Cleveland Rocks
Ian Hunter said it; I didn't. Well, I suppose I just did, but it isn't clear (even to myself) whether I meant it or not. I have made the trip to "The Forest City" twice now: once with my mother in March of 2006 (women's elite 8), and now again with my father, stepmom, and stepbrother, to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.
It is this most recent trip that this particular note details. We left Saturday afternoon, threeish, and I did the majority of the driving. Of course, this means our visit to the HoF itself occurred on Sunday... which was also the day of the season opening home game for the Cleveland Browns (against rival Pittsburgh).
Did I mention the Hall of Fame is directly next to Cleveland Brown Stadium? I didn't? Well, it is. Right the fuck next to it. Apparently, when you drive to a Browns game, you get to park in the fucking Port of Cleveland. Since the Hall of Fame doesn't have its own lot (I am not sure it would have mattered it if did, honestly.), we had to park with the tailgaters and walk for about 20 minutes just to get to our destination.
If you haven't been, the Hall of Fame is basically a glass pyramid, jutting out of a parallelepiped. In the front of the building is a concrete mall (of sorts) where there are numerous oversized guitars, donated by various groups, painted and otherwise decorated in sundry styles. We took several pictures here. I might post some later. I am rather certain all are cheesy.
The admission charge is $20, which is a bit steep, but considering the number of exhibits, it was reasonable. You begin by entering the basement level. Outside the main basement area, they had guitars formerly belonging to Jerry Garcia, and although I am not a fan, his guitars were quite beautiful.
Once you enter the basement proper, you receive a wristband. There is a two part theater at the beginning. You sit through two different 15 minute films about the history of rock, with the audience moving to the second theater at the conclusion of the first film. Upon exiting, you find yourself at the beginning of the exhibits.
The first exhibits detail the deepest roots of rock and roll, the Delta blues, bluegrass, etc., featuring photos and information about performers like Robert Johnson and Howling Wolf. The exhibits continue chronologically through the basement, until you get to the 60s and 70s, at which point it breaks into scenes (Monterrey, LA, San Francisco, UK, Seattle, Ohio, Motown, etc.) and genres (punk and new wave, roots of country, gospel). In addition, scattered through the Hall, there are exhibits of particular inductees: Clapton, Hendrix (including several drawings he did when he was a kid), Madonna, U2, Michael Jackson, ZZ Top, etc.)
One of the coolest exhibits (for me) was a pair of The Zombies's original instruments, used in the recording of "She's not There". There was an old, battered pianet, and a homemade (yes, seriously homemade) bass. (I am not sure whom I discussed this band and song with, perhaps Matthew? Anyhow, I have always liked that song, and it was interesting to see what they were working with at the time.) They also had Handsome Dick Manitoba's jacket, an early lyrics manuscript for "Blue Monday", and an actual stick of deodorant belonging to Janis Joplin (unused of course)!!! (Ok that last bit was mean.)
There were special exhibits on the top two floors, one for The Clash (really quite large) and one for The Doors. It is funny that they chose these two bands (the top floor exhibits change from time to time), as they are both bands I officially "respect", but never got into at all. Jim Morrison's cub scout uniform was cute, however.
I didn't like everything I saw, however. The exhibit (a video played on some twisting monstrosity made from about 30 televisions) detailing the history of the music video was disappointing. I thought ENTIRELY too much attention was paid to the Sex Pistols in the punk section. I realize it is a hall of "fame", and the Sex Pistols garnered a "fame" unlike any other such band, but it was still a bit annoying. Nonetheless, there were good exhibits/memorabilia from Blondie, Talking Heads, Television, New Order, New York Dolls, and the Ramones. No mention of hardcore, but I suppose that is to be expected.
I also didn't see anything involving Prince, which surprised me. My stepmom said she saw one thing, but I don't know what it was. *shrug*
There really was too much to mention, and if you are in the area, it is worth visit. The gift shop's prices weren't too ridiculous, to be sure, but I couldn't really justify the expense of anything more than a small fistful of postcards.
Unfortunately, we got out the same time the game did, and Cleveland being Cleveland, the fans were cantankerous, because they just got their asses handed to them. Security was already responding to one skirmish in the port (I still can't believe we had to park in a fucking port.), but things were otherwise fine. It took a while to get out of the city, but once we did I took over driving, manning the wheel for the entire drive home.
Cleveland itself was pleasant, although it rained while we were in the hall of fame. The temperature was nice, and the city was clean. The traffic was a hassle and a half, but that was due to our rather unlucky timing. If I ever had reason to travel there again, I just might, although winters would be impossible. I hate snow, and as MK can tell you, they don't call the area between Cleveland and Buffalo the "Snow Belt" for nothing.
