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TUBE TUNES vol. 1, no. 10
Mailed March 15, 2001

Watch the Tube Tunes site for a web-only review of the March 25th Academy Awards. Bob Dylan, Sting and Bjork are among the musicians scheduled to perform “Best Song” nominees.

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Next week Paul Simon and Steely Dan will receive an honor that makes their recent Grammy nominations (and wins) seem trivial. Both will be inducted into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Queen, Aerosmith, Michael Jackson and a handful of other artists and music biz big shots join them.

The ceremony will be held Monday; it will be shown on VH1 on Wednesday and again several times after that. This black tie rock ’n’ roll party usually yields a few decent performances, so it’s always worth tuning in – or in the very least rolling tape to fast forward through later.

It should be a real testament to the staying power of rock that Simon and the Dan are following the Grammys with this, that artists who play such an important part in the history and development of rock are still considered to be contributors to a vibrant current scene.

But let’s be honest: Their recent work is OK, downright good in spots, but it is nowhere near the vanguard, not even close to being among the best or most challenging rock being made today. Theirs were token nominations (and in the case of Steely Dan, awards), and it is in fact a sad commentary on the form that artists bound for the rock hall, that great, static museum in Cleveland, are used to prop up a sagging industry.

Better to praise Aerosmith, a band who is still making music that the kids care about. It might not be groundbreaking or even that good (though “Jaded” is a great radio song), but at least they’re relevant. You find me someone with Eminem, Paul Simon and Steely Dan in his CD collection, and I’ll show you someone who needs to move out of his mother’s basement.

Read curmudgeonly rants like this every other week at the Tube Tunes site, http://www.oocities.org/tubetune, or even better, subscribe to the list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Sticks-n-Stones

NEWS

The past few years have been a goldmine for Beach Boys fans. Several television specials have aired, Brian Wilson is coherent, recording and touring again, and come April, the band’s entire catalog will be back in print.

That bounty of material continues to grow with the planned "All Star Tribute To Brian Wilson" which will tape March 29 at the Radio City Music Hall. The show gives those of us in the sticks the chance to see and hear “Pet Sounds” performed in its entirety – something our friends in the big cities got to see live and in person.

The show, which will be broadcast by TNT on July 4, also features Dennis Hopper and Phil Ramone.

PROGRAMS OF NOTE
(all times CST; days begin and end at 5 a.m.)

Friday, March 16
Pavement and Richard Thompson on "Later with Jools Holland." BBCAmerica, 6 p.m. This show is always interesting, but a lineup like this is worth setting the VCR and cracking open a new tape. The late, lamented Pavement live on TV? That's a rarity.

Saturday, March 17
Chris Isaak in "Little Buddha." EncoreTrue, 7 p.m. Did the "Chris Isaak Show" on Showtime whet your appetite for some more of the Cali crooner's thesp work? Check out this performance as the father of the lama and husband to Bridget Fonda.

Monday, March 19
Aerosmith on The Today Show. 6 a.m., NBC. The band will be inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame Monday evening, so this looks to be a long day. The 'smith's new song, "Jaded," is a nice rockin' bit of pop on the airwaves, and you'll likely get a live version here. But the real reason to tune in is to see what Joe Perry looks like this early in the morning.

"The Chris Isaak Show." 8 p.m. on Showtime.

Tuesday, March 20
Kasey Chambers on the Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn. 11:35 p.m., NBC. Kilborn is insufferably smug which renders his show nearly unwatchable, but every once in a while his booker pulls out a gem like Chambers, a young Australian country singer who’s CD "The Captain" is a stunner.

Wednesday, March 21
Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony. 8 p.m. on VH1. This year's slate should provide a few memorable musical moments, particularly Aerosmith, whose lineup has not changed in its 25-year history. Other potential highlights: Seeing how Queen handles its life performance, determining who is more mellow: Steely Dan or Paul Simon, and wondering if anyone recognizes Michael Jackson. Stay tuned.

Friday, March 23
Aimee Mann on the Late Show with David Letterman. CBS, 10:35 p.m. Mann brings her Oscar- and Grammy-nominated self to the Late Show to sing us all a purty song. How sweet.

Saturday, March 24
"High Fidelity." Starz, 7 p.m. This film of the best of 2000 (and one of the best music movies ever) makes its cable debut tonight. Everything about this movie is spot on (save for the relationship with Lisa Bonet's folk singer)... you can just smell the musty record sleeves in Championship Vinyl.

Sunday, March 25
“The 73rd Annual Academy Awards.” ABC, 7:30 p.m. Check the Tube Tunes site for a post-show review Monday.

Monday, March 26
Supergrass on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. NBC, 11:35 p.m. Yeah, it’s a bit of a stretch, especially since this is a repeat from last year, but the post-Oscar pickings were slim.

Tuesday, March 27
John Lydon on Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher. ABC, 11:05 p.m. Lydon (code name: Rotten), is never shy about sharing his opinions, and Maher is never shy about telling his guests they’re stupid. So, this should be highly entertaining.

[JK]
posted by John Kenyon at 7:52 AM