Kat's Scratch Fever

2001-11-19T13:39:00.000-08:00

I finally completed my biography of U2. This is the reason why I haven't been keeping up with my blogger that much. Hope you like it!

2001-11-19T10:50:00.000-08:00

Last week, East Hartford High School Principal, Dr. Steven Edwards, was arrested for driving under the influence. This came a s a shock to East Hartford's community. A lot of residents feel that what Edwards does in his own life is his own business, as long as he does his job. However, I was very disturbed in learning that many students had called a local radio station to have their dj's talk bad about the principal.
Radio104 dj's should not stoop down to the level of the immature callers, especially if they don't know the situation. I feel that is very unprofessional that some of the dj's, like Carlito and Wilkow, would actually listen to the ruffians that called this weekend and started talking bad about Dr. Edwards. I heard that for two hours straight, all the dj's did was degrade the high school principal, and I find it disgusting.
Dr. Edwards has always been involved with the school, and always had great concern for his students. He does a lot more for the school than the old principal had. I find it impressive that I'm able to visit the school after graduating in 1998 and Dr. Edwards is able to remember my name and that he asks me how I am and how school is going.
I was also disturbed when I found out that EHHS students were passing around copies of the newspaper story that was written about Edwards' dwi and how it became a whole joke. Don't students have anything better to do? As long as he does his job, what does it matter what he does in his own life, as long as it doesn't get in the way of his job? I can understand that some may be disappointed in Edwards because he is supposed to be a role model, but come off it already. I'm sure he's learned from his mistakes and won't do it again. He's been a great principal and he deserves a little more credit. It's not fair to jump all over him because of one lousy mistake. There's a war going on elsewhere in the world and we have better things to worry about than the mistake of a high school principal. It definatly doesn't deserve to be talked about on the radio by two incompetant disc jockies who have no real clue as to what is going on in the school systems and who are stupid enough to listen to immature high school students who would rather make a joke out of their principal than getting a good education.
So please, stop the immaturaty for heaven's sake and give the guy a break.

2001-10-30T19:30:00.000-08:00

Since U2 is going to be performing at the Providence Civic center for the next couple of days, I thought it would be appropriate to do an article on them. Yesterday my boyfriend and I were discussing how some bands will address the crowd and make them feel as if they're part of the concert, while other bands won't say anything at all and just concentrate on their own music.
U2 always involves their audience in their performance. When I went to their concert in June, I was right outside the heart, so close that I could've reached out my hand and touched Bono as he ran by *which he did many times*. As the review from the Hartford Courant says, the show was "stripped down and intimate". He remembered his first show performed many years ago at Toad's Place and recalled how far the band has come since then. U2 also got a good review from the Austin Chronicle
Although he felt a bit ill, he wasn't in a hurry to get the show over with, but took the time to address the crowd and was his normal, cheerful self.
It's a wonderful atmosphere, and the thing I like is that the audience sings right along with the band and Bono encourages it. Once and awhile he'd hold out his microphone to the audience so it's just them singing. He's been doing this since the band first started. I recal reading about an incident in one of my many U2 books when Bono had been singing "Bullet the Blue Sky" during a rehearsal at Sun Devil Stadium back in 1987, and he injured himself when he picked up a spotlight and slipped and fell, hitting his chin on it. During the concert the next night, Bono’s voice gave out completely and it was the audience that saved the concert by singing along to the songs and taking over. He was completely amazed by what happened, and it made him feel good. The atmosphere at a U2 concert is just the best thing you could imagine. I know it might sound strange, but I actually cried more than once when I was at the concert this summer. It was my first U2 concert and I couldnt' believe I was there. My next goal...to actually meet the band in person. Could it happen? Who knows!

2001-10-14T17:53:00.000-07:00

It would be unlikely to see the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC perform together onstage, unless it was for a good cause. However, a lot of bands are coming together to perform at RFK stadium in Washington D.C on Oct. 21 to benefit the victims of the September 11 tragedy and among them are the two rival pop bands.
The list of performers grows for the "United We Stand" benefit concert. Artists include, Aerosmith, P. Diddy, and Michael Jackson. KISS was hoping they would also be able to join, but lead singer Paul Stanley had to bow out because of hip problems. Also signed up for the concert are Britney Spears, The Who, and many others. The list of performances for this concert continues to grow as more artists sign up.
All the money raised from this concert will be donated to the American Red Cross Relief fund, the Salvation Army, and the Pentagon Relief fund. Ticket prices range from $25.00 to $75.00.
It wouldn't be surprising if U2 were to sign up for the concert as well, although it seems unlikely as the group continues their world tour. However, Bono is among many artists involved in the remake of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" in order to raise money for AIDS charities. Artists involved in this project are: Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Destiny's Child, 'N Sync, No Doubt and Christina Aguilera.

2001-10-10T10:46:00.000-07:00

Sitting at a WWF wrestling event or attending any type of rock concert in Connecticut, one may hear the chant, "CCC! CCC! CCC!"
This chant is for the popular heavy rock station in Hartford, WCCC. It's been said that this is the only true rock station in the state of Connecticut, but there are others who disagree. Other listeners of rock & roll feel that Hartford's modern rock staion, Radio 104, is the only "true" rock station. If an event, such as wrestling, is sponsored by Radio 104, the CCC supporters would start their chant, causing the 104 supporters to start their own and soon cause a deafening commotion in the arena.
Previously, at the Radio 104 Fest, that the station holds every year, one of the CCC supporters actually had the nerve to shout obscenities at Dee Snider, ex lead singer of the group Twisted Sister, when he appeared on stage to sing a short snipit of "We're Not Gonna Take It". His reasoning, "I don't like the fact that Dee represents 80's rock."
Some listeners would prefer to listen to Snider's program in the morning than listen to Howard Stern, who doesn't have a website I could linkyou to. Personally, I prefer Snider to Stern, whom I find to be one of the most unentertaining and rudest people on this earth. The CCC supporter I mentioned earlier who shouted obscenities at Dee Snider happens to be my boyfriend. Shortly after he shouted at Dee, we started a war of radio stations.
We each wrote e-mails to the station we were defending, each hoping to get some kind of emblems of support from our favorite stations. My boyfriend was able to obtain free WCCC banners, along with free t-shirts and free tickets to a concert. When I e-mailed Radio 104, all I got was an e-mail back saying, "We got some patches for you so you could put them anywhere you like. Write back and let us know what your boyfriend got." I wasn't happy at all because I was hoping that I could win this war, and it looked like my boyfriend was winning. When I e-mailed 104 back and asked about the patches, they said they didn't have any right then. My answer to this, "Forget you radio 104, I don't really like you anyway!" I just happen to like Dee Snider.
I don't think either of the radio stations is the only "true" rock station in the state. WHCN is the much better of the two. While both radio stations talk in the morning,the jockies at WHCN talk very little and their program is actually entertaining, especially since they actually play songs. Also, whenever I turn to WCCC, hoping to hear some heavier rock, all I hear is talk, talk, talk. Some say that CCC should change to TTT. When I turn to 104, I hear music that isn't even rock, and it's being played on a "modern rock" station. At least WHCN playes both heavy and more mellow rock from classic rock artists. The station also plays current music from classic artists.
The website also offers more links to various music news sites, as well as keeps you up to date with all kinds of concerts coming to nearby areas. The station has a better set-up than either WCCC or Radio 104. Neither of them has the "Concert Scene" in which listeners get to call up and get information about their favorite bands, and sometimes even getting free tickets to various events. So, if you want to listen to a REAL rock station, tune in to 105.9 WHCN.

2001-10-04T10:08:00.000-07:00

Just a little info for all you U2 fans out there: If you're sick of waiting in line forever for tickets just to find out they're sold out, a good way to avoid this is to check out U2 Propaganda. It only costs $20.00 for four guaranteed issues plus other offers for members. Although the magazine isn't published on a quartly basis, the offers make it worth it. This won't help with the current concert but it will help when they tour again. I'd offer my order sheet, but alas I cannot find it :(. But check out U2 Propaganda, you will not regret it!!

2001-10-02T10:09:00.000-07:00

I'm sure all of you have heard about the Clear Channel ban on songs played on the radio. Some think this may be a good idea, but others may think it's a bit ridiculous. I for one, think it's a little ridiculous. I mean, I understand how one might want to show respect for the victims of the WTC tragedy, but this is not the way to do it. Do you know how many good songs would be banned if this were true? "Sunday Bloody Sunday" is on that list. My question is, if this were the case, why stop with that one song? I mean, why not ban U2's whole "WAR" cd, from where the song comes from. Every song on that cd has something to do about war. Look at the lyrics to the song, "Seconds"--"it takes a second to say goodbye" or "in an apartment or Time Square, you could assemble them anywhere. Hell to ransom, hell to pay, a revolution every day. USSR, DDR, London, NY, Peking, it's the puppets who pull the string". The lyrics to, "Like a Song" are particularly moving. I couldn't help but play the song really loud the day after the tragedy happened. In fact, i played the whole cd over and over. What about, "Surrender" with "Oh the city's a fire a passionate flame..."? This is one of the best U2 cds and none of the songs deserve to be banned. Neither do the other songs on the Clear Channel list. The sad part is that some of the songs have indeed been banned from certain radio stations. If this is the case, then howcome songs weren't banned when John F. Kennedy Jr. was killed in the plane crash. When news first struck of the tragedy, the radio station I was listening to played "Smoke on the Water" by Deep Purple, "Hell's Bells" by ACDC, and "Sympathy for the Devil" by the Rolling Stones". At first I didn't think anything of it, but by the time I heard "Smoke on the Water" I figured the radio station was doing it on purpose. I thought it was in poor taste, but I couldn't help but laugh in disbelief that the radio station would actually do something like that. With that in mind, let me ask you this: does it still seem that this so-called ban is a good idea?

2001-10-01T07:47:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder how a lot of bands have gotten to where they are today? Did you ever wonder when their first gig was or where it was? Not surprisingly, a lot of bands have gotten started with the help of a well-known television show from the mid 50's to the late 80's. This show was known as American Bandstand, hosted by Dick Clark. This show introduced this new genre to many Americans as it aired every week.
A few artists who have gotten their start from American Bandstand include: the Beachboys and Buddy Holly. The first song to be played on this show was Jerry Lee Lewis', "Whole Lot of Shakin' Goin' On". American Bandstand's last episode was in 1989, and VH1 aired re-runs a couple years ago.
Recently, ABC declared that they plan to air a 2 hour show hosted by Dick Clark to mark American Bandstand's 50th anniversary. It's not yet clear as to when this show is going to be aired, but I will keep you posted when I find out more news.

2001-09-25T10:42:00.000-07:00

It was a typical morning, and I had the radio on while I was getting ready for work. I was still shaking off the last remains of sleep when something on the radio jolted me awake. A song was playing, a very familiar song that I have heard many times...only this time, there was something very different about it. I heard bits and pieces of various broadcasts pertaining to the tragedy of the World Trade Center and the attack on America that occured on September 11. "Peace on Earth" by U2 had gone from a seemingly ordinary song with a little meaning, to something more emotional with a lot more meaning. I stopped what I was doing to listen to the song and couldn't help but think how one tragedy could change the meaning of a simple song.
What was even more surprising to me was this wasn't the only songs that have clips from the WTC tragedy on it. I've been hearing quite a few songs on the radio by artists ranging from Metallica to Lee Greenwood (who sings "Proud to be an American"). It brings me chills everytime I hear these edited version, and there's quite a selection to download from at various sites, such as Morpheus.
Also, while browsing a U2 site, i discovered that a tribute cd is going to be released by the various artists that performed on the "America: A Tribute to Heroes" telethon.
Are these edited songs necessary? Some may say that they're a good idea and others may disagree. One thing I'm sure many people can agree on is "God Bless America" and "rock on".

2001-09-25T10:34:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my weblog dedicated to current news and opinions pertaining to the world of rock & roll...and yes I got the name of my weblog from "Cat Scratch Fever" by Ted Nugent. I also want to apologize ahead of time if there are a lot of postings about U2.