Big Hair and Plastic Grass

The Return of Silky D

 

Okay, I realize this post doesn't have a whole lot to do with Big Hair & Plastic Grass in particular, or '70s baseball in general. But if you dig '70s baseball, chances are you also dig '70s music — and along with writing, rocking, painting, cooking and taking pictures, I've also been known to spin the occasional wax platter. And this Thursday night, July 29, from 10 pm to 2 am, I'll be guest DJing at Bar 107, located at 107 W. 4th Street in downtown Los Angeles.

Resident DJs Jorge Onion and Anthony will be switching off all night with me, DJ Silky D (and I'm a Taurus, baby!), and we'll be spinning a wide variety of cool and danceable stuff, from old school funk to punk and indie. I'll be mostly working the '70s side of the street, of course — and all from vintage 45s — but I just may venture into some other eras, as well.

So come on down for cold beer, hot bartenders and righteous tunes at the only watering hole I've ever been to that has both a deer's head and a portrait of Barbra Streisand hanging behind the bar. Admission is free — how can ya lose? This isn't a BH&PG event, so I won't be reading from or selling the book; but if you wanna raise a glass with me between sets and discuss the brilliance of Manny Mota, I sure as hell won't say no...

Nothing Could Be Finer Than To Be In Carolina... On A Book Tour

I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say that Catfish Hunter was one of the best '70s ballplayers to hail from North Carolina — just as it's not too much of a stretch to say that you're gonna have one helluva good time if you make it out to Slim's Downtown Distillery in Raleigh this coming Friday night, or if you show up at the Regulator Bookshop in Durham this coming Saturday afternoon.

That's right, folks — the Big Hair & Plastic Grass groove line is pulling into Raleigh-Durham this weekend for the latest round of readings, shenanigans and general good times. The fun starts at 7 pm this Friday, July 23, when I'll be reading from and signing BH&PG at Slim's (227 S. Wilmington St., Raleigh). Copies of the book will be available for purchase courtesy of Quail Ridge Books & Music, and DJ Midnight Cowboy will be spinning some serious '70s soul and funk jams.

The event is FREE until 9 pm (and five bucks if you show up thereafter), whereupon things really kick into high gear: It's a birthday celebration for the bar's lovely Olivia, featuring live rock madness from The Infamous Sugar, The Royal Nites, and The Oscar Gambles — the latter being my boys The Static Minds and several pals in '70s drag, who will be kicking out a set full of '70s classics; I just may join them onstage for a couple of tunes, as well. It's going to be an epic night; if you live in the Raleigh era and dig baseball, rock, beer or all of the above, you really oughta join in the celebration.

(Click HERE to see a sweet write-up of the book and the event from the New Raleigh website.)

The next day — Saturday, July 24 — we'll be behaving in a slightly more civilized manner over in Durham, where I'll be reading, signing and discussing BH&PG at the Regulator (720 9th St, Durham) from 2 pm to 4 pm. If daytime bookstore events are more your speed, or you can't make it to Slim's (or you just can't get enough '70s baseball... or me), come on out and say hello.

George "The Boss" Steinbrenner, 1930-2010

Born on the Fourth of July, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner was a one-man embodiment of the greed, the self-importance and the win-at-all-costs attitude that comprises the dark side of America's collective psyche.

He bullied his American Ship Building Company employees into being part of an illegal campaign donation scheme on behalf of Richard Nixon's re-election campaign. He ran the Yankees like a dyspeptic despot, took great pleasure in sadistically tormenting his four-time manager Billy Martin (pictured above with Steinbrenner in one of their famous Lite Beer commercials), and threw massive amounts of money at any free agent that took his fancy. (Don Gullett, a good but oft-injured starting pitcher for the Reds, became the first player to experience Steinbrenner's knee-jerk largesse, after he beat the Yanks in Game One of the '76 World Series; the recipient of a $2 million, 6-year free agent deal, Gullett won 18 games and pitched just over 200 innings over the course of the next two seasons, and was out of baseball for good by 1979.) And of course, he brought Reggie Jackson to New York, setting in motion the dysfunctional family drama that became forever known as "The Bronx Zoo."

And yet, for better and for worse,  '70s baseball — and baseball in general — wouldn't have been the same without him. "The Boss" rebuilt the Yankees into an American League powerhouse after an embarrassing decade on the CBS skids. Unlike many owners who stubbornly tried to hide their heads in the sand until it went away, Steinbrenner embraced the idea of free agency like a long-lost buddy, and used it time and time again to the Yankees' advantage. And unlike so many teams then and now, the Yankees under Steinbrenner were never afraid to spend money or make personnel moves if it gave them the opportunity to step on the throats of their opponents. Sure, it was easy to hate Steinbrenner's superstar-studded Yankees squads — but who among you wouldn't want an owner with his deep pockets and will to win guiding the destiny of your favorite team?

To my mind, the four most interesting baseball owners of the 1970s were Charlie Finley, Bill Veeck, Ted Turner and Steinbrenner — and of those four, Steinbrenner would have the longest career and broadest influence upon the game. His place in the Hall of Fame will (hopefully) be subject to debate, but there's no denying his place in baseball history. And leave it to ol' George, an enthusiastic (if not always successful) media manipulator to the end, to die right before the All-Star Game, as he did this morning.

Rest in peace, George. I always loathed you, but somehow I'm happy that you got to see the Yankees win one more World Series before you died. Say hello to Tricky Dick for me...

It Was 31 Years Ago Today...

Yep, July 12 marks the 31st anniversary of "Disco Demolition Night" at Comiskey Park. Gallons of ink have already been spilled on this collision of the Grand Ol' Game and '70s pop culture, not least by me. So instead, I'll just share with you this fascinating chunk of footage that I haven't seen before: Nearly eight minutes of Sox broadcaster Jimmy Piersall freaking out while the field invasion is in full swing. Enjoy!

Chicago Tonight

Here's a fun interview I did the other week with "Chicago Tonight" on WTTW-TV, which finally aired last night. They dug up some really cool '70s footage for it, including the '74 World Series between the Oakland A's and L.A. Dodgers, Charley O. Finley, and the Disco Demolition riot at Comiskey Park in '79.

(Most Likely) Sleepless In Seattle

I've really been wanting to post a recap of my amazing Chicago trip to promote Big Hair & Plastic Grass, but things like my regular gig, holiday BBQs, baseball games and classic rum-based tiki drinks keep getting in my way. And now I'm getting ready to head up to Enrique Romo's old stomping grounds of Seattle, Washington for another round of BH&PG promotion, so I'd better just focus on that for now, especially as some things are finally (and thankfully) falling together at the last minute.

Here's what's up:

Friday, July 9, at 5:15 pm, I will be kicking out some hot n' nasty classic rock jams with The Fixers, Seattle's premiere Humble Pie tribute band (whose mighty membership also includes Andrew McKeag of the Presidents of the United States of America, Kurt Bloch of the Fastbacks, and my old Chicago pal Scott Giampino of Cash Money). This 45-minute epidemic of Stone Cold Fever will take place on the California Stage (as in Cal Jam, no doubt) as part of West Seattle Summer Fest. While this doesn't really have much to do with BH&PG, per se, it does have plenty to do with ass-kicking '70s rock, and it will be a guaranteed rockin' good time that requires no doctor or admission charge.

Friday, July 9, from 9pm to 2am, some of the aforementioned Fixers chaps (as well as Ben London, and maybe some others) will be spinning '70s jams at the Feedback Lounge (6541 California Ave SW, Seattle 98136) in celebration of Big Hair & Plastic Grass. I won't be reading from the book, but I will be selling and signing copies, and conversing about the righteousness of the original Mariners' trident logo with anyone who'll buy me a beer. The event is FREE, baby.

Saturday, July 10, at 2pm, I will be reading, signing and answering questions about BH&PG at the legendary indie bookstore Elliott Bay Book Company. Please note that this event (which is also FREE) will take place at the store's new Capitol Hill location: 1521 Tenth Avenue, Seattle 98122, 206-624-6600.

If you're a Seattle resident and a baseball/pop culture fan — or you know someone who is — please help spread the word about these events. I've been trying to get some attention for the book from the Seattle media, but so far not so good; maybe my revisiting the Seattle Pilots fiasco opened some old wounds? In any case, the more the merrier, so please make the scene(s) if you can!