Album Review: Neil Young and Crazy Horse - Toast

Neil Young and Crazy Horse 

Toast

** out of *****

Back in 2000-2001, Neil Young and Crazy Horse were searching for a sound and tried out some different offerings after Young had spent some time in Argentina. One effort evolved into the album Toast which was ready to go and then shelved by Young. Now it receives its official release as Volume 09 of Neil Young Archives' Special Release Series.

Notoriously following his own muses to an almost insane degree, Young moved on from the album to release Are You Passionate?  instead, which contained some songs from Toast, but overall went a new way with Booker T & The MG's replacing Crazy Horse with mixed results. Now Toast has been released as a 'lost album' and while it is interesting, it is far from a must hear as Young and the Horse wander about a bit aimlessly 

Album Review: Margo Price - Strays

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

It is of Margo Price's newest album, Strays. 

A clear transitional album from Price with hits and misses. Great album cover though. 

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

Happy MLK Day: March on Washington 1963

This is a tradition here at RtBE. While we are including this in our Monday Dylan series, this is a necessary break from the routine.

We here at RtBE have lots of heroes and most stem from America's hard fought bloody and disturbing past. We have talked about the godfather of this site, we will probably touch on Lincoln at some point, but the man who we celebrate today is right up there with both of them. Martin Luther King Jr. is an American who deserves to be honored right alongside the greatest our country has ever produced.

We are happy to dedicate this Monday to him. To help celebrate the day we will post Bob Dylan singing "Only A Pawn In Their Game" from the1963 March on Washington DC.



Have a great day and make sure to watch this, MLK's last prophetic public words:


It is still so incredibly moving.

The full speech is located here and worth listening to as well and you can read this amazing writing which unfortunately is still relevant today from King as well:

2023 New Orleans Jazzfest Lineup Announced!

Today the 2023 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival announced their lineup.

The lineup is solid if not spectacular and a few of our guesses yesterday were spot on.  A lot of RtBE Favorites made the cut which doesn't even include the hundreds of local acts who are the foundation of the fest and the main reason we go back every year.

Acts we are most looking forward to seeing, Wu Tang Clan & The Soul Rebels, Buddy Guy, Los Lobos, 79er's Gang and the Tribute to Sidney Bechet.   

We will write a ton more about the fest closer to but for now, to get pumped, here is some video of acts that are playing:

Full Show Friday: Madeleine Peyroux Live in Switzerland 2012

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...Madeleine Peyroux! 

It's Jazzy January again here at RtBE, so get ready to kick off 2023 with some different styled shows every Friday. For this series we skew into new (or more recent) jazz lands. Keeping it current proves there is amazing live jazz still being performed no matter what Ken Burns says.

Back to 2012 for this Madeleine Peyroux set in Switzerland. 

Pro shot, Pro sound, full set list below. Enjoy:

NOLA 2023 Jazzfest Artist Predictions

The lineup for the 2023 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival will be announced tomorrow but RtBE got the early scoop...

Album Review: Basher - Doubles

Basher

Doubles 

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

The second album form the New Orleans jazz outfit Basher raises the stakes as the "free jazz party band" live up to that moniker, while increasing the instrumentation on Doubles, a solid slice of sound. 

Album Review: Mindforce - New Lords

Mindforce

New Lords

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

The Poughkeepsie, NY based Mindforce's most recent album is a throwback, a straight ahead hardcore record in the best way possible, as New Lords slams and bangs with that head cranking, spin kicking, mosh pit fury. 

Album Review: Joshua Redman Brad Mehldau Christian McBride Brian Blade - LongGone

Joshua Redman Brad Mehldau Christian McBride Brian Blade

LongGone

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

Back in 2020 the original members of the Joshua Redman Quartet surprisingly reunited for the strong RoundAgain. Now the quartet follows up that reunion album with LongGone, featuring more of the same high level jazz interplay from the esteemed collective. 

Great Read: Nate Rogers "Is Live Music Broken?"

Back on 12/21/2022 The Ringer published an article from Nate Rogers titled "Is Live Music Broken? It's Not Just Ticketmaster, It's Everything".

The longform article was inspired by the Taylor Swift Ticketmaster debacle but it goes deeper than just that, discussing some ills within the industry and beyond. Check it out. 

It is well worth your time and for music junkies like RtBE there are a lot of talking points to digest. The concept of 'poptimism' has come up a few times recently ion discussion with friends and the whole current musical landscape is something we constantly grapple with. 

RtBE are happy that Rogers ended up catching Weyes Blood, who was high up on our Favorite Albums of 2022 list, as live music is always worth it. 

Here is the tune he ends the article with:

Album Review: Iggy Pop - Every Loser

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

It is a review of Iggy Pop's new album Every Loser. Truth be told RtBE went in with low expectations for this album and were pleasantly surprised. When the all-star band backing him goes into overdrive Pop can still bring it in his Stooges style. The softer slower songs aren't nearly as good, but that has always been the case with Iggy.  

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

Dylan Cover #564 Ben Sidran "Subterranean Homesick Blues"

 In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by Ben Sidran  playing "Subterranean Homesick Blues'"

Jazzy January has invade Mondays! All this month we will check out various artists covering Dylan with a jazz vibe.

This month we are also 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.

This month we highlight Ben Sidran's Dylan Different for a full month of Dylan Covers.

Thoughts on Original:

From the first time we posted a cover version of this tune:

One of the most iconic songs from Dylan's most famous period and a very early showing of how powerful a music video could be. Dylan nods to beat poetry, current events, Chuck Berry's "No More Monkey Business", paranoia, and the Vietnam War all in around two minutes of linked lyrics over one of his earliest electric recordings. There is also the sly sense of humor which Dylan never gets enough credit for, while raging against the proverbial machine. A classic '60's tune in all respects and one non-Dylan fans usually love as well.

Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:

RtBE had not heard of Ben Sidran before this month. He is a a smooth keyboardist and jazz vocalist from Chicago who started his musical career in the Steve Miller Band. Recording over 40 albums, he is a music lifer. 

Thoughts on Cover:

A funky drum beat, B3 and guitar add a totally new dynamic to this tune. Tossing in a "Eleanor Rigby" piano line is also an interesting twist.  RtBE always like when artists try to make Dylan songs their own, not sure Sidran pulls it off on this one, but it is a valiant effort. 

Happy 9th Anniversary to Angels & Vagabonds Debut, The A&V EP

Hard to believe @angelsvagabonds released our debut effort, The A&V EP nine years ago today.

It has been fun writing about music on various websites and publications over the last fifteen plus years, but nothing beats the act of creating music, playing it live and recording it. Our first EP was an excellent experience, a huge learning process for me personally, and the whole band are still very proud of the final result.

From the serendipitous cover photo that stayed exactly as Bruno_Pek_ shot it, to the great production from our good friend Glen, to the contributions of everyone involved, The A&V EP is a joy to remember. More importantly, we still like listening to it and you can do that now.

You can download from our bandcamp site, you can buy it from iTunes, stream it on Spotify or below. As always, thanks for reading, and on this day I can say thanks for listening to my music.

 

Full Show Friday: Dirty Dozen Brass Band - Live 4/23/21

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...Dirty Dozen Brass Band! 

It's Jazzy January again here at RtBE, so get ready to kick off 2023 with some different styled shows every Friday. For this series we skew into new (or more recent) jazz lands. Keeping it current proves there is amazing live jazz still being performed no matter what Ken Burns says.

Down to the birth place of the genre as The Dirty Dozen Brass Band put their funky spin on the jazzy sounds.  Recorded live at Galatoires and presented by the Funky Uncle back in during the height of the pandemic, this April 23rd show is a lot of fun. 

Pro shot, pro sound, setlist below. Enjoy:

New Album and Twentieth Anniversary Shows from The Hold Steady

One of RtBE's personal favorites The Hold Steady turn twenty this year and to celebrate they announced a host of shows today and a new album. 

While RtBE weren't huge fans of their last release, we are always down to check out what they are doing and will certainly catch them live a few times next year after seeing them play last month at Massive Nights. 

Go to their site for more info/tour dates and peep a new song "Sideways Skull" below:

Album Review: Takuya Kuroda - Midnight Crisp

Takuya Kuroda

Midnight Crisp

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

The opening title track of Takuya Kuorda's newest release, Midnight Crisp, is a exhilarating splash of funky jazz as the dynamic multi-instrumentalist flashes grooving beats, huge horn breaks, cyclical repetition, unique breakdowns, solos, synchronicity and that special something; it is an emphatic way to kick off the artists seventh studio album. 

Live Stream: A Celebration of Justin Townes Earle

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: A Celebration of Justin Townes Earle

Live from the Ryman tonight Steve Earle and The Dukes headline a celebration to his son Justin Townes Earle who died in the summer of 2020. There is an all-star Americana lineup support Steve and the Dukes including Amanda Shire, Lily Hiatt, Shooter Jennings and more.

Watch it on Mandolin, and peep a song from the late Justin Townes Earle below:

Album Review: Makaya McCraven - In These Times

Makaya McCraven

In These Times

**** out of *****

Makaya McCraven has already established a strong foothold in the modern jazz scene and In These Times continues his ascent with a kaleidoscope of sounds around a thematic core.

The album was recorded back over seven years in 5 different studios and 4 live performance spaces, but that was not the finished product. McCraven then engaged in extensive post-production work from home to sonically weave the tapestries together. The end result is a strong collection of what McCraven calls his edit-heavy “organic beat music”, there are stops and starts, tons of sounds yet the project plays like a cohesive whole. 

Live Review: Top Ten Moments of Phish's 2022 New Years Run

For the first time RtBE decided to join the Vermont foursome for all four shows on their annual NYE run at Madison Square Garden.

Dating back to 1997 RtBE has been to at least one show of the NYE run at MSG each time Phish has played the venue, but have never done the full four shows. So 2022 was the year all were witnessed in person from Section 224, Row 4, Seats 7 and 8. 

Beautiful views from the middle of Madison Square Garden for four nights of adventurous rock and roll from Trey Anastasio, Mike Gordon, Page McConnell and Jon Fishman. The band was in much better form from the last time we caught them, 4/20/22 and below are the Top Ten moments of the run to these eyes and ears. 

Dylan Cover #563 Ben Sidran "Ballad of a Thin Man"

 In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by Ben Sidran  playing "Ballad of a Thin Man'"

Jazzy January has invade Mondays! All this month we will check out various artists covering Dylan with a jazz vibe.

This month we are also 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.

This month we highlight Ben Sidran's Dylan Different for a full month of Dylan Covers.

Thoughts On Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
Surprisingly we have not touched upon a cover of this track yet in the series, possibly because it has never been anywhere close to a favorite of ours. This tune seems to be a clear product of Dylan's time and space, hounded by media/fans/everyone and lashing out in a burnt out manner. Not containing his best lines or playing it has never really grabbed hold, except a few times in the live setting.

Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
RtBE had not heard of Ben Sidran before this month. He is a a smooth keyboardist and jazz vocalist from Chicago who started his musical career in the Steve Miller Band. Recording over 40 albums, he is a music lifer. 

Thoughts on Cover:

A herky jerky start moves more to a smooth transition during the chorus, before going back to the circus like verses. Keyboards, piano and sax all highlight the music. A unique way to kick off this month of Dylan covers that display a jazz feel.