ELECTION DAY! A Fake THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO playlist

As America goes to the polls today, here's the playlist for an imaginary Election Day edition of This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl. Turn it up (in your head, anyway), and VOTE!!

TIRnRR # Bupkis (of 538)

THE RAMONES: Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio? (Rhino, End Of The Century)
--
ALICE COOPER: Elected (Rhino, Mascara & Monsters)
THE RAMONES: I Wanna Be Sedated (Rhino, Road To Ruin)
THE TEMPTATIONS: Cloud Nine (Motown, Gold)
SLOW CHILDREN: President Am I (Ensign, Slow Children)
BROWNSVILLE STATION: I'm The Leader Of The Gang (Rhino, Smokin' In The Boys Room)
THE MOVE: Vote For Me (Westside, Movements)
--
ARTFUL DODGER: Follow Me (Pendulum, Artful Dodger)
LYME & CYBELLE: Follow Me (Rhino, VA: Nuggets)
SLY & THE FAMILY STONE: Everyday People (Epic, The Essential Sly & the Family Stone)
JOHN LENNON: Power To The People (Capitol, The John Lennon Collection)
MARVIN GAYE: What's Going On (Motown, What's Going On)
THE FLESHTONES: R-I-G-H-T-S (IRS, Roman Gods)
--
THE KINKS: Salvation Road (Velvel, Preservation, Act 2)
PAUL REVERE & THE RAIDERS: Our Candidate (Sundazed, The Spirit Of '67)
THE SHOUTLESS: I Tell No Lies (ROIR, VA: Garage Sale)
FOOLS FACE: American Guilt (Talk, Tell America)
THE CASTAWAYS: Liar, Liar (Rhino, VA: Nuggets)
THE AVENGERS: The American In Me (Superior Viaduct, Avengers)
--
NICK LOWE: I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass (Yep Roc, Quiet Please...)
SAM COOKE: A Change Is Gonna Come (Abkco, Portrait Of A Legend)
THE BURNS SISTERS: I Am A Patriot (Philo, Close To Home)
JOAN JETT & THE BLACKHEARTS: Eye To Eye (Blackheart, Pure And Simple)
THE DANDY WARHOLS: We Used To Be Friends (101 Distribution, Best Of The Capitol Years)
REMY ZERO: Save Me (Elektra, The Golden Hum)
--
THE DEL FUEGOS: Nervous And Shaky (Rhino, The Best Of The Del Fuegos: The Slash Years)
IAN HUNTER: Fuss About Nothin' (Jerk, Shrunken Heads)
GAME THEORY: Throwing The Election (Enigma, 2 Steps From The Middle Ages)
WAR: Why Can't We Be Friends (Rhino, VA: Can You Dig It?)
THE STEMS: Never Be Friends (Mushroom, At First Glance Violets Are Blue)
THE MONKEES: Wasn't Born To Follow (Rhino, Good Times!)
--
FIRST AID KIT: America (Columbia, America)
PAUL SIMON: American Tune (Columbia, The Essential Paul Simon)
JAY & THE AMERICANS: Only In America (Varese Sarabande, Absolutely The Best)
THE RAMONES: I Believe In Miracles (Rhino, Brain Drain)
THE BEATLES: Here Comes The Sun (Apple, Abbey Road)
THE FLESHTONES: American Beat '84 (Raven, It's Super-Rock Time!)
--
THE ROLLING STONES: Sing This All Together (Abkco, Their Satanic Majesties Request)
GUADALCANAL DIARY: Litany (Life Goes On) (Elektra, 2 x 4)
BEN E. KING: Stand By Me (Rhino, Stand By Me)
THE YOUNGBLOODS: Get Together (RCA, Get Together: The Essential Youngbloods)
THE GRIP WEEDS: I Believe (Rainbow Quartz, Giant On The Beach)
FRIEND AND LOVER: Reach Out Of The Darkness (Verve, Reach Out Of The Darkness)
--
THE WHO: Won't Get Fooled Again (MCA, Who's Next)
THE BEACH BOYS: Our Prayer (Capitol, Friends & 20/20)
DAVID BOWIE: "Heroes" (Virgin, Best Of Bowie)
THE IMPRESSIONS: People Get Ready (Hip-O, Ultimate Collection)
ELVIS COSTELLO & THE ATTRACTIONS: (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love & Understanding (Rykodisc, Armed Forces)
GERRY & THE PACEMAKERS: It's Gonna Be Alright (EMI, The Best Of Gerry & The Pacemakers)
THE FOUR TOPS: Reach Out (I'll Be There) (Motown, The Ultimate Collection)
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND: Ties That Bind (Columbia, The River)
SLY & THE FAMILY STONE: Stand (Epic, The Essential Sly & the Family Stone)
THE DICTATORS: I Stand Tall (High Horse, Bloodbrothers)
PACIFIC SOUL LTD.: We Go High (Karma Frog, The Dance Divine)
BIG STAR: Ballad Of El Goodo (Ardent, # 1 Record/Radio City)
THE FLASHCUBES: Do Anything You Wanna Do (Northside, Brilliant)
THE KINKS: Better Things (Velvel, Give The People What They Want)
THE SHADOWS: Wonderful Land (Scamp, Shadows Are Go!)

This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 848

We hold these truths to be self-evident: food tastes good; breathing is better than not breathing; and This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl is The Best Three Hours Of Radio On The Whole Friggin' Planet. It's science. Please don't argue with science.

With the whole country (us included) freaking out over this coming Tuesday's edition of So You Think America's Dancing With The Survivor Idol, we opened this week's shindig with an uplifting plea for unity from Pacific Soul Ltd. We also served up the new album from The Jangle Band, celebrated the 49th anniversary of the release of The Monkees' fab Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd., played a lot of TIRnRR Fave Raves new and old, and cast all 44 of Syracuse's Electoral Votes for The Kinks (with their running mates, Big Star). Our promise: a band in every garage!

NEXT WEEK: for our 849th show, we get set for yet another milestorm with a bunch of great tunes, culminating in our last hour with a unique, very special countdown, courtesy of Fritz Van Leaven. IN TWO WEEKS: True Believer Dave Murray takes over for an epic celebration of This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio # 850. Eight. Five. OH! And this is what rock 'n' roll radio sounded like on a Sunday night in Syracuse this week.

(And a reminder to our fellow Americans: please vote Tuesday as if the fate of your country depended on it.)

This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio with Dana & Carl streams live every Sunday night from 9 to Midnight Eastern, exclusively at www.westcottradio.org

TIRnRR # 848: 11/6/16

THE RAMONES: Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio? (Rhino, End Of The Century)
--
PACIFIC SOUL LTD.: We Go High (Karma Frog, The Dance Divine)
RAY PAUL: Pretty Flamingo (Permanent Press, Whimsicality)
BLUE OYSTER CULT: This Ain't The Summer Of Love (Columbia, Workshop Of The Telescopes)
NICK LOWE: I Love The Sound Of Breaking Glass (Yep Roc, Quiet Please...)
THE MOVE: Vote For Me (Westside, Movements)
SWEET: Blockbuster (Capitol, The Best Of Sweet)
--
THE JANGLE BAND: Kill The Lovers (Egomaniac, Edge Of a Dream)
THE ICICLE WORKS: Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream) (Beggars, The Best Of The Icicle Works)
FOSTER & LLOYD: Suzette (BMG, Faster And Llouder)
ROBERT GORDON: Someday, Someway (Razor & Tie, Red Hot)
THE VERBS: Glad All Over (www.theverbs.us, Cover Story)
RED ROCKERS: Eve Of Destruction (Oglio, Good As Gold/Schizophrenic Circus)
--
THE MONKEES: Love Is Only Sleeping (Rhino, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd.)
THE DIODES: Tired Of Waking Up Tired (Epic, Tired Of Waking Up Tired)
THE MONKEES: Words (Rhino, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd.)
THE BUZZCOCKS: Ever Fallen In Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've) (IRS, Singles Going Steady)
THE MONKEES: The Door Into Summer (Rhino, Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones, Ltd.)
THE DAMNED: Neat Neat Neat (Castle, Smash It Up)
--
THE BEATLES: Rain (Apple, Past Masters)
DAVID BOWIE: Life On Mars? (Virgin, Best Of Bowie)
THE JAYHAWKS: I'm Gonna Make You Love Me (Columbia, Smile)
XTC: Earn Enough For Us (Virgin, Skylarking)
1.4.5.: Your Own World (Beautiful Sounds, Rhythm n' Booze)
RUSS TOLMAN: Solitary Man (Restless, VA; Only 39,999,999 Behind "Thriller")
--
STEVEN BAKUR: Lucky Star Tonight (n/a, All This And More)
THE PRETENDERS: Alone (BMG, Alone)
PRINCE: I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (Warner Brothers, The Hits/The B-Sides)
HUSKER DU: Could You Be The One? (Warner Brothers, Warehouse: Songs And Stories)
THE DRIFTERS: On Broadway (Atlantic, All-Time Greatest Hits & More)
THE VELVET UNDERGROUND: There She Goes Again (Polydor, Peel Slowly And See)
--
MANNIX: Highway Lines (Kool Kat Musik, VA: This Is Rock 'n' Roll Radio, Volume 3)
FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE: Better Things (Rykodisc, VA: This Is Where I Belong)
HOLLY GOLIGHTLY: Time Will Tell (Damaged Goods, Truly She Is None Other)
SUGAR: If I Can't Change Your Mind [BBC live] (Rykodisc, single)
SCREEN TEST: Not Today (unreleased)
THE REPLACEMENTS: Attitude (Sire, All Shook Down)
--
THE KINKS: You Really Got Me (Essential, Kinks)
BIG STAR: In The Streets (Ardent, # 1 Record/Radio City)
THE KINKS: Victoria (Essential, Arthur Or The Decline And Fall Of The British Empire)
BIG STAR: Thirteen [alternate mix, 1972] (Omnivore, Nothing Can Hurt Me)
THE KINKS: State Of Confusion (Velvel, State Of Confusion)
CHRIS BELL: I Am The Cosmos [movie mix, 2012] (Omnivore, BIG STAR: Nothing Can Hurt Me)
--
THE KINKS: Do It Again (Velvel, Word Of Mouth)
BIG STAR: She's A Mover (Ardent, # 1 Record/Radio City)
THE KINKS: See My Friends (Essential, Kinda Kinks)
BIG STAR: Thank You, Friends [demo] (Omnivore, Complete Third)
THE KINKS: The Village Green Preservation Society (Universal, The Village Green Preservation Society)
BIG STAR: You Get What You Deserve (Ardent, # 1 Record/Radio City)
THE KINKS: The Hard Way (Velvel, Schoolboys In Disgrace)
BIG STAR: Till The End Of The Day (Omnivore, Complete Third)
THE KINKS: This Is Where I Belong (Essential, Face To Face)
BIG STAR: Don't Worry, Baby (Omnivore, Complete Third)
THE KINKS: Waterloo Sunset (Essential, Something Else)
BIG STAR: September Gurls [movie mix, 2012] (Omnivore, Nothing Can Hurt Me)
THE KINKS: Revenge (Essential, Kinks)

Tonight on THIS IS ROCK 'N' ROLL RADIO

The Jangle Band! The Kinks! Prince! The Kinks! Pacific Soul Ltd! The Kinks! The Drifters! The Kinks! And, I dunno...maybe The Monkees. AND THE KINKS!! If there's someone else out there playing all of this within a single radio show, then...well, good for them! You should listen to them, too. But listen to us FIRST! Fall back with Dana & Carl, Sunday night, 9 to Midnight Eastern, www.westcottradio.org

What Now? (The dreaded, inevitable political post)

When they go low, we go high.

On Tuesday, there is a very real, plausible possibility that American voters will elect Donald Trump as the next President of the United States of America. Some of my friends are delighted by this prospect, and many more are horrified by it. I am among the latter group. I am voting for Hillary Clinton, not because she's the lesser of two evils (though that would be sufficient in my view), but because I believe she is far and away the most qualified candidate to run this country, and because I believe she has the potential to be an outstanding president. The fact that my vote for her is also a vote against Donald Trump is just a bonus.

But this is not a political blog. This blog is about The Monkees, and Batman, and how hot I thought Suzi Quatro was when I was 15. I know I can't influence your vote; if I had that kind of sway, The Flashcubes would be a million-selling act, and this blog would have paying customers. Whatever result occurs today, there is a question we all have to address:

What now?

What happens on Wednesday? What happens on January 20th, when the new president is sworn in? And what happens after that?

Unfortunately, we all know one likely answer to that question. Gridlock will continue. Even sincere efforts to reach across our great divide will be met with suspicion and rejection. Paths forward will be obstructed. Small minds will have their day, and not a goddamned thing will get done.

But we can hope. Whether it's a Clinton Administration (yay!) or a Trump Administration (just show me to the bar, dammit), we can hope that left and right may find some sort of common ground. We can debate our differences, propose our contrasting ideas, and participate in America's greatest strength: the union of the disparate many into the united one. This has never been a perfect country, but it is indeed a great country; we're still an experiment, and we're still figuring things out, but America endures because its people believe in its promise.

We need to stop fighting each other. We need to stop hating. We need to work together, for cryin' out loud.

I confess this sin: I do believe that our current dismal political stagnation and stalemate is more the fault of right-wing zealots than left-wing zealots. I'm not going to indulge in the ritual charade of false equivalence. But screw the zealots anyway--the hell with all of 'em, from Matt Drudge to Susan Sarandon. We don't need them. We need each other.

I never liked President Reagan. Maybe you never liked President Obama. But both men did love this country, and both deserved our respect. We can disagree without being assholes about it. We should disagree, and debate, and improve. That's what's great about America.

In the words of a great man named King: I have a dream.

In the words of a not-great man named King, whose circumstances compelled him to reach higher: Can't we all just get along?

And in the words of a great man called King: Thank you. Thank you very much.

The naysayers? They are rabble. They are noise. And they are not built to last. When they go low, we go high.

 

"We Go High" by Pacific Soul Ltd.

You can support Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do) as a paid patron on Patreon: Fund me, baby!

Carl Sells Out

Would you fund a blog written by this unsavory-lookin' guy? Okay, howzabout if I say "Please?" 

As of this week, Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do) is now hooked in with the popular crowd-funding site Patreon. While I don't mind doing this daily blog for free, I sure wouldn't object to seein' a little cash out of this deal. I'm gettin' older, man, and I'm going to need to see about raising some revenue. It'd sure be cool if I could once again make some money writing. If you're interested, you can join that effort right here. Patrons will also receive the blog posts via e-mail. Here's how my Patreon mission statement explains it:

"My shocking confession: I used to write for money. Freelance writing was always a sideline for me, but I had a decent run writing about pop music for Goldmine magazine, writing about comics for Amazing Heroes and The Comics Buyer's Guide, writing liner notes for Rhino Records' Poptopia! Power Pop Classics Of The '90s, and contributing to the book Bubblegum Music Is The Naked Truth. But I stopped; too busy, insufficient enthusiasm, too little reward. 

I missed it. I missed writing.

In January of 2016, prompted by my sense of melancholy when David Bowie died, I began a blog, Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do). I set the goal of writing at least one post a day, every day.  I've kept with it, and I've been delighted with the response, delighted with the sheer joy of writing again. Starting the blog was one of the best decisions I ever made.

But I used to write for money. I kinda miss that, too.

Patreon offers an opportunity to rectify that. It gives fans of my writing an opportunity to support my work, and gives me the potential to have something to show for it. I thank you, one and all, for your interest in this, and I'll continue to offer you my daily thoughts on The Monkees, Batman, The Ramones, and others of their giddy, intoxicating ilk. A post a day, every day--that's the Boppin' way."

Catchy!

