Friday, March 29, 2019

Full Show Friday: Messin' With the Blues 1974 Montreaux Jazz Festival

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...Messin' With The Blues!

Our focus this month in the ongoing Masters series are The Blues

So much fun this month focusing on the blues this month in our Masters series that we are going to wrap it up with this all-star show from 1974. Many of the artists we have already written about such as Muddy, Buddy, Junior and one we haven't mentioned, the great Pinetop Perkins, take part in this set from the Montreaux Jazz Festival. Put it on, play it loud as it sure can get funky and down right blue!  Pro shot, Pro Sound, Full set list below.

Enjoy:


Recorded live in 1974 at The Montreaux Jazz Festival in Switzerland.

Songs: 
Messin' with the Kid 
Hoodoo man blues 
When You See the Tears from my Eyes 
Ten Years Ago 
Hoochie Coochie Man 
Mannish Boy 
The Same Thing
 Got my mojo working 

Artists: 
Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Junior Wells, Bill Wyman, Pinetop Perkins, Terry Taylor, Dallas Taylor

Thursday, March 28, 2019

Album Review: Will Courtney - Crazy Love

Will Courtney
Crazy Love
**and 1/2 out of *****

The Santa Fe, NM based singer Will Courtney's newest solo record Crazy Love is a mix of twangy rock and Texas dusty rolling. The former Brothers and Sisters front man sings about heartbreak and getting wasted over steel guitars and easy back beat.

"Too High Now" begins the album on a more Southern California rock note with shades of Crazy Horse guitar leading the hard rock way. It is a contemplative track before the more southern traits rear their heads as whiskey and women, divorce, literal and figurative car crashes come into the picture supported by lap steel guitars, twangy twists and light drums. Tunes like "Loaded" and the title track all travel familiar paths while "Drunk on Your Songs Again" is the mandated cowboy ballad which does better then the more dull "When Will I Find My Love".

The cliche and simple lyrics are everywhere but solid production and Courtney's voice help smooth those bumpy tired phrases over, but tracks like these have been heard before. "Look at All the Things" and "" are clunkers but Courtney though is not trying to present something new, he is singing songs about heartbreak with Alt-Country, indie and pop rock tendencies.

"Take You Away" has a loose rambling strut to it while "Partner In Time" is an acoustic strumming sunset Wilco influenced winner and "Finally" is pop rock where Courtney strains to hit the notes and retreats back into some fairly standard phrases. "Coming On Strong" is the real outlier here as the tune throws a complete curve-ball, injecting 80's AOR synths and twinkles in the vein of The War On Drugs; a cool tune that seems a touch out of place on this album.

Not reinventing the wheel just a collection of decent if nondescript tunes, Crazy Love finds Courtney continuing his stroll through the rock and roll backwoods of the south western United States.
_________________________________________________________
Support the artist, buy the record and peep some video below:

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! If you want to read a great piece about baseball check out this excerpt from Roger Angell's The Summer Game

Opening Day should be a national holiday, plain and simple. The Mets kick off on the road today against the Nationals. 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 27, 2019

Album Review: White Denim - Side Effects

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

It is of White Denim's newest release, Side Effects.

This is a dynamic pop/rock band who can pretty much do it all. James Petralli’s work as Bop English is still RtBE's favorite stuff from the band, it even topped a year end list in 2015, but all of their music is worth checking out for fans of adventurous rock based tunes.

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


Album Review: The Grateful Dead - Dave's Picks 29: 2/26/77 Swing Aud.

The Grateful Dead
Dave's Picks 29
2/26/77 Swing Auditorium San Bernardino, CA
****and1/2 out of *****

The Dave's Picks series is continuing the tradition started by Dick Latvala with his Dicks Picks Series and just by process of elimination there are less hidden gems as things progress. Dave Lemieux has picked a few shows which fans have known very well and "officially" released them. 2/26/77 from the Swing Auditorium is one of those well known nights as it is historical in Dead history being the first show played in their landmark year of 1977. It is a deservedly well loved show containing the debut of two major numbers, "Terrapin Station" and "Estimated Prophet".   

