69. Will Somebody Shut That Bird Up?! (RJ, pt 3)

Driven to Drink

I come with Arrogant Bastard Ale, and somewhere along the way we crack open the Lagunitas Hop Stoopid. Fortunately, my wife agreed to be my Uber because I’m uber-inebriated. Ubernebriated. #FeelTheUbern

We continue our conversation about Dave Grohl as an important advocate and ambassador for music and expressive authenticity. Neither of us particularly like Grohl’s music, but that’s not the point. The man gives a shit, has a public platform, and is willing to (foo) fight for the arts. #FooFighterForTheArts

I ask RJ another misguided but often asked question: Paul or John? “This,” RJ is likely to say, “Is a trick question.” There are so many of these “trick” questions in the world. May the next person who utters the phrase, “There are no stupid questions,” be immediately barraged with a cluster of stupid questions. #ColdEnoughOutThereForYou

Regarding John and Paul? They don’t work as well without each other. “For Example,” explains RJ, “Imagine would be a much better song if Paul sang it and wrote the chorus.” In any awesome band…everyone is integral to the sound of the band, and every player sounds uniquely like him/herself. “Anyone can (learn to) play Tom Sawyer,” quips RJ, “But nobody will sound like Neil Peart.”

And can we make yet another Beatles/Pink Floyd comparison? Yes, we can. You’ll perhaps recall that RJ completed my analogy which began, “Ringo is to the Beatles sound as…,” with, “…Nick Mason is to Pink Floyd.” (Neither were technically “good” drummers, but both defined the sounds of their respective bands. And not just any bands. We’re talking about the Beatles and Pink Floyd.) So, further comparisons:

• Paul McCartney and David Gilmour are Pop. (In RJ’s words, “They’re like, Yaaaaayyy! Too much Richard Simmons.”)
• John Lennon and Roger Waters are sarcastic bastards with venom. (In Greg’s words, “They’re like, fuck off, you wanker.”)

RJ reveals his Mt. Rushmore of drummers and Beatles tunes and responds to a fun little wildcard question. And he plays, “Enid,” by Barenaked Ladies. Check out the Cuica. (“QUEE-kah”) You know what it is, it’s the awesome sound from, “Me and Julio Down By the School Yard.” You know what? I’ll just put that song at the end of this. It’s a great song. And that cuica. And the whistling solo?! C’mon!! And at the the beginning? Let’s go with, “Money” by Pink Floyd. It’s in 7/4, you know? Except when it’s in 4/4. It’s a badass tune.

Which brings us full circle. Me and RJ are done. For now. There will be more. But starting next week we begin an epic run of shows with Mark. Mark’s awesome. You’ll like him.

We present to you, “Will Someone Shut That Bird Up?!” (RJ, pt. 3)

-G

Unibrow don’t lie. Shut that bird up!