Wednesday, June 30, 2021

New Examine Album Coming in July

The Queens based New York Hardcore band Examine is releasing a new album next month. 
 

The eight song Blessed will be coming out on Dead City Records and it is some heavy, straight ahead hardcore. 

The first single has already been released and can be viewed below:

Album Review: DMX - Exodus

DMX
Exodus
** out of *****

With DMX passing away in Spring 2021, what was planned as a comeback album has turned into what will probably be the first of his many posthumous releases. Exodus loads up the guests and various styles showcasing different emotions and ideas over it’s thirteen tracks but leaves a bleak overall feeling when it wraps up. Perhaps it is his recent death or the troubled state he was in, but Exodus is anything but triumphant.

The album was co-produced by Swizz Beatz and musically it seems DMX was trying out a few different styles to see if anything stuck on the charts for a future full on return. Pulsing minimalist tracks sit side by side with circus sounds and modern day R&B as the disjointed feeling bounces from song to song. Opener “That’s My Dog” gets the gang back together with Lox and Swizz Beatz, before DMX offers up some of his best rhymes on the record.

Things tend to shift after that though as the headliner takes a back seat to his high profile guests on almost every song. Lil Wayne on “Dogs Out”, Nas on “Walking in the Rain” and Jay-Z on “Bath Salts” all shine brighter; perhaps a second verse from Dark Man X on all of these efforts would have been more influential. In interviews Swizz Beatz has mentioned that the album was completed before DMX’s passing, however there are times when it feels like more was needed, as if he is a guest on his own album.

This continues on “Hold Me Down” and “Skyscrapers” as DMX seems to be supporting Alicia Keys and Bono respectively while his raw style feels out of place on the smooth rolling beats of “Hood Blues”. The most successful combo is the gorgeous “Take Control” which brings in Snoop Dog and distorts some Marvin Gaye into a successful get down jam; it is the most complete track here as others feel lacking.

The album ends on two personal notes which hit harder with his recent passing. “Letter To My Son (Call Your Father)” reaches out directly to his family while “Prayer” gets spiritual as DMX seems exasperated, searching for a positive direction and guidance in prayer itself.

A swan song which doesn’t hold up with the New York City MC’s best, Exodus shows DMX could still get it going in short spurts but was trying to find true inspiration among the various styles. It was not to be, however DMX will never die as his raspy bark is instantly recognizable and will be bumped and sampled forever in hip-hop.
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Support the artist, buy the album and peep some video:

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Live Streams: Phish 7/20/1991

For the last year live music was on lock down (like everything else in New York City). Live streams and old concerts have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. Things are improving on the pandemic front in this city, but live streams will be an option for the foreseeable future. We will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and as a way to help out the artists. You can always check out or weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past and as always please support the artists any which way you can.

Today we highlight: Phish 7/20/1991

A major milestone in streaming and Covid happens tonight as Phish delivers their last Dinner and a Movie concert with live dates ready to roll this fall. It is a good omen that things are getting back to normal with vaccines and a positive response here in the USA. Here's hoping things stay on this track with variants and such, here's hoping! 


The band ends this series with a bang as they deliver a show from 1991 complete with the Giant Country Horns. RtBE used to have a tape of this show and wore it out, great stuff and we can't wait to watch tonight. 

To get in the mood, here is "Chalkdust Torture" from the show:


Live Streams: Benefit for Jeff Watkins

For the last year live music was on lock down (like everything else in New York City). Live streams and old concerts have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. Things are improving on the pandemic front in this city, but live streams will be an option for the foreseeable future. We will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and as a way to help out the artists. You can always check out or weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past and as always please support the artists any which way you can.

Today we highlight: A Benefit for Jeff Watkins

Taking place tonight at Tipitina's is a benefit for "9th Wonder of the World" Jeff Watkins. The house band is the excellent New Orleans Suspects. Watkins is a member of the Suspect and the benefit will be live streamed on Tipitinas.tv containing has a whose who of NOLA legends.

Tune in and donate, to get in the mood here is some New Orleans Suspects. 

Monday, June 28, 2021

Dylan Cover #485 Eric Bettencourt "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry" 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 Eric Bettencourt playing "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry"


Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this song:
One of my favorite titled songs in the Dylan catalog, for some reason the title just nails an elusive feeling and perfectly works with the tune. Also contains multiple epic lines, my favorite being "I wanna be your lover babe/I don't wanna be your boss", AMEN brother Bob.  A pretty straight forward blues number musically that lends itself to cover attempts, leading to...

