El Gato con Botas

 

Radiohead, Bonnaroo 2006

 

A soundboard recording of what is generally considered to be one of Radiohead's finest shows. The sound quality is astounding, and the performance is excellent to these ears, although I can't say I've logged too many hours listening to live Radiohead. Excellent stuff, but still doesn't compare to the multi-sensory overload and Thom Yorke/Johnny Greenwood alien insanity of seeing them in person. But this is about as close as we can get until they release a DVD of this performance. 

Radiohead probably don't quite crack my top ten favorite bands of all time, but I will say they are the greatest band I have ever seen live. The psychedelia of Floyd meets the intensity of Zeppelin in a modern context. Some worship at their alter, others could do without, and it will probably be much the same with this recording.

1. There there
2. 2+2=5
3. 15 step
4. Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
5. Exit Music (For a Film)
6. Kid A
7. Dollars & Cents
8. Videotape
9. No Surprises
10. Paranoid Android
11. The Gloaming
12. National Anthem
13. Climbing Up the Walls
14. Nude
15. street Spirit (Fade Out)
16. The Bends
17. Myxomytosis
18. How to Disappear Completely

Encore I
1. You and Whose Army
2. Pyramid Song
3. Like Spinning Plates
4. Fake Plastic Trees
5. Bodysnatchers
6. Lucky
7. Idioteque
8. Karma Police

Encore II
1. House of Cards
2. Everything in Its Right Place

The sound of a brand new world.

 

Evolution of the Wall

 

Here we have the evolution of Pink Floyd's last masterpiece, from rehearsals to Roger Water's current incarnation.

Rehearsals:

Live at Nassau Coliseum in 1980:

The movie:

Roger's version from 2010:

Martha & the Vandellas

A few years back I saw Ted Danson walking down the promenade in Santa Monica. A buddy yelled out "You've still got it Mayday." He turned and nodded, seemed to appreciate the subtle shout out.

Later that night I saw Ween with the Frenchman and Snowpants. Things got weird. I'm freaking out.

Kind Tune of the Moment

I'm Your Puppet

If you grew up in Chicago listening to Dick Biondi on Magic 104.3, or any city that had an oldies station, you're probably familiar with James and Bobby Purify's Motown version of this classic tune. I always assumed they were the original artists. A few years back I was watching the great BBC show Later with Jools Holland, which featured a wide array of musical acts playing a song or two, plus the occasional interview or jam session. A great opportunity to see some of your favorite bands live, and also discover some new artists. The group that left the greatest  impression on me is when I caught Dan Penn and Spooner Oldham performing their original version of I'm Your Puppet. The vocals are beautiful, the instruments haunting, the melody and groove hypnotic. And I've never seen anyone pull off the overall and sport coat look.

You can buy a similar version of this track off itunes from the album Moments from this Theatre. Here's the Purify's version:



The song has been covered by many artists over the years, including the Box Tops, who you might be familiar with for their version of the song The Letter, also written by Dan Penn.





Alex Chilton was the leader of the Box Tops, and he went on to lead another band, Big Star, which has gained quite the cult following over the years. If you're not familiar with Big Star, then at least you've probably heard the intro song from That 70's Show, as done by Cheap Trick:



And here's Big Star with a live version:



But my favorite Big Star song has got to be The Ballad of El Goodo:



How'd we get here from there, and how do we get back to where we started? Fuck it. A few years back the  Drive By Truckers toured with Spooner Oldham, and they performed I'm Your Puppet. So let's close things out with their version, with Kelly Hogan sitting in:

Suck it Jesus!

A friend was on a roll and texted me these pics. They say that in the next life, the paradox of duality will be resolved. Until that happens, and since it probably never will, in the meantime, enjoy the irony.

Kind Boots of the Week

Neil Young - The Complete Joel Bernstein Tapes
November 1976

1976 Tour Compilation. These songs that make up this boot come from "The Joel Bernstein Tape," compiled by long time friend/photographer/ musician of Neil, that surfaced after many years in Joel's personal collection (what else does he have?!?). This is an all acoustic boot that includes songs not, yet released and songs that didn't appear for many years, including an early version of "White Line", among others.

You can watch it on the youtubes.

Or you can download it on the internets, here, and likely other places with a google search.

Tracklist:

01 Campaigner (Boston 11/22/76 E)
02 Old Laughing Lady (Atlanta 11/24/76 E)
03 Human Highway (Madison, Wis. 11/14/76)
04 Tell Me Why (Chicago 11/15/76 L)
05 After the Goldrush (Houston 11/11/76)
06 Harvest (Boston 11/22/76 L)
07 Mr. Soul (New York City 11/20/76 E)
08 Here We Are in the Years (Atlanta 11/24/76 L)
09 Journey Through the Past (Boston 11/22/76 L)
10 Heart of Gold, Fort Worth (Texas 11/10/76)
11 A Man Needs a Maid (New York City 11/20/76 L)
12 White Line, Fort Worth (Texas 11/10/76)
13 Give Me Strength (New York City 11/20/76 L)
14 No One Seems to Know (Boulder, Colo. 11/7/76)
15 Mellow My Mind, New York City 11/20/76 E)
16 Too Far Gone (Boulder, Colo. 11/6/76)
17 Needle and the Damage Done (Atlanta 11/24/76 E)
18 Pocahontas (Atlanta 11/24/76 L)
19 Roll Another Number (Boston 11/22/76 L)
20 Losing End (Atlanta, 11/24/76 L)
21 Love is a Rose (Houston 11/11/76)
22 Sugar Mountain (11/24/76 L)

Suck it Pintrest

This one's for the ladies. Although I found the pictures fun to look at, 99% chance I'll never follow any of these tips, other than the bacon pancakes: 50 life hacks.