Album Review: Happy Talk Band - Low Shoulder

Happy Talk Band

Low Shoulder

*** out of *****

The newest album from New Orleans, LA based Happy Talk Band is a collection of rootsy Americana tunes with raw emotional singing that crisscrosses various topics but finds anchor in the small issues that everyone wrestles with on a daily basis. Relationships, truth/lies, faith, it is all in the mix throughout Low Shoulder.    

Album Review: La Luz - News of the Universe

La Luz

News of the Universe

*** out of *****

La Luz newest album contends with the fact that nothing is certain in this world except change as News of the Universe was written after life altering medical news, band member shifts, and a society in flux.

Album Review: Phish - Evolve

Phish

Evolve

** out of *****

The Vermont based jamband titans Phish are known for their amazing live interplay, concerts that run the gamut of emotional experiences and top notch technical skills. What they have never been known for is crafting classic albums that non-fans can easily get into and enjoy. Their sixteenth studio album Evolve will do nothing to change that narrative. 

Live Review: A Benefit for Jesse Malin - 12/1/24 Beacon Theater, NYC

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

It is of the live show, A Benefit for Jesse Malin on Sunday night up at the Beacon Theater in NYC. 

It was an emotional night all around as a host of top notch guests came out to support Malin including Elvis Costello, Lucinda Williams, Steven Van Zandt, J Mascis, Rickie Lee Jones, the list goes on and on. However, no guest topped the man himself as Jesse stood up to sing and walked off stage by himself, it was inspirational. 

Support the artist, support Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, buy the benefit album, read the review and peep some video below:

Album Review: Everything, Now! - Hideout Mountain

Everything, Now!

Hideout Mountain 

*** out of *****

The first album in thirteen years from the Indianapolis, IN based Everything, Now! is a mix of the pessimistic with dashes of optimism as the group navigate life and loss around folk rock and fuzzy guitars. Hideout Mountain has a lot going on during the twelve tracks presented here, as the group tries out different sounds and expresses a range of feelings. 

Dylan Cover #659 Todd Snider "Subterranean Homesick Blues" Live

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by Todd Snider playing ""Subterranean Homesick Blues"" 

This month we are doing another special focus in RtBE's Dylan Covers series.

In the past we have highlighted The Byrds, Coulson-Dean-McGuiness-Flint, The Hollies, Joan Osbourne, Mountain, Betty LeVette , Reggae Covers and many more.

For December we highlight live Dylan covers from Todd Snider  

Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we posted a cover version of this tune:
One of the most iconic songs from Dylan's most famous period and a very early showing of how powerful a music video could be. Dylan nods to beat poetry, current events, Chuck Berry's "No More Monkey Business", paranoia, and the Vietnam War all in around two minutes of linked lyrics over one of his earliest electric recordings. There is also the sly sense of humor which Dylan never gets enough credit for, while raging against the proverbial machine. A classic '60's tune in all respects and one non-Dylan fans usually love as well.

Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Back in August we posted a cover of Snider doing "Visions of Johanna" and that gave us the inspiration for this months focus. RtBE really dig Todd Snider, and have talked about him multiple times in the past. 

Thoughts on Cover:

A great live cover to start off this month of Snider covering Bob. Snider has a gift of gab and "Subterranean Homesick Blues" is right up his alley. 

Full Show Friday: Phil Lesh Quintet - Port Chester NY 3-6-24 @ Capitol Theater

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...Phil Lesh Quintet!

Some months our Full Show Friday's will focus on specific artists, years, venues, tv shows, festivals or some combo of it all. 

This months Full Show Friday Series focuses on concerts from Phil Lesh who passed away late last month.

Full Show Friday: Nifelheim - Rock Hard Festival 2022 Rockpalast

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...Nifelheim! 

It is upon us! BLACK Friday! In a tradition we started years ago it is time for the most evil Black Metal ever; because really it is the perfect soundtrack if you are hitting the brutality of shopping on this day. Granted we here at RtBE are not fans of the genre (or shopping) but have researched a few bands after enjoying the documentary Until The Light Takes Us.

Happy Thanksgiving from RtBE!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving. Make sure you spend some time over this holiday doing what is truly important...Watching The Last Waltz:

For the gear heads reading this, here is an excellent run down of all the equipment used for this historic show.

Since it is a holiday here in the USA, also make sure to enjoy your time with loved ones and family. As a famous man once said, "Enjoy Every Sandwich"...especially the leftover turkey, mashed potato, stuffing and gravy ones on potato rolls...

The last few years we have thrown it back to Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades of the past and this years no different.

Here is the 2000 Thanksgiving Day Parade, now go get stuffed! 

Album Review: The Surfrajettes - Easy as Pie

The Surfrajettes

Easy As Pie

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

The sophomore release from the Toronto, Ontario based surf rocking quartet The Surfrajettes is more of the same retro goodness they delivered on their debut, Roller Fink. Easy as Pie keeps the bands sound and style rolling as they mix originals with covers and deliver the goods over twelve songs. 

Album Review: Kim Deal - Nobody Loves You More

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

It is of Kim Deal's debut solo album, No Body Loves You More. 

A solid album of various styles that seemed to live in Deal's head for a while. Amazing album art. 

Support the artist, buy the album, read the review and peep some video below:

Album Review: Bob Dylan & The Band - The 1974 Live Recordings: The Missing Songs From Before The Flood

Bob Dylan & The Band

The 1974 Live Recordings: The Missing Songs From Before The Flood

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

The 61st release from Third Man Records Vault Series is a doozy, a triple vinyl collection The 1974 Live Recordings: The Missing Songs From Before The Flood from Bob Dylan and The Band. The title says it all as these are the songs that did not make the classic 1974 live album but were played live that tour. Each show was professionally taped so the quality and performances are top notch throughout. 

Album Review: Father John Misty - Mahashmashana

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

It is of the Father John Misty's Mahashmashana. 

Support the artist, buy the album, read the review, peep some video below:

Live Review: John Boutte - 11/17/24 Dew Drop Inn New Orleans, LA

John Boutte

11/17/24 Dew Drop Inn New Orleans, LA

On Sunday November 17th at noon in New Orleans something special happened. The great New Orleans artist John Boutte took the legendary Dew Drop Inn stage for the first time, singing an emotional set of songs to an intimate crowd.  

Dylan Cover #658 Dana Williams and Leah Wellbaum "Mama, You Been On My Mind" 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 Dana Williams and Leah Wellbaum playing "Mama, You Been On My Mind"

Thoughts on Original:

From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
An early hidden gem of Bob's writing "Mama, You Been On My Mind" finds him getting poetic, melodic and rhythmic with his words. From the opening 'Sun Cut Flat' phrase Dylan is in top gear, talking to the woman he is thinking about with clarity, fleeting desire and a smirk. Often performing the tune with Joan Baez in those early days the tune took on an add dimension as a duet. A great song that should get even more love then it does.

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
This is the first time RtBE has heard Dana Williams and Leah Wellbaum of Slothrust. 

Thoughts on Cover:

Killer vocals from Williams and sweet low key strumming from Wellbaum partner well for this breezy live take that works well. 

Full Show Friday: Phil Lesh & Friends - 3/17/13 Terrapin Crossroads

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...Phil Lesh Quintet!

Some months our Full Show Friday's will focus on specific artists, years, venues, tv shows, festivals or some combo of it all. 

This months Full Show Friday Series focuses on concerts from Phil Lesh who passed away late last month.

New Single from amilost "Haunted"

The London based, Norwegian/Scottish duo amilost have a new single out "Haunted"

Regarding the tune the duo state: 

“Haunted is about that person you can’t quite shake out of your head, it’s about feeling like you had control over the situation, but realizing you were in-deeper than you thought and that in fact - the other person has a hold on you instead.”

Check out the tune below:

New Single from Dax Riggs "Even The Stars Fall"

One of RtBE's Personal favorite singers is returning fromt eh wilderness as Dax Riggs has announced a surprise new album due in January titled 7 Songs For Spiders and RtBE can't wait. 

Next year will also see the reunion of Acid Bath, which is also insane. The newest solo single from Riggs, "Even Stars Fall" was released this week and it is classic solo Riggs. 

Give it a listen:

Album Review: Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams - All This Time

Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams

All This Time

*** out of *****

Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams fourth album All This Time, is a combination of Americana, rock, folk and country you would expect now from the "first couple of Americana". The rich sounding record is alive with strings, twangs and dramatic vocals.

New Single from Yard Sign "Bookstore"

Columbus, Ohio based Yard Sign released a new single "Bookstore".

Quote from Scott Marks of Yard Sign:

“‘Bookstore’ is kind of a Frankenstein of different song ideas. I always wanted to write a song called ‘bookstore’. I’m a big reader and fan of romantic comedies, so bookstores are kind of a sacred place to me. Movies like ‘You've Got Mail’, ‘Notting Hill’, ‘When Harry Met Sally’, all about bookstores! Then one day I was scrolling through the internet and was presented with a meme from one of those ‘words are my porn’ kinda pages that said “someone telling you they read the book you recommended is the ultimate love language” or something like that. So the idea for the song was basically the opposite of that; someone NOT reading the book you recommended to them. I picked up the ukulele and the line ‘had an idea, but it was stupid’, just came right out. The rest of the song kind of wrote itself from there. I wanted it to feel like that middle act in a rom-com where the two leads breakup/fallout/get sad at each other. Sad, longing, but maybe also a little hopeful.”

Check it out below: