Kevin Marshall's America
"Who said The Twist? I heard The Twist. We're playing it again. PLAY IT AGAIN, I SAID!" Chubby Checker live.
Yesterday, Steve Barnes reported on the partial official lineup for Alive at Five. This is not to be confused with my fake April Fool’s Day lineup which was then redistributed a week later with the “This was an April Fool’s Joke” part omitted. Way to be a jerk, state employee who shall remain anonymous.
Anyway, the real list is out and Flava Flav isn’t on there. But there’s plenty of interesting names that are.
-CHUBBY CHECKER. Chubby (or “Chubs” to his friends) made a career out of high-energy jazzy rock and roll that had the teens twisting until they couldn’t twist no more. Among his hits:
- The Twist
- Let’s Twist Again
- Twistin’ USA
- Slow Twistin’
- Twist It Up
- Twist & Turn
- Did Somebody Say Twist?
- Twistin’ American Style
- Twist Twist Twist
- On Her Majesty’s Twistin’ Service
- Knock Knock, Who’s There? The Twist
- She Twists
- I Just Called To Say I’m Twistin’
- Don’t Twist Twice (It’s Alright)
- May I Have This Twist?
- Try to Make Me Go to Rehab…for Twistin’!
- Twist 2000
The rest of the lineup after the jump:
- Hey, remember that alternative band from the 90s that you loved? No, not Nirvana. No, not Pearl Jam. Think not Seattle. No, Candlebox was Seattle. Try again. …no, not Dinosaur, Jr. Think poppier. …no, not Third Eye Blind. No, not Better Than Ezra either. It’s the GIN BLOSSOMS, remember them? “Hey Jealousy?” THERE you go. Those guys.
– GLORIA GAYNOR. She should totally be touring under the banner “Still Surviving 2010 World Tour,” but sadly isn’t. Gaynor was, of course, the one who sang one of the most enduring break-up anthems of all time, “I Will Survive.” A Disco Night could be fun.
Eddie (not some old guy at the bar asking you for some) Money
– Y’all better drop your c***s and grab your socks, because EDDIE MONEY is coming BACK to the Capital Region! After playing a Troy festival last year as well as a show at Northern Lights in recent years, Money is becoming something of a mainstay to the area. It’s not so much because he’s so in-demand; reviews I’ve heard of his performances have been universally bad. Personally, I always thought of Eddie as that Uncle that shows up to a family barbecue, gets completely hammered, then stays way after everyone else makes the very obvious cue to leave and indicate the party is over. But there’s Eddie, still sitting on the couch and eating while you clean up, watching VH1 Classic and slurring “hey, hey…you remem…you remember Live Aid? Phil Collins, that guy..that guys traveled through time.” He even looks like that Uncle.
– BOYZ II MEN. No joke, I might check this out. I ain’t got nothing bad to say; their songs and harmonies bring back fond memories of youthful summers spent listening to that New Jack Swing. True fact: 11-year-old Kevin Marshall loved them slow jams.
-FRAN COSMO (formerly of Boston). Brad Delp is the more famous lead singer of Boston and the guy you hear on all the hits, but he…well, he died. He was temporarily replaced by Fran, who helmed it when they had their disastrous 1994 album and continued touring when Delp re-joined the lineup so that he could hit hte high notes. He’s also known for various other things that I’m not all that familiar with. NOTE: What I had written previously has caused a controversy and potential legal snafu with the PR firm representing the band Boston. Keep an eye out at about 10:00pm tonight for an explanation!
– GREGG ROLLIE (former member of Santana). Former music critic/geek J. Eric Smith seemed pleased when I told him Rollie was on the lineup, and I generally trust his taste in music. I mean, he didn’t yell out “neeeee ha” and fire a gun into the air in excitement (as Southerners are apt to do when receiving good news), but his modest approval did indicate that this is a show worth checking out. Props to the aforementioned JES for correcting me on the spelling of Gregg.
So there you have it. I know I have a little fun with the lineup, but hey, free shows. What’s to complain about?
REACT: What do you think of the real lineup so far? Anyone you want to see on the list, within reason?
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29 Responses to The Alive at Five Lineup, for Realsies This Time
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STALK ME
After looking at this list, I kinda want to see Flavor Flav…
#justsayin
Ummm, I liked your list a whole lot better; but this is ok.
I’ve gotta say that I was pretty excited about Boyz II Men and Gin Blossoms. It made me dig up some albums that I haven’t listened to in AGES and also has me wanting to rewatch “Empire Records”. I didn’t realize Chubby Checker was on the lineup until I read this. I am now ecstatic at the idea of being a part of a large public display of dancing “The Twist”.
Not a bad lineup at all, as far as free concerts go, and especially needed since OGS obviously has no intention of bringing back its concert series at the Empire State Plaza.
You could tell the prank lineup by its lack of an Irish Night or Latino Night. Although the partially announced schedule hasn’t filled in those gaps yet either. It’ll be interesting to see who else comes.
Ok, weirdest thing… I was just saying to myself that I wonder if the Gin Blossoms are still around, and that, if they are, I bet they play places like Alive at Five and the Tulip Fest. Turns out, I was right!
I really loved their CDs – Will definitely be checking out that show.
I want to see Boyz II Men! Marshall – I shall be your date if interested:)
“I’m gonna say it like a man and make you understand, Amanda”
Boston rocks.
all I can say is thank God they’re “Free Tickets to Paradise”otherwise he may have trouble filling Valentine’s
Boston – sad tale. Lawsuits, suicide, lifelong animosity. The tunes were catchy, but I wonder if the guys think it was worth it. Rock ‘n’ roll object lesson #1.
Did the official Live at Five press release actually spell Gregg Rolie’s name the wrong way? http://www.greggrolie.com/
He’s a legit Rock n’ Roll Hall of Famer . . . co-founder/lead vocalist/keyboard player of Santana (he sang most of their songs that you young whippersnappers might know . . . “Evil Ways,” “Black Magic Woman,” “Oye Como Va,” etc.), with an appearance at Woodstock, no less.
When he left Santana, he founded Journey and was its lead singer, too, when they were sort of a groovy, proggy band, before Steve Perry joined. I think Rolie lasted an album or two into Journey’s “hits” era, then left them to the their lameness.
So, you know, he’s no Aldo Nova or Billy Squier, but . . . .
#10 (J. Eric Smith) – Before anyone else jumps in, yes, both myself and Steve Barnes got it wrong. And both of us were going by the official Alive at Five Facebook page, which is where the announcement was made (and the primary source as of the writing of both posts).
Thankfully, we have a music afficianado on-hand to correct us. Thank the Heavens above for you, Mr. Smith.
Well, now I feel like Peter Pedanticpants, but you’re welcome . . .
Boston was my first cover story for Goldmine, way back in the day. Spoke with Tom Scholz, Fran Sheehan, Sib Hashian and Brad Delp for the interview. I still say that their debut album is one of the greatest LP’s of the 1970’s. As for Fran Cosmo, yeah he sang lead on the Walk On LP, and he can hit those high notes almost as well as Brad Delp did, but Boston without Brad Delp is like Styx without Dennis DeYoung.
I think Esther Rolle would be more fun to watch than Gregg Rolie, but she’s with Delp.
I actually just saw Third Eye Blind. :-P
It’s tough, because someone in my generation really doesn’t know anything about Boston or Santana outside of them having one or two staples on classic rock stations. They’re two bands that I just never really immersed myself in, and never really felt myself drawn to. FWIW in regards to Santana, I have a general aversion to jam bands and anything that would be reminiscent of the genre.
Slacker – you know, when I was writing that, I couldn’t remember if they had just played in the area or were going to soon. Where were they, anyway?
I loved the twist list. hilarious.
I don’t know if I’ll make any. This might interfere with kickball.
“Eddie (not some old guy at the bar asking you for some) Money.” I like it.
Who must we speak with to obtain “The Artist Formerly Known As Prince” at Alive at Five?
I just read on 4chan that Chubby Checker will be replaced by Flavor Flav at Albany’s Alive at Five series.
Repeat: Chubby Checker will be replaced by Flavor Flav at Albany’s Alive at Five series.
(And if you believe this, I don’t know what to do about you!)
NOW YOU STOP THAT. I’m in enough trouble already, mister!
I detest jam bands, too, Kevin. Probably my two worst music critic experiences ever were having to review Dave Matthews Band at SPAC and Phish at the Pepsibocker Union Center.
But the first three Santana albums with Gregg Rolie (“Santana,” “Abraxas,” and “Santana III”) are pretty non-jammy and tight, with some sick good Latin ritmo backing Carlos Santana’s amazing guitar tone and chops. Carlos really has a VOICE on the six string.
Bottom line: these early Santana records are some sexy, sexy discs. Seriously. And Rolie’s voice and keyboard work was a pretty key part of that. (He was on their fourth album, “Caravanserai,” too, but it begin to drift into jazz-lite cheese, so I wouldn’t recommend it as highly).
And, P.S. Would it make your head asplode if I told you that Santana’s biggest hit, “Black Magic Woman,” was actually a cover of a song originally recorded by Fleetwood Mac?
I think I saw Eddie Money on the shuttle bus from the OGS lot…
Better than Ezra – Now THERE’S a flashback!! (You forgot Soul Asylum!)
I think The Gin Blossoms played down in the plaza a while back and they were still pretty good.
We might try to check out Boyz II Men too!
Third Eye Blind played Tulip Fest last year! They were good!
No So Hideous My Love?!?!?! How many times do we have to ask to play????
Hey, the lineup isn’t complete yet. Not too late to go after them!
Greg Rollie also used to be in Journey, as was Neil Schonn. He was the guy who Steve Perry sort of eased out of the band. He’s on Lights, Just the Same Way, Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’, all that stuff. Crazy booking.