This probably doesn't fit, but I need to tell this story: A massive bluegrass/americana festival took place last month in NC called Merlefest. Four days,100+ artists, about 15 stages, etc. It's an amazing festival if you dig that stuff and I mostly do. A guy named John Cowan, whose halfass and whiny crossover-nashville-bluegrass-rock schtick I truly cannot abide, was playing one stage on Saturday afternoon. (BTW, he is an exceptionally atypical example of the quality of the artists who traditionally are on the bill of this gig). I had intentionally stayed as far as possible from the stage he was playing so that I wouldn't have to endure his Axl Rose-like keening and possibly warp beyond repair my delicate bluegrass sensibility. However, I wanted to hear an act scheduled to follow this clown on that same stage, so I returned prematurely, just in time to overhear his closing number, which, to my astonishment, was Zep's "Dazed and Confused", done with mandolin, banjo, etc., plus drums and one whacked out electric guitar in the midst which I can't quite explain. Cowan's obnoxiously nasal warble almost worked for this particular abomination, but the weird thing was that, as they closed the set, the announcer crowed, "Let's give a hand to the John Cowan Band with special guest, John Paul Jones on mandolin!" Not sure if this means JPJ has fallen, or just lurched so far sideways he's in another dimension. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Steve Yaver" To: Sent: Friday, May 21, 2004 6:56 PM Subject: Re: need suggestions > > >I'm trying to come up with a definitive "Oh How the Mighty Have Fallen" > >list. The basic concept is what artist/band that was once awesome now > >sucks the worst. I guess I'm more concerned with the sellout kinda suck > >than I am just the "just lost it" kind, but hey, I'm open to suggestions. > > >I think I have a clear top 3, and maybe 4 and 5. Anybody with ideas, let > >me know. Here's where I am right now. > > Although it might not fit the "now" category because I can't remember when he last put > out an album, I submit Eric Carmen. From the Raspberries to "All By Myself" should say it all. > > Steve >