The setlist includes hits moving from The Rolling Stones, ZZ-Top, The Beatles and Lynyrd Skynyrd all the way up to Van Halen, Jet and The Black Crowes.

Come down for a pint and a plate of wings and a whole bunch of classic rock!!

Some of the stations like “Underground Garage” and “Octane” keep me going on the drive home from work.

Anyone out there know any other good channels (stations) on the XM network. I know there’s over 200+ of them but any suggestions would be much appreciated!!

No I’m not color blind
I know the world is black and white
Try to keep an open mind but…
I just can’t sleep on this tonight
Stop this train I want to get off and go home again
I can’t take the speed it’s moving in
I know I can’t
But honestly won’t someone stop this train

Don’t know how else to say it, don’t want to see my parents go
One generation’s length away
From fighting life out on my own

Stop this train
I want to get off and go home again
I can’t take the speed it’s moving in
I know I can’t but honestly won’t someone stop this train

So scared of getting older
I’m only good at being young
So I play the numbers game to find away to say that life has just begun
Had a talk with my old man
Said help me understand
He said turn 68, you’ll renegotiate
Don’t stop this train
Don’t for a minute change the place you’re in
Don’t think I couldn’t ever understand
I tried my hand
John, honestly we’ll never stop this train

See once in a while when it’s good
It’ll feel like it should
And they’re all still around
And you’re still safe and sound
And you don’t miss a thing
’til you cry when you’re driving away in the dark.

Singing stop this train I want to get off and go home again
I can’t take this speed it’s moving in
I know I can’t
Cause now I see I’ll never stop this train

~ John Mayer ~

Sometimes when you’re window shopping or cruising the net, you’ll see an ad or an article of clothing in a window that reminds you – “hey – I like that look, that’s me” or “oh yeah – that’s totally something that I do/see/feel/am.” For me it’s not so much clothing or knick-knacks – it’s drums.

Cruising the net this morning I came across the drumset featured at the top of this post. It reminded me that I do have a love for music and my contribution is usually laying down the back-beat. I’ve played drums for 20 years and still play. It made me think, wow, it’s time for me to either clean-up/tune/dust-off my old Yamaha kit, or…(drools) look at buying/leasing the new All Maple Gretsch Rock Kit.

Sometimes all we need is a subtle reminder that what we are and/or who we are is connected to a person, place or thing. Today, for me, it’s a series of 9 ply sugar maple hoops that make loud noises.

I had yet to ever see Chris in concert and really wanted to know if his voice was really that good LIVE or if the studio had enhanced it – like they do with many artists today. I can happily say that he absolutely WAILS live and managed to scream his way through two sets of Soundgarden, Audioslave, Temple of the Dog and even Led Zeppelin covers. Speaking of Zeppelin, a recent article in Spin Magazine mentioned that there were rumors that Chris Cornell would be heading out on tour with Led Zep in the summer of 2009 as Robert Plant has made it clear that he was committed to his tour with Alison Krauss. It just made it more special when for the second encore, Cornell’s band launched into Immigrant Song.

The sound was great, the band was insanely talented, Cornell absolutely ROCKED the house and had the whole place in the palm of his hand when halfway through the first set he came out solo and played 6 songs acoustically from both his solo albums and former band albums. Most notably was his version of Billie Jean from Michael Jackson which was very well done.

His new single “Scream” was co-written and produced by Hip-Hop producer Timbaland and has to be one of the best and most unique tracks I’ve heard Chris sing on. If you haven’t checked it out yet, hit up your favorite online/offline store and check it out.

I have to break it to you that the new metal bands that are comprised of kids that were weaned on “Master of Puppets” and “…And Justice for All.” Those kids practiced their asses off in their parent’s basement or garage and they have since surpassed the members of Metallica as far as musicianship and the ability to “shred.”

I am still hearing the same half-step guitar riffs, weak drum fills and seriously – what is up with the mix? This song sounded like it was playing out of a clock radio out of my stereo…

Point being guys…please retire, become producers of the next generation and let the kids out there show off what they’re made of instead of pushing this overproduced (underproduced?) wannabe metal down our throats!

I suppose the tunes from the 80′s were too cheesy to match up with a product like the Nissan Versa or the Cadillac Escalade. Michael Bolton nor Young MC were not good enough to sell GAP clothing or DeBeers Diamonds. My take on it is that more people recognize and can relate to the music from the 60′s and 70′s because it was ‘cool’ and real and had soul – something I think all ad agencies should strive to put into their work. It’s one thing to have a celebrity spokesperson or some great R&B tune with flashy images but if it’s just a killer 30 second spot with tunes and some imagery – there’s no soul.

Hence – the reason I believe songs like “Living in America”, “I Feel Good”, “Dock of the Bay”, “Respect” and “Satisfaction” are used to sell products; If the song has soul then the product or service it’s aligned with will hopefully hook the viewer into buying their product like the song hooked many people with its timeless sound.

I don’t understand how they can do this when there has been an uproar over this in the past. We need people to stand up more for what they believe in. If music is cut in schools, students will not have the artistic (right brain) way to learn ratios, fractions and proportions. Whether kids are cognitive of it or not they are learning math when they play the “Prelude and Fugue” on the trumpet or flute.

This both angers and saddens me and I hope that we can help save the arts and music by electing someone who doesn’t have their head wedged up where the sun doesn’t shine.