Many have heard the sound before, but not all might be able to name the guitar effect technique made famous by Peter Frampton on his 1976  live double album “Frampton Comes Alive!” “Frampton Comes Alive!” is the fourth best-selling live album of all-time, under Garth Brooks, Bruce Springsteen, and The Eagles, respectively.

The technique consists of a piece of tubing that runs from a floor pedal to the microphone, and the opening is usually fastened under the microphone. The guitar tones pass through the tube and are modified by ‘lip syncing’ into the tube. Changing the shape of the mouth will change the harmonics of the guitar sound, resulting in a ‘talking’ effect.

If this description doesn’t do it for you, seek out the songs on this top ten list:

10. Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion
Toys in the Attic (1975)
Placement for this song on this list is a difficult choice because the talk box work on this song isn’t necessarily anything to write home about, but Joe Perry’s inclusion of the device’s effects coupled with Tom Hamilton’s famous bass intro just can’t be left out. Released in 1975 as the first single from Aerosmith’s third album, Toys in the Attic, “Sweet Emotion” deserves the tenth place notch on this list.

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You know the hype, so I will just jump into the action.

Impact began with an 8 person Asylum cage match. A lot of people seem to dislike the Asylum cage, and I can understand why, but I don’t mind it. Aside from looking like an Elimination Chamber ripoff, it reminds me of the old blue WWF cage. What they have to remember, though, six sides of anything is going to need extra reinforcement compared to four sides, so this means more obstructed views from the fan’s perspective in the crowd.

The match ended with Homicide taking out the other secen participants, which prompted a ‘no contest’ decision from the referee. Much to no one’s surprise, the decision earned a ‘bullshit’ chant from the crowd, which was bleeped out every time. This got pretty annoying. Overall the point of the finish was to end it without burying any of the X-Division stars by not actually putting anyone over (although no one gets buried if it’s an escape finish).

Homicide failed at escaping the cage (as anyone probably would) and dropped back into the ring. The remaining participants ‘came to their senses’ and attacked Homicide, basically having to improvise. Jeff Hardy jumps the barricade and Homicide attacks him. The attack included an unprotected chair shot, which is really not necessary in this day and age of wrestling. Too many reports of brain tissue analysis are coming out that describe horrific effects of constant head trauma from this profession, so hopefully TNA/Homicide/Hardy don’t make a habit of it.

A lot of people complained and nitpicked on various forums and reports I’ve read, about that debut and everything about it, but I really thought it was pretty good considering a lot had to be improvised. Even Mike Tenay had to make an effort to cover up Homicide’s inability to escape the cage: “Oh, now he’s just showing off.” When I watched it live, I thought Tenay caught something that I missed, so I bought it. Effective emergency control on an announcer’s part. Still, if such a mishap can occur so early in your most important broadcast, maybe they should have gone with a regular WRESTLING match, or Ultimate X. (continue reading…)

Raw started with a classy introduction with video package, and Justin Roberts announced Bret’s championships and 12 year absence. The Hitman’s music plays, and Bret’s entrance is a little delayed–I half expect HBK or Hornswaggle, but instead, a scraggly old-man-looking Bret is on stage in denim shorts and a leather jacket.

There is a huge pyro display, but it seems sort of out of place for Bret. He did not have his pink shades, which was disappointing. I think it would have been good to have him give them to a kid in the audience because it could offer an opportunity for him to begin to connect with a younger generation. That would be a good plan, as far as merchandising goes, as Bret was sporting a new Hitman t-shirt. All things considered, Bret doesn’t look like someone who had a stroke–Bret looks like someone who needs a comb and a hairbrush.

“A lot of people are wondering why I’m here tonight,” Bret began his speech. Kids were probably wondering, “ya, who are you?”

Sidenote:
Ironically, a fan is shown in the audience with a NWO B&W shirt, while NWO is reuniting on TNA Impact.

For a while, I wondered, Why Ohio? Bret would be in front of quite a hot crowd anywhere in Canada, specifically Montreal. However, they risk HBK getting heel heat during a face run. (continue reading…)

I remember it like it was yesterday. Sitting on the floor at the foot of my father’s bed on a Monday night in July. With no school in session, there was no reason I couldn’t stay up to watch WCW Monday Nitro rather than tape it and watch it the next day. Of course, my Dad didn’t have the same luxury of a summer vacation, so I had to try to contain my excitement as I watched then-undefeated United States Champion Bill Goldberg challenge the ‘immortal’ Hollywood Hulk Hogan in the Georgia Dome. That’s right, I even remember the arena. I also remember it being the peak of entertainment in my young-adult days. Never before (and I don’t think I was ever again) was I that engrossed and drawn into a TV show (perhaps my childhood favorite ‘Power Rangers’ would be the only exception) in my life.

Fast-forwarding over ten years later, a lot has changed. If you’ve been reading this blog, you might have gotten the impression that I am still a wrestling fan. That assumption is correct, but it’s not a statement that can be written without asterisks at hand. A lot has changed. The lines of real and scripted are no longer as blurred as they once were to me, and many names have come and gone since. Even that said company has gone; gone into the clutches of Vince McMahon. Wrestling has not been the same since World Championship Wrestling closed, because there is no competition for World Wrestling Entertainment, the ‘number one’ in the business.

That may change over time, as the ‘number two’ in the business, Total Non-stop Action Wrestling, has signed the most well-known and popular star in the history of professional wrestling: Hulk Hogan. Love him or hate him, everyone and their uncle knows the Hulkster. Not everyone knows TNA, however, and while one man can’t automatically make TNA a contender, it sure will help a lot. (continue reading…)

Time for a change of pace from the first two live blogs. This time the NFL has a Christmas present for us and it’s in the form of leading rusher Chris Johnson.

The Titans will try to keep their playoff hopes alive versus the high powered offense of Phillip Rivers and the Chargers.

If you missed the first two Live Blogs check them out: Celtics-Magic, Cavs-Lakers

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Merry Christmas everybody! The first game was like a present you play with for 5 minutes to amuse you’re relatives. Now we get the real presents. LA. Cleveland. Kobe. LeBron.

Last year when the two faced off it became an instant classic. Kobe was the reigning MVP at the time, but now it’s LeBron. Who will take it this year? Only time will tell. One things for sure, this game will certainly have a huge barring on who wins come August. (continue reading…)

It’s Christmas day and while most people are likely enjoying some Christmas cocktails and opening presents I’ve decided to spend this non-holiday (I’m Jewish) hunkered in front of the TV.

What to watch? Well, the NBA and NFL have delivered in the form of two marquee NBA matchups with the Celtics and Magic facing off in a Eastern Conference battle; along with the Cavs faces the Lakers or as I like to call it, the Lebrons facing the Kobes.

And to top it all off we get to watch the Titans and Chris Johnson face the Chargers and Phillip Rivers. Not a bad day of sports TV. Thanks Santa! (continue reading…)

The Boston Bruins signed center Marc Savard to a 7 year contract extension worth just over 28 million dollars last Wednesday.  Savard who would have been a free agent this coming off season will likely finish his career in black in gold, which he has been very out spoken about doing.  “I think I stated earlier in some articles that I wanted to stay in Boston for the rest of my career and it looks like I’m going to have that chance,” Savard said at a news conference last week.  “I’m happy about that. Over the last few years, I’ve watched this town grow back into a hockey town. And, hopefully, our goal as a team and as a staff comes true, that we can bring a (Stanley) Cup back to Boston.”

Savard has been Boston’s leading score for each of the past 3 seasons, and since coming to Boston in 2006 has scored 70 goals and 206 assists over the past 4 years.  Savard’s contract will hit the salary cap at about 4.2 million dollars each year, which is very cap friendly for Boston.  The deal allows the Bruins to keep cap space, while being able to keep their most productive offensive player, yet it also gives Savard the money that he deserves.  Players will similar offensive numbers to his hit their team’s salary cap at around 5.5 million dollars a season.

Savard responded to his new contract last Saturday against the Toronto Maple Leafs scoring a hat trick in a 7-2 romping, which saw former Bruins wing man Phil Kessel make his return to Causeway Street for the first time since he was traded back in September for a first and a second round draft pick.  The first round pick that Boston received for Kessel looks more and more valuable with each Toronto loss.  Toronto has the second lowest point’s total. The team with the lowest point total at the end of the season has the best percentage of getting the number 1 overall pick in the draft each year. (continue reading…)

On December 4th, Edward Fatu was found unresponsive with blood coming out of his nose, by his wife, a few hours after falling asleep while watching television. After being rushed to the hospital, it was determined Fatu had suffered a heart attack. In critical condition in intensive care, Fatu suffered a fatal second heart attack. Not many details are available about the cause of these heart attacks yet and it is unknown if it is related to steroids or drugs.

Fatu performed for various professional wrestling promotions since his true debut to the mainstream in 2002, including Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, All Japan Pro Wrestling, and most notably, World Wrestling Entertainment, where he gained his fame as “Umaga,” based on a painful Samoan tattooing process. His gimmick was that of a ‘savage,’ and alongside ‘handler’ (manager) Armando Alejandro Estrada, he went undefeated from April 2006 to January 2007, culminating with a loss to WWE Champion John Cena, in arguably Umaga’s best match. (continue reading…)

Eager MMA fans in the Boston area can rejoice: Governer Deval Patrick has signed a new bill that allows regulation for mixed martial arts in Massachusetts.

The number one mixed martial arts promotion, Ultimate Fighting Championship, will benefit greatly from this signing as it breaks into new territories as more and more states sign legislation to sanction fighting events.

UFC President Dana White, born in Connecticut, considers Boston his ‘home’ and is excited to have the opportunity to debut Ultimate Fighting Championship in the state.

White wants to hold an event at Fenway Park, but TD Bank Garden is the likely option. This is a big step for the sport as it allows it to expand into markets that may have only previously been reached by pay-per-view.  (continue reading…)