Category: Music

He’s gone to look for America

Andrew Gilstrap of Pop Matters is traveling to the Southwest with what he hopes is a bunch of appropriate music (Calexico, Giant Sand, Frank Sinatra). In an age when America seems to be becoming increasingly homogenized, he's looking for "genuineness." In Arizona and New Mexico, he's optimistic he'll find it: I've selected my music based … Continue reading He’s gone to look for America

Enough road music to fill an iPod

I'd heard about this Web site some months ago, but Sean Gleeson's blog reminded me of it: The Federal Highway Administration maintains a site that catalogues road songs. It's frequently updated, and you can e-mail to suggest tunes that aren't on the list. Giving the site a once-over, it appears Neil Young, James Taylor, Bruce … Continue reading Enough road music to fill an iPod

For you classical-music roadies

Sony Classical recently released a series of Drive Time CDs, including one for Route 66. Here's a description of the album: ROUTE 66. It's the all-American drive -- America's Main Street, the "mother road" of Easy Rider. Route 66 stretches some 2,400 miles across the vastness of the American West, from Chicago to California. For … Continue reading For you classical-music roadies

Rapper will roll down Route 66

Here's the gist of a complicated story: Roller Rapper, aka Robby Love, has a hot music video, and he's also going to roller-skate down Route 66 this spring. According to a news release, "The Roller Rapper" video hit No. 1 in the rock/pop category on MTV's iFilms, beating out Green Day, Jessica Simpson, Linkin Park … Continue reading Rapper will roll down Route 66

“My buns are for you”

I hadn't checked for a while on the wacky Swedish noise-rock band Hurra Torpedo during their tour of Route 66 in a Ford Fusion. Well, it turns out the crew had a weinie roast and other festive activity at the Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Ariz. Check out their adventures on this video site here.

Best place to two-step on Route 66?

If you ask folks in the high, high desert town of Flagstaff (7,000 feet elevation) that question, chances are good they will say the Museum Club on Route 66. Arizona Daily Sun readers recently voted it the best for dancing in the Best of Flagstaff. I've been in the Museum Club but, regrettably, never during … Continue reading Best place to two-step on Route 66?

This is bizarre

OK, try to follow me here. Hurra Torpedo is a Swedish band that wears matching sweatsuits, uses kitchen appliances for its music (reminding me of noise-rock band Einstürzende Neubauten) and is famous for a wacky cover of Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" (I didn't even like the original all that much). Ford makes … Continue reading This is bizarre