[: neon :] NewEnglandOnlineNetwork

WFAN's Mike & The Mad Dog were the Gold Standard: New England sports talk can't even come close

As much as I love living in Boston, sports talk radio (and television) in this great city, well, it all pretty much really sucks, with few exceptions. Planet Mikey is unquestionably the best this city has to offer, although his peers on New York's WFAN don't slam The Red Sox by degree or frequency the way he and fellow Boston sports talk radio and television hosts slam the Yankees almost daily. Very tacky.

Anyway, as a long-time listener of WFAN and Mike & Dawg - - - and thank God for the Internet so I don't have to only listen to WEEI for my sports talk fix - - Mike & Dawg will be a team no more as Chris Russo, a.k.a., Dawg, signed-off after 19 years last Thursday and rumors are that he may be joining Sirius.

Since 1989, WFAN has been and remains the Gold Standard of sports talk radio and Mike & Chris were the ones responsible for proving the genre could be successful on other stations around the country. Dawg's voice could sometimes really grate on me . . . especially if I had them on for their entire afternoon slot. And as a very publicly-devoted S.F. Giants fan, Russo also truly hated, despised, reviled the Yankees - even as a native New Yorker, forever irking a ton of Yankee fans/listeners.

Since the duo has been #1 in its time period for 19 years, book after book after book, and despite Dawg's critics, their show nevertheless generated an unprecedented fan passion, we learned a ton of stuff and, in a phrase, it was simply great radio.

Then ask yourselves whether any Boston Program Director would have the same guts and smarts to hire an ardent anti-Red Sox on-air host? BTW, as an equally ardent N.Y. Mets fan with no horse in the AL East race, I'm available for the pure sport of it. ;-)

So starting in September, Mike will be re-formatting the show and it will still be simulcast on the Yankees YES Television Network, but as annoying as Dawg could be, I'm sure gonna miss the chemistry they had - - - and the fun we had as devoted listeners.

posted by Head Geek

Pelosi's Fairness Doctrine push could jeopardize Net Neutrality, FCC Commissioner

EDITORIAL

Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and some of her colleagues from the Left have been talking up restoring The Fairness Doctrine recently.

For those who may not be familiar with the term, The Fairness Doctrine was nothing more than a governmental attempt to regulate the airwaves - radio and television - to make certain that the public hears or sees more than one side of an issue.

Essentially, the legislative teeth in The Fairness Doctrine said that if a radio or television station or program voiced an opinion, then that station or that program was legally obligated to air opposing points-of-view on that program or that station for a fair counter-balance of opinion.

As altruistic as that sounds, many on the right believe The Fairness Doctrine was merely a political tool sought by those from the left who wanted to silence or just reduce the impact from the growing popularity of right-leaning talkradio. The fact that left-leaning talkradio, AirAmerica, for example, failed to attract even a fraction of the kind of audience numbers that right-leaning talk did some say has been another reason for Pelosi's recent push for reinstatement of The Fairness Doctrine. After all, the right said, if the left couldn't compete, then they would try to control.

Advocates for The Fairness Doctrine say that even though major corporations and media conglomerates own most big city radio and television stations, those same companies don't own the frequencies their stations transmit on. The frequencies are owned by We the People, controlled and managed by the U.S. Government on our behalf.

Those who oppose The Fairness Doctrine cite concerns about governmental interference with our nation's Constitutional right to First Amendment Free Speech and don't believe programs like Keith Olbermann's on MSNBC television on the Left and Rush Limbaugh's radio program on the Right have a duty or an obligation or be legislatively forced to surrender their air time to an opposing point-of-view. And those stations who carry their programs across the nation should not be so penalized as well.

And from a business standpoint, air time, whether on radio, television or the Internet, has a finite inventory, only renewable every 24 hours but still maxing out at 24 x 7 week after week. And unlike any other industry, station owners cannot increase their manufacturing capacity beyond that 168 hours per week.

But more importantly, the networks and programs would not be compensated for surrendering that time.

However, what should be on the table of greatest concern is what Pelosi and friends might want to do to those who write for or post comments on the Internet - or to the hosts of those who do. FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell believes the possibility exists for The Fairness Doctrine to be extended beyond radio and television and into the Internet, a fear and concern not necessarily too far-fetched.

For all of its faults and despite those who abuse it, the Internet remains the last frontier of worlwide free thought, speech and opinion . . . a sacrosanct entity that needs to be protected from those with unchecked political motives.

Looking for this kind of creativity from New Englanders

Talk about creativity . . .

We've been setting up some vLog accounts (a.k.a., Video Blogging) with select video hosting services, e.g., Viddler, YouTube and just today, with Vimeo. Anyway, while waiting for some of our uploads to be coded on Vimeo, we checked out some of their featured plays and came across this very cool production from an FM radio station in Scotland, where they turned a day in the office - from DJ to the staff - into a full-blown music video.

Loved the concept, loved the humor, loved the creativity.

So come on, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maine and New Hampshire, show us your good stuff. We're looking for this kind of creativity, intelligence and fun to feature right here on [: neon :]. iwatchneonATgmail.com

 

 

Apple/Boylston Grand Opening Update

UPDATE: We have video of the entire event and much more here.

Just managed to get out of the crowd to post this audio, since I won't be able to post the multiple videos until later tonight. Have some terrific shots.

Unbelievable is all I can say. What an experience, what an incredible Public Relations team they have.

UPDATE: Well, TalkShoe just surprised me and made the audio file size more than 3 Gigs, yikes, so forget it, I won't have time to break it up and post it right now. Instead, go to this link, Apple Boylston Grand Opening - 05-15-08 and give a listen.

Will post everything later tonight.

Morris Day and The Time: timeless fun

Posted by Head Geek

Without question, one of my favorite videos and songs from the high hair 1980s was Morris Day's Jungle Love. Originally a scene from Prince's Purple Rain, the video has come to symbolize funk to the current generation, but it's arguable as to whether '70s funk continued so far into the mid-'80s, or more specifically 1984, when this video and Purple Rain came out.

However, one of the standouts was the man who held the mirror up for Morris Day while both were on stage. Jerome Benton had the class, the style and the incredibly graceful yet funky dance skills to pull off an otherwise subordinate role to Morris Day. And we all loved, loved, loved Jerome's very cool, very wide slide that went from stage right to stage left that made the moonwalk pale in comparison.

Twenty-four years later, the original video still brings a smile to my face, but what takes me out even more is their appearance with Jay (Jason Mewes) and Silent Bob (Kevin Smith) of Clerks fame . . . all fellow Jersey Boys. And then when they're called up on stage to dance the funk with Morris and Jerome, that just took me out it's so funny to watch.

Anyway, first up is the original video of Morris Day & The Time doing Jungle Love, but unfortunately the selfish suits at MTV are clueless about the basics of viral, so we can only send you to their link, which, sorry, we don't wanna do.

Instead, we're more than happy to embed the viral from AOL Video immediately below while sending kudos to AOL for getting it. (although the audio is not the best). That's followed by the great clip with Jay and Silent Bob as you also look for a very over-exposed Will Ferrell and Shannon Elizabeth in the audience along with them.

Now with Jay and Silent Bob:

UPDATE: 06-04-08 11:47 p.m. - While doing regular maintenance to make sure all videos were still virally connected, we noticed that AOL had pulled the Purple Rain feed, so we went looking to replace it. Instead, we came across a German over-dub of the same video above with Jay and Silent Bob, but spoken in German. BTW, there's no German word for "Jersey."

Peter Cincotti's New Album "East of Angel Town"

EDITOR'S NOTE: We just noticed that in the early stages of this beta, we neglected to post blog posts for some stories and instead chose a different form, actual blog pages. Technical mumbo jumbo aside, the problem with the latter is that blog pages do not allow for categories or tags and if you don't have categories or tags, you aren't making it easy for folks to find the post when they're doing a search.

So, we will re-introduce these stories, one at a time.

* * * * * * * * *

Peter Cincotti, his lovely mother Cynthia and incredibly supportive sister Pia are old friends of Mrs. Head Geek and I since my old radio show in NYC, when it was his debut appearance on radio.

This born-and-raised NYC kid, and I say it literally since he wasn't even 18 when I first saw him playing an unprecedented solo gig at the famed Oak Room at The Algonquin, a venerable venue for Jazz, is an extraordinary talent. His rendition of the classic Sway has had its YouTube embed deactivated at their request, as they also did with I Love Paris, the latter an incredible performance that underscores Peter's pure jazz talent. But the links for both songs on YouTube are here and here. Check out whatever else is listed there under his name, while you have the chance.

Why? Famed producer David Foster has taken over Peter's studio productions and Peter has signed with a new label, having left Concord and is now with Warner Brothers. But what's more significant, is that Peter has apparently left the jazz world, becoming a singer/songwriter a la the brilliance of Billy Joel.

From a marketing perspective, you can understand why he doesn't want to be known for one genre of anything, following in the career-changing path of Harry Connick, Jr., a friend and early mentor.

David Foster was quoted as saying that "compromise breeds mediocrity" for which he'll not receive an argument. But for the sake of jazz and Peter's talent, one would certainly hope that he occasionally re-visit it and give us a different perspective from a different generation.

Here's Warner Brothers' very slick promo for Peter's new album.

And then if that's not enough, here's a video below of an appearance Peter made on French television just a week ago last Friday, Feb. 18th. Wow! What a change, but it is cool. Also check out the French singer with Peter, and if my old High School French is accurate, the DJ's name is David Guetta and the great singer is called Quentin, or it could be vice versa. Either way, whether Quentin or Guetta is the singer, his voice is superb, enhancing the overall performance markedly.

Feel free to comment below.

Ann Hampton Callaway: Beauty, Class & Musical Brilliance

Head Geek here. There's no use hiding my love and respect for Ann Hampton Callaway, having worked with her many times when she was a guest on my old radio show in NYC a few years back and when Mrs. Head Geek and I went to any number of her gigs just to hear this grand lady sing.

For those of you who may not be that familiar with Ann, the Chicago-born native has been famous in the jazz concert circuit for nearly two decades, having also been tapped by Barbra Streisand to write some music for her along with television's Fran Drescher, where Ann wrote the theme to The Nanny.

But Ann has a vocal range so extraordinary, it's a gift that pays tribute to the likes of an Ella (Fitzgerald) or a Sarah (Vaughan) but also puts her in a class by herself, more than capable of scoring a movie or a book on Broadway.

Below is a video from 2001, where Lincoln Center in NYC had its annual Midsummer Night's Swing on the promenade at Lincoln Center, where Ann performed alongside a Big Band that allowed her to really do her thing, which is a wonderful thing to behold.

Pay particular attention at around the 3:00 minute mark when she starts to scat and then takes off from there. A must-see for any student of music.

Ladies and gentlemen, Ms. Ann Hampton Callaway, beauty, class and musical brilliance.

When free speech and good sportsmanship are trumped by stupidity

LIFE

Living in New England has actually turned into a wonderful experience.

Believe it or not and for those who've never lived here, the weather patterns (compared to/with New York City's) are much nicer in Boston, meaning, we've had far better "better" weather every Winter we've been here than we ever had living in Northern New Jersey, just 8 miles out of midtown Manhattan but in a much farther western longitude than Boston.

And living so near to the beach/shoreline in Boston is also the best there is. Head Geek ain't a landlocked type, doesn't like swimming in lakes all that much (think Bill Murray cleaning the pool in Caddyshack), and likes sunrises and sunsets too much to endure sunless mountain living, although to each his own, right?

Well, the people of New England are, for the most part, incredibly polite, far more respectful, more courteous, keep those synonyms coming, they're just a helluva lot nicer up here in Boston than those in Northern New Jersey and most New Yorkers, if any such real-life experience generalizations can be made. This, coming from a native New Yorker.

However and with that said, if you're gonna live in Boston, nay, in New England, do not discuss The Boston Red Sox or The New England Patriots unless you're a supporter. No other place in this country actually hassles you for wearing the head or shirt gear of another team. The hat could be 20 years old, no matter, if it's a Yankee cap, take it off, or risk personal injury.

That's where some (too many) of these Red Sox fans take the game way too seriously (just listen to them on the sportsradio channels up here), and some of them just need to get a life. With some, their personal self-esteem actually rises and falls with the fortunes/misfortunes of these teams!

Well, the following news event was taken from The Metro this past week, a local commuter daily tabloid:

Thugs allegedly beat Yanks fan
A man wearing a Yankees hat was beaten by a group of four Red Sox fans outside a Central Square bar on Sunday . . . The Cambridge Chronicle said the victim was with his girlfriend inside the Cantab Lounge when the men started an argument about his hat. The couple reportedly left the bar but were trailed by the men, who allegedly threw the man to the ground and repeatedly kicked him. The victim, 23, of Cambridge, was treated for head injuries, the Chronicle said.

Maybe someday Head Geek will regale you with his stories of the comments and experiences from wearing his Mets, Yankees or even Angels (Mrs. Head Geek) merchandise, or what insults and spit (yes, spit) we endured for the first 30-days we still had New Jersey license plates. (NJ also borders Pennsylvania, guys).

Yet, despite those early experiences, we really love it up here, and especially love our New England friends, some becoming deeper and richer than we ever thought possible.

We just stay away from discussing sports with total strangers.

Jay Leonhart, Wycliffe Gordon: blending at The Blue Note

FEATURED ARTIST: Head Geek's old buddy, Mr. Jay Leonhart, is an extraordinary musician because he is unquestionably a triple threat.

One, his musicianship as one of the most famous and in-demand bass players on this planet; two, he can sing; and three, he writes the stuff he sings.

I've only known Jay for the past eight years or so, but in that time I've seen him on countless occasions where he has absolutely taken control of the audience to the point of the pin drop and left them wanting more, despite two maybe three encores.

Besides writing the theme song to Head Geek's radio show in NYC, Jay also put together his own one-man show called either "The Bass Lesson" or "You Can't Sing and Play the Bass," I cannot remember which applied. But we were nevertheless lucky enough a couple of years back to have been invited to the one that he did videotape for television.

As I continue to look for that clip deep inside my own archives to eventually post here, what I have found for you below underscores Jay's talent even more as he performs at Manhattan's famed "Blue Note," a venerable jazz venue where he was also on the stage that night with trumpeter Wycliffe Gordon.

So take a look and listen and tell me Jay ain't one of the most creative souls out there for pushing the envelope of the no longer one-dimensional, supportive but why is it always in the background instrument called the stand-up bass, because we all know that you just can't sing and play the bass!

Mr. Jay Leonhart and Mr. Wycliffe Gordon, ladies and gentlemen, for the next 06:33 performing "I Want My Blues Back."