Tuesday, February 28, 2017

Summer Tour Dates From Ween & Gov't Mule

With some amazing summer like weather here in NYC we also get the announcements of a few summer tours. Ween is playing again and has a shows in the works:
Including two in Brooklyn at Brooklyn Steel a venue we have yet to check out...one of these shows would be a good a time as any. You can see from the pic above pre-sale starts today.

Another Jamband has their spring summer tour all set as Gov't Mule are doing a big tour and a special NYC show in Central Park at Summer Stage. That show is on May 17th and you can see even more tour dates underneath some live video from both of these bands.





Gov’t Mule — 2017 Tour Dates
March 3 Lake Tahoe, NV @MontBleu Resort
March 4 Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl Vegas
March 5 Phoenix, AZ @ McDowell Mountain Music Festival
April 20-22 Live Oak, FL @ Wanee Festival
April 23 Greenville, SC @ Peace Center Concert Hall*
April 24 Huntsville, AL @ Von Braun Center*
April 26 Memphis, TN @ Minglewood Hall*
April 27 Mobile, AL @ Saenger Theatre*
April 28 New Orleans, LA @ Saenger Theatre^
May 17 New York, NY @ Central Park SummerStage (W/ Chris Robinson Brotherhood)
May 19 Upper Darby, PA @ Tower Theater
May 20 Washington, DC @ Warner Theatre
May 22 St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant
May 23 Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theatre
May 25 Minneapolis, MN @ State Theatre
May 26 Milwaukee, WI @ Pabst Theatre
May 25-28 Cumberland, MD @ DelFest
August 19 Morrison, CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheatre (w/ Yonder Mountain
String Band & The Marcus King Band)
August 24-27 Arrington, VA @ Lockn’ Festival

*With Eric Krasno Band
^With Soulive

Monday, February 27, 2017

Dylan Cover #265 Mountain "The Time They Are A-Changin'"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by Mountain playing "The Time They Are A-Changin'":

This month we will focus on the band Mountain's fairly recent Dylan Cover album Masters of War

Thoughts on Original
:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
Well it is his most famous song for a reason, it is one of the greatest ever produced in any genre, ever.

Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
January we are going to focus on Mountain. Here is some info on the group, we have never really known them or been a fan outside of classic rock radio. Regarding the bands decision to do a full album of Dylan covers here is the rationale:
After 5 to 6 years on a recent worldwide Mountain tour, we were asked to record a new CD. During the touring Leslie heard Neil Young's rendition of Blowin in the Wind and decided to perform it acoustically at our shows. The reaction was clearly overwhelming leaving Les and I to a serious look, again, at the musical and political significance of Bob Dylan's repertoire. I personally felt that Leslie's vocal power would match the power in Dylan's lyrics. The melodies simple and direct would match Leslie's lyrical guitar expressions. The drum feels were spontaneous and most of the basic tracks were first takes in the studio. Personally, I just tried to punctuate the hell out of the song. It took about 3 years to contemplate exactly what Dylan material we would decide to record Mountain style. The final result is Mountain CD MASTERS OF WAR
Thoughts on Cover:
Well we have focused on a few cover albums in this series so far. We checked in on The Hollies, The Byrds, and The Jamie Saft Trio for a month of their covers from dedicated Dylan influenced albums. Safe to say for these ears Mountain has been the least memorable as the style hasn't meshed very well for RtBE. Warren Haynes always sounds nice when playing guitar as he does here, but for us Leslie's voice was just too polished/flamboyant/showboat-y during these four covers we highlighted. We will be back to various covers of Dylan next Monday.  

Friday, February 24, 2017

Full Show Friday: Mariah Carey Tokyo Dome 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...Mariah Carey.
After our focus on jazz in January we move to popular arts and acts for February, staying pop with Mariah Carey this week.

Actually we are kinda surprised this artist has had a long and successful career, to even still be relevant in 2017 is a win for her. Granted, 2017 started off brutal for her with a lip sync fiasco on NYE and her recent performance on Jimmy Kimmel was brutal to these ears.  

Let's go back to 1998 and let her sing in Tokyo...Enjoy:
P.S. Happy B-Day Ma'Dukes.

Thursday, February 23, 2017

Album Review: The Mantle - The Mantle

The Mantle
S/T
*** out of *****

The old adage, never judge a book by its cover is a decent phrase, but sometimes you need to throw it out the window. On The Mantle's self titled debut disk the cover has a purple sky, oceans, swirling clouds, planets shooting stars spaceships and old style schooners. If that doesn't scream prog-metal I am not sure what does.

