NostalGeoff | Writing about the past in the present… | Page 14

- One Life to Live…51st Anniversary
  
  Posted at 11:23 pm by Geoff, on July 24, 2019
  When I was a little kid, I fell in love with soap operas. Yes, I watched the normal kid shows, like cartoons or dumb sitcoms. But around 10 years old soaps became my thing. I took a peek in at almost every show at that time. But my absolute favorite was One Life to Live. It was pure amazingness. The history, stories, and characters. I watched it from sometime in the 80s until it went off the air in 2012. This year OLTL would have celebrated its 51^st anniversary. The show may be gone (damn you ABC), but my memories of it and the denizens of Llanview live on. So, to celebrate I’m making a list of my Top 10 OLTL characters.
  
  10. Billy Douglas
  
  Billy (Ryan Phillippe) has a special place in my heart. He was the first gay teen TV character. Like Billy, I was a young teen coming to terms with my sexuality. It helped so much to have a character like that on TV. On my favorite show no less. Representation in the media is very powerful. A young Phillippe made his acting debut in the part in 1992. He brought so much to the role, playing Billy’s vulnerability and ultimately his strength. It’s too bad the character was written out after only a year. But he still managed to make a huge impact at that time and years beyond.
  
  9. Megan Gordon
  
  Megan (Jessica Tuck) was brought on as Viki Buchanan’s long-lost daughter. Viki had a few of those. She had similar trials to her mother: love triangles, heartbreak, and multiple personalities. But she was her own person. Fiery, independent, and quick-witted. It was unfortunate when Tuck decided to leave the show and they wrote Megan out. Her soap death broke my 12-year-old heart. So many tears. But at least she came back as an angel from time to time.
  
  8. Max Holden
  
  Sexy, charming, and sometimes dangerous. Max (James DePaiva) was the bad boy that people loved. Even when he was doing wrong, you still rooted for him. And nothing was better than his toxic romance with Gabrielle Medina. Or his equally explosive one with Blair. In later years, he got a bit watered down. But Max was always a pleasure to see onscreen.
  
  7. Tea Delgado
  
  Tea (Florencia Lozano) came to town as a ruthless lawyer, ready to decimate any opponent. She was ridiculously smart and cunning. Everyone’s go-to lawyer. Especially Todd Manning. That was a delightfully dark client/attorney/husband/wife relationship. But she had a softer side at times. She cared about her community and her loved ones. And she had the best frenemy relationship (this side of Viki & Dorian) with Blair. A truly multi-faceted, rich character.
  
  6. Blair Cramer
  
  Two actresses played Blair over the course of the show. One Asian and one white. Yeah, that really happened. It was the 90s. Mia Korf was first. She was the scheming ice princess; ready to take down anyone or use them for her own gain. After Korf left the show Kassie DePaiva came on as Blair. I was reluctant to accept her in the role, but over time I grew to love her portrayal. She softened some of Blair’s edges while still remaining razor sharp. Fighting for (or with) her family and working her way to the top. And pushing a bitch out a window, if necessary. You didn’t want to mess with Blair.
  
  5. Natalie Buchanan
  
  Natalie (Melissa Archer) was one of the most polarizing characters on OLTL. You either hated her or loved her. I fell in the latter category, always ride or die for my girl. She was the bad girl turned heroine, suffering through several kidnappings, lost loves, and that dolt John McBain. Ugh Jolie. She was always getting involved in some tragedy, much like her mother, Viki. I loved their relationship, btw. But through it all Natalie kept going. Always the fighter.
  
  4. Dorian Lord
  
  It’s easy to call Dorian (Robin Strasser) a villain. Yes, she was treacherous, devious, and a pathological liar at times. And she kinda killed a man. Only kinda because of the retcon. But underneath that armor of bitchery was a huge heart. She loved her family and some of her husbands. And even Viki at times. Strasser was one of the best actresses on the show and in daytime in general. Dorian’s death row storyline really stands out as a winning moment. Strasser could turn any plot, no matter how small, into gold.
  
  3. Viki Lord
  
  All roads lead back to Viki (Erika Slezak). She was the heart of the show from the very beginning. It was her life to live. For years we saw drama swirl around her. A horrendous father, a career in journalism, a long line of husbands (many who died on her), dissociative identity disorder, numerous Dorian schemes, and enough maladies to kill the average man (well she actually did go to heaven…twice). Slezak deserved all six of the Emmys she won, if not more. There’s no better actress in daytime.
  
  2. Gabrielle Medina
  
  Coming in at a VERY close 2^nd is Gabrielle (Fiona Hutchison). Usually female characters go from bad to good in some dumb redemptive arc. But Gabrielle went from virginal ingenue to one of the baddest bitches in Llanview. I grew to love her during a twisty baby switch storyline. So, she swapped a few brats? She had her reasons. I could excuse any Gabrielle scheme. And I wanted her to be with Max. Even though they were horrible for one another. You can’t deny the heat they had. But whether she was entrenched in a bad romance or on her own, Hutchison always shined in the role. And she did it with great hair. Can’t say enough about that hair!
  
  1. Tina Lord Roberts
  
  Tina, Tina, Tina (Andrea Evans)! There is no better character, in my opinion, in soap opera history. Sorry Erica Kane. Tina was everything for me. Most importantly she was the reason why I started watching One Life. One of the first scenes I remember watching was when she accidentally killed her wicked mother-in-law, Maria, by spilling poison on her. Of course, Maria was trying to kill Tina, so she had it coming. Tina was always getting involved in crazy stuff like that. This is the same woman who went over a waterfall (while pregnant) and lived to tell the tale. Typically, her own schemes put her in these precarious positions. She always wanted more. More love, money, jewels! And she never went about getting these things in the right way. How boring would that be? Unfortunately, Tina got derailed when Evans had to leave the show because of a crazed real-life stalker. She made a return years later, but was bogged down by bad writing. Luckily, before the show ended, she came back one more time and had a happy (and zany Tina-like) ending with her long-time love (and four-time husband) Cord.
  
  Even though the show has ended and these characters are out of sight, they’ll always be in my heart (sorry for the cheesiness). And on YouTube. Cause you only have One Life to Live! Dun, dun, dun!
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  Posted in TV | 0 Comments | Tagged 80s, 90s, Anniversary, Soaps, TV
- The Writing’s on the Wall…20th Anniversary
  
  Posted at 7:42 pm by Geoff, on July 21, 2019
  Twenty years ago, Destiny’s Child released their second studio album, The Writing’s on the Wall. It would go on to be certified 8x platinum, launch four hit singles, and garner multiple Grammy nominations. Instead of focusing on that success most people remember the revolving DC lineup at the time. Originally it was Beyonce, Kelly, LaTavia, and LeToya. Then LaTavia and LeToya were dropped. Michelle and Farrah were added. But Farrah got kicked out pretty quickly. So, by mid-2000 the group was a trio. That’s a lot of change for the Children. But the one constant was an impressive R&B album that deserves more attention than the controversy going on at the time. So, let’s celebrate TWOTW and rank its 14 songs.
  
  14. Sweet Sixteen
  
  This isn’t so sweet at all. SS deals with a young girl looking for the love that she was never given growing up. She meets a bad guy, gets pregnant, and ends up alone and sad. It’s a cautionary tale for other teenagers not to move so fast. A very well-intentioned, but oh so boring tale. The lyrics are clunky and the melody itself is fairly stale. And in the end, it’s an after-school special set to music. But I’ll give it a few points for sampling Diana Ross’ “Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You’re Going To).
  
  13. Hey Ladies
  
  Hey Ladies (and gentlemen) could this song be more basic? So, this woman’s boyfriend is doing her wrong. He’s lying and running around on her with a Tenderoni. He’s got to go…got to go. This dumb song needs to go as well. It’s supposed to be an anthem for women to get rid of their crappy men, but it doesn’t stir up much energy. I’ve heard better rallying songs. Some, from Destiny’s Child!
  
  12. Confessions (featuring Missy Elliott)
  
  These are some lame confessions. In a couple of verses, she tells her man about the things she did behind his back. Cheating, taking his credit card to buy some clothes, blah, blah. Nothing really scandalous. What’s surprising is how tired this song is. You’d think a DC/Missy Elliott collaboration would be on fire. Not so much as it turns out.
  
  11. Now That She’s Gone
  
  Kelly’s ex has come crawling back after getting dumped by his current chick. He treated his now-ex much better, so he has a lot of nerve trying to step to Kelly again. It’s a pretty dick move. This one is just ok. Not horrible, nor great. My biggest question is why is the song over 5 minutes? The story could have been expressed much more succinctly.
  
  10. Stay
  
  A nice ballad. The vocals are beautiful. But it’s fairly tame. The melody is quite dated, sounding like something from the 80’s or early 90’s. And the writing is weak. She’s begging her man not to leave her, promising to grant all of his wishes if he doesn’t walk out. Really? That’s too desperate. Just let him go, girl.
  
  9. If You Leave (featuring Next)
  
  Matching up DC with fellow R&B group Next was a good decision. Their voices blend well together on this track about two people contemplating leaving their current partners for each other. The song itself is kinda repetitive and it ends with a lot of wailing from both groups. But it’s not so bad for the most part.
  
  8. She Can’t Love You
  
  It’s hard to name a more sultry and shady song. Beyonce sees her ex’s new girlfriend and basically comes to the conclusion that this chick sucks. She could never compete with B. But, really, who could follow that first act? This new girl was doomed from the start. I like Beyonce’s husky vocals on the verses. Even better is the sample of Bola Sete’s “Bettina”. The Brazilian guitarist’s original track adds so much flavor.
  
  7. So Good
  
  This is a kiss off to all the haters who thought DC would fail. They want them to know that they’re doing so, so, so good. It sounds like a precursor to DC’s “Survivor”. Same concept of boasting about how they’re doing much better than those people who doubted them. There’s even a similar presenting of their album sales receipts. It’s not so, so, so, good, but it’s alright.
  
  6. Bug A Boo
  
  This Bug A Boo is doing way too much. Calling non-stop, following Beyonce everywhere, emailing her like whodunit. It’s pretty serious if she wants to break her lease so she can move. On the flip side, who knew a song about a stalker could be so fun? This is a bombastic track that anyone can dance (or stalk) along too. Also, there are so many great outdated references. MCI, pagers, AOL! Very 1999.
  
  5. Where’d You Go
  
  Oh, baby where’d you go? Beyonce’s man has dipped out on her (seriously) and she’s dying for him to come back. It’s driving her crazy. Again, girl, let him go. But in the meantime, you have this smooth track to comfort you. I love all the layered vocals here. Whoa, whoa, whoa…
  
  4. Temptation
  
  Basically, DC is tempted to forget about their man and run off with another. His body is calling them. This could have been a single from the album. It’s playful and sexy. Also, “Oops, I forgot I got a man” is the best random lyric on this album
  
  3. Jumpin’, Jumpin’
  
  This was the last single released from the album, but far from the weakest. I love how the song revs up an explodes sonically. I challenge you not to bounce around with them. And the quick vocal delivery really takes you there. While making it nearly impossible to sing-a-long accurately.
  
  2. Bills, Bills, Bills
  
  This is a close runner-up for the top spot. Clever writing and a wicked beat. It’s the best She’kspere production on the album. Everyone assumes it was about a woman demanding that a man take care of her financially. But really, she’s asking him to be on par with her. He’s been taking her money, car, etc. She doesn’t want a scrub…. that’s another She’kspere song.
  
  1. Say My Name
  
  One of the best songs of 1999. Period. And definitely the best on the album. There was a time in 1999/2000 when you couldn’t escape it. On the radio, in a club, or on TRL. And I didn’t mind. Once you heard that opening chorus and those chords, you were hooked. There’s the relatable sing-song lyrics, a masterful production from Rodney Jerkins (Darkchild 99!), and beautiful vocals from all the ladies. It deserved to be a number #1 hit and a lasting legacy for this amazing group. Better say their names!
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  Posted in Music | 0 Comments | Tagged 90s, Anniversary, Music
- Making Montgomery Clift…Review
  
  Posted at 12:11 am by Geoff, on July 3, 2019
  The documentary Making Montgomery Clift aims to paint a more accurate picture of the classic Hollywood actor. I feel like most people only know a few facts about him. And some of those facts are quite shaky. But if you don’t want to dig deeper about a subject, you tend to go with the basic things out there. Co-directors Robert A. Clift and Hillary Demmon set out to fill in the details that previous movies, books, or TV specials left out. Robert, Montgomery’s nephew, is especially invested in correcting the stories that have been told about his uncle over the years.
  
  The biggest misconception that the film sets out to dispel is that Montgomery was a tragic figure. Supposedly he was a self-hating homosexual who was slowing killing himself with heavy drinking and pills. The film doesn’t try to skip over his vices, but it’s clear that he didn’t have a death wish either. He seemed to have enjoyed his life. In terms of his sexuality, he was open as one could be at that time about being into men. His friend Jack Larson speaks of how Montgomery was affectionate with him, going so far as to kiss him in a restaurant. He refused to play the game, like other gay actors in that period, by getting married to a woman. In addition, many interviewees in the film talk about his light-hearted jovial spirit. Definitely not the walking tragedy he was reported to be.
  
