"we are all rockstars" OH Hell Yeah!!!

i like how one of them is channeling Slash with his hair :)
oh, i can't believe my first time commenting on SM involves guns n roses!

oh, i can't believe my first time commenting on SM involves guns n roses!

Oh, I'd say that's rather auspicious. ;) Thanks for delurking!

There is knout wrong with guns and roses, my first taste of rock and roll, welcome to the jungle. And slash was and still is very much cool!

I wore out that tape. That year, my gf and future Mrs. S got me AFD tee for my birthday.

I'd like to see more guys looking like that in India (the curly long haired one).

whoa, this scom version reminds me that uber performing monkey's straddlin virtuosity at the zee cine awards..here.. where he plays the opening riffs off all songs in "OMG, THATS WHAT I CALL MUSIC #27", ... and then ...dances to them...[trivia-did you know he also painted the backdrop?]... dont let the karan juhar gentle banter at the beginning put you off the shot of the lady jangling the musical dildo at 2:52.

I'd like to see more guys looking like that in India (the curly long haired one).

Yes, but if you found one, what would you play at your reception? ;)

First time I ever heard GnR was when my older best friend taught me how to drive a stick shift. He had it blaring from the stereo, trying to drive on an old airplane runway...yeah, good times.

“Do I take his name?”

8 · A N N A said

I'd like to see more guys looking like that in India (the curly long haired one).

Yes, but if you found one, what would you play at your reception? ;)

Spoken like a woman who has been in DC for a long time! :)

I say, hyphenate.

Yes, but I'm a Southie and lately I've been dating similar. Gone are the days when I could have been a Kurisummoottil-Deol*. Now it would be more like Kurisummoottil-Lakshminarayan. My children would go Menendez on my kundi, and really, who would blame them?

*These are all hypothetical names. I am in no way implying that I dated a random relative of Bobby Deol's back in '93 or that I'm part of that uber-Christian clan (I think "Kurisummoottil" translates to "the root of the cross") by using these surnames which are cited here purely for the purpose of expressing a point. Nope, not me. Not I. Not me. So there! Oy, I'm in a musical place today, aren't I?

more like Kurisummoottil-Lakshminarayan

12 · bess said

I just thought about that after I commented. Yes, that does get complicated.

Now I'm going to be on the lookout for Iyer wedding announcements in the U.S., to see if there's any mention of what the bride will do with her name. ;) Wait, do they even mention that bit in the announcement?

Abhay Deol?

Abhay Deol?

No one THAT obvious. I keed, I keed.

ha ha, I had to throw it out there:)

I'd like to see more guys looking like that in India (the curly long haired one).

Yes, but if you found one, what would you play at your reception? ;)

Spoken like a woman who has been in DC for a long time! :)

Call me thick, I didn't get that.

Not too shabby. In fact, it sounds pretty good!

But do they smash their sitars into the tabla and speakers at the end of the concert? (Like Nirvana, The Who, Nine Inch Nails etc.) That would make them true certified rockers.

Just being my usual sarcastic self. Sitars, veenas, santoors, tablas and mridangams etc are beautiful pieces of fine art that happen to make gorgeous sounds. Besides, in Hinduism, all musical intruments (Western and Eastern, and books/printed materials) represent Goddess Saraswati, at least that was what I was raised to believe. This belief may vary from region to region.

Not all southies have long surnames- you could always marry a Reddy or a Nair or a Rao :)

19 · nala said

Not all southies have long surnames- you could always marry a Reddy or a Nair or a Rao :)

Damnit Nala, with your logic and facts and stuff. That's ONE more excuse I can't use now. Bah!

17 · Single and Looking

Spoken like a woman who has been in DC for a long time! :)

Call me thick, I didn't get that.

Quick post, should have elaborated.

DC = Brooks Brothers town. Curly Long haired guys do better in NYC.

On a recent trip to London, I was struck by how stylish everyone looked riding the Tube even wearing 'bankers' style clothes.

Then again some people in Noida dress better than people on the Metro.

Oh, funny. That's what I get for reading these postings including Anna's quickly and replying without any self editing.

I read her original comment as "Yes, but if you found one, who would play at your reception? ;)" Meaning he would be the musician and etc...

Sorry Anna. Sometimes all the social/caste/economic class issues on this website it tends to color my readings of these postings.

Then again some people in Noida dress better than people on the Metro.

hee. The same is true of New York (that people in Noida dress better than them).

Damnit Nala, with your logic and facts and stuff. That's ONE more excuse I can't use now. Bah!

An excuse for not hyphenating? I think you should just give the kids your name. :)

I would like to see an Indian version of Welcome to the Jungle when they go to that percussion break in the middle of the song and Axl screams at the end "You know where you are.. you're in the jungle baybeeee" . They could use tablas or something in that segment of the song.

Appetite for Destruction is one of my all time favorite albums. Every damn fucking song is very listenable. No filler.

It's too bad Axl Rose became almost as fucked up as Michael Jackson.

What about an Indian street musician version of Spoonman by Soundgarden.

Anna, I'd say, you should not change your name unless your spouse also agrees to change his. Three words: Swaminathan Anklesaria Aiyar.

Do you know where you are?

Anklesaria?

What about an Indian street musician version of Spoonman by Soundgarden.

I'm pretty sure one of the dudes from Soundgarden was Indian. Given the career trajectory of most grunge bands, he's probably well on his way to being a 'street musician' of sorts.

This has me wishing for more Hindustani/Qawwali/Carnatic covers of western music. I'd tap that.

13 · A N N A said

Now I'm going to be on the lookout for Iyer wedding announcements in the U.S., to see if there's any mention of what the bride will do with her name. ;) Wait, do they even mention that bit in the announcement?

Hahaha! Well, in such dire circumstances, I believe "Iyer" itself is a perfectly acceptable alternative to other, more intimidating options.

23 · nala said

hee. The same is true of New York (that people in Noida dress better than them)

I was really surprised by how much the malls and some places in the New Delhi metro area were similar to DC, even down to the underground parking garages.

There were even some hot Delhi girls riding the metro there. :)

PAfD:

Do you know where you are?

No, but I know exactly how fast I am going.

nala nair sounds like a cool name

Does anyone know who any of the artists are in the video?

ANNA, a short surname is not always a boon - mine has a rather risque meaning (and coupled with my first, would make for a good porn star name). a good example of how parents not being down with the lingo can be detrimental to their kids...

Wait, do they even mention that bit in the announcement?

I knew Anna would post this :)

That...was...AWESOME.

Pravin:

What about an Indian street musician version of Spoonman by Soundgarden.

Please to follow along on the tabla (or table, take your pick):

dukka-dukka-dukka-duk
-a-
duk-a-duk-a-duk

duk-duk-dukka-duk

Feeel the riddam in your haaaaaand
steeeal de riddam wile you kaaan.
Chamach-Adhmi!

anna, thank you for the post...that rocked! no pun intended.

I always knew Indians would smell the roses before we see Chinese Democracy

32 · Manju said

nala nair sounds like a cool name

Manju, is that a very oblique proposal? Given Nala's tender age, and your recently acquired prophetic powers, you're beginning to sound suspiciously like certain unsavory Mormon conservatives (and I don't mean Romney).

No, but I know exactly how fast I am going.

Pingpong, are you really that tiny? Given how hung up men are about size, I commend you for your public candor.

39 · portmanteau said

Manju, is that a very oblique proposal? Given Nala's tender age, and your recently acquired prophetic powers, you're beginning to sound suspiciously like certain unsavory Mormon conservatives (and I don't mean Romney).

Hmmm, Manju Portmanteau has a certain ring to it too, sweet child of mine.

Pingpong, are you really that tiny? Given how hung up men are about size, I commend you for your public candor.

Port, I thought men were hung down when it comes to size, but to each her own.

Ladies, ladies, I can tell you with no hyperbole at all that I don't just have inches, I have feet. Two to be exact. When I leave home in cold weather, I use carefully designed casings of plastic, leather and rubber, otherwise I'd cause people to stare at me wide-eyed in awe and disbelief. The casings are called boots.

I also gotta say that I agree that the vocals really ruin the ad at the end. The old guy wailing was kind of annoying. The first part was fun to watch.

what - no word on sepia on the whole aussie-india cricket tour?? We are being labelled racists - yo.. here are my 2 cents on the issue -

i really dont think anyone in India is under the impression that Symonds is black - also the word monkey is hardly used to connotate black people (we have other words for that - which are never spoken). heck, my mom is so naive that she thought it was okay to refer to blacks as "negroes" until I told her...so these allegations of "racism" are preposterous. Singh is probably darker than Symonds. Symonds just happens to look like an ape - nothing else to it!!

Look, Aussies - you need to understand something - no one cares 2 hoots about your country - no, not even the US (whom you pander to so devoutly), and not even the UK (who, because of your ethnicity you love to hate..). India, is an emerging superpower, and in many ways, this cricket team represents the face of modern India - one that will not take Shit from anyone - not your cricketers (whom we so convincingly defeated in the fastest form of cricket), not your media, and not your cricket boards filled with "stupid old white men".. sorry mates - this is how its going to be in the new century.

No, but I know exactly how fast I am going.

:D tell me pingpong, are you one of those guys who has pingpong (and pool) all figured out according to newtionian principles?

