BUT I DIGRESS: Metal and real country songs are always relevant and ripe for rediscovery at any age
I’ve been trying to avoid belaboring it, harping and sounding like a one-trick pony about it. But I’ve come to a decision. And that decision is as follows: This is my column, right? I get to talk about what I feel like talking about, right? Well, since that’s the case – fuck it! Here’s another […]
BUT I DIGRESS: What makes a good pop song (and how to make pop music great again)
I have no idea what I’m going to be babbling about today, kiddies. I know I do need to knock something out or I’ll get chewed out by the boss, so I’m giving it the ol’ “James Joyce” treatment. The results couldn’t possibly be worse than that hack’s unintelligible dreck. Why Hemingway hung around with […]
BUT I DIGRESS: Tuning into my clear memories of classic radio (and its place today)
As we approach Christmas with lightning rapidity, some of the more impressive gifts of Christmases past have been drifting through my brain transom. The kickass ‘50s style baby blue bike with a “gas tank” and fins that I eventually learned to ride on. Also the kickass Apollo 5 speed “muscle bike” that weighed as much […]
BUT I DIGRESS: What your choice of Christmas lights says about you
As you may have noticed, I like to draw parallels between stuff. Generally, it goes like this: “I think it’s cool, so it gets a favorable comparison to cool things,” or “This sucks. I liken it to poo.” Not today, however. Today is about achieving unity through diversity. It’s not about how different we are, […]
BUT I DIGRESS: Why sharing your favorite music with others is so goddamn important
If your friends don’t turn you on to new music, no matter how old you are, then they ain’t yer friends! That’s totally false, but the friends that do turn you on to new music are way cooler than your other friends. Seriously. And your other friends know it. And they weep into their pillows […]
BUT I DIGRESS: Play original music on your own terms, even if it means losing out on paid gigs
Greetings, faithful readers! As you may have noticed, I’ve been away a while. But while I was gone, I made sure to read all of your e-mails, requests, and suggestions. I’m returning anyway. So it’s like this, see? I play music. I loathe using the term “musician” for a couple reasons, not the least of […]
BUT I DIGRESS: Singing (or rather playing) the praises of underrated guitar solos
Wellsir, this week’s edition of the “Uncle Fuddy Won’t Pipe Down” show almost didn’t happen. I can hear the collective groan upon discovering that it did, nevertheless, happen. Sucks, right? Sorry. Anyway, it almost didn’t happen, but not for the reasons I’m sure most of ya naysayers have in mind. I haven’t had to secretly […]
BUT I DIGRESS: Flaming youth – after 40 years of fandom, I finally met KISS
In 1978, my mom took me to a now defunct local department store (Sugarman’s Eynon Drug for the locals – I miss the fuck outta that joint!) where, for the very first time, I purchased an album for myself! That album was KISS’ “Alive II.” It changed everything! Up until this point, I was satisfied […]
BUT I DIGRESS: Thoughts and memories after seeing Black Sabbath for the last time
I saw Black Sabbath live for the very last time in my entire life on Friday, Aug. 19 in Camden, New Jersey. It was an amazing show, and the power and brilliance of the performance ultimately took some of bite out of the fact that it was, as the title of the tour indicated, “The […]
BUT I DIGRESS: When I say I’m an unapologetic metalhead, I mean it – sorry, not sorry
It seems I rankled a few hackles with not only the sentiment of last week’s column about hipsters and metalheads, but in my replies to some folks who disagreed with the sentiment of that column. First and foremost, let me assure you, I have not been asked to apologize, nor would I, had I been. […]
