Live Review: The Hold Steady @ Brooklyn Bowl 12/2/2022

Hey all, got a review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!

It is of the recent Hold Steady Massive Nights show at Brooklyn Bowl last Friday night, 12/2. 

While this wasn't our favorite tHS show of all-time, it was a real joy to see friends, loved ones and familiar faces at the Bowl.  Great night as always. 

Support the band, read the review and peep some video below:

Year In Review 2022 - Favorite Archival Releases

Each year the music industry dips into the past to deliver box sets, live albums, re-masters and outtake collections to sell to the music loving masses (present company included). This look back will round up some of RtBE's favorite archival releases from the past year. 

Usually these releases can fall into the money grab category, not really adding much outside of revenue for the label and (hopefully) the artist. Every now and then though some spectacular collections are unearthed and are worth any price. 

RtBE includes live albums in this category, since they were recorded in the recent or distant past and thus fall into archival release status. 

With the increase in vinyl, and enhanced Record Store Days to help smaller sellers, there are more and more archival releases each year. RtBE are sure to miss a lot of them, but the quality and abundance is exciting. Post your favorites, or any we may have missed in the comments. 

These were our favorite archival releases of 2022, click the link in the title for full length reviews. 

Album Review: Fats Domino - Live at Tipitina's

Hey all, got a review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!

It is of the recent release from Tipitina's Record Club, the legendary Fats Domino's final public performance, Live at Tipitina's. 

A very cool record and another great release from this ongoing project.

Read the review and support Tipitina's Record Club:

Year In Review 2022 - Favorite Album Art

We kick off our Year in Review section of 2022 with the first feature in the Best of... area, Album Art. 

Just like in years past, we will be choosing our favorite albums of the year, a few that were underwhelming, our favorite live shows, and highlight some fantastic archive releases, all of which will be posted over the next few days. 

Today we are starting out by judging books (records) by their covers (vinyl sleeves, jackets, digital pics, etc) with the Best Album Art Work of 2022.

The biggest gripe RtBE has with digital music is not the quality (that has been massively improved) nor the disposal nature of it (still a problem, but whatever), it is the lack of amazing album covers and art work.

Sure there may be great album art out there but seeing it on a screen, on Spotify or elsewhere is nothing compared to holding an LP or even a CD booklet with pages of lyrics, pictures etc. 

Thankfully the rise of vinyl is helping this dilemma but it is still not enough. The hours we spent staring, actually holding, examining tons of covers while listening to music can't be adequately recorded, it added new dimensions to the sounds. You were connected to album in a more physical way; things were deeper, more evocative...Anyways...

Here comes RtBE's Favorite Album Art of 2022

New Single/Video from Addie Brik "Retromingent"

Addie Brik has released a new video for her song "Retromingent"

It is from her album That Dog Don't Hunt. Regarding the lyrical themes of this song, Brik says:

“Whatever people do or do not do to you along the way, if you can’t let go of that you’ll never get to where you should be going. So, there is Logos, the truth, not my personal take, or some lobbyist take on truth and I have a responsibility to think correctly and hold myself to higher standards, my future, heaven or hell, depends on it. People do what they do and will get their comeuppance. There’s a natural working order here that fulfils itself.”

You can check out the video below and support the artist.

Live Streams: Eric Slick - Live at Relix Studios

We are now heading into the new normal with live music during the Covid-19 era. Live shows will need to be flexible and live streaming is a great way to keep music going. Streams have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. Things are (hopefully) improving on the pandemic front but live streams will be an option for artists during the foreseeable future. We will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and as a way to help out the artists. You can check out our weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past and as always, please support the artists any which way you can.

Today we highlight: Eric Slick Live at Relix Studios

We have highlighted Scott's new band, Toby's new EP and now Eric Slick is playing Relix Studios tonight at 7pm.  Lots of Dr. Dog action on RtBE lately. 

To get in the mood, here is a tune by Slick:

Dylan Cover #559 Isto "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" Live

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's artists, Isto performing a live cover of "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" 

Thoughts on Dylan Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
A simple little number coming off of John Wesley Harding it discards the lyrical wizardry for a down home spin.  We are rewarded with easy bliss, not often found in Dylan tunes. The emotions displayed by the singer here are heartfelt, hearty and easy going, just like the tune as a whole. Always a pleasant ride, bring that bottle over here...   

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
This is the first time RtBE have encountered Isto (aka Chris White) who is a musician and guitar teacher, based in New York City and Newark, NJ.

Thoughts on Cover: 

A sweet, slow rolling solo stroll through the pleasant tune. Sung and played properly and affectingly.