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Bill Hicks : Salvation
By Greg Swan, on December 30th, 2005%
Bill Hicks
Salvation: Oxford November 11, 1992 [LIVE]
Label: Rykodisc
“‘Oh come on, Bill, they’re the New Kids [on the Block], don’t pick on them, they’re so good and they’re so clean cut and they’re such a good image for the children.’ Fuck that. When did mediocrity and banality become a good image for your children? I want my children to listen to people who fucking rocked. I don’t care if they died in puddles of their own vomit. I want someone who plays from his fucking heart.” -Bill Hicks
Salvation is an unique comic offering from Rykodisc. It’s a double CD that captures Bill Hicks’ Oxford Playhouse performance from 1992.
Continue reading Bill Hicks : Salvation
Bill Hicks : Sane Man
By Greg Swan, on December 30th, 2005%
Bill Hicks
Sane Man DVD, 1989
Studio: Rykodisc
“You see, I think drugs have done some good things for us. I really do. And If you don’t believe drugs have done good things for us, do me a favour. Go home tonight take all your albums, all your tapes and all your CDs and burn them. ‘Cause You know what the musicians that made all that great music that’s enhanced your lives throughout the years? RrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrEAL fucking high on drugs… The Beatles were so fucking high they let Ringo sing a few songs.” – Bill Hicks
Bill Hicks was never one to wait for anyone…
Continue reading Bill Hicks : Sane Man
NY Eve in the Twin Cities
By Greg Swan, on December 30th, 2005%
I posted rundown of local parties on my radar on the Minneapolis Metroblog.
If you’re still undecided about what to do, where to go and who to kiss, I recommend you check it . . . → Read More: NY Eve in the Twin Cities
2005 Tix Sales Report Drives Me to Drink
By Greg Swan, on December 30th, 2005%
Today Pollstar listed the Top 20 grossing tours of 2005. Overall ticket sales are down while prices are going up, and that gave reliable classic rock and pop divas (e.g. Rolling Stones, U2, Celine Dion, McCartney, Eagles, Elton John) the top spots.
While most of these artists have tix ranging from $50-100, it’s refreshing to see Green Day and Tom Petty making the list with tickets under $40. However, when you factor in Ticketbastard fees, every single show here is over $50.
This is indicative of the entire music industry right now…
Continue reading 2005 Tix Sales Report Drives Me to Drink
2005 Lists and Sony
By Greg Swan, on December 30th, 2005%
Local Lists
Ross Raihala has his Top 20 Local Albums listed here.
Pete Scholtes has more Top Ten lists here.
Sony’s back in the news, but it’s not good news
Sony BMG has settled their class action suit in NY, according to this post. Effectively is says they will recall rootkit infected CDs and stop manufacturing the current version. It doesn’t address a new version (i.e. Mediamax 6.0, which is purportedly on the way), and Sony retains the ability to enforce future copyright software akin to DRM. The settlement doesn’t give customers like me any $$$ or restitution for the invasion of privacy, corruption of . . . → Read More: 2005 Lists and Sony
Help for indy musicians
By Greg Swan, on December 28th, 2005%
From USA Today earlier this month:
Artists used to need a record label to be heard. Now, all they need is a powerful PC and a broadband connection. For any musician with at least a pinch of talent and a desire to perform, the Internet has become a godsend.
A new generation of websites — many of them started by people who came out of the music industry — are opening the business to thousands of artists and hobbyists who in the past had few ways to broadcast and sell their music.
It goes on to give a few cool resources for struggling, . . . → Read More: Help for indy musicians
iPod Video story featuring yours truly
By Greg Swan, on December 27th, 2005%
I was interviewed for Julio Ojeda-Zapata’s Pioneer Press story today about video iPods and conversion. Here’s the best part of the story, a full rundown of converters and content sites:
Continue reading iPod Video story featuring yours truly
Walker Facelift Leaves Bruises
By Greg Swan, on December 23rd, 2005%
Linda Mack has a fantastic story in today’s Star Tribune about Minneapolis’ beloved and world-reknowned Walker Art Center, which recently had much more than a facelift.
Continue reading Walker Facelift Leaves Bruises
Electropolis speaks!
By Greg Swan, on December 22nd, 2005%
This week we sat down with Michael Ferrier, electrosax pioneer and ambassador of Electropolis, the Minneapolis avant-garde psychedelic jazz quartet.
Ad-hoc improv with soulful experimentation from looped/distorted saxophones and trumpets, typewriters, conch shells, happy accidents and an obsession with sci-fi classics.
That’s Electropolis, and if they were an animal, can you guess what they’d be? For their thoughts on the current musical landscape, band geeks and that damned “My Hump†song, read on…
Continue reading Electropolis speaks!
Nice Peter announces '06 dates
By Greg Swan, on December 21st, 2005%
Local humorist/musician Pete Shukoff, a.k.a. Nice Peter, has announced new tour dates and a plea for votes in Chicago’s Q101 contest.
If you don’t know Nice Peter, be sure to check out the “Bush Song” video, complete with puppets, Hitler and Batman.
Upcoming tour dates:
Continue reading Nice Peter announces '06 dates
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