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“Rock is Dead” and Other Myths and Prejudices (Part 1)

Full disclosure, I am old enough to remember when the stuff played on “classic rock stations,” was edgie, non-mainstream, alternative rock. “What is that noise?” was a common response and reaction from the parental generation of the time. It was hard to find, too. In my home town of Madison, WI there was one oddball, “hippie station,” that played this stuff. The station was my savior in so many ways. This is why I find the reactions of so many people my age to anything new so perplexing. There are even many that believe there was some kind of popular music heyday that they were born into, and anything that came afterwards was garbage and can never compare.  

Yes, the mid to late 60s and early 70s showcased breathtaking innovation. It was part rediscovery (as the best of it all was blues based--or some would say “blues rip-offs”) and part rebellion born in a time of cultural and political upheaval as well. This unique era fostered leaps forward in many ways and set some incredible standards. The Stones, Led Zeppelin, Yes, Humble Pie, Cream and many others, have set a standard that will be emulated and copied for many, many years. Some of this music (though not all) still stands the test of time, and I know of a lot of young people today that have rediscovered it and find it just as powerful as I did in my teens. That said though, I think it is dangerous and hypocritical to simply pine for the old days and dismiss or ignore anything else that comes along. It’s especially dangerous for musicians.To me, those who dismiss anything new and talk only about this mythical golden age of music, are missing so much. I’ll get to that, but I also think much of the conversation falls into the age-old “kids these days” mentality. It is the same thing many in my parent’s generation said about the very music you hold up as golden. Maybe the more things change, the more they stay the same. Either way there is a ton of myth, hypocrisy and missed opportunities here.  Here are just a few observations and responses based on things I hear all the time: 

  1. The 60s and 70s were a “golden age” of popular music: 

I’m not sure there has ever been a golden age of popular music. Popular and mainstream has always been commercial, formulaic and more about marketing than substance. The innovations have always run counter to, and with a bit of a middle finger towards what is mainstream at any given time. Ironically these things sometimes become mainstream later, but they rarely start out that way. In the 60s (and even the 70s) there were two Rockin Robins for every Whole Lotta Love. I don’t really see that this has ever been different.  

  1. Alright then, but that great music we see as Classic Rock was more mainstream because it was just so great and will never be surpassed. 

As I said above, most of what we see today as “classic rock” is often assumed to have been mainstream at the time. It was not, especially in the beginning. It wasn’t on most radio stations and was controversial when attempts were made to highlight it in media. Over time that began to change, as it became obvious the new music was something that couldn’t be ignored. Magazines and other media sites that covered this new music seriously were very much backroom, alternative operations as well. For a time more mainstream publications only covered the “classic rock bands” we know today as cultural interest items that were only noteworthy because of their strangeness, loudness and growing popularity with, what was seen by many, as destructive elements in society until certain people realized there was money to be made and jumped on the bandwagon. It was not that way in the beginning. This was music you had to search for.  

  1. What we know today as Classic rock is just the best ever period. Rock died in the 70s and nothing will ever compare. 

I agree to some extent. I believe that some things described now as “classic” will remain so for a long, long time. I mentioned above that I have met many people in their teens and twenties who have rediscovered this. Current bands like Greta Van Fleet and Rival Sons certainly give more than passing nods to the greats of the 60s and 70s. That really says something in and of itself. However, I can assure you that rock is not dead and that there is a lot of really, really innovative and powerful music being made today and ignoring that is not healthy. If you want guitar driven, “guitar hero” rock that moves body and soul the way the best should, we may be in a sort of “heyday” or “renaissance” right now. More on this later. 

  1.  Nobody wants to play or learn guitar any more, guitar sales are declining and it’s just a bunch of pre-programmed garbage out there--all computers and synthesizers.  

That may be true in part. A series of articles from a couple of years ago pointed to declining sales of guitars and a corresponding declining interest on the part of young people to learn to play guitar. Video games were blamed as well as a lack of “guitar heroes” in mainstream music. I always maintained that this was a cyclical thing and new evidence shows it to be the case. A 2018 Rolling Stone article indicated that guitar sales are as strong as ever. Another Rolling Stone article from that same year pointed to a fascinating trend. A Fender study concluded that half of all new guitar players are female. I believe that this is in part due to several high profile, guitar-wielding female artists. Orianthi, St. Vincent, Ana Popovic and Joanne Shaw Taylor in the blues world and Lzzy Hale in the rock world are all skilled players with increasing name recognition and visibility.  

 Regarding “electronica” and computers in music, there will always be innovation in instrumentation. I doubt that will go away. It may not be bad at all. Either way, like earlier electronica waves, it ebbs and flows and there will always be room for flat out, balls to the wall, guitar driven rock. The power and energy is one thing that does stand the test of time. Say what you will about the growing popularity of bands like Greta Van Fleet, I believe it’s a trend and that they are examples of much more to come.  

  1. There’s no real, great rock and roll made today and no real guitar heroes like Page, Clapton, Beck, etc. Everything interesting was made in the past.  

Someone actually said this to me recently. My reaction is always visceral and immediate. You won’t see it or hear it if you don’t look. The guys mentioned above were just copying their heroes anyway and were shocked that the mainstream didn’t know who any of their blues great heroes were. The people mentioned above knew (and still say) that they stood on the shoulders of giants, just as anyone picking up a guitar today stands on their shoulders to some extent. That reality did not diminish them or their skills and mastery. Nor does it diminish the skills and mastery of (just a few examples) Mark Tremonti, Miles Kennedy, Gary Clarke Jr., Marcus King, Orianthi, St. Vincent, Joe Hottinger, Lzzy Hale, Chris Robertson, Ben Wells or the slightly older Pete Thorn, Joe Bonamassa, Joe Satriani, Tom Morello, Slash, Greg Martin, Paul Gilbert or (my personal favorite) Richie Kotzen. All of these people certainly owe a debt to Page, Clapton, Beck, etc., but they have their own voice too, as well as unarguable virtuosity.   

More than that, attitudes like this ignore a whole new resurrection of high virtuoso level progressive--mostly instrumental and sometimes referred to as “Math Rock”--rock. Bands like Polyphia, Chon, Animals as Leaders and others are making and incredibly complex and sophisticated music that incorporates elements of jazz, hip-hop and heavy metal. There is a whole movement of young people following these bands and hanging on every note of Jason Richardson, Tosen Abasi, Rabia Massad and others. YouTube has also made many of these players household names for (mostly) young fans, and given rise to careers of other incredible players and personalities like Rob Chapman, Jared Dines, Steve Terreberry, Rob Scallon, and of course the incredible Phil X. Miss or underestimate any of this at your peril. They are setting some incredibly high bars as players, personalities and entertainers that won’t be matched soon.  

 

I also urge people to dismiss rap and hip hop at their peril. There’s an ugly prejudice that I hear a lot that is not really a whole lot different from the prejudice against newer rock music. There certainly is a pop version of rap and hip hop just as there is in the country world, and all of the shallowness and formulas that one might expect. However, outside of that is creativity, unique voices, and some powerful music. Like anything though, you have to search for it and be open. More on this in future posts. 

And that’s the big question: Are you open? If you look, I’m telling you, you will find.

Keep Rockin!

Mark Zanoni

08/01/2019

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Summer 2022 Shows (more added daily)

