The newest release from Corey Henry and the Treme Funktet is a live album captured at their Thursday night homebase, Vaughn's in the Bywater. The directly titled, Live at Vaughn's from Louisiana Red Hot Records, drops the listener in the small bar with the band as the party music rolls out for over an hour.
Back in 2017 Joan Osborne released a collection directly titled Songs of Bob Dylan, (RtBE highlighted a few in our Monday Dylan Cover series) and her newest release, Dylanology Live features a selection of songs from the follow up tour. Osborne sings with dynamics and a few key guests stop by to help liven up the sound.
The blues rocking guitarist and songwriter Eric Johanson's newest release, Live in Mississippi, captures his raucous live sound as the New Orleans based artist mixes up the blues, rock and roll, soul and a touch of voodoo.
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 the band, 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, the band's selections are running thin when it comes to must own, professionally released concerts.
That said, the band still release shows because rabid fans (RtBE included) will listen to everything they put out. So let's dive in...
It is of the new Butthole Surfer live album, Live at the Leather Fly. It is not dated or given a recording location, but unlike the cheap looking AI cover art, it is the real deal.
Robert Cray's was one of the best bluesmen to come of age in the 1980's and You Know I Feel Alright (Live in Chicago 1985) captures the artist during a very exciting period, just before his huge breakthrough album, Strong Persuader, which arrived the following year and brought Cray to legendary heights.
It is of The Wild Tchoupitoulas featuring The Neville Brothers - New Orleans '77. RtBE was so happy to receive this installment from the Tipitina's Record Club. The vinyl itself is super cool and has a "king cake" paint splatter that is unique and great. Perfect for Mardi Gras day.
As stated in the review, a historic and funky show.
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 the band, 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, the band's selections are running thin when it comes to must own, professionally released concerts.
That said, the band still release shows because rabid fans (RtBE included) will listen to everything they put out. So let's dive in...
It is of Iggy Pop's new live album, Live at Montreux Jazz Festival 2023. RtBE is super impressed with this album, didn't know the 75 year old had it in him, or toured with a band this solid/inventive.
Live at the 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
***and1/2 out of *****
The traditional New Orleans based jazz outfit Meschiya Lake & The Little Big Horns have called the Blues Tent their New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival home for a few years now and 2024's recording shows why. The group, while rooted in the trad jazz style, opens up their sound to blues, country, folk and more over this enjoyable set of covers and originals.
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 the band, 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, the band's selections are running thin when it comes to must own, professionally released shows.
That said, the band still release shows because rabid fans (RtBE included) will listen to everything they put out. So let's dive in...
Released on November 14th, 1979, Neil Young'sLive Rust turns 45 today.
A few days after Young turned 79 the mega live album with dynamite performances from Neil and Crazy Horse turns 45. Oh and the record also has a killer concert film attached.
Live at the 2024 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
**** out of *****
The 2024 edition of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival hosted a special day this year where the Festival showcased the main stage and hosted The Rolling Stones. Acts like Dumpstaphunk and Samantha Fish both gave dynamite performances before the Stones, but the band that opened up the stage in the AM hours lit a fire under everyone in attendance. Asses shook for the New Breed Brass Band with special guest Trombone Shorty as they started Thursday May 2nd off proper.
The Los, Angeles based genre blending rock outfit Frankie and the Witch Fingers newest offering is a capturing of the band onstage in 2022. Live at LEVITATION was recorded when the outfit pulled into Austin, TX and played Stubbs.
Traditional jazz is not the craze it was one hundred years ago, but in New Orleans time moves slow. It is the one city in this country that truly holds onto that style and has a host of bands doing it, but none currently cut to the trad-jazz core like Tuba Skinny. Their newest live album, Live @ D.B.A is a testament to their talent and the vibrancy of this quintessential American art form.
To celebrate the ten year anniversary of Acoustic at The Ryman, Band of Horses uncovered a different acoustic show they recorded at the same venue in 2013 to release as Acoustic at The Ryman II. This new collection of acoustic songs are a bit more exploratory than the original and the lively crowd allow the band to dig in as they strip down.
The newest archival release from The Allman Brothers Band shines a light on a brief period in their history when they were a five piece outfit. Live at Manley Field House, Syracuse University 1972, was recorded just six months after the death of guitar great Duane Allman and features the Brothers as a leaner blues rock band.
It is of Sonic Youth's double live album Walls Have Ears.
RtBE are massive SY fans, having written a bunch about them, but their early years are not our favorite era of their sound, and this release doesn't change that.
The most recent release from the fantastic Tipitina's Record Club is this unique capturing of the legendary Clifton Chenier who played zydeco, R&B, and Cajun music in a distinct fashion; keeping dance floors throughout the south good and sweaty. This vinyl release is from a warm night in 1980 as his Red Hot Louisiana Band display their dynamic range.
One of the interesting things about this capturing is the band Chenier plays with. His core partners of his son CJ on alto sax and Cleveland his older brother on Frottoir, had been playing with Clifton for years. They are here with longtime collaborators Robert St Julien on drums and Jumpin' Joe Morris on bass but this show also has featured the killer Sonny Landreth on guitar along with Jerry Conrad on B3.
This impressive collection of musicians dive right in with the upbeat Cajun blues of the strolling "Calinda". Clifton sings in French as he commands the stage, vamping and moving with ease while the sax work and organ pair beautifully; a reoccurring theme throughout this show. The accordion great gets his full on zydeco pumping for "Louisiana Two Step" before the blues pour out on the cooking "Everybody Calls Me Crazy" which finds emotive singing from Clifton.
The bands first true cover pops up next with their take on Ray Charles' classic "What I'd Say" and they do not disappoint. The revved up take uses energetic singing, a smoking tempo, and hip shaking goodness all around as the full band hit their stride.
Side two starts with Clifton's take on the Coasters "I'm A Hog For You Baby" as the Cajun blues gets some zydeco touches before "Party Down (At The Blue Angel Club)" once again goes full bore with zydeco letting Clifton, CJ, and Cleveland dominate the stage. While Landreth had impressive moments, he steals the spotlight on the hardcore "Three O'Clock Blues" as his lead slide runs and dynamite guitar playing shines bright, while Conrad's B3 work is also majestic.
The album wraps up with Clifton's version of "Feelin' Happy" which pays tribute lyrically to Blind Lemon Jefferson and Big Joe Turner, pulling the blues into the swamps as the group gets down in 50's R&B style to close the night.
Almost as impressive as the music is the detailed linear notes from Todd Mouton, author of the book Way Down in Louisiana: Clifton Chenier, Cajun, Zydeco, And Swamp Pop Music. The notes give historic context to the performance, as well as dive into this musical world with vigor.
Another excellent release from Tipitina's Record Club, Clifton Chenier and his Red Hot Louisiana Band's Live at Tipitina's is recommended to those who are longtime fans of the artist and those who are brand new to his zydeco sounds as well.
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Join the record club and peep some video below from "Louisiana Two Step" live from 1982:
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