Aerosmith "Walking The Dog"

One of my wife’s oldest friends made a bold decision one day, to drop a career that was not making her happy, and become a full time dog walker.

So yes, whenever she comes through our door, it is to the tune of Aerosmith’s “Walking The Dog” (in my mind, not in real life).

If you know a dog or cat owner on the South Shore, who needs a pet walker or a pet sitter, check out Tails On Trails.  Click through for her contact info, and read her story.

Before you do any Christmas shopping online with big companies, consider supporting individual artists and small entrepreneurs.  Amazon isn’t going to miss your 50 bucks, but a purchase from an artisan will help them enormously.  This week I’ll be posting links to a few of my talented friends and family.



Hear the song on Youtube.

Aerosmith "Mama Kin"

Still trolling for good Mom songs for Mother's Day weekend . . .

This week my 4 year old figured out how to get the iPod in the dock and make it start playing.

But she doesn't know how to pick a playlist, and she can't read so she couldn't pick a song if she wanted.

Instead, it just started playing all the songs, alphabetically by artist.

After one ABBA song (yes, I have "Waterloo" on there), we got into a long stretch of 70s Aerosmith.

Bizarrely, when "Mama Kin" came on, she said, "Oh, this is good cleaning music!" and went about picking up some of the dirty laundry that had amassed near (but not in) the hamper.

I'd never thought of it as good cleaning music, per se, but who am I to argue with a pre-schooler who wants to shape up the house?


Hear the song on Youtube.

Aerosmith “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing”

What are they waiting for?

For weeks, oil has been gushing into the Gulf Of Mexico, from an underwater well, with no signs of stopping, wreaking untold havoc on the environment.

What are they waiting for?

Blame is passed between the corporations. The government seems lackadaisical in its response.

What are they waiting for?

It’s as if no one knows what to do, to stop this. As if there is no precedent for a crisis like this.

Doesn’t anyone remember 1998, when that asteroid was hurtling toward Earth, threatening to destroy us? America didn’t waste time on finger pointing or hand wringing.

No dammit, we sent Oil Rig workers into space with nuclear weapons.

Are you now telling me that we can’t change the space suits for scuba gear, and send some Roughnecks underwater, to nuke this damn thing?

Somebody take charge here. And, Hey, Aerosmith, would it kill you to write another anthem to Oil Rig Workers?

Aerosmith "Krawhitham"

This, right here, is what being in a band is: The Reality.

The Reality is not about the music video dream of limousines and screaming fans and smashing hotel TVs.

The Reality is not the Rock N Roll Fantasy of playing your songs with passion under hot lights and exploring your artistic sensibility.

Here's what it's really like to be in a band.

You're in the rhythm section. Sure, you write. But you're in the band with some superstar talent who can really create the A material.

Unfortunately, you're band is also in the throws of deep drug and alcohol abuse. Sure you've rented out a convent to record your new album, but what are you supposed to do when your principle songwriters are off somewhere self-medicating?

Well, you can fart around in the studio, I guess.

"Krawhitham" is Aerosmith's Joey Kramer, Brad Whitford and Tom Hamilton, killing time in the studio. When they were waiting for Steven Tyler and Joe Perry to show up with what would become Aerosmith material, they'd lay down grooves, to keep themselves sharp, occupied and interested.

Killing time. That's the reality of being in a band.



Hear the whole song on Youtube.