Smell the Glove

A Mighty Wind Appreciation, with Dan Chartrand, Uncle Meat & Johnny Metal

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man
Episode 73:  A Mighty Wind Appreciation, with Dan Chartrand, Uncle Meat & Johnny Metal

In 2003, Christopher Guest unveiled his third improv comedy movie, following Waiting For Guffman (1996) and Best In Show (2000).  While each film has its focus (a small town play; a dog show), it was 2003’s A Mighty Wind that “tapped” into the spirit of music that made Guest a fan favourite in the first place.  This time it’s folk music!

The Folksmen are a fictional folk band that actually opened for Guest’s “other” band, Spinal Tap.  Ironically, all three members are the same:  Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer.  Together with Mitch & Mickey (Eugene Levy and Catherine O’Hara) and the New Main Street Singers (Jane Lynch, John Michael Higgins, Parker Posey, Paul Dooley et. al.), the bands have reunited for a big folk show in New York City.   As he often does, Fred Willard stole the show in this film.

This hilarious comedy boasts an incredible soundtrack of originals and one cover (“Start Me Up”), and tonight I’ll be joined again by Dan Chartrand and Uncle Meat to discuss it.  With them will be John “Johnny Metal” Clauser, who has wanted to do this topic with us for some time now.

You might not be as family with A Mighty Wind as you were with This Is Spinal Tap, but you won’t regret spending an hour with us tonight.  It may not be heavy metal, but good music is good music, and this soundtrack is loaded with great songs.  Join us tonight!

Friday October 4 at 8:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 9:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook!

“Tap” into the show! 40 Years of Spinal Tap: The Music with Marco D’Auria, Dan Chartrand and Uncle Meat

A huge thank you to Marco D’Auria of the Contrarians, Dan Chartrand of Off the Charts, and the near-legendary Uncle Meat for comprising our expert panel tonight.  The subject was Spinal Tap, the band and the music.  It may be fair to call Dan a “superfan”, as he had some Spinal Tap rarities that I don’t.  Dan provided some cool physical product, including CDs and LPs of This is Spinal Tap, Break Like the Wind, and he even unfolded his Back From the Dead CD packaging to show us what it looks like when it’s a little paper stage set.

Taking a cue from another big Spinal Tap fan, Peter Kerr, I stole a tactic from Rock Daydream Nation and did some discussion questions in rounds.  Here’s what we tackled:

  • Were you ever in the blissful unawareness that Spinal Tap was a fake band?  Or were you always in on the joke?
  • Evaluate the musicianship of Tap.
  • Pick a favourite song from the soundtrack.
  • Pick a favourite song from Break Like the Wind.  
  • And a quick discussion of Back from the Dead.

Along the way we discussed the history of Tap, both real and fictional.  We had a look at the DVD for the Return of Spinal Tap, and had a chat on that subject.  I peppered the panel with trivia throughout the night.  We had an insightful discussion about talent, and the three actors who played the central characters:  Michael McKean, Christopher Guest, and Harry Shearer.  We speculated on director Rob Reiner’s role in the songwriting, and technical aspects of the writing and playing.  Did Harry Shearer play fretless bass on “Break Like the Wind”?  I don’t know, but we do know he can play upright bass thanks to his role in A Mighty Wind.  In short, the music and movie were given as much appraisal and analysis as we could do in an hour.

Meanwhile in the comments, Pete Jones provided quote after quote after quote, from a variety of Tap interviews and performances.  Thank you Peter!  And thank you to everyone who watched and joined in.  

I started the show with a quick unboxing, from Australia’s Ash Geisler, who has been a huge supporter of the show.  Thanks again Ash for watching, and for sending me this awesome package.  I guarantee some of them will be getting a review.

One topic I didn’t get to mention on the show, but did come up among the viewers:  Spinal Tap II is coming to theaters in 2025.  How do you feel about this?  Let us know in the comments.  I for one don’t think it’s necessary or a good idea.  The cameo-laden cast seems gimmicky, but Rob Reiner is back is the director’s chair.

Thanks for watching, and if you didn’t, the link is below.  This is one I’ll be watching over again.  

NEXT WEEK:  A Mighty Wind with Dan Chartrand, John Clauser & Uncle Meat!

40 Years of Spinal Tap: The Music with Marco D’Auria, Dan Chartrand and Uncle Meat

GRAB A STACK OF ROCK With Mike and the Mad Metal Man
Episode 72:  40 Years of Spinal Tap: The Music with Marco D’Auria, Dan Chartrand and Uncle Meat

Tonight we’re gonna rock ya, tonight!

Formed as the Thamesmen in 1964, Nigel Tufnel and David St. Hubbins scored a hit with the single “Gimmie Some Money” / “Cups and Cakes”. The band soon employed bassist Derek Smalls. After a name change to Spinal Tap, the band wandered through progressive rock, jazz fusion, funk, reggae, hard rock, and heavy metal.  In 1984 they became a household name with the release of the documentary film by Marty DiBergi, called This Is Spinal Tap.  It is hard to believe it has been 40 years since that film brought Tap to the silver screen.

Tonight, Contrarians Marco D’Auria and new face Dan Chartrand will join Uncle Meat and I, as we Tap into the history of this great band’s music.

From rock and roll (“Gimme Some Money”) to hippie flower power (“Listen to What the Flower People Say”, “Rainy Day Sun”) to heavy metal (“Stonehenge”), few bands have struggled to find a direction like Spinal Tap has.  Now with DiBergi back on board, the band are primed to release a new documentary film on their more recent exploits.  Our panel tonight will try to avoid talking about the drama (puppet shows, air force bases, girlfriends) and focus on the music.  And what music it is!  Nigel Tufnel is one of the most critically acclaimed guitar players in the world, not just for volume but also for pioneering the art of double his guitar solos with voice.  David St. Hubbins is such a legendary lead singer, that Ronnie James Dio wouldn’t allow him to sing lead on Hear N’ Aid’s “Stars” for fear of breaking the board.  And Derek Smalls?  His solo album Smalls Change proves he’s not a one-trick moustached pony.

Join us tonight, and Tap into the music of Spinal Tap.

 

Friday September 27 at 7:00 P.M. E.S.T. / 8:00 P.M. Atlantic.   Enjoy on YouTube or on Facebook!