The New York based three piece (Max Gorelick - guitar, Jake Miller - guitar, Asher Bank - drums) are instrumental experts, even on their first release the technique and talent are instantly apparent as the band weaves their way through thick and heavy passages of sound.

Opener "Dragons in the Purple Sky" sums up everything the band does well, soaring riffs, heavy fret-board action, tempo changes, acrobatic drum work all around an ear for melodic phrasing. The first comparison that comes to mind is Dream Theater as music nerds will rejoice with the cascading notes that flow out.

There are some variations, "Seabreather" amps up a bit of the stomp and heaviness, "The Feeling" is brighter, "Sisu" becomes frantic at the end, "Trident" is chunky/groovy, both "Virulian"and "A Sense of Scale" shoot for the grandiose. All however are in the same mold, firework instrumental work and lots of structured changes that paint pictures for the ears.

The album (like everything in this genre) runs long and can become monotonous at times even with all the skill on display. Less a knock on The Mantle in particular but the genre in general there is a robotic aloofness that doesn't feel soulful and can become background music after a few spectacular numbers. Keeping lyrics and vocals away are a smart move, but in doing so some of the humanity is removed.      

The trio continually race up and down the scales and cymbals as they flash their skills over and over again. For fans of progressive metal this band will scratch your itch, others may enjoy a few tracks and move on, but what can't be denied are that the Mantle have chops.
__________________________________________________________________
Another bandcamp find, support the band, buy the album, stream it on bandcamp or below and peep some video:


Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah Releasing The Centennial Trilogy

One of our favorite finds during our Jazzy January series was when last year we stumbled upon Christian Scott Atunde Adjuah and his fantastic Stretch Music. Now, to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of the first Jazz recordings from 1917 he will be releasing three albums.

The first album from the trilogy is called Ruler Rebel and the first single released is titled "The Reckoning" you can listen to it here:

We love the track, it sounds fresh and inventive as well as rooted in Jazz tradition. Here is some more info on the releases:
Collectively titled The Centennial Trilogy, the series is at its core a sobering re-evaluation of the social political realities of the world through sound. It speaks to a litany of issues that continue to plague our collective experiences. Slavery in America via the Prison Industrial Complex, Food Insecurity, Xenophobia, Immigration, Climate Change, Sexual Orientation, Gender Equality, Fascism and the return of the Demagogue.
The first release in the trilogy, Ruler Rebel, vividly depicts Adjuah’s new vision and sound – revealing Adjuah to the listener in a way never heard before via a completely new production methodology that Stretches Trap Music with West African and New Orleanian Afro-Native American styles.
Here is some more live music from him:

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Album Review: Robert Randolph & The Family Band- Got Soul

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

It is of the newest release from Robert Randolph & The Family Band titled Got Soul

We have been a fan of the group since they literally got their start; RtBE were on board early with this band. We saw them live at one of their first performances at Wetlands and caught them every chance we could that year, including their (still) best release Live At Wetlands

The band (like most jambands) is just much better live than in the studio. Got Soul is OK, but they butter their biscuits each and every night they play to the sold out crowds. Support the band, buy the album and peep some video below:
 

Monday, February 20, 2017

Dylan Cover #264 Mountain "Highway 61 Revisited"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by Mountain playing "Highway 61 Revisited":

This month we will focus on the band Mountain's fairly recent Dylan Cover album Masters of War

Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
A great blues rock number that has a touch of silly from Bob with the "Siren Whistle". The original version of this tune found on the album of the same name strikes me as a bit of a put on, Bob obviously loves the historic feel and the bizarre middle American heritage but the lyrics and whistle soften the blow. The track gets increasingly better in the live versions where Dylan's backers can rev up the honky-tonk and boogie down south as the group did for us up in Saratoga back in 2000. Tony Garnier the bass player for the group lead things on a thumping rollick in the encore and the band all hopped on board as Dylan sang about God/Abraham. It was the last rocker the group played that night putting fourth a ton of 6-string energy. (They would go on to finish with the crowd singing along to "Blowing in the Wind").
Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
January we are going to focus on Mountain. Here is some info on the group, we have never really known them or been a fan outside of classic rock radio. Regarding the bands decision to do a full album of Dylan covers here is the rationale:
After 5 to 6 years on a recent worldwide Mountain tour, we were asked to record a new CD. During the touring Leslie heard Neil Young's rendition of Blowin in the Wind and decided to perform it acoustically at our shows. The reaction was clearly overwhelming leaving Les and I to a serious look, again, at the musical and political significance of Bob Dylan's repertoire. I personally felt that Leslie's vocal power would match the power in Dylan's lyrics. The melodies simple and direct would match Leslie's lyrical guitar expressions. The drum feels were spontaneous and most of the basic tracks were first takes in the studio. Personally, I just tried to punctuate the hell out of the song. It took about 3 years to contemplate exactly what Dylan material we would decide to record Mountain style. The final result is Mountain CD MASTERS OF WAR
Thoughts on Cover:
This one isn't our favorite this month as the "hard rock" posturing is a bit much. The swagger helps some songs, but not this one. Until next week...

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Album Review: Sun Volt- Notes of Blue

Sun Volt
Notes of Blue
*** and 1/2 out of *****

The eighth studio album from the Jay Farrar led Sun Volt is a short burst of their Americana laced rock sound as Notes of Blue stands firm lean and true.

Farrar's lead vocals are terse and while there are flashes of Neil Young in delivery and songwriting the band has incorporated lots of sounds, but sticks to the main avenues of american popular music of the last eighty plus years. The opener "Promise of the World" and "Cairo and Southerners" are the most laid back tracks on the disk as a gloomy pedal steel sets the tone on the early song and a sense of resignation infuses the latter with acoustic picking and sparse piano.

"Back Against The Wall" is an ode to persistence and can be reflective of the current cultural political scene, of the bands career or of life in general as fuzzy guitars ring out. That blaring energy seeps into the next track "Static" that is aptly titled as gritty guitars buzz and white noise rage penetrates the speakers. "Lost Souls" also kicks up the rocking feel with slapping snares and strutting riffs to start before exploding into a full sonic gale to close.

The blues take center stage on a number of tracks as well, but these aren't your back porch summer time blues, there is an apocalyptic current running through all the tracks. "Cherokee St." has a swampy back woods aggression as the pace quickens, "The Storm" focuses on picking and sliding while "Midnight" plunges into the chaos and depths of the soul.  Closer "Threads and Steel" could be about the devil himself as the twanging blues smolders ending the disk on a creepy note.      

The track "Sinking Down" seems to combine all of what Sun Volt does well on this album as the tempo shifts between rocking and reflective over blues tinged lyrics and a sense of futility but one with a keen sense of melody and rhythm.

Combining country rambles, bluesy riffs and rock stomps the band shines confidently on Notes of Blue. While there is no standout individual offering, the overall sound of the disk will be welcoming to long time fans of the group and newcomers alike.
_____________________________________________________________________
Support the band, buy the album, stream for a limited time over at NPR and peep some video below:

Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Jason Isbell New Album and Tour This Spring

One of our absolute favorite songwriters going today, Jason Isbell, is coming out with a new album and will be touring behind it this spring. RtBE can not wait to hear it and see the fantastic band.
The group is touring this spring, playing NYC's Beacon Theater at the end of June (tickets on sale Friday) and we loved the last show we saw them play there. While the show (or shows) will be great, the album is even more anticipated.

According to an interview Isbell did with Rolling Stone, this one (still untitled) is going to rock a little more and will be credited to Isbell as well as his backing band The 400 Unit. RtBE are greatly anticipating this disk and can not wait to hear it.

Also announced recently, for Record Store Day in April the band will be releasing a cover album titled Live from Welcome to 1979. Covering some of our favorite Stones Songs (including the criminally underrated "Sway") as well as John Prine and Candi Stanton we are excitd to grab this one when it it comes out. 

Until then, lets check out some live Isbell and 400 Unit. Enjoy:


 

Tuesday, February 14, 2017

Album Review: Meatbodies - Alice

Hey all, got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!!!
It is of the Meatbodies newest album Alice. Albums like this are the reason we love to write for Glide. The kindly editors sent us this album and having never heard of the group we were super surprised it is solid. 

Fun stuff from these California boys and it is a freaky fun ride. Support the band, buy the album and peep some video below. 

 

Monday, February 13, 2017

Dylan Cover #263 Mountain "Gotta Serve Somebody"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by Mountain playing "Gotta Serve Somebody":

This month we will focus on the band Mountain's fairly recent Dylan Cover album Masters of War

Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
This powerful call of hellfire and brimstone rained down from the mountaintop as Dylan proclaimed his faith proudly, and this was the first song that most of the public heard confirming the fact that Bob did indeed "Go Jesus". It is point and fact with its belief and message. You gotta serve somebody... can't be simpler then that when it comes to faith can it? The original has a driving beat and a propulsion to it that sounds urgent, but not as urgent as Bob sings, reinforcing the proclamation through his powerful lyrics and leaving no man or woman on the sidelines...he brings everyone into this spiritual battle, and whatever your beliefs it is impossible not to feel Bob is committed as he runs through the verses and chorus.

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
January we are going to focus on Mountain. Here is some info on the group, we have never really known them or been a fan outside of classic rock radio. Regarding the bands decision to do a full album of Dylan covers here is the rationale:
After 5 to 6 years on a recent worldwide Mountain tour, we were asked to record a new CD. During the touring Leslie heard Neil Young's rendition of Blowin in the Wind and decided to perform it acoustically at our shows. The reaction was clearly overwhelming leaving Les and I to a serious look, again, at the musical and political significance of Bob Dylan's repertoire. I personally felt that Leslie's vocal power would match the power in Dylan's lyrics. The melodies simple and direct would match Leslie's lyrical guitar expressions. The drum feels were spontaneous and most of the basic tracks were first takes in the studio. Personally, I just tried to punctuate the hell out of the song. It took about 3 years to contemplate exactly what Dylan material we would decide to record Mountain style. The final result is Mountain CD MASTERS OF WAR
Thoughts on Cover:
Our first thought is why did they change the name on the official release? Leslie and crew dropped the Gotta from the title, which is a touch perplexing, but perhaps to make up for that they add something...Warren Haynes. A favorite around these parts, Warren isn't the hardest working man in rock nowadays for nothing, his guitar and vocals here ground the track from metal pomp and circumstance.

The result is more marching blues strut that is a bit fast where a slow sludge could have been more effecting but the end result is a decent one from Mountain and Haynes and our favorite of this month's focus. 

Friday, February 10, 2017

Full Show Friday: Nicki Minaj Live - iHeartRadio 2014

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...Nicki Minaj.
After our focus on jazz in January we move to popular arts and acts for February, staying hip-hop with Nicki Minaj this week.

Well we are staying pop and an iHeartRadio show pretty much fits that bill. This week is Nicki Minaj for you, and while it is true she isn't in our natural wheelhouse, we were actually blown away (I think like most people) the first time we ever heard her on Kanye's "Monster" way back when he released it during his G.O.O.D Fridays phase.

We will be honest RtBE hasn't followed her much since, but if it is what the kids are listening to, we are going to promote it this month. Enjoy:


Thursday, February 9, 2017

Trombone Shorty Signs with Blue Note, New Record Spring '17

Last week +Glide Magazine broke the news that Trombone Shorty has now signed with the iconic Blue Note record label and will be releasing a new album this spring.  

We have always loved Shorty since we first saw him over ten years ago in New Orleans. He is one of the best live performers going today. He and Orleans Avenue bring it every night they are on stage. He is currently touring with the Red Hot Chili Peppers (they roll into MSG next week) and here is hoping fans get into the arena early to see the best act that will be on the stage that night.

However, we have also argued he hasn't been able to transfer those skills onto a record. His studio releases have been lacking, so here is hoping he pulls it all together for Blue Note. We can't wait to see him when we head down and he closes out NOLA Jazzfest, so until then how about some live video of him and the fellas.

Wednesday, February 8, 2017

The Black Angels New Album Death SongComing, 1st Song Here

The psych-rock outfit from Austin, TX The Black Angels have a new album coming out this April called Death Song. It has some trippy album art as well:

RtBE dig the group having seen them live and reviewed them multiple times in the past. Their music is great for late night freak out sessions, as their eerie nightmare drones work well with creepy lighting and altered chemicals. 

The first song from their new album is "Currency" and it is classic in their style but also feels heavier than past efforts. Enough of our babbling, check it out yourself:
Thoughts?


Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Album Review: Dr. Dog- Abandoned Mansion

Dr. Dog
Abandoned Mansion
*** out of *****

The Philadelphia shaggy pop rockers Dr Dog are known for putting out lots of music and touring all the time; the group generally seem to love producing music in all forms. Back in November they decided to put out (as they describe it) a mood record titled Abandoned Mansion. It can be found on their bandcamp page and there was little to zero fanfare regarding its release (we are just finding it in early 2017 and RtBE are huge fans of the band).

The disk is relaxed and meandering like a warm summer night as Scott McMicken sings on the easy acoustic album opener "Casual Freefall" there is "No Rush" they are exactly where they are as a band, and that is a warm familiar spot.

Abandoned Mansion has a demo feel in that it seems the band didn't fuss too much over tracks and some work brilliantly and others don't sync up as well. The breezy "Ladada" flows out effortlessly while "Peace of Mind"rambles gloriously with prime piano and fuzzy electric guitar fade out; if anything this song feels like it could have been expanded even more. "Survive" brings up the spiritual and almost holy in thankful escapism terms (a theme that pops up throughout) and "Both Sides of the Line" takes a simple phrase, repeats it, adds acoustic guitars and ends up a winner.

Not so successful is the overwrought "I Saw Her for the First Time" which tries to pair orchestral string layers of cello and violin with some lovelorn lyrics that do not mesh well. A better use of bigger sounds and theatrics is the disk closing title track that swells with layers of organs, electric guitars and the groups patented pristine harmonies.

The disk showcases the strengths of the now veteran band, "Could've Happened To Me" is a delightful acoustic soul, road song and "I Know" feels desperate and aloof at once, a neat trick that the band can pull off. "Jim Song" is an album highlight, structured and lyrically powerful, it ends up feeling like a Dylan or Tom Petty outtake with a crisp harmonica and mid song tempo change that puts a slight fifty twist on things; all around goodness.

The band released the excellent B-Room in 2013 then a live album and a return to their odd ball roots with Psychedelic Swamp, and while this album can feel like a holding pattern of sorts it is certainly a pleasant one. The group just has that touch of being able to bring out the familiar bright feelings that great folky pop rock delivers on the regular, at least in Dr. Dog's paws.  
_______________________________________________________________
Support the band, buy the album or stream it on bandcamp (or below) and peep some video:





Monday, February 6, 2017

Dylan Cover #262 Mountain "Masters of War"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by Mountain playing "Masters of War":

This month we will focus on the band Mountain's fairly recent Dylan Cover album Masters of War

(This may seem awfully familiar to dedicated readers, we accidentally posted this last month. we are re-posting it as our focus on Mountains Masters of War album was supposed to be scheduled for February 2017, so forgive our blip on the radar, our Dylan Mondays are back on track now)
Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
Ranking as one of his most accusatory and cutting tracks Dylan condemns the whole "war machine" on this classic and vital song (the "hope that you die" line is so fucking cold, it is brutal). Often misrepresented as an attack on war itself (Dylan always said he wasn't a pacifist) this track calls out the government for using war-as-business (the Cold War in particular) and business-as-war models when lives are put on the line for meaningless reasons. As alive and burning now as it was in 1962 when he wrote it, a tremendous song.
Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
January we are going to focus on Mountain. Here is some info on the group, we have never really known them or been a fan outside of classic rock radio. Regarding the bands decision to do a full album of Dylan covers here is the rationale:
After 5 to 6 years on a recent worldwide Mountain tour, we were asked to record a new CD. During the touring Leslie heard Neil Young's rendition of Blowin in the Wind and decided to perform it acoustically at our shows. The reaction was clearly overwhelming leaving Les and I to a serious look, again, at the musical and political significance of Bob Dylan's repertoire. I personally felt that Leslie's vocal power would match the power in Dylan's lyrics. The melodies simple and direct would match Leslie's lyrical guitar expressions. The drum feels were spontaneous and most of the basic tracks were first takes in the studio. Personally, I just tried to punctuate the hell out of the song. It took about 3 years to contemplate exactly what Dylan material we would decide to record Mountain style. The final result is Mountain CD MASTERS OF WAR
Thoughts on Cover:
A nice fit with the heaviness of the band and the heaviness of the topic, and a pretty easy choice to be the title track of the bands full Dylan cover album that we will be focusing on this month. The added Ozzy vocals are excellent as the crown prince of darkness gets to sing some of The Bards angriest lines and helps elevate this cover. 

With lead singer Leslie West, like lots of heavy metal singers he likes to show off and the vocal ticks aren't our favorite but it comes with this territory.   

Friday, February 3, 2017

Full Show Friday: Kendrick Lamar Made In America 2014

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...Kendrick Lamar.
After our focus on jazz in January we move to popular arts and acts for February, starting it up with one of the biggest names in hip hop now Kendrick Lamar. (Sorry we couldn't find a decent Migos show, has there ever been one?)

While we are not huge fans of his, this is a fun show, pro shot and pro sound from 2014. Enjoy:

0:20 Money Trees 4:25 Backseat Freestyle 7:44 m.A.A.d City pt.2 (first verse) 10:08 The Art Of Peer Pressure 11:00 Swimming Pools (Drank) 14:30 Fuckin' Problem (Kendricks verse) 18:30 Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe 22:04 Poetic Justice 25:20 Collard Greens (feat Schoolboy Q) 31:23 m.A.A.d City

Thursday, February 2, 2017

Rotana's New Single is the Pop Strutting "Daddy"

In a season when American values are seriously getting turned on their head, a new pop track from an L.A. based newcomer shouldn't make much of a wave, but when you hear the back story of Rotana, you will see where the present day idiocy called politics and confident dance music intersect.
First the important thing, her music. Her newest single is "Daddy" a stuttering funk minimalist pop/dance number that contains a marching fire musically while delivering vocal passion that leaps into your ears.

Check it out on Spotify or below:

Second, a mini backstory of who she is. Her story is like a of pop star hopefuls but with one major twist; the place she was born would never allow her to even think about doing anything close to it. Being born in Saudi Arabia Rotana Tarabzouni has stated in interviews she couldn't even dream of a career singing and that in Saudi Arabia:
"Possibility and dreaming [in Saudi] isn't that easy," she explains. "[Your mind] doesn't even allow it because it doesn't know it. There's no frame of reference. Your mind doesn't have proof that the unimaginable can happen."
This will happen when your country of birth is ranked 134th out of 145 countries by the Global Gender Gap Report. Not only can't women drive cars in Saudi Arabia, they must always have a male guardian (regardless of age) and can't even try on clothes while shopping. It is one of the most gender segregated countries on the planet and thankfully Rotana came to study towards her Masters Degree at U.S.C. Once in Los Angeles she became inspired and started living her dream of singing in public and doing a damn good job of it. 

During February we like to focus on pop music more and this new artist cooks musically and reminds us that people yearn to be in this country pursuing their dreams that they may have never even dared to think about in the country they happened to be born in. Music knows no boundaries, has no travel bans, doesn't discriminate by gender; music just shines hope.  

For more on Rotana check out this mini documentary from 2015 that goes more in depth to her story:


Album Review: Japandroids - Near To The Wild Heart Of Life

Hey all, got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!!!
It is of the Japandroids newest release,  Near To The Wild Heart Of Life.

We loved Celebration Rock. We ranked it high on our year end list for 2012 and it is still one of favorite rock and roll disks of the last ten years, it is amazing. Maybe our hopes were too high for this release but it just feels like something is lacking. It isn't a bad record or even a huge disappointment after 5 years away, but this band was able to capture something primal with their last record we hoped they could pull it off again. Not to be, but not bad by any stretch.   

Support the duo, buy the disk, and peep some video below:

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Phish to Perform Bakers Dozen @ MSG Summer '17

This summer the Vermont foursome Phish will set up shop at Madison Square Garden for an unprecedented 13 straight shows or as they are calling it their bakers dozen.
They made the announcement with a donuts filled video, so check it out:


Pretty crazy. NYC is the best city in the world, but one detriment to live music fans is that there really isn't a solid outdoor venue in the area. PNC is fine, but you need to drive, don't get me started on Jones Beach, and we can all mourn that McCarren Pool went back to swimming instead of shows, but this now puts a huge event square in the big apple during the summer hazy days.

Years ago we would have tried to hit them all, now we will be happy with one show, rumor has it each show may be themed (ie: "Boston Creme Night" will include Boston and Cream covers) so special phishy moments are sure to abound.

Here is some live Phish to get you in the mood with "The Wedge":



Album Review: Sleater-Kinney- Live In Paris

Hey all, got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!!!
It is of Sleater-Kinney's (who are an RtBE Personal Favorite) first ever live album, Live In Paris. With the band taking a long hiatus after their masterful The Woods, it was a pleasant surprise to hear that they lost none of what made them great on their comeback No Cities to Love. We dug that album and placed it high on our year end list, however this album which captures that tour really doesn't do much to bolster the groups legacy, sound or anything. 

It just feels like a nice memento from a decent night of music. Not to say the songs aren't awesome, the playing tight and loose, but all of the tracks lack that ump that in the studio SK deliver. Any-Which-Ways...

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