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Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Locals digitally mourn Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch - Music therapy, anyone?
by Aaron Davis, published on May 4, 2012 at 1:50 PM
Storyline: Local art
Love 'em, hate 'em, or if they were just "the party jam" at some point in your life, it's impossible to imagine anyone born after 1975 (or earlier?) that didn't have at least some personal connection to the Beastie Boys.
That is why Friday's news of the passing of founding member Adam "MCA" Yauch after a three year battle with cancer seemed to cast a cloud on May the Fourth for so many with memories devoted to the boys from Brooklyn.
Just a few local Sactown names to Facebook their morning mourning included comedian Keith Lowell Jensen (who also noted that 93.7 was thumping "Brass Monkey" around 11:30 a.m.), Abstract Entertainment's Brian McKenna (who reminisced about a show with the Beasties in 1996 at The Grind skate park in West Sacramento), the Downtown Sacramento Partnership, singer/songwriter Tony Bataska, Prieta drummer Brian Breneman, former SN&R scribe Jackson Griffith, Nibblers bassist Lynn Michael Palmer, and the Bee's Chris Macias.
Some would argue that the punk laced block-rocking hip hop, four-on-the-floor beats and party-themed rhymes churned out by the venerable trio didn't lend itself to long lasting or deep seeded emotional connections - or that the mourning of him wouldn't be quite the same as, say, those who mourned The Band's Levon Helm last week.
But that's what makes music what it is. No apologies. No explanations. Just memories...so thank you, MCA, for the ones you gave to so many.
What's the best therapy? More music. Try Ace of Spades on Tuesday night.
Delta Spirit is close to wrapping up their coast-to-coast tour in support of their new self-titled album, the band's third in a career that has garnered them a devout base of fans, fed by the frenzy of the group's notoriously raucous live shows.
Their new record represents a significant change of pace from their two previous efforts, "Ode to Sunshine" and "History from Below," leaning more towards driving arena rock riffs and hard-charging bass lines.
Whether you prefer their new take on things, like the whirling "California," or you prefer them thumping on Trashcan lids, their shows are nothing short of electric, go-for-the-gut rock and roll the way it's mean to be played: Loud, sweaty, and above all, honest.
Check out "Children" and "White Table" live from Austin City Limits.
Delta Spirit, with Waters opening, plays Ace of Spades (1417 R St.) on Tuesday, May 8. Tickets are available at www.aceofspadessac.com.
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He regularly previews events that he will also be reviewing.
Only those who haven't heard anything beyond the first album. I think this is a strange thing to say about a band of great depth with a wildly varied musical pallet.
So, this article was an effort to do things a little differently and address that local reaction and also preview a live show that I believe everyone should see. Being someone who honestly does believe music is the best therapy in times of sadness (especially in response to something also having to do with music), the connection made sense to me at the time.
However, I can see how what I attempted to do here was somewhat misconstrued, and I want to stress that it was not my intent to speak ill (yes, a pun) of the Beastie Boys or Yauch's memory, or to use an emotional moment to cross promote Delta Spirit. They put on a phenomenal show, and I don't think any one article is powerful enough to make it completely empty, contrary to your assertions, SfShab.
Tough crowd.
Great article Aaron! You're right, music is the best therapy - for a lot of things.
Too bad a few try to spoil it for the many.
Speaking of The Stones latest album..."
Have some respect. Damn.
A quick Wikipedia check would have let you know a bit about the man's incredible legacy as a musician, film maker and activist.
Also, you had told us, in the article rather than in the comments, of the personal situation you were in, working on a story when this news broke, the jump into promoting a gig by another unrelated band would've made sense but as it stands its awkward and weird.
Oh well. Keep writing. Hopefully you can make something positive from the negative comments and not get discouraged.