2023, Gatherings, Music, Uncategorized

Rock On

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The association that sponsored the conference I attended last week rented the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Friday night. We had dinner there and then had the place to ourselves. We spent most of our time in the ground floor exhibit rooms that featured the pioneers of Rock and Roll.

The gift shop was open, of course, and I got Grandson a children’s book about Sister Rosetta Tharpe, billed as “The Woman Who Invented Rock and Roll”. They had a lot of her memorabilia in the exhibits. The clothes on exhibit were fascinating. I never imagined Elvis and Keith Richards to be such small men. I also find it interesting that all these things were kept for posterity. Who would have thought to save all that clothes over the years?

What museums have you visited lately? Who are your favorite early Rock and Roll artists?

47 thoughts on “Rock On”

  1. Several weeks ago Robin and I drove out to Cedarburg, Wisconsin to see a show at the quilt museum there. Then we drove up to Sheboygan and stayed a couple of days. While in Sheboygan we visited the John M. Kohler Arts Center, a museum dedicated to preserving collections of outsider art. We’ve been there before and I would go there again anytime we are in the area. It really is fascinating.

    I have a substantial deficit with regard to rock and roll. I’m not sure what qualifies as “early” or for that matter what is considered “rock” as opposed to ballads, etc. Of course there was rock on the radio when I was high school age but it was just background. I can’t say I singled out any of it particularly. By the time I was in college, in the sixties, most of the music I listened to was folk music of one kind or another. To a great extent rock and roll passed me by unacknowledged. There are a few groups I remember and enjoy. They tend to be blues-influenced, like the various incarnations of Eric Clapton. Otherwise, that’s just not an interesting question to me.

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  2. Yesterday I spent an interesting two hours at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic in Halifax. If you’re into sailing ships, or ocean-going vessels of any type, this is your museum. There was a big exhibit about the Titanic (of course, since Halifax was the nearest large city to the wreckage site and many rescue ships came from Halifax).

    The most fascinating exhibit was about the ship collision in 1917 in the Halifax harbour that killed some 1800 people and injured about 9000. Twelve thousand buildings were destroyed. This is an event I certainly don’t recall from my American school history class about WW I.

    The collision was a case of human error, rushing due to one ship being late to port, the other being early, and lack of sophisticated communication equipment that could have helped the ships avoid each other. The collision happened in broad daylight, 8:45 am, with no inclement weather at the time.

    Turns out it was similar to a situation where two people encounter each other in a narrow hallway and both move the same direction to step aside, then move the same direction again, and by the third time, they bump into each other. You know, that awkward moment when you think the other person is intentionally blocking your way.

    But big ships turn slowly and can’t stop on a dime like humans. So they hit hard enough for the one ship to start on fire (because it was carrying tons of fuel, TNT, and other highly flammable and explosive cargo–literally a floating bomb waiting to explode. The explosion was the largest blast ever recorded until the atomic bombs went off in Hiroshima and Nagasaki! Who knew? Then of course, a blizzard hit (early December) that dumped something like 40 cm of snow on the town.

    Early rocker faves? Beatles, Beach Boys, Chuck Berry, Chicago, many more.

    Chris in Nova Scotia (for one more day)

    **BSP** Don’t miss the Deep Valley Book Festival in Mankato this Saturday, Oct. 7, from 10 am to 3 pm at the Country Inn & Suites hotel near US 14 and MN 22 (close to the River Hills Mall). The Keynote Speaker will be the beloved William Kent Krueger at 3:30. He’ll be at the festival all day signing books too. More than 30 other MN authors including me will be there selling and signing as well. For more info, check out the DVBF website: http://www.deepvalleybookfestival.com/ **End BSP**

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      1. Jacque,

        We’ve enjoyed everything about it other than Halifax is a big city with not great public transit and lots of crowded narrow streets for cars to navigate. We’re in a hotel outside of downtown about 10 minutes away, and have driven downtown three of our four days here so far. But the waterfront/harbour is very nice, Peggy’s Cove is a must see, Cape Breton Island will wow you. All the people we’ve dealt with are super friendly.

        Chris in Nova Scotia

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    1. I just looked up the disaster online and one of the things I thought was interesting was that all but one of the men on the boat that blew up survived. How in heaven’s name did they all get away from that boat fast enough to avoid being killed by that massive explosion? What I read says that that boat was completely obliterated. I may have to get the book to find that out!

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        1. That’s what I’m wondering. I wouldn’t think being in the water would have saved them as it created a huge hole in the water that caused a tsunami. Yeah I may have to get the book.

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  6. Rise and Tour the Museums, Baboons,

    I am pushed for time today–I must disassemble my outdoor pots today, get to a medical appointment, then make some pepper jelly.  

    Here is a link to the Polymer Clay Museum in Racine, Wisconsin.  I need a field trip.  Anyone?

    https://www.ramart.org/collection/polymer/

    OT:  Hennepin County Master Gardener Houseplant sale is Saturday at Southdale 10am – 3pm.  Near Buster and Daves.  DThere will be about 3000 plants for sale, common ones, rare ones.

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  7. The Sioux Falls Zoo has a large collection of animals hunted and shot by a local hardware store owner. The exhibit is being closed because of all the arsenic used in the taxidermy process. People are rather upset by this. I remember when all the exhibits were in the hardware store, and we had class field trips to see them. Critics of the decision to close the exhibit say there is no threat to the public unless people lick or touch the animals.
    .

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  9. OT.  I was just texting a friend with an update on my mom. And I use the phrase “doctor who“ in a sentence and my voice recognition capitalize the D and the W. Ha ha.  Clearly my voice recognition at least understands it’s audience.

    Nonny has Covid and in hospital. She was feeling very weak on Monday and actually used her medic alert button. Yay. Anyway, she’s actually doing quite well and will probably go home in the next couple of days. Mostly a very very sore throat and raspy voice. They did give her a little bit of oxygen the first night, but only like a level one because she didn’t really need it. They mostly just gave it to her so she’d be more comfortable. it sucks that I’m not there for this. 

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  10. I have not been in a museum in a few years and then it was a children’s museum. Trying to remember an adult museum. Has to be a decade or more. Maybe even a couple art museums in San Jose 12 years ago.
    Clyde

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  13. I take a run up to Cleveland at least once a year for the Rock. Interestingly, the place is a wreck. There are significant structural defects that must be addressed. It’s likely that a new housing for R&R will be constructed. I hope any new structure continues the outstanding architectural design of the original.

    I went through the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame and Museum. I love baseball and the Reds have plenty of history being the first team in the Major Leagues.
    Go Twins!
    Is there a Twins Museum except in my mind?

    All my early R&R experiences are based on my mom but they go back to blues. She and Dad were Air Force in Alabama. The records she bought and played included Hound Dog by Big Mama Thornton (covered by Elvis). When the Beatles and Stones came, she picked the Rolling Stones. Of course, being a rebellious son, I championed The Beatles.
    Music has many roots. Rock&Roll is a product of American Black experience

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  15. My most recent museum visit was just at the Northfield Historical Society museum downtown. It wasn’t special because I have been there many times. 

    I don’t know for sure what is considered rock either. I would say Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, and Joni Mitchell; however, it’s tough to call Joni Mitchell’s music “rock.”

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  18. I went to see the Charles Schulz exhibit at the History Center a week or two ago. If you are a fan and can get there, it’s definitely worth seeing.

    Here’s a hall of fame contender:

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