Greg Mitchell's Blog, page 71

Music from Big Links

What would it sound like if the sons of Robbie Robertson (The Band) and Dave Davies (The Kinks) formed a band?   The Woodstock Village Green Preservation Society?  Well, here they are, as the Bootleggers.  Son of Dave on vocals (he also plays guitar) and son of Robbie on guitar (he also drums).

Burned Alive

The NYT reporters in Jerusalem usually finds ways to fudge or "balance" such news but it had more trouble than usual today as autopsy results found that the Palestinian teen kidnapped by Israeli thugs the other night likely was burned alive.  And controversy rages over his cousin who was beaten by cops and happens to be an American who lives in Tampa.

Leaving Alexandra

Leonard Cohen introducing co-writer Sharon Robinson, one of the great songs of recent decades (inspired by the poem).   And part of Leonard's recent three-hour shows (I've caught two). Recorded version.

'Power and Glory'

for the 4th, Phil Ochs' attempt at a "This Land Is Your Land," in odd TV spot, perhaps even "Midnight Special."

Flags and Freedom

For the 4th,  Neil Young's "Flags of Freedom" from his antiwar Living With War album--steals Dylan's "Chimes of Freedom" but acknowledges with reference to Bob, 1963,  and also a "blowin' in the wind."

Scaife Dies

Richard Mellon Scaife died today, at 82--ironically on a holiday you might say he cast a pall over with his massive funding of massively wrongheaded rightwing causes and crusades such as Vince Foster was murdered.   Yes, there are exceptions to not speaking ill of the dead.   We covered his newspaper at E&P--and even it was crappy.

Mr. Scaife gave millions to “nonpolitical” campus, community and church organizations that promoted conservative causes; “public interest” law firms and “consumer” and “environmental” groups that actually promoted business interests.

When Will True Democracy Really Come to the USA?

Leonard Cohen ponders it--in this remarkable spoken word rendition of one of his greatest songs.   "Sail on oh might ship of state/ to the shores of need/ past the reefs of greed/ through the squalls of hate."  And what the hell, we'll throw in his "Anthem," too.  Ring the bells that still can ring. 

Director Charged in FIlm Set Death

Remember that poor woman killed on the set of the Gregg Allman bio pic a few months back?  Now the film's director, his wife and another have been charged with involuntary manslaughter in Georgia--and filming without a permit.  The woman died when a train suddenly appeared.  Miller also directed the recent (and rather weak) CBGB flick.

Woody for the 4th

Seventy years ago this week--Woody Guthrie on the BBC doing a couple of train tunes and talkin' about his life.

Plenty of 'Leftovers' in Nyack

As I've noted, key scenes in debut of "The Leftovers" on HBO were shot in my town, Nyack, and they are still shooting.  Here's current photo from WQXR legend and friend Elliot Forrest--banner over one of the main drags as they shoot a Memorial Day sequence just before July 4.