A site dedicated to culture with a focus on popular music; from the fringes to the forefront.
Friday, June 13, 2025
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!
Thursday, June 12, 2025
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"
Wednesday, June 11, 2025
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".
Tuesday, June 10, 2025
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.
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.
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"
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:
Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Thoughts on Cover:
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:
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.
Friday, June 6, 2025
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!
Thursday, June 5, 2025
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:
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
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.
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,
Sais shares,
Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Live Review: John Fogerty 80th Birthday Celebration - Beacon Theater NYC 5/28/25
Hey all, got a review up @glidemag which you can read Right C'here:
Support the artist (buy his new album when it comes out) read the review and peep some video below:
It is of the recent John Fogerty show at the Beacon Theater on Wednesday May 28th. He might be 80, but he still rocks out. This was RtBE's first time seeing him and we were not disappointed.
New Single from The Wood Brothers "Pray God Listens"
The long running Wood Brothers have released a new single, "Pray God Listens"
Monday, June 2, 2025
Album Review: Neil Young - Oceanside Countryside
Neil Young
Oceanside Countryside
** out of *****
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"
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:
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.