Songs I Wish I'd Played Live in a Band (A Mini-Series): The Final Chapter -- Dream On, Pal, Like THAT Was Gonna Happen

From 1977, please enjoy Television and one of the most exciting rock records of all time, the incomparable "See No Evil."

The Floor Models absolutely loved -- nay, lurved -- Television, and we actually did a pretty good version of "Ain't That Nothing," from their second album, but "See No Evil" was the song we would have KILLED to cover. The reason we didn't is because we couldn't figure out how to play the signature riff Richard Lloyd is doing on the right channel, and frankly I've never met a guitar player who could do it, either. The rest of the song is pretty great as well, including that gorgeous Tom Verlaine solo on the left channel, and of course the whole thing just rocks like a mofo.

It was received wisdom among rock critics back in the day that Television was essentially The Grateful Dead of punk, because they, y'know, featured long guitar jams. But that was always hooey, IMHO.

With the kind of metallic guitar attack you hear on "See No Evil," the only analog that makes any sense is The Yardbirds. It's that kinetic and that great.