Live Review: Cyril Neville Plays The Dead - 9/16/26 Brooklyn Bowl, Williamsburg NYC

Cyril Neville Plays The Dead

9/16/26

Live Brooklyn Bowl, Williamsburg, NYC

New Orleans legend, Cyril Neville has mounted a brief Fall tour where he decided to focus on the music of the Grateful Dead. Backed by his son's fantastic band, Omari Neville and The Fuel, the elder Neville delivered a mix of Grateful Dead tunes, originals, New Orleans classic and more on this perfect early fall Wednesday night in Brooklyn.   

Album Review: Lucinda Williams - World's Gone Wrong

Lucinda Williams

World’s Gone Wrong

**** out of *****

Lucinda Williams was working on her 18th studio album last spring when inspiration struck. She scraped the original idea and decided to write about the state of frightening world events. Williams, her band, and a few high profile guests dug into new topics and World’s Gone Wrong was completed quickly. The title of the record states exactly how Williams is feeling during these troubling times. 

Album Review: Colossus Brass Band: Sing On

Colossus Brass Band

Sing On

**** out of *****

The debut release, titled Sing On, from the newly formed Colossus Brass Band is a hefty slice of traditional hymns and original music steeped in the vibrant history of New Orleans Brass Band's and the city's unique Second Line culture. The album mixes older classics and new originals that fit right into the brass band tradition. Released on the Old Saw Music label, the album is chockful of musical veterans and is a must own for any fans of New Orleans traditional sound.  

Year In Review 2025 - Favorite Albums of 2025

Here are our all of our favorite albums of 2025. This is the year end review, all in one place.

Below are our picks for RtBE's favorite albums of the year. It starts with our honorable mentions then moves into our top ten albums of the year. There is a short blurb about the album and a song from it, click on the title to read our full review of the selected records. The focus here is on full albums, not singles, but long playing releases you can slap on and listen to all the way through.

We also took some time to discuss our favorite album artwork, our favorite archive/live album releases and favorite live shows from the year if you are interested.   

Thanks for reading. Until next year....

Year In Review 2025 - Favorite Albums Part 1 (Honorable Mentions & Let Downs)

Another year is finishing up and @RockBodElec wouldn't be a proper music site if we didn't end the year with a "Best Of" list, so RtBE presents 2025's Favorite Albums Part 1 (Honorable Mentions and Let Downs):

In the instance that RtBE has reviewed the album, either on this site or elsewhere, we will link to that review and just give a quick summation, click on the name/title and you can read our full opinion. RtBE also worked with the Glide Team to give input on their Top 20, so you can expect some overlap if you already have seen that list.

Again the focus here is on full albums, not singles, but long playing releases you can slap on and listen all the way through. We know these are a dying breed, but it still is the way we consume music, no shuffle, Spotify, AI curated playlists, or streaming for us.

These are the albums that just missed out on being included in our top ten favorite for the year (coming soon). After some excellent albums, we have a few releases from artists we dig, which we were let down by. 

Like all of our lists or 'best of'', these are meant to start conversations, not end them...

Album Review: Dr. John - Live at the Village Gate

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

It is of Dr. John's recent archival live album, Live at the Village Gate.

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

Live Review: The Last Waltz New Orleans 11/23/25 Civic Theater New Orleans, LA

The Last Waltz New Orleans 

11/23/25 Civic Theater New Orleans, LA

A host of New Orleans musicians came together on the Sunday Night before Thanksgiving to celebrate one of the most legendary concerts of all time, The Last Waltz. The gorgeous Civic Theater in the Central Business District hosted the concert as fans of all ages filtered in to sing, dance, and enjoy the well-loved songs by The Band and beyond.

Album Review: River Eckert Band - Live at the 2025 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

River Eckert Band

Live at the 2025 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

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

The newest piano prodigy making his name, in the city where piano still rules the day, is the incredibly young River Eckert. The piano player/singer-songwriter delivered a set of classic covers and originals with a dynamite backing band at this years New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and released a live album directly titled from the Fairgrounds.   

