Primus on the BoobTube

Thanks to Glen for the heads up that Primus played on Jimmy Fallon's (who should be drawn and quartered) version of a late night television program.  They did a tune on air and one off for the web exclusive, so we will present both here.

On air the trio played "Lee Van Cliff" off of Green Naugahyde.


RtBE hasn't reviewed that album or the show that we saw on that tour, because when you have nothing nice to say about your ideals, I think it is best to say nothing.  It isn't that the album is bad, it just feels much more like a Claypool solo disk then a Primus album; when you have the ability to release an album under different aliases and you choose your most revered the album better be statement.  This one wasn't.  The song itself seems to be a retread of Purple Onion's weaker tracks or Of Whales and Woe's stronger ones, not a Primus song.

On the web exclusive they dig out their most popular tune, "Jerry Was A Race Car Driver", but the energy isn't there which can be expected in the late night setting:


All that said we still love the band, missed them these two nights in NYC on their benefit tour, but caught some other amazing music that will be reviewed up here soon...Until then have a great weekend.

Merry Free Christmas Music With The Venture Brothers!!

RtBE have mentioned our love of Adult Swim's many fine shows and The Venture Brothers is right up there at the top of the heap, so continuing their excellent tradition the creators have put together Christmas Songs every single year and connected them to their expertly written show. 

Click Here for a grouping of all of them!

The "Fairytale of New York" duet that they do with Dr. Mrs. The Monarch and The Monarch himself is great, if fairly obvious...

until you hear it and the roles are reversed, BOOSH!...Download it right here!

The shows Xmas episode is fantastic and deals with the awesome Krampus!!!:
 

That episode was the first time I ever found out about that classy guy...

And a bike enthusiast, with that...Merry Christmas, One and All!

Oyster Fest, Guinness and a Free Hold Steady Show!

Tomorrow is going to be a rocking even more then most Saturdays do and the focus will be waaaay downtown in Manhattan. 

Ulysses is not only an amazing (and frustrating) James Joyce novel, it is also a Folk House on Stone Street and it will be the site of an all out consumption fest on Saturday.   Bivalves will be everywhere as they throw their 8th annual Oyster Fest in the streets that used to be covered in shells. 

I have proclaimed my love for those tasty critters before and love the pairing of a great Guinness with them so I am heartily looking forward to this event...The bands playing should be fun, Milo Z is an NYC staple, and Celtic Cross play traditional Irish tunes and are familiar with the bar,
but I am not sure how long I will last there because...
I may be even more excited to catch one of my favorite bands play later that evening only a few blocks away.  The Hold Steady will be playing a Concert Confidential show with all proceeds of VIP tickets going to VH1's Save the Music Foundation. 

The show is going to be at one of the coolest summer venues in the city, the Beekman Beer Garden.  We hung out there earlier this summer after the 4 Knots Festival and dug the place...dipping our feet in the sand as we looked out over the East River and one of us maybe even pissed in it (but that's another story).  I can not wait to hear the fellas pull off their sound and rock out under the stars, this is going to be a hell of a show...

What a great song...

Hope you RSVP'ed and will make there as well, if not enjoy anything else you may be doing, time to do what you want is precious, squeeze it tight.

Free Show Tomorrow!! Cro-Mags/Screaming Females in Brooklyn

So Vans is putting on a free show tomorrow for the skaters and hoodrat chicks at their House of Vans in Brooklyn Friday night July 29th. 

They are calling it a house party but this house may be in tatters after the Cro-Mags and Screaming Females get done with it.  Sure Fucked Up and Pissed Jeans are playing too but I would be lying if I said I was going for those two.

 The Cro-Mags are one of the quintessential hardcore bands and helped to define a generation with their masterpiece Age Of Quarrel.  The group has gone through mega lineup changes, infighting and religious conversion, but anytime I can catch a formation of them I am excited.   

 I have been telling anyone willing to listen that Screaming Females are one of the best bands playing live today, so needless to say I am pumped for this one...


RSVP if you can make it on out there, sure to be a packed house....see you in the sweat-box. 

Glide Review - Grooms - Prom

Hey ya'll!  Got a new review up on Glide

You can read it right c'here!!!

It is of Grooms 2nd full length release Prom

Grooms are a Brooklyn 3 piece that plays a mix of noise and pop tunes, making for a tangled web of sound and songs.  One of the things I liked best about the album was that it wasn't easy to digest during the first few listens and I kept finding new layers of playing when I went back to the disk.

Not everything is perfect, the singing and lyrics to me could use some work.  Travis Jackson tries hard to be Doug Martsch, but in complete confession it took me a looong time to warm up to Doug's singing style and not just think of him as a whiner.  Like Built to Spill though the tunes contained here are engaging when you digest them.

I am hoping to catch the group live soon, feel free to grab their album and here are a 5 tunes from Grooms bandcamp site that are worth checking out.
 

Friday Funday Venture Brothers Music...Live

Well the other night I was a bit bored and checked in on one of my favorite TV creators blogs.  Jackson Publick (aka Christopher McCulloch) posted J.G. Thirwell's live video from his Celebrate Brooklyn show last year.  JG does the music for one of the best shows on TV in any format...the one Jackson created, The Venture Brothers!

If you have never seen the show, pick up the first season on DVD and get into it, things only get better once you have entered this universe of quirky characters and grown up boy adventurers.  The writing is amazing, the stories get more intricate and engaging (not to mention hysterical) with each season and now we got word that more is on the way... 

Getting to excited and forgetting why this post is happening though, check out JG's group Steroid Maximus run through a medley of Venture tunes...some great orchestrated arraignments, peep it:

Steroid Maximus_Venture Bros Medley from JG Thirlwell

We got,  “Fumblestealth”, “Bolly” and “No Vacancy (Venture Bros Theme)” in the medley and it is fun shiz.  Gawker calls it a "tiki-bar-meets-secret-lair soundtrack" and while that's pretty spot on, I think more James Bond on speedy Ecstasy is fitting.  You get the drift...below is one more video from the show, another Venture tune, titled "Gawker"...

Steroid Maximus_Gawker from JG Thirlwell

All this makes me proud to be drinking out of my Sgt. Hatred Water Bottle while I write this...Enjoy yer weekend everyone.

Album Review - Sleigh Bells - Treats

This review is part of the "Over Flow" Review Series. For various reasons these past reviews were not published anywhere else. I am tagging them as "Overflow Reviews" and may add some extra information before or after if needed but will keep the ratings and reviews just as I originally wrote them. Enjoy:

 Sleigh Bells

Treats
** out of *****

Derek E. Miller creates the music and Alexis Krauss provides the vocals for Sleigh Bells, who recently released their debut album Treats.  The Brooklyn based duo has created a stuttering industrial/dance-pop noise record that can overload or become eerily barren depending on the track.

Digital claps and electronic farts partner with noise blasts (replacing bass and drums) while walloping guitar riffs are plopped on top like whipped cream.   The multi-tracked wispy vocals add a nice off setting texture to the clanging chaos but no lyrical depth.  On it’s best track, “Infinity Guitars”, the sparse jingle worms its way into your brain and hips with its minimalist catchiness; hipsters will surely dance to this all summer.  “Rill Rill” keeps adding textures upon its sugary sweet vocals while on the flipside “Crown on the Ground” grates the eardrums with robotic/soulless hip-hop in one trick pony fashion. 

Treats provides intriguing moments but quickly begins to feel repetitive.  This formula simply lends itself to one catchy hook or tune rather then a full length release. The distortion will bombard your speakers but the fuzz may dull your brain rather then inspire your legs to get out on the dance floor.

For more thoughts, videos and tunes read some more...

The Sazer-Wrap of Jazzfest 2010

Prescription?  Perfect!

Trying to do a "Sazer-Wrap" up of the Jazzfest trip is next to impossible, even as I started typing this I got the perma-grin back a'glowin'.  I will try to sum it up, but I can' truly explain the glory of it all; how can you not love a town that has a protest parade regarding the new Arizona Immigration law with a full band, dancers and drinks?! For those who were there, you know...for those who haven't been all I can say is...go.  I will focus on a couple of things, and leave the rest out there to myths and legends.  My first 2 hours in town basically sums up the Voodoo Magic:

After Checking in, and having a great meal at EAT we trounced over towards The Louisiana Music Factory to see Kermit Ruffins blow his horn.

(Here's Kermit from 09 in the same spot, I couldn't get a video this year)
 
A block away, we saw a Rolls Royce on Decatur and who is driving? Allen Toussaint.  You can't walk five blocks in this town without bumping into a legend!   Things only got better from there....Sazerac's, Highlife's, Jager, Whiskey, those were the drinks...but the food really fueled the fire.  Again most of the thanks for eats goes to Jeff, and he found some great ones this year:

Coops had the best Jambalaya I have ever eaten, the Rabbit and Sausage was amazing, and we had a nice fancy meal at Patois uptown which saw me munching on some tasty octopus.  Mother's had been skipped the last couple of trips down, but we hit it up and it remains the perfect lunch Po'boy spot...and I have to mention the Sweet Potato Pie is the finest I ever had, but I don't claim to be an expert on pies:

 After a long day at the fairgrounds we netted some fantastic Charbroiled Oysters over at Drago's that may just be the best way to eat NOLA Oysters (well second best...):

While I was at the fairgrounds we tried a bunch of different things...The Fried Green Tomato's were probablly the best but I was super suprised by how good my Veggie Ya-Key-Mein was:

Yeah I asked the same question "What the hell is that egg doing there?" I am not sure, all I can say is that it works and is a nice spiced up option.  While all of these meals were fantastic, they pale in comparison to one...when I am now asked the question about my favorite meal/food/dinner experience of my life I have an answer...The Oyster Bacon Sandwich at Cochon's:

 This was simply a food orgasm...everything was boosh...the bacon, the oysters, the spices, the bread...everything.  I won't even mention the great cucumber salad, the eggplant and shrimp side, the Moonshine, Bourbon or Hi-Life's.  Simply exquisite.  Every year this is a MUST.

Onto the music side of things and the hits just kept on coming...
On Wed afternoon, after Kermit, the fabulous Lu Brow from Swizzle Stick Bar

 directed us to Wednesday in the Square over in Lafayette Sq to catch Marcia Ball twinkle the ivories.

 That night we cruised over to The Spotted Cat catching RTBE Favorite The Loose Marbles:

Ben and crew were in top form all weekend.

After seeing a couple (who I envy and hope to emulate someday) playing spoons and clarinet on a blacony in the French quarter

 we caught the ripping Ryan Scully on Thursday night...but I am hopefully saving something special regarding that, so stay tuned...

At the fair grounds and the fest itself we had a blast (even if we skipped Sunday because of the rain) catching Rebirth Brass Band blow it out:

 and my personal surprise of the fest, Band of Horse's making Patrick Swayze jokes and nailing every tune they played...really a great set.  (Warning: the video was not me and gets a bit dizzy, but the sound is worth listening too)


We caught some side acts and a carousel that went 60 miles an hour while a french jazz band played in the center (Wild!) and we managed to catch the headliners Pearl Jam with about 200,000+ of our closets friends

 (I have never seen that many people at the fest before...The stage is all the way up on the left, PJ brought the crowd)
 
PJ seemed just as excited to be there as us...and they sped their way through their set.  It was an average effort, I have seen much better outings from the boys.  "Even Flow" in particular was played so fast that Eddie couldn't even mumble out the lyrics...whatever they are; as my friend Knapp said "WhyGoHome?!WhyGoHome!?GOHOME!!!!"

While the set was rushed the, energy was certainly there Here's a highlight (and a tune I don't think I have seen them do before) filmed off the jumbotron, "Tremor Christ":

and here's a new tune that's tough to rush (Neither video by me)


Even if the wind and weather threatened to blow/wash us away...at least the rains held off until Sunday, then they fell with a vengeance. I am pissed I missed Trombone Shorty and The Dead Weather, but we will catch them in NYC (already got DW Tickets) so I am not too worried...and for the rest of the local bands...

THERE IS ALWAYS NEXT YEAR!!! (T-minus 11 and half months...I literally can. not. wait.  Extra special love to everyone I meet, hung out with, harassed and hugged down there Love you all)

Dead and the Neville's Part 2

Jumping back into listening/discussing the tag team of San Fran's Hippyest and NOLA's ambassadors brings us to this Monday's Show, and it is from an actual Monday, July 6th 1987 to percise.  Click that link or listen here to the embedded show:

 While the Giants were in town and sweeping the Pirates in a double header, the other San Franciscans were setting up their guitars at the Igloo.

   aptly named.

The Fellas were in the middle of their historic tour backing up Bob Dylan, he was not on the bill this night after having just played with the group on July 4th and would meet up again on the 10th. With Dylan not announced, but rumored to be in attendance, anticipation ran high, but the bard wouldn't emerge this night, in fact this show is probably better off because of it.  I will eventually get into the Dylan and The Dead tour I am sure, but my feelings are mixed on the pairing back in 87, however my feelings aren't mixed on this show...It smokes and The Neville's are just half the reason why, the other half is Jerome John Jerry Garcia.

Garcia 1987

From the opening notes this is a special show, and while everyone raves about the second set (with good reason) some time needs to be spent on the first.  Granted I would give the sound here probably about a 7.5 or 8 out of 10, but you get the crowd love, and the the energy from the boys playing is right there.  The opening "Feel like a Stranger" lets us know that Garcia is really feeling it, his guitar runs backing up Weir's vocals are fluid and funky, just check out the groove he drops into around the 5 minute mark and continues until the end.  Garcia's strumming and picking are sparks in front of some spacey drums from Mickey Hart.  This is a great version and Garcia doesn't want the silky six strings to stop as he goes into the fan favorite "Franklin's Tower".  The singing takes a back seat as "Row Jimmy" continues the top level musicianship on display before one of the coolest "Big River's" shows up.

This cover of the Johnny Cash classic is a staple in the Dead's repetorie, first showing up in 1971 and sticking around until the band stopped in 95.  Here's Johnny's version:

Cavorting in Davenport.

When the Dead covered "Big River" it was usually a short burst of country/polka energy dropped in the middle of the first set.  Here that energy is amped waaaay up, Garcia's picking is fiery and aggressively propelling the tune forward into Brent Mydland's keyboard runs that starts out at 2:30 mark sounding exactly like a fiddle, before dropping into a twinkling workout before another solo from Jerry and the drums of Billy and Mickey race until the tracks conclusion.  One of my favorite versions of this often played tune.

The group rewards Brent's innovative playing with allowing him to belt out "Far From Me" before the set closing trio pays homage to the guests about to come out first, the icon they are touring with second, and their traditional roots with third via "Stagger Lee">"Desolation Row">"Don't Ease Me In".  Throughout this first set Garcia was on point, I will admit there were times especially later in his career, when his amazing guitar playing sounded lazy, everyone has bad off nights...or tours, but this was certainly not one of those...oh yeah on too the 2nd set...

I mentioned my favorite version of the funk/disco Dead with one of my earlier Monday posts, and while that "Shakedown Street" is still my favorite, this version should probably get a mention in the conversation of excellent live performances.  Around the 9:50 mark things get clicked up a notch with some solid fretwork, but the whole version is solid.  It is rollicking groove-fest to kick start the second set, pitch perfect pretty much all over, stuttering drums, simple runs, heavy on vocals (was that a little scat singing by Jerry?) and an alive crowd; a great feeling throughout. "Just Gotta Poke Around..."

A popping "Samson and Delilah" is next before The Neville Brothers come out to help turn the standard "Iko Iko" into a full fledged party, a fantastic version that is getting me smiling while I am replaying it.  The Dead's first ever playing of "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" followed:

A fun little ditty, before the party flowed into another tune popularized by Harry Belafonte (written by Norman Span) with "Man Smart (Woman Smarter)" which is my favorite calypso cover the group did with regularity, excellent lyrics and fun beats.  The Neville Brothers help out with rhythmic tightness, vocals and some funky arse grooves.

"Drums>Space" kinda destroys the vibe a bit, but the second Dylan cover of the night is an all time classic, with the Neville's supporting, the group kills it with "Knockin' on Heaven's Door", this version is pure boosh one of the best the band has done.  Here is a youtube clip of, you know, another decent cover version:


After the Dylan only thing left to do was rock out with the two night closing rockers "Good Lovin'" with its "LaBamba" licks and Neville rhythmic tinkering before the classic "Johnny B. Goode" which the crew on stage managed to do; Be Good, Powerfully.  The Neville's and The Dead were quite a pair. 

Re-listening to this show you can feel that wild NOLA spirit throughout, even if they were playing in Pittsburgh.  It is in the funkiness of "Shakedown St" or "Feel Like a Stranger", the Mississippi country back water of "Big River" the Partying vibe of "Iko Iko" or the majesty of the "Knockin" or the Rockin' of "Johnny B Goode".  It's all there, and I can't wait to get down to that town.  Enjoy this show...

Linfinity Live 3-11-10 Pics and Vid

Caught up with an old school friend who is fronting the group Linfinity.  Theyplayed at the Mercury Lounge on Thursday Night.  Here are some pics and a video of the show, and I will have a full review on Glide early next week. Check out the band and Dylan's killer vocals. 
"Holy Rain"

Catch them when they come to your town and grab the album, some good stuff there.

NPR pure Booshness...White Stripes!

So I will shake some of that Monday hippy out of my weave and post a link from the glorious NPR.  Hmm that seems weird to type...

Anyway, they are hooking the brothers and sisters up with a first listen to the White Stripes new concert album, Under Great White Northern Lights. Click here to Stream it!!!

 

I can not wait to grab this DVD/CD combo...and from the opening Bagpipes, I doubt it will be disappointing.

Friends have talked about doing a viewing party for this Thursday downtown so if that goes down I will have a review soon, if not in the next few weeks one will probably pop up.  Currently The Stripes sit 3rd on my list of favorite Jack White projects, but my man crush on him is large enough to cover 5+ projects...so keep them coming Jack old boy.    

While I was at the NPR site I stumbled across a new Chieftains album that they recorded with Ry Cooder and others.  Irish and Mexicans teaming up?  The Irish just love everybody don't they....hmm that reminds me the 17th is close....

Album Review - Eels - End Times

This review is part of the "Over Flow" Review Series. For various reasons these past reviews were not published anywhere else. I am tagging them as "Overflow Reviews" and may add some extra information before or after if needed but will keep the ratings and reviews just as I originally wrote them. Enjoy:

 Eels

End Times 

* and a 1/2 out of *****

Eels or rather Mark Oliver Everett, has been through a ton of hardships in his life and they consistently weigh him and his music down.  That weariness coupled with the straining honesty in his voice lends added gravity to all of his songs.  However, on past efforts an ironic, smiling-into-the-shitstorm flicker has off balanced the grim thoughts, not on End Times.  There is no irony in this title; Eels are speaking on the end of relationships, the end of life, the end of civilizations and the end of the world, yet at the end of it's run it is the album that has  failed.

Much sparser sonically then the recent (and superior) Hombre Lobo, E just wallows in the rut of despair waiting for these End Times which seem to be coming in the next gasp.  “Unhinged” has an organ and tambourine that off set some mean lyrics directed at a crazy ex-lover, “In My Younger Days” plays with simple electronic backing over suicidal thoughts.  The emptiness is all consuming and serves to drown the listener while E regresses into himself and the songs almost border on pitying. 

Let’s face it, Eels can convey pain brilliantly and the short heartfelt “Little Bird” sounds completely forlorn and devastating with the refrain “God Damn/I Miss that girl” but in context it is just another bleak song.  A full album of downers is tough to swallow unless recent breakups or hardships have clouded your life, if that's the case then I am sure this album will ring completely true. When Eels splashes in a bit of variety into the overall product he/they achieve better results, hopefully E cheers up just a hair for the next album.   


More thoughts, comparisons to other reviews and a video after the jumparooni

New and Old Tunes

So two locations pointed out songs I wanted to share here, the first is over at Glide.  Dr. Dog has been one of my favorites ever since Eric from Glide told me to check them out at the Mercury Lounge in Jan. 2006.  What's not in that review is that show was one of I would say 5 or less in my show going career where I was enamored enough with what I heard to instantly buy Easy Beat on the spot.  The dog's hooked me and when I conducted an interview with them I was overjoyed.  it is still one of my favorite pieces I have written for glide and the reason for that is Scott McMicken.

 

The kid was affable, knowledgeable and completely into music.  He was a joy to interview and we could have literally talked for hours (if I remember we did talk for at least 1 hour) about his band various music and everything.  I was pumped to see the band grow and expand, so much so that I included their amazing album Fate at number 17 on my best albums of the decade list.  The group is cooking and their new tune points to excellent things for the future release, give it a listen, I think you will like it:

 

The next tune I want to mention was pointed out to me from the NYPL Blogs.  I confess I only know Steve Miller like most people from Smoker Joker Toker land...and the fact that he did the same show every summer at SPAC when I was in my younger days.  I had no idea he had a bluesy career pre-pop tunes, but thankfully Andy Wagstaff pointed that out to me in his blog entry.  Check out Bluesy Steve Miller:

This Great Albums You May Have Missed is a GREAT idea which I will be gleefully following, Thanks Andy.   

 

Album Review - The HeavyThe House That Dirt Built

This review is part of the "Over Flow" Review Series. For various reasons these past reviews were not published anywhere else. I am tagging them as "Overflow Reviews" and may add some extra information before or after if needed but will keep the ratings and reviews just as I originally wrote them. Enjoy:

The Heavy
The House That Dirt Built

** out of *****

The lines between imitation, tribute, and flat rip-off have never been cloudier in music; understandably people will argue both sides.  On one hand the argument is simply that music is music, listen and enjoy.  On the other people want respect for the original artists and ideas; for past efforts to inspire not be repackaged and sold.  Hip-Hop has dealt with this for years, and covers have always been part of Rock and Roll, this summer even found Kid Rock’s huge hit mashing up two classics.  The Heavy are treading in all of these waters.

It rings a bit stale on The House That Dirt Built, the group’s sophomore release.  The minute “Sixteen” starts the ghost of Screaming Jay Hawkins should be foaming at the mouth.   Taking the excellent “I Put A Spell On You” and replacing Screaming Jay’s classic delivery with Kelvin Swaby’s non-descript vocals and lyrics isn’t innovative or exciting, it’s a downgrade.  That is the problem in the end; if the lead vocals were inventive/astounding the group could better get away with “borrowing” from the likes of Third Guitar, but Swaby is tame in the front man role not a whirlwind MC making these tributes his own.   

Raw drums and a baritone sax spice things up on the Tom Waits styled hard rocker “Oh No! Not You Again!!” and “Short Change Hero” would be easily confused for a Gnarls Barkley deep cut but The House That Dirt Built ends up as a collage of beats, samples, riffs, experiments, all easily digested but not that sonically sustaining.   

