Bye Bye Love

Few things are as pure, as beautiful, as the sibling harmonies of the Everly Brothers, and I simply cannot let brother Phil's passing go unmentioned.

No machine, no technology, can match their pristine sound.

They influenced The Beatles, The Byrds, Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds, and even my recent faves Teenage Fanclub.

And what a catalog. This concert, backed by a crack band with Albert Lee and Pete Wingfield, is simply staggering.

Their second album, "Songs Our Daddy Taught Us," stands as one of the triumphs in all of American music, an audacious record far ahead of its time.

We couldn't have gotten to where we are without them.

As the mystery unfolds....

Nick Lowe has gone from being The Jesus of Cool circa '76 to the voice of Jesus himself in this selection from his quirky upcoming holiday album.

Nick Lowe continues to have stones.

Yabba Dabba Do, the King is gone and so are you

I met George Jones once. On his tour bus.

And George was in his pajamas. His wife Nancy, famous for sobering him up, was keeping a close eye on him.

It was following a show at the Patriot Center in Fairfax, VA. A friend of mine who was a publicist for opening-act Tracey Lawrence was able to get us the opportunity for the brief visit.

I shook his hand and mumbled something nondescript, similar to several of my other brushes with greatness -- Miami Steve Van Zandt, Nick Lowe, Joe Ely, Townes Van Zandt, Richard Thompson, Ian Hunter and Springsteen himself.

Just wanted to get this on record before it disappears from my memory.

Goin' down to the well tonight

Had a recent disagreement with a friend over the relative value of Nick Lowe. I happen to think Lowe is a superb pop craftsman, former elite pub rocker and the aptly named (by Lowe himself) "Jesus of Cool." My friend, on the other hand, hates "Cruel to be Kind," which to him apparently ruins everything that Lowe has ever done.

So, I spent some time recently looking back revisiting Lowe's career, especially his early days with Brinsley Schwarz, to see if my memories hold up.

They do.

But an added benefit was that while watching old Brinsley videos on YouTube, I found other clips by other long-lost pub rockers: Ducks Deluxe, Dr. Feelgood and Graham Parker and the Rumor (pictured above), one of the best bands of the 70s. Pub rock was the stripped-down, back-to-basics reaction to glam rock, and the predecessor to punk in Britain, The pubbers were derided as old farts by the punks, but listen to and watch the great Wilko Johnson and Lee Brilleaux of Dr. Feelgood and tell me the punks weren't paying attention.

And this stuff was especially epic in the era of "Feelings," "You're Having My Baby" and "Tie a Yellow Ribbon." To me, it was also a most welcome change from bloated and overbearing prog rock and 20-minute drum solos.

The crowning achievement of the era, to my ears, is Parker's "Howlin' Wind," which hit my turntable like a hurricane in 1976. Yes, Parker arrived at the tail end of pub rock, but his band consisted of several of the era's stalwarts, Packed with tight, take-no-prisoners, three-minute masterpieces, "Howlin Wind" is relentless and unforgiving. Parker was pissed and could write hooks, one after the other, something most of the punks could only dream about.

Lowe's contributions duing the pub years, while not as angry (or angry at all) are still top notch; "Surrender to the Rhythm" still sounds fresh with Bob Andrews' swirling Hammond, while ("What's so Funny 'Bout ) Peace, Love and Understanding" stands as one of the best songs of the decade.

Graham Parker and the Rumour -- Back to Schooldays
Brinsley Schwarz -- Surrender to the Rhythm
Brinsley Schwarz -- "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding"
Ducks Deluxe -- Fireball

Strictly 100: Number 20 -- Pub rock

Maybe we ain't that young anymore

Although early Nick Lowe, with Brinsley Schwartz and Rockpile, will probably always be his strongest work, lately I’ve come to really appreciate his later, more mature and subdued material. He seems to be aging musically (and personally for all I know), in an accepting and graceful manner. Becoming a new father at the age of 57 I’m sure had a significant effect on him (besides undoubtedly scaring him immensely as well).

Anyway, case in point is this song -- it's sharp, concise and astute to a fault.

Not to mention filled with pointed observations that includes his usual caustic wit and well-placed sarcasm and cynicism.

You might also say he's wise beyond his years.