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
RtBE was unaware of singer songwriter Eric Bettencourt until we heard this live tune. 

Thoughts on Cover:
An excellent breeze through a song that can get over sentimentalized way too often. This dreamy stroll works with Bettencourt's easy playing and raspy singing. Dig it.

Sunday, June 27, 2021

Live Streams: Ross James' Gotta Serve Somebody

For the last year live music was on lock down (like everything else in New York City). Live streams and old concerts have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. Things are improving on the pandemic front in this city, but live streams will be an option for the foreseeable future. We will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and as a way to help out the artists. You can always check out or weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past and as always please support the artists any which way you can.

Today we highlight: Ross James' Gotta Serve Somebody 

Presented by Relix Magazine, Ross James' Gotta Serve Somebody is a free streaming event that will will focus on Bob Dylan and Grateful Dead tunes:


To get in the mood here is the band playing "Tennessee Jed" from January 2020: 


Friday, June 25, 2021

Live Streams: Anders Osborne

For the last year live music was on lock down (like everything else in New York City). Live streams and old concerts have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. Things are improving on the pandemic front in this city, but live streams will be an option for the foreseeable future. We will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and as a way to help out the artists. You can always check out or weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past and as always please support the artists any which way you can.

Today we highlight: Anders Osborne 

A free live stream from Anders Osborne on his Facebook page tonight:


To get in the mood here is some live Anders from 2012:


Full Show Friday: Prince @ The Aladdin 2002

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...Prince!

Today we put the spotlight on one of the greats, Prince. Here is his pro shot, soundboard audio show from The Aladdin in Las Vegas in 2002. Enjoy:



Thursday, June 24, 2021

Titus Andronicus Celebrate The Monitor with Vinyl and Tour

2020 was the ten year anniversary of one of RtBE's favorite records of the last decade, Titus Andronicus' The Monitor

To commemorate the event there will be a vinyl double album release and a tour this November focusing on the record. 

Back when we wrote about our top 50 albums of the last decade, The Monitor placed super high as we loved the over the top rambles, the connection of Civil War to 2010 New Jersey (things have only gotten worse) the anthemic scream-a-longs and Patrick Stickles whole musical style on this record. 

Stickles also said something very interesting regarding the anniversary's delay:

"As the 10th anniversary came and went, I considered scrapping the whole thing, but my audience has helped me so much to endure during this difficult time, and knowing how much they themselves have had to endure, I couldn't ignore or deny that they deserve a little treat. After so many years of doing whatever I want, for once, I'm going to give the people what they want."

That is great, and very honest. RtBE can't wait to own the vinyl and catch the band live. To get pumped here is a tune from the record:


New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Lineup Announced

Today the best festival in America announced their lineup for the October 2021 version of the gathering. 



The lineup has a lot of people from the canceled 2020 version so that is great to see:

The lineup is very solid and we are excited to go yet again to this great festival. 

To get in the mood here is some music from a few just a few of the acts playing:




Live Streams: Bob Dylan "Shadow Kingdom" 7/18/2021

For the last year live music was on lock down (like everything else in New York City). Live streams and old concerts have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. Things are improving on the pandemic front in this city, but live streams will be an option for the foreseeable future. We will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and as a way to help out the artists. You can always check out or weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past and as always please support the artists any which way you can.

Today we highlight: Bob Dylan Shadow Kingdom 7/18/2021

In a few weeks RtBE Favorite Bob Dylan will join the streaming train as he presents Shadow Kingdom:


This will be must watch for RtBE. To get in the mood here is a random deep cut live Dylan tune with Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers:


Wednesday, June 23, 2021

Album Review: Evolfo - Site Out of Mind

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

It is of Evolfo newest release, Site Out of Mind.

We prefer their debut a lot more, but to each their own.

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



NOLA Jazzfest 2021, Artist Predictions

So... we did this back in early 2020, and got a bunch right...then Jazzfest was canceled. Let's hope this one is happens and a lot of the same artists are involved. 

The lineup for the 2021 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival will be announced tomorrow but RtBE got the early scoop...

Actually no we don't...but since it is fun to predict, lets look into the crystal ball and guess who will be and who should be playing.

We will exclude the brass bands and local acts (even though they are truly the main reason we go each year) including nationally touring NOLA acts like Irma ThomasKermit RuffinsFunky Big Sam,  GalacticTrombone Shorty who will all be there.

Also we are obviously skipping the great jazz, blues and gospel acts who will be the foundation of the festival in their respective tents. Lets just talk about the bigger national touring artists for now....We will focus more on locals closer to the show. This is the first time the festival is being held in October so that changes things.

To get in the southern festive NOLA mood, here is a great video done by Jeronimo Acero that my friend the fantastic Lu Brow sent north to warm me up during the winter.
Now on to the predictions....

Tuesday, June 22, 2021

Album Review: Sleater Kinney - Path Of Wellness

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

It is of Sleater-Kinney's newest release, Path Of Wellness.

While not as big of a veer as their previous album, The Center Won't Hold, the newest from Tucker and Brownstein is a bit scattered and tame. While this isn't necessarily a bad thing, the overall album doesn't really sparkle, perhaps it will be a grower. 

We shall see how time and our brain/ears treat it, as current our favorite from the album is "Worry With You".

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


Monday, June 21, 2021

Dylan Cover #484 Julia Harriman, Scott Hoying, Mario Jose "Blowin' In The Wind" 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 Julia Harriman, Scott Hoying, Mario Jose playing "Blowin' In The Wind"


Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this song:
The classic Dylan song, if you asked 100 people to name you the first Bob Dylan song they thought of, or his best known song, I am guessing 95-99 of them would answer "Blowin' In The Wind".  It is an epic, vital song in the history of recorded music. The lyrics tell a stirring tale, the melody is enchanting, it is pretty spot on perfect, and when it originally came out if announced to the world the greatness that was/is/always will be Bob Dylan.

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
This is the first time RtBE has come across the trio of Julia Harriman, Scott Hoying, Mario Jose

Thoughts on Cover:
A dramatic rendition of a classic that goes over the top and fills the song with levels of passion and emotion while focusing solely on the vocals which is unique for this cover series. Definitely a standout vocal version of this song. 

Friday, June 18, 2021

Full Show Friday: Robert Randolph & The Family Band Levitate Music Festival 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...Robert Randolph & The Family Band!

Unlike last weeks Full Show Friday, RtBE has seen this weeks artist a ton live as Robert Randolph & The Family Band have been on our radar since their literal first shows live down at Wetlands. This show is a peach as it also includes a guest sit in from another RtBE favorite Samantha Fish who joins about 42 minutes in for some Hendrix inspired jamming. Try to sit still on this summer Friday with these jams rolling. 

Pro Shot, Pro Sound, Enjoy:


Thursday, June 17, 2021

Live Streams: Juneteenth Unity Fest

For the last year live music was on lock down (like everything else in New York City). Live streams and old concerts have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. Things are improving on the pandemic front in this city, but live streams will be an option for the foreseeable future. We will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and as a way to help out the artists. You can always check out or weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past and as always please support the artists any which way you can.


Today we highlight: Juneteenth Unity Fest

A great mix of legends and up and comers are playing this Saturday to celebrate Juneteenth:

To get in the mood for Saturday's show here is Earth Wind and Fire:

Live Streams: Telluride Bluegrass Festival Weekend 2

For the last year live music was on lock down (like everything else in New York City). Live streams and old concerts have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. Things are improving on the pandemic front in this city, but live streams will be an option for the foreseeable future. We will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and as a way to help out the artists. You can always check out or weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past until live shows go fully back to in person glory. Please support the artists any which way you can.


Today we highlight: Telluride Bluegrass Festival Weekend 2

The second weekend of Telluride's Bluegrass Festival kicks off today.

The lineup includes Sam Bush Band, Emmylou Harris, Mavis Staples and many more.

To get in the mood here is the legendary Del McCoury Band:

Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Tipitina's Initial Late Night Jazzfest Lineup Announced for October

For the first time Jazzfest will be held in October down in New Orleans. While the official lineup is still being finalized, Tipitina's will be hosting a bunch of shows after and around the fairground days. 

Here is the initial lineup and RtBE wants to catch every god damn show. Even the fuzzed out ones which will be revealed soon.


We can not wait for the return of the best festival in the country. To get pumped here are the owners of Tipitina's Galactic from way back in 2011: