Reminder: American Masters on PBS has a documentary about John Lennon’s years in NYC. I guess that’s what makes it American.
Watch the full episode. See more American Masters.
Boston Megafest Ballroom Blitz
Here are a couple of highlights from last night’s ballroom show at the Boston Super Megafest. First, Hilton Valentine, a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, whose guitar is heard on the legendary Animals recording of “House of the Rising Sun”. Then there’s a big group chorus for Rick Derringer‘s rousing anthem “Hang on Sloopy”. L-to-R are Pop great Gary Lewis, Brian Epstein’s British Invader Billy J. Kramer, guitar hero Derringer, rockin’ Frank Stallone, and Ron “Sugar, Sugar” Dante.
[flv:http://www.dograt.com/Video/2010/NOV/MegaCon10.flv 512 384]
DeLorean deal
The Super Mega Fest is happening this weekend in Framingham, MA. Out front is a DeLorean from Back to the Future. For a twenty buck donation to the Michael J. Fox foundation, you can sit in the car and get a Flux Capacitor pin. There isn’t enough space in the parking lot to get up to 88 mph and activate the Flux Capacitor. 😉
Pop Psychelcology
Here’s a super psychedelic nugget you may not know, from that most far-out of years, 1967.
A Pandora pick
Pandora says that because I like Margo Guryan’s music, I should like Isobel Campbell too. And I do.
A Washington rally for hysteria
Today, the concrete structure that had been the Washington D.C. Coliseum looks like this…
… but on February 11, 1964, it was the site of the first Beatles concert in America. The show was taped by CBS. Pieces of it are available on YouTube, but as part of Apple’s promotion of the Beatles catalog being available on iTunes, the complete concert can be seen at this link. Here’s a preview. The narrator isn’t credited, but it sounds like the BBC’s Paul Gambaccini.
The technical setup for the show was pitifully primitive, but the excitement and energy were incredible. Just three years later, there would be “Strawberry Fields Forever”.