Part of me believes locals don’t understand what a gem the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is.
Detroit Lions gear? Commonplace. Ontario license plates circling the building? Check.
The point: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is a crown jewel of Northeast Ohio — not just Cleveland, the region.
Yes, it drives tourism, but it’s also one of those places where you can get lost without realizing it. It’s easy to roll up to the main exhibit hall, take in a chronological look at the development of this unique American art form, and get happily stuck at the “Songs That Shaped Rock” interactive kiosks.
The kiosks are exactly what they sound like: headphones and access to those influential songs.
Want to hear Genesis’ “The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway,” Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” or Public Enemy’s “Fight the Power”? This is your spot. It’s easy to lose track of time as you explore the history of rock from that perspective.
The keyword with the Rock Hall: interactivity.
From films to other such interactive exhibits, spending five or more hours there isn’t a stretch and it’s actually a welcome respite – despite the rambunctious nature of the music – from life’s everyday pressures.
There’s a lot to see and do. Here are five of best things to see at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum:
It just opened, but ‘SNL: Ladies and Gentleman … 50 Years of Music,’ is where pop culture converges
The latest exhibit to grace the Ahmet Ertegun Main Exhibit Hall represents 50 years of pop culture that blends comedy, television and music. Until walking in the hall, many will not have understood the influence the NBC sketch comedy show had on America’s pop culture zeitgeist. When rewatching some of the comedy sketches – Eddie Murphy’s classic take on the Godfather of Soul, James Brown – Will Ferrell’s “More cowbell guy” – it all washes over you. Then add the original music elements like Jake and Elwood Blues (John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, respectively), whose original costumes are on display, to an interactive video library with every “SNL” musical performance, and the exhibit is a definite jewel at the Rock Hall.
The ‘1984’ exhibit – No, it’s not about the Van Halen album
The “1984” exhibit isn’t about the band Van Halen and their album “1984,” even though one of guitarist Eddie Van Halen’s cherished “Frankenstrat” red-stripe guitars is among a host of other artifacts. No, this exhibit is from a time when MTV ruled cable. In 1984 there was a convergence of music as Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” reigned still even after being released in 1982. Tina Turner asked “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” and Madonna was the Material Girl. It’s the kind of exhibit that warms the hearts of older Gen Xers such as myself.
The height of interactivity can be found at the Hall of Fame level
The Hall of Fame has an interactive area where fans can bask in the accomplishments of their favorite Rock Hall inductees. Beginning with the first year of inductees in 1986, the interactive kiosks feature curated playlists from each artist to be enjoyed from Chuck Berry in the first class to George Michael in one of the more recent ones. Yes, this is another one of those areas where you can lose yourself in the music. Headphones, please.
Women in rock have come a long way and ‘Revolutionary Women in Music’ showcases it
Unflinching and raw at times, “Revolutionary Women in Music: Left of Center” showcases the most popular, the influential and under-the-radar women of rock taking on society’s issues through “songwriting, music and performance.” Be sure to just sit in with the film playing on a loop of some of those mesmerizing performances that are undeniable in their appeal and unabashed in their honesty.
Wishing everyone “peace, love and soul” courtesy of Don Cornelius
“The Best of ‘Soul Train’” makes this list because it will take many back to moments of their childhood – mine was the ‘70s, which happened to be the show’s heyday – when sometimes flipping between “American Bandstand” (dependent upon who was on) and “Soul Train” with host Don Cornelius on a Saturday afternoon was the norm. This film will have viewers dancing in the Foster Theater’s aisle courtesy of performances from artists such as The Jackson Five and The Spinners, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.
George M. Thomas covers a myriad of things including sports and pop culture, but mostly sports, he thinks, for the Beacon Journal.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: 5 must-sees at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum this summer
Reporting by George M. Thomas, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
