I love when talented people make noise !

The greatest DVD live concert video of all time !

larrycornelius — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 22:24:38 +0000

When I can find time one of my favorite things to do is put on one of my ” way to many” DVD live concerts. I dont think I have to many but others seem to say I do. I have been going back to ones that I have seen many times over and over again recently. I love the America 9-11 telethon recording, Vol 1 of the Old Grey Whistle Test, The Johnny Cash Show complete set, and The Three Pickers videos. I have seen them all many times. There is one that I have revisited at least 10 times and it was just released in late 2005. The movie is called Lightning in a Bottle ” A one night history of the blues” and is so much fun to watch. This show was produced in 2005 by Martin Scorsese and has Stanley Jordon ( awesome drummer withe a long resume) as musical director. Where do I start ? Solomon Burke killing it with Down in the Valley — worth the price of the DVD alone. Ruth Brown strutting her stuff and Odessa yelling at the band because they were making her sing to loud. Old classic vids and interviews of Son House and John Hooker. James ” Blood” Ulmer singing one of my favs – Sitting on Top of the world. Keb Mo and Bonnie Raitt do their thing !! Buddy Guy tears it up on Hendrix tunes and even comes back out on stage to tear up a version of VooDoo Child. I just cant say enough about this evening. If you were there you experienced something so special that I am envious. Go get this ! Explore the blues ! Rock and Roll would not even be around with out it !!!

Yes Sir – I am over 40 and love hip hop !!!

larrycornelius — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 14:45:16 +0000

My first album was The Who Tommy. I loved listening to them and also Jimi Hendrix in the early 80s. I thought I was way to cool to listen to Pop music at the time. You know, Journey, The Fixx, Supertramp, ELO. All I put on the turntable was Stones, Floyd, Who, Neil Young ect….. Over the years I had a revelation. I noticed that listening to the same type of music over and over is the best way to get bored with music. With that being said, around 15 years ago I decided that all music was good music and I am open to everything. You hopefully will never hear me say I don’t like any musician. I believe if you make any music that a few people like you have talent for sure. The only thing wrong with Pop music is the fact that the listener does not have the feeling that it is someone that only they love and not the masses. This leads me to discuss one of the most influential artist of the last 20 years. My boy Kanye West !!! I always enjoyed the Fugees, RZA, Jay-Z, Dr Dre and others before Kanye. Just think Kanye is more than just a hip hop songwriter, performer, and producer. We will be talking about him in 50 years with the likes of Prince, Stones, and others. Not MJ or Elvis — they only come once every 50 years or so. I will never forget going to see Kanye on the first real American tour backing College Dropout. There were around 3000 fans and just a handful of caucasians. Here I am in a row of real fans getting ready for the show and a dude looked at me with a real questionable face and says ” You listen to Kanye ?” I said ” I don’t listen to him – I hear him ?” Great moment — we were all the same and had a great time that evening. Actually think the couple behind us conceived a child that evening. By the way — go see him live and you will change any opinion of him. Everything he does is real and calculated. Marketing classes should study him in textbooks !!

Why do I love this MGMT band so much ??

larrycornelius — Thu, 20 May 2010 02:25:30 +0000

Around 2 years ago I went with my bride to see Beck. We are getting older and it seems lately we dont show up to the gigs till the show starts. For some reason we were there and hour before Beck went on stage and it was a great thing. MGMT was the opening act and I had heard some great review but just did not take time to listen. When they came on stage all I could think about was how well they sounded and how cool the sound was. I was thinking Syd Barrett era Pipers and the Gates before Gilmore Floyd. I thought that they were kind of shy and not pretentious as we find in many young bands. Check out the vid below. If you dont have the 2 albums I would recommend. I predict big things !!!

Nickel Creek — oh where, oh where has this little band gone :(

larrycornelius — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:35:31 +0000

I will never forget the first time seeing this group of kids at an outdoor festival over 13 years ago. They were so young and shy. The were absolutely AWESOME !!! We are talking about musical talents that just do not come along that often. Instruments are one thing, songwriting was another. Song after song that was put together by teenagers with the feeling that they had done this forever. They had done it forever. The band had stressed that they are not a bluegrass band, but a band that “incorporates bluegrass into its music”. I remember them covering songs by Weezer, Radiohead, Coldplay, Bob Dylan, The White Stripes, The Jackson Five and Britney Spears just to name a few. Late 2007 was the last show. Wanted to go out on top. I think the constant touring as kids and young adults was just taking its tool. Just cant make good money anymore in music without the touring that will ultimately kill you. I went to the 3rd to the last show in Wichita Kansas. The tour finished off with two sold out days at the Ryman. They looked like kids on the stage and it was hard to believe that it had been over 18 years as a band. Sure hope they get back together one day. Find them and take a listen when you have time.

RIP Vic Chesnutt

larrycornelius — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 01:49:00 +0000

What a horrible end to the year for one of our great American songwriters. Vic Chenutt passed away after Christmas and it was his plan to do so. Vic wrote some great music and lyrics that really addressed quirky topics and most always had a very pleasant take on the subject. I learned of Vic thru my following of REM, WSP, and other Athens based bands.

This clip was just recorded in Sept of this year. Vic has been in a lot of pain lately. Please watch at least up to the 3 minute mark. The band gets going about then.

RIP my man.

New Years Eve !!!

larrycornelius — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 03:35:41 +0000

Music has always been a large part of my new years eve celebrations. One thing that is always a common theme is I have always played Prince 1999 right at the stroke of midnight if I could. At first it was a song about the future, now it has another theme. No matter what it is always a great party song that will never feel outdated or old. Prince is one of the best of all time. I once heard that he he never listens to anyone else music but his own. Only Prince could pull this statement off and not get some serious backlash.

I live in the music mecca of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma !! Middle America baby — we do get our fair share of great shows and we do have some interesting bands hail out of our state. The Flaming Lips have been a Warner Bros stall worth forever. I very hardworking group of creative musicians that have prospered perfect here in the bible belt. One new years the band spent the evening playing favs and after the stroke of midnight for the next 1.5 hours the band entertained everyone with a neat showing of Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon. You could not ask for a better band to re arrange this epic album. The sights and sounds were perfect and am sure Dave and Roger would have been proud. If you get a chance to listen to it don’t expect the original sound and recording. It would be wrong to try to do it this way.

Welcome to my music and technology blog !!

larrycornelius — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:57:13 +0000

Well here it is, the blog I have wanted to do for a few years. Am I a writer ? Heck no !! Am I passionate about music and technology ? Heck yes !!!

With that being said,

I sure hope you make time to bookmark this page and come back every now and then for a quick read. I plan to discuss music, concerts, technology in the music business, and issues currently surrounding the state of music.

One thing I pride myself on is that I will never be a music snob. You who I am talking about. The condescending record store employee that thinks they know everything. I purchased my first LP in 1981 ( The Who’s Tommy) and I have never stopped being the ultimate misic consumer. I have recently become what I never thought I would be. A purveyor of music for free !! I can’t believe that this is what is has become. I am playing the game and pray for the young artist making a living.

My plan is to do this fast and furious without much regard for spelling or grammer. Please excuse this. My wonder is how I will ever find time to keep this going.

Misic is all around, all you have to do is listen.