Blog Archives

“She Caught The Katy” . . . : Taj Mahal

Posted on November 15, 2020 by RoyMusicUSA — Leave a comment

I don’t know about you but I can use some music that puts a smile on my face. . . Most of the time when people think of the blues, they think sad music about suffering. Then there is Taj…

“Playing To The Tide” . . . : The Good Ol’ Grateful Deadcast Deep Dive Into Workingman’s Dead

Posted on October 12, 2020 by RoyMusicUSA — 1 Comment

This past June was the 50th anniversary of the seminal Grateful Dead album Workingsman’s Dead. This was my introduction to the Dead. My brother and I had spent the summer at a bungalow colony up in the Catskill Mountains of…

“Don’t Ask Me What I Think Of You”. . : Peter Green (1946 – 2020)

Posted on August 5, 2020 by RoyMusicUSA — Leave a comment

I always said that one of the advantages of being a bassist is that you can get to the opportunity to play and learn from some good guitarists (if you’re lucky). A great guitarist who I played with a great…

Tagged with: Blues, blues guitar, Fleetwood Mac, John Mayall, Peter Green
Posted in Blues, Classic Rock, Music Appreciation and Analysis

“Oh, Say Can You See” . . . : Jimi Hendrix and The National Anthem

Posted on July 4, 2020 by RoyMusicUSA — Leave a comment

When does a musical performance become much more than just a musical performance? When does such a thing become iconic? Hendrix’s rendition of the National Anthem at Woodstock is certainly on most lists of iconic rock guitar performances. What’s interesting…

Tagged with: Jmi Hendrix, Jose Feliciano, National Anthem, Woodstock
Posted in Classic Rock, Music Appreciation and Analysis

“It’s Not Unusual” . . . : This Is Tom Jones T.V. Show

Posted on June 28, 2020 by RoyMusicUSA — 1 Comment

Continuing the T.V. nostalgia theme from the previous post, I remember sometimes watching Tom Jones on television. This was a little before my awareness of rock music kicked in so I really wasn’t that into it. In hindsight that was…

Tagged with: Crosby Stills Nash & Young, CSNY, Janis Joplin, Joe Cocker, Tom Jones, Wilson Pickett
Posted in Classic Rock, Music Appreciation and Analysis

“The World Sucks, Come Watch T.V.” . . . . : In Concert And The Midnight Special

Posted on June 15, 2020 by RoyMusicUSA — Leave a comment

Nobody exists on purpose Nobody belongs anywhere Everybody’s gonna die Come watch T.V. – Rick and Morty I am a pessimist by nature. Over the course of the last several years that pessimism has morphed into a Rick Sanchez like…

“When The Living Was Easy” . . . : Gershwin’s Summertime

Posted on May 21, 2020 by RoyMusicUSA — Leave a comment

Normally (yeah, what’s that now . . ) the end of May would be the start of summer with thoughts of vacation plans, beaches, outdoor concerts (yeah, about that . . .) The song Summertime was written by George Gershwin…

“That Was Then, This Is Now” . . . : Musical Flash Mobs

Posted on April 23, 2020 by RoyMusicUSA — Leave a comment

A reminder of a different time. A time when people gathered in public places casually, going about their business until they notice that the person beside them is carrying a bassoon. And that person coming up the escalator is holding…

“Quarantine Is Painless” . . . : Musical Mashups For Your Amusement

Posted on April 5, 2020 by RoyMusicUSA — Leave a comment

As I understand it a musical mashup is the blending together of two or more existing songs, by superimposing the melody of one song over the backing track of another. The practice has existed for centuries but with modern DJ…

“Don’t You Let That Deal Go Down” . . . : Learn Jerry Garcia’s Solo From Deal (7/4/89 Buffalo)

Posted on February 29, 2020 by RoyMusicUSA — 1 Comment

I had lunch the other day with my old friend Errol. Errol is an excellent guitarist and we have been in bands together on and off for about forty years. Errol is currently in an excellent Jam band based in…