No, Mike, there was not a shrine to Wilco.
It is this most recent trip that this particular note details. We left Saturday afternoon, threeish, and I did the majority of the driving. Of course, this means our visit to the HoF itself occurred on Sunday... which was also the day of the season opening home game for the Cleveland Browns (against rival Pittsburgh).
Did I mention the Hall of Fame is directly next to Cleveland Brown Stadium? I didn't? Well, it is. Right the fuck next to it. Apparently, when you drive to a Browns game, you get to park in the fucking Port of Cleveland. Since the Hall of Fame doesn't have its own lot (I am not sure it would have mattered it if did, honestly.), we had to park with the tailgaters and walk for about 20 minutes just to get to our destination.
If you haven't been, the Hall of Fame is basically a glass pyramid, jutting out of a parallelepiped. In the front of the building is a concrete mall (of sorts) where there are numerous oversized guitars, donated by various groups, painted and otherwise decorated in sundry styles. We took several pictures here. I might post some later. I am rather certain all are cheesy.
The admission charge is $20, which is a bit steep, but considering the number of exhibits, it was reasonable. You begin by entering the basement level. Outside the main basement area, they had guitars formerly belonging to Jerry Garcia, and although I am not a fan, his guitars were quite beautiful.
Once you enter the basement proper, you receive a wristband. There is a two part theater at the beginning. You sit through two different 15 minute films about the history of rock, with the audience moving to the second theater at the conclusion of the first film. Upon exiting, you find yourself at the beginning of the exhibits.
The first exhibits detail the deepest roots of rock and roll, the Delta blues, bluegrass, etc., featuring photos and information about performers like Robert Johnson and Howling Wolf. The exhibits continue chronologically through the basement, until you get to the 60s and 70s, at which point it breaks into scenes (Monterrey, LA, San Francisco, UK, Seattle, Ohio, Motown, etc.) and genres (punk and new wave, roots of country, gospel). In addition, scattered through the Hall, there are exhibits of particular inductees: Clapton, Hendrix (including several drawings he did when he was a kid), Madonna, U2, Michael Jackson, ZZ Top, etc.)
One of the coolest exhibits (for me) was a pair of The Zombies's original instruments, used in the recording of "She's not There". There was an old, battered pianet, and a homemade (yes, seriously homemade) bass. (I am not sure whom I discussed this band and song with, perhaps Matthew? Anyhow, I have always liked that song, and it was interesting to see what they were working with at the time.) They also had Handsome Dick Manitoba's jacket, an early lyrics manuscript for "Blue Monday", and an actual stick of deodorant belonging to Janis Joplin (unused of course)!!! (Ok that last bit was mean.)
There were special exhibits on the top two floors, one for The Clash (really quite large) and one for The Doors. It is funny that they chose these two bands (the top floor exhibits change from time to time), as they are both bands I officially "respect", but never got into at all. Jim Morrison's cub scout uniform was cute, however.
I didn't like everything I saw, however. The exhibit (a video played on some twisting monstrosity made from about 30 televisions) detailing the history of the music video was disappointing. I thought ENTIRELY too much attention was paid to the Sex Pistols in the punk section. I realize it is a hall of "fame", and the Sex Pistols garnered a "fame" unlike any other such band, but it was still a bit annoying. Nonetheless, there were good exhibits/memorabilia from Blondie, Talking Heads, Television, New Order, New York Dolls, and the Ramones. No mention of hardcore, but I suppose that is to be expected.
I also didn't see anything involving Prince, which surprised me. My stepmom said she saw one thing, but I don't know what it was. *shrug*
There really was too much to mention, and if you are in the area, it is worth visit. The gift shop's prices weren't too ridiculous, to be sure, but I couldn't really justify the expense of anything more than a small fistful of postcards.
Unfortunately, we got out the same time the game did, and Cleveland being Cleveland, the fans were cantankerous, because they just got their asses handed to them. Security was already responding to one skirmish in the port (I still can't believe we had to park in a fucking port.), but things were otherwise fine. It took a while to get out of the city, but once we did I took over driving, manning the wheel for the entire drive home.
Cleveland itself was pleasant, although it rained while we were in the hall of fame. The temperature was nice, and the city was clean. The traffic was a hassle and a half, but that was due to our rather unlucky timing. If I ever had reason to travel there again, I just might, although winters would be impossible. I hate snow, and as MK can tell you, they don't call the area between Cleveland and Buffalo the "Snow Belt" for nothing.
No, Mike, there was not a shrine to Wilco.