Local: Three guys over 50 he first question that comes out of years and no sign of stopping us when faced with tragedy and catastrophe is the last question The Lone Star State has always had a lot of T that ever gets answered: “Why?” love for that little ol’ band from Texas and El Not since World War II have we expe- Paso is welcoming them again (assuming rienced such a widespread calamity as that concerts are back in business). They’re scheduled for April 22 at the Abraham the coronavirus pandemic. Not since the Chavez Theatre. The last time we saw ZZ Great Depression have we suffered such a profound crash in our economic sys- Top was just four days shy of two years ago, The traditional stages of grief, which tem, with the stock market crashing and and that came less than eight months after apply to any tragedy, are denial, anger, their appearance at the Sun Bowl as an open- unemployment soaring. Not since the bargaining, depression and acceptance. er for Guns N’ Roses. They will be the well- Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 have we That strikes me as incomplete. The oiled machine they are known for. All three been overwhelmed by skyrocketing response of faith should go the extra guys are all original members and have been cases of severe, life-threatening illness mile, to ask how we should respond at it for over half a century. Their last official for which we have no vaccine or cure. when bad things happen, how we can disc of new music was “La Futura” close to a Pop stretches things out to three platters on And never in the history of the world decade ago, but they still have plenty of hits make a difference. “Kiss My Blood (Live in Paris 1991),” all on have so many people been forced to iso- to keep us happy. They have been known to The Biblical image that keeps coming opaque red and white splatter vinyl, plus a late themselves, with no social outlet go deep into their catalogue to fish out some to my mind during this crisis is the story DVD and copy of the original tour poster. beyond their own homes. Restaurants tasty blues and who knows we might hear a of the Babylonian exile. In the 6th cen- are shuttered, sports arenas remain few cuts off lead vocalist and guitarist Billy tury B.C., Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Gibbons’ dual solo discs that popped up dur- 7-, 10- & 12-inch singles empty and churches sit vacant. Babylon, invaded Israel, destroyed ing the group’s current recording hiatus. Get While it’s natural to ask “Why?”, we The single — either in its 7-, 10-, or 12-inch Jerusalem. Most of the Jews were your hands on some Miracle Gro and get that are unlikely to find an explanation that size, and even the 3-inch, sees a return, all deported to Babylon. They were finally beard working! taking up a large part of real estate on this satisfies. The world is filled with germs returned about 50 or 60 years later when special day. Picture discs make their presence and viruses that can take up residence in Cyrus of Persia conquered Babylon. Record Store Day April 18 known on all size configurations, including our bodies with little or no major harm. Destiny’s Child, Sam Smith, The Cure and, The exile was a pivotal period in Maybe I am just getting much older, but it One mutation and the world changes of course, the wax icon, Ronnie James Dio. Jewish history. By some accounts, it rad- feels like we come full circle much quicker nearly overnight. The Soft Boys double up with a pair of 7- ically altered the ways Jews practiced nowadays. April 18 is time once again for It’s tempting to say the Bible has such inchers celebrating their 40th year with “I their religion, the way they identified Record Store Day. This year’s ambassador is answers, but it doesn’t. Even Jesus Wanna Destroy You / Near The Soft Boys,” themselves (losing much of their previ- an interesting choice. It isn’t a stadium-sell- preached that God sent the rain to fall on featuring the rare, unreleased cover remake ous tribal identity) and upon their return, ing band like Metallica or Pearl Jam, nor a the just and the unjust, and the sun to of “Vegetable Man’ by Pink Floyd’s Syd they enjoyed a spiritual rebirth that legend like Ozzy Osbourne or Iggy Pop shine on both the evil and the good. (although a couple of these are represented Barrett. Then there are those who are choos- included the rebuilding of the temple. When Job persisted on asking God with releases this year); it is singer-song- ing to debut material on these singles: What we are experiencing right now is Collective Soul takes on R.E.M., Greg Dulli why he suffered the loss of nearly all his writer Brandi Carlile. She has a half-dozen a form of exile. We have been cut off of the Afghan Whigs goes after a Bob Dylan family, his possessions and even his discs under her belt, a few Grammy awards, from our usual way of life, we are sepa- cut, The Drive By Truckers give us a glimpse health, he never got a direct answer in and her entry this year is her tribute to her rated physically from people who matter hometown heroes, Soundgarden. Now on into rare session tracks, and Eminem takes it the end. God revealed Himself as the to us, we no longer enjoy much of what with a list of highlights from the 2020 lot. back to where it all began with “My Name Creator whose ways and purposes could spiced up our lives. No dining out or Is,” to barely scratch the surface. Country never be fully comprehended by mortal gets into the scene with the incredible vault parties, no sports events to participate in, Box sets, multi-disc collections: man. Job does not pursue his case find of “March of Dimes” by the legendary attend or even watch (except reruns), no against God, but instead repents of his Wearing the crown in the “overdoing it” Hank Williams. This is the complete 1951 weekend getaways or vacations. Our quest for an explanation. In the face of a department is Clutch with “The Obelisk,” a performance on 10-inch red, with a new rich diet of activity is now a gruel of rel- God who is both fully good and fully 16-LP collection with a turntable slipmat and restoration and mastering of the 16-inch ative solitude, whether social distancing powerful, Job realized he didn’t need signed artist lithograph. The runner-up falls radio transcription disc at least or sheltering in place at worst. on the complete opposite spectrum: rap pio- God to justify Himself. Exile is a scary word, but the lesson neer The Notorious B.I.G and “It Was All A I’m not saying that people should not The wacky, bizarre, questionable we learn from the Israelites is that it can Dream: The Notorious B.I.G. 1994-1999.” seek understanding. But life has taught This is the music industry we are talking precede a new beginning. I hope that is This 9-record set features his four proper me that real understanding never comes about, where bizarre is an everyday occur- true for all us. albums as double discs bundled together for in the midst of tragedy. That may take rence. Paw Patrol should crack open some the first time, pressed on clear vinyl and years, if at all. Faith does not guarantee housed in a box. Other runners-up are no piggy banks with their official theme song on Randy Limbird is editor and slouches either, with Widespread Panic, the bone-colored vinyl. Not to be left out is immediate answers, but gives us hope publisher of El Paso Scene. late Jerry Garcia, and of course his band the Pinkfong with a “Baby Shark’ picture disc — that there are answers. And that hope Send comments to him at Grateful Dead, all offering 5-LP compendi- with four versions of the track, no less. allows us to continue forward. [email protected] ums. Rhine Records is ramping up the Soundtracks are back with Austin Powers Replacements’ “Live Inconcerated,” previ- flooding the field with all three incarnations. ously available only as a 5-song promo CD, Dune gets re-pressed on “Spice,” colored into a very expanded 140-gram 3-platter with 24 x 24 full color poster. Cult favorite compilation. Hackers finally get the wax treatment. Judd Apatow raises his game with “Warren Rare live-in-concert vinyl debuts Zevon’s Greatest Hits (According To Judd Apatow).” What Record Store Day would be David Bowie once again will have a very complete without a cassette sneaking out? heavy presence with four separate releases. This time the honor goes to the Strokes mak- One of the most intriguing is a newly ing their new album available on tape. unearthed show from 1974 titled “I’m Only Dancing (The Soul Tour 74).” The set list It is hard to believe that this really doesn’t was overhauled and included as-yet-to-be- even put a ding in the shiny Record Store released tracks from the Young Americans Day surface. This is an incredibly small sam- sessions and also featured a revamped band. pling of what is being offered this year. All Alice Cooper also digs deep with a live show of these items are being released in extreme- Feb. 19, 1982 at The Apollo Theatre in ly limited pressing numbers — from a high Glasgow, Scotland, on his Special Forces of 17,000 (the most ever for a RSD release) Tour. Out of the concert’s 18 tracks, only to as little as 100, with most hovering at the three have ever been available before. 3,000 mark. Many are numbered and most Newcomer Billie Eilish gets into the live will disappear very quickly. So forget about game with “Live at Third Man Records.” using that tax refund or stimulus check for This rare acoustic collection from Nashville something sensible. With all those unreleased is pressed on opaque blue vinyl and includes tracks, demos, and live cuts, this is vinyl you an exclusive poster. Waylon’s son Shooter may never see again. Jennings comes back to Record Store Day with a performance from “Bonnaroo 2006,” Brian Chozick is owner of Tumblin’ with a medley of the hits as well as some Dice Music. Drop him a line at special versions never before released. Iggy [email protected]

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