Thursday, September 27, 2012

Full Les Claypool Fearless Flying Frog Brigade Concert!

So now every month we will search the murky back waters of youtube to find full concerts posted to the channel.  They may not be here for long so enjoy them while you can...As always, please support the artist every way you can but especially by seeing them live...This month...Les Claypool's Fearless Flying Frog Brigade!!!!

A few months back I posted a Primus show that is pretty killer, but this time I wanted to focus on Les's Hippie edge.  Back in 2000-2001 Les caught lighting in a bottle with this lineup, this set of players and these tunes. Skerik in particular is fantastic here.   This show was captured when the band was co-headlining with Galactic on the the Icicle tour.  We here at RtBE saw them in NYC and Philly for this run and still remember those nights fondly, the quick turnaround to AC post Philly still makes me laugh.  Anyway.... 

The visuals aren't pro, but the sound is perfect, so enjoy this Frogs show from 2-23-2001 Atlanta.  


Setlist:
Thela Hun Ginjeet
Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
With a Little Help from My Friends
Shattering Song
Highball with the Devil
Pigs (Three Different Ones)
The Ol' Diamondback Sturgeon Tease > Hendershot
2000 Light Years from Home
Whamola
Hair
Riddles Are Abound Tonight

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

William Elliott Whitmore 9-13-12 Live Review

Photo by Adam Fried
Hey all,

Got a new review up on Glide.

Read it Right C'here!!!

It is of William Elliott Whitmore's live show from September 13th 2012 at City Winery.

This was our first time seeing William Elliott Whitmore and also our first time hitting City Winery.  Both are worth revisiting multiple times as the show and venue were both fantastic.

We unfortunately missed Samantha Crain who opened, but WEW's set was more then enough to make those in attendance happy.  A full gorgeous room (in both sound and sight) made the night even more enhanced.  WEW's sound isn't really bluegrass, folk, or blues, but a deep combo of all of them.  Maybe the sound of which all of those sprung?  Who knows, I just know it was good, thanks to Anti Records and the artist.

Click on the review link for a full run through.  Click here for more info on WEW and make sure you catch him live when you can...a few videos below to sample his sound.

"Diggin' My Grave"

"Hell or High Water" Live 

"Bury Your Burdens in the Ground"

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Reigning Sound in NYC Ticket Presale!

Hey all a RtBE favorite just announced they are on a new label and playing NYC.
Reigning Sound has just announced they are moving to Merge Records and will Headline Merge's upcoming CMJ Showcase at the Mercury Lounge on October 18th.  You can pre-order tickets here (using AMEX) right now to an event that will be sure to sell out.  If you don't get one presale they will be made readily available on Friday. 
Merge Records Showcase
Thursday, October 18 @ Mercury Lounge
217 E. Houston St. b/t Ludlow & Essex

Show starts at 7:30 pm

In order from first to last:
William Tyler
Mac McCaughan
Eleanor Friedberger
Mount Moriah
Telekinesis
Reigning Sound

We got ours and are very excited (how can you watch the first video below and not be) to catch Greg Cartwright and crew kill it on a fall NYC night.  CMJ can get busy so make your plans accordingly.  Here are some videos to hype you for the Merge Showcase.
Reigning Sound
"We Repel Each Other"  oh hell yeah!!!

"Watchin' My Baby"
 
Mount Moriah

Telekinesis

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Full Brand New Band of Horses Streaming Concert!

Below you will find RtBE favorite Band of Horses who stopped by David Letterman's Studio and performed a full set of material yesterday for their fans.  It is no secret that we here love BOH and are very excited for the new album which is out today. 
You can grab the new record here!  And Enjoy the band's most recent live set, showcasing the new album, below:

Link here if needed.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Album Review - Chamberlin - Look What I've Become EP

Hey all,

Got a new review up on Glide.

Read it right c'here!!!

It is of Chamberlin's new EP Look What I've Become.   

The band got a lot of love from their debut release Bitter Blood.  The group seems to straddle that line between Jambands and indie rock, with splashes of folk mixed in. 

The EP itself is short and there isn't a whole lot to dig into, but some of the tunes are pretty engaging.  There is a link below that will take you to a full EP preview, and here is a video of the best song on the EP, "Thief"
Chamberlin "Thief" Above the Valleys: 1 from Audiotree Live on Vimeo.


Here is a free download of the track "Jealousy" from the EP:


 
   
   
   
   
   
 

You can also stream the full album on the band's website right here.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Album Review- Corin Tucker Band-Kill My Blues

Corin Tucker Band
Kill My Blues
****out of *****

Corin Tucker's second release with her new band finds the energy ramping up for the former Sleater-Kinney rocker.  If her last album 1,000 Words was considered (in her own words) a "Midlife Mommy Album" Kill Your Blues is the sound of an anxious energy filled rocker ready to bust back out onto the scene.

The disk has a rock induced hip swaying uptempo beat from the opening "Groundhog Day" where Corin seems to sadly see things slipping back to the way they were politically and socially, this just also happens to be the time when Tucker made her strongest music and Sleater-Kinney seemed to thrive.  "Groundhog Day" is a blatant and successful callback starting album off vibrantly while "I Don't Wanna Go" seems to address this begrudging return to popish-punkish form best as she sings "Just when I got it together/fell for a nice guy/started a family/just when I turned the page".  All of this plays out over slashing guitars, popping bass and feedback laced tempo changes.

The title track and "Neskowin" keep things cruising as the former plays with keys and electric blues vamps while the latter goes with tight snares as Tucker returns to her riot grrl's roots via the lyrics.  "Blood Bones & Sand" has a death march feel with pianos while "Outgoing Message" is a quirky snapshot sendoff and "Tiptoe" is massively rocking album closer .   
    
All of the songs here are peculating vitality, "Summer Jam" cooks while "Constance" seems to play around with a "Smells Like Teen Spirit" structure while incorporating gorgeous organs and keyboards creating a unique and intoxicating final sound.  Tucker has mentioned this is a group effort as Seth Lorinczi (Golden Bears), Sara Lund (Unwound) and Mike Clark (Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks) are all comfortable enough having played together that these tracks just flowed out.

If you were a fan of Tuckers past work and a bit let down by the mellowness of her first solo effort, hop back into the riot grrrl's world as Kill My Blues is an vibrant explosion of sonic excitement from Tucker and company.  
__________________________________________________________________
We have been long time fans of Tucker and while we didn't hate 1,000 Words, we have rarely went back and listened to it since reviewing it.  Kill My Blues on the other hand is a complete success and will go into heavy rotation this fall I am sure.  We will be catching the band when they play NYC in a few weeks, and you can stream the album for yourself right now over at Stereo Gum!   

As always support the artist, catch them live in your area and buy the album here
"Groundhog Day"


Wednesday, September 12, 2012

NYPL Blog Post- Dinosaur Jr. You're Living All Over me

Hey all, got a post over on NYPL blogs.  Give it a gander below:

This is my latest entry in the the Great Albums You May Have Missed series at NYPL Blogs.  Readers of RtBE have known of my Dinosaur Jr. love for years now, but it is always fun to cross over the free time stuff with the work stuff.

If by some odd reason you have not heard this album, do so immediately.  It is one of the great guitar rock albums out there, the power contained with in is seismic.  I mentioned this post was coming when I previewed the new single "Watch the Corners" from the band's up coming I Bet The Sky.  I have written a ton about it already, so below are a few clips that you can enjoy.  Take the disk out of the library here, buy the album here and support the artist as always.         

"Little Fury Things"

"The Lung" Live at the start of their comeback...

"Tarpit"  I posted this cool video once before...don't care it's awesome.

"Sludgefeast" Live from 6-12-2008

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Album Review -My Darling Clementine - How Do You Plead?

Hey There,

Got a new review up on Glide Magazine

You can Read it Right C'here!!!

It is of My Darling Clementine's new album, How Do You Plead?

The disk is a throw back in every sense, harkening to country male/female duets of yesteryear, if that is your bag you need to check this album out right now. 

Even if that sort of country sound isn't your thing you still will probably enjoy the laid back playing, the soothing vocals and the heart-string-tugging lyrics.  This is a solid album all around, and while we are no country music aficionados we know a good song when we hear it and How Do You Plead? is chock full of them. 

The album layout, is really cool too, it needs to be said this album looks like it is straight out of 1974 Nashville, not 2012 England.  Really sick style being displayed by Michael Weston King and Lou Dalgleish.

Support these British Players buy grabbing their album here, keep an eye out for their tour dates and below are a few previews of their tracks.  Enjoy. 
"I Bought Some Roses"

"The Other Half" Live

"100,000 Words"
 

Monday, September 10, 2012

Dylan Cover #57 Third Day - "Saved"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by Third Day playing "Saved"
Thoughts On The Original:
The cover track off of Bob's second album in his born again phase, finds the bard getting funky in a spiritual gospel way.  The production of this track is fantastic showing Dylan a master studio artist when he wants to be.  In honesty the rest of the album doesn't really hold up  to this title track (except "Solid Rock" which is kick-ass), but you can feel Bob's energy when this cut comes on.    
Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
This is the first time I am hearing anything by Third Day.  They are a Christian Rock Band from Georgia who incorporate a lot of southern rock and country into their christian message.  They are a multi-Grammy winning group who have a devoted following.  Wikipedia tells me their song "Follow Me There" was used as the theme song for Sara Palin's Alaska, so they got that going for them too...  
Thoughts on Cover:
Dylan's Born-Again/Gospel period just may be his most ripe for covering and interrupting.  Groups that are devout can tackle it, but secular artists as well can try their hand.  This one is from a set of believers and is straight forward but not tame in the slightest.  The energy is high, the vocals are pristine and the beat stays funky, the band doesn't go crazy but they give it a riotous go...

Grade: C+

Friday, September 7, 2012

Friday Funday- Jack White Interview

A few months ago we reviewed one of our favorite shows of the year, one in which Jack White tore down the Roseland Ballroom with some fantastic playing.  When we submitted the review to Glide Magazine, we opened with the line "Jack White is one damn sexy superstar".  The editors of the sight switched "sexy" to "Bad Ass" when they published the article, totally their choice, when I asked them why, the response I got was they didn't think Jack went for that particular phrase.
I for one think that sexiness is steeped in everything he does, and when I came across this interview with him I thought it would be cool to post it for you as the first question has to do with sexiness in his songs:
   
He touches on a lot of stuff here that I think is fantastic, thoughts on love songs, hip hop as the blues, and forcing himself to struggle on stage.

Here is part 2:

Of course he mentions his spiritual mentor Dylan and being real here,  image connected to meaning (including his colors), ideas on celebrity disclosure.  Easily the coolest thing he talked about was soccer fans taking "Seven Nation Army" and singing/chanting the medley of it in huge arenas. 
   
His thoughts on songs and releasing them is perfect, really cool to hear.  Hope you enjoyed this as much as we did...Enjoy your weekend:

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Album Review - Neil Young & Crazy Horse -Americana

Neil Young & Crazy Horse
Americana
** out of *****

Put together a guitar god backed his best supporting players as they tear their way through a back catalog of folk songs everyone knows and you have a combination for epic greatness.  While Americana never reaches those lofty heights it still makes for a fun listen all around.

Rather then digging deep to excavate long forgotten folk songs Neil Young and Crazy Horse focus on ditties that were taught in elementary schools for years, then play up the verses that we never learned.  I am not sure about you, but I never sang about killing a Red Rooster in "She'll Be Coming Round The Mountain" even though that verse (like the one about portals) was there all along.  By using this method all the songs are familiar but still surprise with new lyrics.  

Those hidden verses are apparently is what brought Neil to try his hand at these songs, as he stated:
The originals are much darker, there’s more protest in them — the other verses in "This Land Is Your Land" are very timely, or in "Clementine," the verses are so dark. Almost every one has to do with people getting killed, with life-or-death struggles.
Those struggles have historically been where Neil shines, and it can not be denied that Crazy Horse is where Neil is at his best.  The issue here is they never really run totally free, sticking more to repetitive song structure.

It can be seen on tracks like the mentioned "Clementine" which feels like it could be broken open for a mega Crazy Horse excursion but never strays very far from the formula.  The fact that "Wayfaring Stranger" is stripped down and done acoustically is also a disappointment, that tune was ripe for a raw assault.

Some questionable choices as "folk songs" also are a bit odd, "Get A Job" always struck me as more of a novelty track and that feeling permeates this version too.  "God Save The Queen" is just a clunker in choice, delivery and totality, ending the album on a sour note.  

Where the combo of Crazy Horse's raw stomp/ roar and these folk songs back woods creepiness works best are on the loose demo vibe juxtaposed with pristine backing vocals of "Travel On"and their riff heavy take on Billy Edd Wheeler's "High Flying Bird" which inspires.

Knowing the group is set to release a double album next month Americana feels more like a warmup act as opposed to a fully flushed out project, but re-exploring old songs never gets old in my book. If you are not a big fan of old music or the Crazy Horse rumble you may want to wait to see what the boys cook up in October.
_________________________________________________________________
This is a decent album, it is just that I am such a big fan of Neil Young's work with Crazy Horse that when I heard about this project my expectations shot through the roof.  I was a little let down by the overall final project, and I am curious if I will go back to it much in the future.  That said I can't wait for their upcoming release...but maybe I should drop my expectations a bit.

Here are a few tracks to preview from the album, please as always support the artist here, buy the album here, and catch the artist live here.    
"Clementine"

"Jesus Chariot (She'll Be Coming Round The Mountain)"

"Travel On"

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

New Bob Dylan Song & Video "Duquesne Whistle"

We here at RtBE are unabashed Bob Dylan fans and we can't wait to hear his new album Tempest which comes out on September 11th.  The first single from the disk has been released and it has an official video which Bob himself appears in. 

The song is titled "Duquesne Whistle" and like a lot of the bard's recent efforts it focuses on a swinging country vibe, kinda like a more relaxed version of "Summer Days".  Check it out right here:
  
While we love the song, the video gets a firm Meah...no, that's too kind, it flat out sucks.  Then again video killed the radio star, and Bob has never been one of either.  Cool tune though and that's what is important, in fact it was co-written with the Grateful Dead's own Robert Hunter, can't wait to hear the whole album.
 

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

The Dead Kenny G's -Gorelick EP- Album Review

The Dead Kenny G's
Gorelick EP
***and1/2 out of *****

Freak-out schizophrenic punk rock jazz are the unique genre waters that The Dead Kenny G's swim (basically alone) in.  They don't care about being labeled as they can effortless go from out and out horror rock into hip-hop beats or toss off political rants over Led Zeppelin like breaks.  All of which shows up on the bands tight 6 song EP, Gorelick titled after Kenny G's real last name.

The trio has their ear to the electric punk third rail throughout this quick release as the opening "Gorelick" rumbles, sounding like it comes from hell itself with its blast beats, sludge drenched bass, and mutated lyrics.  If that opening sonic attack wasn't enough the group then covers The Dead Kennedy's "Kill The Poor" with aplomb even tossing in an almost 2nd line brass band intro.

"Trivial Assault" catches a dirty groove and rolls with it over 2 minutes of skin pounding ass shaking get down grime before scrapping that for chanting break down before returning to the groove to wrap things up.  "Punk Rock Girlfriend" is just that, a punk ode played by a jazz band while "Daddy Issues" is a heavy metal run through which makes a saxophone sound harder then any guitar out there.    

For those uninitiated into the world of Skerik, Mike Dillon and Brad Houser, prepare yourself for utter musical chaos, but also be ready for some of the most alive, adventurous and whacky tunes out there.  Gorelick continues The Dead Kenny G's trend of freaking you out while instantly impressing, pretty much what we want all music to do.     
____________________________________________________________________
Gorelick has been some of the craziest 17+ minutes I have heard this year.  After catching The Dead Kenny G's open for Galactic earlier this year I was super impressed and had to track this down.  I have know of the band for years having seen Skerik play as far back as 00/01 but this latest disk just cooks, especially in the live setting.  Definitely support the band here, catch them when you can live, buy the album and check out some samples of the insanity below: 

"Kill The Poor" live


Live at Red Rocks in HD:

Monday, September 3, 2012

Dylan Cover #56 UTB "Union Sundown"

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 UTB -Under The Bridge Band playing "Union Sundown"

Thoughts on Original:
Wanted to pick this one for Labor Day as it is Dylan's take on the lack of US manufacturing jobs as well as the increasing flux of capitalism in society and the death of unions.  The idea of greed taking over is nothing new, but this song seems to come from an impulsive Dylan (a lot do) and shows up on Infidel's of which Dylan has commented something along the lines of "Those songs stuck around too long".  Ideas seem to be a bit jumbled on this disk, but not on this tune, his lament at no good paying job for American workers is clear, but he isn't passing the buck.  It is all of HIS products that are foreign made, this isn't a plea for change as a younger Dylan might have done; it is a simple statement of fact...and a sad one at that.  Having grown up in a extremely pro-Labor house hold I just wanted to point this tune out and the fact that Dylan wrote it almost 30 years ago, and things have only gotten worse... Happy Labor Day....    
Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
I have never heard of UTB-Under The Bridge Band but according to the youtube channel this song is on it seems they are: a West Linn, Oregon, garage band (& living room band), that meets every Sunday in Ed & Debbie Lohman's living room. Band members include Chris Leebrick, vocals & harp, Ed Lohman, guitar & vocals, Jon Miller, bass, Mike Quisling, guitar & keyboards, & Peter Oberdorf, drums.  There are a few videos on this channel here so you can check out their covers of "Sunday Morning Coming Down", "Ain't That I Don't Love You" and a few others.  
Thoughts on Cover:
Not everyone's first choice when it comes to covering Dylan, so the UTB get bonus points for even trying.  The rollicking guitar tone motors things along with the bass and drums and really is the backbone.  Well that and the lyrical content which is the focus, all verses are sung another plus and the laid back vocals are reminiscent of the original.  A solid cover, if not particularly adventurous.      
Grade: C+