Friday, March 30, 2018

Full Show Friday: Maceo Parker @ North Sea Jazz Festival 1995

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...Maceo Parker!

Have you noticed our subliminal March theme for Full Show Friday's? March's Full Show Friday's have been brought to you by the letter M. With Metallica, Merle, Mavis, Minutemen, and now Maceo!

MACEO!  How have we not showcased him yet in the full show Friday series? One of the best shows of our life was a Maceo gig in 1997 at Irving Plaza...what a night! This isn't up to that magical level, but the man and his band are fantastic. Pro shot, Pro Sound, Enjoy:

Thursday, March 29, 2018

Gang Starr's Career Highlight Moment of Truth Turns 20

This weekend marks a milestone for a hip hop classic record. Gang Starr's Moment of Truth turns twenty years old on the Saturday so we figured we would celebrate a few days early.
This album will always have a special place in our heart. It came out in our college days and it seemed all of our friends were down with it. From top to bottom it is a great hip hop album that runs eighty minutes and shockingly, no tracks are weak; that itself is incredible rare.

We are not going to go in-depth here though, we will leave that to Clayton Purdom who did a damn good job of that over at the AV Club.

Quick story though...I was lucky enough to catch Gang Starr on this tour when they rolled into Tramps with M.O.P. opening for them. Hip Hop is not usually a live experience but this show was memorable because it was fantastic. M.O.P did everything an opening act should do, brought tons of energy, were short and to the point. 

Gang Starr played almost all of their album with lots of the guests including Inspectah Deck showing up to do their parts. Freddie Foxxx was in attendance as well to do his verse on "The Militia" and I would wager that no one is as removed from their name as he is...that man was huge and roaring, far from sly. 

DJ Premier was excellent spinning and cutting records while Guru kept things moving and the whole night was a hoot in the packed club. A fantastic memory of a great night of music with good friends.

To celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the release of Moment of Truth let's do the best thing possible, listen to some tracks:



 







And RtBE will end with our favorite track from an LP chock full of them:

Happy Opening Day!

I see great things in baseball.  It's our game - the American game.  It will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism.  Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set.  Repair these losses, and be a blessing to us.  
~Walt Whitman

RtBE is here to wish you a Happy Opening Day!

Opening Day should be a national holiday, plain and simple. The Mets kick off at home today against the Cardinals. Winter is gone (at least officially) and  Baseball can never arrive soon enough. Here's hoping your favorite team wins, especially if you are a fellow Mets fan. Let's go Mets!

If RtBE were gamblers we may put some dollars on those stacked Cubs...We know the ghost of Steve Goodman is rooting for them to win it again.


Here are some more baseball inspired tunes to start the magical day, when we are all in first place:









Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Album Review: Yo La Tengo - There's A Riot Going On

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

It is of Yo La Tengo's newest release There's A Riot Going On.

The band took a new route in recording this record and uses a lot of digital loops, backwards tracking and other studio tricks. Very mellow mood piece that has some gorgeous moments, nothing earth shattering, just a pleasant listen. We were between 7 and 8 stars when rating this one, so consider that 7 and a half.

Mention should also be made to the album art, while nothing particularly amazing, it fits the music on it expertly. This kind of matching makes sense from a band who puts a huge amount of thought into all that they release and do.

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


Tuesday, March 27, 2018

Live Review: Jack White @ Warsaw Brooklyn, NY 3/23/18

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

It is of Jack White's recent concert at Warsaw in Brooklyn.

The show was mega...it was loud, it was tiny, it was packed, and it was damn good. The release show of Boarding House Reach, Jack was in fine form as was his band. It is great to hear all the sounds swirl and combine on stage, that fluidity makes it almost impossible to tell where the guitar pedals end and the synths begin.

One thing I didn't mention in the review was the "phone free" part. It was not a big deal in the slightest. Pouches were handed out while fans were waiting in line, you held onto the pouch all show and could open it if need be in designated areas, and on the way out it was unlocked. It literally took zero extra time to get in or out of the venue because of this and it was nice not to see screens while watching the show. That said I do take notes for review on my phone so the next time I see Jack & Co. I will have to go back to scribbling in the dark

Support the artist, catch him live, read the review and peep some video below (THE WHOLE FRICKIN' SHOW:

Monday, March 26, 2018

Dylan Cover #318 Fragments of an Empire "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 live cover by Fragments of an Empire playing "Masters of War"

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 facking 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.
Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Fragments of an Empire are an Austrian noiserock band that seems pretty damn inserting if this live cover is any indication...you can check out their newest EP on their bandcamp page.

Thoughts on Cover:
This version is god damn interesting as it screams and soars. Noisy Dylan covers are always exciting and this one builds expertly.  

Friday, March 23, 2018

Full Show Friday: Minutemen 5/13/85 @ The Stone, SF, CA

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...Minutemen!

This week we showcased various levels of unique styled punk rock so today we figured we would go back to one of the first groups to trudge those paths. We shine the spotlight on oddballs the Minutemen with a full show of theirs from 1985. One bands to come out of the 80's exactly who they are, the group is an acquired taste and (with others, like the Talking Heads) proved that punk was more of a state of mind then fashion or even a musical style.

RtBE came across the band later in life via the fantastic documentary We Jam Econo. Worth watching if this show grabs you.

This is a fan shot set but the sound is pretty god damn great. Full set list below, Enjoy:



MINUTEMEN May 13th, 1985 San Francisco, CA @ The Stone
0:00 - "The World According to Nouns" 2:40 - "Anxious Mo-Fo" 3:54 - "Toadies" 5:30 - "The Big Foist" 6:47 - "Retreat" 8:49 - "Corona" 11:03 - "Do You Want New Wave or Do You Want the Truth?" 12:58 - "King of the Hill" 16:00 - "Maybe Partying Will Help" 17:51 - "Take Our Test" 20:03 - "The Cheerleaders" 23:25 - "Surfin' With The Shah" 25:29 - "Hey Lawdy Mama" 28:14 - "The Product" 31:00 - "Dream Told By Moto" 32:29 - "Theatre Is The Life Of You" 33:54 - "June 16th" 35:45 - "God Bows To Math" 37:00 - "Please don't be gentle with me" 37:40 - "Spillage" 39:27 - "One Reporter's Opinion" 41:13 - "West Germany" 43:20 - "Jesus & Tequila" 46:45 - "I Felt Like A Gringo" 48:27 - "No Exchange" 50:22 - "There ain't shit on TV tonight" 51:53 - "Nothing at All" 53:10 - "Mr. Robot's Holy Orders" 54:54 - "Don't Look Now" 56:32 - "Tour-Spiel" 59:38 - "Two Beads at the End" 1:01:15 - "Beacon Sighted Through the Fog" 1:02:04 - "The Only Minority" 1:03:00 - "History Lesson (Pt. 2)" 1:05:15 - "Little Man With A Gun In His Hand" 1:09:22 - "Substitute" 1:11:15 - "Green River"

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Album Review: Burn - Do or Die

Burn 
Do or Die
*** out of *****

The self titled 1990 EP from Burn is an all time New York Hardcore classic. Eleven and a half minutes of aggressive, unique aggression that made them instant legends on the scene. They did very little else over the next twenty seven years, except play a few shows, and release odds and ends while forming other bands that went on to much greater success in the metal world (Orange 9mm, Quicksand).

Now in 2017 the band has decided to release it's first full length (granted with two tracks re-recorded from a 2001 EP) with original lead singer Chaka Malik and guitarist Gavin Van Vlack both returning while recruiting bassist Tyler Krupsky and drummer Abbas Muhammad into the fold. Do or Die mixes tones, grooves and tempos into a melange of experimental heavy tracks, some more successful than others.

Burn's greatest skill was that they never subscribed to paint by numbers hardcore, they were always willing to take risks in a scene where that trait is extremely rare. "Fate" blasts the record off but things get sluggish with "Ill Together" as the groups unique blending of styles falls flat on this early number. Thankfully things pick up as the album progresses.

"Flame" is the best mix of incorporating hip hop elements metallic grandiose and motoring punk rock/hardcore power. The song also plays with production using an arty lofi breakdown before the burning effigies blare back to the forefront. Another experimental winner is "Unfuck Yourself" with pummeling sound, amazing vocals and a screeching finale that warbles into the ether.

The group pushes and pull around Muhammad's drums for "Beauty" speeding ahead while dancing around Malik's screams, an impressive number. Chaka's lyrics are some of the most unique in this genre (another element that sets the band apart) but on too many numbers the noise drowns out their impact. Chaka can still scream as he shows off on the title track which finds his unique voice taking over ranking with both "Unfuck Yourself" and "Flame" as the standout tracks here.

"Dead Identity" blasts (mostly) straight ahead scratching the NYHC itch while "The Last Great Sea" goes more for heavy metal grandiose. "New Morality" straddles both realms with it's punishing low end showing that the band is extremely comfortable in both realms. "Climb Out" takes the metal guitars once again pushing and pulling along with descending tempos, chugging bass and vocal outbursts. 

While building a legacy in a scene around less than twelve minutes of recorded music is impressive, releasing a solid full length almost thirty years later is almost as admirable. While nothing here touches the heights of their original release, Do or Die is a fun ride in and of itself.
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Not sure how we missed this release last year as Burn was a formidable band of our youth. Support the band, buy the album, stream it on bandcamp or below and peep some video of one of Burn's reunion shows back in 1997, you can even see a much younger version of this author and friends in the pit....


Live Stream Jack White's Show Tomorrow Night

Last week RtBE favorite Jack White surprised fans with three "pre-tour" shows to celebrate the release of his new album Boarding House Reach. The first was in LA on Tuesday the third is in London on 3/28 and the second is tomorrow night in Brooklyn.
It was just announced that you can live stream the show via twitter if you weren't lucky enough to get tickets. RtBE did so we will be rocking out in person at Warsaw tomorrow, but are pumped it will be streamed as someone will like be able to capture it. 

To get in the mood here are a few live clips from Jack and crew:




Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Album Review: Screaming Females - All At Once

Screaming Females
All At Once
****and1/2 out of *****

On Screaming Females last release, Rose Mountain, the band made a giant leap forward. While always a barn burning live act, the New Brunswick, NJ trios albums were mere fodder for the stage until Rose Mountain proved the band had the song writing chops and studio know how to evolve into a must hear for anyone who likes rock music.

It was so confident it didn't feel like a transitional work, but rather an announcement of their realized skills. Now on their follow up, All At Once, that feeling of searching/transition has arrived but it is just as exciting and another positive expansion of their sound. Rose Mountain was direct (lyrically musical) and now All At Once is more languid/fluid taking it's time to germinate. The release has toned down the harsher edges of the group, infused pop elements experimenting with softer textures and sounds while also stretching out and jamming. The long (for a 2018 punk based record) also juxtaposes both extremes of the band and catches them winningly searching for their full musical sound.

All At Once gains confidence as it progresses and rewards the listener with multiple listens; a true grower for 2018.

"I'll Make You Sorry" is a very good song, bordering on great with defiant lyrics about broken love and revenge and the most pop sounding production the group have attempted but also sticks around too long at 4:11 to make a huge dent. Had the band blazed out with the guitar solo at 3:10 or so, the punchy effort would be pure ear candy. 

That said the extra minute doesn't do any harm and even the not so memorable tracks here are still an interesting listen. "Dirt" plays with rhythm of Mike Abbate's bass and Jared Dougherty's drums and brief glimpses of oddball-ness, while the dramatic "Deeply" marches around big hits and keyboards never reaching the climax hinted at. Marissa Paternosters (should be) world famous guitar also drops out for "End of My Bloodline" as the band hints at more freaky experimentation.

"Agnes Martin" will rip on stage but Paternoster's guitar is toned down a touch here with production while "Soft Domination" fully dives into pop rock and works well with guest Brandon Canty from Fugazi helping out drums. Interesting that a band who has a ton in common with the DIY punk gods choose to have Canty join on their least Fugazi sounding song ever. Well, the simply beautiful "Bird In Space" may also contend for that title as it is rolls out a gorgeously groovy beat and pristine solo work while staying in FM rock radio land behind Paternosters layers of vocals which range all over; a stunning track.

The strutting "My Body" also feels like it could have been a radio staple in a far away world with it's swaggering rising chorus around disaffected lyrics revolving around art, perception and projected feelings, wanting to be burned in the end. Paternosters lyrics throughout are about wrong conceptions, convoluted relationships feelings and turning inward to deal with issues; a unique voice in rock music today. Where Rose Mountain was focused lyrically on Paternosters persistent medical issues and her frustration with health care as a whole, here she searches along with the various music supporting her words.

The albums centerpiece "Chamber For Sleep I" and "Chamber For Sleep II" both contain a grooving upbeat sunshine pop vibe juxtaposed with Paternosters vengeful lyrics as bongos, keyboards, and echoing vocals all get toyed with. All of this experimentation seeps into the songs pores before the guitar work tries to arrive with the help of warbling effects, feedback and production augmentation. Part II's rich bass and dynamite conclusion are exhilarating and the suite itself is a microcosm of the album; the band is confident in who they are and exploring where they can go.

This is not to say all of the punk roots have been forsaken, "Black Moon", "Glass House" and "Fantasy Lens" are all powerful attacks that will scratch that itch, and blazing closer "Step Outside" is a throwback to the old Scre-male style of riff assaults with fuzz laden six string, pumping bass and motoring drum work but All At Once is more about the future.

The trio is now more than ever determined to follow their own path and that is the most exciting aspect of All At Once, there is no longer a known playbook for this excellent trio.
________________________________________________________________
RtBE absolutely LOVE this band, support the group, buy the album, stream it on bandcamp, peep some video below:


Tuesday, March 20, 2018

Album Review: Hot Snakes - Jericho Sirens

Hot Snakes
Jericho Sirens
*** out of *****


On Hot Snakes first full length in over thirteen years the post hardcore rockers continue their unique brand of a punk rock that mixes arty flashes with punching low end work.

Jericho Sirens collection of ten short tracks runs the gamut from out and out fury to more restrained nuanced tracks. Vocally front man Rick Froberg still can scream or strain with the best of them while lyrically remains arty and aloof with more colors of sound than coherent thoughts or screeds against specific topics.

The group kicks down the down with it's most aggressive offerings right out the box. "I Need A Doctor" is a cry for help blasting forward in punk fashion while "Candid Cameras" gets angular with guitars and engaging drum work. Having two drummers is unique for any punk band and
Jason Kourkounis and Mario Rubalcaba along for the ride can inject an interesting dynamic at times.

A more direct rocker is the countdown closing "Death Camp Fantasy" which, despite it's title is the most pop punk track here. Metallic scratchy guitars and feedback color "Having Another?" while the engaging low end groove pushes "Death Doula" in ominous fashion before the closer "Death Of A Sportsman" pays tribute to one of the bands big influences, Suicide.

The groups intriguing appeal shows up in the middle of the disk with three tracks in a row. Their most aggressive offering, "Why Don't It Sink In?" gallops hard at a minute twenty before the swinging bar rock of "Six Wave Hold-Down" completely shifts gears and the marching doom laden title track closes things. Safe to say not all fans will like all three tracks, but their lies the appeal of the group; fans of interesting hard rock will find something to latch on to.

Sub Pop has released this record and plan to re-release their back catalog so a new generation of arty punk rockers can get down with Hot Snakes; Jericho Sirens is a confident return for the band.
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Support the band, buy the album peep some video below:

Monday, March 19, 2018

Dylan Cover #317 Lukas Kowalski "Jokerman" Live

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is live a cover by Lukas Kowalski playing "Jokerman"

Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
The kick-start to his "back to rock and roll" album Infidels, "Jokerman" is a monster. A torrent of images, symbols, thoughts, proclamations, fears and fables; it feels like a dam was broken in Dylan's brain and all of these things just poured out. Musically it moves along but doesn't add much to the towering wordplay as the tune is dominated by the lyrics which seem almost never ending; Dylan has penned wordier tunes, but few feel as heavy as this. Flawed, but reaching for something, it is a not a great Dylan song but it is one that lets us peak into his brain a bit. For more on this tune, check out this post.
Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Have never heard of Lukas Kowalski before. Not much found out about him, but he has a few other videos on his Youtube page.

Thoughts on Cover:
This is a stunning rendition of the the tune. The loops and FX work really add a lot to it, but Kowalski's vocals remind a lot of Mark Knopfler and hold up on their own as well. A pretty and confident version that once again makes this series such a joy every Monday. 

Saturday, March 17, 2018

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Wishing everyone a happy, safe and fun St. Patrick's Day from RtBE and we might as well throw in a self plug.


Here is Angels & Vagabonds Irish inspired tune, "Queens Boulevard Serenade":

The story goes; in the lead up to our first St. Paddy's Day gig we were working on some traditional Irish songs to play and our lead singer/keyboard player Don McNally realized they were basically all the same chords just re-arraigned.

So the Irish American from Woodside, NY dug into his past and crafted QBS. He brought it to the group and after a few tweaks it was ready for prime time, we actually played it only about a week after it was written. There is a little inside baseball into our process, now go celebrate by hoisting a pint....Happy St. Paddy's!

Friday, March 16, 2018

Full Show Friday: Mavis Staples @ Museum of Making Music Carlsbad, CA 2015

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...Mavis Staples!

This week we shine a light on an American legend as Mavis Staples and her band take center stage for an hour of tunes. The soulful mix of gospel rock, funk and roots rock is infectious. We caught her on this tour opening for Bob Dylan out in Queens and last year we caught her with this lineup open once again for Bob Dylan. We should also share our lover for her Jeff Tweedy produced album even rating it high in our year end review.

On this night of music covers from The Talking Heads and Parliament Funkadelic are sprinkled in with originals for this great set. Not pro shot or pro sound, but pretty damn close...Enjoy:


Thursday, March 15, 2018

Album Review: Wild Child - Expectations

Wild Child
Expectations
***and 1/2 out of *****

The fourth album from the Austin, TX based Wild Child is a long running, high minded pop excursion titled Expectations. Their are a lot of ideas and approaches presented here as the band expands upon their sound for their most confident release yet. 

The self described seven piece pop mini orchestra has Kelsey Wilson on violin and vocals; Alexander Beggins on ukulele and vocals; Sadie Wolfe on cello; Matt Bradshaw on keyboards, trumpet, and harmonica; Tom Myers on drums; Cody Ackors on guitar and trombone; and Tyler Osmond on bass. The players run the gamut on Expectations with stripped down direct numbers to overloaded anthems as the band lets everything plus the kitchen sink fly this go around.

The opener "Alex" is an easy rolling light funky joint that is highlighted by the duet vocals of Wilson and Beggins. Their vocal intertwining is magical when it is worked out, especially on the stripped down relationship honesty of "The One" which highlights the bands lyrical powers. "Follow Me" is another song that focuses on the craft with breathy vocals augmented by piano, well placed horns and bass notes to mellow things out.

The bands acoustic tendencies get many airings such as the light downbeat "Sinking Ship", the dramatic swells of "My Town" and the violin lead "Eggshells" which goes on a bit too long. These tracks aren't duds, but the band seems to work better when they can all contribute and elevate songs in a more upbeat fashion. "Back & Forth" breaks out the big horns for a successful soul shaker, the title track injects some rough noise rock and goes for the gusto with a huge chorus. "Break You Down" wins with hand claps, closing horn work all around a gorgeous bass line while "Think It Over" is a more restrained groove that is a hell of a jam about infidelity and cheating.

The band worked with a whose who of indie rock artists as producers: Chris Walla (formerly of Death Cab for Cutie), Matthew Logan Vasquez (Delta Spirit), Chris Boosahda (Shakey Graves), Scott McMicken (Dr. Dog), Adrian Quesada (Grupo Fantasma), and Max Frost. While all of these artists have been influences on the band (and can be heard in various tracks on Expectations) the group that they kept yearning to be compared to in these ears is another Austin outfit, Spoon. Wild Child has a more organic/acoustic vibe but their counterparts in Spoon seem to share the same passion for intricate pop numbers that are always focused on the totality of the song.

An long invested album, Expectations finds Wild Child putting it all on the line and succeeding.
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A bandcamp find we were very happy to come across. Support the band, buy the album or stream it on bandcamp, and peep some video below:

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Live Review: Steve Winwood @ NJPAC 3/8/18

Hey all, got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!!!
It is of Steve Winwood's show from Newark, New Jersey's NJPAC on March 8th 2018.

The night was pretty dynamite and while we didn't take to Mr. Neto's lead guitar work that much, everything else was fantastic. If you can catch him on this tour do it, you will not be let down. High praise should also go out to NJPAC, it is a glorious venue and RtBE can not wait to catch another show there.

Support the artist, read the review and peep some video below from this and other recent shows:




Band of Horses Touring in 2018

Following on the heels of one of RtBE favorites the Arctic Monkey's announcing a tour, we have another RtBE band we dig doing the same. Band of Horses will be touring this summer and are also in the process of recording new tunes.
The full tour dates are below, and we will be catching them in the gorgeous Capital Theater on August 10th when the tour comes (close) to NYC. Fan Pre-sale is on now, on-sale to the public on Friday. To get in the mood peep some live video of the band below:





Band of Horses — 2018 Tour Dates
4/20 – Monterrey, MX – Pal Norte Festival
4/21 – Charleston, SC – High Water Festival
7/28 – Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom*
7/29 – Wichita, KS – Cotillion Ballroom*
7/31 – Springfield, MO – Gillioz Theatre *
8/1 – Kansas City, MO – Crossroads*
8/3 – Hinterland Festival Saint Charles, IA
8/4 – Peoria, IL – Peoria Riverfront Stage – Festival Park*
8/5 – Memphis, TN – Orpheum*
8/7 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s*
8/8 – Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom*
8/10 – Port Chester, NY – Capitol Theatre*
8/11 – Portsmouth, NH – Prescott Park – Free
8/12 – Providence, RI – The Strand Theatre*
8/14 – Asbury Park, NJ – Stone Pony Summer Stage
8/15 – Richmond, VA – The National*
8/17 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz*
8/18 – Asheville, NC – Meadow @ Highland Brewing Co.*

* – w/ Bonny Doon

Tuesday, March 13, 2018

Arctic Monkeys Announce North American Summer 2018 Tour

The fantastic Arctic Monkeys will be back on the road this summer playing to some festival dates and other one off stops on a North American tour.
They will be playing July 24th out in Forest Hills for their New York City date and RtBE will be there as we love this band and have seen them play each time they have been in town. Rumor has it that a new album is almost done so there could be new tunes popping up at these shows as well.

To get in the mood here are some live clips from the band with the full tour dates below:




Arctic Monkeys North American Tour Dates

May 5 – Los Angeles, CA – Hollywood Forever Cemetery

June 14-17 – Dover, DE – Firefly Festival

June 16 – Raleigh, NC – Red Hat Amphitheater

June 18 – Nashville, TN – Ascend Amphitheater

June 19 – Atlanta, GA – Coca Cola Roxy Theatre

July 24 – Queens, NY – Forest Hills Stadium

July 27 – Boston, MA – TD Garden

July 28 – Washington, DC – The Anthem

July 31 – Pittsburgh, PA – Petersen Events center

August 1 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Temple Theatre

August 5 – Toronto, ONT – Air Canada Centre

Album Review: David Byrne - American Utopia

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

It is of David Byrne's newest release, American Utopia.
Byrne has been working on a series titled Reasons To Be Cheerful which includes speeches art and this album. In the press release for the record he even asks the question, Am I being serious? It is tough to tell on American Utopia, but the worst part was it didn't make me care about cheer, ironic actions or the songs themselves.

On first listen nothing worked for us. In reviewing the album for Glide we gave it multiple listens to dig into it and very little was illuminated. The silly/pointless lyrical songs stand out, the mix of organic/programmed is constant, and the one truly saving grace of the whole thing is Byrne's amazing vocals; a friend of the site's once commented "It sounds like he has been gargling with milk and ice cubes all of these years".

Byrne is clearly an artist, sometimes to his detriment and American Utopia seems to be one of these times.You may also notice on this review that we do not write the headlines for Glide...

Support the artist, read the review, buy the album and peep some video below:

Monday, March 12, 2018

Dylan Cover #316 CJ Ramone "My Back Pages" Live

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by CJ Ramone of "My Back Pages"


Thoughts on Dylan Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this song:
The original has taken upon itself a cultural importance, and the chorus has simply become iconic. I doubt Dylan intended such, but it toes the line of out and out protest and illustrative questions. He puts down everyone from evangelists to girls, but the language snakes and flows so magically that it doesn't seem as harsh as "Positively 4th St" or "Ballad in Plain D". The sense of exhaling desperation or at least the realization that age confuses things even more seems to be what I take from this tune after each listen, but things can change...or can they?

Cover
:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
A later day member of The Ramones and the singer of this cover track from Acid Eaters (which we already featured in this series). Today though we get a live acoustic cover from CJ and supporters. Oh and if you want to know how we feel about his band; they are one of the greatest American bands of all time.

Thoughts on Cover:
After a false start this is a fun upbeat cover in a live setting. Nothing mind blowing, but nothing harmful to the ears either. 

Friday, March 9, 2018

Full Show Friday: Merle Haggard Live at Church Street Station 1988

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...Merle Haggard!

This week we focus on the country legend Merle Haggard. The man is an icon and while he isn't our favorite of the genre, he is really damn solid, so why not spend a nice Friday with some country classics like "Mamma Tried" and "The Bottle Let Me Down" among others.

The show was actually filmed in 1988 at the The Cheyenne Saloon and Opera House' located in Orlando, Florida. Pro shot, Pro Sound, Full set list with timing below. Enjoy:

Merle Haggard live at Church Street Station.

1. Twinkle Twinkle Star (0:50) 2. If You Want to Be My Woman (5:15) 3. Workin' Man Blues (8:50) 4. Always Late (11:41) 5. T.B. Blues (15:14) 6. Folsom Prison Blues (18:28) 7. Footlights (21:40) 8. Big City (25:48) 9. Mama Tried (28:39) 10. Medley: Brain Cloudy Blues / Milk Cow Blues (31:40) 11. Begging to You (36:30) 12. The Bottle Let Me Down (39:03) 13. What Am I Gonna Do (44:00) 14. Ida Red (47:58) 15. San Antonio Rose (50:14) 16. Corrine, Corrina (53:40) 17. Take Me Back to Tulsa (55:55) 18. Medley: Faded Love / A Maiden's Prayer (58:02) 19. Fiddle Breakdown (1:01:54) 20. Right or Wrong (1:04:45) 21. Ramblin' Fever (1:07:34) 22. That's the Way Love Goes (1:11:21) 23. Today I Started Loving You Again (1:14:25) 24. Okie from Muskogee (1:17:50) 25. The Fightin' Side of Me (1:20:55)

Thursday, March 8, 2018

Album Review: Barrence Whitfield and The Savages - Soul Flowers of Titan

Hey all, got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!!!
It is of Barrence Whitfield and The Savages newest release, Soul Flowers of Titan.
This group of players keep putting out damn good retro soul music. We were lucky enough to review a few albums of theirs now and each one is tight.

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


Wednesday, March 7, 2018

Album Review: The Breeders - All Nerve

Hey all, got a new review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here!!!
It is of The Breeders newest release, All Nerve.
This is a damn good record.We didn't like the bands last few releases, but this one stacks up. Support the band, read the review, buy the album and peep some video below:


Two New Hold Steady Songs Released

In advance of this weekends shows in London (have fun Meg) The Hold Steady has released two new tracks that they will be debuting live in London.
They did the same thing back in November before their Massive Nights run, and a new album seems pretty certain at this point.

You can stream both of the tracks below and we dig them more than the first two the band released. There is still a sense of demo, or working things out, Craig Finn on "Eureka" seems to be vocally laid back while cramming lots of words home and the multi instrumentation comes out "Esther" with horns and tambourines.

Hope the Unified Crew is on point this weekend in London. Cheers.

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Album Review: Titus Andronicus - A Productive Cough

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

It is of Titus Andronicus newest release, A Productive Cough.

This is a different outing from the group, which is basically Patrick Stickles and friends at this point. Instead of feedback he goes for layers of instrumentation and singing. The album might not be for everyone but we enjoy his style, especially when experimenting, even if not all the songs succeed.

We love "Above The Bodega (Local Business)", it is one of our favorite tracks of the year so far. Support the band,  read the review, buy the album and peep some video (and a documentary on the album) below:



Wayne Kramer Announces “Kick Out the Jams: The 50th Anniversary Tour”

The dangerous Detroit dynamo Wayne Kramer has announced a tour to celebrate the MC5's amazing debut live album Kick Out The Jams

He has a lot to say about it, but what caught RtBE's eye is the amazing lineup that will be touring with Kramer: 
Brother Wayne on guitar along with guitarist Kim Thayil (Soundgarden), drummer Brendan Canty (Fugazi), bassist Dug Pinnick (King’s X), and the afro’d secret weapon frontman, 6-foot-7-inch Marcus Durant (Zen Guerrilla)
That is a bad ass lineup and one we hope to catch playing live. Full dates will be announced in the upcoming weeks, but here's hoping the tour and lineup click. To get in the mood here is some classic MC5:


Monday, March 5, 2018

Dylan Cover #315 Scuntz "Boots of Spanish Leather" Live

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 Scuntz of the Dylan tune "Boots Of Spanish Leather"

Thoughts On Original:
From the first time we highlighted someone covering this tune:
One of the first Dylan songs that really bowled me over. I know on the Times They Are a-Changin' there are a ton of epic songs but this was the track that stayed with me the longest. It is ghostly in it's presentation and still just as dynamic now as when he wrote it back in 1963. My favorite show I have seen Dylan play live was back in 1999 at the RPI Fieldhouse. The whole night was great, my favorite backing band of his since The Band, a tiny venue and a setlist that was magical. One of the major highlights was "Boots of Spanish Leather", I need to break out that bootleg this week and re-live that great night.
Cover

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Not much known about Scuntz, except he seems to like fly fishing, cooking/eating good food and playing banjo. What more do you really need?
Thoughts on Cover:
A fun. fan made video that becomes hypnotic in both singing and playing as it progress. We love the added chorus help at the end to close out the track as well. A pleasant, smile inducing version for this Monday. 

Friday, March 2, 2018

Full Show Friday: Metallica - Français Pour une Nuit 2009

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...Metallica!

Since we reviewed various shades of metal/punk/indie rock this week and since they just announced North American tour dates, we figured this first Friday in March will belong to Metallica.

This is their officially released Francais Pour une Nuit which was recorded on July 7th 2009 on their Death Magnetic World tour. Pro Shot, Pro Sound, Full Set List Below, Enjoy:

  1. "The Ecstasy of Gold(Intro) – 2:40
  2. "Blackened" – 5:40
  3. "Creeping Death" – 6:25
  4. "Fuel" – 4:33
  5. "Harvester of Sorrow" – 6:07
  6. "Fade to Black" – 8:40
  7. "Broken, Beat & Scarred" – 6:35
  8. "Cyanide" – 7:52
  9. "Sad but True" – 5:43
  10. "One" – 7:53
  11. "All Nightmare Long" – 9:32
  12. "The Day That Never Comes" – 8:30
  13. "Master of Puppets" – 8:40
  14. "Dyers Eve" – 6:36
  15. "Nothing Else Matters" – 5:54
  16. "Enter Sandman" – 9:20
  17. "Stone Cold Crazy" – 2:30
  18. "Motorbreath" – 5:44
  19. "Seek & Destroy" – 13:07

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Album Review: Moaning - Moaning

Moaning
Moaning
*** out of *****

The debut self titled release form the LA based Moaning is a mix of dreamy pop with noise blasts and shoe gazing passages.

The trio, Sean Solomon, Pascal Stevenson, and Andrew MacKelvie use guitar bass drums and synths to cast a pretty spell over their mid level tunes. The first few titles do an admirable job in describing the music contained in the songs as opener "Don't Go" is a fuzzy plea for sticking around and "Tired" pumps up the keys and slips into dream pop.

The more angular "Artifical" has waves of emotion all pushed ahead by gorgeous bass work and a soaring questioning chorus. The positive track allows the band to flesh out their musical impulses with slashing guitars while keep an engaging pulsing rhythm yet never dirtying up their overall sound.   

The band plays with new wave multiple times as "The Same" recalls The Smiths blase and "Close" pumps synth work but keeps the fuzzy guitars to scratch up the edges. Another interesting mix of styles is "Does This Work For You" which plays in Sonic Youth noise rock territory however the buzzsaw guitar noise/feedback is mixed down to easily digestible levels, never overwhelming any of the sweet synth sounds, even with an extended outro. 

The "Misheard" uses a poppy rhythm and "For Now" adds an engaging dance beat behind mumbled lyrics and electronic strings while "Useless" goes back to their new wave with a hard edge style. Closer "Somewhere In There" has the makings of light arena rock behind the tom rolls and driving guitars, ending the record with an easy blow out. 

Sub Pop has been steadily releasing great music, since RtBE started to really listen to music actually, and Moaning is another nice addition to their stable; think of Moaning as a much prettier, poppier No Age and you can see the label and musical connection.
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Support the band, buy the album, peep some video below: