THE PLAYERS Keith Carlock "You noticed that?" Last night, during one of his solos, Keith Carlock changed his grip. Most rock drummers work their kit like Fred Flintstone, as if they’re wielding two chicken drumsticks, gripping both overhand.  But I remember from fifth grade drum class that you’re supposed to hold the left stick underhanded, […]

1 Never trust a surfer. I was told that early in my tenure in Utah. The surfers came from California.  They were used to living on the beach.  The only requirement for the sport was a board.  They weren’t used to lift tickets, lodging, they’d steal you blind. But the rest of us ski bums, […]

Don’t go to the show for the album! Remember being put on the spot?  Could have been reciting a poem in elementary school, playing golf in that tournament.  With the pressure on, you concentrated hard, but you were somehow stiff and ineffective.  But when the moment of truth expired, you were suddenly fully alive, you […]

MY OLD SCHOOL 1 Insiders will tell you the best Steely Dan album is the second, "Countdown To Ecstasy", the one that ended their touring career, the one sans any hits. I disagreed. But last night I became a believer. "Bodhisattva" blistered. "Show Biz Kids" swung. But "My Old School" was STAGGERING! "I remember the […]