With very modest goals in mind, I've set up three tiers for potential Boppin' supporters on Patreon. If the goals are modest, then by God, so are the incentives! To wit:

FOR THOSE WHO PLEDGE AT LEAST $2 A MONTH: Gratitude! UNDYING gratitude! All this, and a personal message (via e-mail) each month, expressing the aforementioned undying gratitude!

FOR THOSE WHO PLEDGE AT LEAST $5 A MONTH:  At the hoity-toity $5 monthly level, you will receive (via e-mail) a bonus, previously-unpublished blog post. Each month's bonus blog post will initially ONLY be available to patrons, and will not be published for the public until at least one month after its distribution to patrons. 

FOR THOSE WHO PLEDGE AT LEAST $10 A MONTH: You! You generous, debonair, sweet-smellin', hot-lookin' Patron O' The Arts, you! You get each of the previous two worthless incentives, AND you get to suggest the topic for a future blog post. Now, this ain't the blog equivalent of a suicide pact--I still retain the right to opt out of your suggestion if I think it's inappropriate for me--but I'll make a good-faith effort to accommodate as many of your suggestions as I can. 

Furthermore, there is an overall initial fundraising goal with its own notably nondescript incentive: If this scam...er, patronage plan achieves its modest first goal of a mere $100 a month, I'll snail-mail a personal note of thanks AND a badly-drawn sketch of some super-hero (my choice!) to each patron. From small things, Mama....

I'm gonna be rich! I'm gonna be a MILLIONAIRE! I'm gonna own a mansion AND a yacht! I'm gonna...I'm gonna...I'm gonna be writin' for free for the rest of my days, aren't I? Damn....

But what the hell--this costs me nothing to try, and it gives theoretical fans of Boppin' (Like The Hip Folks Do) an opportunity to be involved with this blog if they choose to do so. And that first bonus blog piece for the $5 donors? It's the preamble section from my long-promised, ever-forthcoming book about The Ramones. That book might never be completed, and I will not be publishing that preamble on the blog any time soon.  But it will be available to the above-mentioned hoity-toity patrons of Boppin'.

Oh, and rest assured: this blog will not suddenly be taken over by marketing and hard sell. It will continue pretty much exactly as it has, with at least one post a day, every day, for free. If you wanna support that effort, well, I'm delighted to have ya, my friend. Delighted!

Oh. Um...I don't care how much you spend; I ain't writin' about Bob Seger.

THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE: "Rain"

An infinite number of rockin' pop records can be the greatest record ever made, as long as they take turns.  Today, this is THE GREATEST RECORD EVER MADE!



THE BEATLES: "Rain"

The original post has been unpublished for bookkeeping purposes. It can be seen as a chapter in my book The Greatest Record Ever Made! (Volume 1)

BRIGHT LIGHTS! Syracuse New Wave Rock 'n' Roll Reunion 2014: Original Press Release and Band FAQ Letter

 

Before the successful BRIGHT LIGHTS! Syracuse New Wave Rock 'n' Roll Reunion that Dana and I hosted this past July, we hosted a previous (also successful) BRIGHT LIGHTS! yadda yadda show in 2014 at Syracuse's legendary Lost Horizon. That show was recorded for a proposed DVD release, though I don't know if that project will ever come to pass. But, in the mean time, here is our original press release for the event, as well as the letter we sent to all of the participating acts:

PRESS RELEASE:

BRIGHT LIGHTS!  A Syracuse New Wave Rock 'n' Roll Reunion

Saturday,July 19th, 2014 at The Lost Horizon in Syracuse, NY

Alternative music had to start somewhere. Most would agree alternative started in the '70s, with the punk rock sounds of bands like The Ramones, and the grungy spirit of iconic clubs like New York City's legendary CBGB's. But Syracuse also had its own vibrant punk/new wave scene in the late '70s and early '80s, when great local indie rockers like THE FLASHCUBES, THE TREND, THE MOST, THE PENETRATORS, THE DEAD DUCKS BAND, SCREEN TEST, 1.4.5., PORCELAIN FOREHEAD, DISTORTION, THE MIAMIS, and THE ANTICS were among the many DIY acts making noise at local nightspots like The Brookside, The Jab,The Firebarn, The Insomniac, The Slide, and The Lost Horizon.

Most of those clubs are long gone now, but THE LOST HORIZON still stands, and it remains the closest thing to a CBGB's that Syracuse has ever had. In the early '80s, The Lost Horizon hosted a popular weekly new wave showcase called "Bright Lights, Monday Nights," featuring both Screen Test and 1.4.5. with a different guest band each week. And on Saturday, July 19th, the acts who created Syracuse's original alternative scene will return to the LOST for one big multi-band show: BRIGHT LIGHTS!  A SYRACUSE NEW WAVE ROCK 'N' ROLL REUNION.

Headlining the show will be Syracuse's own power pop powerhouse THE FLASHCUBES, making their first club appearance since being inducted into the Syracuse Music Hall of Fame this past March. The Flashcubes will be joined on this bill by THE TREND, THE MOST, SCREEN TEST, 1.4.5., THE DEAD DUCKS BAND, PORCELAIN FOREHEAD, THE MIAMIS, and DISTORTION, each of whom is reuniting for this show; former Penetrators lead singer Jack Lipton will perform with his current group, THE JACK PENETRATOR BAND, while Antics bassist MAURA KENNEDY will pay a unique tribute to Syracuse new wave with MAURA & THE BRIGHT LIGHTS.

BRIGHT LIGHTS! celebrates an incredible period in local music history. Over the last 30 years, Syracuse's late '70s/early '80s new wave scene has gained an international mystique; collectors from all over the world pay top dollar for vintage 'Cuse vinyl, and records by The Flashcubes, Screen Test, 1.4.5., The Trend, and The Penetrators have been reissued in America, Japan, and Italy. MAURA KENNEDY, that little teenaged punk bassist for The Antics, is now one-half (with husband Pete Kennedy) of the world-renowned folk-pop duo THE KENNEDYS, and she's coming to The Lost Horizon fresh off a UK tour. PORCELAIN FOREHEAD lead singer "Porcelana" is really singer and actress KAREN OBERLIN, now one of the leading cabaret singers in New York City, and she'll return to her new wave roots for one night only at BRIGHT LIGHTS!  (And she'll be joined by her husband, author DAVID HAJDU, on guitar.)

But the most poignant tale of BRIGHT LIGHTS! is the story of THE TREND. The Trend was one of the most beloved acts in the early '80s Syracuse new wave scene, a teen trio high on The Ramones and The Who, blistering through high-octane sets of originals and covers,winning eager fans with an irresistibly basic barrage of drums and two guitars.The Trend released one 45 (now a high-priced collectible) and one album, and even eventually added a bass player without diluting its no-frills rush. But it all ended in 1985, when lead singer J. Marc Patenaude was killed in a car accident at the age of 21. The Trend stopped on that day, and the surviving members have not played together since then. For BRIGHT LIGHTS!, the surviving members of The Trend will reunite for the first time in nearly 30 years, with J. Marc's 16-year-old niece CHLOE ROACH singing lead. Consider this a single-finger salute to the passage of time and the cruel whims of fate, and consider it catharsis you can dance to.  The brightest lights never fade.

**

WHAT:   BRIGHT LIGHTS!  A SYRACUSE NEW WAVE ROCK 'N' ROLL REUNION

WHO:  THE FLASHCUBES, THE TREND, MAURA & THE BRIGHT LIGHTS [with MAURA KENNEDY],  PORCELAIN FOREHEAD [with KAREN OBERLIN and DAVID HAJDU), DICK HUMMER, THE MOST, THE DEAD DUCKS BAND, SCREEN TEST, 1.4.5.,  THE JACK PENETRATOR BAND, THE MIAMIS, and DISTORTION.  Your hosts are DANA & CARL.

WHEN ’n’ WHERE:  Saturday, July 19th from 8 pm to 1am  (doors open at 7:00 pm), at Syracuse’s legendary home for rock 'n' roll, THE LOST HORIZON. 

$10 admission, all-ages show, tickets available now

And here's the letter we sent to the bands:

Here's a quick list of dos, don'ts, and sundry WTFs for the BRIGHT LIGHTS! gig.

 1.  Due to the number of bands involved, there is NO guest list at all.  The bands get in, but everyone else will need to pony up the ten bucks apiece.  No one’s doing this for the money, but we do hope to generate enough ticket sales to be able to pay out…something. We'll try to figure out a fair share for everyone involved.

 2.  There WILL be a merch table.  BRING STUFF TO SELL!  Captive audience!  Big reunion!  The more they drink, the better we sound!  Or something.

 3.  12 bands.  INCREDIBLY tight time schedule.  This whole thing depends on each band getting on and off within its allotted time.  The back line should make for easier, quicker transitions. Scott Dixon of the Lost Horizon will be managing this part of the production, so that things will move smoothly. You will be in VERY competent, experienced hands. I wish we had time for everyone to play longer, but that’s just not the way this type of show is set up.

4.  The parking situation at the Lost is very challenging.  Load-In is at 5:00; there is a limited amount of parking at the hair supply place just up the hill (the old 7-11, as anyone on this bill would likely remember).  Warn your family, friends, and fans NOT to park in the old Mobil lot; the owner is…what's a nicer term for rat bastard?  He probably likes Pablo Cruise, and hates The Ramones. Prick. Parking should be available at the Asian grocery and at the former Outback restaurant (on Erie Blvd).

 5.  Logistics forbid much in the way of a sound check.  Shared back line, plus the magic powers of The Lost Horizon will make it all right.

 6.  Oh yeah:  shared back line!  We got yer drums and those big cabinets that make big noise.  There will be no opportunity to move any of this equipment around during the show, so everyone will have to plop their bass player in the same spot on stage.

 7.  If you need a rehearsal space the day of the show, you may be in luck. Jeff Moleski of Moletrax Studio has offered space for bands who need it that day. You can reach Jeff at  315-383-7372 to reserve your time.  Space is being booked NOW, so get in touch with Jeff ASAP.

 8.  This is gonna be great, great fun for everyone.  We want you to have fun, but we expect you to put on a great show, too.  No one expects you to be The Beatles, nor even The Bay City Rollers, but we do ask that you take it…okay, taking it seriously may be too much to ask.  But c'mon--try to put on the kind of great rock 'n' roll show we all used to enjoy in the original Bright Lights era. You’re on the bill because we believe you're gonna do just that.

 9. Lastly, and maybe most importantly, we are NOT professional promoters and we are trying to stage a show that would normally require plenty of cash up front to buy ads on radio and in newspapers, to insure that we get a crowd. Well, we don’t have that. But what we DO have, is YOU, and all your bandmates, friends and family. In this age of social media, we have tools to spread the word that we NEVER had before. So we are asking you to USE THEM. Post the event on Facebook and any other social media site you use and encourage everyone to SHARE! Many of you are coming a long way to do this, so let’s make sure that we pack the place and not waste this precious opportunity.

 More questions?  Questions are good!  Answers are hard!  But fire away nonetheless.  I think there's a fair shot we just might pull this whole thing off.

BRIGHT LIGHTS! is Saturday, July 19th at The Lost Horizon.  Doors at 7:00, live music at 8:00.   $10 admission, All-Ages show.

Although I wrote the first and final drafts of all of the above, it was compiled with the help of the rest of the BRIGHT LIGHTS! brain trust, including Dana Bonn and Paul Armstrong, and most especially Gary Frenay.

My notes indicate that this was the final draft of our press release. We had previously planned to have Jeff Moleski's band Amerikan Primitive close the show, but they had to bow out. Local legend Dick Hummer (formerly of Machine And Hummer) was scheduled to join Porcelain Forehead, but a family emergency forced Dick to cancel. There were also complications with The Jack Lipton Band, but Jack himself was able to join 1.4.5. for a couple of songs.

The press release was sufficient to warrant an invitation for Gary, Dana, and I to appear on Channel 9's Bridge Street TV show. That was a lot of fun, but not as much fun as the BRIGHT LIGHTS! shows themselves.

Will there be a third edition of these BRIGHT LIGHTS! reunions? Only time will tell....