We hope you figured out how much of the potion to drink to get through the door, it’s time for some psychedelic music. Here, friends, is episode five of our tribute to music best enjoyed floating two feet off the ground, This Pill Makes You Small. In this sojourn, please do try to keep up as we tumble up the rabbit hole of our own brains. Make sure not to pet the smiling cat, he’s a weirdo.
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John Bonham. John Paul Jones. Jimmy Page. Robert Plant. Fuck. Led Zeppelin. The hammer of the gods, the stomping t-rex, thunder and fucking lightning itself: Led Fucking Zeppelin. We at the Balcony have missed out on some major historical happenings: the building of the pyramids, the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the first flight at Kitty Hawk, the bomb dropping on Hiroshima. Another thing we missed out on is seeing the Zeppelin in concert. In Lesson 72 we try to get as close to that feeling as possible.
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From Doris Day to Mel Torme, we at the Balcony are familiar with the Swingin’ side of life. Whether a well-sung melody, a jazzy orchestration or some serious be-boppin’, with Episode 5 of Swingtime we prove again that Swing music has got your soul, rock and all other musical needs covered. Add fedora and tuxedo, dress sharp and enjoy the party.
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One day in 1975 Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band walked onto a stage and haven’t left yet. They’ve been doing the same show at the same energy for 40 goddamn years. How is that possible? Is the Fountain of Youth off the New Jersey Turnpike near Exit 96? Tell us, Boss. We need to know. In Lesson 72.2 of the 101 Series we have perfect seats to a couple of hours of first rate rock and roll – in the balcony, of course. We saved you one. You better have sneaked in food. We brought a flask.
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We at the Balcony are pretty fond of three things: peace, love and soul. (Four if you count BLTs.) It’s time for episode five of Soulville, our show dedicated to music of the heart and the spine and the guts. In this installment we prove that white people got rhythm by playing you a couple of hours of blue eyed soul. Join us for some music made by people in sweaters and penny loafers who’ve got big feelings, man. You should definitely try to dig.
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Icons come and Icons go but The Boss goes on forever. And when he gets going it goes all night. For Lesson 71 of the 101 Series we take a 2-part listen to the music of Bruce Springsteen with and without the E Street Band – because that’s the only thing that can be done. For Part 1 we explore the best tracks from the studio records. It’s only the first set as next week we go “live” for some big stage action. Your tickets will be valid the second show.
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Five hundred miles off the tip of the Florida Keys (on the other side of Cuba), is Jamaica, birthplace of a little something called reggae. Every once and a while we at The Balcony grab a trade wind and point our spliffs straight for Kingston. Join us for episode five of our testament to Jah almighty, Songs From the Yard. Bring sunscreen and a lighter.
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Before the mp3, before the CD, before the cassette, before the 8-track, before reel-to-reel, before vinyl there was wax and shellac. Who put the wax and shellac on? Columbia Records did. The oldest record label in America deserves it’s own show and you’re getting it. In Lesson 70 of the 101 Series we focus on the only label that signed Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Bob Dylan, all the hippies, Bruuuuuuce, Cypress Hill and Adele. (You should be impressed.)
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Do you ever get the urge to just go through your music collection and put together a mix tape of all the hardest rockin’ songs you can think off? It doesn’t matter how many time you’ve heard it you just want it in the mix again? That’s what we usually do on Sock Rockin’ Beats. And with episode 5 we play songs that make us want to wreck cars, smash furniture and cause a little a mayhem. It’s standard operating procedure in this office. We invite you to join us.
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The United States gave the Japanese many things: the bomb (and therefore, Godzilla), Tom Cruise as a samurai, the hamburger and rock music. The Japanese took to some of these things more than others, especially the rock. In Lesson 69 of the 101 Series, we venture over to the big island of Japan for two hours of rock, psych, folk and general experimental weirdness, Japanese-style. (i.e., efficient, well done and pretty damn cool.)
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