A Townshend of a Different Color

As Roger Daltrey tours America with Tommy, Townshend aims to branch out on his own. But we're not talking about Pete. His younger brother, Simon, is currently touring as the guitarist in Daltrey's band, giving fans a taste of what supposedly will become a Quadrophenia tour in 2012. Simon, who also tours with The Who alongside Pete, is not just riding on the coat-tails of his elder brother's success. In his own right he is an excellent musician, songwriter, and singer, and recently he used the current tour to promote his own material.

Simon Townshend appeared in a small lounge in New York City, Dominion, on September 22 to perform solo material without the help of Daltrey's band or his brother's discography. And yes, there were many rabid Who fans in attendance, but if the audience's reaction was anything to go by, Townshend has built up quite a following that shouldn't be credited to his being a rock sibling.

At the start of his set. The hot lounge forced him to lose the jacket, cap, and sunglasses quite early.

The performance itself was extremely casual. Treating the audience like old friends, he seemed relaxed and, having made a few mistakes with brand new material, was able to brush off the errors with a smile, laugh, and lighthearted obscenities. The audience didn't mind at all. Like old friends, they laughed along and provided shouts of support. Who needs a famous brother when you have such a large extended family of music lovers at your disposal?

Simon Townshend's set was a mix of new material – still obviously in their infancy as the guitarist struggled to remember how the some of the songs progressed – and old fan favorites. Having recently released an EP titled Something New, available on iTunes and for fans to purchase at the Tommy concerts, Townshend seems to have already converted some fans as they continually shouted “Looking in Looking Out” throughout the show. The EP track was obligingly performed later in the show. Older songs in his repertoire, such as “Comeback” and “Time the Healer” excited the lounge goers who shouted approval at their immediate recognition of the tunes. He certainly isn't an unknown talent.

In the moment with his playing.

As I spent much of the show observing his playing technique, Simon has obviously learned a thing or two from his brother. Okay, let's be honest, watching him play is nearly like watching Pete's rather iconic style of playing, especially when he strums with a flamenco-esque flair, but Simon has molded his playing to still seem completely unique to himself. And perhaps also reminiscent of Pete was Simon's apparent ability to put a great deal of genuine emotion into his lyrics, as he explained that his wife was the inspiration for one of his latest songs. Possibly the most daunting reminder of his brother's fame during show came from a presumably inebriated fan who enjoyed shouting “Captain Walker” between every song, as if to make sure Townshend didn't forget the path through which his fan-base had come to him. But if the heckling affected Townshend in any way, it didn't show. He was in good spirits throughout and thanked the audience for coming and made sure to push his EP and an expected studio album to arrive early next year.

Townshend's playing technique upclose and apparently personal.

For those only familiar with the more well-known side of the Townshend family, I suggest picking up a copy of simontownshendis, a compilation of Simon's work that should set you off in the right direction. And if you find yourself unable to disconnect from the “Pete connection” and wish to know Simon's feelings on being related to one of the most famous figures, if not noses, in rock history, check out the track “Highness.”

What's for tea, darling?

One thing I enjoy doing is creating fun playlists that tie songs together with common threads that are a little more fun than "Dance Music" or "Stuff to Listen to While I Exercise."

For instance, I am an avid tea drinker. I was raised on tea, thanks to the influence of my grandfather, whose parents immigrated to the US from Scotland in the 1920s. As I grew older and developed my love for what is usually termed "classic rock" I became enamored with British bands and came to discover many songs that were about tea, or at least mentioned tea in the passing. And so I have created a rather lengthy playlist of such songs. But rather than bore you with the entire list, here are just 5 great songs about or mentioning tea, for your enjoyment.

1. "Have a Cuppa Tea" | The Kinks -- I thought I would begin with the obvious choice. This Kinks classic, from the 1972 album  Muswell Hillbillies, boasts of the benefits of drinking tea, from its apparent cure-all magic to its power to unite people despite class or political differences. This bouncy song includes the clever chorus of "Hallelujah, Hallelujah, Hallelujah Rosie Lea." To the unknowing listener, this may seem an odd interuption in a song about tea, until one realizes that the name Rosie Lea is actually cockney-rhyming slang for tea. Tea is a topic mentioned in many a Kinks tune; another great song is "Afternoon Tea" from Something Else By the Kinks.
2. "Tea & Theatre" | The Who -- A more recent track from a great old band, this song from the 2006 album Endless Wire is a bit of a tear jerker. Its a song of memory and loss and a search for comfort, which happens, in some part, to come in the form of a good old cup of tea. This is the first Who track to feature the drink in its title, but not the first mention of it in song. Just one example is on 1971 Who's Next; the song "Going Mobile" featured Townshend singing "make the toast and tea." How English.
3.  "Tea for One" | Led Zeppelin -- There's no mention of tea in this song's lyrics whatsoever, but who doesn't love a 9.5 minute Zeppelin rocker? Jimmy Page's guitar work on this track is phenomenal on this bluesy number, and John Bonham's slow, clear drumming is sure to hypnotize the listener. Presence is worth the buy just for this song alone.
4. "Lost in the Supermarket" | The Clash -- The London Calling album is a collection of many amazing songs, and this is perhaps my second favorite track. Our tea track here comes from the second verse, in which the narrator claims that he "save[s] coupons from packets of tea." Not only does this line speak of immense "Englishness" but also of class politics. You're not saving coupons unless you need to save a bit of dough on your groceries. This song is a great nostolgic classic which looks at class politics and superficialiaty.
5. "I'll Be Late for Tea" | Blossom Toes -- I honestly never heard of this band or knew of this song until I happened upon it from a cd included with an issue of Mojo magazine. And I still don't know anything about the band other than this song, but I must say, I quite enjoy it. Featured on the band's album We Are Ever So Clean, it's a trippy song with lyrics that don't make much sense and border on a dream-like state of consciousness, but it's also very up beat and very sixties.

So start building up a nice tea playlist of your own to play in the mid afternoon as you relax with a nice cuppa and perhaps a scone.

But beware the evils of tea: