Showing posts with label special focus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label special focus. Show all posts

Monday, June 30, 2025

Dylan Cover #687 Phil J Gray "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" 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 Phil J Gray playing "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" 


This month we are doing another special focus in RtBE's Dylan Covers series.


For June we highlight live Dylan covers from Phil J Gray 


Thought's on Original:
This song is so iconic and flat out awesome, even people who dislike Dylan have to enjoy this tune right? Biting and yet not bitter, a toss off of the grandest proportions, "Don' Think Twice, It's All Right" is epic and yet so straight forwardly simple. It easily ranks as one of the bard's best works, truly a classic and has been covered by so many people in so many ways.

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist
Back in October 2024 we came across Mr. Gray, aka MUSIC MAN and dug his style of straight ahead, live acoustic Dylan covers. Turns out he does a bunch, so all month we will focus on him and his Bob covers.

Thoughts on Cover
A great spin through an excellent song. We end our month of June's special focus on a high note with Mr. Gray! Thanks for reading and listening. 

Monday, June 23, 2025

Dylan Cover #686 Phil J Gray "Desolation Row" 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 Phil J Gray playing "Desolation Row" 


This month we are doing another special focus in RtBE's Dylan Covers series.


For June we highlight live Dylan covers from Phil J Gray 

Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this track:
A magnum opus of early Dylan. A song that is mystical and heated, politically charged while never explicit. One of the more expansive songs he has written and an early indicator that Dylan was on another level lyrically. From Ezra Pound to Bette Davis there are literary references, pop culture bits and a complete fabled world that comes alive in the ears. A true high point when it comes to Bob Dylan songs.

Cover:
 

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Back in October 2024 we came across Mr. Gray, aka MUSIC MAN and dug his style of straight ahead, live acoustic Dylan covers. Turns out he does a bunch, so all month we will focus on his tunes.

Thoughts on Cover:
Gray takes a bit of Dylan's exhausted defeatism out of the tune with this live cover. An impressive cover as this tune is a beast to take on, and Gray does a good job in his particular style.  

Monday, June 16, 2025

Dylan Cover #685 Phil J Gray "Positively 4th Street" 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 Phil J Gray playing "Positively 4th Street" 


This month we are doing another special focus in RtBE's Dylan Covers series.


For June we highlight live acoustic Dylan covers from Phil J Gray

Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this song:
There are two songs I go to when I think of mean, spiteful, angry, hurtful, badass Dylan and this is one of them. Young but full of piss and hate, Dylan sings this tune to obviously someone he can't stand. I really don't care who it is specifically about, because that rarely, if ever, matters in songs, but Dylan rips into them here. It is a good one for any artist to use to lash out at slights (real or perceived). It has never been one of my favorites, but it is hard to deny how powerful this tune is. 

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Back in October 2024 we came across Mr. Gray, aka MUSIC MAN and dug his style of straight ahead, live acoustic Dylan covers. Turns out he does a bunch, so all month we will focus on his tunes.

Thoughts on Cover:
Out of all the covers we are sharing from Mr. Gray this month, this one is the toughest fit for his style. He plays very upbeat, and sings with a palpable radiating positive energy that the meanness of Dylan's words doesn't really match. A solid effort though on a brutal song. 

Monday, June 9, 2025

Dylan Cover #684 Phil J Gray "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" 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 Phil J Gray playing "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" 


This month we are doing another special focus in RtBE's Dylan Covers series.


For June we highlight live Dylan covers from Phil J Gray  

Thoughts on Original:
Arriving just after "Idiot Wind" the breezy "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" acts as a breather on Blood on the Tracks, but on it's own it is a gorgeous little number. A poetic love song that feels fresh every time it slips into the ear as the protagonist is in a world of bliss and doesn't want it to end, but knows it always will. Miles away from "Idiot Wind", but just as vital, showing off Dylan's easy charm and flowing word play/vocal style, I mean how cool is the "I’ll look for you in old Honolulu San Francisco or Ashtabula" run through?   

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Back in October 2024 we came across Mr. Gray, aka MUSIC MAN and dug his style of straight ahead, live acoustic Dylan covers. Turns out he does a bunch, so all month we will focus on his tunes.

Thoughts on Cover:
A tune that fits Gray's performance style wonderfully and he does a bang up job. 

Monday, June 2, 2025

Dylan Cover #683 Phil J Gray "When The Ship Comes In" 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 Phil J Gray playing "When The Ship Comes In" 


This month we are doing another special focus in RtBE's Dylan Covers series.


For June we highlight live acoustic Dylan covers from Phil J Gray

Thoughts on Original:
One of our favorite songs from the early days of Dylan. The purest Irish Folk we felt he ever got, Joan Baez was a fan of this one and told a cool story during No Direction Home, about him being pissed at a hotel attendant and then having this song just spiral out of him. Images of the sea, the salt, the song, raiding/pillaging; a pirate song at heart. When we are looking for pure folk Dylan this one usually finds it's way to our ears.

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Back in October 2024 we came across Mr. Gray, aka MUSIC MAN and dug his style of straight ahead, live acoustic Dylan covers. Turns out he does a bunch, so all month we will focus on his tunes.

Thoughts on Cover:  
Excellent, live energetic, well sung,  strummed with passion, accented with harmonica and nailed all around. It is going to be a fun month of live acoustic covers with Phil J Gray. 

Monday, May 5, 2025

Dylan Cover #680 Alejandro Escovedo "Just Like Tom Thumb’s Blues" 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 Alejandro Escovedo playing "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues"


All April (and the first week of May) RtBE focuses our Monday Dylan Cover Series on artists who are playing this years New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Today is Alejandro Escovedo who played the festival Thursday May 1st

Friday, May 2, 2025

Full Show Friday: George Porter Jr and Runnin' Pardners - 2024 XPoNential Music Festival

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...George Porter Jr and Runnin' Pardners!


Every April (and first week in May) we have a special showcase for bands who are playing this years Jazzfest in NOLA. Today we will focus on George Porter Jr and Runnin' Pardners who will be playing the Festival this Sunday, May 4th. 

Here is one of the best bass players of all time, playing with a top notch outfit, as George Porter Jr. and Runnin' Pardners get down at 2024 XPoNential Music Festival. 

Monday, April 28, 2025

Dylan Cover #679 The Radiators "This Wheels On Fire" 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 The Radiators playing "This Wheel's On Fire"


All April (and the first week of May) RtBE focuses our Monday Dylan Cover Series on artists who are playing this years New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Today is The Radiators who is playing the festival Sunday May 4th.

Thoughts On Original:
This Dylan and Rick Danko collaboration came out from the famed Basement Tapes, but first saw the light of day on Music from Big Pink. The slow rolling dirge is interesting and haunting and lends itself to covers (such as Julie Driscoll with Brian Auger and the Trinity's version). A very interesting tune that Danko says came about this way: 
"We would come together every day and work and Dylan would come over. He gave me the typewritten lyrics to 'This Wheel's On Fire'. At that time I was teaching myself to play the piano.... Some music I had written on the piano the day before just seemed to fit with Dylan's lyrics. I worked on the phrasing and the melody. Then Dylan and I wrote the chorus together."
The Band kept playing the tune throughout their career and Dylan inserted it into his Never Ending Tour and played it through the 90's and 00's. 

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
The Radiators
are New Orleans staples. RtBE loves "Like Dreamers Do" (Thanks Tom) and own some live vinyl from the band, but have yet to truly fall in love with them, but that could always change... 

Thoughts on Cover:
The band kicks the tune up and makes it a bluesy shuffle, prettying it up a bit and shaving off some of the woolly edges, but it still works. A fine cover. 

Friday, April 25, 2025

Full Show Friday: Mia Borders - Live at the Crescent City Blues & BBQ 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...Mia Borders!


Every April (and first week in May) we have a special showcase for bands who are playing this years Jazzfest in NOLA. Today we will focus on Mia Borders who will be playing the Festival on Saturday May 3rd. 

Check out Mia Borders set from Live at the Crescent City Blues & BBQ Festival 2022. Pro shot, pro sound, enjoy!


Monday, April 21, 2025

Dylan Cover #678 Kenny Wayne Shepherd "Ballad of a Thin Man"

 In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by Kenny Wayne Shepherd  playing "Ballad of a Thin Man'"


All April (and the first week of May) RtBE focuses our Monday Dylan Cover Series on artists who are playing this years New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Today is Kenny Wayne Shepherd who is playing the festival Saturday May 3rd.

Thoughts On Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
Surprisingly we have not touched upon a cover of this track yet in the series, possibly because it has never been anywhere close to a favorite of ours. This tune seems to be a clear product of Dylan's time and space, hounded by media/fans/everyone and lashing out in a burnt out manner. Not containing his best lines or playing it has never really grabbed hold, except a few times in the live setting.

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
The Louisiana native Kenny Wayne Sheherd has been on the scene since he could strum, playing electric blues all over the country. We actually saw him live waaaay back in the day on one of his first tours and liked his style but never really jumped on board. There is no doubting though that he can play that guitar. 

Thoughts on Cover:
A stout cover that bangs and drives forward and also allows Shepherd to rip a meaty blues solo right in the middle and again to close. A good cover, with blazing guitar from Shepard on a tune that is not an easy one to make your own. 

Friday, April 18, 2025

Full Show Friday: Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers - June 12, 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...Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers!


Every April (and first week in May) we have a special showcase for bands who are playing this years Jazzfest in NOLA. Today we will focus on Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers who will be playing at the Festival next Friday, April 25th

Here we go with some zydeco! Put on your dancing shoes for Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers from Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival on June 12, 2022 at Armstrong Park in New Orleans. This is a special Full Show Friday, because RtBE and family were in the house (well Armstrong Park) for this concert. 

Pro shot, pro sound, enjoy!


Friday, April 11, 2025

Full Show Friday: Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes - 10/08/2024 - Live at the Maple Leaf

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...Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes!


Every April (and first week in May) we have a special showcase for bands who are playing this years Jazzfest in NOLA. Today we will focus on Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes who will be playing the festival on Thursday May 1st.

New Orleans own Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes are the focus of today's Full Show Friday. Here is their full set form last October at The Maple Leaf. Enjoy:

Monday, April 7, 2025

Dylan Cover #676 Cheap Trick "Please, Mrs. Henry" Live

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's artists, Cheap Trick performing a live cover of "Please, Mrs. Henry" 


All April (and the first week of May) RtBE focuses our Monday Dylan Cover Series on artists who are playing this years New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Today is Cheap Trick who will be playing the festival Friday April 25th

Thoughts on Original:
Some of the enduring magic of The Basement Tapes is the ease with which everything rolls out. It may have been work for Bob and The Band, but it sure sounds like a good damn time. "Please, Mrs. Henry" epitomizes that feeling, as Dylan could be just as drunk as the song's needy main character who is begging for some help all over. Tossed off in the best possible ways, the tune bumps and wobbles forward, again like the main character, or Dylan himself.    

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
RtBE has always been a fan of the hits from Cheap Trick but have never done a deeper dive past Cheap Trick at Budokan.

Thoughts on Cover:
This cover is insane...in a good way. Cheap Trick take a deep cut of Bob Dylan's for a wild ride at the Whisky-A-Go-Go, Los Angeles, CA - June 1977, flashing over the top Who like power, guitar nods to the Kinks and much more over the ten minute jam. This is without a doubt one of the wildest Dylan covers we have ever featured in this series and we dig it. A killer cover to kick off this month with our focus on artists playing this years Jazzfest.  

Friday, April 4, 2025

Full Show Friday: The Caesar Brothers FunkBox - LIVE from The Funky Uncle 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...The Caesar Brothers FunkBox!


Every April (and first week in May) we have a special showcase for bands who are playing this years Jazzfest in NOLA. Today we will focus on The Caesar Brothers FunkBox who will be playing  the festival on Thursday April 24th

We kick off our Full Show Friday special focus this month with New Orleans own Caesar Brothers FunkBox playing live back in 2021 during the height of covid. 

Pro Shot, pro sound, full setlist below. Enjoy!


The Caesar Brothers FunkBox! 
previously recorded LIVE March 26th, 2021 

SETLIST: 1. A Place Called New Orleans (1:03) 2. I Found Joy (Cyril Neville cover) (5:12) 3. Tipitina (Professor Longhair cover) (11:31) 4. Saturday Night Fish Fry (Louis Jordan cover) (20:20) 5. Hey Pocky A-Way/Fire On The Bayou (The Meters cover) (27:03) 6.Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (Sly & The Family Stone cover) (33:56) 7. Good Gumbo (37:50) 8. Shakey Ground (Delbert McClinton/The Temptations cover) (Undisco Kidd by Funkadelic tag)(48:49) 9. Big Chief (Earl King/Professor Longhair cover) (57:11) 10. Welcome To New Orleans (The Meters cover) (1:09:05) 11. Right Now (1:16:35) 12. Come To The Mardi Gras (1:23:54) 13. At The Second Line (1:34:20

About the artist: The Caesar Brothers have toured and recorded with an extensive group of world class musicians, including, but not limited to, The Neville Brothers, George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic, Maze, Franky Beverly, The Meters, Tina Marie, and more. read more here: https://thefunkyuncle.live/event/the-...

Monday, December 30, 2024

Dylan Cover #663 Todd Snider "Tangled Up In Blue" Live

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by Todd Snider playing "Tangled Up In Blue" 


This month we are doing another special focus in RtBE's Dylan Covers series.


For December we highlight live Dylan covers from Todd Snider  

Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this track:
Wow. The song that never ends, the tune that might just best sum up Dylan, if that is remotely possible. Dylan constantly toyed with this song (check out the Rolling Thunder and Real Live version's if you haven't yet) and even he knows it can't stay stagnant in one form for long, so covering it is a good bet.  Needless to say it is in the top 5 greatest songs he ever wrote if we were ranking them...hmm.

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Back in August we posted a cover of Snider doing "Visions of Johanna" and that gave us the inspiration for this months focus. RtBE really dig Todd Snider, and have talked about him multiple times in the past. 

Thoughts on Cover:
We end this month with Snider giving us his take on the classic "Tangled Up In Blue". This wraps up December's special focus on a high note. Snider nails it.  

Thanks for following this series, it has been fun to keep on keepin' on. 

Monday, December 23, 2024

Dylan Cover #662 Todd Snider "Ring Them Bells" 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 Todd Snider playing "Ring Them Bells" 


This month we are doing another special focus in RtBE's Dylan Covers series.


For December we highlight live Dylan covers from Todd Snider  

Thoughts on Original:
The gospel influenced Dylan returns to the forefront on "Ring Them Bells" as Bob mans the piano and delivers the straight ahead hymn. In Chornicles Dylan mentioned this song and gives credit to producer Daniel Lanois. He states:
"Lanois captured the essence of it on this, put the magic into its heartbeat and pulse. We cut this song exactly the way I found it...two or three takes with me on the piano, Dan on guitar and Malcolm Burn on keyboards"
The straight ahead gospel hymn lends itself to many kinds of interpretations and is ripe to be covered. 

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Back in August we posted a cover of Snider doing "Visions of Johanna" and that gave us the inspiration for this months focus. RtBE really dig Todd Snider, and have talked about him multiple times in the past. 

Thoughts on Cover:
Like all of the covers in this months focus you can tell Snider loves the song but is not particularly well versed in them. Still a fun cover, that would be even better if Todd dug in or played it with a backing band. 

Monday, December 16, 2024

Dylan Cover #661 Todd Snider "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)"

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 Todd Snider playing "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)" 


This month we are doing another special focus in RtBE's Dylan Covers series.


For December we highlight live Dylan covers from Todd Snider  

Thoughts on Original:
One of the most titanic songs in Dylan's catalog, "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)" runs the gamut from indignation, anger, humility, confusion, hopelessness, righteousness...it really has it all. A major statement when it was recorded on Bringin' It All Back Home and at it's core Dylan is raging against hypocrisy in all forms. Dylan has been quoted as saying "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)" is one of his songs that means the most to him, and while you can never be sure if Bob is being serious, this one has the whiff of truth to it.  It is a song containing a powerful lyrical flood of imagery that can be overwhelming. It is a fantastic, massive tune and one not very easily covered.  

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Back in August we posted a cover of Snider doing "Visions of Johanna" and that gave us the inspiration for this months focus. RtBE really dig Todd Snider, and have talked about him multiple times in the past. 

Thoughts on Cover:
Snider does a great job with this one, getting through it with power and strong playing. Well done indeed. 

Monday, December 9, 2024

Dylan Cover #660 Todd Snider - "Highway 61 Revisited" - 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 Todd Snider playing "Highway 61 Revisited"


This month we are doing another special focus in RtBE's Dylan Covers series.


For December we highlight live Dylan covers from Todd Snider  

Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
A great blues rock number that has a touch of silly from Bob with the "Siren Whistle". The original version of this tune found on the album of the same name strikes me as a bit of a put on, Bob obviously loves the historic feel and the bizarre middle American heritage but the lyrics and whistle soften the blow. The track gets increasingly better in the live versions where Dylan's backers can rev up the honky-tonk and boogie down south as the group did for us up in Saratoga back in 2000. Tony Garnier the bass player for the group lead things on a thumping rollick in the encore and the band all hopped on board as Dylan sang about God/Abraham. It was the last rocker the group played that night putting fourth a ton of 6-string energy. (They would go on to finish with the crowd singing along to "Blowing in the Wind").

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Back in August we posted a cover of Snider doing "Visions of Johanna" and that gave us the inspiration for this months focus. RtBE really dig Todd Snider, and have talked about him multiple times in the past. 

Thoughts on Cover:
One of the more complete covers from Snider from this month. Todd seems to have practiced this one a bit more than a few of the others. He puts his own twist on the tune and delivers a great cover. 

Monday, December 2, 2024

Dylan Cover #659 Todd Snider "Subterranean Homesick Blues" Live

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by Todd Snider playing ""Subterranean Homesick Blues"" 


This month we are doing another special focus in RtBE's Dylan Covers series.


For December we highlight live Dylan covers from Todd Snider  

Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we posted a cover version of this tune:
One of the most iconic songs from Dylan's most famous period and a very early showing of how powerful a music video could be. Dylan nods to beat poetry, current events, Chuck Berry's "No More Monkey Business", paranoia, and the Vietnam War all in around two minutes of linked lyrics over one of his earliest electric recordings. There is also the sly sense of humor which Dylan never gets enough credit for, while raging against the proverbial machine. A classic '60's tune in all respects and one non-Dylan fans usually love as well.

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Back in August we posted a cover of Snider doing "Visions of Johanna" and that gave us the inspiration for this months focus. RtBE really dig Todd Snider, and have talked about him multiple times in the past. 

Thoughts on Cover:
A great live cover to start off this month of Snider covering Bob. Snider has a gift of gab and "Subterranean Homesick Blues" is right up his alley. 

Friday, November 29, 2024

Full Show Friday: Phil Lesh Quintet - Port Chester NY 3-6-24 @ Capitol Theater

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...Phil Lesh Quintet!


Some months our Full Show Friday's will focus on specific artistsyearsvenuestv showsfestivals or some combo of it all
This months Full Show Friday Series focuses on concerts from Phil Lesh who passed away late last month.