Fowl Play: Best of the Bird Bands!

With supergroup Chickenfoot squawking up a storm, our hungry minds developed a taste for other poultry-inspired bands. Here’s our controversial cluckdown, from Chicks to Eagles...to Wings.

10) The Partridge Family I think I love you, Shirley Jones.

9) The Ravyns Charm City rockers “raised on the radio.”

8) A Flock of Seagulls Definitive band — and ’do — of the ’80s.

7) The Black Crowes Robinson bros think they should be higher.

6) The Yardbirds Clapton, Beck and Page — ’nuff said.

5) Dixie Chicks Liked ’em better killing Earl than drilling Bush.

4) Counting Crows Definitive band — and dreads — of the ’90s.

3) The Byrds Jingle-jangle Dylan thieves still sound great.

2) The Eagles Definitive band — and Don Henley gigantic ’fro — of the ’70s.

1) Wings Paul’s post-Beatles bird calling is criminally underrated. “Well, the rain exploded with a mighty crash as we fell into the sun.” Total bliss.

Others that just miss the cut: The Orioles, Eagles of Death Metal, the Jawhawks, the O'Jays, the Housemartins 

Questions for Counting Crows' Adam Duritz?

Adam Duritz and his mates in Counting Crows are coming to Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater on Aug. 17 (TICKETS). I've been a fan since the beginning, when I won a copy of 1993's August and Everything After at a crab-eating competition in Ocean City, Md. (Hey, I was lonely and had nothing better to do. This was right before I met the FF. Once I met her, I vowed never again to eat crustaceans for prize money.) I've seen the Crows scads of times, and I usually dig their live sound -- although it irks me to no end when Adam starts ad-libbing during A Murder of One. That song is too good to screw with. Just give it to me straight, man. I'll bug Adam about that when I interview him. But what else should I ask. Now's your chance...

WHO HAS QUESTIONS FOR ADAM DURITZ?

Ultimate Playlist Challenge: The Circus Playlist

I just got the call from our pals at Personal Best. This week's Ultimate Playlist Challenge is all about...the circus. PB is doing a fitness-y cover story on Cirque du Soleil, which is bringing its Saltimbanco thingie to the St. Pete Times Forum June 25 to July 5. (TICKETS) To be honest, I'm not really into high-artsy double-jointed water aerobics crap, although the FF and I did enjoy Cirque's LOVE show in Vegas.

Anyway, PB wants iPod songs with a circus theme: clowns, tigers, rings of fire!!!! You can go with the whole Cirque acro-spinny stuff. I'm not sure if freaks are part of a circus, but what the heck, we'll take dog-faced boys and bearded ladies, too. So step right up and play The Circus Playlist. Here's a few to get us started...

Send in the Clowns -- Judy Collins (LISTEN)
I Want Out of the Circus -- Cracker
Elephant -- Damien Rice
Trapeze -- Patty Griffin
Ring of Fire -- Johnny Cash
Ballad of a Thin Man -- Bob Dylan
Hanginaround -- Counting Crows
Big Top Women -- Hank Williams Jr. (LISTEN)
Tears of a Clown -- Smokey Robinson