One cannot talk about rock music bands without mentioning Pearl Jam. The band’s musical affinity and instrumental orchestration are top-notch, to say the least. During the Pearl Jam rock concert that was held live on Friday, May 6th, 2022 in Los Angeles at the Forum, it was undeniably one of the most entertaining rock concerts one can hope to be part of in this lifetime. The band consists of jeff Ament playing bass guitar, mike McCrady as the lead guitarist, Stone Gossard on rhythm guitar, and Eddie Vedder a lead vocalist and a guitarist too. The drums are played by Matt Cameron and there is a keyboardist Boom Gaspar.The carefully selected Set List contained some of the all-time favorites “Of the Girl”, “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town”, “Super blood Wolf moon” and others.
Pearl Jam saved music integrity by ensuring the music played is enjoyed and felt by the audience. Mike McCready is on another level and justifiably one of the best guitarists in the world. They are a great band to see alive since they do not rely on pyrotechnics or visual backdrops to draw the crowd. The pure energy of the band, especially, Eddie Vedder, when he shares some stories and experiences is amazing as he engages the fans.
It will be a grave mistake not to mention that even after 30 years these guys have become elder statesmen of rock. They have preserved the beauty of rock: intelligence, power, no gimmick rock. The concert was splendid with a thriller opening of “Of A Girl” , a song from Gingaton which is exquisite. The texture of this piece is harmonious, posited by the temper which creates a harmonic layer. Its rhythm is melodic and creates a meter that is well coordinated. The instruments used during the concert were the keyboard, drums, and guitars which created a partly stratified passage. The passage results from a melodic-harmonic divorce created. Incredible concert with an energetic and incredible audience.
The Pearl Jam Concert was amazing. The tour was so full of energy and enthusiasm. The members of the band have shown great improvement, especially Matt who shows great improvements with his vocals during the concert. The band’s music still resonates with the crowds.
The comment in the lecture about most American music being in 4/4 time raised my interest. I decided to look into which Southern and country rock performers stepped away from this formula, apart from the mentioned “Whipping Post” by the Allman Brothers. I found an example of a slower song by Eric Clapton, “River of Tears,” which is played in 3/4 time signature (Warner Records Vault, 2009). It is a somber song with a slow tempo and lyrics about loss and confusion. It combines Clapton’s electric guitar solo that puts it squarely in the rock genre and soulful background singers, a bass guitar, slow and quiet drums, and a piano. The latter creates a unique experience, especially in a live performance, because electric instruments are combined with more classically sounding ones. The mix of these instruments and the song’s time put it in a genre of blues rock.
Notably, the song starts and ends with a guitar solo, and the performance is rather long – almost eight minutes. With the slow tempo of the song, however, the length of the performance feels appropriate. The text is minimal, with short phrasing and sad lyrics, often repeating lines and using simple rhyming schemes. The chorus consists of several versions of the phrase “I feel like I’m drowning in a river of tears” to emphasize the repetitive nature of the performer’s days and the feeling of loss (Warner Records Vault, 2009). Returning to the time signature – it also adds to the song’s emotional nature, as 3/4 time is often connected to waltz. Here, the combination of the instruments, Clapton’s solos as the major part of the performance, and the song’s rhythm create an interesting experience, showing why Clapton’s music is a staple in Southern rock.
The Hair is an American Tribal love rock music with a book and lyrics by James Rado, Gerome Ragni and music by Galt McDermott. “Rado and Ragni met in 1964 and performed together ‘Hang down your head and die’ in the off Broadway flop which was outside New York” Haase (2008, p 343). The writing of Hair commenced then in1964. Hair was a product of hippie, counter culture and sexual revolution of the 60’s.It emphasized on the story of tribes; a group of politically active members of the Aquarius age and long-haired hippies, nudity, sexuality, pacifism, environmentalism, religion, astrology, literary and symbolic themes. All these were performed at the off Broad way, the broad way, early regional production, the west end and the early international productions.
“Precedents of race and tribe ascribed to what was initially introduced by Boat in1927 and Bess and Porgy in 1935. It set a pace for the integration of races” Hikberteitel, Miller and Barbara (1998, p 605). It also identified critical racial issue that at the time were really blocks for social cultural justice. I can confidently say they were primary sources basing to the fact that they were the central theme to every tune and lyrics that played at the time of the late 60’s. “Some were adopted as anthems, which were used for various functions and applications” Wollman, Mac Dermot and Trask (2006, p 432). Such songs included: Colored Spade; jungle bunny and little black sambo; what do we think is really great? To bomb, lynch and segregate!
“The songs had many reference to the different races and tribes stating the anti civilization, anti consumerism with a naturalistic focus of the hair” Johnson (2004, p 234). All the people acted together integrating togetherness as they were to like each other and acted like an organism developing the sense of belonging, responsibility, family and loyalty. “This was enhanced to the audience by the usage of their senses to the exercise based on their trust, listening, touch, meditation and contemplation that broke down casts and crew enabling them to bond” Kirkpatrick (2009, p 208)
Sexual freedom, nudity and drug abuse was also a major concern that was addressed. Nudeness in their act I is at the center stage a controversy, this indicated notoriety. Even though nudeness was a pillar of their culture, it portrayed both rejection of the sexual abuse of their parents and also naturalism, spirituality, openness, freedom and honesty. “The naked body was adored and glorified but not scorned and hidden because they were perceived as gifts” Willis, Hodges and lynch (2008, p 792). They can be said to be primary sources because hair was the major epic of sexual freedom. Rado explained of the sexually and politically charged La boheme creating a palpable love element of peace. Free love tendencies are also highly portrayed in act II when they try to find out who will sleep with whom for that night. The song Sodomy also tries to exhort everyone to join the Kama sutra. Illegal drugs notably the hallucinogens were preferred for their native tribe. The song ‘I am evolving through the drugs that you put down’ gives a vivid evidence of this scenario. Jeanie also commented that “whoever thinks pot is bad is full of shit” while smoking marijuana. This does not demonize all drugs but prohibits other drugs other than hallucinogens and mind expanding drugs. ‘Hashish’ provides the list of recommended drugs that are both legal and illegal. This is an educative theme and had direct impact on the people.
This was important because of the discovery of sensation which showed them that their eyes were wide open and could discern what was bad from what was good. The essence of tribe is quite significant; this enabled them to abhor certain values that were anti civilization in accordance with their socio cultural standards. “The production design was completely open with no curtains and every thing exposed to the audience” MacDermot, Ragni and Rado (2008, p 562). The impact of hair created a popular culture that still hits with major artists in films and episodes. These include songs as; good morning star shine in the movie of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory that was recorded and released in 2005. Hair can even be made more relevant in the current situation. The production and showcasing of the movies can be done in the amphitheatres to increase the reactivity of people to the ‘Hair production’ that have far reaching teachings to the current society and the whole world.
References
Haase, D., 2008. The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Folktales and Fairy Tales: Q-Z. World folklore and folk life. USA: Green publishing company. Vol 3.
Hikberteitel, A. Miller, B. D., 1998. Hair: its power and meaning in Asian cultures. Asia: Sunny.
Johnson. J., 2004.Good Hair Days: A Personal Journey with the American Tribal Love- Rock Musical Hair. USA: universe publishers.
Kirkpatrick, R., 2009. 1969: The year everything changed.Australia: Skyhorse.
MacDermot, G. Ragni, G and Rado, J., 2008. Hair: the American tribal love rock musical. California: University of California. Volume 69.
Willis, J. Hodges, B and lynch, T., 2008. Theatre World. Asia: John Willis Theatre World. Vol 57.
Wollman, E. L. MacDermot, G and Trask, S., 2006. The theater will rock: a History of the rock musical: from hair to Hedwig. Michigan: Michigan press ltd.
Hard rock is a music movement defined as a genre that employs aggressive vocals and distorted musical accompaniments. A French hard rock band Gojira is famous for those exact features. The band differs from the genre’s originators in their more melodic sound; however, it shows a resemblance to the hard rock establishers such as Led Zeppelin in the complex musical patterns. Like their predecessors, Gojira employs political and social commentary; for example, their songs from the album L’Enfant Sauvage comment on a person’s relationship with themselves and nature.
The band has been critically acclaimed for its lyrical intricacy and masterful use of instruments. The key aspect of their performance has been described as “feverish wizardry” (Currin, 2012). The point of the hard rock movement is to express strong emotions through strong means. L’Enfant Sauvage uses heavy guitar riffs in contrast with soft and melodic vocals to properly articulate a person’s struggle to transcend their environment or avoid self-destruction while attempting to do so. As the band themselves state, the album presents an idea of someone who is “somehow out of control” (“GOJIRA Frontman Talks About the Making Of ‘L’Enfant Sauvage,” 2012). The notion of losing themselves is the reason the album is called L’Enfant Sauvage and not “Wild Child” translated into English, considering that the album is written in the English language. The specific attention to detail, such as the inclusion of their own native language, is what makes Gojira a prime example of hard rock.
In conclusion, hard rock is exemplified perfectly by Gojira’s album L’Enfant Sauvage. This work includes heavy guitar riffs and both melodic and rough vocals. In addition, it employs hard rock staple themes or relationships between people and complex concepts. In this particular case, it is a human’s relation to nature and their own psyche within the confines of society. The band and the presented album are highly acclaimed for these specific reasons.
Kurt Cobain is one of the most prominent personalities of the American rock’n’roll culture, he “has been hailed as the first true rock’n’roll star of the nineties”[1]. His music band Nirvana created a new image of rock music and made the basis for a new music style that is still extremely popular.
Cobain was not only a talented singer and song-writer, but an extraordinary personality devoted to his work and very different from other stars that are willing to sacrifice anything to get success, money or honor.
The suicide he committed was a shock for his fans and rock music industry as a whole. There are many arguments around true reasons of his death: mental disorders, drug addiction or writer’s block. At any rate, he was tired of struggling with all these problems and, as one of his songs says, preferred “Rather Be Dead Than Be Cool”.
Since Kurt was a child, “he told everybody who would listen that he was going to be a “big rock star” one day”[2] and he became one. He was a very talented child and liked drawing, listening to the Beatles songs and playing baseball. He was a very active and sociable boy until his parent’s diverse.
It is quite possible that it was “a first drop” that contributed to his future mental disorders and suicide. In that time, he began taking drugs to overcome his loneliness. At the age of 14, he started playing the guitar and singing.
In 1987, he started his own band Nirvana that changed the face of rock music from heavy metal to grunge literally. In 1991, Nirvana released the shocking album “Nevermind,” “the first time a grunge band had received live national television exposure, “Nevermind” became the № 1 spot on the Billboard charts, becoming the best-selling album in the nation”[3] (2 Heaven). He was in the spotlight of media, he was called a hero and true rock star.
During that time, he increased taking drugs and… he started to make suicide attempts even though, he had fame and great love affair with Courtney Love, “most agree that his periodic heroin use became a full-fledged habit around the time Nevermind was released”[4]
In addition to psychological trauma of his child, writing block and anxiety about too much media attention contributed to his mental instability. His mental problem was serious. According to his biographer Christopher Sandford, “Cobain showed virtually no capacity for power. Easily, led, self-obsessed, over-indulged, he lacked anything resembling an ethical centre. He was incomplete. Cobain was also sick, bipolar disorder resulting in alternate bouts of depression and mania”[5].
It was caused by the feeling that he betrayed his faith as his roots were underground music scene, and after the success of “Nevermind”, he could not make songs as he wanted and could see himself as an icon of Grunge. He was tired of struggling with serious mental problems or stomachache and drug addiction:
“ Cobain’s suicide note would end with the words, “Thank you from the pit of my burning, nauseous stomach”. He blamed “a lot of [his] mental problems” on the fact that he awoke each day “with a better than even chances of feeling dead”[6].
Furthermore, there were other suggestions about what could led Cobain to suicide. One of them is that he had a “suicide gene”, as ““two of Leland’s brothers had killed themselves years earlier, fueling the most common of all the clichés about Kurt’s own fate – that he had somehow inherited the “suiside gene”[7] Love and death Finally, he chose to take his life over lying to himself and his fans.
He committed suicide with a shotgun at his home in Seattle in 1994. Thus, we can see that there were many premises for suicide and one person could hardly cope up with all of them, especially a person that was so talented and extraordinary as Kurt Cobain. According to Malcolm Butt,
“The words “Rock’n’ Roll Suicide” came so easily – and Kurt Cobain’s demise had all the elements. From a coma induced by a tranquilliser-and-champagne cocktail in Rome (now regarded as a first suicide attempt), to the tales of long-term heroin addiction, to the self-pitying note he left behind – it was a sage of self-destruction that made Cobain look like nothing more than a Nineties Sid Vicious”.[8]
Many people of art, who are much subjected to emotions, ended up their lives in suicide. No one can say what were true reasons for their decisions, but one fact is certain, they could not bear pressure of the outside world and found solution in death. Kurt Cobain is one of the most talented personalities of the 20th century.
He made a great contribution to the development of the modern rock music. As the one who led a constant struggle with stomach pain and mental disorders, he tried to find solution in drugs.
His suicide is a consequence of crucial coincidences that impacted his body and soul. No matter what made him commit a suicide, he will always remain in hearts of his fans as an icon of rock music and great person.
Notes
Malcolm Butt, Kurt Cobain: The Cobain Dossier (New York: Plexus Publishing, 2006), 23.
Ian Halperin & Max Wallace, Who Killed Kurt Cobain? (Kensington Pub Corp, 1999), 6.
Max Wallace and Ian Halperin, Love & Death: The Murder of Kurt Cobain (New York: Simon and Schuster, 2004), 44.
Wallace and Halperin, Love & Death: The Murder of Kurt Cobain, 47.
Christopher Sandford, Kurt Cobain (New York:Da Capo Press, 2004), 236.
Ibid., 176.
Charles R. Cross, Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain (New York: Hyperion Books, 2002), 4.
Butt, Kurt Cobain: The Cobain Dossier, 8.
Bibliography
Butt, Malcolm. Kurt Cobain: The Cobain Dossier. New York: Plexus Publishing.
Cross, Charles R. Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain. New York: Hyperion Books.
Halperin, Ian & Max Wallace. Who Killed Kurt Cobain? Kensington Pub Corp, 1999.
Sandford, Christopher. Kurt Cobain. New York: Da Capo Press, 2004.
Wallace, Max and Ian Halperin. Love & Death: The Murder of Kurt Cobain. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2004.