How does The Blade pick its "Sounds" reviews for the Sunday Arts section? Why don't local radio stations play local music? Do you know any undiscovered musical talent in the area? Tune in to talk music with Rod Lockwood, a Blade assistant city editor, who does weekly CD reviews for the Sunday Arts section. Rod also covers local music and writes occasional features on rock 'n roll related topics.
Kevin Cesarz: (12 P.M. ET ) Welcome to our Chitchat with Blade music writer and assistant city editor Rod Lockwood. We are about ready to get underway.
Dean (Swanton) Jack White of the White Stripes pounded the lead singer of the Von Bondies in his last bout in Detroit. Who will he square off against next?
Rod Lockwood: (12:03 P.M. ET ) Excellent question, Dean. I'd like to know how much Jack weighs so we can determine what weight class he'd be in, but he looks kind of chunky and soft. I think maybe we could pit him against Ted Nugent just for kicks. Ted's quite a bit older, but he likes to kill things and he's handy with a bow and arrow. Maybe they could duel? Nah, that wouldn't be fair. Or how about Jack squaring off against Iggy Pop in a Detroit mano a mano bout?
Travis (Toledo) 80s bands always seem to draw a pretty good crowd in Toledo. (Tesla just sold out) Why is this and do you know of anymore coming soon?
Rod Lockwood: (12:10 P.M. ET ) I think ‘80s and ‘70s bands do well throughout the country for a number of reasons that range from demographics to radio airplay. Part of it is that people seem to be more comfortable listening to, and paying money for, music that they’re most familiar with. Not sure why this is, but I suppose it’s a nostalgia thing. It’s unfortunate because it creates a dynamic where newer bands have a hard time touring and playing and making money because everyone seems to want to check out acts they grew up listening to. Also, Toledo is pretty much a hard rock town so bands like Tesla and others that came of age in the previous decades always draw well here.
Jerry (Sylvania) If you had to pick one, is Toledo a rock, country, jazz, blues or tejano town?
Rod Lockwood: (12:15 P.M. ET ) Judging from the number of clubs and acts, I’d say Toledo is foremost a rock and blues town. Metal has always been popular here, too, probably because we’re more blue collar than upscale and metal tends to attract those kinds of crowds. Lollipop Lust Kill was an exceptionally good band that played a real aggressive brand of hard rock and that always drew large crowds. E.J. Wells is another guy who rocks out pretty hard – more in the vein of rockabilly – who makes some excellent music. And there some fine blues acts like Josh Boyd. If you look at the Blade entertainment listings on Fridays there are always a number of options for rock and blues fans compared to the other genres.
DK (Toledo) What's the best local band that most people don't know of?
Rod Lockwood: (12:22 P.M. ET ) Boy, I wish I could get out and see EVERY band playing in Toledo and northwest Ohio so I could give you a more definitive answer here, but the guy I always put a plug in for is E.J. Wells. He’s been around awhile with some local bands from the ‘80s, and he plays all original music that is really entertaining both lyrically and musically. Unfortunately he doesn’t’ draw the crowds I think he deserves and he’s one of those guys who, with his band the Haymakers, always puts on an entertaining show. Check him out some time.
Jennifer (Holland) Are there any good local bands that play other types of music besides 80s pop? I'm tired of the same songs sung by different 80s cover bands.
Rod Lockwood: (12:26 P.M. ET ) Well, there are plenty of great blues bands in Toledo like the Griswolds, Josh Boyd and Doreen Robideaux’s band. And there are some good metal bands like Fetish Doll. But I don’t know if there are any bands doing “pop” music that resembles the ‘80s styles while still being original. JT and the Clouds and Koufax – both area acts that have national recording contracts – play fairly frequently around here and they may be more to your liking. But, alas, they also are based out of Chicago and Bowling Green so they’re not regulars on the local scene. It is a shame that more audiences aren’t tolerant of bands that play original music. The folks running the clubs need to draw audiences and so cover bands often are more lucrative than bands that are pursuing their own styles. It’s a shame, but it’s been that way for a long time.
Sara (Holland) Hello Rod, Do you feel the music industry understands why downloading music over the internet is so popular right now? Could it be the fact that allowing one or two good songs on an entire CD just isn’t acceptable any more. What are your thoughts on this?
Rod Lockwood: (12:33 P.M. ET ) This is a billion dollar question. I don’t think the music industry has a clue how to handle the downloading issue and so far they’ve botched it at every opportunity. As a fan all I really care about is that the artists get their fair take of the profits because they’re the ones doing all the hard work and taking all the chances. A lot of them are making their music available for downloading directly off their web sites, thereby cutting out the record company middle man. Just as bands are allowing fans at shows to record the concerts and make their own bootlegs, artists also are working to get their music directly to their audiences. Prince even hands out copies of his latest disc for free to people who go to his shows. And you’re right that only have one or two decent songs on an entire CD that sells for $18 is unacceptable. It kind of goes back to the ancient times of the 45 single where kids would purchase their favorite song from an album and not buy the entire long-player.
Jen Wilson (Perrysburg) Rod, Who are some of your favorite male and female artists?
Rod Lockwood: (12:40 P.M. ET ) Boy, I like a lot of stuff and a lot of different kinds of music. But I think it’s safe to say that I lean toward the singer-songwriter types. You know, the usual suspects who owe their entire careers to Bob Dylan: Bruce Springsteen, John Hiatt (one of my favorite songwriters and performers), Graham Parker, Greg Brown… That said, I also really like bands such as Pearl Jam, the Eels, Cracker, the late great Afghan Whigs and even Blue Oyster Cult. The best disc I’ve heard recently is Wilco’s “A Ghost is Born,” which is incredible. As for women, I was just listening to Emmylou Harris’ “Red Dirt Girl” (I think that’s what it’s called), and I like Gillian Welch. And you can’t beat Chrissy Hynde of the Pretenders, who turned 53 today. I could go on.
Toledo Do you remember the local (Indiana, I think) band The Why Store? Any idea what they are up to these days? They were my FAVORITE!!!!
Rod Lockwood: (12:45 P.M. ET ) The Who? Just kidding. I’m sorry, but I’ve only lived here four years so anything prior to that I’ve probably not heard of. So I can’t answer your question with any degree of authority that would be helpful. But thanks for asking.
Kevin Cesarz: (12:50 P.M. ET ) Elvis (Rod) has left the building (he’s off to a news meeting), but much thanks to Rod, and all our chitchatters for visiting today.
Kevin Cesarz: (12:54 P.M. ET ) Read music features by Rod Lockwood in weekend Peach sections, and checkout CD reviews in Sounds, which appears on Sundays. Permanent Link
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Kevin Cesarz: (12 P.M. ET ) Welcome to our Chitchat with Blade music writer and assistant city editor Rod Lockwood. We are about ready to get underway. 