the nostalgic vibe of the band today. The thrill of seeing Axl and Slash together on a stage again reminds me of the ill fated Kiss reunion of the mid 90's, or maybe the Eagles on the "Hell Freezes Over Tour." It will be interesting to see what they name this Tour if it actually gets to that point.

People forgive each other. Time heals. It's a wonderful thing when high profile enemies make up. Even Waters and Gilmore shared a stage together after years of bashing each other. Over the last couple of years, Slash has been very complimentary toward Axl, and even Axl has loosened up. I agree with Slash, burying the hatchet was probably long overdue.

My questions:

• Where's Izzy?
• Does this mean The Replacements are getting back together?
• Will Axl buy a gold chain today (since he is all mind-changie and everything)?

One last note and I'm off this self serving rant: Izzy Stradlin played a huge part in the magic. After his departure, the band fell apart creatively. Here's some Ju Ju Hounds to make your day better:

Nago

Middle age gone wild.

In April of 2015, I wrote a blog calling out the Skid Row replacement singers. The root of it questioned why the band and Sebastian Bach won't reunite.

http://nerdyrocksnob.blogspot.com/2015/04/who-in-actual-f-is-jonny-solinger.html

However, I made a rookie mistake. Two actually. I blatantly insulted the post-Bach singers, and I posted the blog to a popular Heavy Metal fan site.

The result was a backlash. I had haters telling me I was retarded. I had a huge fan of the (then) new singer tell me I was wrong in questioning the relevance of his beloved icon. I even got bashed by a guy that had Stonehenge as his profile background pic (can't make this stuff up) calling me a Monkey or some such thing. He was butt-hurt about my statement "they are leaving Motley Crüe money on the table." Which I still believe.

It's my own fault. I built up the original line-up by tearing down the (then) current line-up, and floated it out there in the worst forum possible. The backlash was Karma 101.

I should apologize, I'd love to say Skid Row proved me wrong. But they didn't, so I won't.

After 8 months in the band, Tony Harnell, (the home wrecker that forced the other irrelevant replacement singer, Jonny Solinger out) quit Skid Row.

Skid Row should be playing sheds in the summer, theaters in the winter and ushering in a new genre of baby bands that pay homage to them. Sebastian Bach is the voice of Skid Row, Skid Row is muse of Sebastian Bach. The sum is greater than the parts.

So... let me look into my crystal ball once again. A Bach less Skid Row will hire some other singer, and put out a bullshit press release regarding destiny and how they've never sounded better. They'll state musical differences and wish Tony the best. They will fill their live commitments and sludge along playing the Bobby Blotzer's Ratt Experience circut, headlining half filled 300 capacity standing room clubs above Bang Tango.

OR

Get Bach back and get on the GnR Tour.

Given the history, I'd say the former, but I'm hopeful.

To my haters from 8 months ago, I'm smiling today. Go back to Stonehenge, asshat.

I leave you with one of my all time favorite Sebastian Bach quotes. After a failed 2014 attempt to get his former band to reunite with him, Bach made the following statement to the press regarding the reason Skid Row wouldn't play nice: "Nah, we're playing a bowling alley. We're happy. We don't care."

Nago

Bowie...

It's sad. I was just saying the other day how I didn't always understand Bowie. It was in response to seeing his new video, and like everyone else, had no idea he was leaving this earth.

I have had a few days to reflect on it, and even though I didn't always understand his art, the truth is some of his art has had a profound effect on me. I heard "Heroes" today, and got all choked up. It's a strange sensation when a song has that effect. It took me back to a different Mike Nagorsky, a more innocent version of myself, and just like that I was in a moment, in 1998, still in my hometown, still seeing the world through a young man's eyes. Unaware of the hard years ahead.

I came to a realization that an artist like Bowie can cause a ripple effect not completely understood until its gone. True art can absolutely sneak up on you and cause an unexpected emotion, much like music can transport you to another place and time when you least expect it..


Let's start from the beginning.

I first became aware of David Bowie at the age of 8 in 1983. "Let's Dance" was in heavy rotation on both the radio and MTV. It wasn't exactly my favorite song back then, but hindsight tells me that it was perfect for it's day. It fit so well in with the radio of that day I lump it in with other pieces from the era like Naked Eyes "Always Something There to Remind Me" and Eddie Grant's "Electric Avenue" as a soundtrack of sorts to a period of my life.

We lived on Baur Ave in Erie, PA at the time. It was the projects, but as far as projects go, it was decent living, low cost, safe and clean. I cannot vouch for them today, but back then they were probably as the government intended when the idea of a "project" first came up. I remember getting punched in the face by Michael Freed at one point, but basically they weren't bad. I digress.

My sisters and I found a bit of freedom in the Radio. In my faded memory, it was always on. One memory about the time that stands out: I was missing a lampshade on a lamp in my bedroom, and the glow of an unshaded light bulb hurt my eyes. I needed to do something. My eight year old brain got to work, and decided a pair of tighty-whitey Frooties would be a good solution to the problem. 15 minutes later, the underwear placed directly on the light bulb was smoldering and filling our home up with thick white smoke. I'm not positive, but I think "Let's Dance" was playing in the back-round while my step father flipped the hell out. Good times.

