Category: Music

A license to play

If you're a Route 66 fan and a musician, you could do worse than this functional cigar-box guitar made with a Route 66 license plate: It's made by Chickenbone John Guitars, a one-man shop based in England. The Route 66 guitar isn't on his online shop, but he says on the video notes that he … Continue reading A license to play

Meditations with music

Here's a remarkable story in the Los Angeles Times about the Church of Beethoven, which is less than a block off an old alignment of Route 66 in Albuquerque and has its beginnings on the Mother Road. The whole thing is worth reading, but this excerpt captures the place's purpose well enough: It's not really … Continue reading Meditations with music

For Bob

This U2 song, "Kite," has been echoing through my head since learning that Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire was terminally ill. A little background: This performance took place the same day of the funeral for the singer's father. Life should be fragrant Rooftop to the basement.

Notes from the road

I've been watching this story carefully, even though it doesn't have much to do with Route 66. Johnny Hallyday, 66, a rock 'n' roll legend in France, was placed in a medically induced coma in Los Angeles after complications developed in France after back surgery. He's expected to make a recovery, and he emerged from … Continue reading Notes from the road

“Thunderstorms and Neon Signs”

Here is Wayne "The Train" Hancock's finest hour, and the song in 1995 that pretty much kick-started his career. Here's Hancock talking about one of his experiences on Route 66 in No Depression magazine in 2001: “I’ve broken down on my way to shows and gotten there early. I was going through Vega, Texas, and … Continue reading “Thunderstorms and Neon Signs”

Don’t cramp their style

It was only a matter of time before this version of "Route 66" showed up. This version is by The Cramps, a psychobilly punk band that is now defunct, alas, because of the death of singer Lux Interior earlier this year.

Harley & Annabelle documentary released on DVD

Two years ago, Joe Summars of Fluxfaze Creative Enterprises began shooting a documentary about Harley and Annabelle Russell, aka the inimitable Mediocre Music Makers, at their Sandhills Curiosity Shop just off Route 66 in Erick, Okla. It appears the film is finished. Summars started selling the "Harley & Annabelle -- Living Legends in Erick, Oklahoma" … Continue reading Harley & Annabelle documentary released on DVD

Wanda Jackson at the 66 Bowl

Longtime roadie Shellee Graham went to the Wanda Jackson concert at the 50th-anniversary celebration of the 66 Bowl in Oklahoma City on Saturday night and shot these photos. Jackson has some sentimental ties to the 66 Bowl. That's where she had the first date 48 years ago with her future husband. Oklahoma Route 66 researcher … Continue reading Wanda Jackson at the 66 Bowl

Music video shot in Ludlow

Last November, a pop-rock band based in Atlanta, shot the video for its new single "Julie" in the Route 66 ghost town of Ludlow, Calif., which is smack dab in the middle of the Mojave Desert. "Julie" is available as a download on iTunes. Last November will release an EP titled "tug o'war" on Jan. … Continue reading Music video shot in Ludlow