Keyboard aficionados have recently celebrated the anniversary of Laurens Hammond filing his first patent application for the electric organ in 1934. Yes, this was the first step toward the legendary Hammond B3 electric organ and the models that followed it.
There were other electric organs before the B3 and there have been others after, but nothing sounds like the growl of a vintage B3 with its tubes hot and glowing, running through a rotating Leslie speaker. The B3 was a beast, weighing in at over 400 pounds.
In the spirit of commemoration, here is a list of records that feature the Hammond electric organ in all of its majesty, with the keyboard player listed in each instance.
Booker T. and the M.G.’s – “Green Onions” (Booker T. Jones)
Allman Brothers – “You Don’t Love Me” (Gregg Allman)
Deep Purple – “Hush” (John Lord)
Yes – “Roundabout” (Rick Wakeman)
Zombies – “Time of the Season” (Rod Argent)
Procol Harum – “Whiter Shade of Pale” (Matthew Fisher)
Emerson, Lake and Palmer – “Hoedown” (Keith Emerson)
Argent – “Hold Your Head Up” (Rod Argent)
Ticket Alert
This just in: Bun B and special guests will perform the UGK (Underground Kingz) album Ridin’ Dirty in celebration of the disc’s 30th anniversary. The show is set for Saturday, August 1, at the Smart Financial Centre. Presales begin tomorrow, with the general sale on Friday.
Though the band is now a punchline (“More cowbell!”) in some circles, let it not be forgotten that Blue Oyster Cult was a juggernaut during the ‘70s, contributing classic songs like “Cities on Flame with Rock and Roll,” “ETI” and “Burnin’ for You” to the canon. Lead vocalist Eric Bloom and guitarist Buck Dharma are still leading the band, and tickets are on sale now for BOC’s concert at the Stafford Centre on Saturday, August 1.
Kacey Musgraves is classified as a country artist, but musically and lyrically, she often colors outside those lines. And how many other country stars are happy to discuss their homemade gravity bongs with interviewers? Musgrave, idiosyncrasies and all, will play Toyota Center on Monday, October 5. Presales are in progress now, with the general ticket sale set for Friday.
He’s not quite in the league of George “No-Show” Jones, Morrissey has gained a well-deserved reputation for flaking at the last minute, blowing off the gig, and disappointing fans. He’s scheduled to perform at the 713 Music Hall on Sunday, November 1, so we’ll see what happens. For some reason, showtime is listed as 8:20 p.m. This may have to do with the fact that Morrissey has been showing a 40-minute video prior to his appearance on stage, which would mean that the concert itself would start at the industry-standard time of 9 p.m. Or maybe he’s just being persnickety.
Is it a brave or a stupid move on the part of Usher and Chris Brown? The two singers were already booked for two nights at NRG Stadium (Friday and Saturday, October 9 and 10), but now a third show has been added, on Tuesday, November 24. The October 9 show is, aside from a few single seats, sold out, but plenty of tickets remain for October 10 and, now, November 24. With some acts canceling concerts and even entire tours due to poor ticket sales, you have to wonder. As an old boss used to tell me, “My boy, never let greed overrule reason.”
Concerts This Week
Flatpicking phenom Molly Tuttle and singer-songwriter Maggie Rose will join forces for a co-headlining concert at the Heights Theater on Thursday. While the two artists are billed separately, it sounds like some onstage collaborations will probably occur, based on Gladys Fuentes’ Houston Press interview with Rose.
You can’t really confuse the Flaming Lips with any other band. I mean, how many lead singers walk / crowd surf over fans encased in a transparent plastic bubble like the Lips’ Wayne Coyne? A Flaming Lips show is always musically and visually intriguing, and Houston will get a dose of the band’s appealing weirdness on Thursday at the White Oak Music Hall.
The Dave Matthews Band has made a habit of starting its summer tours at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, and this year is no exception. The band hasn’t released an album of new material for a couple of years, but as has been the case with similarly inclined outfits like Phish, it really doesn’t matter. The DMB faithful just like to get together, renew the community connection, and dance their asses off. Catch Matthews and company on Friday at the Pavilion.
And speaking of jam bands that have constructed a thriving scene around themselves, moe. is at the Heights Theater on Tuesday. Over the course of three-plus decades, moe. has offered fans more than just concerts: many music festivals, jam-themed cruises, and shows where audience members can ice skate while the band plays. Now that’s entertainment.
