Well, at least this doesn’t have a clip of Jim Nintzel speaking out of John McCain’s mouth:

This article appears in Oct 14-20, 2010.

15 replies on “Glassman Rocks ‘Sweet Home Arizona’”

  2. I’m thinking the camera person may have been a McCain supporter. This is. . .unforgettable. Any idea who the band is?

  3. k, here’s the scoop. It’s the Robert Moreno Band, who appear to be regulars at The Cactus Moon. The playing is super competent; they must’ve performed this 10,000 times over the years. It’s among the countriest of Skynard’s southern soul sounds. Producer for the video was one Jeremy Glassman, no doubt related. If you minimize the video, it sounds fine, if you like that song, which most people do, but it’s hard to cover. It’s really a monotonous melody, is the thing. The original lyrics lift it up somewhat with reverently detailed place-names and cultural references of the deep south, just about aching with homesickness. And, of course, Ronnie Van Zant put them across with honest passion that transcended any notation, if there ever was any written. Glassman’s use of the song makes sense to the extent that his own lyrics are sprinkled with geographic and cultural references. His voice sounds really good, too, I think–surprisingly authentic-sounding–although I’m sure he’d be the first to admit it would be a mistake to give up the day job. All of that said, it’s better to minimize the video. (Right now he may be thinking that with supporters like me, he doesn’t need enemies. Sorry, Rodney. It’s what I do.)

  4. If this hideous POS of a video and cover were the product of a Republican Pol, every last Lame Stream Media outlet, lefty blog, lefty-FBer would (correctly) slam the incredibly narcissistic boob/performer.

  6. I wish I knew more about Mr. Glassman, however I hope he stays true to his message. I do not relate to Senator McCain, and he in no way represents me and the middle class that are always getting the short end of the stick. Please Mr. Glassman make my decision worth while! Cheesy or not this video reflects the pride he feels for AZ!

  8. The band backing him ain’t bad. But as a Southerner raised on Southern Rock Glassman’s singing and rewriting of the lyrics is just an abomination.

  11. Wow.. I gotta say.. Rodney can wing it pretty good.. ‘course it’s probably just lip sinking.. sort of the way he did that old ‘cut & paste’ thing on his thesis paper..

  12. It used to be, “Damn! I’ve been Rick Roll’d!”

    Now it’s, “Damn! I’ve been Rod Glassman’d!”

  13. Robert Moreno & Jadi Norris do a horrible job of covering this classic song. It’s all mushed and very monotone….C’mon….

    These guys cannot draw a crowd at the Cactus Moon…Heck that seems to be the only place they play in town. Should have got band that plays around town that has a good rep like Flipside or Neil Russell….All those guys know how to lay down the groove and would do the song some justice

  14. To Devil’s Advocate:

    CORRECTION: Robert doesn’t draw YOUR crowd-nor does he care to.

    Thanks for the criticism-I expect nothing less from the person who lives in their Mom’s basement and imagines themselves a music critic. I did this as a favor to my friend Robert, with no intent of having my name associated with it, or seeking any kind of acknowledgement for it. In fact, I had gotten off the plane the night before this video after burying my father in North Carolina. I didn’t give a damn about Glassman, the campaign, or the video. I was making good on a promise to be there-at eight in the morning and donating my time.
    You are right-I do not play in Tucson any more. Tucson Country music scene has been taken over by amateur weekend hacks (you know who you are) and club owners/managers who know little about anything other than turning drunks out on the streets every night.

    As for myself, I make no attempt to draw a crowd in Tucson-I make a good living performing repeatedly with my own band at premiere venues in Phoenix, Denver, Las Vegas, Cheyenne, Tunica, MS, Key West, Fl, etc.
    (http://www.youtube.com/user/jumpinarmadill…), opening for national acts, recording commercials, soundtracks, and publishing my own songs. I have had two chart singles, am presently being played on 200 terrestrial FM and AM stations and 40 internet & satellite stations. My own most recent CD has received FOUR stars from seventeen major national and international magazines, including Robert K. Oermann (look it up) and John Shelton Ivany (look him up too).

    I have no desire to impress anyone in Tucson, AZ. The scene here is truly the worst of any metropolitan area I have worked in the last twenty years. Armchair musicians like yourself are a joke. You are obviously a patron of the Maverick-a former great club now on life-support. The bands you mentioned would not, could not even be considered for any discriminating venue. Believe me, if they didn’t work for free and build their crowds through drinking and screwing, not even they would be working at the vaunted and once-great Maverick (those qualities are mandatory for long-term employment at the Maverick). The standards have been lowered at that place to an embarrassing level. That’s the thing about Tucson country music-it’s not about quality of MUSIC, it’s about ass-kissing and the lowest-common denominator. Nepotism and racism (yep, I said it-and you know what I mean-(No Habla? No job) are alive and well in the local music scene-in spite of the facade of Kumbaya that Tucson artists wrap themselves in. I have worked in Nashville, Orlando, Dallas, and other actual MAJOR metropolitan areas around the country and I have to give kudos to Tucson for being the most backwards and unfriendly music scene anywhere. Congratulations. You yourself qualify as both-easily impressed and good at voicing your opinion as long as you can remain anonymous.

    No-this joke of a video is no representation of what I can do. This was my helping out a friend, Robert Moreno-who, by the way, is a fireman by trade and regularly puts his life on the line to help bitter little people like yourself. I have seen Robert entertain crowds up to five hundred people-and crowds as small as thirty. Robert has no desire to impress people like you-nor do I. Robert is arguably the most well-known country guy in Tucson, and that is well-earned. Unfortunately, Neil and the Flips cannot come close to his popularity, except maybe among their families. (Are you Neil’s mom? Does your son play for Flipside?) I am not in competition with anyone in this town-I don’t need to be. I hope your negative comments made you feel superior. It brings the whole music community down when empty-headed and biased comments like yours are posted publicly.

    You know, if I were you, I’d want to remain anonymous, too. Your demonstration of ignorance and “uncivil” behavior could prove embarrassing if you actually had the cojones to reveal yourself. I would suggest that you get your head off of the bar and learn about those whom you criticize-as you are ignorant of any other work they might do.
    Enjoy the illusion.

  15. Jadi is so hateful. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t play in Tucson. I’m sure with that attitude he’ll fail everywhere else too. Mama and Daddy should have gave him more hugs. Mama didn’t raise that boy right. Now I know why people don’t go see him. I never will and I’ll be sure to spread the word. What a hater. I think he’s mad because a better group took his place.

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