Personally, this show was one of the early highlights of our Grateful Fandom as it contains a few personal favorite versions of songs, the playing was a touch more energetic and the quality of the tape was top notch. It was a "Betty Board" from Betty Cantor-Jackson, and this release is culled form that same source, souped up to blare out of high end 2019 and beyond speakers. Needless to say the quality of the sound here is fantastic as Dave Lemieux and his team have succeeded wonderfully.

This is not a perfect Dead show, there are flubs and oddities, however newer fans can certainly enjoy the offering, and the uniqueness of set-list and high energy from the band about to unleash new tunes on the crowd makes this historical night a great entry into this series.

Opening with the debut of "Terrapin Station" (who would see and official studio release that summer), the band works their way through it with some missteps, but never again would the titanic tune kick off a show and the band wanted to showcase their new baby (flaws and all) right from the start. While lead guitarist/singer Jerry Garcia may have missed a few lines and he was in fine for this night (and the for the bonus material as well) energized to be showcasing new material and back out where he belonged, on stage.

The other debut of the first set was the Bob Weir led "Estimated Prophet" which would be played at every single show in 1977 (checks notes) well I guess it just felt like it was...Not to say this is a bad song, far from it, one of the best of the Weir/Barlow duo ever produced, the band loved to play it often. It's first airing here is a tight, much quicker version then what would follow as the band speed up the soon to be languid groove.

Outside of the debuts the first set is highlighted by a meaty rendition of "New Minglewood Blues" which cooks with energy and a gorgeous version of "Sugaree" finding the band hitting on all cylinders with three musical breaks. The closing combo of "Playing in the Band > The Wheel > Playing in the Band" is one of our favorite Dead live segues as it manages to combine the perfect blend of jazz and rock, it is exploratory with bassist Phil Lesh holding the center before a heartfelt "Wheel" surprise middle. 

Continuing the personal favorite them comes 2nd set opener "Samson and Delilah" and this just may be our favorite version of the tune and it is because of the excellent drumming of Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann. The energy of this one with Donna Jean Godchaux and Weir hitting the right notes vocals make it a standout.

The mid set "Help on the Way>Slipknot>Franklin's Tower" gets mentioned a lot but it is not your typical joyous affair, the Slipknot section in particular is dark and searching and Jerry continues that motif into "Franklin's Tower" taking a bit of time before kicking the song up to celebratory levels. It is an interesting ride and more nuanced then some other versions.

This show does have something for everyone as a quick Chuck Berry "Promised Land" cover leads into a relaxed Eyes of the World > Dancing In the Streets" which has Garcia's leads finding cosmic bliss before funky dance laden chunking but it is the ominous bass lead which Lesh delivers which is the true standout bridging the gap between the two tunes; Phil was loud this whole show.

The show wraps up with a second Chuck Berry cover "Around and Around" which is disjointed, super mellow to start before shifting mid-song into a (literal) screaming upbeat jaunt and a "U.S. Blues" encore. This Dave's Picks also includes selections from the following night which push this release over the top.

The 2/27/77 bonus material from Santa Barbara add even more levels to the groups sound with a sensationally powerful "Morning Dew" coming directly out of the second ever "Terrapin Station" with some fine work from Keith Godchaux, Garcia and Lesh. A great grooving "Sugar Magnolia" and a revved up third Berry cover, "Johnny B Goode" close this excellent installment of Dave's picks, one any fan, new or old, of the band should own.   
_________________________________________________
Support the artists, buy the album and peep some video below:




Tuesday, March 26, 2019

Album Review: Ex Hex - It's Real

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

It is of Ex Hex's second release, titled It's Real.
RtBE absolutely loved their debut album and ranked it in our 2014 wrap up (that was a hell of a year for music). In truth It's Real has less oomph and excitement but is still pretty solid rock and roll. Also it should be noted that the multi color vinyl is absolutely killer, glad it will be spinning at the RtBE clubhouse.

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


Monday, March 25, 2019

Dylan Cover #368 Alvin Youngblood Hart "Million Miles"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by Alvin Youngblood Hart playing "Million Miles"

This month we are doing another special focus in RtBE's Dylan Covers series. In the past we have highlighted The ByrdsCoulson-Dean-McGuiness-FlintThe HolliesJoan OsbourneMountain and more. Now the spotlight shines on The Blues for our Masters series with a focus on the Tangled Up In Blues Songs: Songs of Bob Dylan release

Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
From the barren blues of Time Out Of Mind comes "Million Miles". While not a standout on that album, the song was prophetic, hinting at the fantastic twelve bar blues variations that would dominate his next two releases. When first heard though it doesn't jump out, just feels like yet ANOTHER solid track from the bard.

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
I managed to catch Alvin Youngblood Hart during his trio set in the Blues tent at NOLA Jazzfest in 2017 and were super impressed. Then came home to NYC and caught him solo opening for the NMAS and enjoyed his stripped down set as well. Since then been a fan of his blues/folk/rock playing.

Thoughts on Cover:
An excellent blues cover of a song which was made for this. This wraps up our Monday series with a focus on bluesy Dylan covers for March, but it won't be long before RtBE returns to a blues cover of Dylan as they are everywhere.

Friday, March 22, 2019

Full Show Friday: Hound Dog Taylor - Live in Ann Arbor 1973

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...Hound Dog Taylor!

This months focus in our ongoing Masters series are The Blues.

When we were ranking our best live blues albums Hound Dog Taylor's Beware of Dog! album just missed our list. So to make up for that we are giving Hound Dog his own Full Show Friday this month. Sloppy video, gut bucket blues, just the way he would have liked it. 

Full set list below, Enjoy:


0:00:00 Held My Baby Last Night0:04:30 Hound Dog's Farewell0:05:09 Hound Dog Talking0:06:15 Taylor's Rock 0:09:15 Hound Dog Talking0:09:47 Wild About You, Baby0:12:50 Hound Dog Talking And Introducing Band0:14:00 Roll Your Money Maker0:16:46 Hound Dog Talking and Tuning0:18:05 Sadie0:23:48 Hound Dog Talking About His Band0:24:43 Brewer Phillips' Song0:27:50 Ted Harvey's Song And Drum Solo

Thursday, March 21, 2019

Album Review: Big Joanie - Sistahs

Big Joanie
Sistahs
** out of *****

The trio from London Big Joanie have a light/simple art rock touch which is influenced by 90's alternative, occasionally mixing in a bit harmonies. Stephanie Phillips (singer/guitarist), Estella Adeyeri (bass) and Chardine Taylor-Stone (drums) are part of the DIY London scene and their first full length is a restrained document.

"Used To Be Friends" is a good example of this restraint, it calls out through it's lyrics shortness and style for a screaming assault with lyrics like "Now you only call me to hate me" and "I only feel hatred" but the group instead are mellow and hip swinging. The sweet harmonies and minimalist guitar are the opposite of the lyrical content for an odd mix.

That oddness continues with the disco influenced "Fall Asleep" which uses hand claps and an off putting digital break mid song before "Eyes" uses a repetitive riff and what seems like any instruments lying around the studio, recorder, wood block, etc before a mid song break that plays like a scaled down Mazzy Star moment.

Opener "New Year" continues the less is more style with a nod in the Breeders direction and the Deal sisters group are the best comparison for the trio. Odd outings like the snaking "Down Down" and quirky "Token" art piece would not be out of place on an album like Mountain Battles but where the Breeders can get angular, push up the tempo or write a killer tune, Big Joanie stays more reserved on all those fronts.   