39 · portmanteau said

32 · Manju said

nala nair sounds like a cool name

Manju, is that a very oblique proposal? Given Nala's tender age, and your recently acquired prophetic powers, you're beginning to sound suspiciously like certain unsavory Mormon conservatives (and I don't mean Romney).

haha... thanks for looking out for me portmanteau akka (or do you prefer didi?). that reminds me... today i was eavesdropping on the conversation of these three russian men who were talking about the presidential election; they were making fun of mitt romney's mormonism, saying 'like in big love!' to the one who didn't understand what the significance was, and wondering aloud if he had crazy mormon orgies with his secret multiple wives. i think manju is far from being a mormon kind of conservative though.

45 · nala said

wondering aloud if he had crazy mormon orgies with his secret multiple wives. i think manju is far from being a mormon kind of conservative though.

don't underestimate me

Yeah. Okay. Thanks for sharing, swoop. Nice threadjack, apropos of nothing.

See pingpong #31. First, slow down. That'll help you figure out where you are, where you're going, and also let your fingers catch up to your brain.

Yeah, Heisenberg definitely applies here.

Um. Here...ish.

don't underestimate me

so you're both a sepia mutiny deity and the lord of your plural-uterus household?

41 · Manju said

39 · portmanteau said

Manju, is that a very oblique proposal? Given Nala's tender age, and your recently acquired prophetic powers, you're beginning to sound suspiciously like certain unsavory Mormon conservatives (and I don't mean Romney).

Hmmm, Manju Portmanteau has a certain ring to it too, sweet child of mine.

The auspicious occasion can be held in the fall. Just watch out for that November Rain. Maybe held in Chandigarh or Mumbai, which some think are paradise cities.

Sorry. Couldn't resist it. ;)

:D tell me pingpong, are you one of those guys who has pingpong (and pool) all figured out according to newtionian principles?

Oh yes, the Newtonian theory of pingpong: if the male spanks his ball with a paddle and the female spanks it harder, the male will find his ball coming quickly. It's called transfer of momentum.

But I will always remember the advice given to us by a sixth grade PE instructor: "Hit the top-right corner of the ball". Great. Now just show me which corner of this spherical ball you're talking about.

Oh yes, the Newtonian theory of pingpong: if the male spanks his ball with a paddle and the female spanks it harder, the male will find his ball coming quickly. It's called transfer of momentum.

What, no collisions in which both the male and the female expend energy?

But I will always remember the advice given to us by a sixth grade PE instructor: "Hit the top-right corner of the ball". Great. Now just show me which corner of this spherical ball you're talking about.

You played pingpong in P.E. class?? Or are we talking about different kinds of balls now.

You played pingpong in P.E. class??

Only when it rained. (The school used to send some teams for interschool events and stuff, including in pingpong, except it was called table tennis). Otherwise it was outdoors in the unwelcome heat. With standard PE teacher instructions like "Form a circle. Eii! [wheet!] The circle is not straight. Both of you three! Stand in a straight circle". Much fun was had.

I just got back from India yesterday afternoon. This video is awesome and moreso because one of my cousin's absolute favorite song is "Sweet Child O' Mine" - it's his ringtone. I'd hear the song ten times a day. I borrowed a cellphone from him for my trip - guess what the ringtone on that one was? The same. Now I come back to the U.S. and I hear this rendition. Too funny. But it's really well done. :)

Do you know where you are?

IN THE JUNGLE, BABY!

This song (the original, not this version) had a great guitar solo, and it makes you wonder...what ever happened to guitar solos in songs? I haven't heard a guitar solo in a new song (popular song that is) in ages.

I haven't heard a guitar solo in a new song (popular song that is) in ages.

As for this:

The old guy wailing was kind of annoying.

55 · DJ Drrrty Poonjabi said

Do you know where you are?

IN THE JUNGLE, BABY!

IN THE JUNGLE, BABY! Close the office door and attach the head phones/ear buds and crank the volume to 10!

BTW, I agree tablas at the percussion break would be awesome. They could even bhangra-ize it a bit. Play it at Basement Bhangra - the crowd would go nuts.
Now I have to find a Karaoke bar this week.

56 · Amitabh said

This song (the original, not this version) had a great guitar solo, and it makes you wonder...what ever happened to guitar solos in songs? I haven't heard a guitar solo in a new song (popular song that is) in ages.

I'd agree with you on this. While Bess points out Santana, I can also think of some from Velvet Revolver and Green Day, I think musicianship as a whole has decreased in music. With the newer technologies, there's much more of a synthesized product - not that I mind, some of my favorite american pop songs come from JT and Timbaland.

You may also may not remember hearing an evocative guitar solo recently, as there are so many musical voices. GNR in its time was the definition of a "rock" band. Most people living in America would have some familiarity with GNR, while nowadays, there's no quintessential defining act that everyone can identify or have some familiarity with. To a lesser extent, I see the same phenomenon in Bhangra. Other than Shinda and Gurdas Mann, the modern acts don't seem to have the same kind of resonance with the majority of the population. That's not to say there isn't great music out there, it's just harder for everyone to identify it with a multitude of choices to listen to.

That video rox! Thanks A N N A.

One thing, though. Whycome you weren't offended by Axl's immigrant bashing in "One in a Million?" I was, slightly, back in the day, but I rationalized that these were the thoughts of a character/narrator and not necessarily the artist.

Was GNR popular in India in the late 80s and 90s? It seems like a lot of the music that got popular over there were the old 70s rock bands or the pop stars of the 80s. I wonder if a poppish band like Bon Jovi was more popular over there.

One thing, though. Whycome you weren't offended by Axl's immigrant bashing in "One in a Million?" I was, slightly, back in the day, but I rationalized that these were the thoughts of a character/narrator and not necessarily the artist.

Harbeer,

I did have issues with that song. :) I mentioned them in this line:

we listened to The Smiths, not this group we would later derisively hiss at for being ignorant and intolerant since it obviously had issues with homosexuality and people of color.

In the post, "obviously had issues" is linked to the wiki page for "One in a Million". :) Aside from my dirty, clandestine fling with SCoM, I really disliked GnR. :) My freshman year was a bit less radio-friendly: Book of Love, Bauhaus, Cocteau Twins, Cure, Softcell, Front 242, Nitzer Ebb...

I know, I know. You did say all that. I'm not faulting you or anything. But even the Wikipedia entry talks about Axl's use of the words "nigger" and "faggot" but don't really discuss the immigrant-bashing.

Immigrants and faggots They make no sense to me They come to our country And think they'll do as they please Like start some mini Iran Or spread some fucking disease They talk so many goddamn ways It's all greek to me

Never would've pegged you for a 4AD-er. How about Big Black? (I was a head-banger and [strictly East Coast] bboy. I know those two genres aren't the most compatible, which is why I was psyched when the Judgement Night soundtrack came out.)

This song (the original, not this version) had a great guitar solo, and it makes you wonder...what ever happened to guitar solos in songs? I haven't heard a guitar solo in a new song (popular song that is) in ages.

The music market is divided into many niches nowadays. If you want to hear killer guitar solos and great musicianship in general , you're far more likely to find them in a Disco Biscuits/Umphrey's McGee/Perpetual Groove set or a Opeth/Mastodon album than anything you can hear on the radio. Of course the genres/niche markets that support jam bands and prog/death metal bands don't involve a great deal of radio-play or MTV exposure.

62 · A N N A said

I really disliked GnR. :)

Had I known that I would have just told you that GNR was more bark than it was bite (in terms of stirring up the pot) and after all, people are people, so no one needs to be a master to the servant of pop, everyone is entitled to their choice of genre of music, it's a strangelove.

That's it, Karaoke tonight.

64 · muralimannered said

what ever happened to guitar solos in songs? I haven't heard a guitar solo in a new song (popular song that is) in ages.

They've been considered passe (masturbatory, egotistical) for some time. I saw Grupo Fantasma a few weeks ago and after a kick ass conga solo, the singer announced, "And now...guitars!" to introduce the cheesy-assed guitar solo.

Doh! I used a quote that was quoted by murlaimannered and accidentally attributed the quote to murali.

Harbeer,

Out of curiosity, were you a fan of Public Enemy? I ask, because to me, I find that GNR and P.E. were very similar. Both put out good music, both were one of a kinds, both were controversial, both had elements of their music where they were accused of race baiting. As an East Coast B-boy, myself, who loves all kinds of music including New Wave and Hard Rock, I find that every genre includes some type of offensive comment. I still enjoy the music, I just don't support the comment or the group making it.

BTW, Judgment Night was a very good spin and was seminal in helping to create the modern rock/rap fusion we hear today.

They've been considered passe (masturbatory, egotistical) for some time.

I would qualify that statement as gospel among music critics. I generally dislike music critics, whether rockist or otherwise (yes, to hell with pitchfork, frere-jones,NME and even simon reynolds)--the guitar solo may be egotistical in studio productions but it's also the warp and the weft of classical guitar compositions which I'll never deride as masturbatory. The guitar work i was referring to is generally not done alone, but in congress with several other instruments--it is occassionally stale in the studio but generally never when the music is live.

As an East Coast B-boy,

Are you really a breakdancer?

Out of curiosity, were you a fan of Public Enemy?

I don't know about Harbeer, but I was a fan of both PE and GNR. At the time, PE was the rap band for me while GNR was my rock n roll band.

I don't think it is a problem to like the music even if the singer is a jerk. Elvis Costello used the N word in real life when he got pissed once. Some of the 70s rockers had very unsavory private lives which included taking in underage groupies.

13 · A N N A said

12 · bess said

I just thought about that after I commented. Yes, that does get complicated.

Now I'm going to be on the lookout for Iyer wedding announcements in the U.S., to see if there's any mention of what the bride will do with her name. ;) Wait, do they even mention that bit in the announcement?

I know a Beth Narasimhan...

heee

70 · HMF said

As an East Coast B-boy,

Are you really a breakdancer?

ROTFL, I got a little amped and started reliving my younger years, hence the slip in tense. Good catch.

Re: Git-tar.
Ted Leo is a bona fide guitar hero. See him live if you get a chance. Great guitar, no wanky solos. Full marks on politics too.

Murali,
Good call on Opeth. Still Life, Black Water Park or both?

Anna,
You'll be glad to know about Johnny Marr's gainful employment.

And yes, G'n'R were huge on Indian campuses.

68 · Jangali Janwar said

Out of curiosity, were you a fan of Public Enemy?

Hell yeah! I was into all that positive, militant black power stuff. PE, Brand Nubian, X-Clan, YZ, Paris. People are shocked when I admit that I never much went for Boogie Down Productions (well, I liked D-Nice but KRS-1 never much did it for me.)

And then there were the really weird acts like Arrested Development, Me Phi Me, Intelligent Hoodlum and The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy.

Judgment Night was a very good spin and was seminal in helping to create the modern rock/rap fusion we hear today.

That De La meets Teenage Fan Club track is a classic, but if that soundtrack is responsible for Kid Rock and Limp Biscuit, then I'm not sure it was worth it.

70 · HMF said

Are you really a breakdancer?

I used to rap. (Don't laugh.)

Oh, now this is going to be stuck in my head during the most important meeting of my week:

i believe in the me phi me

I didn't know anyone else who had that single. AND Intelligent Hoodlum. Harbeer, I'm stealing your iPod.

71 · Pravin said

I don't think it is a problem to like the music even if the singer is a jerk.

This goes for all art in my world. Hell, I even like some David Allen Coe songs. ("My Long Hair Just Can't Cover Up My Red Neck" is a killer karaoke song for a Sikh boy from Texas, y'all.) (And then there's that right-wing bigot Charlie Daniels' "Long Haired Country Boy"--another karaoke standard of mine.)

(Don't laugh.)

And ANNA, I loved the Cocteau Twins/Bauhaus/Dead Can Dance- 3 AD label stuff Lonely is an Eyesore...oh the memories.

Harbeer,

Great bideos, yaar. Huge fan of D-Nice, simply for this one line: "I'm taking out you suckas and you don't know how I did it." I understand about KRS-One. The lyrics on "love's gonna getcha" are fantastic and the "bridge" is a classic but he always seemed genuinely arrogant and that turned me off of his music. The 80's and early 90's were a great time for Hip-Hop, some of the acts you mentioned really elevated the lyrical side of the music. Then it went dry and you had Crap-Hop, I personally blame P-Diddy. Now, it seems to come full circle with Common, Jay-Z, Kanye, Lupe Fiasco bringing about a resurgence in the lyrical side of the music.

To keep it brown, another great melding of worlds was Jay-Z and Punjabi MC, I've never seen a crowd that doesn't start moving to this tune. Kid Rock isn't so bad, keep an open mind with him (despite the whole Pam and Tommy episode), he really spans a lot of musical influences. I certainly wouldn't put him in the same class as Limp Bizkit. That was simply trash, though Faith and Nookie were useful tunes to get your workout on to.

69 · muralimannered said

I would qualify that statement as gospel among music critics. I generally dislike music critics, whether rockist or otherwise (yes, to hell with pitchfork, frere-jones,NME and even simon reynolds)--the guitar solo may be egotistical in studio productions but it's also the warp and the weft of classical guitar compositions which I'll never deride as masturbatory. The guitar work i was referring to is generally not done alone, but in congress with several other instruments--it is occassionally stale in the studio but generally never when the music is live.

Fair enough. I just emailed a Stanley Jordan video earlier today, and I was rockin Miles Davis's Live/Evil last week and really digging the John McLaughlin solos. (Most things involving pre-1980s John McLaughlin rock my world--Bitches Brew, Shakti, Mahavishnu Orchestra, The Guitar Trio.)

Anybody hear the Shakti album that Santana played on--Love Devotion Surrender? (Apparently Zakir Hussein is playing in that clip but you can't really see or hear him.) Sick album. I'll have to replace it one day. (Been ten years since my apt in Brooklyn got burglarized and I still haven't rebuilt my collection.)

Sweet Child of Mine is the rare "hair ballad" of the 80s i could stand. Don't get me wrong. I put that in quotes because I dont really consider GNR to be a hair band or that song to be a real hair ballad. But when that video first came out, i remember how GNR was being lumped in with the silly 80s hair band scene even though they were more of a straight up rock n roll band in my view. I hated those freaking 80s hair ballads.

The only good thing about Nelson is I think they really killed off the 80s hair band scene with their craptacular videos. Another song I despised was that MR Big song where some curly haired wuss would sing about "Only to be with you" or something.

Is this video a TV commercial in India? What exactly are they advertising? What is the point?

And the disdainful look the auntiji gives at the end, so realistically typical. How many of those have I been on the receiving end throughout my life....

Harbeer,

For some country try out Hank Williams, "A country boy can survive". For some reason, my dad, a punjabi through and through simply loves this song. That David Coe track is killer! BTW, I never liked Arrested Development, one of the few, I thought they were so contrived. Intelligent Hoodlum, that's a real blast from the past.

Umm, about that I-Pod, I call dibs.

80 · Jangali Janwar said

Great bideos, yaar

Word, I'm glad you've gleaned something from my procrastination. Here's one last one from Poor Righteous Teachers before I get back to work.

What about your parents. What kind of pop/rock music they do seem to like? My mom is close to being a senior citizen and she likes a lot of rock and pop.

69 · muralimannered said

They've been considered passe (masturbatory, egotistical) for some time.

I would qualify that statement as gospel among music critics. I generally dislike music critics, whether rockist or otherwise (yes, to hell with pitchfork, frere-jones,NME and even simon reynolds)--the guitar solo may be egotistical in studio productions but it's also the warp and the weft of classical guitar compositions which I'll never deride as masturbatory. The guitar work i was referring to is generally not done alone, but in congress with several other instruments--it is occassionally stale in the studio but generally never when the music is live.

Amen! Preach!

Pravin, let's never utter the word "Nelson" again, so that no one will ever try and bring back that craptacularness. They singlehandedly nearly destroyed the power ballad.

Umm, about that I-Pod, I call dibs.

Now this is one of the many times I wish it were Sepia Mutiny, the podcast. Would love to hear these playlists that Shodan, ANNA, Harbeer and JJ would put together.

80 · Jangali Janwar said

I understand about KRS-One. The lyrics on "love's gonna getcha" are fantastic and the "bridge" is a classic but he always seemed genuinely arrogant and that turned me off of his music. The 80's and early 90's were a great time for Hip-Hop, some of the acts you mentioned really elevated the lyrical side of the music. Then it went dry and you had Crap-Hop, I personally blame P-Diddy. Now, it seems to come full circle with Common, Jay-Z, Kanye, Lupe Fiasco bringing about a resurgence in the lyrical side of the music.

Yeah, "Love's Gonna Getcha" was exception, especially on account of that bass line, and "The Bridge" is indeed a classic, too. I kind of fell out of hip hop when De La went all PM Dawn and realeased Buhloone Mindstate and Quest dropped Beats, Rhymes and Life, so I missed the whole mid-90s Tupac vs. Biggie thang, in addition to great stuff like Pharcyde, Wu Tang, Fugees, and the rise of Jay-Z. I didn't get back into hip hop until I started hearing conscious stuff again like Black Star, Mos Def, Dead Prez, Blackalicious and The Coup.

For a killer late 80s - early 90s hip hop mix, go here and prepare to at least nod your head if not fully bust out into a full-fledged kickstep/cabbage patch dance medley.

My mom is close to being a senior citizen and she likes a lot of rock and pop.

I remember listening to NWA in high school, in the car, with my mom, who was completely oblivious not only to what they were saying, but also to all the swear words...I actually don't think she could make out the individual words in their 'songs'.

As for the guitar discussion, you guys seem to know a lot more about that than me, but I will say this...there is a place for (relatively) brief, well-phrased guitar solos in most rock music. One of my favorite solos is Hendrix in 'Hey Joe'...short, sweet, and beautiful. As long as the solo says something or makes a succint musical statement without meandering aimlessly around, it's good. The solo in Sweet Child O'Mine is a good example.

88 · bess said

Now this is one of the many times I wish it were Sepia Mutiny, the podcast. Would love to hear these playlists that Shodan, ANNA, Harbeer and JJ would put together.

I did something like this on the day after Christmas (forgive the technical difficulties). I wish I'd remembered to make the comparison between up-and-coming desi rappers and the Spanglish phenomena of the early 90s--Cypress Hill, Mellow Man Ace, Kid Frost, etc.

I also wish I'd known more about Immortal Productions and Tigerstyle a mere two weeks ago.

Thanks bess. Also, you gots no love DJ Drrrty? :)

Speaking of GnR and India...one of the first times I ever realised the gap between middle-class urbanites vs rural folks, was when I was visiting India many years ago...I was in a car, stopped in traffic. I glanced over to this bus stop where a lot of people were waiting for the bus. There was a teenager wearing a black GnR t-shirt, jeans, sneakers, listening to a walkman. Next to him was someone straight outta the village...dhoti, turban, big moustache, heavy ear rings, lathi, the works. Both standing side by side, waiting for the bus. Wish I could have taken a picture.

Thanks bess. Also, you gots no love DJ Drrrty? :)
I gots love a'right! For all yous, dats DJ Drrrty and mm too!

I did something like this on the day after Christmas (forgive the technical difficulties).

88 · bess said

Now this is one of the many times I wish it were Sepia Mutiny, the podcast. Would love to hear these playlists that Shodan, ANNA, Harbeer and JJ would put together.

Bess, it's not much, but here's one of my old skool playlists. :)

Amitabh,

Your one brave man to have NWA playing while your mom was in the car. If my mom would have had an inkling of what was in that music, the chappals would have started flying!

Bess, thanks. If your interested in some mixtapes of 80's and 90's music, check out DJ Neil Armstrong. Look for his CD's on that site. He's got an eclectic mix on his CDs skewing towards Hip-Hop, R&B and New Wave. I'd recommend Sweet, Oscillate Wildly and BitterSweet, to keep it really light. Unfortunately, no South Asian music. In the interests of full disclosure, he's also a close friend. He has no idea that I'm on SM or that I'm recommending him nor am I getting any proceeds. SM intern, sorry about the plug, just wanted to share good music.

Here's one last one from Poor Righteous Teachers before I get back to work.

I've had my door closed all day. Thank goodness it's the beginning of the year and been very slow, but I know I'm going to pay tomm. Sepia Mutiny, destroying the myth that brown people focus on work.

Harbeer I just realized that link is to kpft (I've heard loads of great stuff about that station, all pub radio stations want to have that kind of community representation.)
impressive, mang. Did you host?

JJ, I'll be checking out DJ Neil thanks and when you said this:

some mixtapes of 80's and 90's

ANNA, as for your old skewl playlist - I'm working my youtubiness way through that one ; )

And in the spirit of selfconsciousness I realize I wrote 3 AD, meant 4 -doh!

97 · bess said

Harbeer I just realized that link is to kpft (I've heard loads of great stuff about that station, all pub radio stations want to have that kind of community representation.) impressive, mang. Did you host?

Yeah, all the Pacifica stations are pretty rad. (Are you sure you're not thinking of the more famous KPFA in Bezerkeley, though?) I did host that night, but the show (Border Crossings) was started by my friends Nusrat and Jaspal more than five years ago. I've been working with them for about three of those years, but only when I'm visiting my friends and family back in Houston. Did you miss the discussion with Abhi and Amardeep on 12/19/07?

I recommend Generasian Radio if you want to hear the latest desi sounds (though I am not personally connected to that show, except as a fan).

HAHA! Thanks so much for posting this.

Out of curiosity, were you a fan of Public Enemy?

Amitabh -- You're lucky; if I play NWA with my mom in the car I get a thappar upside the head.

Pravin, on moms and music: my mama has great (rock) taste. My deep appreciation for Led Zeppelin, the Yardbirds, old school Santana, etc., comes from her. She also loved Billy Ocean's "Get Outta My Dreams and Into My Car," but I think I can forgive her for that.

Re: guitar solos, hello! Tom Morello! There are excellent guitarists today, and some (like, maybe 2?) are even pop stars. I don't need some lame-ass hair metal solo to have an ear-gasm.

100 · Camille said

How can you guys not like Boogie Down Productions or Arrested Development?

"Beef, what a relief." Kris lost me forever as a potential fan with that one weak line (although D-Nice still holds up). Too simple and didactic. Arrested Development? Meh, they're just corny (same reason I don't like Spearhead), although I was a fan back in the day.

My answer to the parents question: my dad used to listen to qwaali and ghazals and stuff like Gurdas Maan, Jagjit Sing/Chitra Singh, Surinder Kaur, etc. Not so much anymore. My mom hates music unless it's kirtan (Sikh "hymns") or dhadi waars (which are something like militant Sikh power raps).

I'd never play NWA in front of my mom because I never really went for that misogynistic gangsta stuff in the first place, but even if I played Shakiyla in the car with her she'd prolly yell and swipe at the off switch and inadvertently turn it up instead of off.

Doh! The phrase "militant Sikh power" was supposed to point here.

An impromptu "I can't believe I'm still #^@%!#& at work"/inspired-by-SM playlist:

1) Description of a Fool - Tribe

2) Holy Moly - Talib

3) Pass the Plugs - De La

and just for Camille, what I'm listening to right this second...

4) What Side you on - Public Enemy

Back to work...

Arrested Development? Meh, they're just corny (same reason I don't like Spearhead), although I was a fan back in the day.

I'd never play NWA in front of my mom because I never really went for that misogynistic gangsta stuff in the first place

Thanks, ANNA! =D

Camille,

Until your comments about Arrested Development, I was a fan of your posts, but now I must question your judgment. ;) Since you, Harbeer and ANNA are fans of "conscious" hip-hop and are commentators who try to get their point across without being misunderstood, this one's for y'all.

Camille,

Until your comments about Arrested Development, I was a fan of your posts, but now I must question your judgment. ;)

After Common fell into the GAP he really broke my heart :(

104 · Camille said

I will retreat to my misogynistic, weak-lyric'ed, Boogie-less gangsta rap corner.

Ironically, I've softened up to NWA but not BDP since then. If you can imagine (based on my comments on SM), I'm actually less self-righteous than I used to be. ;-) The new Devin the Dude is insanely great and it's hardly pc.

Arrested Development whimsical? Maybe in small doses. I'm would wager that I'm far too cynical to listen to more than two songs in a sitting, but I would probably enjoy those two songs, but I am not willing to test this hypothesis because I am a fraidy cat. "Tennessee" would still be fun. [Resisting urge to look up other song titles and clips for fear of actually liking them...]

If you can imagine (based on my comments on SM), I'm actually less self-righteous than I used to be. ;-)

I'm far too cynical to listen to more than two songs in a sitting, but I would probably enjoy those two songs, but I am not willing to test this hypothesis because I am a fraidy cat.

S'ok (re: fraidy-ness), I can live with that. I can even live with you hating AD :) When they are fun, they are real fun. When they are moralizing, they are weak-sauce.

Here's tonight's dirty dozen...I'm grateful they were around to keep me company on this late, late night which is FINALLY over.

Shodan,

I'm a fan of both, but i've been giving Opeth second-class citizen status in the metal world while listening to the eargasmic perfection that are the fills and time signatures deployed by Mastodon's drummer. Also geeking out with the Dethklok album as well--I would submit, Anna (and others aware of the 80s), that's it out Spinal Tap'd Spinal Tap.

If we're discounting misogyny, I can't make much more tastier recommendations than:

1. New UGK album--still plenty of Pimp C on the boards, Bun B on the mic and a few surprise guests (Dizzee Rascal for one.)

2. Any Jay Dilla production--whether his detroit buddies Slum Village or any one of a number of his side projects (err backcatalog)

3. Zion I--Boom Bip always grabbed my head from a resting position and set it to nod with alarming reliability. (west coast! west coast!)

harbeer,

eventually Devin the Dude will live solely on income from shows playing to 100% college kids. He's massively awesome and I wish Houston didn't have a way of cutting down it's finest with 'drank and shitty label issues and probably non-drank related substances.

Just as a follow-up, the link I gave to my friend's website (up-thread at 96) has some issues. Apparently, one of the webforms is messed up and he has to rebuild the site. Under his appearances section, someone jacked the site and put links to porn sites. Please be aware of it and don't be offended, it's not representative of what he's into. If the SM Intern wouldn't mind, please remove the link at 96. Thanks Much.

My mom loves Rick Springfield. She was into the whole Elvis thing(she is one of the late 60s immigrants). Oh, she could't stand Norah Jones. Found her boring. She enjoys Aerosmith. She liked even a couple of Eminem songs. She likes the guitar part of We Dont Need No Education. And she enjoys all those jam sessions during those Rock and Roll Hall of Fame shows. Unfortunatley, she also likes the Celine Dion type stuff too. She finds White Stripes amusing to watch, especially Meg White's demeanor. She got a kick out of watching Pixies on TV though I do not know if she shared my enthusiasm for the band. It seemed more like she watched it for the novelty aspect (from her POV). She likes some Aerosmith, Stones, and quite a few of the 70s rockers. And like many other Indians, she likes the Beegees and ABBA. (then again, I love the Sat. Night Fever soundtrack too and I can't hate ABBA as much as I try to).

IN THE JUNGLE, BABY! Close the office door and attach the head phones/ear buds and crank the volume to 10!

Office?! I'll never be square enough to be cubicled. Plus, mine goes up to eleven.

Thanks bess. Also, you gots no love DJ Drrrty? :) I gots love a'right! For all yous, dats DJ Drrrty and mm too!

Thanks for the shoutout, Bhenshod, and for the love, Bess. Where're your playlists?

The new Devin the Dude is insanely great and it's hardly pc.

When is he neither? DtD is the best thing to come outta the Dirty Souf since the General hisself. (I know you're with me on this one, Bess)

Did you miss the discussion with Abhi and Amardeep on 12/19/07?

Great interview, but what was up with that ridiculous mashup you played? @=)

Pravin, on moms and music: my mama has great (rock) taste. My deep appreciation for Led Zeppelin, the Yardbirds, old school Santana, etc., comes from her. She also loved Billy Ocean's "Get Outta My Dreams and Into My Car," but I think I can forgive her for that.

Impressive, but is she a Carribean Queen?

(I can't believe I just asked that of your mom)

3. Zion I--Boom Bip always grabbed my head from a resting position and set it to nod with alarming reliability. (west coast! west coast!)

Respek for the Zion I up. I count Fingerpaint and Bird's Eye View as some of the illest joints I've ever heard.

She likes the guitar part of We Dont Need No Education.

Are you referring to Another Brick in the Wall Pt 2?

Instead of overwhelming you guys with more of the tiresome pontificating and haughty dismissals of differing opinions that you've come to expect from me every time I delurk to talk music, I'll spare you and just point y'alls to this comment on an especially epic thread in which I discuss everything here (hair metal, Rush, a blistering solo, more hair metal, desis coming together to rawk) and more. I am not magnanimous enough, however, to spare you from imposing my current playlist of obscure, too-hip-for-you tracks. (Shodan, you might recognize some of these):

Secret Chiefs 3 - Renunciation (Amazing Ananda Shankar cover)

Pornopop - Death Tape

Okay Temiz - Denizalti Ruzgarlan

(Second links go to full length, high quality mp3s. Get 'em while they're hot.)

Are you referring to Another Brick in the Wall Pt 2?

Yeah. The lyric was dancing in my head when I was typing in a hurry.

I'm proof positive that if you play NWA in the presence of your mom, you get chappals and thappars in one swift blow. Gatka ain't got nothing on the martial arts that moms can whip up.

The day before Mother's Day in '07, Santana was standing right behind in line, card in hand, at Papyrus. White pants, white shoes and a white hat. Spunky!

Santana was standing right behind me in line

I saw'r him and smelt the musk.

I ran into Santana at a tourist trap across from the Warfield once, before one of his shows. Apparently, he needed sunglasses before he could rawk.

That's funny because "I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy...I was able to get a sense of his soul" and his soul said, "I need to make obnoxious video's with that obnoxious-lly maned singer from Nickelback. And stop looking at me kid."

I'm proof positive that if you play NWA in the presence of your mom, you get chappals and thappars in one swift blow. Gatka ain't got nothing on the martial arts that moms can whip up.

The reason why I asked this question is the parents of the 30 something generation here came over during the 60s and 70s when their American peers were big time into music that is still listened to. So I am always curious how assimilated they get into culture. When they went to grad school, would they listen to their classmates talk about the Stones and the Who? Or Marvin Gaye? One of my uncles listen to some country station. One of my aunts listen to lite rock FM. But I rarely see any of that generation buy CDs with our music even if they will try to get down on the dance floor to whatever a DJ plays during a wedding. I don't think my mom knew what Cyndi Lauper was singing during She Bop when she liked it.

I think the more common artists I saw older Indians listen to whenever they came on TV were the guys like the 80s pop stars - MIcchael Jackson, madonna, Prince.

Impressive, but is she a Carribean Queen?

(I can't believe I just asked that of your mom)

Pravin, my dad is a HUGE Chuck Berry fan and also loves Elvis, the Rolling Stones, etc. Does that count? Other than that he listens to classic Hindustani/filmi songs, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, and bhangra. I think my mom is a little different (e.g. she likes Dave Matthews Band, Will Smith, Mary J. Blige, Bob Dylan, Santana, Buckingham Nicks, etc.) because she came when she was younger. Once they got into CD-technology they went crazy! I think they still really love their records, though.

(Are you sure you're not thinking of the more famous KPFA in Bezerkeley, though?)

I did host that night

Did you miss the discussion with Abhi and Amardeep on 12/19/07?

Thanks for the shoutout, Bhenshod, and for the love, Bess. Where're your playlists?

I think they still really love their records, though.

I used to rap. (Don't laugh.)

Theres a great movie coming out called, Planet B-Boy, all bout the world Breakdancing championchips

Secret Chiefs 3 - Renunciation (Amazing Ananda Shankar cover)

Pornopop - Death Tape

Okay Temiz - Denizalti Ruzgarlan

(Second links go to full length, high quality mp3s. Get 'em while they're hot.)

would you believe that in my own backwater of the USA, Secret Chiefs 3 was the very first thing I heard at a recent visit to a friend's house (albeit a hippie house, but still...) At first I thought it was some kind of bad joke, with vaguely eastern woodwinds, but once it picked up I was a fan.

And so should we all. It's a better sound - analog over digital- just less convenient. Camille, it sounds like you had a nice upbringing musically.

Secret Chiefs 3

my own backwater of the USA

122 · HMF said

Theres a great movie coming out called, Planet B-Boy, all bout the world Breakdancing championchips

There is a great movie out called Air Guitar Nation which has an awesome 2nd-gen immigrant angle that will warm your heart and make you love the good ol' US of A. Check it out--great great film.

This thread has laid bare so many gaps in my musical knowledge that I've had to think about what I was listening to instead (of what's been referenced) which has given me a fun way to look back on the past 20 years. I am woefully ignorant, for example, of most of the dirty south crunk stuff, even though I spent much of my life in Houston and I have good friends who work in the industry. (Last UGK song I really listened to was "Tell Me Something Good," and that was like 1991. Scarface was the only Houston rapper I really paid any mind until Devin the Dude. Sorry Mr. Willy D, "corner" and "on me" do not rhyme.) (Nuff respect to Dallas's the D.O.C., ghostwriter of so much NWA material.)

[Big-time off-topic digression.] Murali, your mention of drank reminded me of my new hobby--collecting cans/posters/promotional materials for local energy drinks. It all started when I noticed a poster for Hunid Racks in my San Francisco neighborhood. That's right, my 'hood has it's own damn energy drink--how you like me now? Naturally, my only option was to take the poster, find a store that sold the stuff, and build an altar in my apartment.

So I was back in Houston a couple weeks ago when I spotted a poster for something called "Drank - The Anti-Energy Drink." Yup, my hometown's got it's own answer to the energy drink phenomenon, too. The store was sold out so my partner and I convinced the man to let us take the poster. A few days later I finally found a store that had it in stock. It's a strange purple brew containing rose hips, melatonin, and valerian root. The poster bears a warning: "This beverage may be extremely relaxing and calming and may cause one to lean." No shit--I am not making this up. [/digression]

Zion-I, wow, haven't heard that name since he used to play at Bay Area protest rallies and had a track on one of the Blu Magazine samplers. (Anybody ever look at AWOL magazine?)

Anyway, getting back to heavy metal, being a headbanger is the perfect choice for a young Sikh boy, tell you what. Can't nobody out-hair you. My first mosh pit was at a Living Color show. Bad Brains opened (a travesty surpassed only by Miles Davis opening for the Grateful Dead). When it got too hot and I retreated to the edge, a woman I didn't know lifted my hair and blew on the back of my neck. Vernon Reid played a mean solo with some (then) newfangled effects which made his guitar sound like a keyboard. My Sikh peers were not down with my love of metal and picked on me for it, so I was really happy to find a kindred spirit many years later when I read Kristina Gray's "I Sold My Soul to Rock and Roll" about being a black metalhead in Colonize This!

121 · bess said

(I'm a radio geek.)

How does that manifest? (Thanks for the compliments and for listening.) Did you ever hear about this? Here is another article about that project. We did finally get on the air, albeit from an Airstream trailer in the parking lot. Great story. Community radio rocks.

Ha! Harbeer, you're not getting any work done either.
The only time I ever lifted an unknown man's hair at a concert, was to bite his neck. I guess that wasn't you.
I hadn't read about your Little Radio Station that Could. The constant setbacks must have been disheartening. And to be told no rap music b/c it might incite violence??! And no, I don't think Clearchannel would have been cleared any sooner - not that the co. would be so generous in the first place.
The whole breakdown in govt. assistance at that time was infuriating, but it did offer communities a chance to step up and take care of each other. I had a friend working in the Astrodome after Katrina, setting up systems to report health issues directly to the CDC, he mentioned how often various groups from the community came into the dome to help those who were stranded. Amazing-
I'm really surprised I didn't see that article before today. thanks

If the SM Intern wouldn't mind, please remove the link at 96. Thanks Much.

Done.

Much appreciated Intern.

Office?! I'll never be square enough to be cubicled. Plus, mine goes up to eleven.

DJ Drrty,

With an attitude like that you'll be perfect for the Hipster Olympics. ;)

BTW, a cubicle doesn't have a door. An office has a door, respect, me a don dada. ;P

MM, Harbeer, Bess, Camille, DJ,

Thanks for the links. MM, Since you refer to back-catalog, I assume you are aware that Jay-Dilla passed? To return the favor, take a look at Russell Gunn and his Ethnomusicology records. He's jazz but he brings in Hip-Hop and a whole other set of influences. He has a good live show as well. Got to keep it short today, its very nice to hear what other people listen to, as Harbeer said, it opens your eyes to new things.

Surprised none of you mentioned any reggae? Big in the 80's and 90's and in NYC. Check Supacat, a real brown west indian brother. More fire.

That's funny because "I looked the man in the eye. I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy...I was able to get a sense of his soul" and his soul said, "I need to make obnoxious video's with that obnoxious-lly maned singer from Nickelback. And stop looking at me kid."

I don't really get the reference but all right, rawk on.

I can't believe you asked that about my mom, either! No, she's not, and no, she doesn't like that song :) My mom is cute and wholesome, like a granola bar.

Hey, at least I didn't ask that of your dad.

DJ Drrrty you know I love you for your fine taste in music and muscle cars! And I loves ya too much to share my playlist - one that includes a Bruckner symphony....see?....you just fell asleep. I was never that cool. I missed the hip hop thang. I went from loving 50s and 60s stuff, to metal to 4 AD right into to trip hop. With classical(east and west), straight-ahead jazz, old school country, its offshoot Americana and world (whirled) music in between here and there.

No, Brucker doesn't put me to bed, but Bartok is my main man. Let's see that playlist.

OMG thats's not a band that's a symphony! The love grows. "Exodus" sounds like Ennio Morricone with a nod to Rachy 2. (I saw Mr Bungle ages ago in Ybor City)

You can thank Trey Spruance for that Spaghetti Western/Late Romantic/Surf Rock fustercluck. The man's a genius. I miss Bungle, but the music that has risen from their ashes is truly epic. Did I ever tell you the time I made a funny after a Rahzel show and Mike Patton gave me a hug? I'll save it for a less self-absorbed comment.

DJ Drrty,

With an attitude like that you'll be perfect for the Hipster Olympics. ;)

Brilliant video, but no thanks. I fucking hate hipsters.

80 · Jangali Janwar said

Great bideos, yaar. Huge fan of D-Nice, simply for this one line: "I'm taking out you suckas and you don't know how I did it." I understand about KRS-One. The lyrics on "love's gonna getcha" are fantastic and the "bridge" is a classic but he always seemed genuinely arrogant and that turned me off of his music. The 80's and early 90's were a great time for Hip-Hop, some of the acts you mentioned really elevated the lyrical side of the music. Then it went dry and you had Crap-Hop, I personally blame P-Diddy. Now, it seems to come full circle with Common, Jay-Z, Kanye, Lupe Fiasco bringing about a resurgence in the lyrical side of the music.

Huh? KRS-One was head and shoulders above his contemporaries back in the day (1987) especially when Boogie Down Productions (BDP) put out "By All Means Necessary" which is one of the best rap records of all time and that was after "Criminal Minded"! NWA, Public Enemy and a host of others simply were not as good. Admittedly later on KRS-One lost the sense of humor which so rocked "Jimmy".

I still remember BDP show at the old 9:30 club. Man, the entire audience jumped up and down for 2 hours straight. Can't believe there is a Gordon Something brewery bar on the same block now.

Lion,

I was a Queens guy, I therefore, have a natural dislike to KRS-One. I am glad you reminded me of "Jimmy". Personally, I thought Slick Rick was the man in 87-88, when it came to hip-hop. Children's Story and La-di-da-di were fixtures every place you went.

Whoa, Slick Rick, that's a name I haven't heard in a long time. Reminds me of Kool Moe Dee.

Is it bad to mention I could actually understand the lyrics of rap/hip hop back in the day compared to now?

Still, rap back then was a mixture between the high and low of the message. Of course, the esoteric end was The Last Poets.

BDP's "Jimmy" was great. When people started mentioning M.I.A.'s "Jimmy" before I heard it, I thought maybe she went old school and got super coo and did a remix.

Whoa, Slick Rick, that's a name I haven't heard in a long time. Reminds me of Kool Moe Dee.

Real name, Mohandas.

Jimmy.

Do me a favor wear your hat!

.what ever happened to guitar solos in songs? I haven't heard a guitar solo in a new song (popular song that is) in ages.

The Seattle bands killed the guitar solo's in the early 90's. Which was good cause alot of songs the solo didn't fit the whole song.

I'm pretty sure one of the dudes from Soundgarden was Indian. Given the career trajectory of most grunge bands, he's probably well on his way to being a 'street musician' of sorts.

His name is Kim Thayil and he didn't end up like some of his peers. He still around and living in the Seattle area, but doesn't really make music any more. His last time he played live, was about year ago in Seattle when he joined his Seattle friends Alice In Chains live for song on there surprise concert in Seattle.

Too many random thoughts ... started reading the comments to the wonderful Channel [V] SCoM and got lost in pingpong balls and leather boots!
By all means, this one is hiilllllaaarrriouss! The clip starts with a little feedback, like every rock guitarist do.
Just cracked me up .....
Channel[V] is well known to come with such funny spoofs, like Sholay one... very creative indeed!

The Seattle bands killed the guitar solo's in the early 90's.

Yeah...that's pretty much what I noticed too.

There are some decent Indian bands that are keeping the tradition alive, two great places to see these bands in action are Mood Indigo at IIT Powai and the independence rock festival in Bombay. Parikrama is a band that has come out with some decent original tracks.

I thought my brain would implode at the thought but I was hooked immediately. That song (and that group) dominate my memories of my freshman year in high school— mostly because I hated myself for secretly kind of liking it.

What did you have to secretly like this song? That song was one of the biggest hits of the '80s, and that band was *THE* biggest band of the '80s and part of the '90s. They were amazing. Are you ashamed of liking songs from DDLJ? Then why are you ashamed of liking "Sweet Child O' Mine"?

It's a friday yaar. a bright beautiful sunshiny day. why you got to do this on my cereal yaar.

Then why are you ashamed of liking "Sweet Child O' Mine"?

Are you ashamed of liking songs from DDLJ?

Is that short for a group or an album? I can't quite guess what it is.

I'm hoping this thread isn't entirely dead. It still has me thinking and reminiscing about my earliest and fav concerts: X (my first mosh), The Cramps, Laurie Anderson, Sonic Youth, Mercury Rev, The Cult(no GnR did not open from them this time)....a band called Fetchin' Bones...
Anyone else care to muse on past favorite concerts?

I am a big fan of music fests. And I hate area concerts with assigned seating. At music fests, I love
1) Sometimes people mistake me in the dark for a black guy doing security and I can easily go to the front row because people make way for me. Even if that doesn't work, I still manage to snake my way through the crowds as do other determined fans.
2) You can get different perspectives of the band and sound by walking around during the set.
3) You get to sample bands you never would have if you went to solo concerts.
4) You can always leave one stage for another if a certain band is having an off night.
5) Easier to pick up chicks at music fests.
6) Funnel Cake.
7) The value is unbeatable. When Atlanta had its music fests, you could see the LL CoolJ, Al Green, White Stripes, Jett, Ween, Fogerty, Killers , PE, Devo, Pixies(some of the mainstream headliners in the last two fests) all in one 3 day weekend fest for 70 bucks. Sadly, Atlantans did not realize te bargain they had and the annual music fests ended a couple of years ago. We got to fork out $200 and camp out for Bonnaroo for just a few more acts . That is still better than paying 40-100 for single concerts.
8) Ben Harper

Downside:
1) Sound may not be the best with a lot of noise bleed depending on the music.
2) Underage chicks hitting on grownups for beer.
3) The older chicks may not be in the best condition to do stuff with. Women at the Def Leppard stage had a LOT of mileage.
4) Overpriced and sloppily made Philly Cheesesteaks
5) Ben Harper. The guy is a music fest whore.

One of the more disappointing experiences I had was a Springsteen concert a few years ago. It was good. But I may have been the youngest guy there, not counting the kids who came with their parents(and I am a child of the 70s,80s so I am not young). The crowd was humorless. Though Springsteen is progressive, some of his audience was very conservative. Weird vibes. It got really awkward standing among them when he played 41 Shots. I was mistaken for an usher by a few and I wasnt even pretending to be security. I was threatened to be kicked out because I had the temerity to not sit or stand right at my seat. I was merely standing and walking in a 3 feet radius(I had an aisle seat). I wasn't blocking anyone, yet I was seen as a problem. Also Spingsteen insisted on playing a few of his really boring 90s era tunes which really killed the mood. I think I would just rather watch his 70s era concert clip on tv whenever they show them. I have really no wish to go to any of the aging superstar concerts after that.

I promise never to call you Praniv again. Thanks for taking me up.

1) Sometimes people mistake me in the dark for a black guy doing security and I can easily go to the front row because people make way

6) Funnel Cake

I am a child of the 70s,80s so I am not young

I think I would just rather watch his 70s era concert clip on tv whenever they show them. I have really no wish to go to any of the aging superstar concerts after that.

The coolness level on this thread makes a New England winter seem balmy.

a New England winter seem balmy

We know you're the rockstar equivalent here at SM - with all the e-panties at your feet

Don't forget the drug fueled orgies and the wrecked hotel rooms!

C'mon give us your best. when your not entertaining the masses what are you listening to?

Let's just say I thought Spinal Tap was a real band.

Seriously, my music knowledge is sorely lacking especially when it comes to anything after the glory days of classic rock.

bess, I love live music, but I have a feeling our decadal difference lends itself to totally different venues/artists. I actually am not a huge fan of the music festival junket (I think festivals really require that you go with a crowd you love), but I do love the intimacy of smaller venues. As I get older, I have a harder time enjoying the big amphitheater outdoor concerts (not leastwise because the audio is not very great).

I appreciate Springsteen, but vocally, at times, I find him too earnest.

The coolness level on this thread makes a New England winter seem balmy.

Seriously, my music knowledge is sorely lacking especially when it comes to anything after the glory days of classic rock.

I have a feeling our decadal difference lends itself to totally different venues/artists.

I loooove Bruce Springsteen.

Camille, yaar, I'm glad to see you're blogging!

143 · boston_mahesh said

What did you have to secretly like this song? That song was one of the biggest hits of the '80s, and that band was *THE* biggest band of the '80s and part of the '90s. They were amazing. Are you ashamed of liking songs from DDLJ? Then why are you ashamed of liking "Sweet Child O' Mine"?

In most of the high schools I was aware of, cliques controlled everything. The popular girls listened to Sweet Child o' Mine; the goths I chilled with wanted nothing to do with it. I had enough problems, I didn't need a secret civility towards a stupid song causing more, among the few, depressed, elitist, proto-Pitchforkian friends I had. GnR may or may not have been a hair band, but we hated hair bands and their ilk and this was 1988, when we were surrounded by them-- not today, when the idea of a "hair band" feels ancient and Jon Bon Jovi looks damned-near preppy.

I'm glad you think GnR were amazing but that's your opinion and one I really don't share. :)

Finally and caustically, I can't stand 99% of Bollywood (must reserve 1% for Hema Malini), so yes, I possibly would be ashamed of liking a song from DDLJ. Why on this climate-warped earth would you assume I like a song from DDLJ?? Because I'm brown?

Camille, you precocious little sweetie, just say it, you think I'm an old fart.

One last thing, a Def Leppard concert...what were you expecting?

Rahul said

Let's just say I thought Spinal Tap was a real band.

Rahul, so you rock hard, huh? And word on the street is that your complexion is the only reason why the TSA gives you a hard time. Unlike your rock idols, who have trouble passing through the metal detectors because of their unusual accessories.

C'mon give us your best. when your not entertaining the masses what are you listening to?

And ancient or not, you're a classic. I quite enjoyed all (also: DJ Drrty, Harbeer, Muralimannered) your posts on this thread.

Bess, his favorite music is apparently the arias that escape the lips of his gropies, when.....[you know the drill, you're a woman of the world.

And ancient or not, you're a classic.

The drills of octaves leading to the exultant crescendo?

I've always believed that it ain't over till the lady sings.

(And to echo portmanteau, excellent pointers to songs all round, and I am constantly amazed at your knowledge of classical music, bess).

149 · Rahul said

The coolness level on this thread makes a New England winter seem balmy.

It's ice cold. Wait for it.

Lion, DJ Drrty,

Sorry for the delay in responding. Thanks for the Jimmy song. It's always good to be reminded to have a hat when needed, as well as those teabags.

Drrty, didn't realize Kool Moe Dee was named Mohandas. Desi brown or simply brown by law?

Except the winter IS relatively balmy :) 60 degrees two days ago? What is it, Spring?

If this keeps up the ghetto's going to get red hot. (Not suitable for work and you may need several ghetto dictionaries as well as a jamaican).

Or simply it just might be the time to head to Miami for a little taste of springtime love. (Umm, you may need to grab some bread for this cheese).

81 · Harbeer said

69 · muralimannered said

I would qualify that statement as gospel among music critics. I generally dislike music critics, whether rockist or otherwise (yes, to hell with pitchfork, frere-jones,NME and even simon reynolds)--the guitar solo may be egotistical in studio productions but it's also the warp and the weft of classical guitar compositions which I'll never deride as masturbatory. The guitar work i was referring to is generally not done alone, but in congress with several other instruments--it is occassionally stale in the studio but generally never when the music is live.

Fair enough. I just emailed a Stanley Jordan video earlier today, and I was rockin Miles Davis's Live/Evil last week and really digging the John McLaughlin solos. (Most things involving pre-1980s John McLaughlin rock my world--Bitches Brew, Shakti, Mahavishnu Orchestra, The Guitar Trio.)

Anybody hear the Shakti album that Santana played on--Love Devotion Surrender? (Apparently Zakir Hussein is playing in that clip but you can't really see or hear him.) Sick album. I'll have to replace it one day. (Been ten years since my apt in Brooklyn got burglarized and I still haven't rebuilt my collection.)

Shakti blew me away. My dream was to unite the shade of G. Harishanker, John Mclaughlin, Zakir, the shade of Palghat Mani Iyer, Dr. M Balamuralikrishna and Andy Gangadeen in a room with every known instrument and a great vat of bhang.

and thanks all who have added links/tunes/info, it's nice to know that Kasey Kasem and Clear Channel didn't destroy our capability to enjoy and seek out good music.

160 · Jangali Janwar said

Or simply it just might be the time to head to Miami for a little taste of springtime love.

Aww man, don't get me started on the electro--I'm really happy to see that stuff making a comeback. Egyptian Lover is getting around and playing dj sets again. Paul Hardcastle can't be too far behind. I think we may be headed for the Point of No Return, and I like it.

Technotronic vs M.I.A.

We haven't even started talking old school female MCs--Latifah, MC Lyte, Moni Love, Salt n Pepa...

And who can forget Tigra and Bunny?

161 · muralimannered said

Shakti blew me away. My dream was to unite the shade of G. Harishanker, John Mclaughlin, Zakir, the shade of Palghat Mani Iyer, Dr. M Balamuralikrishna and Andy Gangadeen in a room with every known instrument and a great vat of bhang.

Nice links, thanks. What do you think of Bill Laswell's Tabla Beat Science? I caught the live performance at Stern Grove in San Francisco (which has been released on cd) and it's one of my all-time top five shows. (I have about 30 shows that fall under the category of "all-time top five.")

technotronic!
I am so ready for the rink.
skates: check
comb in back pocket: check
hair feathered: check
head band on straight: check
tight gloria v. jeans: check

Harbeer will you couple skate with me?

163 · Harbeer said

Technotronic vs M.I.A.
We haven't even started talking old school female MCs--Latifah, MC Lyte, Moni Love, Salt n Pepa...

Wow..that's a whole other thread. What I find really interesting is that some of more recent desi names to make it big(ish) and even cross-over are desi women. M.I.A., Hard Kaur, DJ Rekha (doing it for years). I don't remember of many male desi acts making it to that kind of prominence to a mass market. The ladies are rockin it.

In terms of hip-hop, we should also probably bring in Stetsasonic. All that Jazz. And of course, Eric B and Rakim.

Thank You Harbeer and MM for the tabla links, I've been trying to expand that area of my knowledge. To all who provided links, who showed their musical tastes and shared their musical journeys, thank you.

that roller reminisce was meant for "point of no return"- solid gold moment

166 · bess said

Harbeer will you couple skate with me?

[Wipes palm sweat on jeans, clears throat.] Um, sure! [voice cracks, trips and falls]

167 · Jangali Janwar said

In terms of hip-hop, we should also probably bring in Stetsasonic. All that Jazz. And of course, Eric B and Rakim.

Don't forget Gang Starr. (Desi connection? Gifted Unlimited Rhymes Universal, aka Guru.)

167 · Jangali Janwar said

Thank You Harbeer and MM for the tabla links, I've been trying to expand that area of my knowledge.

In addition to being a pop-fusion icon,Talvin Singh actually even has some real jazz cred, having played with Sun Ra back in the day.

Of Course! Or Nice-n-Smooth. Or a combination of the two in Dwyck. Maybe you and Bess, can try skating again on Saturday.

171 · Jangali Janwar said

Of Course! Or Nice-n-Smooth. Or a combination of the two in Dwyck. Maybe you and Bess, can try skating again on Saturday.

Hell yeah! (I almost linked to Dwyck and Just to Get a Rep when I dropped the Gang Starr reference.)

"Lemonade was a popular drink and it still is / I get more props and stunts than Bruce Willis."

This could go on forever. Special Ed. Fu-Shnickens. Naughty by Nature. 3rd Bass. (Young Black Teenagers?) Kwame. Black Sheep. UMCs. Das Efx.

I better get back to work!!!

[Wipes palm sweat on jeans, clears throat.] Um, sure! [voice cracks, trips and falls]

I get more props and stunts than Bruce Willis

173 · bess said

I'll be Cybill to your Bruce.

Sweet. We could do it karaoke style and invite our little friend. (And given that video, I wonder how many threads I could tie up in a knot.)

And who can forget Tigra and Bunny?

I know this thread is dead, and that no one is going to read this, but I have a story to share:

Anyone else care to muse on past favorite concerts?

Phenomenauts: Slims. January 2005. The most unexpectedly awesome show I've ever seen. I originally came to see the Berkeley's legendary MTX and instead left a zealous neophyte of the opening band.

I normally reserve the same kind of staid, dismissive sentiment for the anonymous opening acts one's forced to sit through while waiting for the headliner that I do for "god-tauting charlatans" and other mediocre hacks trying to get their 15 minutes. Nonetheless, getting a good view in a general admission venue means getting there early, and I knew that being an hour early, standing by the monitors, listening to some local kids' insipid cover of an Elastica song would be worth the aggravation once Doktor Frank emerged half-sober, dropped his stethoscope, and picked up his axe. I had in tow with me two friends, shamed into attending: their punishment for claiming to be fans of the Bay Area punk scene and yet being completely ignorant of 924 Gilman? Accompany me to this show to get schooled by the original masters, and fidget in jealously as I get my original print MTX record signed, post show. After sitting through amateur night first, of course.

A potent mix of hunger and boredom finally extracted us from our primo spot, and we went upstairs to grab a bite while we waited it out. The next act came on, but we could barely hear them over the conversation of the diners. We sat idly at an in-desperate-need-of-being wiped-off table and people hipster-watched.

DJDP: The main act is totally worth the wait.

Friend: They better be. I'm freakin' starved. How much are the burgers here?

DJDP: Iunno. Like 8 bucks?

Friend 2: Total rip.

Friend: Huh? I can't hear you.

DJDP: What?

The din from the stage had suddenly becoming overpowering. Within minutes, the floor was shaking. UPSTAIRS. Dry ice smoke wafted in. We stared at each other. What was going on? Was this the end of days? Or did someone's gluttony at an erstwhile fish taco buffet finally catch up with them?

DJDP: WTF is going on down there?

Friend 2: Let's find out!

We scrambled down the stairs into a full-on phantasmagoria. The transition from dimly lit nightclub to illuminated mindf*ck was like something out of Narnia. The place was packed. Gone were the scruffy local kids and their couple dozen fans. They had been replaced by what appeared to be a space-faring Hazmat team, surrounded by flashing lights.

With crazy 50's styled guitars.

And giant balloons.

And robots.

And a Theremin.

And a moog (!).

And a man with a leafblower with a toilet paper roll attached to the end of it, TPing the entire crowd.

And a crowd going f*cking apeshit.

I don't really remember what happened next, but soon the blood was rushing to my head a little too fast as the gravity in the room was suddenly negated and we all become one, floating, pulsating, rocking biomass. As we hurtled through space and time, I could only make out glimpses of the band and my friend's ecstatic faces, but the strange mix of Brain Setzer, Devo, and an astrophysics lecture roared clearly in my ears.
We screamed in exhilaration, swam in euphoria. This wasn't like any other music I had experienced before; every song rocked you from the core and was instantly memorable, almost like you had heard it before. I had no choice, I danced.

Yea, me: the guy who looks like Corky from Life Goes On touching a downed power line every time I attempt the macarena was moved to motion. I twisted, gyrated, and waltzed. I may have even pirouetted.

We all danced, leapt, and frenzied. We had to maintain the momentum. The trip had been incredible, but we had to make it home. The band's encore had us vaulting even faster than before, as the moogs and Flying V's screeched and the drums clanged their final beats, I could see the trajectory of our final descent taking us back down past the Golden Gate...

Suddenly we fell from the ceiling, into a sweaty, disheveled, disoriented heap. The dulcet sounds that had previously been guiding us had now been replaced by exhausted murmurs and exaltations. Dazed, I stood up, dusted myself of, picked off bits of leaf-blown toilet paper, and realized that the headliner was about to start. The Phenomenauts were nowhere to be seen. All evidence of their existence? Gone. I gazed at my watch, confused. Even though we had hurtled through the universe for what couldn't have been longer than 30 minutes, my watch claimed that over an hour had elapsed. I looked over to the satisfied looking veteran punk to my left.

DJDP: Excuse me. WTF was that? And where'd they go?

Dude next to me: That was awesome. And they're long gone.

DJDP: How?

Anyone who has even the most tenuous understanding of general relativity understands that though only 30 few minutes have passed during our voyage, more than an hour has passed on Earth, allowing the band more than ample time to slip away to a distant star system. Off the top of my head, I'd describe it as the slowing of time in a frame of reference moving at nearly the speed of light relative to an observer, predicted by the theory of special relativity. I think it's referred to as time dilation. Wiki it sometime.

DJDP: Wiki? Time Dilation? What? Oh hey, Mr T Experience is coming on stage. Shh.

And so the final act had was here- what we had come for. MTX were awesome, as to be expected, but my friends and I were still intensely delirious from our astral autoschediasm, and unable to fully appreciate their set. They put on a good show, played not only the requisite hits but Doktor Frank, breaking with tradition, performed a live, acoustic version of "Even Hitler Had a Girlfriend" to honor an especially diehard fan who'd flown in from Norway. (Way to go, Fjnorn or whatever it is your name was.) I got my 7 inch of "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" signed, but not before asking the band "Dude, did you see the guys that were on before you??"

So there you have it, the best concert I ever saw. This story is entirely true.

Great story DJDP!

177 · No von Mises said

Great story DJDP!

That's high praise coming from SM's poet laureate himself! You just validated me spending over an hour writing that. (No, seriously.)

I'm dying to hear the NvM: Behind the Music on time-traveling bhangra shows. What was the last good one you saw?

DDJP, Poetic! Thanks for reminiscing. Theremin and moog, my kinda sound and I gotta thing for dorks in suits making great music.

Let's hear it NvM, the MvP of searing portraiture. I still think about your tribute to American muscle from so many moons ago.

Harb, Bess: Get a room rink.

I have a feeling our decadal difference lends itself to totally different venues/artists.

Mee-yow. So that's how these start.

I quite enjoyed all (also: DJ Drrty, Harbeer, Muralimannered) your posts on this thread.

Merci, but Mme Portmanteau, are you all repartee and no substance? What do you listen to?

Drrty, didn't realize Kool Moe Dee was named Mohandas. Desi brown or simply brown by law?

Legally brown, AFAIK.

DDJP, Poetic! Thanks for reminiscing.

You're welcome! All-nighters often have their own rewards. Thanks for taking poetic license with my initials.

Theremin and moog, my kinda sound and I gotta thing for dorks in suits making great music.

Mein gott, how have we not referenced Kraftwerk before? But have you heard The Phenomenauts? To say they're on a mission is an understatement.

Wow, is all I can say about NVM's post on muscle cars. DDJP - thank you for this post and the link to NVM, it's always good to see smart references to Einstein and out of body experiences.

Thanks for taking poetic license with my initials.

Oh gawd, stop the flattery people. Everybody climaxes at least once in their life -- and some just once.

The California leg of American tours have been mediocre (live bhangra acts are an item that actually benefits from the soft bigotry of low expectations). The best performance I've seen was The Dhol Foundation and DCS sharing the stage in London. Sixteen dholi's simultaneously, in tune, bangin' the hide! I don't know how to give that assault of all things reasonable its due. One dholi can drive a Punjabi banana's. Sixteen is another dimension of explosiveness. A lady friend yelled in my ear upon seeing the sleeveless, muscle-bound dholi's that she would sleep with anyone of them on the spot, no questions. I think I would have too but the thought hadn't entered my mind. DCS is quality in their own right but TDF are the premier live Punjabi act in my opinion. The track that capture's the performance is 'DCS meets TDF' or 'TDF meets DCS' and the only place I see it is on DCS' website if you go to their 'music' page.

The best songs I've heard live from a desi musician was Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's version of Akhiyan Udeek Dhian and Jagjit Singh's Dhai Din Na Jawani Naal Chaldi. Brought the house middle school auditorium down! The uncles got off their folding chairs, misused all movable joints, shouted "Wah!" "Kya baat hai!" "Hai hai!", dollar bills were flying, toddlers were picking them up, auntie's were blushing, the audio was squeeling, the venue reeked of catered samosas and chutney and a handful of sprightly teens were stealing kisses in the parking lot! The Jagjit Singh track isn't on youtube but when I hear it, I can smell scotch and cashews and picture shaggy yellow carpets because I heard that song in my uncles living room as a tot.

The uncles got off their folding chairs, misused all movable joints, shouted "Wah!" "Kya baat hai!" "Hai hai!", dollar bills were flying, toddlers were picking them up, auntie's were blushing, the audio was squeeling, the venue reeked of catered samosas and chutney and a handful of sprightly teens were stealing kisses in the parking lot! The Jagjit Singh track isn't on youtube but when I hear it, I can smell scotch and cashews and picture shaggy yellow carpets because I heard that song in my uncles living room as a tot.

Everybody climaxes at least once in their life

176 · DJ Drrrty Poonjabi said

Anyone who has even the most tenuous understanding of general relativity understands that though only 30 few minutes have passed during our voyage, more than an hour has passed on Earth, allowing the band more than ample time to slip away to a distant star system.

You remind me of Sun Ra. (The OG George Clinton, i.e. the OOG Kool Kieth, i.e. the OOOG Andre 3000.)

Sounds like a great show. Two of my favorites at Slim's (so far) have been The Boredoms and Polyphonic Spree. (What can I say, I have a soft spot for big noisy dissonance and saccharine harmony...)

I'm pretty psyched to see Grupo Fantasma there on 2/16 and AC/DShe on 3/1.

NVM--that's poetry.

183 · No von Mises said

The Jagjit Singh track isn't on youtube but when I hear it, I can smell scotch and cashews and picture shaggy yellow carpets because I heard that song in my uncles living room as a tot.

That is a great song and, yup, it's on the magic iPod, too.

183 · No von Mises said

The Jagjit Singh track isn't on youtube

Found it. (Though it's a horribly cheezed out version on old-school Saregama.) Starts at about 2:20.

Thanks for the ups guys, respek all around.

I'm pretty psyched to see Grupo Fantasma there on 2/16 and AC/DShe on 3/1.

When it comes to the wide word of female AC/DC cover bands, I always preferred Hells Belles, probably because their former lead singer was desi.

I'm heading for the exits from this incredible thread with Shodan's hardrocking tee on my back, shouting: "For those about to rock, we salaam you!"