  A lot of attention was paid to Montgomery’s appearance. He was an exceptionally beautiful man and his talent often gets overshadowed by his looks. The documentary goes into detail about how serious he was about acting. He was very choosy about which movies he made turning down many prominent roles, like the lead in Sunset Boulevard. Montgomery also refused to sign a contract with a studio. He wanted to be a free agent and avoid being controlled by the system. In the middle of his career, he was involved in a horrific car accident that altered his appearance dramatically. It was alleged that this contributed to his downward spiral. But a talking head in the film says Montgomery actually preferred how he looked after the accident. The focus wasn’t on his looks anymore and he could become more of a character actor.
  
  The one flaw in this valuable history lesson of a film is the focus on Montgomery’s brother William Brooks Clift Jr. Like his son, Robert, William was invested in correcting the false information that had been put out about his brother. He was a bit obsessed with his brother’s career actually. William horded pictures, home movies, newspaper clippings, and audio recordings featuring Montgomery. The film devotes a lot of time to this obsession. It makes sense that Robert would want to mention his father. He certainly influenced the movie. But so much detail slows down the narrative and the focus is taken away from Montgomery. It all could have been trimmed down more.
  
  I felt like I walked out of Making with a better understanding of who Montgomery was as a person. And, it definitely made me side-eye previous reports about him. In a voice-over, Robert speaks of wanting to give back the dignity that past tabloid tales took away from his uncle. I think he definitely achieves his goal with this film.
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  Posted in Movies | 0 Comments | Tagged 50s, 60s, Documentary, Movies, Reviews
- Halston…always in fashion
  
  Posted at 7:33 pm by Geoff, on June 19, 2019
  The documentary Halston tells the story of the famous fashion designer who made a huge mark on the industry in the 70’s and 80’s. Halston started out as a hat designer for Bergdorf Goodman, going on to create Jackie Kennedy’s iconic pillbox hat for JFK’s inauguration. Hats soon evolved into an entire women’s line. His style was effortless chic. Simple, but stunning pieces that flattered a women’s body. Soon he branched out into perfume, menswear, bedding, and even flight attendant uniforms. It seemed like everything he touched made a profit. Of course, his precipitous rise led to an even bigger fall. Three things did him in: drugs/partying, selling his company/name to a corporation, and partnering with JC Penny for a more cost-friendly line. The documentary focuses a great deal of time on that last one. Soon Halston found himself shunned by the fashion world and kicked out of his own company. Six years later he was dead at age 57 from AIDS-related complications. An incredibly sad end for such a towering man.
  
  My main issue with the movie is that director Frederic Tcheng could have presented a more well-rounded look at Halston, the man. His personal life gets so little airtime. There are about two sentences devoted to his relationship with illustrator Victor Hugo. Leaving the viewer to wonder exactly how this love affair began and ended. Then there’s the missing chunk of time between losing his company in 1984 and his death in 1990. Did he keep on designing? Were there any hopes of staging a comeback? All a mystery. Similarly, the years after he died, when the Halston line was revisited by other designers in the late 90s and 2000s, is given zero play. Tcheng missed out on an opportunity to go further into the story. I could have also done without the filmmaker’s fictional narrator framing device. The interludes featuring her were fairly corny and unnecessary.
  
  On the plus side, there are several great moments in the film. For starters, seeing Halston’s stunning designs in all their 70s/80s glory. He had such a talent for making simplistic clothing seem very glamorous. He really put his stamp on that era in fashion. All of the archival footage is captivating. The Battle of Versailles, a grand China trip, and his many television appearances. I enjoyed the scenes featuring him and his troupe of beautiful models, the Halstonettes. So campy. The talking head interviews are also well placed. I especially liked hearing from Liza Minelli, model Pat Cleveland, and Halston’s niece Lesley Frowick. You can tell that they all loved him deeply. At one point Liza refuses to speak negatively of her friend or dish any dirt. And that’s the last you see of her.
  
  Even with a few flaws, Halston works as an homage to a brilliant designer. He may have made some missteps, but he will be remembered as someone who shaped the fashion world and the American culture.
  
  And now, just because, here’s Sister Sledge’s “He’s the Greatest Dancer”, which gives Halston a shout out…
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  Posted in Movies | 0 Comments | Tagged 70s, 80s, Documentary, Fashion, Movies
- M-M-M-My Sharona…40 Years Later
  
  Posted at 9:24 pm by Geoff, on June 17, 2019
  I heard “My Sharona” for the first time when I saw Reality Bites in 1994. In the movie, Winona Ryder’s character and her friends are raiding a gas station food mart when the song comes on the radio. They ask the clerk to crank up the volume and start dancing manically, next to the twinkies. It’s a wacky scene made more memorable by the song choice.
  
  The dunna dunna dun dun beat (as the professionals call it) really stays in your head. I wonder if The Knack knew they were creating such an earworm back in 1979. Lead singer Doug Fieger wrote the song about his actual girlfriend, Sharona. It’s basically about some guy trying to get with the hot girl he’s obsessing about. Simple and to the point lyrics. But the beat, stuttering vocal delivery, and guitar riffs make it more impactful. It’s also a bit of a throwback itself, with a sound some have likened to the bands from the British Invasion in the 60s. The track went to #1 on the Billboard 100 in the summer of ‘79, staying there for 6 weeks. And it became The Knack’s best-known song.
  
  In the 80’s, Run-D.M.C. sampled “My Sharona” (without permission from The Knack) for their song “It’s Tricky”. The music goes perfectly with their rap, reinventing it for a new audience. Funny enough, I first heard “It’s Tricky” when I saw Can’t Hardly Wait in 1998. This just proves that movie soundtracks can introduce you to great songs from the past you wouldn’t have otherwise heard.
  
  Whoa!
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  Posted in Music | 0 Comments | Tagged 70s, 90s, Anniversary, Music
- Rocketman…Review
  
  Posted at 11:06 pm by Geoff, on June 16, 2019
  After the success of Bohemian Rhapsody, a second movie about a flamboyant larger than life rockstar in the 70s and 80s might fall in the shadow of what came before it. But I think it’s unfair to lump Rocketman in with that other film. Especially because this movie is ten times better than Bohemian Rhapsody. Like, glaringly better. But let’s move on.
  
  Rocketman focuses on the personal life and career of Elton John (Taron Egerton). He grows up in working class England in a very unhappy home. His father is never around and when he is, he’s cold and distant. His mother (Bryce Dallas Howard) isn’t much better. She thinks of her son as a burden she must carry. Young Elton escapes his harsh reality through music. He’s a piano prodigy, perfectly imitating any piece he hears. He pursues a career in music as he matures, playing in a band and backing other artists. Elton’s life changes dramatically when he meets Bernie Taupin (Jamie Bell). Bernie has the lyrics to match up with Elton’s music. It’s a perfect partnership. Fame, fortune, and amazing songs soon follow. And just as quickly comes the spiral, with alcohol and drugs.
  
  Even though Rocketman is considered a biopic it’s really more than that. Much more fantastical, for sure. Elton and other characters break into song and dance numbers all over the place. And his music is used to establish the mood and further the plot of the movie. It feels like an existing Broadway musical that was adapted for the screen. I was already a big fan of his songs, but it was interesting to see them staged and performed in new way here. “Tiny Dancer”, “Amoreena”, “Pinball Wizard”, and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” are standouts. Director Dexter Fletcher creates a fun, exciting spectacle for the viewer. The whirlwind of Elton’s life is captured beautifully through his lens. And hats off (no pun here) to the fabulous costumes designed by Julian Day. So many sequins!
  
  I also enjoyed the fact that this was an R-rated movie. Elton recently said, “I haven’t led a PG-13 life”. So, his movie shouldn’t shy away from those elements. You get to see him exploring his sexuality, complete with gay sex scenes. There’s also the heavy drug use. Sometimes a bit too heavy. His downward spiral felt like it went on for far too long. But that was the truth of his experience.
  
  The heart of the film is Egerton. He’s in almost every scene, carrying it all on his back. He doesn’t just slap on a wig and do an imitation of Elton. He offers up his own interpretation of the icon. It’s a strong performance. Huge points for actually using his own singing voice and not lip synching…unlike other actors in recent biopics. Bell and Howard also shine in their roles. Howard has a particularly tough job of making a heartless woman seem human.
  
