Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Album Review: Craig Finn- Faith In The Future

Craig Finn
Faith In The Future
**** out of *****


On Craig Finn's first solo album Clear Heart Full Eyes the lonesomeness was palpable as was the Southwestern motifs, this time around things are more (dare I say) positive. Finn seems to be in a better space as the outlook and music surrounding his newest solo release Faith In The Future moves in the right direction, even though hardships are still everywhere.

The Hold Steady front-man uses his solo releases to turn down the guitars and amp up the story telling, this time digging into his September 11th, 2001 experience during "Newmyer's Roof" which was messy and confusing or inhabiting a drifters world view on opener "Maggie I've Been Searching For Our Son". While the words are what Finn does best, assembling a tight band around him this go around was key.

Joe Russo's drumming is the focal point musically keeping things moving at a steady clip providing pace when needed on the opener and even waltzing booms for "Sarah From Scranton". Producer Josh Kaufman's keeps it mostly mellow but adds flourishes like the horns in "Roman Guitars" counterbalancing the lyrics nicely or the piano line that dances with vibrations during "Going To A Show".  

Tracks where it all comes together like "St. Peter Upside Down" proves that Finn still has a lot to say even if his recent tHS offerings have been on the dull side. Like the title says faith is restored as Finn even recalls "Chips Ahoy!" and horse races this time on "Sarah, Calling From A Hotel" even if the results are a bit scary. A track like the swelling "Trapper Avenue" would in the past been an epic closer for his main band but now a world weary Finn takes things down a notch closing with the conflicted "I Was Doing Fine (Then A Few People Died)".

Having gotten older, Finn always seems to write age appropriate songs, this time at 43 having recently lost his mother, things are restrained as he has seen more of the world, yet still manages to look forward to the next phase.
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We love Craig Finn, one of the best songwriters out there. Support the artist here, buy the album here, and peep some video below:

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Album Review: The Dead Weather- Dodge and Burn

Hey all got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!!!
It is of The Dead Weathers newest release, Dodge and Burn. We are big fans of the band having caught them a bunch in the past and are happy to say that Dodge and Burn continues their string of good music. All three albums are must owns for us and ranking them would be difficult.  

So support the band here, buy the album here and peep some video below:


Monday, September 28, 2015

Dylan Cover #202 Kevin Ayers- "Lay Lady Lay"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover from Kevin Ayers and it is of "Lay Lady Lay"

Thoughts on Dylan Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this song:
Excellent track and the first time the world heard Dylan's new singing style, which would only last for Nashville Skyline.  This song is the standout track from this album, it is a classic and so simple, yet sweet and timeless.  One of Dylan's best, the closest to country he ever got and an fantastic piece of music.     
Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
I have never heard of Kevin Ayers until listening to this cover but a quick search reveals he was vital in England's psychedelic scene as both a member of Soft Machine and his solo records.       
Thoughts on Cover:
This is an interesting cover, a bit of mangled reggae topped off with some trippy outings and a deep vocal performance from Ayers. Can't say it is one of our favorites from this series but it is certainly unique, and we always appreciate it when people make the covers their own.  

Friday, September 25, 2015

Full Show Friday: Tedeschi Trucks Band and Friends- Mad Dogs & Englishmen- 9/11/2015 Arrington, VA

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..Tedeschi Trucks Band and Friends!
This is a hell of very recent live show to share for this Full Show Friday as The Tedeschi Trucks Band with a little help from their friends, throw down a killer live tribute to Mad Dogs & Englishmen. We have covered the Tedeschi Trucks Band before on this site, but this is probably the coolest thing they have done so far, and you can read all about the preparation of the show here. It makes us want to catch them during their upcoming Beacon Run which starts tonight.

Their choice in guests for this show helps out immensely as many originals were asked to recreate their parts. Just one example Leon Russell sits in for the full set (even leading a Dylan cover) with some other tasty friends (including some RTBE Favorites) joining in through out. The video is a bit odd, doing close ups on random people but the visuals are pro, sound is pristine.

This was a special night of excellent live music, complete setlist with guests below. Enjoy:

SET:
01 Introduction Music
02 The Letter
03 Darling Be Home Soon
04 Cry Me A River
05 Girl From The North Country
06 Dixie Lullabye
07 *Bird On A Wire
08 The Weight
09 *Superstar
10 #Delta Lady
11 @Let's Go Get Stoned
12 ^Something
13 Band Introductions
14 +She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
15 %Feelin' Alright
$Sticks And Stones
$Space Captain
Encore:
Ballad Of Mad Dogs And Englishmen (Leon Russell Solo)
With A Little Help From My Friends
Susan Thanks/Outro

* With Rita Coolidge On Vocals
# With John Bell On Vocals
@ With Alicia Shakour On Vocals
^ With Doyle Bramhall On Vocals
+ With Warren Haynes On Guitar And Vocals
% With Dave Mason On Vocals
$ With Chris Robinson On Vocals

Thursday, September 24, 2015

Live Review: Ruby Amanfu 9/17/15 NY, NY

Hey all got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!!!
It is a live review from Ruby Amanfu's show last Thursday night at Rockwood Music Hall in NYC. This was a fantastic set of music, thanks to Press Here for keying us into this one because we were damn glad we were there. Amanfu is the bee's undies and I hope that her excellent new album Standing Still and performances like this get her noticed on a wider scale.

Support the artist here, buy the album here and peep some video from the show below:
"Cathedrals"

"Shadow On The Wall"

"Not Dark Yet"


Wednesday, September 23, 2015

La Luz New Video, Touring Europe This Fall

We recently reviewed La Luz's new release Weirdo Shine which we really dug.
Now the ladies have produced a new video for "You Disappear" and while this wasn't our favorite song on the disk it has grown on us a bit and the video is damn cool.

You can view it below and even further below that you will find the groups tour dates for this fall as they embark on a tour of Europe.Both of the bands albums are great and worth hearing.

Tour Dates:
09.18.15 - Tilburg, NL - Incubate Fesival
09.19.15 - Leffinge, BE - Leffingeleuren Festival
09.20.15 - Haldern, DE - Haldern Pop Bar
09.21.15 - Hamburg, DE - Aalhaus
09.22.15 - Lund, SE - Mejeriet
09.23.15 - Stockholm, SE - Geronimos FGT
09.24.15 - Oslo, NO - Cafe Mono
09.25.15 - Copenhagen, DK - Stengade
09.26.15 - Berlin, DE - Berlin Independent Night
09.28.15 - Prague, CZ - Klub 007
09.29.15 - Vienna, AT - Rhiz
09.30.15 - Schorndorf, DE - Manufaktur ~
10.01.15 - Freiburg, DE - Slow Club
10.02.15 - Brescia, IT - Lio Bar
10.03.15 - Bologna, IT - Covo Club
10.05.15 - St. Gallen, CH - Millionaires Club
10.06.15 - Zürich, CH - Bogen F >
10.07.15 - Lyon, FR - Marché Gare @
10.08.15 - Montpellier, FR - Les Internationales de la Guitares
10.09.15 - Barcelona, ES - La [2] De Nitsa
10.10.15 - Madrid, ES - Villamanuela Festival
10.11.15 - Lisbon, PT - Casa Independente
10.13.15 - Bilbao, ES - Kafe Antzokia
10.14.15 - Bordeaux, FR - Iboat
10.15.15 - Paris, FR - Batofar
10.16.15 - Brighton, UK - Bleach
10.17.15 - Manchester, UK - The Eagle Inn
10.19.15 - Glasgow, UK - The Hug & Pint
10.20.15 - Leeds, UK - Brudenell Social Club
10.21.15 - Cardiff, UK - Moon Club
10.22.15 - London, UK - Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen
10.23.15 - Brussels, BE - Madame Moustache
10.24.15 - Amsterdam, NL - Paradiso

~ - w/ Vetiver
> - w/ Ladylamb
@ - w/ Crocodiles

Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Lee Ranaldo Touring Solo and Beating it with Kerouac

Thanks to our friends over at Brooklyn Vegan we know that Lee Ranaldo will be playing live again and doing some fun stuff.
Ranaldo Band Live 2012
The coolest thing mentioned is the special Kerouac Project show at Joe's Pub Ranaldo will be participating in on 10/30. more info here:
Legendary composer David Amram and his Quintet perform Beat-era classics, and accompany actor John Ventimiglia (The Sopranos), poets Bob Holman and Frank Messina, and guitarist Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth) as they read the works of Jack Kerouac. Guest speaker: author and biographer Joyce Johnson. Musical guest: Tyrone Cotton. Proceeds support the Jack Kerouac Writer-in-Residence Project of Orlando, Florida, home to more than 50 writers since 2000
This sounds like a show we may need to hit. We have named this site as a homage to Whitman but if we had to choose we would probably say Kerouac's On The Road is our favorite book. That's a cool lineup while Ranaldo's other dates are all solo acoustic shows. Dates and venues listed below a this great video of live acoustic Ranaldo.

Lee Ranaldo -- 2015 Tour Dates
9/26 TBA location Sao Paulo, Brasil (Lee and the Dust)
10/30 Joe's Pub New York, NY (Kerouac Project)
11/6 Swedish American Hall San Francisco, CA (solo acoustic)
11/7 Getty Center Los Angeles, CA (solo acoustic)
11/8 The Echo Los Angeles, CA (solo acoustic)
11/13 Trans-Pecos Ridgewood, NY (solo acoustic)

Monday, September 21, 2015

Dylan Cover #201 Danny Clinch All- Stars Featuring Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Jesse Malin "From A Buick 6"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a live  performance by Danny Clinch All- Stars Featuring Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Jesse Malin and more doing a live cover of "From A Buick 6" 

Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we reviewed a cover of this tune:
The electric Dylan and one of the few songs where the group of players Bob jammed with overshadows his early talents. Namely Al Kooper on organ and the great Mike Bloomfield on guitar as the two rip it open. Bob is in a lighter mood and recalling old blues tunes like "Milk Cow Blues" but he also has a stream of consciousness appeal to the lyrics. Nowhere near one of his best, but one that lots of musicians like to cover because of it's kick ass blues rock feel.   
Cover:  


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
This is a one off jam that came about during Danny Clinch's book release party here in NYC. He is not only a photographer though, that his him up there on harmonica.
Thoughts on Cover:
Wanted to start off the 200's in this series on a looser note and this all-star jam session checks that box nicely. To bad the fan video ran out, because it sounded like these guys were just getting cooking. Nothing critical to say as everyone was just having a blast and it shows, Happy Monday. 

Friday, September 18, 2015

Full Show Friday: Kris Kristofferson 9/13/13 Munich

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..Kris Kristofferson!
Just like a few weeks ago, this is another September show from the recent past. This concert from Kristofferson happened almost exactly 2 years ago in Munich and is a joy to watch. We discussed our thoughts on Kristofferson when we tackled him doing a a Dylan cover a little while back. He's simply the coolest.

This week we tackled Johnny Cash, June Carter and Dolly Parton, so we figured why not make it a full country week with KK. Great video and sound, full setlist with individual time jumps below. Enjoy:

1. Shipwrecked In The 80s
2. Darby's Castle (0:03:50)
3. Me & Bobby McGee (0:06:50)
4. Here Comes That Rainbow (0:10:39)
5. Closer To The Bone (0:12:59)
6. Best Of All Possible Worlds (0:15:18)
7. Help Me Make It Through The Night (0:18:48)
8. Casey's Last Ride (0:20:31)
9. Nobody Wins (0:23:53)
10. Feeling Mortal (0:26:11)
11. From Here To Forever (0:29:22)
12. Bad Love Story (0:32:20)
13. Loving Her Was Easier (0:35:09)
14. The Heart (0:38:03)
15. In The News (0:40:36)
16. Duvalier's Dream (0:43:13)
17. Come Sundown (0:45:59)
18. Billy Dee (missing beginning) (0:48:47)
19. Sabre And The Rose (0:51:00)
20. Jody And The Kid (0:55:09)
21. They Killed Him (0:58:04)
22. The Pilgrim: Ch 33 (1:00:33)
23. Sunday Morning Coming Down (1:03:24)
24. Silver-Tongued Devil (1:07:30)
25. For The Good Times (1:10:21)
_______________________
26. Under The Gun (with Rocket to Stardom) (1:14:10)
27. Please Don't Tell Me How The Story Ends (w. RtS) (1:17:02)
28. A Moment Of Forever (w. RtS) (1:19:10)
29. Why Me (w.RtS) (1:21:00)

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Behind the Lyrics of Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You"

American Songwriter is a pretty damn cool website. It does reviews, a lot of previews of streaming albums and in one of our favorite features it goes in depth on certain songs in their lyrics of the week in their behind the song category. Last week they tackled Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You".
The fact that Dolly Parton even wrote this song is probably news to some people who can not get the Whitney Houston version out of their head...even when they just read the title. The fact is Miss Parton is a hell of a songwriter/singer and this is one of her bests.

The article talks a lot about the song, so I won't say much more, but it was really cool to learn about the fact that this song was written about her artistic separation from Porter Wagoner. Wagoner was right, it is a damn pretty song.


Phish Announces MSG NYE Run

While Phish is most certainly a Vermont band, they have a second home inside the Worlds Most Famous Arena and will be returning there to say goodbye to 2015 and hello to 2016 for another New Years Eve run at MSG.
Glide has all the info on the tour here and you can start putting in for tickets here. We always try to catch the band at least once when they play the Garden and this year will be the same. Pre show beers at Billymarks West, a fun ass show, then probably more local drinks and that sounds like a damn good holiday night.

Below are some videos from their past NYE MSG run from 12/29/13 to get you in the mood. Good luck with tickets and hope to see you there.
"It's Ice" 12/29/13 Live

"Carini" 12/29/13 Live

Album Review: The California Honeydrops- A River's Invitation

Hey all got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!!!
It is of The California Honeydrops newest album A River's Invitation. The band seems to be mixing and matching styles pretty well, but hard to pin down in a review. Upbeat, bluesy, funky, poppy, and all really based around their front man.

The production on this album really feels warm and lush, they really put their personal touch onto things while sounding exceptionally professional. The band has made their way primarily as a live touring act, but this studio album is a great example of their wide ranging talent.

Support the band here, buy the album here, and peep some live video below:


Monday, September 14, 2015

Dylan Cover #200 Johnny Cash & June Carter "It Ain't Me, Babe"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by Johnny Cash & June Carter of the Dylan tune "It' Ain't Me, Babe"

Thoughts on Original:
One of the best Dylan songs because it is universal, to the point, lyrical, smirking, self-centered and a perfect statement. Dylan has written lots of songs that can be covered well (as evident by this series) but "It Ain't Me, Babe" fits perhaps better then almost any other one into a huge variety of styles. That is because we have all been in the singers position one time or another...and it is a damn good song.   
Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Johnny Cash has one of the best voices to ever come out of anywhere in this great country in regards to popular music. The Man In Black is a pillar in American music and his duet here with the love of his life June Carter is one of his best vocal performance and one of her shining moments as well.
Thoughts on Cover:
The transforming of this song into a duet is brilliant and now with the years past allowing us to peel back and see inside the Carter and Cash relationship it is even more poignant. The addition of trumpets, while a bit cheesy certainly twists up the music enough to keep the short song from being repetitive and adds another unique stamp onto their cover version.

Well we hit 200 and like with 100 we hit focus on an all time legend (who will be 300? Stay Tuned). Just wanted to take a minute here to send out a hearty thanks for reading this Monday series and the site in general.   

Friday, September 11, 2015

Full Show Friday: Fishbone Live in Amsterdam 2002

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..Fishbone!
We are kicking it to our friend Glen for this weeks Full Show Friday suggestion and description: 

This is not their best set ever but it is pro shot and has great board sound. Worth it for that even with a weird setlist. But it's also cool because they are a 5 piece. No keys or trombone (but plenty of theremin... which is thankfully low in the mix!) The guitar gets a little more love in the mix.



Enjoy:


Songs: X-Quewz Mee, Dr. Madd Vibe, Emergency House Call Pull-Ease/ Alcoholic/ Just Allow/ In the Heat of Angrrr/ Gtr Solo-Blues Jam/ AIDS & Armageddon/ Are U Wit It?/ Cholly/ Ma & Pa/ Skankin' to the Beat/ Premadawnutt/ Chim Chim's Bad Ass Revenge/ Bonin' in the Boneyard/ Sunless Saturday/ Swim

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Album Review: Menace Beach- Super Transporterreum EP

Menace Beach
Super Transporterreum EP

This quick EP from Leeds based Menace Beach continues on the groups fuzz laden success from their debut Ratworld. These are five tracks that come in, show off their influences, get to the point and float out into the ether.

The title track was inspired by Liza Violets flu hallucinations, displaying a Pixies light vibe; their noise pop brings to mind tons of 90’s alt rock references from measure to measure. A light punk-ish Weezer tone is brought out for “Hey Toupe” while “Ghoul Power” gets angular. “The Line” is perhaps the most satisfying track with surf influences and a melodic ending.

The retro 90’s vibe of fellow Brits Yuck are the groups closest current parallel but for fans sick of reaching back to their worn out buzz bin, sunning on Menace Beach’s sonic shore provides a suitable alternative. 
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Support the band here, buy the album here and peep some audio/video below:



Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Guitar Solo Face, Reason Discovered!

In a hysterical post, The Crispy Duck over at Imgur created the perfect combination by melding great guitarists wailing...and Giant Slugs!
Guitar solo faces are funny, but when you are in the moment, you got no idea what the hell is going on. HD pics though and huge slimy beasts sure make a fun combo as Slash doesn't look so pleased up there and Springsteen looks like he wants to run far away below:
A fun little interlude for this Wednesday, full post can be found here. To set the record straight, here are two videos of the above guitarists not playing slugs live:

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Album Review: The Arcs- Yours, Dreamily

Hey all got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!!!
 This was a weird one to review, the music is good not necessarily great but certainly solid. What was weirdest was why was this even a new band and not just a Black Keys album with extra guests helping out. Perhaps that's it, maybe just the two fellas Auerbach and Carney are Black Keys and any guests make it a new group?

Any which way this album is a continuation of Turn Blue, (an album we reviewed here and one that we put on our year end list) without the standouts like "Weight Of Love" and "Gotta Get Away". We do dig the cover art though. Support the band here, buy the album here and peep some video below:

Friday, September 4, 2015

Full Show Friday: Yonder Mountain String Band 9/6/14

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.. The Yonder Mountain String Band!
This show happened almost a year ago to the day, so why not kick off Labor Day Weekend with some live bluegrass. YMSB are really solid with that task even with line up changes they bring energy to their originals and covers, there take here of the Talking Heads "Girlfriend Is Better" is  classic.

Fan shot, with fan sound, but some of the highest quality of that you will find. Ease into the long weekend and Enjoy:
 

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Black Sabbath Announces Final Tour

One of the critical rock bands who were instrumental in creating "metal" will be doing it one more time as Black Sabbath has announced The End, their last tour.
AV Club has a full list of dates for the tour and they will be playing NYC in February down the block from us at some place called the World's Most Famous Arena.

We caught the band last tour when they played Brooklyn and the show was really fantastic. We will look to catch them again and we are excited that the band still is potent live. Here is some video of them in 2012, so if you want to catch the group there is one more chance to do so.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Album Review: Barrence Whitfield & The Savages- Under The Savage Sky

Barrence Whitfield & The Savages
Under The Savage Sky
***and1/2 out of *****
The second coming of Barrence Whitfield and The Savages continues as their garage rocking soul cruises through their most recent release Under The Savage Sky. Following up on the band's comeback record, 2013’s excellently lo-fi Dig Thy Savage Soul, the fellows are clearly reveling in their renaissance with more of the same grungy swagger that seeps straight out of mechanic's garage, doubling as a congregation hall on Sundays.

The meaty rock riffs on tracks like opener “Willow” and “Katy Didn’t” produces excessive head banging/hip shaking while the soul gets upped for the strutting cover of Timmy Willis “I’m A Full Grown Man”. “The Claw!” goes after a new dance crazy straight from ‘56 while that era’s sounds get revved into the red via swinging horns on the juke joint ready “Rock ‘N’ Roll Baby”.

Production is kept minimal as instruments struggle into and out of the ear adding to shambolic sound and wild abandon feel. While that chaos works wonders for the music, Whitfield's vocals during certain songs get buried; as an overall aesthetic it is expected but when they are highlighted, say on closer “Full Moon In The Daylight Sky”, even better results are found. Cleaning up just the vocals on the next release may make an even greater sonic impact.

As it stands though Under The Savage Sky is a hoot, whether listening to the clanging “Angry Hands” or the howling blues of “The Wolf Pack” the group's energy is palpable. From the jangly tambourine, plinking piano and swampy organs on “Adjunct Street” to the punky sweetness of “Bad News Perfume” the band and its listeners are in for a grimey good time.
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Support the band here, buy the album here and peep some recent live video below:

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Album Review: Ruby Amanfu- Standing Still

Hey all got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!!!
The first song on this bowled us right over. Ruby sings amazingly in front of gorgeous instrumentation covering "Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)" like a champ. The album doesn't reach these heights again but it is still solid as hell.

Being at the show when Ruby covered Dylan, and got this record out of the deal is pretty cool, it was also our pick for show of the year in 2013. She was amazing then and pretty on point for all of Standing Still. Support the artist here, buy the album here and peep some video below: