Live Review: Real Young & Lazy Horse - 9/19/26 Industry City Brooklyn, NY

Real Young & Lazy Horse

Live 9/19/26 Industry City Brooklyn, NY

On an overcast fall evening, in the courtyard of the refurbished warehouses that makeup Industry City in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, the quartet Real Young & Lazy Horse took the stage to deliver their dynamic, extended spin on Neil Young & Crazy Horse tunes. The resulting three and a half hour show was spiritually uplifting as the band channeled the core of the original group with energetic majesty.

Album Review: Betty Moon - Strangely Beautiful EP

Betty Moon

Strangely Beautiful

*** out of *****

The newest EP from the Los Angeles, CA based artist Betty Moon is her first record of original material since Cosmicoma in 2021. Titled Strangely Beautiful, the artist delivers five efforts that run the gamut of styles. 

Album Review: Samantha Fish - Paper Doll Live

Samantha Fish

Paper Doll Live

**** out of *****

The Kansas City born, New Orleans based, blues/rock guitarist Samantha Fish makes her way by performing live hundreds of nights a year and has done so for decades. Now comes Paper Doll Live, her first official live album on Rounder Records, capturing the immensely talented Fish and her band's energetic show.  

Album Review: Grateful Dead - Dave's Picks 59: 9/26/91 Boston, MA

Grateful Dead

Dave's Picks 59 9/26/91 Boston, MA

** out of *****

Standard disclaimer: When reviewing any Grateful Dead release at this point, it needs to be noted that a lot of the truly great shows from the band have already been professionally released. (If you are new to them, check out RtBE's Beginners Guide to The Grateful Dead Part's one and two.) 

With their vast back catalog on archive.org and all of their previous releases, including the ongoing Dave's Picks, the band's selections are running thin when it comes to must own, professionally released concerts.

That said, the Grateful Dead organization still release shows because rabid fans (RtBE included) will listen to everything they put out. So let's dive in...

Album Review: Cyril Neville - Don't Wait 'Til I'm Gone

Cyril Neville

Don't Wait 'Til I'm Gone

***and1/2 out of *****

"Give me my flowers, while I can still smell them. Hear my stories, while I can still tell them." The legendary Cyril Neville sings these affecting lines on the title track of his newest solo album, Don't Wait 'Til I'm Gone. The 77 year-old Neville and company prove that there is still gas left in the tank over these ten, memory stirring efforts. 

Album Review: Dusk Dept. - Dusk Dept.

Dusk Dept.

ST

***and1/2 out of *****

The debut, self-titled album from Dusk Dept. arrives with a bunch of mystery. Wanting the music to speak for itself, the musicians go by nicknames as the funky beats, jazzy excursion, popping brass and hip shaking good times roll out over six extended tracks. 

Album Review: Hurray for the Riff Raff - Live Forever

Hurray for the Riff Raff

Live Forever

***and1/2 out of *****

Touring on the back of their strongest album to date, 2024's The Past Is Still Alive, Hurray for the Riff Raff (Alynda Segarra) decided to record a two night stand in their new hometown Chicago, IL. The resulting Live Forever finds the artist sacrificing some nuance for more folk-rocking power.

Album Review - Eddy Current Suppression Ring - In Light Of Recent Events

Eddy Current Suppression Ring

In Light Of Recent Events

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

After seven years away, the Melbourne Australia based rock outfit Eddy Current Suppression Ring released their surprise comeback, fifth full length, In Light Of Recent Events. The eleven twitchy rockers bounce and shake with raw intimacy. 

Album Review: Twisted Teens - Florida Water Blues

Twisted Teens

Florida Water Blues

**** out of *****

The New Orleans based, offbeat rockers, Twisted Teens newest effort is a frenzied mix that touches on a wide range of genres, all filtered through a DIY lo-fi production style, clanging and banging around melodic song structures. Florida Water Blues is the second successful release of 2026 from the prolific outfit. 

Album Review: Thundercat - Distracted

Thundercat

Distracted

** out of *****

On Thundercat's excellent previous release, 2020's It Is What It Is, Stephen Bruner balanced his playful nature with grieving the loss of a close friend. That duality continues on his newest album, Distracted as the album is half A-list pop showcase and half Bruner turning inward, dealing with relationships, his insecurities and being honest/true. 

Album Review: The Breaks - Self-Titled

The Breaks

S/T

***and1/2 out of *****

Three great modern day funk-soul-jazz artists come together to form The Breaks, a new organ/guitar/drum trio that instantly hits the ground running on their infectiously joyful debut full length. 

Album Review: NOi!SE - Fate of The Union

NOi!SE

Fate of the Union

*** out of *****

The Tacoma, WA based street punk outfit NOi!SE deliver a hard hitting offering, Fate of the Union that screams against the current state of American affairs, calling for unity. The first full length release from the band in ten years arrives at the perfect time. 

Album Review: Frank Migliorelli and the Dirt Nappers - Abnormal Conditions

Frank Migliorelli and the Dirt Nappers

Abnormal Conditions

**** out of *****

The Red Hook, NY based roots-rockers Frank Migliorelli and the Dirt Nappers are back at it with a collection of tracks that run the gamut from escapist fantasy to protest anthems as Abnormal Conditions tries to make sense of these wild times by both digging in and tuning out. 

Album Review: Leopard Hounds - Too Hot for Snakes

Leopard Hounds

Too Hot for Snakes

**** out of *****

The debut full length from the new blues/rock outfit Leopard Hounds finds the New Orleans quartet looking to the past for inspiration while writing originals about their Bywater neighborhood. Too Hot For Snakes works up an appetite and uses a protesting political spirit, while never forgetting to have fun. 

Album Review - Gorillaz - The Mountain

Gorillaz

The Mountain

*** out of *****

On the ninth studio effort from the Gorillaz (the partnership between the musician Damon Albarn and the artist Jamie Hewlett) the themes of loss, India's artistic culture and remembrance flow throughout the cohesive album. The Mountain is large and high, bloated, but a heartfelt tribute to past friends and family members, making for a long, cathartic ride.   

Album Review: Sari Jordan - Perfect Be The Enemy

Sari Jordan

Perfect Be The Enemy

***and1/2 out of *****

For their full length debut, Sari Jordan artistically strolls through the ever changing facets of relationships in nuanced fashion. Perfect Be The Enemy finds Jordan's voice in the spotlight with free floating backing from a host of New Orleans musicians. 

Album Review: Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts - As Time Explodes

Neil Young & The Chrome Hearts

As Time Explodes

*** out of *****

Neil Young, at 79, took to the road yet again in 2025 with his newly formed backing band The Chrome Hearts for a 31 date international Love Earth tour. As Time Explodes (a Record Store Day release) is a document of that tour recorded at various stops, and while far from vital, it is a nice snapshot of Young and this talented band. 

Album Review Primus - A Handful of Nuggs EP

Primus 

A Handful of Nuggs EP

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

Before going out on his Claypool Gold Tour this summer, Les Claypool released a double album with Sean Lennon, an EP with his Fearless Flying Frog Brigade, and this EP, A Handful of Nuggs from Primus, so that each act on the bill would have new material to display on stage. Primus is Les' main squeeze, but out of the three, it got the shortest shrift, as there isn't a whole lot to dig into. 

Live Review: Phish - July 2026 MSG "Phish In Five"

Phish

July 2026 MSG

"Phish In Five"

The Vermont jamband kings Phish made a special extended stop on 2026's summer tour at their home away from home, Madison Square Garden, offering up special shows dedicated to their past. The five shows, July 22, 24, 25, 27, and 29 were the band's 92nd, 93rd, 94th, 95th and 96th times playing "The World's Most Famous Arena". 

In Phish's fun loving manner, they took the opportunity to play special shows with songs written on or before those years. The 7/22 show was dedicated to the band's 1992 self and so on. The combination of Phish playing as locked in as they have in years, with a focus on their early songs, was just too good to miss, so RtBE saddled up for all of them. 

Each night we will discuss pluses and minuses, but overall this run was a very special, high quality offering from the band that will be held on par with the group's historic Baker's Dozen run nine years ago. There were very few negatives as each night was unique, energetic and worth attending as Phish continues to deliver in leaps and bounds for their fans. 

Album Review: Sonic Youth - Diamond Seas

Sonic Youth 

Diamond Seas

**** out of *****

One of the more intriguing Record Store Day releases this year comes from Sonic Youth who worked with John Oswald for this unique offering. Back in the early 90's Phil Lesh of The Grateful Dead approached Oswald about a project using his "plunderphonics" style, the result was Greyfolded, By piecing together various live versions of the Grateful Dead classic "Dark Star" Oswald managed to create something new and exciting (RtBE has been a fan of this since it's release). Now he shifts his talents to SY doing the same thing for their most experimental jam, "The Diamond Sea".