RIP, Don Kirschner

Here's a nice "Soundcheck" tribute to the legacy of the late Don Kirschner, the music impresario best known for his weekly late-night "Rock Concert" TV program. Kirschner also was the brains behind The Monkees, whose mammoth success no doubt funded "Rock Concert," which was a one-of-a-kind experience at the time.

For many teens growing up in the 1970s, "Rock Concert" was the only program to air real live rock performances, as opposed to the lip syncing on "American Bandstand" or afternoon talk shows. As "Soundcheck," notes, "Rock Concert's" decadelong run came to an end just as MTV was debuting.

My favorite "Rock Concert" was an experimental show with so-called new wave bands The Cars, The Records, Suicide and another act or two I can't remember. The show was also memorable for having no Kirschner introductions at all; not sure if that was a contractual requirement of the bands or Kirschner stepping aside because he had no clue about this "new wave."

I've searched periodically for a recording of that concert but have come up empty. Anyone know of a copy available for sale?

Legendary punker's tribute to Bakersfield

I've been listening to a preview copy of Social Distortion's "Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes" and am growing to like the bluesy ballad, "Bakersfield," among about a half-dozen other songs.

I first heard "Bakersfield" in the 2009 live version above when the tale of a lovelorn trucker stuck "a million miles away" from his girl was a work in progress. The studio version of "Bakersfield" is polished and focused but Social D leader Mike Ness has trimmed some of the lyrics that were in the live version, including the reference to Buck Owens:

So I asked myself
What do you suppose ol' Buck Owens would have done in this situation?
And it came to me clear as a bell
He would have gone in house and grabbed that old guitar
And he would have wrote another love song
But not just another love song, people
I'm talking about the love song
The love song of all times
The kind of song that makes a grown man want to break down and cry like a little baby

"Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes," which hits stores Tuesday, visits common Social D themes: loneliness, elusive women, outlaw lifestyles.

Things open with the fiery rockabilly instrumental "Road Zombie," then dive into "California (Hustle and Flow)," a swinging rocker that sounds like an "Exile on Mainstreet" outtake. Gospel-style female backing singers mashed with Social D is an odd mix here -- Ness just seems to be trying too hard to add a bit of flash to his core sound.

The female backing vocals click, however, deeper into the album on the driving rocker "Can't Take It With You."  Other highlights include "Gimme the Sweet and Lowdown," which is classic Social Distortion; and "Diamond in the Rough," a slow-paced rocker featuring some nice guitar breaks. David Hidalgo Jr., son of the legendary Los Lobos star, plays drums, but adds nothing memorable.  

There are a few clunkers, including "Far Side of Nowhere" and the nondescript bluesy rocker "Machine Gun Blues."

"Hard Times and Nursery Crimes" falls short of Social D's best, but given the band's seven-year break between studio recordings this better-than-average punk-tinged rock is like catching up with an old friend. 

"Where Good Ideas Come From"

I'm always amazed at the pace Steven Johnson keeps. He runs his own start-up web company, writes best-selling books, Tweets great insight on social media and other topics, and who knows what else. He is one of our great modern thinkers. 

Having said that I've been holding off on reading his book "Where Good Ideas Come From" even though the title sounds great. I read a few related newspaper and magazine stories/reviews and figured I was good.

But after viewing this promotional video, I'm having second thoughts on diving into the whole book itself. Berlin's video narration is enticing enough, but the animation explaining the thought process is extraordinary (How do they map out that storyline, let alone do the time-lapse video? That alone is a great idea).

The key takeaway for me from Berlin's video message is that great ideas incubate over time, evolving as give-and-take with others occurs. I have all kinds of ideas kicking around in my head, but many are loose ends that seem frayed. Perhaps there is hope after all that the chaos in my mind will coalesce and spit out some brilliance. Hopefully some time reasonably soon.