2009

A couple of weeks ago I made one of those random Spinal Tap references that seem to come up all too often when you’ve had a few beers and you’re over analyzing rock minutiae with a group of old friends. In response, someone casually noted that it was actually the 25^th anniversary of the cult classic this year, which although seems completely plausible, is mind-blowing when I think of the quarter-century that’s passed so damn quickly. But that cold water reality check got me to dig up the rest of the class of ‘84, just to see who else had reached the Silver Anniversary this year. What I found was an instant Netflix queue of “not so” timeless classics.

Beverly Hills Cop (Released Winter ‘84)

Back when Eddie Murphy was still relevant, Axel Foley was the ultimate rogue cop with a smile. The BHC franchise is a vintage Murphy, and the first is a must-see, but the real gem here is the instrumental, “Axel F” which just never gets old.

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READ ON for more of Wardy’s list of movies turning 25 this year…

Written By: Big Papi

They sure don’t make videos like Jefferson Starship’s No Way Out anymore. A “wtf” weird fest for the ages… perhaps you remember this one sandwiched between Martha Quinn, The Cars’ You Might Think and Wang Chung’s Dance Hall Days on MTV back in ’84. Sometimes you can’t even say, “well it was the ’80s,” to let this video mishap slide by. I guess we’ll just blame it on the coke.

This Jefferson Starship video – No Way Out was launched somewhere between the surnames Airplane and the plain “Starship” proper, back in the Huey Lewis leading man era, when the musicians themselves played insignificant yet comedic acting roles. Shortly after, Starship would hit the charts with such gems as We Built This City, Nothing’s Going To Stop Us Now and Sara.

The video starts off with Mickey Thomas, (Fooled Around and Fell In Love singer previous day job singer of the Elvin Bishop Band) with his pubic natty haired mustache leading him into the house of no return by a medieval Grace Slick. Now this is the same, “Don’t you want somebody to love?” psychedelic scream queen from the ’60s. She’s no longer middle ages anymore, google a recent picture of her and she’s more like a blue haired granny.

READ ON for more of this special Pullin’ ‘Tubes…

After conquering one of their favorite arenas in Hampton, Phish will visit some familiar venues this summer and in the first of a two-part column, we’ll take a look at the band’s biggest triumphs at each place so far…

Jones Beach

Best Show: 7-23-93

I: Buried Alive > Rift -> Caravan, Nellie Kane, Maze, The Horse > Silent in the Morning, Punch You in the Eye, Runaway Jim, It’s Ice, Lawn Boy, Cavern

II: Also Sprach Zarathustra -> Poor Heart, Run Like an Antelope, Faht > My Friend My Friend, Uncle Pen, Big Ball Jam, You Enjoy Myself -> Big Black Furry Creature from Mars -> Chalk Dust Torture, Highway to Hell

E: Amazing Grace, Daniel

A solid first set, sprinkled with classics off of Rift, paved the way for an aggressive second set that opened with a typical-for-1993 length 2001 but exploded from there. Run Like an Antelope is especially ferocious with Trey bringing the jam back around with extra oomph. My Friend My Friend and a big YEM > BBFCM also highlight the second set.

Runners Up: 7-15-94, 6-28-95

READ ON for more of Luke’s list of Summer toppers…

Singer/songwriter Marty Balin of Jefferson Airplane first saw him in the crowd from the stage at The Matrix in San Francisco back in 1965. The Airplane was in the midst of dismissing their present drummer and he needed someone to fill the spot and keep time for his band, who had yet to take flight. To Balin, he had such an unusual look, moddish-shag haircut and mutton chop sideburns. Spence, who had very little drumming experience but had jammed with The Quicksilver Messenger Service previously, was sent home with a pair of drumsticks and told to practice. The Airplane needed someone to play drums on their upcoming first album, Jefferson Airplane Takes Off. The sessions went swimmingly and the band’s path was seemingly set.

After the sessions were complete, RCA booked the band to tour and promote the album. Unannounced, Spence split to Mexico with a couple of girlfriends. Members of the Airplane searched for him, but alas he wasn’t around. He wasn’t even in the country. Needless to say, a replacement came in the form of Spencer Dryden and he went on to fill the role. This was a sign of things to come in the unfortunate and bizarre story of Alexander “Skip” Spence. READ ON for more about Skip Spence…

Last Week’s Sauce is a recurring piece featuring recordings of shows that took place the previous week. Thanks to Jimna for this week’s photo.

Artist & Title: Cracker – Sunrise In The Land Of Milk & Honey
Date & Venue: 2009-04-01 – Moe’s Alley, Santa Cruz CA
Taper & Show Download: Todd Fleisher

Cracker’s got a new record coming out on May 5th. This is the title track from the upcoming release and according to the setlist on the Live Music Archive, was the “acoustic debut” of this tune. Cracker hits the road in May in support of the new album.

[audio:https://glidemag.wpengine.com/hiddentrack/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/Cracker%20-%20Sunrise%20In%20The%20Land%20Of%20Milk%20And%20Honey%20(2009-04-01).mp3]

READ ON to hear four more selections of Last Week’s Sauce.