101 Series Lesson 19: Wilco

Hello there, students! It’s school time (again). This week’s lesson in ye olde 101 Series is a band from the great state of Chicago: the Wilco! In Lesson 19 of the 101 Series we sit down for two hours of Jeff Tweedy, John Stirratt and whoever else is in the band at the time. And, […]

101 Series Lesson 18: Lucinda Williams

Welcome back, students. Time now to step up to the bar and order a round for the house. This week we’ll listen to music from a genuine artist and a genuine lady: Lucinda Williams. We’ll hit the gravel road all up and down her catalog. Step aside, boys – time to get some serious country […]

101 Series Lesson 17: Todd Rundgren/Utopia

Welcome back, students of music and/or madness. The next topic in your syllabus for the 101 Series features Todd Rundgren and his sometime/all the time band Utopia. It will be like sitting at a Todd show only with studio tracks from many of his great albums. There will be some prog, some pop, and even […]

101 Series Lesson 16: Neil Young (Part Two ~ Neil On Stage)

We now would like to set a precedent for our presentations in the 101 Series as we settle in for Part 2 of our study of Neil Young. This time we take it to the stage as Neil does it solo and sometimes with his erstwhile band Crazy Horse. Neil mangles piano, guitar, harmonica all […]

101 Series Lesson 16: Neil Young (Part One ~ Neil In The Studio)

Hello, students. Today your lesson is about someone who has a guitar, a harmonica, and sometimes a piano and can make each sound like a dying giraffe. This week’s show is your first two-part lesson as we listen to the studio recordings of Neil Young. Please prepare for a thoroughly smokey experience as we enjoy […]

101 Series Lesson 15: Richard Thompson

There are a lot of guitar heroes out there . . .  Clapton, Van Halen, Hendrix, blah blah blah. But there is only one who can melt your face with a solo and then play a fifteenth century ballad. His name is Richard Thompson. Revere him! We at The Balcony do enough to give him […]

101 Series Lesson 14: The Who

Ok, students . . . time to secure your blast suits and adjust earplugs for maximum capacity as we learn a thing or two from England’s loudest band, The Who. Get ready as Pete Townsend shreds, Keith Moon explodes, John Entwistle dances on his fret board and Roger Daltry screams a lung out. Please clear […]

101 Series Lesson 13: Elvis Presley

This week’s lesson, class, has a touch of Rock ‘n’ Roll royalty attached to its name. Today’s instructional program is about “The King,” Elvis Presley. We learn about many aspects of his career as we rock and bop around the classroom and in the hallways. Please have pompadours pomped and pedal pushers pushing. Doctors will […]

101 Series Lesson 12: David Bowie

Well, students,  there will need to be complete and undivided attention to this week’s lesson . . . this is because our subject is a performer of many personas. From Davey Jones to folk waif to Ziggy Stardust to Thin White Duke to guy in Berlin who did too much blow – our topic for […]

101 Series Lesson 11: The White Stripes

It is the unalterable opinion of your humble instructors that Meg White is the greatest rock legend of all time. And with x-husband/brother Jack backing her up there’s no stopping her. Of course, this is all part of Lesson 11 this week in the 101 Series as you’ll learn all you need to know about […]