Boston to Tour

Looks like Tom Scholtz is taking the latest version of Boston on the road.

I saw Boston in the late 80s in the Bay Area and it was solid. Brad Delp was still in the band, and they only had three albums' worth of material to pull from. Despite this, it was one of the LONGEST concerts I have ever been to, and Scholtz's band really delivered.

Delp's voice was fantastic and I remember being really surprised at how good the show was. I guess I should have expected as much, since Scholtz is such a flipping perfectionist.

But alas, Delp is no longer with us, and there are a bunch of other mediocre Boston albums to draw from (they are promising new and old material). One of the singers in the band is from Stryper. You know...

So I think I will pass, even though they are rumored to be coming to Portland in July.

Full details here.

Tom Scholz to Huckabee - Back Off!

So, I am not really following the primaries/caucuses too much, although I am liking what I am seeing on the Donkey side.

But this caught my eye. Apparently, right-leaning Republican candidate Mike Huckabee has been using some rock songs at his rallies. One of these is Boston's More Than A Feeling. And former Boston guitar player Barry Goudreau has been showing up, showing his support.

All of this is pissing off Boston founder Tom Scholz, who is about as 'left' as it gets. In this AP story, Sholtz says:

"Boston has never endorsed a political candidate, and with all due respect, would not start by endorsing a candidate who is the polar opposite of most everything Boston stands for," wrote Scholz, adding that he is supporting Democratic Sen. Barack Obama. "By using my song, and my band's name Boston, you have taken something of mine and used it to promote ideas to which I am opposed. In other words, I think I've been ripped off, dude!"

"Whenever a campaign publicly exploits a well-known song, there is some inference of support" by the band or artist, he added. He recommends that Huckabee "stick to music recorded by far-right Republicans."

Check out the whole AP story for more deets.

And, wait a minute, did I get it right that Huckabee plays bass (see photo)? I wonder if he's any good? He kinda looks like Gene Simmons, but with less makeup and probably a shorter tongue.