Something to say for classic rock

I was at a basketball game at Red Bay a few weeks ago when I saw something pretty funny. The announcer — who was also in charge of playing music — played “Jump Around” by House of Pain. At least he started to, but then cut it short when a timeout ended.

He received negative remarks from members of the student section who wanted to hear more. One student even texted him and asked him to play the song again.

The man obliged the students at the next stoppage in play, and the section jumped around to the song.

I walked over to the head coach of the Red Bay boy’s team. Greg Cash, and asked he and his wife just how many of those students jumping to the rhythm of that song could name it or the artist responsible.

“Not many, probably” was the appropriate reply. I only happened to know the answers to said questions because that particular piece of music appears on my iTunes, along with a lot of other older songs.

I was sitting at Sheffield’s baseball field Monday afternoon watching Phil Campbell play the Bulldogs. The commentator kept playing classic rock songs, many of which I knew and liked. He played “Carry on my Wayward Son” by Kansas, “More than a Feeling” by Boston, “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi and several others. Each one of those songs mentioned has been on my iPod at some point. “Livin’ on a Prayer” is on there right now. I actually listened to it on the way tlo the game.

I have talked about my love of classic rock in editorials before, but it is nice to know that others like me appreciate what music used to sound like. How did it sound, you might ask. The right way would be my answer.

Back in the day a band had to play their instruments well to sound good, and singers were just as good live as they were in studio. That statement will sum up just how I feel on today’s pop, with its electronic “fake” instruments, auto-tuned singers and made-up performances.

There are exceptions to every rule. The exception that best fits today’s music is the Foo Fighters. That band rocks, plain and simple.

Each band member can actually play, and front man Dave Grohl is a beast with the guitar or behind the drum kit. Oh yeah, he can actually sing, too. He sounds the same live as he does on a disc or mp3.

If you like today’s music and say that the Foo Fighters sound bad, I will be sure to note that you have no concept of the purpose of music, which is to sound good. Then the stern lecture would begin in this hypothetical scenario.

How many people can say that they were a member of two different uber-popular bands? Dave Grohl can. Who can sound just as good live as in studio? The Foo Fighters. If you don’t know their work, do yourself a favor and pick up their greatest hits CD. You’ll thank me later.