Album Review: Jessie Hill - Naturally

Jessie Hill 

Naturally

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

For their newest vinyl release, the fantastic Tipitina's Record Club delivers a reissue of Jessie Hill's 1971 solo album, Naturally. The purple vinyl reissue includes the original innovative gatefold cover design, which included a rotating wheel. 

Live Review: Outlaw Festival (Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Wilco etc) 8/1/25 Jones Beach, NY

Outlaw Festival 

Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Wilco, Lucinda Williams

8/1/25 Jones Beach, NY

On a gorgeous summer evening, after a crushing heatwave finally broke in the NYC area, the 10th Anniversary of the Outlaw Festival pulled into Jones Beach. The show played the on the water amphitheater for a second year in a row, as a sold out crowd slowly made their way into the venue to see to see a host of excellent musicians. 

Album Review: Eric Johanson - Live in Mississippi

Eric Johanson

Live in Mississippi

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

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. 

Album Review: Kyle Roussel - Church of New Orleans

Kyle Roussel

Church of New Orleans

**** out of *****

The newest Big Easy piano maestro delivers an ode to his hometown, as Kyle Roussel's Church of New Orleans captures the current sound of the town with tip of the cap to its history and a lot of grade A support from Roussel's friends and colleagues.

Live Review: They Might Be Giants - 12/13/24 Kings Theater Brooklyn, NY

They Might Be Giants

12/13/24 Kings Theater 

Brooklyn, NY

The Brooklyn based They Might Be Giants had a huge homecoming show this past Friday Night, December 6th as their "Big Show Tour" made a stop at the gorgeous King's Theatre just south of Prospect Park. The sold-out crowd consisted of parents with kids, hipsters and music nerds as this tour finds the two John's (Linell and Flansburgh) leading a large band, playing two sets per night (no opening act), while focusing on one of their classic albums.  

Live Review: The 2nd Annual Zildjian Jam - 4/30/24 Tipitinas New Orleans, LA

The 2nd Annual Zildjian Jam

4/30/24 Tipitinas 

New Orleans, LA

Coming off of last years 400th birthday celebration, Zildjian once again partnered with Tipitina's in New Orleans to do an afternoon set at the venue during Jazz Fest week, showcasing the funky drummers in town. At 3pm on Tuesday afternoon, Stanton Moore took to the stage to play MC for the event which was a whose-who of percussionists as each drummer jumped on stage to deliver one tune to get the crowd moving.

Live Review: Papa Plays The Nite Tripper May 1st New Orleans, LA

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

It is of Papa Plays The Nite Tripper: John "Papa" Gros Tribute to Dr. John from the Toulouse Theater in New Orleans, LA. 

RtBE also had the pleasure of interviewing John before this show. 

Support the artist, read the review and peep some video below from 4 years ago:

RtBE Interview: John 'Papa' Gros

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

It is with John 'Papa' Gros who will be playing a ton of shows over the next two weeks in New Orleans. 

RtBE has reviewed Gros before and have caught him live. We will also will be catching up with him a few more times next week, most notably during the Papa Plays The Nite Tripper: John "Papa" Gros Tribute To Dr. John at the Toulouse Theater. If you are in town grab tickets to the show here. 

Support the artist, read the interview and peep some video of him below:

Live Review: Jon Cleary and The Absolute Monster Gentlemen - 3/22/24 Bitter End, NYC

Jon Cleary and The Absolute Monster Gentlemen 

3/22/24 The Bitter End NYC 

On a blustery cold March Friday night in New York City, the New Orleans based Jon Cleary, along with his Absolute Monster Gentlemen (Cornell C. Williams on bass and A.J. Hall on drums) delivered a taught two hour set to the sold-out crowd at the legendary Bitter End in Greenwich Village.  

Album Review: The Headhunters - Live from Brooklyn Bowl

The Headhunters

Live From Brooklyn Bowl

*** out of *****

The legendary funk/jazz/fusion outfit The Headhunters are still at it, with original members Bill Summers (percussion) and Mike Clark (drums) leading the band on a 50th anniversary world tour in 2023. To commemorate this milestone the group recorded their stop at Brooklyn Bowl in early January, releasing this live album. 

While nowhere near essential, Live From Brooklyn Bowl is a testimony to this bands grooving ways. Herbie Hancock is not present but the original members are supported by some of the best doing it today with the legend himself Donald Harrison playing alto sax, the energetic Kyle Roussel (Preservation Hall Jazz Band) on keys, and Chris Severin (Dr. John) holding down the bass. This core, some of New Orleans finest, pumps lively energy into all the tracks presented here. 

The funky big bass and percussion opens the live album with "Four String Drive" as Harrison's alto work is magical, shining with majestic power., a mid song break and piano solo to close kicks things off proper. "Rocking In The Mole House" from the band's 2022 release Speakers In The House, starts off with Roussel's soft piano intro and you can hear the bowling balls hitting the pins, a reoccurring theme whenever the band gets quite, pulling attention away from the music, but certainly speaking to the time and place.       

After some introductions Harrison again shines with a solo on "Headhunters Jam" while "Butterfly" is smooth jazz that flirts with easy listening before percussion and piano kick up the energy to end. The band's classic "Watermelon Man" is smooth as silk as the group expertly delivers the goods while "Loft Funk" is a solo showcase highlighted by Severin's bass outings and Clark's drumming. 

Editing on the album is a bit odd as the group fades into a energetic version of "Chameleon" with the spritely funk kicking around the venue while the fantastic show closing "Hey Pocky A-way" also fades out with Harrison still in full vocals flight. These editing choices and the random crash of pins makes this release feel just a step above a fan recording, but when The Headhunters are in full flight on Live From Brooklyn Bowl the energy is palpable and worth seeking out.  

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Support the artists, buy the album see them live (like we did in October) and peep some video below:

Year In Review 2023 - Favorite Archival Releases

Each year the music industry dips into the past to deliver box sets, live albums, re-masters and outtake collections to sell to the music loving masses (present company included). This look back will round up some of RtBE's favorite archival releases from the past year. 

Usually these releases can fall into the money grab category, not really adding much outside of revenue for the label and (hopefully) the artist. Every now and then though some spectacular collections are unearthed and are worth any price. 

RtBE includes live albums in this category, since they were recorded in the recent or distant past and thus fall into archival release status. 

With the increase in vinyl, and enhanced Record Store Days to help smaller sellers, there are more and more archival releases each year. RtBE are sure to miss a lot of them, but the quality and abundance is exciting. Post your favorites, or any we may have missed, in the comments. 

These were our favorite archival releases of 2023, click the link in the title for full length reviews. 

Year In Review 2023 - Favorite Album Art

We kick off our Year in Review section of 2023 with the first feature in the Best of... wrap up: Album Art. 

Just like in years past, we will be choosing our favorite albums of the year, a few that were underwhelming, our favorite live shows, and highlight some fantastic archive releases, all of which will be posted over the next few days. 

Today we are starting out by judging books (records) by their covers (vinyl sleeves, jackets, digital pics, etc) with the Best Album Art Work of 2023.

The biggest gripe RtBE has with digital music is not the quality (that has been massively improved) nor the disposal nature of it (still a problem, but whatever), it is the lack of amazing album covers and art work.

Sure there may be great album art out there but seeing it on a screen, on Spotify or elsewhere is nothing compared to holding an LP or even a CD booklet with pages of lyrics, pictures etc. 

Thankfully the rise of vinyl is helping this dilemma but it is still not enough. The hours we spent staring, actually holding, examining tons of covers while listening to music can't be adequately recorded, it added new dimensions to the sounds. You are connected to album in a more physical way; things were deeper, more evocative...Anyways...

Here comes RtBE's Favorite Album Art of 2023.