Flashback: 1985 The scene: My home in Knoxville, Tennessee, shortly after 6:00 p.m. Cast: Me (16 years old), My Dad (much older) Background: My Dad was the manager of a local Holiday Inn near the University of Tennessee campus and downtown Knoxville. Every now and then, bands who were playing in the area would stay there. This conversation occurred mere months after I was deeply scarred by the Prince/Purple Rain tour debacle. Dad, just arriving home from work: “Oh! I wanted to tell you. This group of kids is staying in the hotel…” Me: “A group of kids???” Dad: “Yes. A musical group.” Me, growing more excited since I was…
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If Only My Card-Carrying Teenage Music Fanatic Self Could Have Carried Cards Like These…
When I was a teenager in the 80’s, music videos were a new phenomenon. (Wow, that sentence screams old.) The launch of MTV in 1981 (who remembers which video was played first? The answer is at the end of this post.) made it possible for music fans everywhere–especially teens–to enjoy their favorite acts at a higher level than ever before. The visual experience of music videos back then was something to behold: most videos had a storyline and were shot like mini films. Most teenagers watched MTV during every waking moment, waiting for their favorite videos to appear in the rotation. Or maybe that was just me. For me, one…
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Lenny Kravitz In Chicago: A Summary In Tweets, Pics, And, Of Course, A Few Words…
It seems like months ago when I first wrote about the Lenny Kravitz concert in Chicago for which I, at the time, only hoped our family would be able to procure tickets, but it’s been less than a month. In that time, my sister and J got the tickets for us (two in the fifteenth row on the floor and three on the second row of the front balcony) while Jim and I were on our cruise by setting up an elaborate “Lenny Ticket Headquarters” which was made up of several computers, with phones on standby. They worked really, really hard to get those tickets. After they got the tickets,…
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DJ Remix
About a month ago, J purchased a new “toy” for himself. He’s been practicing his DJ skills on a regular basis, and was finally able to set up his camera and record himself mixing so I could share it with you he could share it with his friends. Don’t feel any pressure from me to watch the whole thing: the mix he does in this six-minute video is made up of somewhat subtle movements. It fascinates the heck out of me, though, and I could watch all day long (not just because he’s my kid, mind you). I couldn’t stop smiling the first time I watched it. Or the second.…
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We’re In!
Remember the concert I wrote about the other day? I’m relieved to report that everything worked out: we’re going! Look out Lenny, we’re coming atcha!