A site dedicated to culture with a focus on popular music; from the fringes to the forefront.
Friday, April 28, 2023
New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival Starts Today, Stream on WWOZ
Full Show Friday: Kenny Loggins - Live in Santa Barbara (1983)
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...Kenny Loggins!
Thursday, April 27, 2023
Album Review: Kyle Roussel - Nola a la Mode
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Live Review: Mephiskapheles, Hub City Stompers and Butterbrain @ Bowery Electric 4/20
Album Review: Blondshell - Blondshell
Tuesday, April 25, 2023
Live Stream: Father John Misty @ The Stone Pony Tonight
We are now heading into the new normal with live music during the Covid-19 era. Live shows will need to be flexible and live streaming is a great way to keep music going. Streams have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. Things are (hopefully) improving on the pandemic front but live streams will be an option for artists during 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 check out our 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: Father John Misty Live @ Stone Pony
If you can't make Father John Misty's performance down on the shore a the Stone Pony, you can stream it over on Nugs.net. You do need a membership, but that entitles you to a ton of music.
To get in the mood here is a FJM live tune:
RIP Harry Belafonte
Album Review: Dr. John - Solo Piano Live In New Orleans 1984
“Dorothy” an original tune from that album starts this live show as Mac shows off his underrated piano playing. He also delivers his original, “Such a Night” with a gorgeous, classically influenced intro, this set however is more to pay homage to the great New Orleans piano players who came before him, while establishing the good Dr. right in that very same category.
The opening tune dipped into “Junko Partner” and the run to close side A of “Qualified” > “Sick and Tired” > “Goodnight Irene” are all musical tips of the cap to James Booker whose influence is everywhere on this night, along with David Bartholomew. They aren't alone though as Dr. John gives Lloyd Price’s classic “Stagger Lee” an injection of some new lyrics. While Mac’s playing is top notch, his voice this evening is harsher than normal, especially starting out, before things warm up.
Professor Longhair himself gets some love as Dr. John delivers a fairly tame cover of “Tipitina” while the set ends with Mac mixing up his classic “Mama Roux” with two songs from the criminally underrated Huey “Piano” Smith as he seamlessly transitions into “Rockin' Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu > Don't Ya Just Know It” to wrap up the short show.
Monday, April 24, 2023
New Single/Video from Malevitus "BloodLetter"
Dylan Cover #578 The Staple Singers "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall"
Dylan singing from a position of fear as he poetically discusses the Cuban Missile Crisis and the possibility of Nuclear annihilation. Dylan also mentioned in Chronicles that the song was inspired by a feeling he got when reading microfiche newspapers in the New York Public Library: "After a while you become aware of nothing but a culture of feeling, of black days, of schism, evil for evil, the common destiny of the human being getting thrown off course. It’s all one long funeral song." An apt description and a powerful song from a young songwriter.
Cover:
Long time favorites of RtBE, Mavis and The Staple Singers are American treasures. We have reviewed multiple albums from Mavis, seen her live a few times and really enjoy her spirit, voice and presence.
Thoughts on Cover:
This is obviously cheating a little bit as just Mavis is playing Jazzfest, but she is singing lead here with Pervis. It is a strong song and repetition of the music drives that home, while not a personal favorite it is solid. Unfortunately we will be missing this Friday the 28th at Jazzfest, but if you are there make sure you check out Mavis.
Friday, April 21, 2023
Full Show Friday: Terry & The Zydeco Bad Boys - Live on Swamp and Roll
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...Terry & The Zydeco Bad Boys!
Pro Shot, Pro Sound, Enjoy:
Thursday, April 20, 2023
GEARS Release New Single/Video "Fix What's Broken"
Album Review: Mike Tod - Mike Tod
Wednesday, April 19, 2023
Alberta Rockers The Hi-Tops Release New Single "Shiver"
Drive-By Truckers Releasing The Dirty South: The Directors Cut 6/16
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
Album Review: Temples - Exotico
Monday, April 17, 2023
Dylan Cover #577 Cha Wa - Masters of War
In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by Cha Wa playing "Masters of War"
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:
Friday, April 14, 2023
Full Show Friday: Jazmine Sullivan - Essence Fest 2021
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...Jazmine Sullivan!
Pro shot, Pro sound, Enjoy:
Thursday, April 13, 2023
Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band: Live Around NYC - Spring 2023
I was lucky enough to catch them on my own mini-tour, at Madison Square Garden (4/1), Barclays Center (4/3) and UBS Arena (4/11) and was incredibly impressed by each outing with almost nothing critical to say.
Only a complete cynic or a fool could deny the power of this band which has been at it for over fifty years and still manages to blow it all out, song after song. When you consider the ages of the core group members – now in their seventies – the experience of seeing this outfit is nothing less than shocking.
Rather than cruise-control retirement shows they still give total effort and display a burning desire to rock. When you add in the five-piece horn section (Curt Ramm, Barry Danielian, Eddie Manion, Jake Clemons, Ozzie Melendez) and four backup singers (Curtis King Jr., Lisa Lowell, Michelle Moore, Ada Dyer) the incredibly full-bodied propulsion gives lift-off to the arena ready numbers. The motor of the whole production is, the about to turn seventy-two-year-old Max Weinberg whose drumming (highlighted particularly during the propulsive “Candy’s Room” on two of the nights) is fierce and a force to be reckoned with by anyone half his age.
Then there is The Boss himself, who, while perhaps not as active on stage as he once was, sings as strong as ever, is playing more leads than you might remember and continues to take his adoring fanbase in the palm of his hand and place them close to his heart each show. Simply put, the seventy-three-year-old is one of the great showmen in rock history and while I get tired standing for three hours a night watching, he seems like he could keep going another hour plus if the venues let him.
