Don’t Break Your Neck When You Fall Down Laughing

If you’ve been wondering where The Adios Lounge was, I’ve been on special undercover blog detail. About a week ago, a few of us vintage-minded rock ‘n’ roll types started a new music site called Groover’s Paradise, in honor of our patron saint, Doug Sahm. The blog’s conceit is simple: We post some of our favorite songs from the 20th century and write about them in 100 words or less, drive-by style. You’ll hear Bakersfield country, swampy funk, layered pop, post-punk, classic R&B, and of course Sir Doug himself. Anything that has deep roots, a little swagger, and a whole lotta soul.

Speaking of Sahm, the Austin Chronicle ran a sweet cover of Doug for their March 20th issue. SXSW had a Doug Sahm panel discussion, a couple tribute shows, a Sahm-centric gallery exhibit, and The Adios Lounge wasn’t invited to any of it. Jerks. See if I invite SX to my house ever again.

The Replacements circa 1984

Meanwhile, over at Star Maker Machine, I put the finishing touches on a tribute to Twin/Tone Records, the Kirby Puckett of ’80s indie rock. However, as an addendum to my SMM post, here’s a couple bonus Twin/Tone tracks that didn’t make the cut.

Replacements – Favorite Thing
Let It Be, 1984
Amazon

Replacements – Favorite Thing

This Replacements song, if not the entire Let It Be album, has to be responsible for spawning at least 57,000 garage bands in the Midwest alone. Chris Mars‘ spastic drum rolls going into the “Fave thing!” climax is one of the greatest moments in the Mats catalog. And by Mats catalog I mean rock history.

Soul Asylum – Passing Sad Daydream
While You Were Out, 1986
Amazon
Soul Asylum – Passing Sad Daydream

“Passing Sad Daydream” was the epic conclusion to While You Were Out, and indicated that maybe Soul Asylum wasn’t simply Hüsker Jr. after all. While I admit that the production on their Twin/Tone albums is a bit dated, we have to keep in mind that it was the 1980s. If ever a decade requires a grading curve, the ’80s is it.

Hit me one more time with that livewire

Finally, my buddy Duck and I were “researching” YouTube last night and we couldn’t decide which video gave us more reason to keep on living. Was it this first band firing on all cylinders and making other rhythm sections sound small and insignificant?

Elvis Costello & The Attractions – Lipstick Vogue
http://youtu.be/dip-FtbsD8E&w=560

Or was it this other band giving up so much funk that lesser bands sound like barbershop quartets by comparison?

Little Feat – Fat Man In The Bathtub
http://youtu.be/SkZsSydzQjM&w=560

Elvis and Bruce Thomas rocking the geek chic is impressive, but Lowell George displays ungodly amounts of soul while wearing a sweater tied around his neck. All else being equal, anyone who can take us to the chicken shack while dressed for Wimbledon has my vote. But, just barely.