08.05.10 - Uncle Mike's, Eagles Flight Night, Beatles

Sup everyone, and welcome to the latest edition of the Stolen Rhodes blog. My name is Dan and I will be your bass player today.

Last Saturday SR was in the great city of New York playing at Uncle Mike's in Tribeca. The atmosphere on stage and in the audience was electric (at least it appeared that way to me). There was never a dull moment in the SR set was we blazed through a 45 minute set that included the classic Peacemaker/Life Was Never Finer 1-2 opener and was also highlighted by over-the-top out of control renditions of Falling off the Edge and Keeps Us Moving.

Peacemaker
Life Was Never Finer
Brand New Cadillac
One Day Everyday
Sympathy for the Devil
Falling off the Edge
Keeps Us Moving

Keep your ears open for our next journey to New York City.

For those of you in Philly. TONIGHT!!!! make sure you get your tickets to Eagles Flight Night and make sure you get there when the gates open and check out Stolen Rhodes before the Eagles take the field. We'll be playing from 5-6:30 so make sure you get down to the Linc for the show.

In honor of Paul McCartney's visit to Philly next weekend, and the fact that myself and Matt will be playing a set of Beatles music at Doylefest 2010 (if you know about it, and you know how to get there, then you will be there); I will be talking a lot about the Beatles the next week or so. I'll be recommending albums, songs, solo stuff, guitar solos, and to start it off...McCartney's best bass lines.

10. I Saw Her Standing There
Upon first listen the song just sounds like your basic I-IV-V early 1960's rock and roll tune. Upon closer inspection of Macca's bass part you realize that his note selection is just another reason why the Beatles were years ahead of their time in the world of rock music. Not too mention I've tried singing and playing this song and I just can't figure out how he does it while keeping the groove. The perfect bass line to one of the most awesome rock and roll tunes ever.

9. Everybody's Got Something To Hide Except Me And My Monkey
This album track from the White Album truly is a gem that not enough Beatles fans know about. Underneath Lennon's rambunctious lyrics, and George's fuzz filled guitar is Macca doing his best James Jamerson impression. A classic funk filled Motownesque bass line is what really kicks this song up another notch.

8. And Your Bird Can Sing
Another classic album track, this time from Revolver. While this song is most memorable for the duel guitar lead of Harrison and McCartney, it is also Macca's beautifully flowing bass line that keeps this song (along with most songs and Revolver) in constant forward motion. The note selection for the bass line in the second bridge, and then the occasional octave hits during the verse are just another reason why Macca is one of the all time great musical minds.

7. Paperback Writer
First off, this song just rocks. End discussion. Add McCartney's creative use of a G7 arpeggio, and his call and response with Ringo before kicking into each of the songs four verses and you have yet another amazing two and a half minutes of rock and roll. The song is also notable as it is one the Beatles best vocal performances.

6. Taxman
No Beatles bass discussion can be done without this song. The song is driven by Macca's funk filled bass line that only gets dirtier during the songs bridge. Easily one of the greatest bass grooves ever. Not too mention Paul also plays a solid guitar solo on the tune.

5. All My Loving
Perfect example of Paul's knowledge of American jazz music. The bass line in this perfectly complements George's frantic lead guitar part. This song was one the Beatles earliest forays in taking jazz type chords and melodies and setting them to rock and roll music. Once again proving that as a songwriter they (Paul in this case) were years ahead of their time.

4. Rain
The B-Side to Paperback Writer is a song that many people don't give a full listen too. Upon first listen you hear the middle eastern vibe of the song, which was typical of many Beatles songs recorded during the Revolver sessions. Upon closer listen you hear McCartney playing just a beautiful melodic bass line that complements John's vocal line perfectly. His bass acts more like a piano in this tune, and is no doubt the lead instrument on the tune. If you're a bass player you need to give this one a listen.

3. With A Little Help From My Friends
Like Rain, With A Little Help From My Friends is a beautiful melodic bass line. Unlike Rain though this song takes melody and combines it with a driving rhythm to give this song its distinct feel. Sgt. Pepper's is also the Beatles album with Paul's best bass tone. It can be heard loud and clear on this tune and also on Getting Better (which just missed making this list).

2. Hey Bulldog
Definitely the most technically challenging bass line, Hey Bulldog moves at a feverish pace, full of sixteenth note syncopation, and creative melodic and rhythmic interpretation. Another example of McCartney playing a Jamersonesque bass line at times.

1. Something
Definitely the most beautiful bass line to the most beautiful love song ever written. Paul's and George are just at their musical best on this tune. Their bass and guitar parts, their vocal parts, and just the nature of the song in general. The bass line in the guitar solo is the most beautiful bass part ever written. Not too mention it complements one of the most beautiful guitar songs ever written. There can be no debate that this is the best Beatles bass tune (if not the best Beatles tune period).

