Springtime Rock

What is it about the spring that makes me want to listen to nothing but Van Halen? And I mean old Halen. David Lee Roth Halen. Or AC/DC? Or Def Leppard? The list is endless.

One of the best aspects of Chess is that Florence is a rock chic. I really get to wail in this show. Takes me back to my cover-band days.

I'm not sure exactly what it is about warm weather that makes me yearn for a little You shook me all night long or Hot for Teacher. Maybe it's the thought of my youth. When I was young, my parents were very into classic rock groups. I was brought up listening to Aerosmith, Clapton and others of the like. I have a vivid memory of sitting in the driveway with my stepdad and sister, listening to the sweet sounds of Love Bites coming from the radio while watching Halley's Comet streak across the sky.

Maybe it's just the comfort of my midwestern home in Illinois. The sounds of Journey takes me back to the summer of 1996 when Dave M. and I met. The sounds of Boston make me think of the summer of Justin. The sounds of Pat Benatar takes me to trips to the Y with my Mom right after she divorced my Dad, when it was just me and her against the world.

There is something about rocking out that is just so comfortable to me. It could be my middle-class upbringing. Or it could be that it just makes me feel happy. Here are some favorite Classic Rock songs/albums. Feel free to add your own selections.

Journey- Don't stop believin'
AC/DC- Anything off Back in Black and It's a long way to the top (if you wanna rock and roll)
Def Leppard- Photograph
Boston- Don't look back
Pat Benatar- Heartbreaker
Van Halen- The entire 1984 album and Runnin' with the Devil
Springsteen- Glory Days
U2- Desire
Foreigner- Hot Blooded
Queen- One Vision, or Another One bites the dust
Aerosmith- Sweet Emotion
Zeppelin- Immigrant Song
KISS- Anything KISS

For some fun, check out AC/DSHE, an all-girl AC/DC tribute band.