Friday, October 30, 2015

Full Show Friday: Widespread Panic 10/31/08 Nolaween

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...Widespread Panic!
This week we toss it back to Halloween '08 when Widespread Panic were playing the Lakefront Arena in New Orleans. To be honest, we have been down to that town so much on Halloween, we can't remember if we were there in '08 or not, either way we were not at this show...or any other Panic gig. This group really never did it for us, even in the roaming world of jambands, Panic was/is dull to our ears. All the players are excellent and we have loved them in other projects (Schools with J.Mascis and Herring in PLQ) but as a group we never hopped on board.

All that said, no reason we can't check out the bands gig from a few years back via crystal clear sound and video. The covers of "Born on the Bayou" "Time Waits For No One" and "Baby, Please Don't Go" along with the encore special guest Trombone Shorty make this a fun ride. Full set list below, so Happy Halloween and Enjoy!   


1:
Born On The Bayou
Pigeons
Time Zones
Disco
Diner
Greta
Christmas Katie
Her Dance Needs No Body
Worry

2:
Protein Drink
Sewing Machine
Mama Kin
Mercy
Baby, Please Don't Go
Time Waits For No One
Blight
Surprise Valley
Drums
Surprise Valley
Imitation Leather Shoes

E: Proud Mary, Brown Sugar*

* with Trombone Shorty

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Album Review: Mommy Long Legs- Assholes EP

Mommy Long Legs
Assholes EP
**** out of *****
Some of the best punk rock we have heard this year comes from the Seattle, WA four piece Mommy Long Legs. These 4 tracks each stick under 3 minutes but manage to cram musical adventures with topical lyrics, a sense of urgency and pissed off vibe propel the EP along. Each song is bad ass in its pumping style perfect for multiple listens as Lilly Morlock, Corry Budden Melissa Kagerer and Leah Miller keep it constantly fresh and inventive while eschewing their self proclaimed Barf-core/fart-core/vomit garage style. 

Punk rock with a modern day twist (while certainly pro-female, it is truly just anti asshole) and a surf rock style that makes the angsty pop punk cook with energy. The modern day desires get shoved up the proverbial rectum in the opening title track as the guitars scratch and and groove around in frenetic fashion. The kicker comes in the final refrain of the chorus which states that nothing matters because "in the end we're all alone" adding gravitas to the track.

The diy lo-fi grime is all over "Haunted Housewives" as the fuzziness melts into the speakers and kicks up for a sing-a-long chorus. The band slams into the ridiculousness of "Cat Callers" in direct fashion, it doesn't get more to the point then "I'm not a cat/so please stop calling me" but what could be routine railing against gets amplified by an excellent outro guitar that slants an eastern vibe into the proceedings.    

The final track "Weird Girl" talks about the desire to be the oddball in a perfect punk slamming manor; a track all outcasts can gather around and a killer end to this all too short offering from a band that should be followed closely. 
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Another really great bandcamp find and continues this great week for punk rock stuff on RtBE, Mommy Long Legs rule, that is all.

Support the band, buy the disk and stream the EP below:
 

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Album Review: Beach Slang Here, I Made This For You (Beach Slang Mixtape Vol. 1)

Beach Slang
Here, I Made This For You (Beach Slang Mixtape Vol. 1)
**** out of *****
The Philly rock and rollers are positive in spirit and sound as they release a mixtape cover collection of some of their favorite tunes, on the appropriately titled Here, I Made This For You (Beach Slang Mixtape Vol. 1). It is a release on their bandcamp site and cassette (of all things) that focuses on power pop rock from late eighties to the mid nineties with a special place for under-appreciated bands.     

The covers themselves don't vary much from the originals, but the band will be opening the ears of today's listeners to a lot of these outfits for the first time. Groups like Ride and Dramarama  are loved by their fans but not hugely known (outside of recent reunions) these days however Beach Slang kill it on renditions of "Like A Daydream" and the awesomely pumping "Anything, Anything" respectively.

All 5 of the tunes the band chooses to cover here are really top notch power pop, all are fantastic tracks and the band gives a loving rendition of each. The bass solo and fuzz work on "Too Much Kissing" works swimmingly, while the groove gets amped for the swinging "Million Miles Away".

