Category Archives: Music

Monday Rock City: A Conversation with Jimmy Wayne — Good Things Coming from Hard Times

Posted on October 27, 2014 by Jamie Blaine

Abandoned by his jailbird mama in a Greyhound bus station at age 13, singer-songwriter Jimmy Wayne seemed destined for destitution and an early grave. But through the kindness of strangers – “God sends strange angels,” he says – Wayne rose to become a hit songwriter, author, and advocate for the homeless. J.M. Blaine gets some down-home philosophy from Wayne, plus tidbits about Ozzy, the Nashville song mill, and Daryl Hall’s indoor pool. Continue reading →

Posted in Monday Rock City, Music, The Arts | Tagged ac/dc, Hall & Oates, Homelessness, iron maiden, Jamie Blaine, Jimmy Wayne, Ken Abraham, Ozzy Osbourne, Stay Gone, Walk to Beautiful | 1 Comment

Dissident Aggressor: An Interview with Trevor Phipps

Posted on October 8, 2014 by Joe Daly

If the true story of Mormons slaughtering Christians on the American plains sounds interesting, then the new Unearth record might be right up your alley. We sit down with frontman Trevor Phipps to discuss the lyrics and the making of “Watchers of Rule,” the band’s heaviest record yet. We also talk about “The Love Boat.” Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged buz mcgrath, eOne Music, fantasy island, from the tombs of five below, heavy metal, iron maiden, john maggard, ken susi, Love Boat, metalcore, Metallica, nick pierce, trail for fire, trevor phipps, Unearth, watchers of rule | 1 Comment

Monday Rock City: A Conversation with Joe Perry of Aerosmith

Posted on October 6, 2014 by Jamie Blaine

Intrepid scribe J.M. Blaine chats with rock icon Joe Perry, lead guitarist and co-mastermind – with Steven Tyler – of Aerosmith, and it’s a helluva ride. Perry’s long-awaited memoir “Rocks: My Life In and Out of Aerosmith” drops this week, and the soulful brooder gives us all a sneak peek at his amazing, drug-addled, miraculous, and glitzy tale, which also includes advice on how to stay married for three decades, which may be his most amazing achievement of all. Continue reading →

Posted in Literature, Monday Rock City, Music, Popular Culture, The Weeklings | Tagged aerosmith, Bee Gees, Brad Whitford, Chevy Chase, chuck berry, Jamie Blaine, Joe Perry, Joey Kramer, Johnny Winter, Sgt. Pepper, steven tyler, Tom Hamilton | 2 Comments

The 12 People You Meet at a Babymetal Concert

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Jim Ruland

Japanese pop metal threesome Babymetal must be seen and heard to be believed. Last year, they took the world by storm, with single and viral video “Gimme Chocolate!!” and just recently completed their first whirlwind world tour, which included opening slots for Lady GaGa. Veteran So-Cal punk author Jim Ruland talked his indulgent wife into attending Babymetal’s first U.S. show, which was full of surprises. Continue reading →

Posted in Appreciations, Current Events, Memoir, Music, Popped Culture, Popular Culture, The Arts, Uncategorized | Tagged babymetal, chthonic, Dio, doris yeh, gimme chocolate, gimme choko, headbangers, heavy metal, j-pop, japnese, jim ruland, moametal, so-cal punk, su-metal, world tour, yeh, yuimetal | 12 Comments

Razor Sadness, Wizened Eyes: Nirvana Unplugged, 20 Years On

Posted on September 1, 2014 by Robert Burke Warren

Nirvana’s legendary last recorded performance, 1994’s MTV Unplugged In New York, was too painful for the Weeklings’ Robert Burke Warren to watch. Until now. Continue reading →

Posted in Appreciations, Memoir, Monday Rock City, Music, Popped Culture, Popular Culture, The Arts, The Weeklings | Tagged charles r cross, cobain, courtney love, dave grohl, dgc, frances bean, geffen, heavier than heaven, heroin, in utero, krist novoselic, Kurt Cobain, lead belly, MTV, mtv unplugged in new york, Nevermind, pat smear, robert burke warren, robin williams, shotgun, suicide, unplugged | 3 Comments

From Michael to Norman: A Meditation on Two Artists

Posted on August 28, 2014 by Scott Borchert

In his discussion of Mike Bloomfield and Norman Rockwell, Scott Borchert deftly compares the style and flair of two groundbreaking artists, and the importance of their names. Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged Al Kooper, Michael Bloomfield, norman rockwell | Leave a comment

The 50 Dorkiest Songs You Secretly Love

Posted on August 18, 2014 by Robert Burke Warren

For once, internet-fostered shamelessness is a good thing, with “The Top 50 Dorkiest Songs You Secretly Love.” Weeklings music editor Robert Burke Warren boldly goes where we’ve all gone before – into the realm of uncool, guilty pleasures; rock, pop, soul, rap, and, of course, disco all get their dork due. You know you love it. Continue reading →

Posted in 50 Greatest, Cinema, Monday Rock City, Music, Popped Culture, Popular Culture, Science, Sex, Soul Seduction, The Arts, The Weeklings, Uncategorized | Tagged anchorman, bertha butt boogie, bettencourt, bridesmaids, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince, don't stop believin', dork, dork-alicious, dorkgasm, dorkitude, dorky, edison lighthouse, extreme, gangnam style, gary cherrone, hanson, Jimmy Fallon, Journey, kelly keagy, love grows where my rosemary goes, mmmbop, mr. roboto, nuno, paul mccartney and wings, paul rudd, paul thomas anderson, psy, Queen, robert burke warren, shiny happy people, sister christian, starland vocal band, styx, supertramp, will ferrell, wilson phillips | 17 Comments