A half-dozen cool things in music, from two points of view: John Fogerty, State Theatre. A high-energy show, especially from someone eligible for Social Security. Drummer Kenny Aronoff was unbelievable, and, unlike his peers, Fogerty has gotten better with age on guitar. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "Runnin' Down a Dream" DVD. Director Peter Bogdanovich is respectful but not fawning in this four-hour documentary. Plenty of new interviews and info for hard-core fans, but enough focus on the music and rags-to-riches story for the uninitiated. Chad Whittaker, "Cactus Tree Motel." A Twin Cities music regular releases a surprisingly good batch of well-written songs that wouldn't be out of place on either of the satellite-radio "coffeehouse" channels or the collection of any fan of '70s country-rock. GREG AASE, NEW PRAGUE
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The Return of Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stone interview. Yes. All four musicians seem to be in the right head-space. And the discussion of the late drummer John Bonham was loving, respectful and insightful. Bettye LaVette, "Somebody Pick Up My Pieces." Sitting on the edge of the Dakota Jazz Club's stage, she turned Willie Nelson's words into an intimate conversation with herself, purging the pain with her quavering, dry-as-sherry voice. Laurie Lindeen, "Drivin' and Cryin'" essay. On www.themorningnews.org, the Twin Cities writer/singer rhapsodizes about falling in love with LOVE 105, the new oldies station. She started thinking about hit lyrics for the first time. My favorite line: "LOVE is the home to the Little River Band, Stephen Bishop, England Dan, John Ford Coley and all the other artists who fertilized the egg that hatched punk rock." JON BREAM, STAR TRIBUNE