The best tracks here are the fuzzy "Way Out" which warbles with simple distortion and the afro punk rhythms which propel "Tell A Lie" forward  while the trio get it's most 50's girl group on the rolling "How Could You Love Me" with it's excellent harmonies and layers of vocals. These tracks show a larger scale to the stripped down primitive style of production and playing. Sparseness is key with the group but when things get amplified things improve.

Putting the blame on an unsatisfactory lover colors a fun twirl through "It's You" while "Cut Your Hair" spices things up a bit with Wurlitzer played by Seth Evans, ending the album with some breathy vocals.  For a first album there are a few interesting spins on Sistahs, but the majority of the songs feel underdeveloped and tame, dour and dull as an overriding theme/mood.
____________________________________________________________
Support the band, buy the album, stream it on bandcamp or below, and peep some video:


Album Review: Frank Migliorelli and The Dirt Nappers - The Things You Left Behind

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

It is of Frank Migliorelli and The Dirt Nappers newest release The Things You Left Behind.

We know Frank personally, but that doesn't change our ears, this is a solid roots rock record which touches on a lot of other genres. RtBE has interviewed him and previewed his anti NRA song last month and enjoy him as an artist and songwriter.

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

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Live Review: Murphy's Law & NRSV St. Patrick's Day 2019

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

It is of the recent Murphy's Law and No Redeeming Social Value show held on St. Patrick's Day at Bowery Electric in NYC. Both bands are some of our favorite of all-time in the NYHC scene and we are friends with them both.

While we have caught better shows from each of them, this was a fun night within spitting distance of CBGB's as the groups and crowd imbibed in drunken stoned mayhem.

Support the artists, read the review, and peep some video below:




The Masters - The Blues - Best Live Albums

RtBE loves listening to new music and prides itself on keeping tabs on up and coming artists but in 2019 we are also going to have a monthly spotlight on legendary artists who we really love. We are calling this series The Masters. It will focus on the best albums, live records, transcendent shows and other odd ways we appreciate the artists and their contribution to music, culture and our formation.


For March The Masters focuses on The Blues.

Live music is the best thing out there. Being caught in the moment is religion. Palpable vibes of healing and energy are transmitted and shit...gets...real. For this month's focus, the feeling is really all there is behind a few notes. For a "simple" art form the blues is endless complex and in the live setting this is immediately obvious in the hands of these Masters.

Even more than the studio recordings which we highlighted, these albums seem to evoke the spirit of the heartache, pain, and simmering soul under the guitar strings, horn blasts and drum fills. Recording in seedy clubs, at concert halls, prisons and esteemed festivals, our choices run the gamut of locations and playing styles, but one thing they all have in common is the passion of the live performance.

Your list will probably look different, feel free to share thoughts in the comments below, but now on to the records:

Tuesday, March 19, 2019

Album Review: Karl Denson's Tiny Universe - Gnomes and Badgers

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

It is of Karl Denson's Tiny Universe newest release, Gnomes and Badgers.


RtBE actually digs this outfit, having seen them live and reviewed their last album which was a long time ago. I guess time is on your side when you get picked to replace Bobby Keys in The Rolling Stones...

This is a solid funk record from a band who lives on the live stage. If anyone has any idea what the title means please comment below, even Denson's explanation quoted in the review is confusing.

On the better side of things, the song writing and playing has a heavy NOLA influence with Anders Osborne, Ivan Neville and others helping out, which only improves thing to these ears.

