It is of Sleater-Kinney's ninth studio album, The Center Won't Hold.
This was one of the toughest albums for RtBE to review. Had the name on the cover not been Sleater-Kinney, things would have been different, but this is a band who has never disappointed with a release. While we like some (Dig Me Out, The Woods) more than others (All Hands On The Bad One) no release has been remotely bad....and The Center Won't Hold certainly isn't bad, it is just worldly different from anything they have ever done. In fact going back to listen to All Hands On The Bad One, it sounds much better than I had remebered it, I am not sure that will be the case with this release.
The Center Won't Hold, more than any record we have reviewed in recent years, will need time to either grow in our brain or be washed out and forgotten, only time will tell how we feel about in a few months for our year end review. Until then, judge for yourself.
Tour date Tuesday continues as we promote the Fall tour from Jamband kings Phish.
It looks like the band is re-living their fantastic 1998 Spring Island tour as they play both Rhode Island and Long Island again. For those unaware, Phish was in the midst of recording The Story of the Ghost and got stir crazy, so they booked a mini four show tour in Rhode Island and Long Island. RtBE was lucky enough to catch the first Nassau show.
The tour is well regarded as the band got fuuuunky and played extended and unique versions of tunes as well as debuting some future warhorses like "Birds of a Feather". Here's hoping they go back that route this Fall, as full dates are below and a few tunes from the '98 Island tour are there as well to get us all in the mood.
Phish Fall Tour: 11/29 – Dunkin’ Donuts Center – Providence, RI 11/30 – Dunkin’ Donuts Center – Providence, RI 12/1 – Nassau Coliseum – Uniondale, NY 12/4 – Peterson Event Center – Pittsburgh, PA 12/6 – North Charleston Coliseum – Charleston, SC 12/7 – North Charleston Coliseum – Charleston, SC 12/8 – North Charleston Coliseum – Charleston, SC
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.
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.
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 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 2:3124:37 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)
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.
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.
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....
