More Sox in California hi-jinks, as Lowe meets Redman (on a break from recording with Method Man, apparently) tomorrow. Seriously, Redman’s the underrated part of the Oakland rotation, much as Carlos Zambrano has to play fourth fiddle to Prior-Wood-Clement, but it’ll be tough. Fortunately Lowe’s returning to his happy crotch-grabbing place, and his sinker lately looks on. I predict groundouts galore.
Speaking of Sox-California connections, one thing I’ve always found odd is that perhaps the iconic Boston song, the Standells’ “Dirty Water”, was written by a Californian band. It’s kind of like an Icelandic band calling itself Singapore Sling (incidentally, according to their label, they play rock in the style of… the Standells). From the Boston Rock and Roll Museum website (i.e. dirtywater.com):
Not a Boston band but rather an act formed in Los Angeles in the early ’60s. The kids reportedly chose their name as they often found themselves standing around their agent’s office seeking work. The song, " (I Love That) Dirty Water" hit the charts for 9 weeks and reached number 11 back on 6/11/66. The tune allegedly depicts an attempted mugging that took place on the Smoot (nee MIT) Bridge on Mass Ave., Cambridge, when the boy’s manager (Ed Cobb; one-time member of the Four Preps) was visiting Beantown back in the mid-’60s
Funny thing, though, the lyrics don’t seem to suggest a mugging. More like complaints about dorm room curfews (“Frustrated women… have to be in by twelve o’clock”). Oh, and the bridge that goes to MIT is the Harvard Bridge. Whatever. Beyond being a garage-rock classic, dirty raw guitar and all, it’s the classic Sox anthem, the tune I want to hear 81 times a year in the regular season and 11 times more in the post.