Big Freedia and Low Cut Connie "Azz Across America" Tour

One of the most unique tours in recent memory was recently announced as the bar room piano rock of Low Cut Connie will be opening for New Orleans Bounce legend Big Freedia on a Fall tour.

While perhaps a mismatch on paper, both have been known for their exciting live shows and are sure to bring the party around the country with their Azz Across America tour. This will also be a great mixing of fan bases as the announcement mentions collaborations between the two acts as RtBE has caught Freedia live and reviewed LCC.

The only downside? No NYC date!  Hopefully that will be remedied in the near future, the Big Apple needs some Azz.

Below are the full list of dates and some video to prep you for the adventurous night of tunes.

“Azz Across America” Tour Dates:

10/24: Atlanta, GA – Masquerade

10/25: Savannah, GA – Victory North

10/26: Asheville, NC – Orange Peel

10/27: Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson

10/29: Washington, DC – 9:30 Club

11/2: Boston, MA – Royale

11/4: Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom

11/5: Detroit, MI – St. Andrew’s hall

11/7: Minneapolis, MN – First Ave

11/9: St. Louis, MO – Delmar Hall

11/11: Kansas City, MO – Record Bar

11/12: Denver, CO – Gothic Theatre

11/13: Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall

11/15: Seattle, WA – Neptune Theatre

11/16: Eugene, OR – Wow Hall

11/17: Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom

11/19: Berkeley, CA – UC Theatre

11/20: Los Angeles, CA – Regent Theater

11/21: Solana Beach, CA – Belly Up

Dylan Cover #389 Neil Young "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by Neil Young playing "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues"

Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
An energetic romp that has been covered by everyone, this tune is a great swirl through Dylan's freaky mind. It was a punch and a whirlwind journey through Juarez, Mexico around Easter time...Maybe. There are lots of literary hints dropped, as well as a mischievous smile throughout. One of the first Dylan tunes we gravitated towards and with good reason, it is still one of our favorites.
Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
RtBE digs on Uncle Neil a bunch and are showcasing him this month in our Master's Series.

Thoughts on Cover:
Love it. Neil nails this one by channeling Hendrix with his expressive guitar work. I am actually surprised Neil doesn't incorporate this tune more into his live show as it is a perfect fit for the man and his style.

Full Show Friday: Neil Young + Promise Of The Real 9/26/18 Port Chester, NY

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...Neil Young + Promise Of The Real!

For August The Masters Focuses on Neil Young

For his most recent performances Young has gone young recruiting Promise of the Real to back him around he world on a wide range of his back catalog and new tunes. The band has a lot of the same Crazy Horse feel but a little less of the caveman stomp and ferocity, they are basically more nimble and probably better overall players, but still no Horse.

This is fan shot and sound, video waivers, but it is worth checking out to see Uncle Neil still getting down. Full set list and info below:

Recorded on September 26, 2018 at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY. Setlist: 0:00 stage entrance 1:40 Like an Inca - video starts at 2:31 24:37 Tell Me Why 28:30 Field of Opportunity 33:10 Heart of Gold 37:10 Lotta Love 43:27 Eternity 48:44 Words (Between the Lines of Age) 1:01:00 Winterlong 1:06:17 Unknown Legend 1:11:11 Harvest Moon 1:17:03 Fuckin' Up 1:24:01 Cortez the Killer 1:34:24 Cinnamon Girl 1:39:40 Rockin' in the Free World Encore: 1:49:39 Roll Another Number (For the Road)

Album Review: The Hold Steady - Thrashing Thru the Passion

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

It is of RtBE Personal Fav's The Hold Steady. It is their 7th studio album and while not their best it is a return to form after the disappointing Teeth Dreams.

While we have showcased a few of these tunes before and have seen the band play them live, the new tunes are cool and the whole release holds up.

It is true, this band has settled into their cult ways, touring to cities they want to play every few months and only over the weekends, playing the hits. The fact that they are confident enough and all on the same terms when it comes to writing and recording new tunes is a bonus.

They really don't need new tunes and none of these will take the place of "Stevie Nix" or "Chip's Ahoy" in the live setlist, but "Entitlement Crew" and "Denver Haircut" as well as others can be slipped onstage with very little let down. A solid collection of tracks that sound excellently recorded.

Here's hoping the new songs have some horns on them (and some old ones get a horn treatment) when we catch them at their annual Brooklyn Bowl stand this December.

Until then, support the band, buy the album, stream it on bandcamp or below and peep some video:

The Masters: Neil Young - Best Live Albums

RtBE loves listening to new music and prides itself on keeping tabs on up and coming artists but in 2019 we are also going to have a monthly spotlight on legendary artists who we really love. We are calling this series The Masters. It will focus on the best albums, live records, transcendent shows and other odd ways we appreciate the artists and their contribution to music, culture and our formation.

For August The Masters focuses on the great Neil Young.

Live music is the best thing out there. Being caught in the moment is religion. Palpable vibes of healing and energy are transmitted and shit...gets...real. This month's focus, Neil Young has been following his musical muse from soft acoustic one man shows to huge loud electric raging.

We already discussed best studio albums and will get to our favorites with Crazy Horse next week, but now it is the live show. Having seen Uncle Neil live in various formations this was a fun one to revisit. There have been a bunch of recent archive releases and there promises to be even more in the future, which could alter this collection.

Also, there is one album in his catalog which could possibly top this list, but we will discuss why we kept it out later. Remember these lists are meant to start conversations, not end them, now let Neil guide the way....

Album Review: The Black Keys - Let's Rock

The Black Keys

Let's Rock

***and1/2 out of *****

It has been five years between Black Keys albums as the band acknowledged burnout as the main reason why. Their previous record Turn Blue didn't have many markings of that feeling (containing one of their best individual songs) but it was a clear come down from their career high-points El Camino and the fantastic Brothers. The title let's you know the bands intent and it is true that the tracks are mostly straight ahead blues rock, there is a spark missing from most which makes for a tame overall feel.

The best efforts are the first three, "Shine A Little Light" uses a sturdy riff and beat to sing about death, loss and the afterlife with a big chorus and layers of production complete with background vocal support by Leisa Hans Ashley Wilcoxson, far from the duo days of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney solely. "Eagle Birds" is the best straight ahead electric blues on the album while the pop rock hook laden "Lo/Hi" is a clear single with combo of heavy riffs and disco like dance beat.

A track like "Go" is more reminiscent of the album as a whole though. It checks all the classic rock boxes and does it's job admirably, but never truly ignites to where it could/should head to. The Nashville influence on the album can be clearly heard on "Sit Around and Miss You" complete with a country groove and more background vocals but it would would seem to fit better on a Auerbach solo album. Dan's production style is top notch and Let's Rock sounds alive throughout. 

"Tell Me Lies" and "Under The Gun" both play that classic rock bingo game by reminding of Fleetwood Mac and Steve Miller Band while "Get Yourself Together" goes big with an arena ready chorus. The Black Keys (and especially with Auerbach's last solo record) always wear their influences close to the surface and it is easy to pick out influences throughout this record with T-Rex, Stealers Wheels and Steely Dan all also popping up for cameos.

Closer "Fire Walk With Me" ends things on an upbeat note with hand claps and excellent drumming as the band gets it's groove back. While not on par with the groups best work, it is return to form and solid rock album, which is becoming rarer in today's musical landscape.
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Support the artist, buy the album and peep some video below:

Dylan Cover #388 Neil Young "Blowin' In The Wind" Live

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live cover by Neil Young playing "Blowin' In The Wind"

Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this song:
The classic Dylan song, if you asked 100 people to name you the first Bob Dylan song they thought of, or his best known song, I am guessing 95-99 of them would answer "Blowin' In The Wind".  It is an epic, vital song in the history of recorded music. The lyrics tell a stirring tale, the melody is enchanting, it is pretty spot on perfect, and when it originally came out if announced to the world the greatness that was/is/always will be Bob Dylan.

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
RtBE digs on Uncle Neil a bunch and are showcasing him this month in our Master's Series.

Thoughts on Cover:
This is a stunning cover which opened up the Weld tour right around Desert Storm. Powerful, chill inducing and a hell of an interpretation of this amazing song. A+ stuff here.