Dylan Cover #675 Margaret Glaspy - In The Summertime

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune comes from Margaret Glaspy and is a live cover of "In The Summertime"  

Thoughts On Original:
When Dylan started moving out from his 'Jesus phase' he wrote songs that could be interpreted as religious, but tended to be more spiritual. These became Shot of Love. Could "In The Summertime" be a straight gospel song? Sure. Is it "clearly and unequivocally an eloquent exposition of relationship with God"? Hmm, not so sure anything Bob writes is clear. Could it just use some religious touchstones to move things languidly along? Probably. Musically the tune is slow moving, as Dylan keeps it calm, working though the spiritual while tying it to the human experience in his own way.   

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Artist:

RtBE just recently discovered Margaret Glaspy, a NYC based musician. We are going to dig into her catalog because she is fierce. 

Thoughts on Cover:

Anytime a cover makes RtBE go back and reexamine the original, or listen to a Dylan song with new ears, it is an instant win. This live cover from Glaspy and company is dynamite. Her singing, the  musical space, the phrasing (both musical and lyrical) all of it works well as it moves more towards a love song than a gospel proclamation. Also the live audio capturing is fantastic, the fades and delicate playing is top notch. 

A great live cover of a lesser known Dylan song. 

 

Happy 55th Anniversary to Miles Davis' Bitches Brew

On this day 55 years ago, Miles Davis released one of his most iconic albums, Bitches Brew.

While jazz purists scoffed at the electro based release, the album is his second best selling of all time (only behind Kind of Blue), and opened the doors for jazz fusion (and more rock in general) to enter the jazz world. 

It is also one of RtBE's favorite albums of all time.

Full Show Friday: The Prodigy - Live Rock Am Ring 2009

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 Prodigy!

Back to 2009 with The Prodigy live from Rock Am Ring for this week's Full Show Friday.

Pro shot, pro sound, enjoy!

0:16 World's on Fire 5:00 Their Law 10:30 Breathe 15:20 Breathe remix 16:50 Omen 20:45 Poison 25:35 Warrior's Dance 29:56 Firestarter 34:55 Run with the Wolves 40:15 Voodoo People 44:20 Comanche 47:05 Omen Reprise 48:00 Invaders Must Die 51:10 Diesel Power 54:25 Smack My Bitch Up 59:49 Take Me to the Hospital

Album Review: The Paragons - On The Beach with The Paragons

The Paragons

On The Beach with The Paragons

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

The UK based Charley Records specializes in reissues and earlier this year they re-released The Paragons, On The Beach. Originally available in 1967 on Treasure Isle, the rocksteady/reggae offering is a joyful listen with rich harmonies, great sound and flowing groove. 

Happy Opening Day!

I see great things in baseball.  It's our game - the American game.  It will take our people out-of-doors, fill them with oxygen, give them a larger physical stoicism.  Tend to relieve us from being a nervous, dyspeptic set.  Repair these losses, and be a blessing to us.  

~Walt Whitman

RtBE is here to wish you a Happy Opening Day! If you want to read a great piece about baseball check out this excerpt from Roger Angell's The Summer Game

Opening Day should be a national holiday, plain and simple. Once winter is gone (at least officially), Baseball can never arrive soon enough. Here's hoping your favorite team wins, especially if you are a fellow Mets fan. Let's Go Mets!

We know the ghost of Steve Goodman and Eddie Vedder are both rooting for those Cubbies...

Here are some more baseball inspired tunes to start the magical day, when we are all in first place:

New Single from Carolyn Wonderland "Sooner or Later"

The Houston, Texas based bluesy guitar playing, soul singing, Carolyn Wonderland has a new single out, "Sooner or Later" via Alligator Records.

Check out the steamin' track below:

 

Album Review: Silver Synthetic - Rosalie

Silver Synthetic

Rosalie

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

For their sophomore release, Rosalie, the New Orleans based Silver Synthetic spiritually traveled west and exhaled under some California sunshine, cruising effortlessly from Bakersfield down to Laurel Canyon. Weeping guitars and added pedal steel twang around restrained songwriting, relaxing the band as the riffs and breathy vocals ease out.

New Single from Upset Boy and the Queens "Amphetamine Queen"

The Nashville based trio Upset Boy and the Queens have released their new single, "Amphetamine Queen".

Album Review: Kinky Friedman - Poet of Motel 6

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

It is of Kinky Friedman's last album, Poet of Motel 6. Friedman passed away last year and this solid offering is a fitting send off.

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

Dylan Cover #674 Daniel Widegren "Spanish Harlem Incident"

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 Daniel Widegren of the Dylan tune "Spanish Harlem Incident"

Thoughts on Original:

From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
Easily one of my favorite early songs of Dylan's career, I love the sing-song playing of this tune and it's hints of his musical repertoire opening up.  "OnTheCliffsOfYourWildCatCharmsI'mRiding" combined is such a sweet phrase and how he strung it out it is fantastic.  You can see a young Bob becoming infatuated with a woman he saw, being inspired to write a tune that is filled with primal lust and sexiness.  A song I have always wanted to learn to play and cover...but that is for another post...    

Cover:


Thoughts on Cover Band:
This is the first time we are checking out Daniel Widegren, a blues singer from Sweden. 

Thoughts on Cover:

A cool fairly straight ahead acoustic run through of a pretty little song. Well done. 

Happy 60th Anniversary to Bob Dylan's Bringing It All Back Home

RtBE celebrates Bob Dylan every Monday with our cover series, but today happens to be the 60th Anniversary of the release of his classic Bringing It All Back Home so we wanted to give it a shout out. 

A historic and amazing album. 

Full Show Friday: DIIV - Live @ Nox Orae 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...DIIV!

We reviewed their newest back in August, this week they are our focus on Full Show Friday. Pro Shot, Pro Sound, Enjoy!

New Single/Video from Evidence of a Struggle "Give Us A Kiss"

The Chicago based Evidence of a Struggle have a new video/single "Give Us A Kiss" 

Check out the crunchy, throw-back, alt-rocker below:

Album Review: The Robert Cray Band - You Know I Feel Alright (Live in Chicago 1985)

The Robert Cray Band

You Know I Feel Alright (Live in Chicago 1985)

** out of *****

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.  

New Single/Video from Daisy The Great "Ballerina"

The NYC based duo Daisy The Great have a new single out "Ballerina"

Regarding the song the band say:

“Ballerina represents a childhood dream of perfection: something that is unattainable, but real enough to give yourself something to compare yourself to,” explains the band. “You look for the ballerina in the search for beauty, purpose, talent, body, and success — and prescribe it to the people you see around you and on social media, who seem to have that air of flawlessness. But the truth is they are also looking for ballerinas because we live in a society that feeds you this idea that even though you’re not perfect, someone out there is.”

Check out the revved up, motoring rocker below:

Album Review: Ebo Taylor, Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad - Jazz Is Dead 22

Ebo Taylor, Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad

Ebo Taylor: Jazz Is Dead 22

**** out of *****

The newest release in Adrian Younge and Ali Shaheed Muhammad's Jazz Is Dead series finds the duo working with a 88 year old Ghanian highlife and Afrobeat pioneer. Ebo Taylor: Jazz Is Dead 22 captures the elder statesmen Ebo Taylor still creating at a high level. 

New Single/Video from Dead Pioneers "Mythical Cowboy"

The Denver, Colorado based rockers Dead Pioneers have a new video/single out, "Mythical Cowboy".

Click below to read the band's thoughts about the song and hear it yourself.

Album Review: ZZ Ward - Liberation

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

It is of ZZ Ward's newest release, Liberation.

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

 

Dylan Cover #673 Van Morrison-"Just Like A Woman" 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 Van Morrison playing "Just Like A Woman"

Thoughts on Original:

From the first time we covered a cover of this song:

There are a lot of songs about the greatest muse known to man, woman. This one may top the 60's generation when it comes to dealing with Mars and Venus. Respectful in one breath and slightly mocking the next, Dylan can sense the pain, and I think there is a clear honesty in those words. Well maybe "clear" is the wrong term to use, nothing is ever clear with this subject matter. Treating the topic honestly Dylan tackles the differences between the sexes and the difficulties of relationships. Bob nailed this one making it one of his all-time greats. 

Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Van Morrison has some amazing albums and some not so amazing. RtBE are big fans of the era of Morrison that this song was recorded during. 

Thoughts on Cover:

A slowed down dramatic live rendition that works with Broadway like hits and builds. Van the man always loved the drama. RtBE also had to pick an Irishman to cover Dylan today. Happy St. Patrick's Day.  

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Wishing everyone a happy safe and fun St. Patrick's Day from RtBE and we might as well throw in a self plug.

Here is Angels & Vagabonds Irish inspired tune, "Queens Boulevard Serenade":



The story goes...in the lead up to our first St. Paddy's Day gig our band (Angels & Vagabonds) were working on some traditional Irish songs to play and our lead singer/keyboard player Don McNally realized they were basically all the same chords just re-arraigned.

So the Irish American from Woodside, Queens, NYC dug into his past and crafted QBS. He brought it to the group and after a few tweaks it was ready for prime time, we actually played it only about a week after it was written. 

A little inside baseball into our process, now go celebrate by hoisting a pint....Happy St. Paddy's!

Live Stream: Unbroken Chain: Phil Lesh Tribute All Weekend

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.

Live Stream: Unbroken Chain: Phil Lesh Tribute All Weekend

All weekend the Capitol Theater is hosting Unbroken Chain: Phil Lesh Tribute. It starts tonight and can be streamed on nugs.net.

To get in the mood, here is some Phil and Friends live from the Cap in 2021:

Full Show Friday: Dropkick Murphys - Hellfest 2019

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...Dropkick Murphy's!

St. Patrick's Day is a few days away, so to get in the mood, here is Dropkick Murphy's @ Hellfest 2019. Pro Shot, Pro Sound, Full Setlist below. Enjoy!

Hellfest, Clisson, France - 21/06/2019 

SETLIST: 00:00 (Charles O’Neill song) (Sinéad O'Connor & The Chieftains version) 00:21 Cadence to Arms 01:28 The Boys Are Back 04:38 Going Out in Style 08:31 Blood 12:54 Prisoner's Song 15:41 Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya 19:52 Caught in a Jar 22:22 The Walking Dead 25:02 Don't Tear Us Apart 28:11 First Class Loser 31:08 Out of Our Heads 34:11 I Fought the Law (The Crickets cover) 36:54 Cruel 41:21 The Irish Rover (Joseph M. Crofts cover) 44:50 The State of Massachusetts 48:50 You'll Never Walk Alone (Rodgers & Hammerstein cover) 52:36 Rose Tattoo 57:40 Until the Next Time 1:02:46 I'm Shipping Up to Boston

New Single/Video from Sarah Shafey "Messin Around"

The new single/video from Toronto based artist Sarah Shafey, "Messin Around" is a fun joyride. 

Check it out below:

Album Review: Dirty Rotten Vipers - Tip The Band

Dirty Rotten Vipers

Tip The Band

*** out of *****

The New Orleans, LA based, 12 piece, gutter jazz, street band The Dirty Rotten Vipers deliver their debut album, Tip The Band with all of the energy and joy that makes them a blast to catch down on Royal St. and St. Peters in the French Quarter when they are busking. 

Happy 60th Anniversary to the Sonics - Here Are the Sonics

Today we will take a second to wish a Happy 60th Anniversary to The Sonics - Here Are the Sonics. The exact release date is unknown, but this debut album from the band was released back in March 1965, so RtBE will celebrate it today. 

Some thoughts and tunes below:

Album Review: Benjamin Booker - Lower

Benjamin Booker

Lower

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

For Lower, his first album in over eight years, Benjamin Booker has reinvented his sound, moving away from the rambling, soulful, gospel influenced garage rock towards more artsy, beats based, restrained offerings. Lower is dark, lonely and isolated, not a comeback album, more of a reinvention that sounds like a personally evolving work in progress.

New Single/Video from Vienna Vienna "God Save The Queens"

Hollywood based artist Vienna Vienna has released a new video/single "God Save The Queens".

For those in NYC, Vienna Vienna who will be coming through NYC tomorrow night, March 12th, playing Irving Plaza opening for K.Flay. 

Check out the rip roaring, live out loud, video below:

Album Review: Benmont Tench - The Melancholy Season

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

It is of Benmont Tench's newest album, The Melancholy Season.

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

Dylan Cover #672 Miriam Hopper "My Back Pages"

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 Miriam Hooper of "My Back Pages"

Thoughts on Dylan Original:

From the first time we tackled a cover of this song:

The original has taken upon itself a cultural importance, and the chorus has simply become iconic. I doubt Dylan intended such, but it toes the line of out and out protest and illustrative questions. He puts down everyone from evangelists to girls, but the language snakes and flows so magically that it doesn't seem as harsh as "Positively 4th St" or "Ballad in Plain D". The sense of exhaling desperation or at least the realization that age confuses things even more seems to be what I take from this tune after each listen, but things can change...or can they?

Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:

The is RtBE's first time checking out Miriam Hopper who is an amateur singer/songwriter.  

Thoughts on Cover:

A standard cover that finds Hopper working her way through the song. Feels more like practice than a finished product, but is a breezy listen. 

Full Show Friday: Living Colour at Przystanek Woodstock - Poland 2016

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...Living Colour!

Today we head out out Poland in 2016 for a set from the rocking Living Colour. 

Pro Shot, Pro Sound, Enjoy:

 

New Single/Video from OF LIMBO "Joke's On You"

Long Beach, CA based OF LIMBO have a new acoustic album coming out, Unplugged and the first single is "Joke's On You"

The band’s Jake Davies says

“Joke’s On You’ is about recognizing gaslighting techniques in a relationship.  You see the person feigning tears and storming off expecting you to chase after them.  Most of us are all too familiar with these kinds of manipulative tactics by now. But when you first start to really recognize it, it’s a relief and kind of empowering. Because you realize it’s not you… It’s all them.” 

The band shot the video for “Joke’s On You” entirely on an IPhone 14 at a park next to their mom’s house in Australia, armed with nothing but a $20 LED from Amazon and a six pack of tall boys. Jake explains “We filmed this in the moment, just going with the flow.  The red and blue color overlays are meant to be a representation of being two faced.”

Check out the effort below:

Album Review: Mdou Moctar - Tears of Injustice

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

It is of Mdou Moctar's Tears of Injustice, and acoustic version of last years fantastic Funeral for Justice, which RtBE rated very highly during our year end round up of 2024. 

While we like the original much more, feel free to check this out as well. 

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

 

New Single from Jamie James "Let The Praying Begin"

Guitarist, singer/songwriter Jamie James has released a new a single, "Let The Praying Begin".

About the song, James says, 

"I grew up in rock 'n' roll in the '60s—let’s just say I didn’t always live the life of a choirboy. But after a while, you find someone you actually love, and that feels better than anything. The song is about saying, if this relationship is wrong or a sin, or if this woman is too good for me, I’m not stopping—so go ahead and pray for me. In the end, the power of love makes us better"

Check out the grooving, bluesy track below:

Live Review: Los Lobos - "Disconnected Tour" 2/28/25, City Winery NYC

Los Lobos

"Disconnected Tour" 2/28/25

City Winery NYC 

The last Friday night of February brought the East L.A. legends Los Lobos to NYC for the first of three sold out nights at the gorgeous City Winery on the Hudson River. This show was a stop on their "Disconnected Tour" which finds the band laying down electric guitars and picking up acoustics. While that is true, this was far from and 'unplugged' concert, more of a slightly tuned down, normal, Los Lobos show.

Album Review: The Wild Tchoupitoulas featuring The Neville Brothers - New Orleans '77

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

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. 

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

All On A Mardi Gras Day!

Today is Fat Tuesday so live it up. If you are lucky enough to be in the Big Easy enjoy yourself. If you are anywhere else, party like you are in NOLA. Laissez les bons temps rouler!

2011 Mardi Gras Parade

Marching Bands Down Canal St.

Mardi Gras Pirates from 1930's

1910 New Orleans Mardi Gras

To help you get in the mood, here are some applicable tunes starting with the fantastic Professor Longhair. Also you can live stream Zulu and Rex on Nola.com's Youtube channel:

You can also tune into WWOZ to get the flavor of the city today or any day. Have a great and safe day everyone. 

The New Colossus Festival Starts Tomorrow, March 4th and Runs Through March 9th

The NYC based New Colossus Festival returns to the Lower East Side of Manhattan and expands to six days. Starting today (Tuesday March 4th) it will run until Sunday. 

A full schedule can be found here and more info below.

Dylan Cover #671 Charlie Starr "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry"

 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 Charlie Starr playing "It Takes a Lot to Laugh, It Takes a Train to Cry"

Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this song:
One of my favorite titled songs in the Dylan catalog, for some reason the title just nails an elusive feeling and perfectly works with the tune. Also contains multiple epic lines, my favorite being "I wanna be your lover babe/I don't wanna be your boss", AMEN brother Bob.  A pretty straight forward blues number musically that lends itself to cover attempts, leading to...

Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Mr. Starr is the lead singer and guitarist of Blackberry Smoke whose live stream we spotlighted a few years ago.

 
Thoughts on Cover:

After a funny joke, the tune is straight ahead and direct. Enjoyable live acoustic version of this song, sung and played well from 2015.