Editor’s Note: In honor of the 4th of July, which is really a celebration of the revolution for freedom, I’m reprinting an article that originally ran this past May. In it I present my top 10 list of protest songs against a back drop of Roger Waters, rock music and the current political scene. Disagree with my picks? In the spirit of dissent, I challenge you to respond with yours.

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If anybody born after 1970 has heard of Perry Como—”The Comb” as he’s affectionately known in our house—chances are it’s in the context of Christmas. He hosted several holiday specials at the end of his public life, but those sweater-intensive moments only capped a lovely, gimmick-free, All-American career for a former barber out of Pennsylvania. Read More…

n. Warped - A mental or moral twist, aberration, or deviation.

This definition of the term “warped” undeniably describes the Vans Warped Tour experience.

While I was at the Warped Tour last week in Las Cruces, NM, I witnessed the good, the bad and the ugly. Perhaps I’m getting old, but I don’t understand many of the fashion trends of today’s teenagers. What’s with the skinny jeans on guys? Sure, maybe it’s the “rock star” look, but the part I don’t get is the 50 belts that are hanging off the jeans. Is it really necessary for that many belts to hold up a tight pair of pants? As my friend Kim and I walked to the New Mexico State University Intramural Field where the concert was held, this is the image we saw over and over. But you know what’s worse than tight jeans on boys? Standing in 90 degree heat seeing people dressed in black, baggy jeans, long-sleeved black shirts and black face paint. I got heat stroke just watching them walk around. Read More…

It’s time once again to jump into the Wayback machine and look at a classic album. This time it’s Bob Dylan’s Desire, an album that was a huge hit upon its release in 1976, but isn’t quite mentioned these days in the same breath as Dylan’s classics. Is there a reason for that? Only a song-by-song dissection will tell the tale. The rating system: Read More…

Ok, I admit it: I absolutely love Stevie Wonder. Considering the fact that I’m only twenty-five, most people think his music is slightly “before my time,” but I happen to disagree. I not only love his mixture of beautiful ballads and catchy, radio-friendly tunes, but also the fact that, even after all these years, he still knows how to deliver. Read More…

So my friends over at the metalmommies.com turned me onto to one of the coolest and innovative artistic fusions I’ve ever seen or heard. Some of you may have already heard the buzz, but for those of you have not, prepare to be buzzed.

Ballet Deviare is a ballet company out of New York that was established back in 2003. The difference between Ballet Deviare and other ballet companies is that they are set to the sounds of heavy metal. A live metal band. That’s right live metal and ballet. How cool is that? Read More…

Nearly 10 years ago, Eddie Izzard made his stateside debut at New York City’s PS 122. The month-long run saw him performing in a theater that held approximately 80-people. As he pointed out on stage at Radio City Music Hall on June 27th, he’s come a long way. Not only was he performing at Radio City, but demand for tickets was so high that they added two more dates and all three sold out within days. Read More…

I frequently find myself lamenting how some of my favorite bands are under appreciated and bitching about how certain other bands don’t deserve the success they’re enjoying. This usually internal exercise reared its head when a colleague of mine posted the following quote to his Gmail chat: Read More…

Naming a band is a difficult job. You have to come up with something that’s memorable, fits on the side of a CD, and hasn’t been used by someone who came before you in the over 50 years of rock music history. To quote my favorite rock movie of all time, This is Spinal Tap, there’s a fine line between clever and stupid, and many bands have crossed the International Date Line, especially in my favorite genre: punk. The Dead Kennedys is an edgy, clever name; Scraping Foetus Off The Wheel is just plain stupid. Read More…

Even if you didn’t make the honor roll, listen up: Chances are pretty good that you’re probably still a smartie, especially if you have an innate ability to respond to or create music.

Dr. Howard Gardner is the father of the “Multiple Intelligences” theory, which states that academic success is only one of many ways to measure mental ability. According to Gardner, if you show a special flair in any of seven categories you could be just as smart as the valedictorian—it’s just that society doesn’t traditionally recognize these gifts as “intelligence.” For example, a person might have a mystical ability to work with animals, like Steve Irwin, the “Crocodile Hunter;” or execute a jump with perfect timing as an Olympic figure skater might; or immediately understand a group’s dynamics and broker peace and efficient communication. All these people are smart… it’s just that society doesn’t traditionally recognize these gifts as “intelligence.” Read More…