Very sad...
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Elvis Costello and Friends Play Dead
In what has to be the greatest television show in history, Elvis Costello's "Spectacle" featured an episode with guests Allen Toussaint, Levon Helm, Nick Lowe, Richard Thompson, and Larry Campbell. That would be cool enough, but imagine my surprise when they busted into the Grateful Dead classic "Tennessee Jed"!
A fantastic version of this kicks off Levon's excellent "Electric Dirt" release from last year, but this is a kick just to hear Costello sing it and to relish in Toussaint and Thompson's great musical flourishes. Jerry Garcia would be very proud.
After years of trying to explain to people that The Dead were far richer then just stoned, noodling jam musicians, you have no idea how happy I am that folks are finally noticing how great their songwriting was. This may just be one of my favorite covers of all time!
A fantastic version of this kicks off Levon's excellent "Electric Dirt" release from last year, but this is a kick just to hear Costello sing it and to relish in Toussaint and Thompson's great musical flourishes. Jerry Garcia would be very proud.
After years of trying to explain to people that The Dead were far richer then just stoned, noodling jam musicians, you have no idea how happy I am that folks are finally noticing how great their songwriting was. This may just be one of my favorite covers of all time!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Wilco Cover Neil Young
One week from tonight I will be seeing Wilco in Madison, WI and I sincerely hope they play this one!!
The band learned the Neil Young/Buffalo Springfield classic "Broken Arrow" for a Music Cares benefit show that took place a couple of weeks ago in which all the artists played Neil tunes. By all accounts, their performance of this bizarre, challenging track was the evening's highlight. It seems the band liked it enough that it showed up in the encore of their tour opener the other night.
Check it out for yourself and see why Wilco continues to be one of my favorite working bands....
The band learned the Neil Young/Buffalo Springfield classic "Broken Arrow" for a Music Cares benefit show that took place a couple of weeks ago in which all the artists played Neil tunes. By all accounts, their performance of this bizarre, challenging track was the evening's highlight. It seems the band liked it enough that it showed up in the encore of their tour opener the other night.
Check it out for yourself and see why Wilco continues to be one of my favorite working bands....
Friday, February 5, 2010
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Jay Farrar & Benjamin Gibbard-One Fast Move and I'm Gone
"'One fast move or I'm gone,' I realize, gone the way of the last three years of drunken hopelessness... that feeling when you wake up with the delirium tremens with the fear of early death dripping from your ears like those special heavy cobwebs spiders weave in the hot countries, the feeling of being a bentback mudmad monster groaning underground in hot steaming mud pulling a long hot burden nowhere, the feeling of standing...."
The most pleasant surprise of 2009 had to be the paring of Son Volt's Jay Farrar and Death Cab for Cutie's Benjamin Gibbard for the album "One Fast Move and I'm Gone". The album was inspired from Jack Kerouac's classic novel "Big Sur" about Jack attempting (and failing) to come to terms with his life after "On the Road".
Taking quotes from the novel and merging it with original lyrics, Jay Farrar (teaming with Ben Gibbard) created a project that could have been a complete mess and turned it into my favorite album of the year. That fact that on paper Ben and Jay seem worlds apart musically only adds to the joy of the project. If you don't already have this, it is a must hear.
Last night at the funky Turner Ballroom in Milwaukee, WI, I had the pleasure of seeing Ben and Jay perform the project live. Never the most dynamic performers, Jay and Ben simply let the songs and Kerouac's masterful words do the talking. Thanks to You Tube, I found video of the entire show they performed at the El Ray Theater back in October. Here are some highlights.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Raise a Toast to Saint Joe Strummer!!
After a ridiculously long absence from this blog, I return to give you a great one. This is a benefit show from the great Joe Strummer & his Mescaleros from 2002 supporting the cause of local firefighters. Not only does the show kick total ass, Joe was joined for the first and last time by former Clash-mate Mick Jones for the encores.
Truly a special show and a great sounding one from one of the most important artists of all time.
Enjoy!
Download
Joe Strummer & The Mescaleros
Acton Town Hall, West London, UK
15th November 2002
"A benefit for striking firefighters"
01. Shaktar Donetsk
02. Bhindi Bhagee
03. Rudie Can’t Fail
04. Tony Adams
05. White Man
06. Mega Bottle Ride
07. Get Down Moses
08. Police & Thieves
09. Cool ‘n’ Out
10. Police on My Back
11. Johnny Appleseed
12. Coma Girl
13. I Fought the Law
14. Bankrobber*
15. White Riot*
16. London’s Burning*
* With Mick Jones
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
And the Song of 2009 Is?
Well Happy New Year all. Sorry for the lack of "end of the year" best lists here. I am working on one, I promise. 2009 really was a great year for new music.
At the very least, my favorite song I heard all year is by far Califone's "Funeral Singers". I just can't stop listening to it and the album is amazing to boot.
At the very least, my favorite song I heard all year is by far Califone's "Funeral Singers". I just can't stop listening to it and the album is amazing to boot.
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