Monday, November 30, 2020

Dylan Cover #456 Damian Arbiser "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" 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 Damian Arbiser playing "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues"


Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
An energetic romp that has been covered by everyone, this tune is a great swirl through Dylan's freaky mind. It was a punch and a whirlwind journey through Juarez, Mexico around Easter time...Maybe. There are lots of literary hints dropped, as well as a mischievous smile throughout. One of the first Dylan tunes we gravitated towards and with good reason, it is still one of our favorites. 
Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
This is our first time hearing Damian Arbiser but he is a folk singer from Buenos Aires, Argentina. 

Thoughts on Cover:
This is fun as a lot of the covers of this particular Dylan tune are with a full band. This straight ahead live acoustic version does a solid to the original. Personally we don't dig on the nasally Dylan interpretative singing style, but since English isn't even Arbiser's first language RtBE can't complain at all. Would love to hear this at a party in the near future ourselves...

Friday, November 27, 2020

Live Streams: Trey Anastasio @ The Beacon Theatre

With live music on lock down (like everything else currently in New York City) live streams and old concerts have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. While this current state of pandemic separation is in order we will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and you can always check out or weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past. Please support the artists any which way you can. 

Today we highlight: Trey Anastasio   

For the last month Phish front man Trey Anastasio has been performing live acoustic and electric sets every Friday from the comfy stage of NYC's empty Beacon Theatre. 


Tonight is the last night in the current run and to get in the mood here is Trey and crew playing the Phish song "You Enjoy Myself" from 11/13/20 Beacon Set:


Full Show Friday: Satyricon - Rockpalast 2018

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.. Satyricon

It is upon us! BLACK Friday! In a tradition we started a few years ago it is time for the most evil Black Metal ever; because really it is the perfect soundtrack if you are hitting the brutality of shopping on this day. Granted we here at RtBE are not fans of the genre (or shopping) but have researched a few bands after enjoying the documentary Until The Light Takes Us.

So Covid-19 has wrecked the last 8 months, how will Black Friday be affected by the disease? We shall see, but we will continue our tradition of showcasing a black metal full concert on this day every year. Today we go to 2018 and a show from Satyricon from Rockplast. Pro shot, pro sound, full set list below. Enjoy:
  
Satyricon live | Rockpalast | 2018 | Setlist 1. Midnight Serpent 00:00 2. Our World, It Rumbles Tonight 06:35 3. Black Crow On A Tombstone 11:44 4. Deep Calleth Upton Deep 16:10 5. Now, Diabolical 20:51 6. To Your Brethren In The Dark 27:57 7. Mother North 34:06 8. The Pentagram Burns 41:30 9. Full For Hatred 48:22 10. K.I.N.G. 52:52 Line up Sigurd "Satyr" Wongraven - vocals, guitar Kjetil "Frost" Haraldstad - drums Attila Vörös - guitar Steinar "Azarak" Gundersen - guitar Anders Hunstad - keys Anders "Neddo" Odden - bass The concert was recorded on August 11 in 20018 at the Summer Breeze Festival in Dinkelsbühl, Germany.

Thursday, November 26, 2020

Live Streams: The Last Waltz New Orleans 11/28/20

With live music on lock down (like everything else currently in New York City) live streams and old concerts have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. While this current state of pandemic separation is in order we will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and you can always check out or weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past. Please support the artists any which way you can. 



Today we highlight: The Last Waltz New Orleans 

Tipitina's is gathering a host of New Orleans musicians to pay tribute to one of the best concerts ever as they perform The Last Waltz New Orleans on Saturday Night 11/28:


To get in the mood here is The Last Waltz Ensemble playing "Further On Up The Road" from the venue a few years back:


Happy Thanksgiving from RtBE!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving. Make sure you spend some time over this holiday doing what is truly important...Watching The Last Waltz:


For the gear heads reading this, here is an excellent run down of all the equipment used for this historic show.

Since it is a holiday, also make sure to enjoy your time with loved ones and family. As a famous man once said, "Enjoy Every Sandwich"...especially the leftover turkey, mashed potato, stuffing and gravy ones on potato rolls...

The last few years we have thrown it back to Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades of the past and this years no different.

Here is the 1996 Thanksgiving Day Parade, now go get stuffed!

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Album Review: Songhoy Blues - Optimisme

Songhoy Blues
Optimisme
**** out of *****

The third full length from the Bamako, Mali based four piece Songhoy Blues is titled Optimisme and it is the strongest record of their career. The quartet traverse genres, sounds and countries as they deliver an exhilarating mix of revved up desert rock with power to the people lyrics in multiple languages. 

Produced by Matt Sweeney (Zwan, Superwolf) the album kicks off with a slamming punk energy delivered by opener "Badala". The garage rock slamming drums are exhilarating as the band maintains a heavy hard rocking undercurrent throughout the tunes.

