Last Friday at Howl at the Moon in Kansas City, someone requested a song I had never heard of called “Pants on the Ground”. One of the other players called out the name of the song and half the room went nuts.
Well, apparently it all stems from this clip from American Idol with General Larry Platt singing his song “Pants on the Ground” (see it while it’s still available)…
Another player learned it and performed it the following night (along with some choreography…I was backing him up on drums) and it went over HUGE. Certainly one of the bigger songs of the night.
Well, yesterday we got word from Howl at the Moon Corporate that we’re not allowed to perform the song “Pants on the Ground” anymore. I would have to assume that it would be off limits if someone requests the Jimmy Fallon AS Neil Young’s PARODY of “Pants on the Ground” as well:
It’s censorship, yes. And despite the fact that I firmly believe that an individual has the right to play or perform the songs they choose, I also firmly believe that right also extends to a company. If they don’t want a song performed it in their club, for whatever reason, that is their decision. There are thousands of other songs we CAN play. Let’s not split hairs over this one song…yesterday was, after all, Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
But it’s a slippery slope. What if Google started removing this song from search listings? What if a law was passed banning public performance this song? What kind of precedent does this set?
For me, it says one thing…keep my pants off the ground. Word.
Not too long ago my friend Andrea dragged me into her bedroom…
Wait, that didn’t come out right…let me try again…
Not too long ago, my buddy Dave’s girlfriend, Andrea (who also happens to be my friend as well), dragged me into her bedroom to show me something she had recorded on her DVR. A performer she had seen on American Idol…one “Lady Gaga”. Andrea had gone goo goo for Gaga, and really wanted me to see her…presumably because Andrea knows I appreciate a good entertainer (that’s what I’m sticking with, anyway).
It was a memorable performance, and I remembered it well. Twice remembered, in fact. Two times, once before and then a second time after the first time. Remembrances in all totaling two.
Fast forward. The year is 2010. Where is Lady Gaga? Everywhere.
Amanda Palmer recently held an entire web chat discussing Lady Gaga which culminated in a song which Amanda Palmer called “Gaga, Palmer, Madonna”.
So I finally started learning a Lady Gaga song, a ballad called “Speechless”:
Rob Volpe from Howl at the Moon and The Orlando Show joins the Crew again and talks about Lonely Island’s “I’m On A Boat”, Diggz pranks his Facebook Status, and talks about attending the Hitchens/DeSousa religion debate at UCF and much more.
Rob Volpe from Howl at the Moon stops by to talk about his Internet show, The Orlando Show, his American Idol audition, and the two play a game that Ryan thought would have gone much better.
PoNuclear Power Plant Operator and all around swell guy Vance Johnson joins the Crew to talk about Submarines, Easter, Water, the Weeds, and Diggz’ decision to quit Howl at the Moon.
Kids, keep practicing because one day you’ll be able to smash trash cans! If you missed the show, we will be returning to the County Line Saloon on July 3rd.
The Crew is joined by rookie Howl at the Moon Piano Man PJ Gartrell. Michelle Wargo Announces that she was voted Orlando’s Top 25 Most Beatuful People, Johnny Diggz geeks out over Star Trek, Christian Bale’s meltdown is revisited, and Ryan talks about his master plan to get fired.
Keep in mind that these dates and times can change…many times at the last minute…. so if you’re planning to come down to see me play, it’s always best to shoot me an email the day before and double-check.
Tuesday, January 19
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