We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...Run DMC!
The Kings of Rock, there are none higher...Run DMC from when they were the best in the world, killing it at the Ritz (Webster Hall today for you young'ins) back in 1985. This is a hell of way to end the week, Adrock doing the intro and the masters of the turntables and microphones on stage.Yup, It's Like That!
From our friends over at Jambands we found out that the 2014 concert honoring Dr John from 2014 at the Saenger Theater in New Orleans will be released next month (October 14th).
The details are all here, but that show was a mega one that year in town. Here is the Rolling Stone review of this show as RtBE couldn't get a hot ticket.
The big surprise on the night was Springsteen, we saw him a few hours earlier play the main stage at Jazzfest our review of that trips music is here. Peep some fan video below and get the money ready for the DVD and CD release.
A pure blast of aggression and metal thrash comes flying into your earholes when you cue up You Will Never Be One Of Us from Nails. This short full length release is the first for the band on the big metal label Nuclear Blast Records (who also showcase none other than metal gods Slayer) and the group don't shy from the spotlight, they shine.
The band is a trio of power from Oxnard, California (Todd Jones – vocals, guitar, John Gianelli –bass, Taylor Young – drums) and open with the title track, setting them apart from the crowd. in a shotgun explosion of anger and screamed lyrics.
Besides the closer (which we will get to) the songs come fast and furious, never sticking around for more then a minute and a half. "Friend To All" goes back on the title separation but does so over cool as fuck fast tempo changes. Flashes of laser guitars from Jones light up "Made To Make You Fall" while the groove of the low end takes center stage for "Life Is A Death Sentence".
"Violence Is Forever" uses some screeching guitars to end, hinting at layers of noise rock under the speed/thrash/power metal surface while "Into Quietus" gives the sludge bass and double kick drums a workout. The album all speed and harshness before the band trots out closer "They Come Crawling Back", a huge metal opus that runs an astonishing (for this band) eight plus minutes.
The track hits all of the big metal high-points, thudding drums screaming guitars, barely recognizable vocals, and in the context of the shorter more hardcore songs, it works wonders and adds a new dimension to the band. After it is done rolling out and pummeling the listener, You Will Never Be One Of Us turns out to be one of the best heavy hardcore records of the year.
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Hell of a release. Support the band, buy the album, peep some video:
For the last few records Band of Horses has produced some Crosby Stills and Nash levels indie folk and while there is more energy present in their newest release Why Are You OK, a dull sense of boredom has also creeped onto the disk. Produced by Jason Lytle of Grandaddy who tries to spice things up with some freak-out details (conversations happening just behind songs, the odd fluttering space oddity) but the band seems to have been there and done this all before.
It opens with the combo of "Dull Times/The Moon" trying to encapsulate all of the better aspects of Band of Horses, but does it with two total different tracks, Frankenstein-ing them into one long effort. The two parts would be more interesting if the harder electric rock of The Moon was worked into Dull Times, but the band hasn't done that truly successfully for a few albums now.
Brian Bridwell still maintains one of the prettiest voices in rock and roll and he manages to pull off the same trick as late day David Byrne; singing bland lyrics, gloriously. The words could mean nothing (and often they feel like they do) but the overall sound of things is hypnotic in an easy guitar folk way and that lets the album roll by effortlessly if not memorably.
The band actually feels the most energized and fresh when they up their country twang by injecting a shuffle and some buzzing guitars. "Country Teen" is a winner, surprisingly (all though his songs where the highlight of Mirage Rock as well) sung by Tyler Ramsey. "Throw My Mess" also gets a southern injection of South Carolina stomp, showing the possibility for this band to break out more steel guitars and upbeat country numbers.
The overly dramatic tracks go nowhere, such as "Hag" and "Barrel House" weighing down the disk. Most songs run in the four and half minute range, but because of sparse instrumentation they can feel even longer and drag. Both "Casual Party" and "Solemn Oath" try to amp up the musical energy while lyrically dealing with what sounds like the beginning and the middle of a bad break up.
Closer "Even Still" goes back to the long winded but pleasant dramatic songwriting but it is the oddball pop of "In A Drawer" that may sum up this record best. The group brings in a friend, none other than J. Masics to help sing on the chorus which is a bit maddening; if you have one of the best rock guitarists alive helping out (also one clearly not known for his vocals), how about having him play his ax and add some new life to your songs? It is these decisions that lead to an overall frustrated experience regarding Why Are You OK and while not a bad record it still comes off as a disappointment.
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We here at RtBE love BoH and have written about them, but this one wasn't our favorite. Still, support the band, buy the record and peep some video below. They also play Summer Stage for our NYC readers on Thursday and we will be there.
In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is by Happy Traum and it is a cover of "Let Me Die In My Footsteps"
Thoughts on Original: From the first time we tackled a cover of this track: A Dylan track that for once you don't have to wonder what he is singing about. This is Dylan's reaction to nuclear war and the cold war scare that was happening, "Let Me Die In My Footsteps" is a defiant statement against to the idea of bomb shelters and fear. A proud American song that still resonates today and an early Dylan track we go back to periodically. Also sounding a whole hell of a lot like "Long Black Veil" helps things out too. Quick side note, it was the first Dylan song we put on the morning of September 11th 2001. Cover:
Thoughts on The Cover Artist: Happy Traum was a friend of Dylan's from the early days in Greenwich Village and recorded some of his songs back in the late 60's. From his wikipedia page, I am guessing that Bobby might even be singing back up on this track. Thoughts on Cover:
A true cover, that brings back the folk roots strong on this version. Harmonies (is that Bobby himself?) and texture feel like it could have been recorded live in a coffee house. Good direct stuff.
We search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts and post them to the site weekly, come back every seven days to help us celebrate Full Show Friday's. These shows are of varying quality and may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every which way, but especially by seeing them live (if they are still playing)...This week...Joan Jett & the Blackhearts!
The ageless wonder Joan Jett and her Blackheartstake the stage back in 2012 for Lollapalooza in Brazil. Pro Shot and sound, but not the sweetest transfer.
NPR has posted the first single from Phish's upcoming new studio album Big Boat. The track is called "Breath and Burning", check it out.
Who is that metal head on the right?
Ok, a studio album from Phish holds very little appeal these days to RtBE as the band is long into their career and fans can't even decided on one classic studio album the band has produced. They are truly just fodder for live shows and opportunities for the band to gather and record which is a fun, creative, bonding, inspiring process for them.
The horns on this track surprised us though, there is a bit of a Jimmy Buffet feel to the beginning and a shiny pop ending, but that horn break is cool as hell. What are your thoughts on the track? Thoughts on Phish studio albums? Feel free to post in the comments.
Below is the Tracklist, lengths of songs and their writers from Jambase. looks like everyone is involved and like always the songs will run long.
Big Boat Tracklist
Friends – 3:43 (Fishman)
Breath And Burning – 4:20 (Anastasio)
Home – 6:27 (McConnell)
Blaze On – 4:20 (Anastasio/Marshall)
Tide Turns – 4:21 (Anastasio)
Things People Do – 1:55 (McConnell)
Waking Up Dead – 4:15 (Gordon/Murawski)
Running Out Of Time – 3:32 (Anastasio/Marshall)
No Men In No Man’s Land – 5:00 (Anastasio/Marshall)
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