One of RtBE's favorite bands are releasing a new album in June as the Drive-By Truckersdeliver Welcome 2 Club XIII.
The album is a homage to the venue where main truckers Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley started their career in the band Adam's House Cat. RtBE loved both of their last two albums they recently released, ranking both high in our 2020 year end review.
The new one features background vocals from Margo Price, Schaefer Llana, and R.E.M.’s Mike Mills and as big fans RtBE are really looking forward to this album. Here is a video preview:
When it comes to most band's practice tapes, they should be discarded as soon as they are no longer needed, however Sonic Youth's jams can always be examined for interesting sounds. In/Out/In is billed as a "compilation album of five songs recorded between 200 and 2010" but really these feel like practice sessions, song sketches and experiments that never proceeded to complete songs for release.
And that is OK. Sonic Youth perhaps more than any jamband, uses the studio to talk musically to each other, structuring "jams" into "songs" with weird tunings, styles and freak-outs.
The opening "Basement Contender" sounds as if it was recorded during the Murray Street era of the group as the beautiful guitar tones and blissful jams float out around the soft drum rolls. Drummer Steve Shelley is the clear MVP on this release as the questioning interplay of the strings needs a foundation to coalesce around and Shelley provides it expertly on all of these efforts.
"In & Out" uses breathy holding vocals from Kim Gordon but doesn't really go anywhere with the droning despite Shelley's upbeat drums. The growly rock and roll of Lee Ranaldo and Thurston Moore's guitars push "Machine" but it never rises up to the high levels of the band's 2000's strong output, while "Social Static" is just that, experimental feedback that dulls over the almost twelve minute run time.
The album wraps up with the best track here, "Out & In". The ominous meddling rock tone set by Moore and Ranaldo around warbling guitars starts hot with distortion as boiling tension climbs then drops back down in to the muck. Picking right back up, the guitars fluctuate with a bass bumping finale on a track that could run on infinitely in classic SY style.
In/Out/In will not create new fans, and isn't even a truly major release, (the band's periodic live show releases on bandcamp are much more fulfilling) but for longtime fans (RtBE firmly included) any time spent with one of the most underrated bands in history is time well spent.
The Doug Martsch based band Built To Spill just announced they will be releasing their newest full length album titled When the Wind Forgets Your Name.
This will be BTS ninth album but their first to be released on Sub Pop records. Martsch has been the only consistent member of the band and for this go around it certainly is going to be different. He produced the album and recordedit with Le Almeida and João Casaes of Brazilian psychedelic jazz rock band, Oruã. From Martsch:
“We rehearsed at their studio in downtown Rio de Janeiro and I loved everything about it. They had old crappy gear. The walls were covered with xeroxed fliers. They smoked tons of weed."
The first single is "Gonna Lose" and you can check it out below. Pre order the album which is out in September.
While we weren't fans of Pure Comedy, we dug seeing him live in Brooklyn. His newest is a lush, sweet sounding affair. The music is amazing and outshines Misty's lyrics for the first time on any of his releases. Definitely a mood trip of an album, if you are looking for some retro jazz orchestra sounds with sides of sarcasm, honesty and world atrocities check it out.
The Memphis born electric blues harmonica player and bandleader Charlie Musselwhite is releasing his newest album Mississippi Son on June 3rd via Alligator Records.
You can preorder the album now and check out an older version of "Blues Up The River" which he will be releasing on this album.
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 Lukas Nelson & POTR playing "Meet Me In The Morning"
Every April (and first week of May) we have a special focus in our ongoing Monday Bob Dylan Cover Series on artists who will be playing Jazzfest in New Orleans. Today we highlight, Lukas Nelson & POTR who play the best festival in America on Sunday May 8th.
Thoughts on Original: A swaggering track that rose out of the ashes of "Call Letter Blues" (which was later released on The Bootleg Series Volume 1-3) "Meet Me In The Morning" is a shot of blues after the blissfully mournful "You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go" as it kicks off side two of the famous Blood On The Tracks. The song is one of the ones Dylan recorded in NYC for Blood on the Tracks and it pulses with the city's energy. A cool note about this straight ahead song (which is tailored made for covering) is that Jack White is a big fan, playing it at times at his shows and got Dylan to perform it for the only time ever on 9/19/07 in Nashville, TN.
Cover:
Thoughts on Cover Artist: We have seen Promise of the Real back up Neil Young live, featured them in our Full Show Friday's and reviewed them as well. A solid classic rock sounding, modern day band.
Thoughts on Cover:
A relaxed walk through by the band, fairly straight ahead with a fun slide guitar solo and passionate singing from Nelson, with a lyric change to end. Stout if not too adventurous or fiery, as Nelson says "That's kinda OK!".
One of the late 90's best rock albums turns 25 today as Sleater-Kinney'sDig Me Out was released on April 8th 1997.
RtBE are huge fans of SK and Dig Me Out is a big reason why. It is the first album Janet Weiss played drums on, joining Corinne Tucker and Carrie Brownstein to form one of the best trios in rock history. Their run together, up until 2019's The Center Won't Hold, produced classic album on top of classic album, but few (if any) top this gem.
From the ripping title track opening to the "Jenny" closing, the album was a breakout for the band as Brownstein's and Tucker's wails on guitar and vocals snaked into and around each other with each yell or riff. Weiss laid down the foundation that allowed the guitars to soar while also keeping things grounded and visceral.
While times have changed on some fronts it is still rare for full female bands to grab the ears of rock fans. Actually, back in the 90's it was more prevalent than it is today, which is sad. It is good that SK is still at it though and evolving with the times.
A great rock album from start to finish and the one that really put SK the map. On it's 25th anniversary give Dig Me Out a spin and play it loud. Here are a few tracks to get you started:
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...Germaine Bazzle!
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 Germaine Bazzlewho will be playing Saturday April 30th.
Here is a set from the legendary Germaine Bazzle from WWOZ. Pro Shot, Pro Sound, Enjoy!
It is of Jack White's newest album Fear of the Dawn.
It is no secret RtBE are super fans of Mr. White and eat up everything he does. Sometimes we eat it up too fast as we over-hyped the exciting, yet flawed, Boarding House Reach. This new album is a super charged version of those sounds. On the first few spins it was not working to these ears at all, but the more it spun, the more it sunk in and the better it felt.
It has issues for certain, but we shall see if it improves as we listen even more. The problem with reviewing in general is that you have limited time to listen, absorb and write opinions that are captured in digital amber. The 9 stars Boarding House Reach originally received would probably be 6 or 7 if we went back and reviewed it today, but the creative explosions like "Connected By Love" and "Over and Over and Over" just blew us away in the moment.
There are no great songs up tot that level on this new album but the overall tone and feeling is probably stronger than BHR. The highs aren't as high but it is more consistent, does that make it better? You be the judge.
We are now heading into the new normal with live music during the Covid-19 era. Live shows will need to be flexible and live streaming is a great way to keep music going. Streams have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. Things are (hopefully) improving on the pandemic front but live streams will be an option for artists during the foreseeable future. We will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and as a way to help out the artists. You can check out our weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past and as always, please support the artists any which way you can.
Today we highlight: The Funky Uncle 2nd Anniversary with an All-Star Band
Our favorite was the tribute to Professor Longhair which was a dynamite stream and a joy to watch.
This will be the final weekly stream but the outfit and support system will not be retiring, they will just be moving to less frequent shows. Enjoy the streams tonight and support the organization in any way possible.
Thanks to the Funky Uncle for all the work they do and all the great nights of music they provided for fans during the heart of the pandemic. To get in the mood here is some video from a past show:
It is of Christone 'Kingfish' Ingram live set from the Apollo Theater on 3/31/22.
RtBE has been a fan of Kingfish for years now, digging on his first album and really enjoying his most recent 662while highlighting both in our year end reviews.
What a hell of a show from Ingram at the historic Apollo. So far it is the best live set we have seen this year as the young blues phenom and his band delivered the soaring goods last week.
It is of the GZA's live set from the Blue Note's early show on 3/29/22.
A hell of a night for live hip hop in the Village as GZA and the Phunky Nomads brought the funky flavor of the Wu-Tang Clan to the legendary venue. It was a blast and thanks to Glen and Ramsey for the opportunity to see the show and meet the band and GZA.
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 Billy Strings playing " Don't Think Twice, It's All Right"
Every April (and first week of May) we have a special focus in our ongoing Monday Bob Dylan Cover Series on artists who will be playing Jazzfest in New Orleans. Today we highlight, Billy Strings who plays the best festival in America on Thursday May 5th.
Thought's on Original: From the first time we reviewed a cover of this tune: 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: We have reviewed and hyped Billy Strings in the past, even when he played in New Orleans previously. Perhaps down in Jazzfest we will finally catch him live on "Locals Thursday".
Thoughts on Cover:
A fantastic cover that combines Billy's expert bluegrass picking with Dylan's excellent lyrics as Billy seems to be able to pull these gems out all the time. A great way to kick off a month of hyping Jazzfest and all the amazing artists playing down there.
We are now heading into the new normal with live music during the Covid-19 era. Live shows will need to be flexible and live streaming is a great way to keep music going. Streams have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. Things are (hopefully) improving on the pandemic front but live streams will be an option for artists during the foreseeable future. We will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and as a way to help out the artists. You can check out our weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past and as always, please support the artists any which way you can.
Today we highlight: Bob Weir & The Wolf Brothers - Ace 50th Anniversary
From the band:
In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Bobby Weir's beloved album, Ace, Bobby Weir & Wolf Bros will perform two special nights live from New York's Radio City Music Hall on April 2 + April 3 with very special guests to be announced. The band—consisting of Weir, Don Was, Jay Lane and Jeff Chimenti featuring The Wolfpack along with Barry Sless on pedal steel, will be joined by a host of renowned special guests to be announced leading up to the shows, promising two incomparable evenings not to be missed. The nights will feature signature Weir-written Grateful Dead classics; Greatest Story Ever Told, Cassidy, Playing In The Band and more.
RtBE confirmed that Jazz legend Ron Carter will be one of the special guests for these shows, which will prove to be unique from Radio City.
We are now heading into the new normal with live music during the Covid-19 era. Live shows will need to be flexible and live streaming is a great way to keep music going. Streams have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE. Things are (hopefully) improving on the pandemic front but live streams will be an option for artists during the foreseeable future. We will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing and listening pleasure and as a way to help out the artists. You can check out our weekly Full Show Friday series for concerts from the past and as always, please support the artists any which way you can.
Today we highlight: The Dip - Live from Brooklyn Bowl Nashville
The funky outfit The Dip are playing Brooklyn Bowl Nashville tomorrow night (4/2) and you can be in attendance virtually with a live stream from FANS on the Relix Twitch Channel.
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...Randy Newman!
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 Randy Newmanwho will be playing Sunday May 1st.
To kick off our monthly focus on Jazzfest artists, we start with a doozy, Randy Newman. The satire king himself starts a month plus of artists playing the Fairgrounds, and he does it on April Fools Day no less! This is a huge one for Jazzfest and Newman will be a treat to see live on the closing Sunday of the first weekend.
The show below comes from 1979 Amsterdam, specifically, the Casanova Fair in Ahoy, Rotterdam with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra directed by Roelof van Driesten and it was Broadcasted Nov. 9, 1979. A live album was released from this show as well.
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