Some Chicago Boyz know each other from student days at the University of Chicago. Others are Chicago boys in spirit. The blog name is also intended as a good-humored gesture of admiration for distinguished Chicago School economists and fellow travelers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFvhd–qDDU&feature=related
(Punk rock was a pan-Anglospheric phenomenon that was invented independently in Britain (Sex Pistols), USA (Ramones) and Australia (Saints) at the same time. This almost freakish simultaneous cultural outbreak shows that the world was, somehow, some way, ripe for this new approach. The new generation of rock’n’roll was a spirit wandering the Earth, struggling to be born in audible form.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzTw4PYfROU&feature=youtube_gdata_player
“To the centre of the city in the night, waiting for you.”
Lollapalooza 2011 is happening now at Grant Park in Chicago. Friday was the first day and it was HOT during the day (and not too terrible late in the evening).
Lollapalooza always has interesting people to watch. Upper left – no idea why you’d want a tattoo of a sailor on one leg and a Hawaiian dancing girl on the other leg or what that might signify. Upper right – they have an amazing row of portable toilets, stretching as far as the eye can see. This is mid-set at Muse; around 8pm (when everyone was trying to get in before the headliners I heard the lines were 10 deep at every single one of them). While not related to this post my favorite porta-john links are right here. Lower left – the girl was very dedicated to her hula hoop. She “hooped” all afternoon and into the night, when it lit up. She didn’t seem to talk to anyone, this was her “gig”. Lower middle – trying to beat the heat and stay out of the sun on the slope by the south stage near the cabanas for the rich and famous. Lower right – monkey bus on the way out.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Ud9I4ttQ1w&feature=related
Also this. And this. And, OK, one more.
(Those were the days. God bless YouTube. Sergio Mendes was a genius. At some point he said to himself: “OK, I am a great musician, and I know what the world wants to hear, what it’s hungry for, which is cool, jazz-tinged, Brazilian-flavored pop. I can already see those hit records and hear the cheering crowds … . But this is the age of TV, and I’m kind of homely.” (Smacks forehead) “I know, I will get two really cute girl singers with really great voices, put them in miniskirts, and put ’em out front.” The rest is history. Thanks, Sergio. Love ya, babe.)
UPDATE: Whoa. Cool. Tom Jones — of course! — ends up dancing with the two babes and sipping champagne with them. Some guys have all the luck.
UPDATE II: Can’t … stop … this one (which has great photos of the young and utterly perfect Lani Hall — the brunette, and the lead singer on most of the songs).
Earlier I put up a post with a review of a very influential album on my listening tastes, Lifes Rich Pageant. I sort of left the REM story unfinished as regards me. I need closure.