From there Bowie seemed to always be around. Weird videos, crazy outfits and a certain stylistic flare deemed completely uncool to a young headbanger in the 1980's.

One day however, David Bowie became very cool to me. My Mother, who in the years between 1983 and 1989 became a local Wedding DJ, received a promotional copy of a hugely underrated band called "Tin Machine." She would occasionally throw me copies of the more obscure or heavy music she knew she would never play. By 1989, my headbanger seeds were well sown, but "Tin Machine" threw off my equilibrium. This was Bowie?

Granted, there is nothing Metal about Tin Machine, but by 1989 I had been exposed to enough Punk, Album Rock and other genre's to understand Tin Machine was special. In a way, they were ahead of Grunge by a few years (with all due respect to Pixies).

The same month of 1989 saw the launch of Rock Radio into the Erie PA market. Rocket 101 became a mainstay in cars, shops and houses across Erie County. The format was fresh (to us) and catered to the blue collar crowd having grown up on the likes of 70's album rock. In it's regular rotation were "Space Oddity," "Rebel Rebel" and early Ziggy Stardust classics. Also included was Mott the Hoople's song "All the Young Dudes" which (of course) was penned by Bowie. It became over exposure eventually, but we all became (and still become) students of Bowie because of Rock Radio formats.

A few years later, Nirvana gave us their haunting rendition of 1970's "The Man Who Sold the World." It's definitely a favorite of mine as it's burned into my DNA now. I prefer the Nirvana version, but its a spot on acoustic nod to the original.

This brings me to my former favorite Bowie moment. In the early 2000's, I became a HUGE Queen fan. I consumed their greatest hits catalog with a hunger. Freddy is still my favorite vocalist of all time. However, their shining moment for me is the accident which became "Under Pressure."  This song is the true measure of David Bowie as a musician. To be able to not only hold a candle to the greatest rock vocalist to ever have lived, but to outshine him by being unafraid to shine for the sake of the song? That's a form of brilliance my friends. It still gives me chills:

To the end of this tribute to the fallen, I leave this Blog with a message of hope penned by David. This song truly touched me today, and I will forever hold it close for that reason. The world is better for having known you for a brief period. Safe Journey and Godspeed.

Nago

100th (sort of) Blog!

4 years and 100 Blogs later...

I look back at my own writing with a little humility. In the beginning, I sucked with words much worse than I do today. Now I am better, but still struggle with editing like a child learning how to ride a bike.

I used to spend countless hours researching like I was writing a thesis. I've learned over time Blogs write themselves, and the key to it is honesty. I still fact check, but this hobby is more to do with how I perceive the world versus how the world perceives my words.

It's a labor of love. I'm always surprised when people actually read my words. Especially when I dive into the obscure. 

I started this Blog off with a (since removed) VH article on how I prefer Sammy. I re-visited that topic later with less sarcasm, but it was VH that got me rolling. I then dove into KISS, and it was off to the races. I had caught the bug. 

Over the last 4 years, I have taken a few breaks. Some longer than others. It was those footprint moments when I needed carried, and couldn't focus much energy into creativity. We all have times when surviving is all we can do to survive. My breaks were due, I can assure you.

I also have many works that were fully developed, edited and ready. Unfortunately, after reading I decided for one reason or another not to post them. If the count seems off, there is the reason. I'm celebrating anyway. 100 times I dove into my inner nerd for your reading pleasure.

100 is a significant number. Ponder this rubbish: 

• 100 days is around how long it takes to develop a habit, and approximately how log it takes to break one as well. 

• 100 miles will take the average person 33-1/2 hours to walk without stopping.

• Adults have a resting heart beat of around 100 beats per minute.

• The Karman Line lies at an altitude of 100 Kilometers above Sea Level, and represents the boundary between Earths atmosphere and outer space.

• In the summer of 1972, Vicki Lawrence's "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" debuted at #100 on the Billboard Charts. It reached #1 in April of the following year.

• In Roman times, a unit of 100 soldiers was called a Century.

• Sea Turtles can live 100 years or more.

• 100 pennies cost $1.70 to manufacture.

• 100 Pesos = $5.586 USD Today

• According to Urban Dictionary, a Centurion is a game where the player takes 100 shots of beer in 100 minutes. 

• 1 medium Banana contains about 100 Calories.

• On September 14th, 2011, Wichita Falls TX became the first Texas city to log 100 days of 100+ Degree weather.

• 100 years ago, the world was in the dregs of The Great War (WWI) which baptized the modern world in blood. 20 million souls were lost over 4 years. Today we barely even acknowledge it. It's overlooked due to the fanfare of WWII. The Great War ended after the final push from the Allies (The Hundred Days Offensive).

In honor of this milestone (and because I am a Billy Idol fan), I leave you with the following song by Generation X. Thank you for reading so far. Here's to 100 more.