Wednesday, May 31, 2023

Album Review: The Grateful Dead - Dave's Picks 46: Hollywood Palladium Los Angeles, California 9/9/72

 The Grateful Dead
Dave's Picks 46: Hollywood Palladium Los Angeles, California 9/9/72 
**** out of *****

It is really hard to find a bad Grateful Dead show from 1972. Almost every night saw the band "on" and some nights found them soaring to the highest peaks of their history. Dave's Picks 46 goes to one of the strongest months of that heavily toured year, September, and delivers; 9/9/72 from the Hollywood Palladium. 

The band, Jerry Garcia – lead guitar, vocals Bob Weir – rhythm guitar, vocals Phil Lesh – bass guitar, vocals Bill Kreutzmann – drums Keith Godchaux – keyboards Donna Jean Godchaux – vocals, were clicking on a very high level and the sound on this release from all involved, is pristine. If anything, the vocals are pushed a bit too far in front so slightly missed notes or harmonies standout more than on old tapes. It is really amazing the work Dave Lemieux and his team put into cleaning up the sound, and the unreal job Owsley Stanley did originally recording this show. 

This night begins with a fairly tame, yet professionally delivered first set, par for the course for September '72. Opening and closing with Chuck Berry covers, in-between showcasing a gorgeous "Sugaree" that has a deep bass, "Tennessee Jed" with nice guitar work from Jerry and an average "Bird Song" that, even when not the set highlight, is always welcomed. Speaking of set highlights, that would easily be "Playin' In The Band", the group kicks in from there and the tune really seems to spark the inventive playing and energy for the rest of the night. 

The second set starts with an excellent version of the classic pairing "China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider" and Godchaux's keys, along with Garcia's inventive guitar lines (especially over the second half) shines bright throughout. Keith's playing also highlights a cool version of "Friend of the Devil", a song that the band didn't always deliver in the live setting. The CD aspect of Dave's Picks can be frustrating as disk 2 contains the end of the show, but reprogramming it is a must for this night as Disk 3 (the middle of the second set) is where the magic truly happens. 

The raw and semi bluesy "He's Gone" starts the proceedings with languid playing from all involved before segueing into an top notch version of "Truckin'" that features weeping, bended notes from Garcia. The tempo kicks up for the song which rambles on winningly before dropping into a brief "Drums" segment before "The Other One" begins. 

While the show has been 'solid to pretty good' at this point, "The Other One" presented here is worth the price of this release alone. It captures everything that makes the Dead special in the thirty five minute run time as it begins with wild, blazing energy before moving to tripped out spacey noise/free form playing. Things then shift towards melodic and sweet sounds at the end of the journey; in a year full of amazing versions of this song, this one needs to be heard and ranked accordingly.

"Stella Blue" is a blissful way to come down from that adventure and "El Paso" is oddly placed by Weir, but fine. The show wraps with a high energy version of "Casey Jones" and an even better spin through "Sugar Magnolias" which features Donna Jean and Weir yelling out their sunshine day dreams.

An upbeat "One More Saturday Night" wraps it up and while not as amazing as other nights this month (9/3, 9/21, 9/24) Dave's Picks 46 certainly holds it's own and with this outstanding version of "The Other One", it a must own for Deadheads. 
_____________________________
Support the artists and peep some video below (not official audio from Dave's 46):


Nadine Khouri Releases New Single, "Song of a Caged Bird", UK Tour Starts Tonight

The London based sing-songwriter Nadine Khouri has released a new single ahead of her UK Tour which starts tonight.


Check out he song below along with her tour dates:


NADINE KHOURI UK TOUR 2023

MAY
31 
LIVERPOOL Leaf

JUNE
SHEFFIELD Café #9
10 CORSHAM Pound Arts
14 LONDON Paper Dress Vintage
(w/ support from Jack Cheshire)

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

New Punk/Metal Offering from Crazy Arm "Floating Bones"

The Devon, UK based outfit Crazy Arm have a new hard rocking track out "Floating Bones". 



The group are dedicated, as Darren Johns states:
For as long as we've been together – 18 years – our core ethos has been one rooted in grass-roots community activism, militant anti-fascism and compassion towards other creatures. It may not always be obvious, but it's there.
Check out the song below:


  

Album Review: chumhuffer - Orgy of Hate

chumhuffer
Orgy of Hate
*** out of *****

The follow up to last years Blood In The Water EP finds chumhuffer delivering their brand of melodic punk/hardcore with humor, angst and worries on the seven tracked Orgy of Hate

The groups members are veterans of the hardcore scenes in Boston and NYC as the band (Shawn Refuse vocals, Blackout Matt guitar, Joe Dorane guitar, Ryan Paige bass, Jimmy Duke drums) recorded this album in Westchester and Harlem. Production by the band and Glen Lorieo is bright as each sound rings out true and vibrates with power. 

Opening  with the title track chumhuffer lament the current state of the world with the rising levels of hatred over fast beats and cutting riffs. "Technophobe" begins with great rumbling drums before arena ready guitar lines and a chant along chorus sing out with catchy flair while "Wasting Away" kicks up more of the heavy punk vibe slamming home with fiery fingerboard fretwork.  

"Cancel Me" is the best of the bunch, dealing with the title subject and "PC police" the group use head bopping punk beats and screaming guitars and group vocals in Rancid like fashion, displaying both a bass break and great guitar riffs to end. The group and Refuse's vocals in particular, have a heavy Dead Kennedy's vibe  all around, and that is never more apparent than the humorous, shitting your pants tale of "Strufolli".  

Duke's drums highlight the brief pounding of "Frank Turner", a tribute to the punk/folk artist, while "Blackfish" may be the first punk/hardcore ever written about Sea World and their shitty polices regarding Orcas specifically. 

All in all, chumhuffer bring the classic punks sound to the forefront on the brief, but very effective, Orgy of Hate.  
____________________
Support the band, buy the album and peep some video below:

Monday, May 29, 2023

Enjoy Memorial Day, Have A BBQ!

Enjoy Memorial Day, have a BBQ!

We wished the Bard a happy 82nd birthday recently so we are taking Memorial Day (here in the States) off from our Dylan Cover series. 

Enjoy the unofficial start of summer with a Hardcore'Q

No Redeeming Social Value Style...


Or Murphy's Law Style...

Have fun, stay safe. 

Friday, May 26, 2023

Legendary Ten Seconds Release "Keep Us Free", A Song for Ukraine

The English folk-rock band Legendary Ten Seconds have released a single about the war in Ukraine titled "Keep Us Free" from their new album Astounding Songs.


As we head into Memorial Day weekend here in the States it is a stark reminder of the horrors of war currently happening around the globe. 

Listen here:

Live Stream: The Revivalists @ Relix Studios 2pm Today

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: The Revivalists are at Relix Studios at 2pm.

Check out the band over on the Relix Twitch Channel for free at 2 o'clock as the sounds of the pop rock band from New Orleans come to NYC and then directly to you. 

To get in the mood here is a song from the band:

Full Show Friday: Uncle Tupelo- Mississippi Nights, St. Louis Mo 4/30/94

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...Uncle Tupelo!


From 1994, Fan shot but pro audio, here comes Uncle Tupelo back in 1994 at Mississippi Nights venue from St. Louis, MO. Enjoy!


Thursday, May 25, 2023

Album Review: The Ironsides - Changing Light

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


It is of The Ironsides cinematic instrumental debut, Changing Light on Colemine Records. 


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

New Single/Video from Pigeon Wigs for "Hold Up!"

There is a new pretty crazy video from Cardiff based rockers Pigeon Wigs, showcasing their new song "Hold Up!"

Check out the upbeat, catchy, retro-glam spiced track and snazzy video below:

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

Album Review: The Milk Carton Kids - I Only See The Moon

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


It is of The Milk Carton Kids newest album, I Only See The Moon.



RtBE have reviewed the band previously and this new album goes back to their modern day Simon and Garfunkel sound. We liked it better when they were playing with a full band, but it is hard to hate on such sweet singing.

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


Happy 82nd Birthday Bob Dylan!

No one has ever been better. Happy 80th birthday Robert Allen Zimmerman aka Bob Dylan.

Enjoy a few of his best songs:




Tuesday, May 23, 2023

Sazerwrap 2023

In years past we have delivered a Sazerwrap to catalog our personal Jazzfest experience, so we will continue this year. 

We have reviewed some of the shows we caught already and it should be stated: Jazzfest in New Orleans is RtBE's absolute favorite time of the year. 



Like in 2022 (and probably for the foreseeable future) RtBE managed to hit parts of both weekends at the Fairgrounds with Sunday April 30th and Thursday May 4th being our two racetrack days. With so much music it is hard to put it all into words, RtBE won't really try this year, the pics can do the work:






Caught music from everyone from Dumpstaphunk to Kenny Loggins, Flagboy Giz to Jon Cleary, Buddy Guy to Meschiya Lake at the Fairgrounds. Also had some amazing eats.






Hard to call a favorite between the BBQ Fried Oysters and the Duck/Shrimp pasta...and impossible to pick a favorite artist from the load of amazing ones we saw from Los Lobos to The Rumble, The Iceman Special to Mdou Moctar, Hot 8 Brass Band to Santana. The hits just kept coming...






The trip isn't only the Fairgrounds though, outside of the fest proper we caught shows at Tipitina's, the Jazz Museum, The Rabbit Hole, BJ's, Saturn Bar, The Spotted Cat, The Joy Theater and so many more locales. 





That city is electric and getting to know more and more friends, catch amazing shows, and just reveling in that towns mix of magic and mayhem makes the last weekend in April and first week in May RtBE's favorite time of the year.

Until 2024...


Album Review: The Murlocs - Calm Ya Farm

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


It is of The Murlocs newest album, Calm Ya Farm.


RtBE just reviewed their last album in October, these guys don't quit! If comparing, this album is sweeter all around, and the best the Melbourne based band have released so far. 

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

Monday, May 22, 2023

Dylan Cover #582 inthegardenars "To Ramona" 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 inthegardenars playing "To Ramona"


Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
"To Ramona" is on the personal quotient of Another Side of Bob Dylan as Dylan balanced political works like "Chimes of Freedom" with more intimate and humorous songs. That album is transitional while possessing some amazing songs and a lot which show the breezy greatness of Dylan. "To Ramona" in particular was recorded in one session as Dylan used a Mexican folk song for inspiration and his personal relationship with Joan Baez apparently as the lyrical topic. While the song seems so easy for Dylan, thousands of songwriters would kill for some of these stanzas, a really dynamite, if understated, tune.  

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
This is our first time coming across inthegardenars who posts acoustic covers to youtube. 

Thoughts on Cover:
A straight ahead live cover with confident singing and soft slow playing that works well for this track. A pleasant way to start the week with a solid cover of a great song. 

Sunday, May 21, 2023

Live Streams: Violent Femmes: 40th Anniversary of their Debut Album From Levitt Pavilion, Denver CO

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 is the Violent Femmes: 40th Anniversary Debut Album From Levitt Pavilion, Denver CO 

Hop on over to VEEPS and grab a ticket to this special show.  As described:
Celebrate the 40th anniversary of Violent Femmes debut album. Violent Femmes will perform their groundbreaking 1983 debut album from cover to cover — live from Levitt Pavilion Denver. They will also be performing other fan favorites to round out the show.
To get in the mood here is a tune off that album:


Friday, May 19, 2023

Full Show Friday: Valerie June - XPoNential Music Festival 2022

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...Valerie June!

RtBE have been fans of Valerie June since her first release way back in 2013 and dig this full show from New Jersey in 2022. Pro Shot, Pro Sound, Enjoy!


Thursday, May 18, 2023

New Single from Bealby Point Titled "America"

The Vancover, BC based outfit Bealby Point have a new track out titled "America".


The song has a mix of early Weezer-like, pop rock charm with a hard undercoating. 

Check out the single below:

Live Review: WFUV High Line Bash 2023 - City Winery, NYC 5/12/23

WFUV High Line Bash 2023
The Hold Steady, Allison Russell, Allison Ponthier, Brandi and the Alexanders
5/12/23 City Winery NY, NY


The annual WFUV High Line Bash fundraising event was held on Friday night May 12th at the gorgeous city winery directly on the Hudson River in Manhattan.  

The event was a chance for friends and supporters of the noncommercial, member-supported public media service to gather and mingle. The station that brings a diverse ray of talent to NYC's ears, and has great taste all around. RtBE has attended their events before and they are always a good time, for a good cause. 

Unfortunately, arriving late, I missed the set of Brandi and the Alexanders set, but walked in with Allison Ponthier in full flight as she delivered a set of light tunes backed by a solo electric guitar; her vocals eased out into the evening crowd as the sun set over the river and New Jersey.   

Perhaps odd for a radio station event, but the music seemed a touch secondary on this evening as donors mingled, ate snacks and drank wine, chatting with each other as Ponthier sang "Autopilot" in the background. Some of the food was truly excellent, especially the Taste of New York Reuben Egg Rolls, which combined two cultures culinary traditions. 


Allison Russell was up next and was more of a focal point as her and her band took the City Winery stage. Telling heartbreaking stories of abuse by her adoptive father she delivered songs of pain, yet survival including "4th Day Prayer" and "You're Not Alone". Moving songs and her powerful voice echoed through the venue, which started to thin out after her set. 


Headliners The Hold Steady were to follow and the Brooklyn band revamped their normal raucous rock and roll show for a more subdued story-telling, lounge-jazz vibe. Having seen the band numerous times this was a unique twist to their sound.

Opening with a restrained take on "Multitude of Casualties" the group set the quiet tone to the small crowd. The band decided to showcase their fantastic new album The Price of Progress on this night and front man Craig Finn discussed and explained a few of the inspirations for the efforts touching on Johnny Fever, The Monkees, Dictators and Amazon wish lists. 

Multi-instrumentalist Franz Nicolay was an MVP on this night playing piano, keys and accordion, as was guest Stuart Bogie who joined on brass and woodwinds.     


The whole set had a slow, slinking, jazz groove pushed along lightly by the low end of Galen Polivka and Bobby Drake. "Sixers" was an early highlight, and the dramatic "The Ambassador" was a late one. The group finally let the guitarists loose to end the night with the elongated, swaying, "Oaks" that found both Tad Kubler and Steve Selvidge passing nuanced solos back and fourth with grace and class. 
   


An interesting night of music, friends, food and wine for a good cause. If possible, please support WFUV, and thanks to Theresa and the whole WFUV team for putting on this event, it was one RtBE is happy to support.
__________________________
Will update this with video of the show if I find some (feel free to post any you find in comments) until then here is Allison Ponthier signing "Autopilot" at WFUV:

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

New Single/Video from Brina Kay "Dandelion"

The Nashville based country/folk artist Brina Kay has a new single and video out for her song "Dandelion".

Check out the track and engaging video below: