The 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees

The 2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductees includes Pearl Jam, Tupac Shakur, Journey, Yes, Electric Light Orchestra, Joan Baez, and Niles Rodgers will be given an Award fr Musical Excellence.

The selections are always controversial since there are always deserving groups that don't get voted in. I know I can name quite a few and I'm sure you may know a few. If you want to share who you felt got snubbed the comments are always open.

Today the focus is on who was selected! We start off with a band that I saw this year Pearl Jam. My journey to see them made my A to Z post here.

Pearl Jam

Tupac Shakur

The artist has sold over 75 million albums sand Rolling Stone magazine lists him among the top 100 Artist.

Journey

This band has sold over 90 million albums and is a staple on classic rock radio,

Yes

A progressive rock band. Which had some radio success..

Electric Light Orchestra (ELO)

Another classic rock band.

Joan Baez

A folky songwriter.

Niles Rodgers

I became aware of Nile Rodgers through his work with Jeff Beck. I am sure I heard of Chic before then but did not put the name together until later. He has worked with a ton of big name artists from Daft Punk, Diana Ross, David Lee Roth, Duran Duran, Madonna and more.

This captures the magic,,Daft Punk, Pharrell Williams, Daft Punk, Stevie Wonder and Niles..

What do you think of the selections? I will be back soon with a new post.

A to Z Challenge: Vitalogy

Since I had my mid-month journey to see Pearl Jam it is only natural I blog about their third studio album Vitalogy released in 1994. The album sold over 5 million copies so it was pretty successful.

Highlights include Corduroy...

Spin the Black Circle...

Not for You

Better Man was probably the biggest hit...

What's your favorite song off this album? What' your favorite Pearl Jam song? Feel free to share. See you soon with a new post!

A to Z Challenge 2016: Pearl Jam

Last week I made a crazy trip to Jacksonville mainly centered around seeing Pearl Jam. Pearl Jam had never performed in Jacksonville (a link to an article about that) and the last time I caught the band in concert was at The Tibetan Freedom Festival 18 years ago.

Here is the opener from that show, a long time ago at RFK....

  The show I went to on Wednesday received rave review in the local press and by Jambase. The show was much different. It was in a much smaller venue, the band like me is older, Pearl Jam played a lot longer.

Pearl Jam on stage...





Below is the setlist...

• Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town
• Mind Your Manners
• Hail Hail
• Last Exit
• Lightning Bolt
• Nothingman
• Army Reserve
• Given to Fly
• Rival  
• Setting Forth  
• Corduroy
• Even Flow
• Of the Earth
• Glorified G
• Unthought Known
• Let the Records Play
• Spin the Black Circle
• Porch

Encore

• I Won't Back Down  
• I Am a Patriot  
• Just Breathe
• Jeremy
• Ghost  
• Do the Evolution
• Better Man  

Encore

• Smile
• Once
• Black  
• State of Love and Trust
• Alive
• Rockin' in the Free World  
• Yellow Ledbetter
• The Star-Spangled Banner  

Setlist from SetlistFM via Jambase.

Pearl Jam played close to three hours so they certainly put in the work!

Here is how they ended the show...

My favorite song by Pearl Jam is "Alive"

It was a great time to catch up with family, a friend and a show. I just needed more time for the trip!

A to Z Challenge 2016: Jacksonville Bound

Tonight I will be heading out on  a six hour trip to Jacksonville, Florida. I should go there more often but I rarely get two days off in a row, so 12 hours in a car is a little tough. My parents and a good friend both live outside Jacksonville so that is the appeal of visiting. Yes they both hit me up to visit.

Well my friend hit me up to visit because he had an extra ticket to the Pearl Jam concert. Apparently a buddy had backed out on him. He and my parents had asked me if I was going to Saint Augustine to see Robert Plant last month which opted t see Robert Plant closer to home.

I wouldn't be a very good friend if I always said no. Plus it will give me some time for a little visit with my parents. So my schedule will consist of work and a six hour drive literally in the middle of the night. Wednesday I will visit wit my parents see the show. The Pearl Jam concert should be neat since they have never played that city before. Thursday morning I will head out way too early on a six hour journey to go back to work. Pretty insane if I may say so myself.

How far have you travelled for a concert? What is the craziest trip you have gone on? Feel free to share in the comments.

Happy Birthday Pete Townshend

Above picture from Wikipedia of Pete Townshend performing in 1972.

Today is the songwriter, guitarist Pete Townshend's 70th birthday. Which to me sounds like a great excuse to celebrate his music on my blog. I celebrated his 68th birthday here.

One of my favorite Who songs is "Behind Blue Eyes." Here Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam and Joe Walsh help Pete out on this song...

One of his better known solo songs is "Let My Love Open the Door"

From his first solo album here is Pete Townshend with "Day of Silence"

I hope he has many more birthdays and writes many more songs! What is your favorite Pete Townshend song? Favorite Who song? Feel free to share in the comments and I will be back soon!

A to Z Challenge: Neil Young

Neil Young can twist into country, tell a comfortable tale in a folk song or just simply rock the house down. Let's wander through his musical career in songs.

Let's start off with this iconic song from Buffalo Springfield...

Here is Neil Young with Crosby, Stills and Nash performing "Down By the River"

Here is a classic tune "Old Man" performed by Neil alone...

I can;t forget Crazy Horse, here Neil Young and Crazy Horse blow through "Like A Hurricane"

A more recent version of "Cinnamon Girl"..

This is what today's post was all about..."A Journey through the Past"..

Stay tuned and "Keep on Rocking"..

Happy Birthday Neil Young

Today Neil Young turns another year older. He is still an "old man"

However, he has had a long career and provided lots of music.

In lots of styles..

 

Well I wish him many more birthdays and hope he keeps on rocking...

The Birthday of Johnny Cash

Yes today was George Harrison's birthday as well. However, today Johnny Cash wins out. Perhaps, it is because I have blogged enough on the Beatles. Perhaps, I am more in a country frame of mind. Having attended Darrell Scott's show in December and seeing Ryan Adams in January. More simply put it could have been because of Cash's appeal to more than the country crowd and his talented songwriting ability. He would have been 80 today. So, we celebrate his life and legacy with some fun covers from perhaps the unexpected.

Here is Roger Daltrey the legendary vocalist of The Who covering Ring of Fire via YouTube:

Here is Johnny Cash covering a Nine Inch Nails song, and making the song his from YouTube..

Here is Pearl Jam covering the Johnny Cash song "25 Minutes to Go" from YouTube..

Here is Johnny Cash covering U2's "One" via YouTube...

Hope you enjoy...