Check Please!
billboard.com
I wanted to write this while watching the Grammy’s on Sunday night, but when it started to sound more like the script for Scarface II than an essay on WordPress I stopped. Back away from he keyboard.
Some of the things crossing my mind during the show were: Please feel free to read these with or without the numerous F-Bombs that were going down!
What is this?
What are we watching?
What was that?
Why are you famous?
Then, just when I thought the universe was playing some evil game of Talentless People Rock the earth put itself back on its axis and ANNIE LENNOX took the damn stage and hold on to your hats PERFORMED. Something no one else knew how to do.
That’s right, she belted out I Put A Spell On You with such passion I was speechless or spellbound. Even the cameramen were under her spell, considering they never panned into the audience for a reaction. Nothing to see except some wide eyes and open jaws anyway … but that’s none of my business.
No props for Annie. No hot men to divert our attention. No choirs. No dancers. No chucking spreads. Sorry Madonna, you know I love you, but if you still have to chuck a spread for attention in your 50’s …. just saying.
Annie just walked onto the stage with a voice, passion, and the desire to bring down the house. Check Please!
At that moment, it was clear how lucky I was to have grown up in an era where artists, yes Kanye ARTISTS, used their natural born talent to create music, music which is still going strong today I might add. No autotune in my era!
There was so much going on during some of the performances I totally forgot about the mediocre at best person performing. Mission accomplished or did they not get the “less is the new more” memo?
Most of the show was actually awful and I swear it has nothing to do with my age because I really do enjoy Pop music with the catchy tunes and what not, but for god sakes when you put it up against the real deal they are so dull. Do it with passion or don’t do it at all!
I can only hope that Annie put a spell on these young performers and they will start to realize that PASSION is what’s missing from their act, not dancing marshmallows with gold sequins and fireworks! I just can’t.
Listen to this tune and Enjoy the Ride!
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Crank It Up!
The zipper really worked
Music has always played a part in my life. I really can’t remember a time when there wasn’t some sort of music in our house, including my mother’s rendition of Reading & Writing and Arithmetic which was used to get us out of bed. Poor thing couldn’t carry a tune if it had a handle.
My dad’s contribution to our listening “pleasure” came through the likes of someone by the name of Boxcar Willie, who according to Wikipedia was an American singer, who sang in the “old-time hobo” music. No doubt this is what lead to my despise of country music.
Then there was my oldest sister’s influence of the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and Deep Purple. Sneaking into her room to see the Sticky Fingers album cover was a highlight of my childhood. The zipper really worked!
As kids we were always putting on musical productions in our garage. We 
made a curtain out of sheets, while our broom handles doubled as microphones. Good times! Our first big show included Proud Mary by the legendary Tina Turner. My sister, who was the oldest of the crew at the age of 10, gave herself the titles of producer, director & choreographer of the show. She was ruthless! During our rehearsals she tapped her red yardstick on the cement floor while pacing the room waiting for one of us to miss a step giving her the added pleasure of screaming START AGAIN. To this day when I hear that song I am compelled to do my routine and I have.
My preteen and teen years were loaded with a very wide variety of tunes. I loved Donna Summer, Evelyn Champagne King and the soundtrack to Grease just as much as Van Halen, Aerosmith, Cheap Trick & Cars. It all depended on the mood and the moment. Some moments I would like to forget, like the time someone most likely some stupid boy brought me to tears. This provided my friend’s older brother and biggest crush, the ammunition he needed to BLAST Van Halen’s Jamie’s Crying from his garage as I walked home from school. I can’t hear that song without acknowledging my first love/hate relationship.
The 20’s were loaded with dance music. I loved sharing the 80’s club scene with the King of Pop Michael Jackson and the Queen of all things 80’s Madonna. These icons were definitely staples in my musical life at that time. Along with shoulder pads & BIG flammable hair of course.
My 30’s…hmm, clearly a dark period in the music department. I had to surrender to the listening choices of the little ones, which included the screeching sounds of Barney the Dinosaur, Binyah Binya the Jamaican Pollywog or whatever other shows were keeping them entertained at the time. I don’t know about the kids, but I can still sing every song! Things started to look a little brighter when my daughter became obsessed with N’Sync and my son insisted on listening to REM’s Man on the Moon on the way to preschool. There is a God!
Currently I am all over the place with my musical selections. One peek at my playlist would clue you in on my wide range. There are days when Al Green is at the top of the list and then there are those days when Alice In Chains blaring is absolutely necessary to decompress during the car ride home. After all music is what feelings sound like…right?
Today I’ll admit that nothing fills the musical section of my heart more than seeing my nephew Ty and his band MACH22 living 
their dream through their passion for music. They recently had the opportunity to open for Slash with Myles Kennedy, the Conspirators and Foxy Shazam at the House of Blues in Atlantic City. As if that weren’t enough…
They were also hand selected by Slash himself as the Grand Prize winners of a nationwide contest hosted by Guitar Center. This was quite an honor considering the amount of competition! All of these achievements are coming on the heels of launching their first album American Swagger. I’m looking forward to this addition to my playlist.
Music makes the world a better place, so crank it up while you … Enjoy the Ride!
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Let’s Rock These Games
Well ladies and gentleman the day has finally arrived…the 2012 Summer Olympics open this evening with a grand ceremony, no doubt it will be fit for a Queen. The best that London has to offer will be showcased in this ceremony that is sure to dazzle the world
While the eyes of the world patiently wait for the Olympic Flame to enter, light the Cauldron and start the Games. I want you to take a moment to really get this party started by directing your ears this way.
My nephew Ty Asoudegan, the lead guitarists for MACH22, had the badass opportunity to record the Olympic Anthem a/k/a Burgler’s Dream down in Nashville as a tribute to Team USA.
IT’S TIME TO ROCK THESE GAMES!
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ENCORE!
Whoa…..flying your Freak Flag is exhausting! This weekend started off fairly normal on Friday with food shopping, a dentist appointment, visiting mom and a trip to the Mall with my daughter. On Saturday I had plans to go see my nephew’s band play at the TLA (Theater of The Living Arts) here in Philadelphia. MACH22 wasn’t hitting the stage until 10:00 pm, so I had to rest up before the big event by chillaxing at the homestead. I wrapped it up Sunday with the hubby, breakfast and a looooong ride with the top down.
On Saturday I finally finished a book I received for my birthday in February…so pathetic that it’s taken this long. It was the autobiography of Steven Tyler …”Does The Noise In My Head Bother You” a Rock ‘N’ Roll Memoir. Now, I was never a hardcore Aerosmith fan or anything, but I did master drawing their logo all over my copy books in high school.
Recently I became interested in Steven Tyler after watching an interview he did with Oprah. I was immediately captivated by his honesty, which also resonates throughout this book. If you’re admitting to smoking a comb, yes a comb as in the one you use for your hair, it’s safe to say you’re an open book. The admission was a very nonchalant “I’ve smoked combs for chrissakes.” Which left me with one question … “How the HELL are you still alive?”
I learned that Steven is not just a Rock Star, he is musically gifted. His father, who studied at Julliard, taught him the importance of listening to the notes. Music runs through his veins and fills his soul…that is passion friends. I think he wears his passion well…looking pretty dam good still ROCKIN out at 64. Dream On indeed!
Next on the Freak Flag agenda…MACH22. My daughter and I headed to the city for the show. Whew and what a show it was! I was standing at the foot of the stage in amazement as I watched Ty bring his Les Paul to life. There was a moment when I was emotional…I just couldn’t believe that the sound coming from that instrument was caused by the hands of my nephew. That guitar was singing a song one chord at a time…dam!
They rocked the faces off of the audience, who were begging LOUDLY for an encore! I really wouldn’t want to be the next band up…that’s for sure.
It was the first time they had merchandise at the show sporting their logo. I was working the room offering FREE boxes of matches to the audience.
Young people are not very receptive to FREE merchandise, they actually seemed scared. It’s not like I was spraying them with perfume for god sakes! However, the doobie smokers were more than happy to receive a free light.
I concluded that the $4.00 bottle of water, ringing ears and newly acquired deafness were well worth the magic I witnessed!
Sunday, the day of rest…NOT, was spent with the top down. The hubby wanted breakfast, but we were slow to move and settled for Brunch at the Washington Crossing Inn.
The Inn is very beautiful and historic. I could have done without seeing the enormous flat screen 
TV amongst the historic decor, but that’s just me. We were able to dine outside, which was a treat on such a beautiful day. The food was delicious, or as the hubby said “over priced” and the 
conversations surrounding us delightful.
I am wired for sound and can hear a conversation across the room. This can be very entertaining, especially when a father announces to a table of his peers that he will be saving $17,000 this year because his son is going to commute. He was scared living in a co-ed dorm with half-naked girls walking the halls. Let’s just say that justification probably sounded so much better in his head.
Next stop was through New Hope and then Doylestown where they just happened to be shooting a movie 
called The North Star. Needless to say we didn’t bring our head shots, so we had no chance of being an extra and were forced to continue along the open road. So long Hollywood….you had your chance.
By this point the sun was blazing, my Freak Flag was practically pleading to be shoved into the closet and I was ready to R E L A X.
All good things must come to an end folks, but some weekends require an ENCORE … Enjoy the Ride!
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MACH22
A Lefty Like The Master..Jimie Hendrix
Today I’m giving a shout out to my nephew Tyler. Holla! He prefers to go by Ty, now that he is heading into the direction of Rock Star status. Once he incorporated leather and skulls into his wardrobe, even I had to surrender to using Ty.
Ty studied music at the Berklee School of Music, which gives you an idea about the level of love he has for music. He lives, breathes and incorporates it into every part of his life. Music is his passion and when passion is played on a Les Paul … it’s magical.
Currently he is part of the band MACH22, which is made up of the following musical geniuses:
Lamont Caldwell-Vocals
Ty Asoudegan-Lead Guitar
Sebastian LaBar-Rythm Guitar/Vocals
Frank Day-Bass/Vocals
Tim Everly-Drums
Live Performance
MACH22 was started by Lamont Caldwell. I can’t describe how far his talents reach, lets just leave it at a Cosmic Level shall we.
He is a multi-talented musician that was in search of an outlet to let his creative genius loose, and that he did when he joined forces with these other top-notch musicians to form MACH22.
Right from the start they stood-out amongst their peers in the vibrant Philly music scene, along with catching the eye of some professionals in the music biz. It’s no doubt this recognition has been accomplished. Their collective musical passion is heard in every note, it resonates with their audience and leaves them wanting more.
The LIVE performances of this Philadelphia based band have a powerful sound. They have been coined as “Zeppelin meets Kravitz” playing REAL rock and roll music! Remember what that is folks? The sound that makes you want to crank up the volume and the let the song hit you in the face. Oh, yea!
Upcoming LIVE Events:
June 8, 2012 at MOODSWING Nightclub 3421 Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, DE 19808
June 14, 2012 at The Delancy 168 Delancy Street, New York, NY
June 23, 2012 at the TLA on South Street, Philadelphia, PA (I’ll be the middle ages woman trying to be cool and awake)
You can always check them out on Facebook at MACH22 or http://www.reverbnation.com/#!/mach22 and http://www.youtube.com/user/mach22music
MACH22 is making that Old-School-Rock sound seem fresh. I am happy to announce that on June 1st they released their first music video.
For your listening pleasure, I present to you MACH22 and “Don’t You Give Me.”
**FEEL FREE TO CRANK UP THE VOLUME**
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Zip It..Zip It Good
There have been days when I’ve listened to the senseless ramblings of nothing for what seems like hours…even days. Maybe it’s because I’m craving some human contact, I’m bored, avoiding the other million things that need to be done or I just can’t bring myself to say “Zip-It.” Sadly, I know the truth, I am “Zip It” impaired. There I said it! It’s the first step to recovery right?
My ears have been pimped out to these undeserving windbags for too long, working their lobes off listening to what I would consider nothing but the dreaded banter of me, me, me.
Don’t get me wrong, these drums are total sluts when it comes to other types of listening, some good music for instance is more than welcome. They are suckers for shaking elderly voices, wide open for the troubles of loved ones and they practically become satellite dishes for some sweet nothings.
The windbags are making this ear pleasure very difficult with their evasive nonsense. They scour the earth in search of eye contact.
Once they have that, it’s all over for the ears. They don’t care who it is or where they are, if you have ears…working or not…they pounce. I’ve slowly become a magnet for this crew.
Perhaps it’s my compassionate nature..nah, who am I kidding…it’s not. It’s more like my inquisitive nature. Instead of a quick “Zip It” I always make the mistake of asking a question. Well, questions to a windbag are the Golden Ticket. This is an open invitation to…you guessed it…prolong the pain. Meanwhile, in their head they are hearing nothing short of.. “OMG! she loves me! She wants me to go on and on about me..yea!”
That’s all it would take is a quick “Zip It” to end this madness….yet I can’t do it. Sitting in silence, politely listening to useless words from the windbag, as I’m chanting “SHUT THE FRONT DOOR” in my head. My inner voice is having a field day filling my head with sarcastic responses that never get spoken as I try to imagine how many socks it would take to fill the pie hole.
I think I have finally found my answer in this wonderful tutorial. Dr. Evil really touches on the basics of getting your “Zip It” on, by making it look so natural. Incorporating DEVO…well, that is just pure genius. When a windbag comes along … you must “Zip It”…”Zip It” good!
Enjoy the Ride!
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Fun Fact Friday
1967, The Jimi Hendrix Experience appeared on UK TV’s Top Of The Pops’ . Jimi gave his unscripted opinion on the music that made it to the top. No filters, no PR waving their hands trying to make him stop talking …nothing but an honest answer to a simple question.
However, I did notice that Jimi tended to use the descriptive words, beautiful, pretty and ridiculous (in a good way) repeatedly throughout the article for his positive feedback and a very mild “Musicwise, I’m sorry, but I just don’t care for them” as the negative, when referring to the Monkees.
This BadA$$ with a guitar was a gentle soul or maybe it was the LSD talking, who knows. What I do know is that … it isn’t such a bad thing.
This lead me to ponder the idea of perhaps putting a little LSD into, I don’t know, the ventilation system at The Capital. I believe it could be a game changer.
John: Nancy you are beautiful.
Nancy: John you are ridiculous.
The possibilities are endless…..Enjoy the Ride!
Life With The Top Down 
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