Southern Rock: Just Saw A Pretty Good TV Show

[Syrinx]

I was flipping around the 250 channels of shit on tv, and paused when I saw Duane Allman fondling his ax. Turned out I was on CMT, Country Music Television. And it turned out to be a damn entertaining show. It didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know (not a lot anyway), but it was an entertaining program nonetheless. It's set to repeat tomorrow Sunday June 5 at 3:30 pm Central time.

American Revolutions: Southern Rock, a CMT original 90-minute documentary, explores the roots and legacy of Southern rock by tracing the rise of its greatest artists and their music from the late 1960s to the present. As a young white South looked to redefine its identity after the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, Southern rock gave a voice (and driving backbeat) to that struggle in the 1970s -- and had a pretty damn good time doing it. The Allman Brothers Band, Lynyrd Skynyrd, the Marshall Tucker Band, Wet Willie, Charlie Daniels and other artists made Southern rock -- a tag that began as a record label marketing ploy -- into something real.

Meeting the devil at the crossroads with a devil-may-care attitude, these bands took what British rockers like the Rolling Stones and Cream had gleaned from Southern music and brought it back home with authenticity and authority. Classics like "Whippin' Post," "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed," "Ramblin' Man," "Can't You See," "Freebird," and "Sweet Home Alabama" were born, and music hasn't been the same since.

Featuring interviews with band members, producers, managers, friends and family, this documentary gives viewers a backstage pass to the birth of a movement. American Revolutions: Southern Rock pays tribute to pioneers like the Allman Brothers, celebrates newer bands like Drive-By Truckers who have inherited the Southern rock mantle and sincerely applauds the first bands, like Skynyrd, who are still rockin' in the free world.

[southlandshari]

1. Cool!

I have a friend whose aunt (or cousin?) is likely the inspiration for the Allman Brothers' classic "Sweet Melissa".

;-)

I love Southern rock - thanks for the heads up, Syrinx!

[Syrinx]

2. you're welcome!

Glad to see you! :hi:

[autorank]

3. Southern Acid Rock: My Morning Jacket -- yes, there is a God!

Saviors of kick-ass rock 'n roll. Roy Orbison, The Dead, &
The Outlaws (remember them), all rolled into one. What more
can you ask for?

Here They Are, They did rock the vote tours for Kerry--they're our kind of people

[Syrinx]

4. I remember the Outlaws!

Photobucket seems to be down at the moment. I'll try to see the picture later!

[autorank]

6. "High Tides & Green Grass Forever" --- how good is that?

rhetorical question of course. It's heaven...bring it on and MMJ carries on the tradition!

:hi:

[Syrinx]

8. thanks autorank!

I like that on more levels than most people can appreciate. ;)

[autorank]

9. We are soul brothers...

:hi:

[Syrinx]

10. I'm giggling like a little girl!

:hi:

[Rocinante]

5. Thanks for the heads up

Back in the 70's I saw Marshall Tucker a couple of times. They opened for Charlie Daniels. That was when Daniels wasn't such a damn idiot.

[Syrinx]

7. hey dude!

I don't think I've ever seen Marshall Tucker Band in concert. My favorite song by them is "Fire On The Mountain." Do you know if that's an original song by them? I guess it is, but somehow I get the feeling it might be a traditional song.

I saw CDB a couple times. I used to love Charlie. He had the white southern males version of Dennis Miller Syndrome I guess. That is, several years before 9/11. :)

But I don't think I ever paid to see CDB. Used to, when they had these concerts at UA, you could just wait until the main act came onstage, and you could just walk in without a ticket. Saw several good shows like that when I was a teenager. Wish you could still get away with that stuff!

[Rocinante]

11. I'm not sure if that's original

but it's a good song. I guess my favorite of theirs is Take The Highway. Back then it was unusual for a band like that to kick in with a synthesizer, or to have someone play the flute even.

Daniels was pretty good in those days. It's weird what can happen to people.

[Syrinx]

12. I'm gonna list to Take The Highway next

I've got it. I gotta listen to "Fire On The Mountain" about six times first. :)

Until pretty recently I thought Marshall Tucker was the leader of the MTB. I'm so embarassed. ;)

[Rocinante]

13. Hell I think I'll listen to some of that stuff too

It's good to take a break from listening to Rush, old Genesis stuff, and Led Zep...for a little while. :)

[Syrinx]

14. Southern Rock is good for the soul

So I'm told.

[NeoTraitors]

15. I love CMT. Sure I won't watch any of the

country-pop videos but their documentaries are great. It's always Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Bob Wills, Hank Sr etc. What other channel talks about the Flying Burrito Brothers?