Musical Musings

I’m a rock fan.  I prefer pounding drums, wailing guitar solos and singers with passion that verges on a scream. And I don’t think that’s ever going to change.

Working at Free-FM, a rock station, has opened my ears to all sorts of new bands I wouldn’t normally be exposed to.   I’d remain in my safe little blanket of Aerosmith (the older, non-ballad stuff), Boston, Supertramp and other so-called classic rock groups.  In recent years I’ve come to enjoy the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters and a few others but not on a wide scale.  I would hear my friends at FM96 refer to The Trews and a host of other acts but it never occurred to me to check them out.  Now, at Free, I have no choice.  And let me tell you: I’m a Trews fan – who knew?

I also love the Black Keys, as does the rest of the free world.  And if all the members of Led Zeppelin were dead, I’d say Rival Sons were their reincarnated heirs apparent.  When I listen to these songs I crank the next one a little higher than the last until I wish my volume knob went up to 11, like in Spinal Tap.  “It’s one louder!”

Verily I say unto my fellow middle-aged farts who think all of the great music is in the past: open thine ears!  There’s some excellent new music being made. For every poppy teenager and flat-voiced diva that makes it onto the radio, there’s a killer rock band that’s just itching to be heard.  You just have to try a little harder to find them.  If your musical taste matches mine, enjoy Rival Sons and Pressure and Time.   As Johnny Fever on WKRP would say, “Rock on, babies!”