THE NEW CARS GET ROLLING (the rock band "The Cars")

www.melodicrock.com ^ | 1/24/06 | www.melodicrock.com

[psimpson2005]

THE NEW CARS GET ROLLING:

The New Cars featuring Todd Rundgren have performed their first gig, rehearsing in California. The TR Connection website lists the set list as follows:

Just What I Needed . Let's Go . You're All I Got Tonight . You Might Think . Best Friends Girl . I Saw The Light . Candy-O . Not Tonight . Drive . Moving in Stereo . Shake It Up . Dangerous Type . Bye Bye Love . Encore: Open My Eyes . Good Times Roll.

The first new song from the guys is the rather good sounding Not Tonight.

Check out a preview at: www.concerts.com/demofiles/Cars%20SP35730.mpg and www.concerts.com/demofiles/Cars%20SP35177%20DTT.mpg.

[raccoonradio]

Greg Hawkes recently produced an EP by a group of teens (13-to-16) with a ska-pop sound. It helped that the dad of one member knew him and lived in town (Lynnfield, MA)!

[Skooz]

They were part of the "New wave" abomination in the `80`s.. New wave which was a corporate MTV term for watered down punk.

You make a good point, but................

Always remember that one thing, and one thing only killed Disco: New Wave.

For that I will remain grateful and never say a bad word about New Wave music.

[Skooz]

Yeah, Jello is a huge Maoist pscho-Lefty loonytoon whackjob.

But, "California Uber Alles" is pure musical genius.

[raccoonradio]

Some catchy tunes, but if you were to play their best-of album to someone who likes harder stuff and had never heard them before, don't play "Who's gonna drive you
home...tonight". (Good tune, but these days most likely
to turn up on "adult contemporary stations" :))

Remember Ric Osasek as the beatnik in "Hairspray" (with
Pia Zadora (Pia: "we smoke pot, play our Odetta records...
when I'm stoned, I _am_ Odetta!"

Ocasek then puts his head through a painting as Pia
starts reading "Howl" aloud.

[raccoonradio]

My college radio station had a guy who used to always play his spoken word records: "Die For Oil, Sucker", for example. Though the "Tales from the Trial" one, about
the obscentity trial (poster in Frankenchrist album, IIRC)
is kinda funny.

[Skooz]

Your college radio station sounds like it was more fun than mine (early 1980s). I was a DJ for awhile, and the station manager used the word "format" like a holy mantra and disallowed anyone playing anything that could be considered "heavy metal" or "punk" or whatever until late at night.

Days were filled with top-40 pop. The only time we could really let loose was late on weekend nights, but then no one was listening.

I used to drive them crazy by calling the station during the day and requesting "Rat Salad" by Black Sabbath all the time.

[raccoonradio]

I saw Pyschedic Furs at my college in early 80s. Divynals opened up, IIRC. Also remember seeing the likes of Violent Femmes (the Paradise in Boston), the Damned (the Channel). I was also into The Insect Surfers from Washington DC--considered new wave at first but really just good surf rock. Still around (relocated from Washington DC to California). Oh this brings back memories, as I've been with the same college radio station since 1981 (these days playing blues). The mere thought of Washington DC brings up memories of Minor Threat: "We don't care, we don't pose, We'll steal your money, we'll steal your clothes" And how about Suicidial Tendencies, heard ever so briefly in the movie Repo Man, but on the soundtrack: "I'm not drinking/Institution!/You're the one that's drinking/ Institution!/You're driving me crazy/Institution/We'll stick you in an institution..." etc. \

[raccoonradio]

Yeah for years we had alternative rock all day, with the
harder/weirder stuff in the afternoon (Suburban Beat);
specialty shows for jazz, blues, reggae, etc. We still do a lot of interesting stuff. I actually
do their website and will be doing a blues show there
today at noon (sorry, we don't streamcast!)

http://www.wmwmsalem.com

[Skooz]

LOL!

That brings back some memories. 1985-1991, I lived close enough to the Centenary College campus to get thier radio station clear on my stereo. All those bands, and many others, filled their playlist.

One of the guys who spun records was a Lou Reed freak (as was I), so whenever he was on, I would always request some Reed or Velvets, and he would always play them.

I have some cassettes I recorded from the stereo back then around here somewhere. Good stuff I never heard anywhere else.

[Skooz]

I would be very interested to hear it.

Podcast it man, podcast it. :)

[Doohickey]

This could be cool. I thought "Hearbeat City" was awful, but everything before that was great. "The Cars" and "Panorama" are still my favorites.

[raccoonradio]

Not sure I know how to do that, but I have the entire show
as a 167 MB mp3 file (taped onto my computer here at home
while I was at the station). Send me your email address
and I can send the file to you via "you send it" (free
file-sending system; I send it to your email address and
you download it once you get an email from them)

[Candyo]

Amen to that!

[pearlst12]

As a true Todd fan of nearly 30 years, trust me he does nothing for any other reason than to create. If you get the rock and roll encyclopedia at your local library you will find that the wizard himself has a section of credits to his name that is much more extensive than most musical heavyweights. For those of you who never liked the cars, give them a listen now. Todd has a way of growing on you. What makes him special is you never know what the old man will pull next. As far as a live show goes.... TR works a stage like a Pentecost preacher high on life! And don't forget he plays a mean axe too. Pay attention to Kasim Sultan too, he's no slouch. He is the bassist for Utopia! I guess what I'm trying to say is, change can be a beautiful thing. Don't you just love the smell of a new car? Have a nice day!

[dfwgator]

Their first album came out in 78, and it was great mostly guitar-driven rock. Then on the subsequent albums the synths took over and it wasn't nearly as good. But that first album will always be a classic.

[wrbdrums]

Yes he can
Every one can be replaced if its the right person

[wrbdrums]

Guess you missed the last 30 years of todd shows

[dfwgator]

Rundgren is an excellent producer as well, he made XTC's Skylarking a masterpiece.

[willy-bonga]

I just saw the new cars live Saturday night.
They are incredible.
This is the most fun show i have ever seen
in my fifty baby boomer years. They have taken a rock
formula-the original Cars-and blown it wide open, thanks
to Todd, Kasim, and Prairie. Elliot and Greg were never better. The best part about it is that these guys were
obviously having a blast doing it. They took the old standards and made them much heavier and driving--like
the rock I grew up on in the 70's and 80's. As the New York Times once described it..."the music of middle class white males and their dates." They don't pretend to be anything
other than what they are--so don't give me that purist
"cars light" nonsense--these guys are great--PERIOD.

[dfwgator]

Did they do any old Rundgren or Utopia tunes?

I think Ben Orr's lack of presence is more significant than Ocasek's, Orr sang on most of their best tunes. I still can't believe he's gone.