Jay-Z "D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)

Jay-Z reminds everyone who he is and where he comes from in his eulogy for the latest pop craze. Playing cards with Harvey Keitel can only make you look like more of a bad ass!

I love the lines:  "This ain't for iTunes.  This ain't for sing-a-long. This is Sinatra at the opera - bring a blonde preferably with a fat ass who can sing a song."

Rest in Peace Auto-Tune!





Thanks to for jayz the upload to YouTube.

Zach Galifianakis "Tough Crowd"

Zach Galifianakis can't seem to reach his audience.

Tough Crowd by ZACH GALIFIANAKIS from Zach Galifianakis

If you haven't seen Zach's Live at the Purple Onion show...what are you waiting for?  Watch it Here.

Or purchase it from Amazon:


Photo by Brandon Hickman.

The Axis of Awesome "4 Chords"

The Axis of Awesome remind us that all you really need to make it as a pop star are just four simple chords!



Watch more after the jump.

Vampire Weekend "Giving Up The Gun"

Take a look at the new video from Vampire Weekend that features an extremely bizarre collection of characters including a magical RZA, a rude Jake Gyllenhaal, Joe Jonas (what?) and Lil Jon!  How all of these people ended up participating in a tennis match played on a court from the set of 2001: A Space Odyssey is beyond me.  I don't know much about tennis, but I think Vampire Weekend is doing for tennis what Tiger Woods has done for golf.  I say bravo to them!

Lady Gaga "Telephone" and "Dance in the Dark"

Listen, I never had any shame about professing my love for Madonna back in the day so why should anything be any different with my very special relationship with Lady Gaga?  If I can't relish in all she puts out there then what's the point in listening to any music?  In this performance from last night's 2010 Brit Awards, Lady Gaga shows how she continues to do no wrong.  She dedicates her performance of "Telephone" and "Dance in the Dark" to Alexander McQueen.





Thanks to LadyGagaTonight2 for the upload to YouTube.

RIP Doug Fieger

Sad rock and roll news...Doug Fieger, lead singer of The Knack passed away at age 57 from cancer.  He may be gone, but the songs will stay with us forever.





Thanks to KnackFan for the upload to YouTube.

Tennessee Ernie Ford "Try A Little Tenderness"

Happy Valentine's Day!

Sure Tennessee Ernie Ford may be suggesting a New Year's resolution in this clip, but it's still a lovely suggestion two months later...




Thanks to TEFSHOW for the upload to YouTube.

Peter Tosh 1979 Interview

Peter Tosh interviewed backstage at the 1979 Reggae Sunsplash.  I'm only sorry that this interview does not go on for another four or five hours.  You know I'd be there the entire time!  "If you can't feel it...you can't know it."





Thanks to tapansinut for the upload to YouTube.

Die Antwoord "Zef Side"

The Italian's have a great saying:  "Se non e vero, e ben trovato" which translates to:  "If it's not true, it's a good story."  With that in mind I would like to present my new favorite rap group:  Die Antwoord.  If these guys are for real then more power to them...if it's just an "interweb" put-on then bravo all the same.  They are literally too good to be true.  You be the judge - read more and watch the videos after the jump.

Public Service Announcement

Don't forget that there are only a few days left before President's Day. Be sure to make proper arrangements, and remember to have a safe and enjoyable weekend.




Thanks to Trackertone for the upload to YouTube.

"Yesterday's Rainbow"

A quick break in the music to enjoy yesterday's rainbow...



I'm not quite sure I've ever seen anything quite like it.  See it bigger here.

Heartworn Highways

James Szalapski's 1975 documentary, "Heartworn Highways," captures a unique moment in country music history. Szalapski shoots and edits the film in much the same style that these young musicians were creating their music, stripped down and raw. Filmed through a cigarette smoke stained filter and Jack Daniels infused lens we are treated to some wonderful performances by the likes of Townes Van Zandt, Guy Clark, David Allan Coe, Charlie Daniels, Steve Earle and Rodney Crowell. Many of these singer-songwriters were part of a movement that was inspired by some of the earliest American music, and it was their passion to bring back those early folk, blues and acoustic sounds. Fans of this new breed of songwriter started referring to their "new" sound as Americana and Outlaw Country.

If you haven't seen this movie I highly recommend it. The DVD is great because the studio has also included a ton of bonus footage/songs. Don't miss the opportunity to sit around the table at Guy Clark's house on Christmas Eve for a hootenanny with a half dozen musicians who would go on to help shape modern day country music. Read more and watch a video clip after the jump.

Jack Off Jill "My Cat"

There really is nothing more awesome than a gothy, hardcore punk chick who is totally into her cat!  Jessicka of Jack Off Jill fame immortalized her pet on the brilliant 1997 debut album "Sexless Demons and Scars." Her cat is phenomenal:  He can break her arm in seven places and eat a whole watermelon!  I'm certain that we have never seen a cat like this before.  A feline truly worthy of his own song.  Read more and watch the video after the jump.

Modern Neon Sound Milestone

The last blog post represents an important milestone for Modern Neon Sound. After seventy-two entries we are bringing another voice to our little website...so please welcome music enthusiast, musician and old friend, J.B., to MNS! J.B. has a wealth of knowledge on rock and roll, blues and guitars. He has a tremendous spirit, a great sense of humor and I look forward to reading his entries. Feel free to welcome J.B. in any of the comment boxes at the bottom of the posts.

Rockin' the Word With Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Today, Modern Neon Sound recalls a nearly-forgotten guitar hero. Sister Rosetta Tharpe was born in Cotton Plant, Arkansas in 1915. After moving with her family to Chicago in the 1920s, Rosetta, who was already performing as "Little Rosetta Nubin, the Singing and Guitar-Playing Miracle" developed a love of jazz and blues that set her apart from her gospel contemporaries. She married preacher Thomas Thorpe in 1934, and the couple settled in New York City. Her first recordings of gospel music, backed by Lucky Millinder's jazz band in 1938, shocked many of her most devout fans, but marked the start of a recording career that lasted until her death in 1973. While she eventually recorded both sacred and secular music, she is best remembered as the first bona fide gospel recording star. Sadly, she was shunned by the mainstream gospel audience she loved most after recording several blues numbers in the late 1950s. At the time of her death, Sister Rosetta Tharpe had been left behind by the genre she helped to create, and she was laid to rest in an unmarked grave in Philadelphia. Read more and watch the video after the jump.

Bill Hicks "Free Bird: The Mantra of the Moron"

There are very few comedians with as much pent-up anger as Bill Hicks.  One night he heard someone yell out "Freebird" one too many times - and the fury was unleashed.  Admittedly, the Hitler references may have been a bit much, however, I think once he was wound up there was no stopping him - and at the end of the day, it's not a rant against the jews - it's a rant against all of humanity. This clip is presented here because it's entertaining to watch a comedian eviscerate a heckler, but if you are not familiar with Hick's work I would encourage you to explore a bit further.  His routines are thoughtful, insightful and hilarious.  He was a major inspiration to many comics who went on to greater fame, and a real beacon of truth in a hypocritical world. Sadly, Bill Hicks died from pancreatic cancer in 1994 at the young age of 32. Watch the video after the jump.