Support the artists, buy the record, read the review, peep some video below:


Monday, March 18, 2019

Dylan Cover #367 The Holmes Brothers "Wallflower"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by The Holmes Brothers playing "Wallflower"
This month we are doing another special focus in RtBE's Dylan Covers series. In the past we have highlighted The ByrdsCoulson-Dean-McGuiness-FlintThe HolliesJoan OsbourneMountain and more. Now the spotlight shines on The Blues for our Masters series with a focus on the Tangled Up In Blues Songs: Songs of Bob Dylan release

Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
Written in 1971 but not available to the ears until twenty years after the fact on the amazing Bootleg Vol 1-3, "Wallflower" is a sweet simple ditty that captures Bob in his folk/country phase of Self Portrait and New Morning. While not his deepest or most intense song it is a fine relaxed number that waltzes wonderfully light and free...getting naughty at the finish as well.     

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
The Holmes Brothers loved to meld all genres with gospel, folk, R&B, blues all living comfortably together in their sound. The trio used their voices and sounds to play a variety of songs/styles and was successful doing it until their old age. 

Thoughts on Cover:
An interesting choice but one which makes sense for this group which never met a genre it couldn't help but join. "Wallflower" is more country jaunt, but it shows just haw malleable, Dylan and the Holmes Brothers are.

Sunday, March 17, 2019

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 15, 2019

Full Show Friday: Koko Taylor - Living Legends of Blues 1978

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...Koko Taylor!

Our focus this month in our ongoing Masters series are The Blues

Gotta give it up for one of the most powerful blues voices there is, Koko Taylor. This show comes around the peak of her career, and is a hell of a performance.  Coming on the back of The Earthshaker album she nails "Let The Good Times Roll" and makes "Wang Dang Doodle" her own. A hell of a show from a hell of a performer. Pro Shot, Pro Sound, Full Setlist with timing below.

Enjoy:


setlist : 00:31 Call my job 07:23 musical introduction to KOKO Taylor 08:29 Let the good times roll 12:35 i'm a woman 18:30 29 Ways to get to my baby 24:10 Baby please don't Dog me 29:45 Trying to make a living 34:00 The Blues never die 39:30 You can have my husband 45:10 Wang Dang Doodle (all night long)

Thursday, March 14, 2019

Album Review: Della Mae - The Butcher EP

Della Mae
The Butcher EP
*** out of *****

The Butcher is a new collection of six songs from the Grammy Nominated Boston based bluegrass band which mixes in covers and originals with playful ease. This self produced EP comes after a four year hiatus for Della Mae, but the bluegrass quartet have always been driven to play more of a hard bluegrass style, mostly the realm of male outfits before, but this female four piece style manages to pick, shine and sing with the best of them.

Celia Woodsmith - vocals, guitar, Kimber Ludiker - fiddle, vocals, Jenni Lyn Gardner - mandolin, vocals, Zoe Guigueno - bass, vocals, start things off with a glorious ode to the brown booze with "Bourbon Hound". The upbeat joyful Western Swing number which cooks with polished energy as brands of whiskey and bourbon get name checked by a real connoisseur of hooch. The groove is laid down beautifully allowing the strings to be plucked and strummed as accents to the rich spirits; a joyful boozy start to the EP.

The talents of all the players and appreciation of the craft comes through in the instrumental "No-See-Um-Stomp" while "Bluebird Blackbird" is a classic sounding uptempo hoedown mountain song with excellent harmonies and fiddle work from Ludiker.  The groups Flatt & Scruggs cover amplifies the Nashville country, honky-tonk vibe for the cheating revenge tune "Sleep With One Eye Open". 

Two other covers grace this EP, the classic "Sixteen Tons" gets a more jazz influenced vocal for the dreary tune and while not matching perfectly it is still a fun listen before the album closing take on The Allman Brothers "Whipping Post" which works much better. This cover is embedded with a sense of power, with the fiddle standing in for Duane and Dickey's famous guitars as the emotional singing from Woodsmith cuts to the heart of the tune.

Della Mae prove immediately that their break has not softened them and The Butcher EP, while sparse, is an exciting breezy jaunt from the talented players. 
________________________________________________
Support the artists, buy the album and peep some video:

Album Review: Tedeschi Trucks Band - Live From The Swamp Vol. 1

Tedeschi Trucks Band
Live From The Swamp Vol. 1: Chicago Theatre, January 26, 2018
**** out of *****

At the close of 2018 the Tedeschi Trucks Band announced that they would be starting a fan club called the "Swamp Family" named after the groups home recording studio. To kick off things for fan club members the twelve piece rock and soul outfit released two shows for fans through the club.  Live From The Swamp Vol. 1: Chicago Theatre, January 26, 2018 lead the way for the series and the group themselves stated that this show was selected: "because it is simply one of the finest performances of the band’s career from start to finish". Tough to argue with that as the playing, sound and energy on this live release are all top notch.

The opening set is unique for the band as it contains all original compositions, beginning with "Anyhow" setting the easy rolling stage. While the first song and "Laugh About It" are fine performances from the professional band it is on "Don't Know What It Means" where the magic of this night really starts to seep in. A fiery soulful performance, with Susan Tedeschi lading the vocal way gets the crowd screaming as the group is locked in before an experimental squawking horn closing gets freaky, dripping back into the marching groove of the bright "Just As Strange".

Other first set highlights are the gospel influenced blazing southern rock of "Get What You Deserve" which has everyone cooking with gas as Derrick Trucks has fire shooting from his six strings and the set closing "Idle Wind" which runs almost twenty minutes and shows the wide range of the band from flute solos, to rhythmic drumming to exploratory reflective jams.

The sound on the release is a combination of soundboard and audience and while some past live release from the band haven't sounded great, yet this mix feels like you are in the crowd and enjoying the show with fans as the warm rich mix of the twelve piece.

For the second set the band came out with the full on accelerating road house blues of "Rollin' and Tumblin'" mixed with bubbling horns but it is the closing half of the set which really ignites. The trumpet lead freaked out funk rock of "Volunteered Slavery" and slide blues of Elmore James "The Sky Is Crying" prove the versatility of the band while the cover pairing of John Prine/Grateful Dead with "Angel of Montgomery>Sugaree" is blissfully gorgeous.

The show soars even higher on Signs "Shame" a burning soul shouter inthe vein of "Whipping Post" which fits the band like a glove, increasing the bass rumble while allowing the title couple display their formidable talents on the mic and guitars with horn and keyboard support. Trucks laying on this number is dynamic flashing pieces of inspiration from Jerry Garcia, Duane Allman, John McLaughlin and most importantly/prominently himself.   

"I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel To Be Free" is a spiritual set closer before the Tom Petty (who had recently passed away) cover/tribute "You Don't Know How It Feels" started an encore which ended with the call to "Let's Go Get Stoned" whihc Petty obviously would have appreciated. The band wasn't joking; this show is a dynamite display of their talents.

Last month RtBE reviewed the solid new release from the band, but this is a group that lives for the live stage and with this new series they get to showcase the their best moments. While the Signs is fine, Live From The Swamp Vol. 1 will be what is spun much more often in the RtBE clubhouse.
_________________________________________________
Support the artist, buy the album, and peep some live video of the group from 2018's Lockin' below:

Wednesday, March 13, 2019

Album Review: Our Native Daughters - Songs Of Our Native Daughters

Our Native Daughters
Songs Of Our Native Daughters
**** out of *****

The new outfit Our Native Daughters is a collection of four banjo playing women of color who are doing more then just picking on their first release Songs Of Our Native Daughters, they are singing of a spiritual journey, our history as a country, the struggles of their ancestors and how it effects people of today.

The four artists, Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah, Allison Russell and Leyla McCalla came together after Giddens (Carolina Chocolate Drops) invited the other three to her co-producer Dirk Powell's Louisiana Bayou Studio. The album, released by Smithsonian Folkways has deep roots, in Giddens own words:
"There is surely racism in this country — it's baked into our oldest institutions — just as there is sexism, millennia old. At the intersection of the two stands the African American woman. Used, abused, ignored and scorned, she has in the face of these things been unbelievably brave, groundbreaking and insistent. Black women have historically had the most to lose, and have therefore been the fiercest fighters for justice — in large, public ways that are only beginning to be highlighted, and in countless domestic ways that will most likely never be acknowledged."
The roots run deep and the group are not afraid to dig in, opening with the statement making "Black Myself". This is the most rocking the outfit gets and while the lyrical message is strong the four players are more effective when they go the acoustic route as things immediately improve on the following "Moon Meets the Sun" which juxtaposes proudly defiant lyrics with great singing and a lighter musical feeling showcasing more picking; an album highlight.   

Other immensely affecting numbers follow, particularly when things are scaled totally back. The foursome strip instrumentation down to hand claps and and minimal tom drum beats to recount a rape, murder and hanging in the sung and call response of "Mama's Cryin' Long" with cold realism around the brutal events while "Barbados" finds Giddens reciting poetry about slavery dipping into a humming soulful evocation before ending by turning the mirror of modern slavery on the listener (and performer) with cutting coolness.

"Quesheba, Quesheba" is Russell's showcase with an ominous violin leading the way before she partners with Giddens for the closing reminder "You're Not Alone". The "Slave Driver" cover is fairly straight ahead but in this context and the harmony of the four singers it takes on added depth while "Polly Ann's Hammer" reinterprets the John Henry myth and folk song from a powerful mothers perspective giving credit to the female workers. 

An old minstrel song "Better Git Yer Learnin'" was found by Giddens and updated lyrically and the tune is plucked and supported by a shaker and fantastic singing before a fiddle joins for the finale while the back porch easy acoustic blue grass of "I Knew I Could I Fly" finds McCalla using a warm folk number to explore the life of Etta Baker.

Spanish and Cajun flair drip into McCalla's "Lavi Difisil" before the groove and march get amplified for Kiah and Giddens "Blood and Bones" slow burner that focuses on slaves from Ghana caring for children and getting thrown away afterwards. The more upbeat "Music and Joy" breaks the growing tension with a playful work out which feels free and moves with grace. 

If you think music is suppose to appease the masses and fill the charts with glittering ditties forgotten about before next's weeks charts, then feel free to skip this album....actually on second thought, listen to this album if you feel that way. You will realize music is a life blood, a history, a powerful tool for change, surviving, defining, learning, growing, protesting, rejoicing and the human spirit. Songs Of Our Native Daughters is a great release in any genre.
______________________________________________
Support the artist, buy the album, peep some video below:


Tuesday, March 12, 2019

Murphy's Law and No Redeeming Social Value Playing St. Patrick's Day

Two of NYHC's best are teaming up to invade Manhattan on St. Patrick's Day as Murphy's Law and No Redeeming Social Value will be getting wasted in their own ways this Paddy's at Bowery Electric in the East Village.



The last time we caught Murphy's Law they were opening up our favorite show of 2018 and it has been way too long since we caught our good friends in NRSV live.

This show is going to be a doozy, so get ready to get Sham-rocked...ohh the was bad, but the live video from both bands below from the Lower East Side is so good...grab your tickets to the show today.


 

Live Review: The Hold Steady @ Electric Ballroom, London 3/8/19

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

It is of the Hold Steady's Friday Night show in London on March 8th 2019.

tHS are one of RtBE's Personal Favorites and getting to see them in London was such a blast. It helped they put on a killer show and I got to see it with very good friends. Below are a few pics of the night and some video and getting to combine this concert with some great Chelsea FC experiences made for a mega excursion across the pond.




Support the band, read the review and peep some video.

Monday, March 11, 2019

Dylan Cover #366 R.L. Burnside "Everything Is Broken"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by RL Burnside playing "Everything Is Broken"

This month we are doing another special focus in RtBE's Dylan Covers series. In the past we have highlighted The ByrdsCoulson-Dean-McGuiness-FlintThe HolliesJoan OsbourneMountain and more. Now the spotlight shines on The Blues for our Masters series with a focus on the Tangled Up In Blues Songs: Songs of Bob Dylan release

Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
If Bob wasn't the Bard "Everything Is Broken" would just be another tossed off song. However, is anything with Dylan just simply tossed off? Well..yeah...this song certainly feels tossed off to me...sorry. Oh Mercy is a hell of an album, one of Dylan's classics, and this song is fine, it just can't even stand close to any of his all-time gems, not remotely close. One of the reasons I started this cover series was to show how amazing The Bard's songs are in just about anyone's hands, but if the original of this tune was written by Joe Schmo would people think it was great, or is it just the Dylan name that gives it clout?  

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
RtBE has dug Burnside's backwoods blues rumble since the first time we heard it. Like Hooker he is a simple blues man but the repetition can bring unexpected rewards. We reviewed his sons album, fairly recently and dig his overall sound, style and panache.

Thoughts on Cover:
Continuing our blues focus this month Burnside partners with organ, and moving drums to deliver his plain as day vocal delivery. Not all the parts seem to match up (the low end production sound is not really working to these ears) but the thin guitar solo is a winner about 3:45 in. We are glad we got to include Burnside in this month as his style of blues isn't for everyone but we dig him.


Friday, March 8, 2019

Full Show Friday: Robert Cray Live in 2008

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...Robert Cray!

Our focus this month in our ongoing Masters series are The Blues

One of the people we almost put on the list for our top five favorite Blues studio albums, but just missed the cut was Robert Cray and his brilliant 1986 record Strong Persuader. Robert Christgau clued us into this record and it is some excellent blues work, especially from a time when things were getting a bit wonky...the eighties.

One of those tunes makes an appearance at today's show with "Right Next Door (Because of Me)" but this whole show proves how polished Cray still is. A really cool night of tunes from 2008 for some clean and crisp blues playing from the band. Pro Shot, pro sound with full set list, times, and band info below.

Enjoy:


Track list: 00:26 - 1. Phone Booth 05:26 - 2. Our Last Time 12:00 - 3. Right Next Door (Because Of Me) 18:38 - 4. Bad Influence 22:54 - 5. Twenty 29:58 - 6. Time Makes Two 37:18 - 7. Sittin' On Top Of The World 41:45 - 8. I'm Walking Robert Cray - vocals, guitar Jim Pugh - keyboards Karl Sevareid - bass Kevin Hayes - drums Robert Cray - Live in Concert 2008

Thursday, March 7, 2019

Little Feat Start 50th Anniversary Tour Tomorrow

The legendary Little Feat kick off their 50th Anniversary Tour tomorrow night with a show at NYC's Beacon Theater.
The core group, will be be supported by the Midnight Ramble horns and will be continuing to play all across the country (and Caribbean) this year to celebrate the milestone. One of those stops will also be the final day of Jazzfest as they hit the stage on Sunday May 5th

A few months back Glide's Leslie Michele Derrough caught up with guitarist Paul Barrere for an excellent interview that touched on a range of topics regarding the band over the years (good to know Paul is a baseball fan). 

Having seen Little Feat, before RtBE knows they still put on a great show. To celebrate and get in the mood here are a few live videos of our personal favorite Feat tunes from the band over the years, catch them when you can this year to join the party.


Album Review: Delicate Steve - Till I Burn Up

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

It is the newest instrumental release from guitarist producer Delicate Steve (aka Steve Marion)

The record is kind of interesting and this is the first time RtBE are becoming familiar with Marion and his alter ego. I gotta confess, I always thought the Dr. John Lric was "Till I Burn Up" as well...

There are lots of cool moments, but overall things seem more soundtrack ready or sample ready then an instrumental album you go back to and listen to over and over again.

Support the artist, buy the record, read the review, stream it on bandcamp or below and peep some video: