By T.J. Tranchell

Take members of various 1970s arena-rock groups, mix together songs they played when they were on the radio for the first time, add fans who know all the same songs and what do you get? If you say a bunch of old people having a good time, you are only half right.

It’s true that the days of number one hits for the members of the Classic Rock All-Stars, the Family Stone Project, Creedence Clearwater Revisited and George Thorogood & the Destroyers are long in the past. Of these groups, Thorogood and his band are the only one with the same name.

We have to be honest about this kind of thing. We aren’t getting the Foghat line-up that recorded “Slow Ride” in 1975. Sly Stone isn’t likely to appear from the mist Saturday night during the Family Stone Project set. In many ways, these groups are not that different from the hundreds of tribute bands that play around the country and the dozen or so playing during the rally. The only real differences between Gun ‘n’ Roses (not appearing) and the two GnR tributes Appetite for Deception (playing the Loud American) and Paradise City (at the Broken Spoke Saloon) is that the real GnR still has Axl Rose and the tribute bands cost less to see.

Does any of that really matter? These new incarnations of classic rock groups still include musicians who were there, people who lived the dream and are holding on to what they can of it. The tribute bands are also trying to recreate something for fans who may never get the chance to see the real thing.

The bottom line is that fans still want to see their heroes. If the heroes can’t be there, seeing someone who played with their heroes or someone who looks and acts like their heroes is close enough.

By Crystal Hohenthaner
Journal Staff

Okay all my music aficionados (is that how you spell aficionado?), I need help. I need to get a Christmas present for my boyfriend. He is a big music lover – and I don’t mean the way Brittany Spears fans love music. He is actually a skilled and talented musician and he can even write music – which completely baffles me. In fact he has actually produced several indy CDs.

Cool, right?

Not so cool for me at the moment, because I really want to get him something ‘musical’ for Christmas, but his abilities and understanding are so far above mine that I am basically paralyzed with fear over the possibility of giving him something lame.

I already got him something small and funny … er, lame. That’s right I have exhausted all of my silly points and I still want to get him something more. Unfortunately, I’m basically out of money too.That means, I’m thinking musical and cheap – would it be totally lame to burn him a CD of love songs? And, if it isn’t too lame, what songs should I put on the CD?

Help me! Please!

By Todd Williams

I’ve never seen the Who Live At Leeds (I did, once, however, see Apocalypse live at Lead, but that’s a whole ‘nuther post), so I likely can only emphasize to a point when it comes to what truly qualifies as ear damage.

However, at a pre-rally concert back in the late 1980s, I did take in a concert at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center that put a permanent dent in my previously not-that-great-already hearing.

After staying awake for nearly three days straight, I joined a couple of friends of mine who really wanted to see .38 Special in concert. (That should have been the first hint that they might not have had my best interests in mind)

But it was the warm-up act that single-handedly put a ring in my ear that remains some 20 years later. Oh, yes, Ted Nugent’s tower of speakers blaring a mere five to 10 feet from my poorly placed noggin took a good chunk of my hearing that night.

Of course, I mostly have myself to blame. First, no ear plugs. Few wore them back in the late 1980s, and certainly college age students that I knew of. Second, why the *&%$#!! did I stand so close to those towering speakers. And lastly, and most importantly, why would I have ever subjected myself to the cacophony of a .38 Special/Ted Nugent double billing.

Caterwaul, anyone?

Anyway, as I gear up for my 27th rally, I take a look at the lineup and wonder aloud (really loud, so I can hear it, actually), who is to compare in this year’s lineup?

Kid Rock? ZZ Top? John McCain?

Hey, at least McCain and I have about the same hearing age.

By: Aubrey Watts

Journal Staff

The boards are open for full on discussion…….

Whether you are riding in your car, stuck in an office or out enjoying the weather on a beautiful sunny summer day, what is the best genre/band/group of bands you like to listen to?

By: Aubrey Watts

Journal Staff

The Denver music scene has seen it’s fair share of rising artists. From the recent up and coming band “Flobots” to the ever popular “The Fray.” What is even more awe-inspiring than the die hard fans is the amazing diversity of artists you find in the area.

I was first introduced to a Denverite artist by the name of ‘Nina Storey’ through my sister as well as my best friend. While enjoying our thanksgiving break together six years ago I started to burn CD’s they said I MUST listen to. ‘Nina’ was third on the list. In goes the CD and down drops my jaw. Struck by her smooth mellow dramatic notes and brutally honest lyrics I was in disbelief that she was only a local artist. From then on I have been hooked and enfatuated by this beautiful singer.

Blues, funk, jazz and honesty are the words that come to mind when trying to describe her sound. In reality she is so much more….

My favorite song on her’s to this day is “No Man” from the “Shades” CD. A simple song stating, “I don’t need no man, I don’t need no lovin.” The statement imprinted on my brain like a rubber stamp is that of independence. A statement showing the stereotypical need of a couple being dependent on one another is not a necessity.

She is a must listen to in my book. By far one of the best artists that I highly recommend to anyone I meet.

Any local bands here or in other cities you find yourself always talking about?