07.29.10 - Album of the Day & Updates

Hey all,

Before we get to the album of the day I just want to remind everyone about this Saturday at Uncle Mike's in NYC. Doors at 8, and show at 8:30. We will be followed by our friends Big Blue Spruce. Epic is the only word that can describe what will be happening in Tribeca on Saturday night. Join us for a night of good times in NYC after the show.

Also a reminder to SR fans who happen to cheer on the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League. Make your way to the Linc on Thursday August 5 for Eagles Flight Night as SR will be the pre flight entertainment before the Eagles take the field at the Linc for the first time in 2010. Tickets are $10 for kids and $20 for adults. It's a night of fun for SR and Eagles fans of all ages.

Album of the Day:

As I was stumbling through my iTunes today I hit a forgotten southern rock gem that is overlooked by many rock fans. In 1987 the living members of Lynyrd Skynyrd reunited for the first time since the 1977 plane crash that killed singer Ronnie Van Zant; guitarist Steve Gaines; and Honkette Cassie Gaines. Skynyrd recruited Johnny Van Zant to replace his older brother behind the mic, and original guitarist (and Sweet Home Alabama songwriter) Ed King to take Gaines place. Randall Hall was brought in for Allen Collins on guitar as Collins suffered a car accident a few years earlier that left him paralyzed. Collins though served as musical director for the tour.

The resulting live album from the tour entitled Southern by the Grace of God has proved to be the high water mark of the band since their reforming in 1987. The album features the trademark triple guitar attack of Hall, King, and Gary Rossington, most noticeable of course on the epic Free Bird, which on the album is sung by the audience in Dallas, Texas. Though Van Zant lets the crowd takes Free Bird, he shines otherwise on the album which is chock full of Skynyrd classics such as That Smell, Swamp Music (a personal favorite of Kevin's), and You Got That Right. Bassist Leon Wilkeson proved that he hadn't missed a beat and shines on his trademark song What's Your Name. The highlight of the album though has to be the killer version of Call Me The Breeze, which features a hellraising fiddle solo by the legendary Charlie Daniels. Daniels also lends his voice along with .38 Special front man Donnie Van Zant to the classic Sweet Home Alabama.

After the success of the tour Skynyrd decided to keep chugging along, though pianist Billy Powell, Wilkeson, and Collins have all passed on since the recording of the album; while King and drummer Artimus Pyle have moved on from the group. Rossington and Van Zant continue under the name Lynyrd Skynyrd, and continue to tour constantly. The band has released plenty of albums since Southern by the Grace of God, but none have matched the magic of that original gathering. It is without a doubt the most worthy album to have the name Lynyrd Skynyrd printed on it since the reunion. Definitely worth a listen to if you are southern rock and/or guitar junkie.

07.27.10 - News, Upcoming Gigs, Album of the Day

Hello SR fans. We will be trying to make the Stolen Rhodes blog more of a reality now, with not only set list updates, and SR news; but also with journalistic type contributions. Such as album of the day, and insights on our favorite bands; albums; songs; guitarists; and such. Hope everyone enjoys the new format.

First off let me remind everyone about this Saturday in New York as SR will be hitting the stage at 8:30 at Uncle Mike's in Tribeca. We will be playing with our friends Big Blue Spruce. We also will be playing next Thursday August 5 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philly for Eagles Flight Night. We hope to see everyone there.

ALBUM OF THE DAY:

For this section of the blog we will obviously be highlighting a great album in the history of rock and roll, or funk, or country, or any genre of music that doesn't suck. You should then go listen to this album and enlighten yourself to its awesomeness. The first album up:

Back In Black - AC/DC

30 years ago AC/DC released this landmark hard rock recording. The album was a significant crossroad for the band, as it was their first since the death of original front man Bon Scott and the first with new front man Brian Johnson. The change in front man had no effect on Angus and company as they delivered not only another album of bone crushing guitar riffs, and masterfully crafted pentatonic scale guitar solos. Johnson stepped more than admirably into Scott's humongous shadow and has since created his own aura with the band that has lasted to this very day. The album itself boasts some of AC/DC's greatest work including Hells Bells, You Shook Me All Night Long, the title track, Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution, Shoot to Thrill, and Let Me Put My Love Into You Babe. Angus Young stands out all over the album with some of the most recognizable guitar riffs in rock and roll history, while Phil Rudd and Cliff Williams lay down back to basics rhythm tracks that help the album move along at a fever pitch.

The album itself was wildly successful world wide, as it is the #2 selling album all time only behind Michael Jackson's Thriller; and is the #5 selling album in the United States. The album relaunched the career of AC/DC and the band still enjoys wild success today and sells out stadiums and arenas wherever they tour.

We here at Stolen Rhodes recommend this album to any human being who just needs to hear a kick ass rock and roll album today. They really don't get more kick ass than this one.


See you in NYC this weekend.
SR