I know there are some people out there who doesn't know who Darius Rucker is. After all, he has a very articulate voice and sings real music as opposed to many of the current pop stuff out there now. He definitely has one of the best voices out there. And there are those who DO know him, but don't remember the band he fronted back in the nineties. And finally there are some who remember the band but didn't know he was a part of it. Got that?
Well, remember Hootie & the Blowfish? In 1995, they were the hottest band out there. Their songs were all over the radio: "Hold My Hand", "Only Wanna Be With You" and "Let Her Cry" all made the top 10 that year. Some other tracks from that #1 album Cracked Rear View got on the radio, and my personal favorite, "Hannah Jane" saw a lot of action on my CD player. They were the biggest thing around. Though Hootie & the Blowfish was just the name of the band, because Rucker was the lead singer, he was often called "Hootie".
As for me, the summer of 1995, like the eight previous ones, was spent down the Jersey Shore, the previous six of them in Belmar, going in on shares of beach houses with various assortments of friends. This particular year we were well back from the beach, more towards the Shark River Inlet, just across Route 35. It was an interesting year, with seven of us (three women, 4 guys) crammed into three bedrooms. In the back porch, beer pong was the official sport of the summer. Belmar (as well as South Belmar, now called Lake Como) had some classic bars and nightclubs to go to. The nearest one to our house was Bar Anticipation ("Bar A" for short), but others abounded, like The Rescue, Paul's Tavern, McCann's, Reggie's, and several others. But my favorite place was the Tropical Pub, on 13th street, just down the street from the beach. Just two year's prior, I was actually in on a house on 13th, and looking down form the balcony, could determine if there was ever a line to get in the place.
The place wasn't really that big. Or tropical for that matter, but there was something about it that I liked. They made some great drinks there, and met some very interesting people there. And of course there was the music, cover bands mostly. A great place.
One such cover band that played a lot that summer was The Willies. The lead singer who looked rather middle age, was noted for his Mohawk hair style, as well as belting out some top 40 hits of the day. I always remembered their version of "Gel" by Collective Soul, particularly "Let's mingle / and make it wwwellllll". They were one of my favorites that summer.
One time in the middle of the summer, between songs, it's announced that Darius from Hootie & the Blowfish is in the house. Really? The hottest band in the land right now and the lead singer is in the Tropical Pub? True. Darius and the Willies do a great version of "Hold My Hand" that really wowed the crowd. Nice job. And just as quickly, they thank Rucker, and almost immediately, he heads for the exit, just passing within a few inches of me. In publicity photos, he looks pretty tall, but compared to the six-foot-three me, he was rather small, or at least of average height. And just as simple as that, out the door he went. And that was as close to him as I got.
Hootie's popularity would wane the following year, with a couple more minor hits because becoming a trivia question. In my opinion they were a great band who should have hung around for a longer time. They still get together once a year for charity events, but Rucker mostly records on his own and has entered the Country field. And he's doing quite well for himself as "Wagon Wheel" is his sixth week at #1.
As for The Willies, I was trying to find a website. I believe they are still around, a least a band with that name is, doing private parties. The lead singer doesn't have that Mohawk like he used to, but they still seem to be kicking around, if indeed this is the same band. As for The Tropical Pub, that is no more, having been leveled to make way for condos . But the memory lives on.
NEWBIES: The top four debuts this week are by artists who have hit the top 3 on my SNS chart this year. Leading things off at #47 is the latest by Lana Del Rey, "Summertime Sadness". It's one of three songs that the New York City-born, Lake Placid-raised singer has on the SNS 100 this week. As "Ride", a former #1, hangs in at #27 after 23 weeks, and the follow-up, "Young and Beautiful" approaches the top 10, I am adding, despite the latter's relatively new tenure on the list "Summertime Sadness", if only because it's--well--summer. While "Ride" is from her most recent Paradise EP; this one goes back to her 2012 full-length Born to Die, which also contained "Video Games", another top 20 SNS smash, and the title track which peaked at #70. It's getting a second look, probably due to the season; I'm adding it as I missed it the first time around. The song is along the lines of her other songs, with a mid-tempo dramatic and soulful flair. In a nutshell, if you like "Ride", you'll also like "Summertime Sadness".
Another band with a #1 to its credit, is Foxygen. As "San Francisco" holds tight at #3 this week after a pair of weeks at the top, here comes "No Destruction", coming in at #61. More of a folkish, Dylan-esque flair and less psychedelic this time around, still has a very appealing sound updated for the present day. This is a band that has to get noticed sooner or later. It's the third single from their current We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace and Magic.
Next is Bruno Mars, one of the hottest pop acts around these days. He does his best work when he echoes the style of an earlier time. "Locked out of Heaven", the Police--styled song, hit #3 SNS earlier this year. His latest, "Treasure", goes for the funk/disco of the late 1970's of artists like Rick James, Earth, Wind & Fire, and other similar bands. In fact, one can easily flash back to that era, just by listening to this. With "Get Lucky" and Mayer Hawthorne's "Her Favorite Songs", it seems that the retro-focus has shifted from sixties soul to 70's R&B and funk. Even if that genre wasn't your favorite back then, it should give you a new appreciation for this kind of music. They rarely make 'em like that these days. "Treasure" enters at #70.
Finally, Calvin Harris' follow-up to his #2 SNS hit with Florence Welch, "Sweet Nothing", still at #10 this week, is "I Need Your Love". Like his last one, which features the Florence + the Machine leader who has a couple of SNS #1's, this time he features Ellie Goulding of the #1 "Lights" fame. Again, the focus is on Harris' techno abilities, augmented by the stylings of Goulding. Despite the mix, as with Welch, Goulding sounds at home on this one. Get up and dance and listen at the same time. A nice effort.
CATCH UP? As you have noticed, the date of this blog, despite it being written on July 30, is July 14, two weeks behind. I have thought about freezing the chart as I've done a few times this year, but I am trying not to. What I may do is, every few days, publish an updated SNS 100 list until I get to the present day, and then continue the blog portion. Tune in and find out.
Scenes 'n' Soundwaves 100
July 13, 2013
|
This Week
|
Last Week
|
ARTIST-Title
|
Weeks on List
|
|
1
|
1
|
NUMBER ONE:
PAUL CZEKAJ
"At the Beach"
(single only)
2 Weeks at #1
|
5
|
|
2
|
2
|
Daft Punk f. Pharrell Williams - Get Lucky
|
12
|
|
3
|
3
|
Foxygen - San Francisco
|
13
|
|
4
|
4
|
New Politics - Harlem
|
20
|
|
5
|
5
|
Omnia Hegazy - Aziza
|
9
|
|
6
|
8
|
Phoenix - Trying to Be Cool
|
6
|
|
7
|
12
|
Cayucas - High School Lover
|
7
|
|
8
|
9
|
Portugal. the Man - Evil Friends
|
9
|
|
9
|
14
|
The Thermals - I Go Alone
|
6
|
|
10
|
7
|
Calvin Harris f. Florence Welch - Sweet Nothing
|
15
|
|
11
|
6
|
Matthew Koma - Parachute
|
13
|
|
12
|
10
|
Fitz and the Tantrums - Out of My League
|
22
|
|
13
|
15
|
Lana Del Rey - Young and Beautiful
|
7
|
|
14
|
16
|
Kurt Vile - Waking on A Pretty Day
|
8
|
|
15
|
19
|
Wild Belle - Keep You
|
19
|
|
16
|
11
|
Golden Void - Shady Grove
|
18
|
|
17
|
24
|
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:
NEKO CASE
"Man"
Album: The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You
|
5
|
|
18
|
26
|
Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Under the Earth
|
5
|
|
19
|
25
|
KT Tunstall- Feel It All
|
6
|
|
20
|
13
|
Rachel Allyn -October
|
12
|
|
21
|
22
|
Rihanna - Stay
|
12
|
|
22
|
17
|
Hanson - Get the Girl Back
|
15
|
|
23
|
32
|
I Am Dynamite - Hey Girl
|
5
|
|
24
|
18
|
The Veils - Through the Deep Dark Wood
|
15
|
|
25
|
20
|
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Sacrilege
|
21
|
|
26
|
31
|
Matchbox Twenty - Our Song
|
9
|
|
27
|
21
|
Lana Del Rey - Ride
|
23
|
|
28
|
30
|
Dirty Beaches - I Dream In Neon
|
8
|
|
29
|
27
|
Waaves - Demon to Lean On
|
8
|
|
30
|
33
|
Candice Glover - I Am Beautiful
|
7
|
|
31
|
23
|
Serena Ryder - Stompa
|
18
|
|
32
|
37
|
Case Studies - Everything
|
5
|
|
33
|
29
|
Alicia Keys - Girl on Fire
|
16
|
|
34
|
34
|
Dan Croll - From Nowhere
|
14
|
|
35
|
36
|
Mayer Hawthorne - Her Favorite Song
|
5
|
|
36
|
57
|
MOVER OF THE WEEK:
TRAIN
"Bruises"
Album: California 37
|
3
|
|
37
|
55
|
Paramore - Still Into You
|
3
|
|
38
|
28
|
Paul Czekaj - Even Better Than Before
|
14
|
|
39
|
46
|
ZZ Ward - 365 Days
|
4
|
|
40
|
39
|
Churchill - The War Within
|
9
|
|
41
|
54
|
Portugal. The Man - Purple Yellow Red & Blue
|
3
|
|
42
|
41
|
Sara Bareilles - Brave
|
6
|
|
43
|
56
|
Palma Violets - Best of Friends
|
4
|
|
44
|
42
|
Plain White T's - Should've Gone to Bed
|
7
|
|
45
|
45
|
Little Green Cars - Harper Lee
|
6
|
|
46
|
53
|
Atlas Genius - If So
|
5
|
|
47
|
----
|
TOP DEBUT:
LANA DEL REY
"Summertime Sadness"
Album: Born To Die
|
1
|
|
48
|
38
|
The Black Angels - Don't Play With Guns
|
9
|
|
49
|
49
|
Michael Franti and Spearhead - I'm Alive
|
9
|
|
50
|
62
|
Pepper - Fkarnd
|
5
|
|
51
|
35
|
Alabama Shakes - Hang Loose
|
16
|
|
52
|
60
|
Maroon 5 - Love Somebody
|
7
|
|
53
|
63
|
Jay Arner - Don't Remind Me
|
12
|
|
54
|
61
|
Swedish House Mafia f. John Martin - Don't You Worry Child
|
9
|
|
55
|
58
|
Mumford and Sons - Babel
|
6
|
|
56
|
70
|
Silversun Pickups - Dots and Dashes
|
2
|
|
57
|
48
|
Phillip Phillips - Gone Gone Gone
|
22
|
|
58
|
59
|
Delta Rae - If I Loved You
|
6
|
|
59
|
65
|
Grouplove - Ways to Go
|
3
|
|
60
|
79
|
fun. - Why Am I The One
|
2
|
|
61
|
----
|
Foxygen - No Destruction
|
1
|
|
62
|
40
|
Pink f. Nate Ruess - Just Give Me A Reason
|
19
|
|
63
|
69
|
Tame Impala - Elephant
|
4
|
|
64
|
44
|
Local Natives - Heavy Feet
|
18
|
|
65
|
74
|
Imagine Dragons - Radioactive
|
32
|
|
66
|
81
|
Smallpools - Dreaming
|
2
|
|
67
|
51
|
The Satelliters - Gonna Get Away
|
15
|
|
68
|
47
|
Palma Violets - Last of the Summer Wine
|
16
|
|
69
|
66
|
Ben Howard - Keep Your Head Up
|
7
|
|
70
|
----
|
Bruno Mars - Treasure
|
1
|
|
71
|
64
|
Emeli Sande - Next To Me
|
28
|
|
72
|
71
|
MS MR - Hurricane
|
7
|
|
73
|
43
|
Leila - Monday
|
19
|
|
74
|
75
|
The Neighborhood - Afraid
|
4
|
|
75
|
82
|
Blake Shelton - Boy 'Round Here
|
2
|
|
76
|
50
|
Pageants - August Moon
|
13
|
|
77
|
52
|
Guards - Ready To Go
|
14
|
|
78
|
77
|
Crystal Fightres - You and I
|
9
|
|
79
|
80
|
Jamie N Commons - Rumble & Sway
|
9
|
|
80
|
84
|
Nine Inch Nails - Came Back Wanted
|
2
|
|
81
|
89
|
Florida Georgia Line - Cruise
|
2
|
|
82
|
72
|
Muse - Panic Station
|
12
|
|
83
|
76
|
Savages - She Will
|
5
|
|
84
|
86
|
Daughter - Human
|
3
|
|
85
|
68
|
Fun - Carry On
|
37
|
|
86
|
88
|
Anna Kendrick - Cups
|
2
|
|
87
|
94
|
Darius Rucker - Wagon Wheel
|
2
|
|
88
|
95
|
Foals - My Number
|
2
|
|
89
|
78
|
Golden Void - The Curve
|
39
|
|
90
|
----
|
Calvin Harris f. Ellie Goulding - I Need Your Love
|
1
|
|
91
|
67
|
Dawes - From A Window Seat
|
19
|
|
92
|
----
|
Volbeat - The Hangman's Body Count
|
1
|
|
93
|
----
|
Civil Wars - The One That Got Away
|
1
|
|
94
|
92
|
The Lone Bellow - Bleeding Out
|
3
|
|
95
|
98
|
Chvrches - Recover
|
2
|
|
96
|
----
|
Ariana Grande - The Way
|
1
|
|
97
|
73
|
Vicci Martinez f. Cee Lo Green- Come Along
|
23
|
|
98
|
83
|
Depeche Mode - Heaven
|
20
|
|
99
|
87
|
Jimmy Eat World - I Will Steal You Back
|
7
|
|
100
|
91
|
The National - Don't Swallow the Cap
|
8
|
TREMORS:
101. Alt-J, Breezblocks
102. Pixies, Bagboy
103. Jack Johnston, I Got You
104. Gentleman Hall, Sail Into the Sun
105. Avril Lavigne, Here's To Never Growing Up
