You’ve gotta give them credit. Nobody knows how to pimp a new record better than the Rolling Stones. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have been everywhere over the past few weeks, laying on the charm with journalists while reminding everyone that the Stones’ Foreign Tongues has just been released. Mick recently sat down with the New York Times for a lengthy interview which briefly veers away from rock and roll to discuss his interest in philosophy, particularly the writings of Emmanuel Kant. This week, he’s the featured guest on the Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast.
Keith has been busy as well, talking with the Wall Street Journal and joining Mick and Ronnie Wood for some high-profile television interviews.
It is said that Keith put the kibosh on a Stones tour this year. The possibility of some residencies has been mentioned, but that seems to be a definite “maybe.” Keith’s problems with arthritis certainly contributed to his stance, not to mention the fact that he is – to paraphrase my sainted mother when she is requesting a bit of license because of her advanced age – eighty-fucking-two years old.
So what about the new album? Cutting to the chase, it is a strong effort, one that sounds pretty darn youthful considering that most people the Stones’ age are concerned with making it to the restaurant in time for the early-bird special or looking for a sale on Metamucil at the CVS. The opening cut, “Rough and Twisted,” is perhaps the standout of the bunch, greasy and sleazy with plenty of Ronnie Wood slide guitar. And it does my heart good to see that it has an “Explicit” warning attached to its online streams.
“Hit Me in the Head” also packs a punch, and the cover of Chuck Berry’s “Beautiful Delilah” which closes the album brings things full circle, returning the Stones to 1964 when they performed the song on BBC Radio. With a plethora of celebrity guests including Paul McCartney, Robert Smith, Bruno Mars (on cowbell!), Chad Smith, Steve Winwood and Benmont Tench, the record has an almost party-like vibe. And capturing the Stones still having fun making new music is a wonderful thing indeed.
Ticket Alert
In the minds of many, country music is strictly an American province. But don’t tell that to Wade Forster, an Australian musician and former rodeo competitor (how authentic is that?) who has managed to horn in on the C&W thing with some chart success in his native country over the past couple of years. Now Forster has his sights set on the United States. To that end, he will launch a U.S. tour this fall, a trip which includes a stop at the Heights Theater on Wednesday, September 23.
Tripping Daisy came out of Dallas in the early ‘90s with a sound that mixed the alt-rock of the day with some throwback psychedelia. Catch the band at the Heights Theater on Wednesday, October 10, when Tripping Daisy will perform its breakout album, I Am an Elastic Firecracker, in its entirety, plus a variety of hits and deep cuts.
Brian Setzer, the front man for the Stray Cats, has dealt with a couple of serious health matters over the past few years, the most serious being an autoimmune condition which, for a time, left him unable to play the guitar and led to the cancellation of a tour last year. Good news for those who still want to feel “Sexy and 17”: Setzer says he is good shape now, and the band is back on the road, heading to the Smart Financial Centre on Thursday, November 12.
Concerts This Week
Paul Thorn is a man of many talents. He’s been a boxer, an aspiring stand-up comedian and a wannabe ventriloquist. But what we’re focusing on here is Thorn’s musical and songwriting abilities, which have earned him much respect in the worlds of Americana and singer-songwriters. Humor is still a part of his act, however, with Thorn taking time between numbers to tell the stories behind his song, much like one of his inspirations, the great John Prine. Catch Thorn on Friday at the Heights Theater.
For a variety of reasons (enumerated here), Pink Floyd will never tour again. That’s the bad news. The good news is that there are two more than capable Floyd tribute acts to satisfy the jones for “Money,” “Wish You Were Here” and “Comfortably Numb.” As Classic Rock Bob explained in the Press earlier this week, both Brit Floyd and the Australian Pink Floyd Show will be in town this weekend, with the Brits at the Bayou Music Center on Friday and the Aussies at the Smart Financial Centre on Sunday. I’m partial to Brit Floyd, but both acts do an admirable job of resurrecting the Floyd magic (complete with outstanding production elements), so you can’t go wrong either way.
Texas has a long and proud tradition of badass guitar players: T-Bone Walker, Freddie King, Stevie Ray Vaughan et al. Kind of an embarrassment of riches, really. So the appearance of the Texas Headhunters should come as no surprise, boasting not one, not two, but three of the Lone Star State’s finest plank spankers, Jesse Dayton, Ian Moore and Johnny Moeller, all in one band. The fretboard fireworks are set for Saturday at the Charles Bender Performing Arts Center in Humble.
Flatland Cavalry had its origins in Midland, where Cleto Cordero and Jason Albers began performing together while they were roommates in college. The duo eventually ended up transferring to Texas Tech, which took them to Lubbock, the land of Buddy Holly, Jimmy Dale Gilmore, Butch Hancock and Joe Ely. Cordero and Albers formed a proper band, and it’s been tall cotton ever since. Catch the Cavalry on Saturday at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion.