  I walked out of the theatre with a renewed appreciation for Elton and the path he took to get to where he is now. It’s an inspiring story of highs, lows, self-acceptance, and perseverance. With a fantastic soundtrack to accompany it.
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  Posted in Movies | 0 Comments | Tagged 70s, 80s, Biopic, Movies, Musical, Reviews
- The View Upstairs…Review
  
  Posted at 12:10 am by Geoff, on June 4, 2019
  You wouldn’t think that a real-life tragic event could make a great musical, but The View Upstairs manages to do just that. The play is loosely based on a horrific hate crime that took place in the 70s. At that time, the UpStairs Lounge was a gay bar in the French Quarter of New Orleans. On June 24, 1973 an arsonist set a fire that caused the death of thirty-two patrons. Adding to the devastation, victims were mocked and ridiculed by the community. In some cases, bodies were not claimed by their family members for fear of people learning they had gay relatives.
  
  In 2013, playwright Max Vernon created The View UpStairs, paying homage to these people lost in the fire. It would go on to be staged Off-Broadway, around the US, and overseas.
  
  In the musical, Wes, a young self-centered designer/entrepreneur/influencer, purchases the building that once housed the UpStairs Lounge. After snorting a good amount of cocaine, he’s suddenly transported back in time to when the bar was open in 1973. Once there, he meets the regulars. Patrick, a good-looking hustler; Buddy, a closeted 50-something piano player; Willie, the optimistic matchmaker; Richard, a priest who holds services for the gay community at the bar; Henri, the tough but motherly lesbian bartender; Freddy, a fabulous drag queen; Inez, Freddy’s accepting mother; and Dale, a bitter resentful outsider.
  
  Over the course of the show, Wes gets to know and love the people he meets at the UpStairs, especially Patrick who he quickly falls for. He loses his callous edge and begins to feel like he’s part of a family. Unfortunately, as in real-life, things take a tragic turn.
  
  I saw a production of the show at the New Conservatory Theatre here in San Francisco and was quite entertained. The premise can be hard to digest, but after awhile you go with it no matter how off-putting the time travel hijinks can be. You can forget about that and let the music take you on a journey. Some song standouts are “Are You Listening, God?”, “World Outside These Walls”, and “Theme Song”. That last song in particular moved me with its intensity.
  
  It’s hard to single out one actor because they are such a strong ensemble, building off each other. Everyone is given a song and an equal chance to shine. I will say that Coleton Schmitto, Anthony Rollins-Mullens, Linda Dorsey, and Jessica Coker gave particularly strong performances.
  
  I also have to point out Devin Kasper’s impressive scenic design. The theatre is quite small, but he was able to do so much with such little space. You feel like you’re transported back in time, along with Wes, to 1970s New Orleans. Big points for the nude Burt Reynolds Cosmopolitan poster.
  
  The show overall is a nice mix of fact and fiction. So, it provides a history lesson without hitting you over the head with it. It honors the victims of the tragedy and celebrates the LGBT community. The main message is that of acceptance and finding your chosen family. Something that most everyone should hear and take in.
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  Posted in Theatre | 0 Comments | Tagged 70s, Musical, Reviews, Theatre
- Yacht Rock Revue…please rock
  
  Posted at 11:51 pm by Geoff, on June 3, 2019
  If you don’t know (and really you should), yacht rock refers to a genre of music popular in the 70s and 80s. It had high production, smooth vocals, a jazzy/r&b/pop sound, and memorable melodies. It wasn’t until the 2000s when the term yacht rock was actually coined though. It was a tongue in cheek way of referring to the stereotypical music that yuppies listened to. Possibly on a yacht.
  
  Yacht Rock Revue formed in 2007 as cover band specializing in the genre. Since then they’ve gone from playing in small clubs to large amphitheaters. They’ve even performed with the bands they’ve covered. Now they’re on a nationwide tour. I love yacht rock! It’s fun and catchy. I can dance to it or hum along at my work desk. It just makes me feel good. When I saw that YRR was playing at August Hall in San Francisco, I knew I had to check them out. And I wasn’t disappointed.
  
  Yacht Rock Revue doesn’t take itself seriously, yet it’s a serious band. They may come out in 70s clothes, floral print shirts and tight bell bottoms. But this isn’t a joke group and they’re not half-assing it out there. All seven members of the band play their instruments. This is all live, no backing track. They’re using their own vocals with almost every member getting a turn on lead. They all sound great doing it, by the way. You can see that the band has a deep appreciation for the music.
  
  That feeling flowed out into the audience. It was a wide mix of people. Different generations, races, social groups, etc. But everyone was into it. Several people were wearing captain’s hats and other nautical attire. And they were all (yacht) rocking out to the show. Dancing and singing along. There was good energy going around.
  
  Over the course of a two hour(!!) set YRR covered almost every singer or band associated with the genre: Hall & Oates, The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, Toto, Kenny Loggins, Christopher Cross, Looking Glass, The Commodores, and a host of others. My favorite moments/songs were “Rich Girl”, “Peg”, “Turn Your Love Around”, “Escape (The Pina Colada Song)”, and “Easy”. There were a few songs I wasn’t as familiar with, but I still managed to get down to them. My one quibble was the inclusion of the Bee Gee’s “Stayin Alive”. That’s much more disco than yacht rock.
  
  After taking a very quick break, the group came out for an encore. Journey’s “Lights” was a nice ode to the San Francisco venue and had people in the crowd putting their arms around each other and swaying. Then the band came to the grand finale with an incredible rendition of Gerry Rafferty’s “Baker Street”. So many insane saxophone solos! It brought the house down (and the camera phones out). A fantastic end to an eventful night.
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  Posted in Music | 0 Comments | Tagged 70s, 80s, Concert, Reviews
- Midnight Cowboy…50 Years Later
  
  Posted at 11:28 pm by Geoff, on June 3, 2019
  Midnight Cowboy is celebrating it’s 50^th Anniversary this year. Despite being a half a century old, though, it holds up. I think that’s mainly because the heart of John Schlesinger’s Oscar winning movie is a friendship. An unlikely one. One that starts off on the wrong foot, with a lie. But in the end, it’s the only thing that really matters. Jon Voight and Dustin Hoffman deliver terrific performances as two outcasts who find some sort of solace with one another.
  
  Joe Buck (Voight), a virile young man in a small Texas town, heads to New York to make it as a hustler. Not exactly #careergoals, but that’s his dream. He’s going to service rich Park Avenue ladies and make a fortune. So, he quits his dishwasher job at the local diner and hops on a bus for NYC. What’s interesting is how optimistic and joyful he is about this move. He just knows everything is going to turn out his way. He’s young, good looking, dressed like a cowboy, and can make love for hours. It just occurred to me that this could be the premise for a porn flick. No wonder this film was rated X. Anyways, things don’t go quite as planned for Joe. And his hustling career gets off to the rocky start.
  
  Meeting Ratso Rizzo (Hoffman) doesn’t help things. Ratso is the complete opposite of Joe. Unattractive, sickly, and run down. Compared to hopeful Joe, Ratso is jaded and hardened. He doesn’t see any opportunity in NYC. Not unless he’s conning it out of someone. Poor naïve Joe doesn’t see the con coming. Ratso promises to introduce him to a man who can basically be his pimp. The intro comes for a fee of course. The pimp turns out to be a crazed religious fanatic who scares the hell out of Joe. And the audience. Soon after Joe hasn’t made any progress with his hustling. He ends up broke, kicked out of his hotel, and desperate. So desperate that he picks up a gay man and allows the guy to give him a blow job. Since Joe has the worst luck, it turns out the john has no money to pay him. Always ask for the cash up front, man.
  
  Enter Ratso…again. Joe runs into the con man and basically wants to beat the crap out of him. Ratso doesn’t have his money, but he can offer a place to live. In a condemned building. Joe can’t be choosy and accepts. Ratso isn’t just trying to avoid a beating with this invitation. He doesn’t want to be alone. Even though he barely knows Joe, he’s somebody. And Joe is probably thinking the same. Ratso even offers to be Joe’s pimp. During this time the two get to know each other more as they struggle to get by. They get into a debate about Joe’s cowboy getup. Ratso thinks the look is stupid. Joe defends his clothes and says they make him feel good. I like the vulnerability Voight shows in this scene. Later in the film, Ratso and Joe break into a shoe shine stand. Ratso shines Joes shoes and talks about how his father had this same job for years until it basically killed him. Ratso is determined not to go out like that. There’s another great sequence with the pair dancing around their icy apartment to keep warm. They’re listening to a jingle on Joe’s beloved radio. The one he’s had with him throughout the film. They dance all the way to the pawn shop where he sells it. It’s depressing, but necessary for their survival. On a sunnier note, one of my favorite JoeRat (just made that up) scenes is when Ratso daydreams about moving to Florida with Joe and hitting it big with the rich ladies down there. Seeing the two of them frolicking on the beach is worth the price of admission alone. It’s manic and weird and wonderful.
  
  After a random encounter takes them to a crazy Warholesque party, things take a turn. Not so good for Ratso, who is getting sick and takes a header down a flight of stairs. But Joe ends up meeting Shirley (Brenda Vaccaro), a rich woman who wants to sleep with him. And pay! I’ll skip over the erotic cribbage game and get to Shirly offering to introduce Joe to her friends who also want to partake in his services. His luck is finally turning around.
  
  Well it was for a second. Joe gets back home to find Ratso is deathly ill. He can’t even walk, but he refuses to go to the hospital. Instead, he begs Joe to get him to Florida. Hoffman does an amazing job of conveying Ratso’s dread and weakness in this scene. The hardness he had is gone. After a disturbing encounter where Joe beats and robs a john, he and Ratso board a bus to Florida. They’re off to a brand-new life. And then Ratso dies on the bus. It’s heartbreaking. They were so close to finally winning. The bus driver says they’ll carry on since there’s nothing they can do for him. Joe puts his arm around Ratso, holding him. It’s an incredibly sad and sweet moment. The film ends with an amazing shot, looking in thru the bus window at the two friends in their final moment together.
  
  **BONUS**
  
  Harry Nilsson’s “Everybody’s Talkin” is the perfect soundtrack to this story. As beautiful and haunting as the scenes it accompanies.
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  Posted in Movies | 0 Comments | Tagged 60s, Anniversary, Movies
- Amazing Grace…Review
  
  Posted at 10:59 pm by Geoff, on June 3, 2019
  Going to church has never been my thing. When I was a kid, I would use any excuse to get out of going. Right down to the “put the thermometer on the light bulb to fake a fever” trick. Church didn’t interest me. All that preaching, testifying, and bible verse reading. I thought it was extremely boring. Except for one thing: the music. Once the organ started playing and the choir stood up to sing, I perked up. That was the good stuff. The songs that made me want to clap along. I wouldn’t really sing though. I mainly wanted to listen to the pros do it. People like Aretha Franklin. No, I never actually got to hear Aretha sing live. She wasn’t visiting my church anytime soon. But with the new movie, Amazing Grace, I get pretty close to attending a service featuring the Queen of Soul.
  
  In 1972, director Sydney Pollack captured the live recording of Aretha’s gospel album, Amazing Grace, as she performed at the New Missionary Baptist Church in LA. It would go on to become the best-selling gospel album of all time. The film didn’t fare so well. Due to technical problems, it was never released. Even after these issues were resolved, decades later, Aretha blocked the film from coming out. But, after her death, her family finally gave their blessing.
  
  I’m grateful that this film was able to be salvaged. You are getting peak Aretha here. Her voice fills the auditorium wrapping itself around you. Over two nights she sings a collection of standard hymns like, “Mary Don’t You Weep”, “How I Got Over”, and my favorite here, “Wholy Holy”. There’s also an interesting mashup of “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” and Carol King’s ballad “You’ve Got a Friend”. Surprisingly, the songs blend perfectly together. The greatest moment is the finale with “Never Grow Old”. Aretha works the entire room into a frenzy. At one point, she’s so overcome with emotion that she has to sit down. But she gathers herself and is able to deliver a final wail, much to the delight of the crowd. And the viewers. It’s truly wondersome.
  
  Even after remastering the film it’s still not that polished. At times the camera is out of focus. Or you can see crew members in a shot. At one point, the camera is shaking as if the person holding it was dancing along to the music. Perhaps he got caught up in the moment. I actually like that this isn’t a slick production. It feels more real and raw. And New Mission isn’t very fancy either. This a simple place where people gather for worship and fellowship. Before “mega church” became the norm. I also enjoyed the crowd reactions. These aren’t paid extras. You can tell they’re feeling Aretha and the spirit as if they’re not being filmed. A few times you catch Mick Jagger making a cameo in the pews. But he’s really just another parishioner moving to the beat.
  
  The thing I appreciate most about this film is that it’s focused on Aretha and the music. Yes, it’s set in a church and she’s signing about Jesus, but you don’t have to be a believer in any particular religion to enjoy it. For some the message and the word of God is important. For others, not so much. But all can agree that they are moved by Aretha’s voice. This speaks to the power of music to bring all walks of people together. And the greatness of the Queen who delivers it.
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  Posted in Movies | 0 Comments | Tagged 70s, Documentary, Movies, Music, Reviews
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