  • Saturday May 21st (private wedding party), Hayward, WI
  • Friday June 3rd, The Pines, Mercer, WI 8-midnight
  • Thursday-Friday June 9-10, Happy's Pub, Woodruff, WI 9-1
  • Friday June 17, Sweetwater Spirits and Resort, Eagle River, WI 9-1
  • Saturday June 18, (Mark with Comstock Lode Country Band), Mud Creek, Eagle River, WI
  • Sunday June 19th, Pine Harbor Bar and Grill, Rhinelander, WI 2-6
  • Saturday June 25th, Jeb's Bar, Irma, WI 7-11
  • Sunday June 26th, H2H Public House, Rhinelander, WI (Cancelled)
  • Friday July 1st, Bortolotti's Cin Cin, Eagle River 6-9
  • Saturday July 2nd, The Timbers, St. Germain, WI (TBD)
  • Sunday July 3rd, (Mark with Comstock Lode Country Band), Bad Bones BBQ, Arbor Vitae, WI 5-8
  • Monday July 4th, (Mark solo show), Private function, Phelps, WI 5-8
  • Wednesday July 6th, (Mark solo show) Manny's Parkside, Manitowish Waters 6-9
  • Saturday July 9th, Mole Lake Casino, Mole Lake, WI (TBD)
  • Wednesday, July 13th, Private event, Tomahawk, WI
  • Saturday July 16th, The Rustic, Athlestain, WI 7-11
  • Sunday July 17th, Private event, Tomahawk, WI
  • Wednesday July 20th, Music on Mainstreet, Boulder Junction, WI 7-9
  • Saturday July 30th, (Mark with Comstock Lode Country Band), Rhinelander Brewing Co. (TBD)
  • Friday August 5th, Bortolotti's Cin Cin, Eagle River 6-9
  • Saturday August 6th, (Mark with Comstock Lode Country Band), Otto's, Minocqua, WI (TBD)
  • Friday August 12th, Manny's Parkside, Manitowish Waters, WI 6-9
  • Sunday August 14th, Private event, Tomahawk, WI
  • Saturday August 13th, Mark and Michelle with Dr. Z and Deeper Roots Blues Band@ Renee's Red Rooster Festival, Stevens Point, WI (3pm to 4pm)
  • Saturday August 13th, (Mark with Comstock Lode Country Band), Otto's, Minocqua, WI (TBD)
  • Saturday August 27th, Manny's Parkside, Manitowish Waters, WI 6-9
  • Friday September 9th, Sweetwater Spirits and Resort, Eagle River, WI 9-1

2022 Shows (more added daily)

  • Saturday January 8th Dr. Z's Acoustic Mayhem (Mark solo) Mud Creek Saloon, Eagle River, WI 8:33pm 
  • Saturday January 15th, Prairie Rapids Tavern, Tomahawk, WI 8pm
  • Friday January 21st, CT's Deli, Rhinelander, WI Dog Sledding Race FUNdraiser, 5-8
  • Saturday January 29th, H2H Public House (formerly the Flyin Finn), Rhinelander, WI 7pm
  • Wednesday February 2nd, Red Rooster, Madison, WI TBD (Cancelled...will be rescheduled)
  • Saturday February 5th, H2H Public House, Rhinelander, WI 7pm
  • Friday February 11th (Mark, Michelle and Chris with Dr. Z and Deeper Roots Blues Review) Renee's Red Rooster, Stevens Point, WI 7pm
  • Friday February 18th, Sweetwater Spirits and Resort, Eagle River, WI 9pm
  • Saturday February 26th, Heal Creek Sled Dog Race, Northwoods Golf Course, Rhinelander, WI 5-8pm
  • Friday and Saturday March 4-5, Mud Creek Saloon, Eagle River, 8:30pm
  • Saturday March 12th, H2H Public House, Rhinelander, WI 7-11pm
  • Thursday March 17th, Rocky Reef St. Woodruff, WI St. Paddy Celebration 4-7
  • April 2nd South Shore Brewing Co., Washburn, WI Mark solo show 7-11
  • April 9th, H2H Public House, Rhinelander, WI 7-11
  • April 16, Margaritaville Beach Party, Blue Heron at Wild Eagle Lodge, Eagle River 5-9
  • Friday and Saturday April 22-23 Happy's Pub, Woodruff, WI 9pm
  • Friday April 29th, Marilyn's Fire Station Maple Fest Party, Medford, WI 7-10
  • Friday May 6th, Sweetwater Spirits and Resort, Eagle River, WI 9-1                                          (See above for summer shows for 2022)

2021 Shows (more added daily)

  • Saturday June 12th Big Road Acoustic at Pirate's Hideaway, Eagle River, WI 7-10
  • Sunday June 13th Bad Bones BBQ, Arbor Vitae, WI 6-9
  • Friday June 18th Skyview Lodge and Supper Club, Presque Isle, WI 6-9 (NEW!)
  • Saturday June 19th Skyview Lodge and Supper Club, Presque Isle, WI 7-10 (change)
  • Thursday July 1st Big Road Acoustic at Rocky Reef Brewing Company, Woodruff, WI 4-8
  • Saturday July 3rd Camp 28, Rib Lake, WI 4-8 (before the fireworks) This is a change.
  • Wednesday July 7th Music on Main St. Boulder Junction, WI
  • Saturday July 10th Skyview Lodge and Supper Club, Presque Isle, WI 6-9
  • Sunday July 11th Bad Bones BBQ, Arbor Vitae, WI 6-9
  • Monday July 19th Antigo Music in the Park, Antigo, WI 6-8
  • Saturday August 7th Skyview Lodge and Supper Club, Presque Isle, WI 6-9
  • Friday August 13th Leroy's "Hot Stuff," Porter, IN (TBD)
  • Friday August 20th Bad Bones BBQ, Arbor Vitae, WI 6-9
  • Saturday August 21st Bike Race Merrill, WI (TBD)
  • Saturday August 21st, Eagle Lanes, Eagle River, WI 9-1
  • Friday September 3rd Skyview Lodge and Supper Club, Presque Isle, WI 6-9
  • Saturday September 4th PRIVATE PARTY Three Lakes, WI 6-10
  • Saturday September 11th Celebrate Amherst, Amherst, WI (4-6)
  • Saturday September 18th Rock Island, Merrill, WI 2-6
  • Saturday October 2nd, H2H Public House (formerly the Flyin Finn), Rhinelander, WI 7pm
  • Saturday October 30th, H2H Public House (formerly the Flyin Finn), Rhinelander, WI 7pm
  • Saturday November 6th, H2H Public House (formerly the Flyin Finn), Rhinelander, WI 7pm
  • Saturday November 13th, Mosinee Brewing Co. (Mark, Chris and Michelle with Dr. Z and Deeper Roots Blues Review) Mosinee, WI 54568 7pm
  • Saturday November 20th, H2H Public House (formerly the Flyin Finn), Rhinelander, WI 7pm
  • New Years with Big Road, H2H Public House (formerly the Flyin Finn), Rhinelander, WI TBD

 

 

2019 Shows (more added daily)

  • Saturday May 18th: Mud Creek Saloon, Eagle River, WI
  • Friday May 24th: The Pines, Mercer, WI
  • Saturday June 1st: The Great Dane, Wausau, WI
  • Thursday July 4th: Music in the Park, Koller Park, Manitowish Waters, WI 4-6
  • Friday July 5th: Eagle Lanes, Eagle River, WI
  • Saturday July 13th: (Mark and Michelle with Mark Cleveland Band, Minocqua Brewing Company)
  • Sunday July 14th: (Mark and Michelle with Mark Cleveland Band, Torpy Park, Minocqua, WI)
  • Wednesday July 17th: Music on Main Street, (next to Peoplelures down town) Boulder Junction, WI 7-9
  • Saturday July 27th: Rock Island, Merrill, WI
  • Saturday August 3rd: (Mark and Michelle with KNW band Minocqua Brewing Company)
  • Sunday August 4th: (Mark and MIchelle with KNW band, Torpy Park, Minocqua, WI)
  • Saturday August 10th (Mark with Pops Fletcher and the Hucksters, Minocqua Brewing Company)
  • Sunday August 11th: Musky Days, Boulder Junction, WI 11-2
  • Sunday August 11th: (Mark with Pops Fletcher and the Hucksters, Torpy Park, MInocqua, WI)
  • Friday August 16th: Canal Shores, Evanston, IL 7:30-9:30
  • Saturday August 17th: Prairie Magic Music Festival, Valparaiso, In (with Los Lobos)
  • Sunday September 1st: Fibbers Bar and Restaurant Old Fashion Party, St. Germain, WI 2-6
  • Friday September 13th:  Northwoods Harley Davidson, Arbor Vitae, WI
  • Saturday September 14th: Pik's Pub, Tomahawk, WI
  • Saturday October 5th: Black Bear Bar, Minocqua, WI
  • Saturday October 12th: Great Dane Pub, Wausau, WI
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