Category Archives: live

Concert: Jake Bugg and Black Keys

by

As Lawr mentioned in an earlier post, I saw The Black Keys with opener Jake Bugg last week in Sacramento. This was a rare occasion when I saw a show where I love both the opener and the headliner. Bugg is about my age, but his age is apparent only in his appearance, not in his ability. His stage presence, though not riveting, was impressive for such a young guy in a huge venue. Both acts put on a great show. Though the Keys were more of a spectacle than they needed to be, there’s no doubt they know how to please a crowd.

Here was my favorite that Bugg played, and a favorite off the Keys’ new album that they played in the encore.

Night Music: Chuck Berry, “Roll Over Beethoven”

by

A few years ago Chuck Berry was inducted into some songwriter’s hall of fame. A friend said, “Chuck Berry?” Hell yes.

Berry’s rep has diminished thanks to Keith Richards (his bastard son, who disavowed him) and Chuck’s impecunious behavior, but the fact is that Johnny B. Goode, Maybelline, Back In the USA, Roll Over Beethoven, and almost every hit he ever wrote except My Dingaling, ranks among the best rock and roll tunes of all time.

I should bless you with Carol, here, but this will have to do:

Lunch Break: Lawr channelling Joe Walsh, “All Night Long”

by

Since the Remnants brought up Joe Walsh free of any self aggrandizing by moi, here are the Biletones in action at a dive bar.

We had a great set, and my wife Diane filmed this with iPhone, yet it is still pretty good (though if you can listen on headphones, the sound is soooo much better and you can really hear the bass).

Night Music: The Allman Brothers, “One Way Out”

by

Last night, in New York, the Allman Brothers played their last show. The band has been a different band for much of it’s career than the band that once contained Duane Allman and Berry Oakley, which is playing on this live version of Sonny Boy Williamson’s song, One Way Out. Better? Worse? I loved the old days. The Allman Brothers were the first big rock band I ever saw live, though I didn’t know anything about them that day. They were the opening act for Mountain at Stony Brook University. A fan was made.

Lunch Break: Cream, “Deserted Cities of the Heart”

by

I was lucky enough to see Cream in 1968, during their first big American tour. I was just 15, but they knocked me out. Oddly, the opening act was the Grateful Dead, who played Alligator for an hour, and that was it, making it really hard for me to warm up to the band for a number of years (Workingman’s Dead started the change).

They were great, and I do indeed love Fresh Cream, though curiously, nothing by the band made my essentials list.

Still, NSU, I Feel Free, and I’m So Glad are serious faves.

However, in deference to Lindsay’s “what I like to listen to when I am sad,” I grabbed my favorite Cream cut, Deserted Cities of the Heart, penned by Monsieur Bruce, and in honor of his passing.

From Wheels of Fire, which was produced by said Felix Papplardi (whom I believe played cello on the cut), this song rocks, is dreamy, and takes some unexpected form twists (I LOVE the doorbell/glockenspiel/whatever is channeled into the background as Clapton starts his solo).

Miss you Jack! You were great (and somehow, I cannot believe Ginger Baker outlived you).

I included both the haunting studio version with said strings and treatments, and a fairly blistering live take as well.

Night Music: Little Richard and the James Gang, “But I Try”

by

I’m pulling this from the liner notes for Joe Walsh’s box set Analog Man, explaining where this cool artyfact came from. Joe Walsh says:

“I found this is an old box of tapes I had. It is a recording of The James Gang jamming with Little Richard in Cleveland, Ohio about 1970. Me on guitar, Jimmy Fox on drums, Dale Peters on bass and featuring Little Richard at his best. I remember we played a couple of shows in the Midwest with LR and, I think, Chuck Berry on the same bill and on a day off in Cleveland we decided to go into Cleveland Recording and mess around. We did a few songs, but this is the only one that survived. I called LR for permission to include it on Analog Man and he said “It makes me wanna go out in the yard and yell LAWDY LAWDY!” Little Richard is one of the true founding fathers of rock & roll and a huge influence and inspiration to every musician I know including me. It’s an honor to know him and to be able to share this magical moment in time with all of you. God bless you LR! Thank you.”

The tune is credited to (Walsh, Jim Fox, Richard Penniman, Dale Peters).

Night Music: Neil Young, “Old Man”

by

I’m ambivalent about many Neil Young songs.

This one is utterly beautiful. So is a Man Needs a Maid. And the Needle and the Damage Done. But the content doesn’t always match the package.

That said, I love this clip. I’m going to see my old man in a few hours, and whether I like it or not I’m a lot like he is (this is what led me to this tune tonight).

Lunch Break: Neil Young, “Who’s Gonna Stand Up”

by

Supposedly this is the first Neil Young song he played no instrument on, he only sang.

I think the spectacle of the orchestra is the reason to watch. The sentiment is, of course, hugely noble, and the presentation is really weird.

I like Young for being heartfelt, and he can be very smart about his music and the role it plays in peoples’ lives by virtue of his playing and talking. That matters.

But this? I hope it matters. As art it does not.

Breakfast Blend: The Mekons Rock and Roll

by

At some point indie rock got hot and the Mekons ended up signing with a major label. The resultant album, The Mekons Rock ‘n’ Roll, was full of great music. Rocking music.

This is the official video for a song called Memphis Egypt, which could be called Rock ‘n’ Roll.

Here’s a video of a live Memphis Egypt performance from 2011 in Zurich, home of Dada, more than 20 years later, of Memphis Egypt and Where Were You, did I mention live? Fun, right?

You can read Robert Christgau’s liner notes for the non major label rerelease of the major label Mekons Rock ‘n’ Roll album here.