The Bluebird Sessions: Lester Bangs, Where the Hell Have You Been, Man?
First, there was rock ‘n’ roll. And then there was Lester Bangs, a one-man-fan-machine who taught rock ‘n’ roll to give a damn about itself. Consider what you’re about to read a love story between a man and his music.
Some Hours Are More Secret Than Others (So I Made You a Live-Broadcast Mix Tape)
The short version: I couldn’t sleep, so I made you a live-broadcast mix tape on Grooveshark. Then, I put together this embedded playlist of that broadcast for your listening pleasure.
![5-Minute Dance Party [Mexican Standoff— Elbow]](http://i1.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/elbowmexicanstandoff.png?resize=250%2C250)
5-Minute Dance Party [Mexican Standoff— Elbow]
Set your ears properly. This song is all noodling and lullaby until 1:54 when the song proper starts. And when it starts, oh poppets, this song is a WONDER.
![5-Minute Dance Party [Smooth Criminal— Bob Fosse]](http://i2.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/damnyankees.jpg?resize=250%2C250)
5-Minute Dance Party [Smooth Criminal— Bob Fosse]
There’s so much juicy goodness in this mashup that I’m just going to let you watch before I give you some context in the notes below it. <3
![5-Minute Dance Party [She's About A Mover - Sir Douglas Quintet]](http://i1.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/sirdouglasquintet.jpg?resize=250%2C250)
5-Minute Dance Party [She's About A Mover - Sir Douglas Quintet]
She was walking down the street looking fine as she could be!
![5-Minute Dance Party [Chinese— Capital Children's Choir]](http://i2.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/oliviagardasil11.jpg?resize=250%2C250)
5-Minute Dance Party [Chinese— Capital Children's Choir]
For nearly a year now, I’ve been haunted by this version of Lilly Allen’s “Chinese,” her tribute to her mother, Allison Owen, by the Capital Children’s Choir. But I couldn’t post it. Not yet. Not and feel right about having done it.
![5-Minute Dance Party [Dreamer : Dubstep]](http://i0.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/dreamer-dubstep-e1363934560797.jpg?resize=250%2C250)
5-Minute Dance Party [Dreamer : Dubstep]
“I guess I thought the dream-space would be all about the visual, but it’s more about the feeling. My question is what happens when you start messing with the physics of it. ” —Ariadne, the Architect. (Inception.)
![5-Minute Dance Party [Plus Dur, Meilleur, Plus Rapide, Plus Fort]](http://i2.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/lapompemoderne.jpg?resize=250%2C250)
5-Minute Dance Party [Plus Dur, Meilleur, Plus Rapide, Plus Fort]
A Daft Punk cover by La Pompe Moderne that was shot in ONE take. “Unbelievable,” your mind will tell you. “Oh, yes indeedy,” your eyes will reply. But, wait! There’s MORE.
![5-Minute Dance Party [It's ON]](http://i2.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/itsonupandoverit.jpg?resize=250%2C250)
5-Minute Dance Party [It's ON]
Please enjoy. These innovators amaze me. And I hope, I just hope, that they amaze you too.
![5-Minute Dance Party [Voodoo Child (Slight Return)— Another Rare Live Stevie Ray Vaughan Version]](http://i0.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/stevie-ray-vaughan-1928-national-steel.jpg?resize=250%2C250)
5-Minute Dance Party [Voodoo Child (Slight Return)— Another Rare Live Stevie Ray Vaughan Version]
Should we do a week of music just created (or played by) natives of Texas? How about we start with the incomparable Stevie Ray Vaughan and see how it goes?
![5-Minute Dance Party [You Were Never There]](http://i2.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/diego-garcia.jpg?resize=250%2C250)
![5-Minute Dance Party [Put A Little Love In It]](http://i1.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/ikereillypressphoto.jpg?resize=250%2C250)
5-Minute Dance Party [Put A Little Love In It]
Happy Monday, everyone! This song will put a little pepper in your soup. It’s fantastic! Let me know what you think.
![Super-Secret Friday Night 5-Minute Dance Party [Lilac Wine— Animated]](http://i1.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/lilacwinecinematicorchestra.jpg?resize=250%2C250)
![5-Minute Dance Party [I Spy]](http://i0.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/mikhael-paskalev.jpeg?resize=250%2C250)
![5-Minute Dance Party [4th and Vine]](http://i0.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/sineadpinkcolloar.jpg?resize=250%2C250)
5-Minute Dance Party [4th and Vine]
After last year’s accidentally stunning Valentine’s Day 5-Minute Dance Party (see here), I was a leeeetle worried that I wouldn’t be able to find something nearly so wonderful. But I think I did. Because I was inspired by you.
![5-Minute Dance Party [Jacques Cousteau]](http://i2.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/jacquescousteau.jpeg?resize=250%2C250)
5-Minute Dance Party [Jacques Cousteau]
Jacques Cousteau. Now there was a man who knew exactly what he liked. <3
![5-Minute Dance Party [Accidents Never Happen]](http://i1.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/blondieonstage.jpg?resize=250%2C250)
5-Minute Dance Party [Accidents Never Happen]
This song just about kills me, and I almost never would have heard it— except by happy accident.
![5-Minute Dance Party [Kilimanjaro]](http://i1.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/kilimanjaro.jpg?resize=250%2C250)
5-Minute Dance Party [Kilimanjaro]
I go with my instincts most of the time. Sometimes my instincts are right on. Sometimes they are seriously on the fritz. Today, I think I got the music juuuust right. <3
![5-Minute Dance Party [Alfred Hitchcock/INXS Fan Montage]](http://i0.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/alfredhitchcock1.jpg?resize=250%2C250)
5-Minute Dance Party [Alfred Hitchcock/INXS Fan Montage]
Well, even I didn’t know I was going to find this very fine montage the other day. But, by golly— here it is. I trip over the wildest things, don’t I?
![Super-Secret Friday Night 5-Minute Dance Party [Early Silent Films, Remixed]](http://i2.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/lumiere.jpg?resize=250%2C250)
Super-Secret Friday Night 5-Minute Dance Party [Early Silent Films, Remixed]
Beauty moves me greatly, but it also compels me to share it, extravagantly. For you, tonight. All for you. Honestly.
![5-Minute Dance Party [Marie-Douceur, Marie-Colère (Paint It Black)]](http://i0.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/marielaforet.jpeg?resize=250%2C250)
5-Minute Dance Party [Marie-Douceur, Marie-Colère (Paint It Black)]
Marie douceur c’est ainsi que tu me surnommes….
![5-Minute Dance Party [Sympathy for the Devil— Early, Rare, and Live]](http://i1.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/rolling_stones_sympathy_for_the_devil.jpg?resize=250%2C250)
5-Minute Dance Party [Sympathy for the Devil— Early, Rare, and Live]
Watch the video, and then check out the audience’s faces right at the end. Wild, no?
![5-Minute Dance Party [Put Your Dukes Up, John]](http://i1.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/thelittleflamesputyourdukes.jpeg?resize=250%2C250)
5-Minute Dance Party [Put Your Dukes Up, John]
I believe that a raw indie rock and roll sound fills the heart with a raw-edged hope.
![5-Minute Dance Party [Venus— the Surprising Original Version]](http://i2.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/theshockingblue.jpg?resize=250%2C250)
5-Minute Dance Party [Venus— the Surprising Original Version]
Do you know who sung Venus first? Oooh, have I got a surprise for you, today!
![Super-Secret Friday Night 5-Minute Dance Party [And That's All]](http://i0.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/sister-rosetta-tharpe.jpg?resize=250%2C250)
Super-Secret Friday Night 5-Minute Dance Party [And That's All]
Want to meet the godmother of rock and roll? <3
![5-Minute Dance Party [Pal of Mine]](http://i2.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/blind-willie.jpg?resize=250%2C250)
5-Minute Dance Party [Pal of Mine]
Here’s the New Year’s Eve song. One second before midnight, I’ll be posting a New Year’s Day song!
![5-Minute Dance Party [Boom Boom and Cuttin' Out]](http://i2.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/johnleehooker1.jpg?resize=250%2C250)
![5-Minute Dance Party [History Eraser]](http://i1.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/historyrewind-e1356678195872.jpg?resize=250%2C250)
5-Minute Dance Party [History Eraser]
If this girl doesn’t make it big in the next four years, I will eat my collection of hats. I own a LOT of hats, y’all. A LOT.
![5-Minute Dance Party [Free My Mind]](http://i1.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/katieherzig.jpg?resize=250%2C250)
5-Minute Dance Party [Free My Mind]
Oh, you are going to like this one. Let Katie Herzig prepare your eyes and ears for the new year that’s coming.
![5-Minute Dance Party [Eleanor Rigby — Vince Guaraldi Version]](http://i1.wp.com/bluebirdblvd.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/vinceguaraldi_blackwhite.jpg?resize=250%2C250)
5-Minute Dance Party [Eleanor Rigby — Vince Guaraldi Version]
…and you know how much we love Eleanor Rigby around here. <3
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