AJOBO: Aftermath, Vol. 2
Hello from LAX! I’m sitting at my gate awaiting my short five-and-a-half hour flight back to NYC. Feeling pretty bittersweet about it, to be honest. I miss New York, but this visit to Los Angeles was extra special for many reasons, and I’m pretty reluctant to hit the Big Apple again. Alas, all good things come to an end, including 2014’s trifecta of Fests for Beatles Fans.
I hope you caught Lindsay Stamhuis’ Fest Preview from a First-Timer on Friday; she’ll also be reviewing the Fest this week, so I won’t steal her thunder too much. I will say that, like many Fests, the best part of this weekend was seeing old friends, whether on panels or bumping into folks in the dealer room, or just as fellow attendees. Each Fest is like a family reunion of sorts, and it’s always fun to experience the variety of opportunities and activities with like-minded pals.
So, here’s a fond farewell to the Fests of yore, and looking forward to next year’s series of shindigs. Even though the 50th anniversary celebrations will be long over, there’s no doubt in my mind that the same Beatle-magic won’t be.
Before I run to catch my flight, let’s take a quick peek at…
This Week on REBEAT!
– In another of his infamous listicles, Rick Simmons highlights songs born in the Motor City — but weren’t released on Motown or by Motown artists. Some of them may surprise even the most well-listened listener.
– One of the most prolific, ubiquitous and mysterious singer-songwriters of the 1960s, Ruthann Friedman scored a number of hits — for other people. Later this week, Carey Farrell chats with Friedman about her work, and what’s in store for the future.
– A band capturing the soul of ’60s pop, the Januaries’ sound was described in 2000 as “Bardot meets the Doors” and “Herb Alpert meets Shirley Manson.” Since dissolved, we’ll take a look back at their too-brief body of work and the “retro band that never was.”
