Death of Rock 'n' Roll

Up until the last few years I thought rock was dead. Rock is dead on FM radio. And I agree that classic rock stations helped bury it. Pop stations don't help either.

Now I realize rock is still alive. You just have to go look for it. You aren't going to hear it on mainstream radio.

These give me hope:

The Struts
The Teskey Brothers
Gary Clark, Jr
Tedeschi Trucks
Leon Bridges
Vintage Trouble
Alabama Shakes
Bishop Gunn


Yes, a diverse group. Yes, there's some R&B thrown in there with these. A lot of blues too, which is ALWAYS a good thing for rock.

If you just want pure, good-time, guitar driven glam pop, check out The Struts:

https://youtu.be/Yi_QEATjgYM

https://youtu.be/abOhx2YtPyM

https://youtu.be/ARhk9K_mviE

They have the looks, the attitude, the pipes, the licks and the chops. You might not like them but I see them as the hope for real rock and roll.

And didn't the Who say "I hope I die before I get old"? Two of them got their wish.

@czarivey Click on my YouTube links (above) to the Struts. They’re re-inventing 70’s glam rock.

@roxy54 : " I am always fascinated by the words "praise" and "worship". If there was indeed an almighty deity, he wouldn't need or desire anyone's praise or worship."

While this is 'technically' true it misses the point or worship. Worship is for the benefit of the worshiper and is the only rational response toward an all-powerful and all-loving deity that loves the worshiper and knows what is best for him. I'm not asking anyone to believe this, I'm just pointing out that roxy's if-then statement is a bit of a straw man.

@czarivey : "RnR is dying not only because of jazz or classical music"

Jazz and classical have _nothing_ to do with the decline of rock and roll.

And quite frankly despite the hoity-toity appeal that some people ascribe to jazz I find it no more sophisticated or intellectual than a great deal of good rock or even blue grass for that matter.

And if rock is dying, classical is truly, thoroughly dead when it comes to new material and innovation. I am no expert but I go to operas, the symphony etc and own a modest collection of classical music. I love it. But I haven't heard anything written in the last 75 years that interests me. Well, maybe some of Sharon Isbin's stuff but a lot of that is true classical adapted to guitar. But that is pretty esoteric.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking anyone's preference of music. Its all music. 

But the premise that jazz and classical are killing rock just doesn't jibe with reality. There are not enough people abandoning rock for jazz or classical to have any impact on rock's life-support.

Where the premise really falls flat is that rock is not dying. It simply isn't the predominant format and it is no longer going to find you. You have to find it. But its out there. And man there is some good stuff out there right now.