Day: June 10, 2005

Although I enjoyed “Ellie-Mae” just like the next guy, and even was intrigued by Miss Hathaway, I now rue the day Jedd Clampett missed that little critter and struck oil. Sure, he and his kinfolk got a ce-ment pond in Beverly Hills, but you and I got the habit.

Recently, Boston’s WBUR and National Public Radio’s “The Connection,” hosted by Dick Gordon had a 3 part audio series called “Addicted to Oil.” Guests include Tom Friedman, foreign affairs columnist for The New York Times and Robert McFarlane, former National Security Advisor under President Reagan. It’s worth your time to listen.

Lying Down Oil by Gil Marosi

Obviously, any fan of rock music knows that a band formed while some of its members were studying at the Nova Scotia School of Art and Design should not be missed. Well, Sloan is one of those bands and they’re comin’ to getcha. For me, seeing Sloan live is a recharging experience, kinda like what an electric car feels like after a nice long rush of AC current. The music of this Canadian band has been described as “Beatlesque power pop” and is filled with devastating Joe Frazier-like left hooks. Amazon.com music editor, Peter Hilgendorf calls Sloan “God’s gift to rock and roll,” while comparing them to, “The Beatles, the Kinks, the Who, Led Zeppelin, Big Star, Kiss, Cheap Trick, the Clash, the Replacements, the Young Fresh Fellows, and the Beach Boys (when Mike Love was out at the dry cleaner’s).”

Last summer my daughter Megan caught a left hook or two from Sloan through their record, “Action Pact.” 2004 became the Summer of Sloan, and it peaked when she got to see them live at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom. It was a great day full of fun. I long for days like that to return…

One of the bands mega-hits (yeah, it sold like a billion…) is “If it Feels Good, Do It.” It does, so do it. Go See Sloan!