Album Review: Harry Katz and The Pistachios - Scared of Romance

Harry Katz and The Pistachios

Scared of Romance

*** out of *****

The first studio album from the Los Angeles based outfit Harry Katz and The Pistachios is a kaleidoscope of flamboyant rock as Scared of Romance touches on multiple genres musically and topics lyrically. 

  

The album kicks off with the humorous group theme song setting the tone for what is to come from the rough and tumble Katz on guitar/piano/vocals and The Pistachios who include, Nick Crnko - Drums / Back up Vocals / Additional Vocal Arrangements, Vinnie Stevens - Bass, Gilbert Louie Ray Back up Vocals, Phoebe Silva - Lead Vocals on Scared of Romance, McKail Seely - Back up Vocals, Madeleine Mathews - Back up Vocals, Kyle Zimmerman - Tenor & Baritone Sax / Additional Horn Arrangements, Ralph Watkins - Trombone, Joel Schnaper - Trumpet. 

That retro big band idea along with a smirking sense of playfulness flows throughout the album. "Homeless Baby Girl" sounds like The Stray Cats fronted by Tom Waits while the title tracks duet with Silva covers modern dating woes around theatrical horn breaks and a large chorus; expertly juxtaposing gruff and smooth vocals. "Rest Of The World" flaunts infectious surf rock guitar around the gorgeous background vocals and horn arrangements while "No Sir" motors like a train with slight punk energy and shout along lyrics.

On the flipside the band can go overly dramatic, to their detriment on the sluggish "This Whole Time" but with interesting complexity on "OH YES!". That song starts with a fifties doo-wop bass groove before moving through big band inspired horn parts and raucous hard rock break downs, resulting in an odd, yet inspired journey. 

The group does a little bit of everything with a funky, deep bass and horn fueled dance number "Fish Wall" before a throw-everything on the floor hoedown closer "That's Too Darn Bad" which plays in the vein of Squirrel Nut Zippers and delivers a dynamite trumpet solo.       

Scared of Romance finds Harry Katz and the Pistachios clicking and whopping it up, cutting a rug and letting it all hang out as the outfit, along with producer Mike Post, mixes modern and retro sounds winningly.  

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

Album Review: Dream Unending - Song of Salvation

Dream Unending

Song of Salvation

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

The newest release from Dream Unending moves into more cosmic territory as Song of Salvation uses what can best be described as a dream-pop/doom-metal hybrid. 

Album Review: Artic Monkeys - The Car

Arctic Monkeys

The Car

** out of *****

On 2018's Tranquility Base: Hotel + Casino the Artic Monkeys went out on a limb, experimenting by eliminating rock and roll from their sound, going with a focus on strings and lounge music banality. Front man Alex Turner pushed the band to record it while the group originally envisioned it as a side project for the lead Monkey. Fans seemed to be split on the successfulness, but Turner has only dug deeper into the piano, strings and David Bowie like transformation with this follow up The Car. 

Album Review: dd Toby Leaman - Military Applications EP

dd Toby Leaman

Military Applications

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

Those lowercase d's in front of Toby Leaman's name indict his previous stint in the retro rocking Dr. Dog for the uninformed. Now, with that band retired, he strikes it out on his own and the results contained on his first EP Military Applications sound very much like...Dr. Dog.

Album Review: The Ramona Flowers - Gotta Get Home EP

The Ramona Flowers 

Gotta Get Home EP

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

The poppy, electro dance rock delivered by the Bristol based quartet The Ramona Flowers is bringing new life into the band via their world tour and most recent EP Gotta Get Home.   

Album Review: Black Country, New Road - Ants From Up There

Black Country, New Road

Ants From Up There

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

The second album titled Ants From Up There from the London based Black Country, New Road is a mix of audacious folk rock, depressively broken hearts, and scattered dreams. The band: Isaac Wood, Tyler Hyde, Lewis Evans, Georgia Ellery, May Kershaw, Charlie Wayne, and Luke Mark use a mix of violins, sax, guitars, and drums to craft an understated/overstated effort that moves into larger pastures in it's own time. 

New Album from Mike Dillon & Punkadelick Titled Inflorescence Coming in January

The newest release from Mike Dillon & Punkadelick, Inflorescence is coming out January 27th, you can pre-save/order it today. 

We love Dillon's Mortal Machine Gallery shirt in that pic and Nikki's Hitman one as well. 

RtBE reviewed Mike's last three major releases for Glide, the trilogy of albums 1918, Suitcase Man and Shoot The Moon.  

Dillon is an active and interesting cat, one to always keep an eye out for.  The first single "Devil's Playground" has been released on bandcamp. 

Dylan Cover #558 Corey Johnston "Most Likely You'll Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine" Live

 In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's artists, Corey Johnston doing a live cover of "Most Likely You Go Your Way And I'll Go Mine" 

Thoughts on Original:
From the first time we tackled a cover of this song:
It's that thin, that wild mercury sound. It's metallic and bright gold, with whatever that conjures up. Those are the phrases that Dylan himself used to describe the sound that he wanted on Blonde on Blonde. Safe to say he got it and perhaps never more so than on "Most Likely You Go Your Way And I'll Go Mine". That whirling organ that sounds like it may actually take flight, the tempo, the cutting lyric, hot damn this song is a joy. RtBE actually got to see him open a show way back with this one and it was a hoot, not as good as the original, but a gem to see live and hear anytime.

The closest I ever got to the sound I hear in my mind was on individual bands in the Blonde on Blonde album. It's that thin, that wild mercury sound. It's metallic and bright gold, with whatever that conjures up.

Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
This is the first time checking out the talented Corey Johnston. 

Thoughts on Cover:

RtBE are always a sucker for a completely revamped cover of Dylan, and while a finger picking acoustic guitar version augmented by harmonica is usually par for the course, this time it is unique. The wildly rollicking tune is stripped down and done with soft nuance from Johnston. While the Dylan-like nasal impersonation/singing at times isn't our fav, the rest is spot on.  Would have loved to been hanging out on that porch with Johnston for this one.  

Debut Single From Scott McMicken And The Ever-Expanding

RtBE are huge fans of Dr. Dog and were a bit disappointed that they wrapped up their career (until the hopeful reunion tour down the road) but things move on. 

Scott McMicken, who I will always be a fan of because he was my first ever interview, has unveiled his new project Scott McMicken And The Ever-Expanding.

The debut single is below titled "Another One" and if you are a Dr. Dog fan, you will enjoy this.

Full Show Friday: Enslaved Live at Hellfest 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...Enslaved! 

It is upon us! BLACK Friday! In a tradition we started a few years ago it is time for the most evil Black Metal ever; because really it is the perfect soundtrack if you are hitting the brutality of shopping on this day. Granted we here at RtBE are not fans of the genre (or shopping) but have researched a few bands after enjoying the documentary Until The Light Takes Us.

We return to Hellfest 2016 and here comes the Norwegian fire breathers Enslaved as this years entry for Black Friday. While they started more traditional Black Metal they have evolved out of it a bit.  Anyways... 

Pro Shot, Pro Sound, Set List Below. Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving from RtBE!

Have a Happy Thanksgiving. Make sure you spend some time over this holiday doing what is truly important...Watching The Last Waltz:

For the gear heads reading this, here is an excellent run down of all the equipment used for this historic show.

Since it is a holiday here in the USA, also make sure to enjoy your time with loved ones and family. As a famous man once said, "Enjoy Every Sandwich"...especially the leftover turkey, mashed potato, stuffing and gravy ones on potato rolls...

The last few years we have thrown it back to Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades of the past and this years no different.

Here is the 1998 Thanksgiving Day Parade, now go get stuffed! 

Live Stream: Terrapin Family Band

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: Terrapin Family Band

On Fans Live, The Terrapin Family Band will be ringing in Thanksgiving tonight from Menlo Park, CA at 10pm EST.  

Check it out here and to get in the mood here is some live video from the band:

Album Review: Dr. John - Things Happen That Way

Dr. John 

Things Happen That Way

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

The final studio album from Dr. John is this posthumous collection titled Things Happen That Way, which is being billed as the good doctor's country album. While there are covers of classic country tracks, the album is more than that. Mac Rebennack's roots are planted deep in his hometown of New Orleans and those percolating sounds color even the most stoic country laments and some excellent new originals.

Album Review: Adrian Quesada - Jaguar Sound

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

It is of Adrian Quesada's newest release Jaguar Sound.

A cool record, too bad the Black Pumas are done, because these beats are dope and some singing on top of them would be pretty perfect. 

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

Album Review: Weyes Blood - And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow

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

It is of Weyes Blood newest effort And in the Darkness, Hearts Aglow.

A stunning baroque pop record for modern times. Weyes Blood is currently clicking on all cylinders. 

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

Coming In January: Bob Dylan – Bootleg Series 17: Fragments – Time Out of Mind Sessions (1996-1997)

More Bob Dylan today on RtBE as this exciting collection, the Bootleg Series 17: Fragments – Time Out of Mind Sessions (1996-1997), has been announced. The next installment of the amazing Bootleg series will be arriving in January. 

RtBE are huge Dylan fans and late era Dylan needs more love. We wrote about Time Out Of Mind when it celebrated it's 25th Anniversary in September  Needless to say we are highly anticipating this release. We almost..."Can't Wait"

To get in the mood, here is "Can't Wait" from Time Out of Mind:

Dylan Cover #557 Ron Talley "Scarlet Town"

In this ongoing Monday Series we will be exploring various artists versions of Bob Dylan song's. Today's tune is a cover by Ron Talley playing "Scarlet Town"

Thoughts on Original:

From the first time we tackled a cover of this tune:
While RtBE aren't huge fans of Tempest and "Scarlet Town" is dull on the album, repeating the musical phrases over and over again, it doesn't mean it is all bad, this is Bob Dylan after all. Bob and the band have revived the track somewhat on stage, injecting the song with life and have delivered some great live versions since it's release. This evolution also makes it ripe for artists to put their own stamp on the longer blues based tune with cryptic lyrics and a slow beat.  

Cover:

Thoughts on Cover Artist:
Ron Talley was featured once before in this series with his cover of "What Was It You Wanted"

Thoughts on Cover:

This is a unique acoustic cover that Ron seems to get inspiration from both Dylan and Tom Waits as he arraigned the song to combine verses and stanzas in a rambling fashion. He moves away from Dylan's twelve bar blues stylings to a more ramshackle feel.  An interesting take and worth hearing.  

New Single from Jack The Underdog "Conversation" feat. Kellin Quinn

A new single from pop-punk artist Jack The Underdog titled "Conversation" features Kellin Quinn from Sleeping with Sirens. 

Check it out below:

Full Show Friday: Talking Heads 1980 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...Talking Heads!!!

The NYC based Talking Heads head to Germany to play Dortmund in 1980. The core four Heads get help this show from Andrew Belew, Bernie Worell, Dolette McDonald, Steve Scales and Busta Jones. This is a hell of a set, so get ready. 

Pro Shot, Pro Sound, Set List below. Enjoy!

Psycho Killer Cities I Zimbra Once in a lifetime Animals Crosseyed and painless Life during wartime The great curve

 

Live Stream: Bob Weir and Friends - Benefit Gala Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Sweetwater Music Hall

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 and Friends - Benefit Gala Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Sweetwater Music Hall

Says it all in the title today.  Bob Weir joins some friends for this benefit, live streaming on Fans.live.  Check it out here at 9pm PST. 

To get in the mood here is some video from Bobby and friends: