I've been out of town for about 10 days traveling Route 66 and more. Here are the stories from the Mother Road that broke while I was away ... --- The biggest news was the announcement that the historic Aztec Hotel in Monrovia, Calif., would undergo extensive renovations with its new owners, reported the Monrovia … Continue reading Route 66 News, catch-up edition
“Panama”
I see Van Halen was back on tour, with David Lee Roth in tow. Here's the band's motorcycle hit, just before Roth left the band: https://youtu.be/w-NshzYK9y0 The recent story about guitarist Eddie Van Halen in Esquire magazine is excellent. Read it. The song comes from Van Halen's now-classic "1984" album (Amazon download here).
“Broke Down”
Slaid Cleaves took an old phrase and turned it into a country-music classic and an unexpected regional hit in 2000. At one point that summer, you couldn't drive around south Texas without hearing it on the radio. https://youtu.be/O8u7CVVmybU The "Broke Down" album can be downloaded from Amazon here.
Get your motor running
I really like this video about a couple of pals on motorcycles touring Arizona, California, and Nevada, including Route 66: https://vimeo.com/42322087 Music is by Mumford & Sons.
“Born to Be Wild”
This swell remake of the Steppenwolf motorcycle classic is by The Cult, circa 1987: https://youtu.be/ZswHjqKGqFo The song comes from The Cult's "Electric" album, where producer Rick Rubin wanted largely an AC/DC sound. (Amazon download of the album is here.)
A trip through Cajon Pass
This speeded-up video by FreewayTitan shows Interstate 15 as it goes through Cajon Pass from San Bernardino to Hesperia in southern California. https://youtu.be/PC9gocVXMm8 The clip delves into a lot of the history of Cajon Pass, including Route 66.
“Ten Second News”
This song from Son Volt, circa 1995, was inspired by the now-abandoned Route 66 town of Times Beach, Mo., and the flood and resulting dioxin contamination that killed it. https://youtu.be/gqdMTkrFN7s The entire album, "Trace," was inspired by a lot of road trips in the St. Louis region, and remains the best the band's ever done. … Continue reading “Ten Second News”
Impressive authors and artists list at Tucumcari festival
A few days ago, Kevin and Nancy Mueller at the Blue Swallow Motel asked me to check out the list of authors and artists slated to appear at the inaugural Wheels on 66 festival on June 7-9 in Tucumcari, N.M. I have to admit, for a first-year event, the list is pretty darned impressive: Christopher Robleski, … Continue reading Impressive authors and artists list at Tucumcari festival
Land of the Havasupai
This gorgeous video by Dan Carter shows the Havasupai reservation in the bottom of Arizona's Grand Canyon. https://vimeo.com/42061125 More about the Havasupai: Havasupai means "people of the blue green water". Havasupais have dwelt in the Grand Canyon and the rest of north-central Arizona for over 1,000 years, practicing summertime irrigated farming in the canyons and … Continue reading Land of the Havasupai
“The Back of Your Hand”
Check out the very beginning of the background of this Dwight Yoakam video from about 10 years ago. Anyone know where this is? https://youtu.be/N41CTsj2iN0 This is a very underrated song by Dwight, by the way.