The groups backbone of desert rock and psychedelic guitars are still present with efforts like "Assadaja", "Korfo" and "Gabi" swirling out like a star shower above the sand but the band incorporates so many styles over the record it is intoxicating. A huge groove is delivered on "Barre" while the skittering guitars and sly work of "Fey Fey" recalls Jorge Ben and Manu Chao get downs.    

The songs are primarily written in the Songhoy language and address the topic of human rights in all forms. Tracks call for the end of misogynistic practices, removing the allure of rampant capitalism and delivering positive vibes wherever you go to continue the good fight. Along those lines is the one English based song "Worry" which is desert rock blues jam that builds and builds around the universal theme of perseverance.   

Language is never a barrier though when songs are as engaging as the funk rock of "Bon Bon" which recalls The Talking Heads at their best while "Dourima" brings in flashes of classic rock and harmonies around the desert rock riffs.  "Pour Toi" is a whirlwind of prog influences, acoustic strumming, and harmonizing before a full on disco dance party breaks out and seemingly never wants to end.  

The band ends with the meditative "Kouma" as the album exhales, however there are enough fireworks throughout Optimisme to hopefully elevate Songhoy Blues status even higher.    

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Support the band, buy the album, stream it on bandcamp or below and peep some video:





Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Album Review: William Elliott Whitmore - I'm With You

William Elliott Whitmore
I'm With You
*** out of *****

On William Elliott Whitmore's last collection of original songs, 2015's Radium Blues, he seemed torn between front man of a more rocking band and the stripped down work from his best album, 2011's Field Songs. I'm With You settles into a more Appalachian acoustic country effort and the easing of energy fits WEW better as this album eases out but allows Whitmore to tell stories and sing peacefully.

The core group supporting Whitmore on banjo and vocals are Dale Thomas - pedal steel, Annie Savage - fiddle, Stephen “The Kid” Howard - electric guitar, while drummers Mike Shult and Brian Cooper help out a few numbers but Whitmore is just always comfortable tackling certain songs all by himself. 

The opening "Put It to Use" and "My Mind Can Be Cruel To Me" are fiddle laden back porch country waltz's which fit the rustic aesthetic that WEW relishes. That style reaches its zenith "Everything We Need" which is a list of the things Whitmore needs sung around his vocals and banjo strumming and the upbeat shuffling of the hoedown closer "Black Iowa Dirt".

The weeping pedal steel from Thomas adds a haunting feeling to "History" which promises not to repeat past mistakes in a larger societal scope while the more polished "Save Ourselves" is less successful in this same vein dragging on too long without going anywhere.

More successful are the story song about government LSD experiments described through "MK Ultra Blues" and the live life while you have it "Solar Flare" which resonates even more in 2020. William Elliott Whitmore has scaled down his soaring vocal power, sounding more raspy and sedated than ever, but by stripping down he has settled into a sweet pocket of acoustic sounds and songs on I'm With You.  
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Support the artist, buy the album, stream it on bandcamp or below and peep some video:



Monday, November 23, 2020

Dylan Cover #455 DeCatfish "What Good Am I" Live

 In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune comes from DeCatfish and is a live cover of "What Good Am I?"

Thought's on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this song:
Coming on the heels of Dylan's most powerful song in decades "What Good Am I?" can get lost on Oh Mercy, but the track is a sorrowful sweet plea. Slow and deliberate, questioning like the Louisiana night that may have inspired it. Dylan's vocal performance may not be his best, but at the heart of it this is a really powerful song. Not one of his better known tracks, but a goodie all the same. Simple and slow, direct without hidden agenda's (I think...) all of which is a bit unique for Bob.

Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
This is our first time hearing DeCatfish.

Thoughts on Cover:
A slow and dramatic take on the song, with just an acoustic guitar and some voice effects. 

Friday, November 20, 2020

Live Streams: Slay At Home Festival

With live music on lock down (like everything else currently in New York City) live streams and old concerts have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. While this current state of pandemic separation is in order we will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and you can always check out or weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past. Please support the artists any which way you can. 

Today we highlight: Slay At Home Festival

Back in May we highlighted the Slay at Home Festival.  It has since turned into a monthly fundraiser and the November edition takes place today starting at 3pm EST:


To get in the mood, here is some music from Rebel Wizard who is playing today:


Full Show Friday: Khruangbin Live 2018

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...Khruangbin!

This week we look at Khruangbin the Houston, TX based trio from a live show they played for Pitchfork back in 2018. Pro Shot, Pro Sound, full set list below. Enjoy:

Khruangbin plays a set accompanied by Drippy Eye Projections for Pitchfork Live. 00:38 Cómo Me Quieres 04:14 Dern Kala 07:45 August 10 12:41 Friday Morning 19:27 August Twelve 24:45 Mr. White 29:26 Two Fish and an Elephant 34:14 White Gloves 37:19 Lady and Man 42:37 Evan Finds the Third Room 48:19 Maria También

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Live Streams: Ryan Scully Record Release Stream 11/21

 With live music on lock down (like everything else currently in New York City) live streams and old concerts have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. While this current state of pandemic separation is in order we will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and you can always check out or weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past. Please support the artists any which way you can. 

Today we highlight: Ryan Scully Record Release Stream

One of RtBE's Personal Favorites Ryan Scully has a new album out on Nouveau Electric Records titled New Confusion. He is hosting a record release stream Saturday 11/21/20 live from BJ's in the Bywater. 


We really dig the album (a full review will be coming soon) and actually wrote some stuff for Scully to use during promotions for New Confusion


Nola.com also has a nice feature on him so read that before you buy the album through Nouveau Electric Records and peep some video below from his Rough Seven days to get ready for the live stream on Friday night:


Album Review: Ghost Light- Cervantes

Ghost Light
Cervantes
**and1/2 out of *****

The Philadelphia based five piece jam band Ghost Light have been gaining a name for themselves on the scene with energetic live shows after releasing their debut studio effort 2019's Best Kept Secrets. Covid-19 has scuttled all of their tour dates so the band has released a live show from last spring titled Cervantes, after the club the band recorded the two set offering in. 
  
The show was the closing of a four night run at the Denver, Colorado venue, letting the band stretch out, highlight songs off their debut, and covers throughout. Like most jambands there are extended passages, teases and abrupt shifts in songs and sound, if this is your thing Ghost Light is for you, if not Cervantes will not convert the masses, but it surely wasn't meant to. 

The players, Tom Hamilton Jr., Raina Mullen, Holly Bowling, Dan Africano and Scotty Zwang all are involved in other projects but link up often throughout the easy going two set show. Opening with lots of heavy male/female vocals for their debut title track Ghost Note deliver a heavy Frank Zappa influenced sound. One of the bands clear strengths is the vocal work of Hamilton and Mullen as they complement each other throughout, with a female lead vocalists rare in jamband circles. Then again this being a live album there are some flubs which are to be expected. The groups take on Tears For Fears "Head Over Heals" sounds fun but is a bit clunky and long winded at almost eleven minutes.   

First set high points are a take on Brothers Past "Leave The Light On" which goes from upbeat falsetto singing to "Shakedown Street" styled disco funk while set closer "Synth Driver" is a slow building electro-spacey gallop that segues in and then back out of The Kinks "Living On A Thin Line". The playing is far from seamless, but surely adventurous.  

The second set had multiple songs from Hamilton's previous band American Babies as two of their numbers started things. "Oh Darling, My Darling" was a well dealt opener that again moved to Zappa guitar solo land to end while "Bullseye Blues" was an upbeat rocker. 

The focal point of the second set however was the bands original "Diamond Eyes" which found Mullen signing wonderfully while Bowling's piano cascades mange to be both hip shaking and gorgeous at once. The full outfit  locked in during the jam section before dripping into the ballad "Bring It In Close" A funky cover of the Rolling Stones deep cut "100 Years" from Goat Head's Soup is a nice insertion before the show wraps up with a nod to the bands opening debut title track, completing the circle. 

Overall, this album is for the bands fans and curious jamband junkies who have not caught them live yet or just need a fix. If a wider audience was sort, heavy editing would be helpful, but as it stands Cervantes is a reminder to all those glorious live music nights we are missing in 2020.    
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Support the artists, buy the album stream it on bandcamp or below and peep some video:



Live Streams: John Doe Acoustic Trio

With live music on lock down (like everything else currently in New York City) live streams and old concerts have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. While this current state of pandemic separation is in order we will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and you can always check out or weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past. Please support the artists any which way you can. 

Today we highlight: John Doe Acoustic Trio

John Doe is playing some shows in the near future with the first tonight:


Tonight's gig will be a mix of classics new tunes and more. To get in the mood here is John on Acoustic Guitar Sessions:


Wednesday, November 18, 2020

Album Review: Goodie Mob - Survival Kit

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


It is of Goodie Mob newest release Survival Kit.

We have written about the group recently and have always dug the band since the first time we heard them back in 1995. This album is very solid, their last album was good as well, this one is even better. 

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


Live Streams: Burna Boy - Live From London

With live music on lock down (like everything else currently in New York City) live streams and old concerts have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. While this current state of pandemic separation is in order we will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and you can always check out or weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past. Please support the artists any which way you can. 

Today we highlight: Burna Boy 

Performing today at 3pm EST is Burna Boy as he comes in Live from London:


Burna Boy released a record Twice as Tall recently and the review of that is coming soon. However, to get in the mood here is a tune off of his excellent album African Giant which RtBE rated highly in both our 2019 year end review and our albums of the decade wrap up.