"Picking Flowers For" from Best Kissers In The World brings back memories for me as the mixtape wraps up. Because of the bands excellent choices (and playing) we can't wait to hear Vol. 2.
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We stumbled upon this group last year and really dug them. Support the band, buy the album, stream it below, we will have more from the excellent Beach Slang soon:

Monday, October 26, 2015

Dylan Cover #206: Merrady "Simple Twist of Fate"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune comes from Merrady and is a live cover of "Simple Twist of Fate 

For October RtBE will feature lesser known artists doing live acoustic covers of Dylan tunes.
 
Thoughts On Original:
From the first time we talked about a cover version of this song:
Well the classics just keep coming in this series, with "Simple Twist of Fate" what a gem of a song.  Impeccable lyrics, gorgeous phrasing, just a great great song that is hard not to enjoy.
Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
To close out our October Series we have Merrady a Folk-Glam singer from Long Beach, California. She does other covers as well on her youtube channel.   
Thoughts on Cover:
A very nice cover version, strong singing and playing all around from Merrady. This series had gotten a little big name heavy as of late so we are happy this month produced a few unknown (to us at least) artists who delivered excellent cover versions. We can't wait to hear even more.

Friday, October 23, 2015

Full Show Friday: Tame Impala Live 2013

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...Tame Impala!
This week the Australian pysch-rockers Tame Impala are our focus of Full Show Friday as the band puts it together for their set at Glastonbury in 2013. While others have fawned over this group, we have found them average at best. After last week's tilt to the ancients RtBE figured we would push new school today and this is an easy way to spend a Friday morning, pro-shot-pro-sound. Setlist is below,  Enjoy:

0:00 - Intro/Led Zeppelin 2:00 - Solitude is Bliss 6:10 - Sestri Levante 8:19 - Apocalypse Dreams 15:53 - Jam 17:59 - Elephant 23:38 - Feels Like We Only Go Backwards 26:39 - Auto Prog II (Jam) 28:07 - Mind Mischief 31:55 - It's Not Meant to Be 37:16 - Alter Ego 42:20 - Half Full Glass of Wine

Thursday, October 22, 2015

Album Review: Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats- The Night Creeper

Uncle Acid & the deadbeats
The Night Creeper
** out of *****
We have discussed this before, but there is such a fine line between homage and blatant rip off. On Uncle Acid & the deadbeats newest album The Night Creeper (their 4th studio offering) the strains of retro looking rock and roll are everywhere. It is one thing to worship Black Sabbath and try to incorporate what makes them great into your work, it is another to sound so much like them it becomes derivative.

The group, a four piece from Cambridge, England, attack stoner rock with a dark twist, themselves likening this album to a grimy pulp novel that would cost a quarter. The music comes out fuzzy as the sludgy opening "Waiting For Blood" sets the tone of things to come. The band gets its drone on for "Murder Nights" and showcase their more heavy-metal-from-the-80's influences for "Melody Lane".

Lyrically the story of a murderer unfolds behind layers of filters, often the vocals just act as an extra wall of sound. There is a quirky instrumental complete with pianos called "Yellow Moon" and the stretched out, appropriately titled, "Slow Death" which runs for over nine minutes. The best track of the bunch is "Uncle Pusher" which amps up the heaviness and incorporates a first class guitar solo.

Overall the disk is not poor, it just has a feeling of "been there done that" to it. If smokey retro rock is your bag, or you can't find you copy of Master of Reality, then give The Night Creeper a try.
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Heard good things, thought I would dig this one more, didn't really work for us, but that shouldn't stop you from supporting the band, buying the album or peeping some video below:


Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Morning 40's New Tunes Coming Soon, You Can Help!

One of our favorite New Orleans groups, The Morning 40 Federation is making a comeback and they are taking to IndieGogo for support.

The 40's aren't just doing it the simple way (have they ever?) they are planning on recording a collection of 45's for their new project. These will be limited edition vinyl singles and supporting the band will get you all sorts of stuff.

Please go here to get the full low down from the band. You will be supporting a great cause, as anyone who has ever caught them live can attest, this crew gets down. Now let's roll some drunken tunes shall we?
"Toodle My Hukill"

 "A&P"

"Headlamp" Live

Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Album Review: Downtown Boys- Full Communism

Downtown Boys
Full Communism
*** out of *****

The six piece punk outfit Downtown Boys from Providence, Rhode Island have crafted a wailing record with Full Communism that bubbles over with energy. Comprised of Adrienne Berry, Joey L DeFrancesco, Emmett FitzGerald, Norlan Olivo, Mary Regalado, Victoria Ruiz this release on Don Giovanni Records has earned them national attention and with good reason.

The groups main selling point is their horn section pairing with punk that borders hardcore as the quick tracks all are accentuated by two saxophones that at times lock in or rail against each other. The blowing brass add a sense of uniqueness but it is the passion and angst that gives these tracks their meaning.

"Wave of History" opens things with snapping snares and nasal screams while "Santa" moves more to the hardcore-punk arena with Spanish vocals, while incorporating a great horn swing. A cover of Los Prisionero's "Poder Elegir" turns up the bass and ska influence, while "Traders" mixes balls out rawness and softness excellently. The core of a rock band (drums-guitar-bass) is all fuzzy and present, but it is the powerful horns that jump to the forefront and elevate these tracks.  

The album, like lots of good punk, is messy. Things don't always line up like the surprisingly thin "100% Inheritance Tax" or "Monstro" which starts out promising but at almost three and a half minutes sticks around too long to make it's pro-minority women point effective.

This fighting for the underdog is at the core of the band and lead singer Ruiz comes through extremely powerful in her stance, if not always in her nasal screech. While it works for the urgent tracks like "Future Police", it can become overwhelmed on the bigger numbers like the bands disk closing cover of Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing In The Dark" which had the potential to be a showstopper.  

One of the better tracks is title "Break a Few Eggs" and that is a great summation of the disk. The band is going for it and should be applauded as the swelling horns rise and the fury is unleashed. Downtown Boys are angry at the world around them, they think you should be too, and they want to work with you to better it.
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Support the band, buy the album, stream some tracks on bandcamp, and peep some video below:


Monday, October 19, 2015

Dylan Cover #205 Gabriel Mayers "One More Cup Of Coffee"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover from Gabriel Mayer and it is live acoustic version of "One More Cup Of Coffee" 
For October RtBE will feature lesser known artists doing live acoustic covers of Dylan tunes. 
 
Thoughts on Dylan Original:
Bob's story tunes seemed to crest on Desire and "One More Cup Of Coffee" fits in the Western/Biblical/Mystical motif of both "Isis" and "Romance In Durango" but puts fourth a more ominous feel then either. Singing with Emmylou Harris on the original recording a haunting combo of voices which gets along perfectly with violins and other rag tag players from the sessions.  
Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
I have never heard of Gabriel Mayers until this live acoustic version of "One More Cup Of Coffee", but a quick google search shows that he is a multi-media artist from NYC and you can listen to more of his music at his bandcamp page here.    
Thoughts on Cover:
A really show stopping cover of this song, dramatic but not cheesy. Powerfully played and sung, an excellent cover all around from Mayers. Our favorite of this months focus on lesser known artists doing live acoustic covers.    

Sunday, October 18, 2015

Happy 89th Birthday Chuck Berry

"If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might
call it 'Chuck Berry'." -- John Lennon

Chuck Berry IS Rock and Roll...Period.  I had to take a second to wish happy birthday to the absolute legend of the rock and roll sound and attitude...Chuck Berry.

I have actually been listening to a lot of Chuck lately, and finding his tunes just as timeless as I am sure they sounded when they were released.  He is the man who inspired The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and everyone else who ever picked up an electric guitar.

He never really found success after his initial sound was milked for as long as it could be but who cares?  In the past I have argued that "Johnny B Goode" is the greatest Rock & Roll Song of All-Time and I still stand by that today:


Willie Dixon's bass lines and Lafayette Leaks piano fills are critical, but it is that ringing guitar lead and swaggering vocal that makes it leap to the front of the class...what a tune!  It never gets old!

He was a rebel, hitting jail multiple times and not giving a flying fuck about anything, touring solo and demanding to get paid in cash while playing with backing bands who he could give two shits about.  A pure Rock and Roller and one who I am excited to honor on his 85th birthday.

Here is the song that started it all....


B Goode Chucky!   or better yet, don't....

Friday, October 16, 2015

Full Show Friday: Chuck Berry 1982 Live @ The Roxy

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...Chuck Berry!
We have obviously skewed ancient this week, show casing a southern support man coming to the spotlight, old school Cuban jazz players and Uncle Neil, but it was all part of the plan as we end with a salute to the oldest living rock and roller...the man who started it all, Chuck Berry. His 89th birthday is coming up on Sunday and Chuck is a pure legend.

This show from 1982, is not Chuck at his best (was anyone at their best in 82?), however it is still him live and strutting, so why not give it a whirl? Tina Turner comes out to the end the show, all his cuts are here and we will have more about Mr. Berry on his birthday. Enjoy:

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Neil Young Bluenote Cafe From 87-88 Set for Release

The next release in Neil Young's Performance Series comes from an era in his career that has never really been represented well on record. For reference his Wikipedia entry states that from 80-88 were his "experimental years", before the fantastic Freedom put him back in the national spotlight. Coming November 13th we will see the release of Bluenote Cafe
As fans of the man, but far from die-hards, we are very excited to hear this release and hope to grab the vinyl when it is out. Neil is an artist that notoriously follows the muse, we don't like a lot of his music, but what we've heard from around this period, specifically this bootleg, and the Eldorado EP are really solid, Eldorado in particular we go back to often.

The press release including the full track listing of Bluenote Cafe is below as is "Crime In The City" officially released from the album in advance. If you want more info Thrasher Wheat is the best site for Uncle Neil news. 


Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club Playing White House Tomorrow

We don't do politics on this site, but in the past we have highlighted when artists we like are asked to play the White House.
This week, in the ongoing opening of relations with Cuba, The Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club was asked to perform for the President on Thursday. Featuring several core musicians from the original band this is an exciting moment in music and foreign relations.

We recently reviewed the original outfits newest release and wish these players all the best in their show tomorrow and onward. Peep some video below:

"Chan Chan"


Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Album Review: Donnie Fritts- Oh My Goodness

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

It is of Donnie Fritts latest solo release Oh My Goodness. Writing for Glide has been a pure joy over these last 10 years, and one of the main reasons has been the site has opened my ears to tons of new artists.

Fritts, isn't a new artist but he is new to me and this album is pretty damn good. Feel free to buy it here and peep some of the best tunes below:


Monday, October 12, 2015

Dylan Cover #204 Eric Morder "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by Eric Morder playing "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream"

For October RtBE will feature lesser known artists doing live acoustic covers of Dylan tunes.

Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
Showing up on one of Bob's greatest accomplishments Bringin' It All Back Home, "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream" always feels like a breather in the albums context. It is silly, the playful Dylan, a Dylan that still exists and can be forgotten about especially when getting "deep" into his serious songs. A vital part of Bob is his playful charm, and amongst the silliness and simple word play on this track he still manages to drop some bombs, " I said, 'You know they refused Jesus, too'/He said, 'You're not him'". A great example of a level of Bob's genius not often exhibit in this series, his playfulness. 
Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Like everyone else this month, RtBE had not heard of Eric Morder until we saw this cover of Bob. Morder seems to be an author and a singer among other things.
Thoughts on Cover:
A straight ahead version of a whacky song. If anything Morder plays it too serious for us, but it is a cool one to even try to cover because of how weird and odd it is. Oh and we obviously picked this for today because of the closing phrase, Happy Columbus Day:
I saw three ships a-sailin’
They were all heading my way
I asked the captain what his name was
And how come he didn’t drive a truck
He said his name was Columbus
I just said, “Good luck”

Friday, October 9, 2015

Full Show Friday: Joe Russo's Almost Dead 10/2/15 Brooklyn Bowl

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...Joe Russo's Almost Dead!
We have discussed this group of players before here, but the full group of Joe Russo (drums), Marco Benevento (Keys) Dave Dreiwitz (bass) Tom Hamilton (guitar) Scott Metzger (Guitar) are an adept bunch of players who breath life and energy into the Grateful Dead's catalog. JRAD don't hold the music sacred, they know it is living and breathing, amping up the pace when needed and delving into the bands enormous back catalog.

It is simply the best "Dead" related playing we have heard since the days of the Phil Lesh Quintet.  Yes, that includes this summer and any project the original members have been a part of.
This show can't get any fresher as it comes from last Friday night at Brooklyn Bowl. We were seeing the TTB on the upper west side, so it is great to hear/see/experience this show from across the river. Our personal highlights from this one are the killer "Standing On The Moon> Wheel" combo and the pairing of our favorite Springsteen song "Atlantic City" with "I Know You Rider". This is a hell of show, pro shot, pro sound.
  
Full set list below, Enjoy:


Thursday, October 8, 2015

Album Review: Keith Richards- Crosseyed Heart

Keith Richards
Crosseyed Heart
**and 1/2 out of *****

The opening song on Keith Richards first solo album in 25 years is the title track called "Cross Eyed Heart". It is a stripped down acoustic blues numbers that sounds half finished and tossed off, crumbling mid song while also being the best track on the disk. This open rawness is a breath of fresh air and thoughts of a personal blues disk from the Rolling Stone guitarist is enticing, but that vibe stops at the next track.

"Heartstopper" is more representative of the rest of the album, a boiled down, derivative, rock and roll disk in the same vein of his day job studio releases for the last, oh 30 years. Not much more should be expected from Richards at this stage of the game and he delivers what you would think, touching on blues, rock, reggae and ballads. 

Vocally the rocker sounds his years, and this is a positive. At times he goes almost full Tom Waits, and other offerings find him moving towards Dylan like passages, but at the center it if most certainly Keef. His well lived in skin gets soft for the pedal steel flourished "Robbed Blind" and he muscles up to get grooving for "Blues in the Morning" where X-pensive Wino drummer Steve Jordan, who co-wrote the album picks up the pace, blistering for some good old fashion R&R.  

His duet with Norah Jones, "Illusion" is a dull and what is perhaps most interesting from a man who has penned dozens of instantly catchy numbers is that none of the originals really stick with you at all. The disk highlight comes when Richards gets his beach bum on for the light reggae cover of Gregory Isaacs "Love Overdue" that manages to do the original justice and expand upon it with horns, heartfelt relaxed vocals, deep bass line and well placed piano break.  

At 15 songs, most over 4 and a half minutes the album does go on for a while, but if anyone in rock and roll has earned the right to be self indulgent it is Keith Richards. He is the epitome of the genre and it is just fine to have a new solo album to add to his back catalog.
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Support the artist here, buy the album here and peep some video below:



Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Album Review: The Intelligence- Vintage Future

The Intelligence
Vintage Future
*** out of *****

The Intelligence (who self describe as playing art-smarm surf) have been the brain child of Lars Finberg since 2004 and the group have just released their newest offering Vintage Future. The album is a mix of quirky dark pop, always keeping the listener guessing. 

The current lineup is a four piece (Lars Finberg - vocals and guitar, drums, keyboards, drum machine Dave Hernandez - guitar Kaanan Tupper - drums Drew Church - bass) as the Seattle based group covers a wide range of topics and styles. The starting and stopping pop rock of "Sex" proves that sarcasm is at the forefront of the lyrics while the grooving "Nocturnal Admissions" follows its heart exploding by way of cocaine dreams.

The band is keen to wander and try out styles int eh same number, like in "Platinum Janitor" or "Tourists". Both begin slow and meander to nowhere before ending on high notes. "Cleaning Lady" messes with some industrial dance moves as does the disk closing title track.

The two standout tracks happen mid way through as the fast paced clanging guitars of the Buzzcock influenced "Whip My Valet" rings out strong before "We Refuse To Play" runs the gamut of the bands styles from dance laden to noise driven while reaming tight as hell. The simply titled "Dieu Merci Pour La Fixation De La Machine A Coudre" also is a gem building up via bass and drums to a flourish of sound. 


Vintage Future is engaging and at times weird but never flies off into uncharted directions. Lyrically Finberg is playful but never cutting to the point of off putting.
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Support the band here, buy the album here stream, the album here, stream "Whip My Valet" below:
 

Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Live Review: Tedeschi Trucks Band 10/2/15 NY, NY

Hey all got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!!!
Photo Credit: Metropolitan Entertainment
Getting a bit soggy last Friday was worth it especially because the end result was catching a hell of a touring group, the Tedeschi Trucks Band. The power couple fronted 10 other players and a few guests, putting on a very memorable show.

Having not seen the new Late Show, I was unaware Jon Batiste actually had a high profile gig as the band leader, replacing the amazing Paul Shaffer. Great for him, happy to see New Orleans moving into the Big Apple and taking over.

One thing from the show that I think was noticeable was Trucks personal restraint. Sure he let a few ripping solo's go, and he is an amazing guitarist by anyone's standards, but the act of band leader and dynamite guitarist seems to be rubbing against each other a bit awkwardly at times. Perhaps if he had a second full time player to feed off of things may be even cleaner and more dynamic moving forward. That said this was my first time seeing the full band, so maybe I just need to give it a bit more time to sink in my ear.    

Please go and read the review here, support the band here and peep some video of the show below:
"Keep On Growing"

"Midnight In Harlem"

Monday, October 5, 2015

Dylan Cover #203 Julie Corbalis "Isis"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune comes from Julie Corbalis and is a live cover of "Isis" 

For October RtBE will feature lesser known artists doing live acoustic covers of Dylan tunes.

Thoughts on Dylan Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune in the series:
Desire is such a thick album, Dylan's most complex story songs seem to hover in and around it, and not all are winners...."Isis" is though.  A great song that manages to engage even without a chorus, it is one of Bob's more "mystical" tunes and lures most people in the first time they hear it...before the mp3 age it came right after the powerful "Hurricane" and transforms the album from timely to timeless. 

Cover: 


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
I had not heard of Julie Corbalis until checking out this cover version of "Isis". She is a singer/songwriter from the Hudson Valley here in New York. You can check out her bandcamp page here.

Thoughts on Cover:
A powerfully strummed and song straight ahead acoustic version of the tune. Corbalis confidently takes over the song and produces a fine offering for this Monday. 

Friday, October 2, 2015

Full Show Friday: Farm Aid 1998

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...Farm Aid 98!
Ok so we are cheating a bit this week, we are not doing a full show, but rather harkening back to highlights of an amazing night of music that happened 17 years ago tomorrow. Keyrist, has it been 17 years...where does the time go. Anyways...this Farm Aid show is a beast and we will share some clips that deserve watching, especially the last one...Uncle Neil with Phish? Yes please.  Enjoy.

Start it with Willie Nelson introducing Man himself:

 
Then a little Wilco, doing their best tune, well theirs and Woody Guthrie's.



A little Cougar? John Mellencamp time:



One more Neil doing "Heart of Gold":


and here is Phish:


Now let's combine those for the crowning moment, "Down By The River" with Neil and the 4 Vermont fellas, I go back and listen to this version once every few months...mega:

Thursday, October 1, 2015

Album Review: BOYTOY- Grackle

BOYTOY
Grackle
**** out of *****
The pop rock band with grittiness BOYTOY are a trio of players from Brooklyn, who expertly craft catchy ass tunes. Female guitarists Saara Untracht-Oakner and Glenn Van Dyke strum while Matthew Gregory drums on the bands first full length release titled Grackle.

The instant worm-into-your-ear goodness of opener "Postal" is pop punk gold as it drives home the bands vibe expertly; lo-fi pop punk with splashes of retro-rocking noise. The driving "Shape Up" is another stand out with its swagger, layers of guitar feedback and pumping drums. Male/female vocal dynamics are played with on "Pulp" and the perhaps Brooklyn lyrical looking "Building An Empire".

"Poison Breeder" amps up the grime but still manages to shuffle while "Owe Somebody" is a swaying dance floor filler. "Sailor Jerry" gets it's snarl and motor on recalling old Veruca Salt while "To The Line" looks even further back going for a 50's rock vibe; all the tunes are quick to the point and deliver the goods.

When the band moves away from their formula excellent results are still discovered as on "Wild One" which surprisingly cleans off all the distortion and highlights Van Dyke and Untract-Oakner's fantastic harmonies. Also a mid disk highlight "Your Girl" really shows off layers of spacey freak-out guitar work over marching drums, hinting at a tripped out side from the trio.

Grackle doesn't feel like any bands first full length it is a clear confident step for the Brooklyn trio.   
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Support the band here, buy the album here (out 10/2), stream it here, and postal below: