R 'n R Hall of Fame

It should be interestin' to see who shows up for the honors tonight. Expect REM to be lookin' good... with maybe a philosophical comment or two. Wonderin' if there will be any political statements from the Grandmaster crew. And wonderin' what percentage of what version of Van Halen will make it. (Hats off to Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony... from what I've heard, they'll be there... will the other players? ...and let's hope Eddie really can shake himself free from his devils.)

If you want two sides of the coin in music, you'll find it between the induction of the Ronettes and Patti Smith. The Ronettes inclusion is warranted on the stamp their music put on the soundtrack of the Sixties (arguments on producer influence put aside for now). Smith's contributions need to be recognized now (!) She's due.

Well, let'see what tonight brings...

Early Morning Music

We walk a road lined with signposts advertising pain, love, anxiety, hope, disillusionment, and grace. We are surrounded by events that spin around us and are out of our hands. We wake up each day and face the world with the faith of our choices and the promises of our decisions carried in our hands.

There is one kind of music that grasps and hangs onto, watches and comments on, breathes it all in and breathes it all out... the blues.

With a growl from Howling Wolf, a light note from Tampa Red, and tongue planted firmly in cheek... ain't a better way to chew on the depths of despair and the signs of salvation this world feeds us then to swallow some of it down and spit some of it out with a blues-tinged eye and a rye-soaked tongue to watch and comment...