Bill Geist's Zeitgeist

When it's Not About the Next Election

I love Chicago. Maybe it's because I grew up in its shadow and I feel "at home" there...but, it's just such a perfect destination for the arts, culture, entertainment, sports and culinary. 

Except when you live in pockets of the city that have been ignored for decades; where crime and decay rule. That's the part of any city that breaks our heart.

Chicago has a new Mayor. And, she has a mountain to climb to fix what's wrong with her city while supporting all that is right.

A recent critique in Patch laid bare the challenges ahead. But, it also included a quote from Mayor Lori Lightfoot regarding the path forward that was as refreshing as an autumn morning: 

"And if it means that I sacrifice myself politically, so be it in pursuit of the right thing."

I so want to believe.

Everything Comes Back Around

A number of years ago, tired and late, I pulled up in front of my hotel in Wildwood NJ and let out a long sigh. It was a decidedly '60s hotel, the kind with keys (not cards) and room doors opening to the outside balcony. Not what I was expecting from the client who made the reservation.

Which was a good thing...because I was blown away as I walked into the lobby by the attention to detail the owners had exercised as they made this '60s hotel a '60s hotel. Black and white checkerboard tile floors, a jukebox, formica chairs and period lighting put a big smile on my face. Which broadened when I got to my room and found a lava lamp.

And, that's where the Howard Johnson brand has announced it's going with its remaining hotels...back to the '60s.

“Say ‘HoJo’ and people can’t help but to smile as they think back on the memories they’ve made with us over the decades,” said Clem Bence, the brand’s vice president of operations. He promises a "playful" re-design to evoke the nostalgia gene in everyone who remembers the iconic orange roofline, family road trips and fried clams.

Howard Johnson has committed $40 million to the mid-century redesign. It'll be worth every penny.

50 Years On

Woodstock. That it was 50 years ago this weekend seems impossible to those of us that were alive in the late 60s. I mean, that's half a freakin' century!

Music Friday already shared our two favorite moments from the three days of Peace & Music...Santana  & Sly. But, this weekend, let's delve into some of the more sublime moments of the festival.

Best Jam (and porn face) goes to Ten Years After.

The WTF moment when we met the amazing talent that was Joe Cocker.

The Power of Janis Joplin.

And, of course, Country Joe.

That all but Country Joe are now jamming in heaven's house band is a struggle to reconcile.

What a short strange trip it's been.

 

Paul & Joe

Paul McCartney's just completed Tour Across America continues to accumulate raves for the sensational production as well as the length of performance. We missed him when he was in Madison due to client commitments...but our friends simply raved.

On this Music Friday, we share a video from his last show in LA. This is Paul welcoming none other than Joe Walsh on stage to shred "Golden Slumbers." 

Fun.

Mustang Sally

Some called him the first "rock star" corporate CEO. The man behind the Ford Mustang and the revitalization of Chrysler, Lee Iaccoca, departed terra firma earlier this week at the age of 94. 

I'm old enough to remember the rabbit he pulled out of a hat to save Chrysler, but didn't know his back story on the iconic muscle car.

On this Music Friday, we offer a tip of the hat to the man that helped turn driving into so much fun with this version of the '60s classic "Mustang Sally" by Buddy Guy and Jeff Beck.

Tops down...

Woodstock 50

It was a cool and ambitious idea. Recreate the magic of the Woodstock Music Festival on its 50th anniversary.

But, cool and ambitious ideas often flounder...and it increasingly sounds as if the festival that promised acts such as Santana, Dead & Company, Robert Plant, Nathanial Rateliff, Gary Clark, Jr., David Crosby, Common, David Crosby and scores of others may be a no-go.

On this Music Friday, let's go back to the original (honestly, how can it be 50 years ago?) for two of the performances that defined the event for me:

Santana's "Soul Sacrifice" and Sly & the Family Stone's "Higher."

50 years later...still blisteringly relevant.

The Enigma that was Leon Redbone

We lost two of the most unique and iconic musical stylists to emerge from the 1970s over the past week, as Leon Redbone and Dr. John departed terra firma. As both deserve their own tribute, I'll feature Dr. John next Friday. 

One of my favorite Leon Redbone moments was in the early 1980s when Budweiser featured the enigmatic artist in a TV commercial. My guess is that 90% of America (and, I'm being generous) had no idea who Leon Redbone was...but somebody on the creative team did and thought featuring him in this beyond surreal (for the era) commercial was a good idea. That person was likely fired immediately or went on to a stellar career.

In an era in which there were often cross-over acts between musical genres...almost nobody was doing the music of the 30s and 40s. And yet, Leon Redbone did...and got away with it. Those in the business adored him. Those on the outside...well?

He only had one song that made the Top 100...but his influence was unmistakable.

One this Music Friday, we say farewell to Leon Redbone with "Seduced."

If you missed his life, this short-form documentary has just been released.

Enjoy the next plateau, Leon...we enjoyed your time-tripping on terra firma.

Rockin' GoT

Sunday posts are rare for me. But tonight's finale of Game of Thrones is no small event.

Every Friday, we offer a rare music find (or offer up a tribute to an artist that has transitioned to the next level). But, this amazing performance just can't wait 'til next Friday. It has to be enjoyed today.

Rockers Tom Morello (Prophets of Rage), Scott Ian (Anthrax) and Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme) take on the Game of Thrones theme, in a decidedly rock style. Toss in showrunner Dan Weiss and original composer Ramin Djawadi for authenticity. And, coolest of all, they invite country star Brad Paisley to join in...who just shreds it.

My long lost brother from another mother shared this on my Facebook timeline yesterday...and I just must share it with you.

As we prepare to say farewell to Winter...let's rock the theme for "Game of Thrones."

The Power of Music

Yes, Music Friday is still a day away. But, this is just too cool not to share.

Last Sunday, the Handel and Hayden Society played Boston's Symphony Hall. A 9-year old boy was in attendance with his grandfather. And, at the close of the orchestra's performance of Mozart's "Masonic Funeral Music," before the crowd erupted into applause, that boy, described by family members as "primarily non-verbal," exclaimed "wow."

Just wow.

The backstory and audio of that amazing moment are HERE.

Music (like Tourism) is transformative. Maybe that's why they both mean so much to me.

Chris Farley

Yeah, I know it's a Music Friday. But, Adam Sandler's turn as host of SNL last weekend has me thinking of the song he closed with about his friend Chris Farley.

Chris was a Madison boy...and that sensibility was a big part of his appeal on the international stage. While we hate how it all ended, we couldn't be prouder of the kid from Maple Bluff, who was chronicled so well in the documentary "I Am Chris Farley."

Somewhere, in the boxes upon boxes of video and audio cassettes I've yet to unearth after a succession of moves, I have a video I shot of Chris and Tom Arnold jumping on stage, totally unplanned and unannounced at the Taste of Madison in the early '90s, tearing through an R&B classic with Madison's O'Bros (and WJJO's Johnny Danger on bongos). I will find that video and I will share it...but, gimme time. There are a lot of boxes.

In the meantime, you may have seen the SNL performance of Adam's tribute to Chris. But, this compilation video from Netflix is so much better.

Hard to believe it's been over 20 years. RIP Chris...and, thank you Adam for such a touching salute.