The three concerts stayed predominately to the same script with each era of Bruce’s robust career getting an airing. Like the early days of the looser freewheeling outfit? Then you are rewarded with a jazzy, solo filled “Kitty’s Back” and a percussion heavy “E-Street Shuffle”, the grooviest performance of this admittedly grooves deficient outfit. Revel in more recent memories with a splash of heartache? Perhaps “Wrecking Ball”, “Last Man Standing” or “The Rising” will get your hands raised and tears flowing. The desire is there for a few covers? “Nightshift” is smooth and “Trapped” had two airings to huge crowd reactions Want hits? You are in luck; they never seem to stop.
It speaks to his incredible career that Springsteen can still fill up arenas so expertly with super hits. Efforts like “Out in the Street” and “Backstreets” had the last rows in the buildings up and singing with unparalleled crowd responses. Each night also saw special songs arrive for the first time this tour. The Ranger fans in the Garden were treated to a beautiful “Jungleland”, the Brooklyn bums found out that “It’s Hard To Be A Saint In The City” and Long Island felt the thundering synth bass and bomb blasts of “Born In the U.S.A”; each bust out kept his rabid fans delighted.
That is where the real magic unfolds, in the crowds, as the encores roll out and the lights are turned on in the arena. The predominantly older audience get a chance, perhaps their last, to connect with their hero through the songs of their youth. “Tenth Ave Freeze Out” is a joyous explosion, “Thunder Road” evokes powerful past decisions, “Rosalita” praises the sense of adventures yet to come while “Glory Days” hits hard, as the majority in attendance easily recognize the truth, humor, and honesty contained in that tune.
However, nothing can hold a candle to “Born to Run”. On this tour it is delivered with an incredibly potent horn section that captures the essence of arena rock like no other. The crowds sing and dance, envisioning past senses of freedom, the open road, a future that was there for them, closing too soon…only to be brought back to the present with the knowledge of being alive, now, and vitally experiencing this song. A pinnacle moment in any music going fan's life; “Born to Run” is mega.
Rapturous applause and chants of “Bruuuuce” follow every move that Springsteen makes, and as he still delivers performances like these, it is easy to see why. I am no super fan of Springsteen, but I am a super fan of rock and roll in all forms, and this meaty, bombastic, straight ahead banging with a soulful legendary center tour of Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street band can make a believer of all in attendance any night, in any arena, anywhere. See them while you can.
New Single/Video from Adam Monaco for "Nevermind"
The Philadelphia based indie-folk artist Adam Monaco has released his newest single, a soothing mix of acoustic strings, voices and floating thoughts titled "Nevermind"
Check out the very pretty track below:
Wednesday, April 12, 2023
Album Review: Sial - Sangkar
The newest offering from the Singapore based hardcore/punk band Sial is titled Sangkar (cage in English). A six song 7 inch/digital offerings that bursts with blistering energy and rage, but also remains listenable and even catchy at times.
Blondshell Debuts New Single "Salad" and UK Tour Dates
11th May - The Great Escape, Brighton
12th May – The Great Escape, Brighton (w/ The Pretenders)
24th May – Moth Club, London
25th May – YES, Manchester
26th May – The Louisiana, Bristol
27th May – Wide Awake Festival, London
Tuesday, April 11, 2023
Album Review: Matthew Logan Vasquez - As All Get Out
New Video from The Stone Eye "Not My Circus"
Check it out:
Monday, April 10, 2023
Dylan Cover #576 Los Lobos "Billy 1"
On one of the strangest albums of Bob's career sits "Billy 1". Having never done a score for a movie, Dylan mixed forgettable background music with some strong originals for Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid. A few of those originals have blown past the album in status (see "Knockin' On Heaven's Door"). "Billy 1" never could escape the albums weird fate though. Not very well known, yet is it that much different than Bob's work a few years later on say Desire?!? Well maybe, anyway, it is a neat little tune. According to Dylan's site, he has only played it once live..so it is ripe for interpretation.
Cover:
Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Los Lobos are one of the great all time acts and after seeing them last December live for the first time, we are excited to have an opportunity to check them out again on Sunday the 30th down in New Orleans.
Thoughts on Cover:
Friday, April 7, 2023
Live Stream: Doom Flamingo & Big Something @ Brooklyn Bowl
We are now heading into the new normal with live music during the Covid-19 era. Live shows will need to be flexible and live streaming is a great way to keep music going. Streams have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. Things are (hopefully) improving on the pandemic front but live streams will be an option for artists during 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 check out our 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: Doom Flamingo & Big Something
If you can't get to Brooklyn Bowl tonight, you can still live stream the show on FANS.
To get in the mood here are tunes from both bands.
Full Show Friday: Leon Bridges 7/30/2016 Lollapalooza, Grant Park, Chicago
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...Leon Bridges!
Pro Shot, Pro Sound, Enjoy:
Thursday, April 6, 2023
NOLA's The Rumble Announce Debut Album and Tour
New Song from Silver Synthetic "The Door"
Wednesday, April 5, 2023
New Single/Video from Detroit's Austin Mulka "6-MAM"
Album Review: Mike Dillon & Punkadelic - Inflorescence
Tuesday, April 4, 2023
Deux Furieuses Release New Video for "Let Them Pass"
Album Review: The Hold Steady - The Price of Progress
Monday, April 3, 2023
Dylan Cover #575 Larkin Poe "New Pony" 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 Larkin Poe playing "New Pony"