Lou Molinaro

007 - THE NUMBER OF THE YEAR

   

Howdy Hamilton...

   

Wow...I just got back from the shopping frenzy with Alex, my girlfriend's son, and its chaos out there.  This whole ordeal of going in and out of stores is like a rash.  More importantly, I look at the faces of these poor helpless men, who are trapped into the shopping labyrinthes, and they do not want to be anywhere near a store.  But, on a happier note, both Alex and I hit 8 different locations in 2 hours and 10 minutes. Not to brag, but I mean 8 different locations by car in that time frame!!!!  I do believe that this could be the proto-type to the "HOW TO SHOP IF YOU ARE A DUDE" booklet.  I have done quite a bit of shopping at music and book stores and the line ups are MINIMAL!!!!

   

So, looking back at 2007, there were some very interesting personal hi-lites for yours truly.  Names like Richard Lloyd, Cheetah Chrome, David Thomas and Pere Ubu, Peter Case, Club Absinthe, Lionshead Pub, Audience, Lori Yates, High Voltage, The Orphans, Manolis Zantonis, Nick Blagona, and Howard Kaylan were certainly the peaks of the summit.  In between all of these names were many outstanding shows, moments of happiness, and unfortunately less elated times.

   

Outstanding in its own field is JAMILTON.  Tom Hogue from the Hamilton Spectator contacted me in the summer of 06 and asked if I would be interested in being a Blog Author for the newly created JAMILTON website.  I was excited to share rock n roll stories with all of you, and sharing a column with Gord Lewis has its own pats on the back.  At times, I must be honest with you and let all of you know that spilling my words on this site is therapeutic. It puts perspective in to who I am, and as to why I continue being a musical nut. 

   

I look forward to year 2008, and I will continue to fill the voids with stories about interesting Rock N Roll shows, personalities, and trials. 

   

For an example, I have been chatting with Albert Bouchard
from the infamous Rock N Roll band BLUE OYSTER CULT.  I am excited about having Albert over for a visit in the spring time of 2008.  I had the HUGE pleasure of meeting him and chatting his ear off back in the spring of 2006 when I hosted a show with the Brain Surgeons.  This band also included Ross The Boss on guitar.  How cool, eh?????

 

So, being a big BOC fan, I was excited to speak with Albert, and since then, we have been keeping in touch.  As of late, there have been very impressive BOC re-issues with great liner notes from the one and only, Lenny Kaye. Blue Oyster Cult has always been tagged as the "INTELLIGENT MAN'S ROCK N ROLL BAND".  I am not too sure of that quote because I am a fan, and in no way am I a brainiac! - In all seriousness, BOC have been a hard rock institution that marries lyrics, melodies, riffs, and coolness into many impressive songs.  Many of you may not know this, but Albert was the principal songwriter for BOC, and a luminary poet. 

   

Personally, I always looked at BOC as WA - BOC (With Albert/Blue Oyster Cult) and AA - BOC (After Albert/Blue Oyster Cult).  The band was never the same without Albert. 

   

In any event, once the T's are all crossed, and all the I's are dotted, then you will be the first to know all the details pertaining to Albert Bouchard's visit into Canada.

   

Before I forget, C101.5 FM will be celebrating their 10th anniversary and there will be a huge bash in March 2008 to make it legit.  All the details will be posted here shortly.  I host a Rock N Roll radio show every Wednesday between 12:30pm - 6pm on C101.5 FM.  Please tune in and enjoy.

   

Finally, I want to wish all of you the best during the holiday season.  Be kind to each other, and fuck all the hatred.  Life is too short and too sweet to despise.

   

There will be plenty of surprises of this Molinaro sleeve.  Stay Tuned!

   

Lou Molinaro
(Photo: Albert Bouchard of Blue Oyster Cult)

   

HOWARD KAYLAN - THE TURTLES - FLO & EDDIE

Howdy Hamilton..

Hope all of you are having a great December thus far.  You know, Xmas always seems to be a major pain when it comes to the pushing and shoving in the streets, stores, and bars.  However just keep in mind that when you are toasting family and friends on the 25th, and a Golden bird lays on a table ready for the munching, you know its all worth it!

This past Friday, December 7th, I had the pleasure and honour of meeting one of the most amazing Rock N Roll singers, Howard Kaylan.  Some may know him as 50% of Flo & Eddie, and others will recognize the name from being the lead singer of the infamous Turtles.

He has just released a movie called My Dinner With Jimi, and it was featured this past Friday night at the Bloor Cinema in T.O.

Its a capsule of the Turtles circa 67, when they had the biggest hit in the world with HAPPY TOGETHER. It actually knocked off Penny Lane from the number 1 position.  It starts off with the band progressing in their early days prior to the big hit.  Then, once HAPPY TOGETHER was released, The Turtles are invited to London England. 

Due to this British Invitation, Kaylan et co get the opportunity to meet some of their most influential artists.  They hang out with Graham Nash and Donovan sitting back smoking and listening to the pre - release of Sgt Pepper's.  Then, Nash takes the Turtles to the legendary Speakeasy.  Howard Kaylan read about this hang out, but he had no idea of what to expect upon entering. 

So, once inside the bar, they are escorted to a back room and they meet the Beatles who are sitting back smoking, guzzling bevies with a few women.  Kaylan is over the top and he can not believe that he is in the presence of Lennon and the gang.  Conversations are reflected back and forth, and then Lennon sours the mood with some naggy comments about the fashion sense of the Turtles.  I am not going in to details because you should see  the movie.

They get the chance to meet Brian Jones, and then Kaylan gets introduced to a cat by the name if Jimi Hendrix.  Mr. Hendrix recently moved to the UK, in fact a few months prior to the Turtles visit. Jimi orders round after round after round of drinks for both Kaylan and himself.  Mix that in with some magical rollie that Jimi had and that led to Howard leaving an everlasting impression on Hendrix.  Again, you can use your imagination, but test your instincts and see the movie.

As much as this movie really dishes out a sincere honest reflection of a magical musical moment, it also sheds insight towards the business and the networking of the past.

Howard Kaylan and Marc Volman went off to work with Zappa after the Turtles and called themselves Flo & Eddie.  They could not use their names due to contractual obligations, so they chose F&E as their monikers. 

There was a meet and greet after the movie, and ravid fans lined up to get all sorts of stuff signed.  Personally, I had my Turtles comp, and a bunch of stuff from 200 Motels signed.  I was in one of those moods where I could have talked his head off forever.  I was trying to be courteous and allow others to ask quetions but I selfishly wanted to ask all of my questions about Arthur Lee, Ray Davies, Warren Zevon, Zappa, Dylan to Howard.  Well, there's always next time.

In closing, you can see MY DINNER WITH JIMI every Friday night in the month of December at the Bloor Cinema.

Fore more information visit www.filmswelike.com

Back to listening to my SIGNED copy of the The Turtles Greatest Hits.

Lou "OUTSIDE CHANCE" Molinaro

KUDOS TO THE KIDZ

Hi everyone.

I had the pleasure of MCing this year's annual City Kidz benefit.  The Arnie was the home to 10 acts and a lot of kindness. 

Show started with Daylight For Deadeyes and it ended with The Racket.  Sandwiched in between were

Indecent Exposure
Faceless Tomorrow
Steve Elmo Murphy
Sauce Rock-It
Morning Stars
Porcelain Youth
High Voltage
40 Sons and Daughters

Again, it was great seeing the Kids doing it for the Kidz. 

I must tell you that it is so great to see young kids picking up guitars and learning music.  There was a time a few years ago, when I questioned the whole new direction of live music.  Thankfully, kids discovered their parents' records and started appreciating music as an art form.

Hamilton has a great bright future ahead of them with music.  Just as bands like Teenage Head, The Forgotten Rebels, The Killjoys, Junkhouse and The Shakers gained national attention, these new acts will take the torch and run!

Congrats to UK Walt, Kathy, UK Gloria, Anthony Cascella, Brent, and the rest of the volunteers who put their hearts in the right places.

For more information, please visit City Kidz at www.citykidz.ca

Keep Doing It For The Kidz...

Lou