Album Review: Joan Osborne - Dylanology Live

Joan Osborne

Dylanology Live

*** out of *****

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. 

New Single/Video from Electric Litany "Diamonds"

The London based Electric Litany have a new video out for their synth laden tune "Diamonds"

Check it out below:

Album Review: WITCH - SOGOLO

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

It is of WITCH's newest release SOGOLO. 

New Single/Video from Sports Team "Boys These Days"

The London based indie rock outfit Sports Team have a new single/video out for the title track from their new album "Boys These Days"

Regarding the video...

Album Review: Brittany Davis - Black Thunder

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

It is of the sophomore release from Brittany Davis titled Black Thunder. Davis is an exciting up and coming artist to keep an eye on.

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

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.

In the past we have highlighted The Byrds, Coulson-Dean-McGuiness-Flint, The Hollies, Joan Osbourne, Mountain, Betty LeVette , Reggae Covers and many more.

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. 

Full Show Friday: Bikini Kill @ Macondo, Los Angeles, CA 4/25/93

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...Bikini Kill!

Check out the riot grrrl legends from Macondo, Los Angeles California in 1993. Fan shot and original sound. 

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. 

New Single from Nicolette Marie "Only One"

The Nashville based pop artist Nicolette Marie has released a new dance ready track "Only One"

Check out the club focused electro number below:

Album Review: Grateful Dead - Dave's Picks 54 Baltimore, MD 3/26/73

Grateful Dead 

Dave's Picks 54 Baltimore Civic Center 

Baltimore, MD 3/26/73

****and1/2 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 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...

New Single from The Dirty Nil “Spider Dream”

The Hamilton, Ontario based outfit The Dirty Nil have a new single out, "Spider Dream".

Check out the tune below:

Album Review: Frankie and the Witch Fingers - Trash Classic

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

It is of the new release from Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Trash Classic. RtBE dug their recent live album and loved their previous studio release, Data Doom,  ranking it as one of our favorites from 2023. This one is a bit different, no Afrobeat and more spastic energy, which we like less. 

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

Happy 40th Anniversary to Bob Dylan's Empire Burlesque

Happy 40th Anniversary to Bob Dylan's Empire Burlesque. 

While not considered one of his classic records,  Empire Burlesque has some interesting moments. The biggest issue/stumbling block in re-visiting the record, outside of the hideous cover art, is just how 80's sounding it is. Self-produced by Dylan, he let Arthur Baker (New Order, Afrika Bambaataa) do the final mixing and the result was a very of-the-time sound in 1985.

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.

In the past we have highlighted The Byrds, Coulson-Dean-McGuiness-Flint, The Hollies, Joan Osbourne, Mountain, Betty LeVette , Reggae Covers and many more.

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. 

Full Show Friday - Prince Live 9/9/88 Dortmund Germany

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...Prince!

Back to 1988 over in Dortmund Germany this week for our Full Show Friday with none other than Prince whose birthday would have been celebrated tomorrow. So we are celebrating a day early. Pro shot, Pro sound, Enjoy!

 

Album Review: My Neptune - Despina

My Neptune

Despina 

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

The debut EP, Despina, from the New Orleans, LA based My Neptune is a bittersweet slice of restrained dream-pop, as the quartet exhales around pensive tunes that vibrate, sway and swell. 

New Single from Darko "Canvas"

South England’s progressive punk outfit Darko have released their newest single "Canvas".

Check out the short, aggressive, filled with changes and tone track below:

Live Review: Craig Finn & The People of Substance Band - Bowery Ballroom, NYC 5/30/25

Craig Finn & The People of Substance Band

Live at Bowery Ballroom 

NYC, 5/30/25

To celebrate the release of his new album, Always Been, Craig Finn decided to throw a party with an all-star backing band at the Bowery Ballroom on Friday night May 30th. The sold-out crowd arrived early, packing the small downtown Manhattan venue.

Live Streaming: John Papa Gros - Live at the 443 Social Club

We are now heading into the new normal with live music. Live shows will need to be flexible and streaming is a great way to keep music going. Streams have become essential for live music junkies like RtBE.  We will highlight various shows/streams/virtual events for your viewing/listening pleasure. 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.

Tonight: John "Papa" Gros at the 443 Social Club

Check out the New Orleans piano maestro and his band live at the 443 Social Club at 7pm. It will be streamed on Afton.tv and you can check it out here!

To get in the mood for the show later, here is some live John "Papa" Gros to pump you up:

 

New Single/Video from Linds Sais "2 Hot Weeks of You"

Canadian pop artist Linds Sais has released her new video and single "2 Hot Weeks of You".

Sais shares,