More thoughts, tunes videos, and a full length documentary after the jump

Glide Review - Dinosaur Jr. Live 1/16/10

Caught my current favorite group live in my current favorite venue a few Saturday's ago with some of my favorite people...Got a review up on Glide.  To say I was excited for this show would be an understatement...this was "Just Like Heaven" (even though they didn't play that)

You can read the full review right c'here!!

Here is a video of the show opener "Thumb" which was one of the best songs of the night:

G-d D-mn J can play a wicked g-tar!!!

I had a blast hanging out with Jeff and Charlette at this concert, we were banging around (not standing still like the crowd in front)and simply LOVING the audio onslaught from a position on the balcony just behind where this video was taken....amazing stuff.

As a major treat NYC Taper was nice enough to record the whole show!  You can download it and listen for yourself.  What do you think of the trio in the live environment?  Go get the Show, Now, HERE!   

Needless to say this band is amazing... for those who like guitar rock of any ilk and have somehow slept on them, pick up their back catalog.  All of the albums hold some treats, but You're Living All Over Me, Bug and the two newest Beyond and Farm are the places I would start....Or better yet come to see them with me next time they are in town, you got first beer.

And for twiddles and diddles one more video from the show:

RIP Bobby Charles

Well I am late to the game with this, but it seems fitting for Bobby Charles, a self proclaimed recluse.  He passed away January 14th, he was 71.

My first exposure to Bobby was when I purchased The Last Waltz Box set.  I actually got the 4 disk set before ever having seen the amazing film, strange I know, but I was totally into The Basement Tapes and my good friend Matt recommended that I dive head first into The Band; it is still one of the best pieces of advice I have followed.  The first non-Band song that grabbed me by the ear hole and hooked me for certain was "Down South In New Orleans".

Down south in New Orleans,
The prettiest girls I've ever seen.
Sparkling eyes, lips so sweet,
we make love to the Rumba beat.
Ship's at anchor, my suitcase packed,
Got a one way ticket, ain't comin' back.
Life's a pleasure, love's no dream,
Down south in New Orleans.

My dark eyed baby, I'm on my way,
Back into your arms to stay.
I'm tired of work, I wanna play.
I'll make sweet love to you night and day.

Down south in New Orleans,
The prettiest girls I've ever seen.
Sparkling eyes, lips so sweet,
we make love to the Rumba beat.
Ship's at anchor, my suitcase packed,
Got a one way ticket, ain't comin' back.
Life's a pleasure, love's no dream,
Down south in New Orleans.

I want to get too loose, on Toulose Street,
I wanna kiss all the Creole girls I see.
Drink all day, dance all night.
Do it wrong, 'til I do it right.

Down south in New Orleans,
The prettiest girls I've ever seen.
Sparkling eyes, lips so sweet,
we make love to the Rumba beat.
Ship's at anchor, my suitcase packed,
Got a one way ticket, ain't comin' back.
Life's a pleasure, love's no dream,
Down south in New Orleans.

"Drink All Day, Dance All Night, Do It Wrong, Til I Do it Right!"
Yup that about sum's it up perfectly....

That city has always enchanted me (More about this soon I promise) and when I heard this simply magical song sung with love by Levon, I was hooked on Bobby's song writing.  I got his Chess Masters collection and while it is good, Bobby will forever be known as a GREAT song writer and just an average performer himself.  I gotta hand it to him though, inventing a catch phrase as cool as "See you later, Alligator.  In a while Crocodile" is pure Boosh!

This is a cool article about a newer album of his, which I will be looking to pick up and here is some lost video of him at The Last Waltz:

I will post a few MP3's after the jump...

Glide Review - The Duchess and The Duke Live

Got a new review posted on Glide

You can check it out here!!!

It is of The Duchess and The Duke live set from last Friday night at Mercury Lounge in NYC.  Truth be told they were off their game becoming a bit tipsy (Jessie especially) towards the end of the set.  Here is a great tune, "Reservoir Park", from their excellent new album though Sunset/Sunrise.






   

And now for something completely different....

While I mostly write/cover/listen to 'Rock' it isn't always like that...I just DL'ed 5 Miles Davis early 80's CD's this week and I was shown some new underground hip-hop that I love.  Check out Hip Hop Linguistics track of the week featuring Jake Lefco, IllSpokinn, Ryan-O’Neil, Kats and Domer.

In full confession I am friends with Kats and will be reviewing his newest release "Levitate" in the upcoming days, but friendship aside this is a smoking track.   

You can get a bunch of great underground hip-hop by going right here to Free Ice Cream, it is a booming site run by fine folks, and it is all free! Give it a gander.

Glide Review - Gorvette Lustfully Yours EP

New Glide Review up today.

You can check it out here!!

It is The Lustfully Yours EP from Detroit Female Pop Punkers Gorevette.

Check out Nikki Corvette and Amy Gore's Newest project:


Couple of more videos, including their cover of The Stooges, after the jump...

Monday Morning Dead

Back this Monday with a dose of The Dead to ease your work week into gear.  Hitting the summer of 1985 for this one, back in a time when Merriweather Post Pavilion had nothing to do with Animal Collective.

Here is your show for this morning: June 30th 1985.

'85 is an interesting year for the Dead as they rolled out their 20th Anniversary tour, Jerry's playing was crisp and clear but there is no denying what my friends P-Style and Mark call his "Kermit The Frog" singing from this tour.

(Someday I'll find it, the tye-dye connection)
Also I may be wrong with this, but I believe Spring/Summer '85 was the first time that the group broke out their MIDI system (which I just found out stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface).  Love or hate the Dead, you need to admit they were constantly on the cutting edge of music technology, and the MIDI usage was another link in that chain (one that long time fans still argue over it's success with the band).  You can hear it come into play in the first sets CC Rider with the guitars sounding like a Saxophone/Trumpet mix...a cool version.  This Oade Brothers recording seems to have a bit of hiss too it, the cymbals are bit high and Jerry sounds even more distant vocally, but it does convey the crowds rambunctious energy...and is flat out fun coming on the heels of a mighty SPAC show (that I am sure I will get to eventually).

The opening set is crisp and quick ("Big Railroad Blues" is pure speed) and contains the first reason why I picked this one; "Keep On Growing".  Brent and Phil are my two favorite Dead members and to hear them try out this Derek and the Dominoes tune is a joy...too bad they could never really get it right and they slaughter the lyrics, oh well...I wish they kept trying with this song, though I think they only played it live a handful of times. 

 

The second reason for posting this show is that I am feeling really good this Monday so I wanted something funky.  "Shakedown Street" along with "Miss You"

and the new Black Crowes song "I Ain't Hiding"

are the holy trinity of disco rock and this version of Shakedown which opens the second set is arguably the best representation of disco/funk Dead.  

Brent kills it on keys, the guitars cook, the crowd eats it up with a spoon...these 15 minutes are ecstasy for the eardrums. At 10 minutes they drop in some riff-y goodness that just makes your ass shake and your head bob and then they blow off the roof around the 13 minute mark, kinda makes you wish they kept this jam going even longer..but they still had a monster set to get too.  A scorching Samson and Delilah is up next before the bust out of the summer of 85.... Cryptical Envelopment starts a segue fest that triggers Drums> Space> Other One> Stella Blue, looming large and moving everything home to the Sugar Magnolia> Sunshine Daydream closer.  Hell of a show, Hell of a show...  (Full setlist and more links after the jump)

Merriweather Post Pavilion 6-30-1985
Dead.net (personal reviews are here as well)

Mississippi Half-Step
C.C. Rider
Brown Eyed Women
Mama Tried
Mexicali Blues
Keep on Growing
Big Railroad Blues
Looks Like Rain
Don't Ease Me In

Shakedown Street
Samson and Delilah
Gimme Some Lovin'
He's Gone
Cryptical Envelopment>
drums>
The Other One>
Stella Blue
Around and Around
Sugar Magnolia

U.S. Blues