Pencilstorm Hall Of Fame Nominee: Angelo Julius Palma's Facebook Page - by Scott Carr

You may be asking yourself, why would someone's Facebook page be nominated for entry into the Pencilstorm Hall of Fame? Well, the short answer is because Angelo Julius Palma's Facebook page kicks ass. It's like a daily rock 'n roll history lesson. The guy posts all the coolest rock 'n roll birthdays, album releases, and random bits of trivia that makes logging onto Facebook every morning worthwhile. Angelo is the real deal, he grew up in the days when being a rock star meant something and loves sharing all his rock and roll memories with those lucky enough to be on his friends list.

Some may remember Angelo from his days working behind the counter at Singing Dog Records but my personal history with Mr. Palma came a bit later when he owned a record store in Youngstown, Ohio called Pussycat Records. Angelo used to run ads in a record collecting magazine called Goldmine and he would list records that he currently had for sale. Remember this is pre-internet and Ebay, everything was done via snail mail but Angelo always had the coolest records. I bought tons of great stuff from him, including Hanoi Rocks, New York Dolls, T. Rex, Sweet, stuff that you didn't see hanging around at my local used record stores in Huntington, WV. Angelo's motto for his record store was "If you can't find it, I will." When I moved to Columbus in the early 90's I ran into Angelo face to face for the first time at a record convention that used to be held at Veterans Memorial. Again Angelo's booth was always loaded with all the coolest stuff and I'd always walk off with a tasty stack of wax.  I crossed paths with Angelo again when he was booking and promoting shows at Skully's Music Diner. He booked my band in the venue a few times and every time I would see him we would talk about the band Angel and why they were the greatest unknown band ever.

It comes as no surprise when I post a picture on Facebook of The Faces A Nod Is As Good As a Wink... to a Blind Horse LP that Angelo asks "Hey man, do you have the giant poster that originally came with that record?" or if I post a picture of Alice Cooper School's Out LP "Do you have the panties that came with that?" Angelo doesn't ask these questions to be a show off, he asks because he is generally excited by all aspects of the music that he is passionate about. 

Angelo knows his stuff and is always happy to tell you what he thinks is cool and will just as quickly tell you that Alice Cooper hasn't made a decent record since 1974. 

Angelo regularly professes his love of all things Tommy Bolin, Glenn Hughes, Phil Lynott, Nikki Sudden and Wally Bryson on his Facebook page. If you don't know who any of these people are , you are not worthy of Mr. Palma's friendship, so move on.......

Scott Carr is a guitarist who plays in the Columbus, OH  bands Radio Tramps andReturning April.  Scott is also an avid collector of vinyl records and works at Lost Weekend Records. So...if you are looking for Scott....you'll either find him in a dimly lit bar playing his guitar or in a record store digging for the holy grail.

Flyer for Angelo's Pussycat Records.

Angelo's Johnny Thunders period. Based on the hair alone Angelo deserves a spot in the PSHOF.

Mr. Palma with Mr. Stanley.

Angelo and Rick Springfield

Angelo with Sylvain Sylvain of the New York Dolls @ Bernie's 

Pencilstorm Hall of Fame Nominee: Pink Floyd / The Wall (The Movie) - by Wal Ozello

I know what you’re thinking. Of course Wal is going to nominate The Wall. But allow me to walk you through what I consider as one of the greatest marriages of music and cinema…..

FADE IN on a luxurious art deco hotel hallway. The camera ever-so-slowly floats down the hallway. In the distance we see a maid using a canister vacuum to clean the muted green carpet and we make our way towards her. The camera plane is skewed a bit, leaning towards the right, to give us a feeling of instability while floating towards the maid. When the camera reaches the end of the hallway, and as the maid steps to the canister vacuum to turn it on, we cut to the perspective of the floor looking up at the maid. Her foot comes into frame and covers the camera lens as we CUT TO BLACK.

Thus starts the cinematic masterpiece known as “Pink Floyd - The Wall.”  This is not a two hour music video. It’s a work of art, a beautiful blend of rock music, film, and animation – steeped in a story attracting the same audience of rock n roll.

Birthed out of Roger Waters’ neurotic mind, filled with the dark animation of political cartoonist Gerald Scarfe, and directed by the sensationalism of Alan Parker (Commitments, Mississippi Burning, Angel Heart), Pink Floyd – The Wall debuted in 1982. The story follows Floyd “Pink” Pinkerton’s (Bob Geldof) journey through life fueled by the soundtrack of the album by the same name. Albeit his glorious rock n roll stardom, Pink wallows in depression due to the loss of his father in the war and doting and controlling mother. His relationships continually falter throughout the film as he takes a one-way trip on the crazy train. Metaphorically speaking, he builds a wall between himself and the world and fills his inadequacies with the euphoric drug of performance.

I encourage you to rent this disc and watch it. You’ll discover a brilliant film that easily stands on his its own, but is brought to another level with the music of Roger Waters. Even if you’ve already seen it, this is film to re-watch as an adult. Sober.  It’s in my Top Ten all time movie favorites.

Some memorable parts:

•  An extreme close-up of his Mickey Mouse watch. The camera slightly pans to reveal a cigarette with a lengthy ash, then tilts again for a full shot of Pink’s face. It slowly moves into an extreme close-up of his eye
• A scene where concert go-ers rush into a stadium to get great floor seats. It’s intercut with soldiers rushing into battle.
• A touching scene where Pink is on a playground as a child. He see another child playing with his father and tries to “adopt” the dad as his own.
• How seven minutes of editing magic can sum up Pink’s relationship with women during the song “Mother.”
• The flower animation scene which follows, underscored by “Empty Spaces.”
• Watch for the cameo from Bob Hoskins. 

Empty spaces: What shall we use to fill the empty Spaces where we used to talk How shall I fill the final places How shall I complete the wall What shall we do now: What shall we use to fill the empty spaces Where waves of hunger roar?

Uploaded by Tânia Tâni YouTube Channel on 2013-04-30.

PROPIERTIES OF METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ATTENTION Bloody scenes A video excerpt from the film "Pink Floyd The Wall" (1982), directed by Alan Parker. Drawings by Gerard Scarf. Starring Bob Geldof. Subtitles in Italian. *** ATTENZIONE Scene cruente Un video estratto dal film "Pink Floyd The Wall" (1982), diretto da Alan Parker.

Wal Ozello is a science fiction techno-thriller novelist and the author of Assignment 1989 ,  Revolution 1990, and Sacrifice 2086. He's a resident of Upper Arlington, Ohio and a frequent customer at Colin's Coffee.

Pencilstorm Hall of Fame Nominee: Willie Phoenix - by Ricki C.

The photo above was taken the first day I ever became a roadie for Willie Phoenix.  It’s of Willie Phoenix and drummer Dee Hunt when they were in Romantic Noise, taken in May 1978 at a lunchtime gig they played at the Columbus Metropolitan Library downtown.  It’s one of those photos in my picture books that makes my heart hurt every time I look at it.  It makes my heart hurt because of how young we were; because of how light-hearted Willie looks in the pic; and because of how good (and how much like BANDMATES) Willie and Dee Hunt look in the picture.

I became a roadie for Willie Phoenix that day because Dee sported a double bass drum kit at the time and when the band showed up to the library gig in a ragtag assemblage of cars and bass player Greg Glasgow’s cab-over Datsun camper (visible behind me in the photo below), everybody thought somebody else had brought the two bass drums, thus nobody had brought EITHER bass drum.  I was managing a 10,000 square foot K-Mart warehouse at that time and as I surveyed the disorganized mass of gear spread out in the library parking lot – minus both bass drums – I said to Willie, “Don’t you guys have a checklist of the equipment so that when you load it out of the rehearsal space you know you have everything?”  Willie looked at me and said, “You’re the new roadie.” 

Thus began my career as a roadie that continues to this day.  I learned so much from Willie that first year I couldn’t even begin to tell you: watching Romantic Noise from the wings or from the lighting board at the old Agora was like a rock & roll PHD education.  I learned how to sharpen my rather expansive songwriting down to a succinct precision; I learned how to rehearse a band; I learned how to pace sets.  I learned about professionalism.  I learned how everything – songs, how a band LOOKED & MOVED onstage, how that band was LIT – added up to a whole, to a presentation, to rock & roll.  I had been in bands for 10 years by that point and it was like I was a rank amateur standing next to Willie.

I worked for Willie for the next 14 years: through Romantic Noise to The Buttons to The Shadowlords to The True Soul Rockers.  I ran lights, I wrangled guitars, I published band newsletters, I set microphones back upright after Willie knocked ‘em over, I paid for people’s drinks when Willie jumped on their tables and spilled them, I did whatever Willie told me to do.  Willie said, “Jump,” and I asked, “How high?”  

My employment from 1978 to 1992 certainly wasn’t continuous: sometimes I quit, a couple of times I’m sure I got fired.  Willie often treated me with the utmost respect, sometimes he yelled at me like I was a 12 year old girl.  I often saw him as a kind, caring human being, I sometimes witnessed him as a petulant child.  But here’s something I have never forgotten – and that YOU, gentle reader, should know – Willie Phoenix is the greatest rock & roll performer Columbus, Ohio HAS ever known, and – at this point – probably WILL ever know.  – Ricki C. / March 10th, 2016.  

Any Pencilstorm readers out there who are interested in a few thousand more words on Willie Phoenix should check out The Ballad of Willie Phoenix, parts 1-4 on Ricki’s old blog, Growing Old With Rock & Roll.

Ricki C., May 1978 / all photos on this page by one of The CookieBakers: Erin, Kim or  Cindy.

Romantic Noise in full rock & roll flight at the library: left to right; Greg Glasgow, Dee Hunt, Willie, John Ballor

Not everything is ancient history: Ricki C. lends a hand w/ Willie, October, 2015, at the 6:30 mark. 37 years & counting.

Willie Phoenix & The Soul Underground Are - Willie Phoenix on Lead Guitar & Lead Vocals, Myke Rock On Bass guitar & Backing Vocals, Jim Johnson on Drums, Kim Crawford on Guitar & Backing Vocals. This Live Footage was shot at The LC. Pavilion in Columbus, Ohio.

My Favorite Cheap Trick Track Produced by George Martin - by Colin Gawel

The great, great, great George Martin has passed away. I think reasonable people can agree that without George, there would have been no Beatles. And a world with no Beatles is like a world with no melody. I won't bore you with my take on all the great work Sir George did. Others are better qualified to tell that tale and certainly social media is bustling with great stuff to check out. So do it.

George did produce one record for my favorite band, Cheap Trick. And though he caught the band just past its peak, there are many interesting moments worth giving a listen. My favorite is the song "World's Greatest Lover." It has such a  unique arrangement and feel. It has George's handiwork all over it. R.I.P. George Martin.

Provided to YouTube by Sony Music Entertainment World's Greatest Lover · Cheap Trick / 廉價把戲合唱團 All Shook Up ℗ 1980 Epic Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment Released on: 1988-06-14 Associated Performer: Cheap Trick / 廉價把戲合唱團 Producer: George Martin Composer, Lyricist: R. Nielsen Vocal: Robin Zander Guitar, Keyboards: Rick Nielsen Percussion: Bun E.

Pencilstorm Hall of Fame Nominee: Get The Knack by The Knack - Scott Carr

Click here for the complete nomination list for the 2016 Pencilstorm Hall of Fame. Winners announced April 14th at CD102 Big Room Bar.

When the idea of the Pencilstorm Hall of Fame was first hatched and the nominating committee began bouncing ideas around, Get The Knack by The Knack was the first thing that I thought of.

Released at the tail end of the 70's , Get The Knack is possibly the best power pop debut album ever released. Actually, you could say best debut album from any genre. Comparisons to The Beatles were often mentioned in early reviews of the band but The Knack felt musically they had more in common with The Kinks and early Who. Listening to Get The Knack proves the band was more in touch than their critics.

"My Sharona" still stands as one of the best singles ever released. The guitar solo in "My Sharona" is worthy of it's own nomination in the Pencilstorm Hall of Fame...it's really that good.

Beyond "My Sharona" the album is loaded with great songs. I won't bore you with all the details but you can read my article I wrote about it last year on it's anniversary here..

While I respect Pencilstorm mastermind Colin G's choice of Paul Stanley's 1978 solo album being inducted this year. Paul's album has one major flaw: has anyone heard the song "Hold Me, Touch Me"?  It's a snoozefest. Get the Knack is 100% perfect start to finish. So, if we only induct one album into the hall this year it should without question be Get The Knack.

So I ask my fellow committee members to not "Nuke The Knack" and give this album some serious consideration for the 2016 class of the Pencilstorm Hall of Fame.

Listen to the "My Sharona" guitar solo in all it's glory.......

I don't own the rights of this piece of song; they belong to The Knack

One listen to Get The Knack and you'll agree it deserves a spot in the Pencilstorm Hall of Fame....

Vinyl

....and lastly check out the trailer for the new movie Everybody Wants Some!

Subscribe to TRAILERS: http://bit.ly/sxaw6h Subscribe to COMING SOON: http://bit.ly/H2vZUn Like us on FACEBOOK: http://goo.gl/dHs73 Follow us on TWITTER: http://bit.ly/1ghOWmt Everybody Wants Some Official Trailer #1 (2016) - Glen Powell, Tyler Hoechlin Comedy HD A group of college baseball players navigate their way through the freedoms and responsibilities of unsupervised adulthood.

Scott Carr is a guitarist who plays in the Columbus, OH  bands Radio Tramps and Returning April. Scott is also an avid collector of vinyl records and works at Lost Weekend Records. So...if you are looking for Scott....you'll either find him in a dimly lit bar playing his guitar or in a record store digging for the holy grail.

Pencilstorm Hall of Fame Nominee: Guns n Roses - Live At The Ritz 1988 - by Big $

Click here for complete list of 2016 Pencilstorm Hall of Fame nominations. Winners to be announced Thursday April 14th at the CD1025 Big Room Bar.

Imagine if you will, a twelve year old Big$ wanders into his living room on a Friday night only to find it vacant of any adult supervision. Strategies begin to run through my mind: search for a scrambled channel?; see if the lady on "Dream On" is exposing anything worthwhile?; Falcon's Crest??? Even with those options at my disposal, my hand was inspired to move the knob on the ole cable box to "15" which was (and still is) MTV.

Now this was pre-"Teen Mom" MTV, so the odds were good that something of quality was about to beam through the old tube set. Even with this expectation, 1980's MTV outdid themselves. For on this evening, Guns and Roses - Live at the Ritz was being broadcast coast to coast. My mind was completely and utterly blown. Coming into my living room was a Scooby Doo sized sandwich of sweat, sex, drugs, suspenders, booze and screaming girls between two slabs of screeching vocals and killer riffs. On top of the sleazy pomp and circumstance, the songs were out of this world. The Appetite For Destruction tracklist is so strong that the mighty "Anything Goes" is often an afterthought. If you doubt the power of these songs, go listen to "Rocket Queen" right now and let it sink into your bloodstream. Your significant other will thank you.

Now the parents who so flippantly vacated the living room on this evening will spin tales of the glory of The Beatles on Ed Sullivan. I'm no Beatles guy, but I'm not gonna diminish the importance of that event just based on the fact that it may or may not have led to Black Sabbath. What I will say is that there were no neckties or holding hands in GNR's Live at the Ritz. Instead, what you see are the rock and roll visions prophesized by Chuck, Little Richard and Jerry Lee in living color.

This must be a 1st ballot Hall of Famer!

If you don't believe me, watch for yourself

Guns N' Roses - Live At The Ritz 1988 - Full Show All rights reserved.