Unconventional Covers

19 Aug

A lot of linkage going on this week. Today, I was doing some searching on fark.com and ran into this:

That’s right, a Gregorian Monks chant cover of “Comfortably Numb.” The Pink Floyd epic is haunting, but, this is just damn near ghoulish. It’s scary. It also got me thinking. There are many unconventional covers out there. That sparked a search for some of the coolest, most atypical and somewhat esoteric covers of rock standards. First, let’s start with Andy McKee’s great guitar cover of “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”

Now, that’s just a cool piece of music. Next up, a choir version of “Smells like Teen Spirit.”

And, last, but certainly not least, a little “Umbrella” by Biffy Clyro. Enjoy!

Feel free to add some of your own choices for unconventional covers in the comments section below.

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“In the Air Tonight”

17 Aug

Great interview with 59-year-old Phil Collins from Spinner today. When Collins was 14 he began his professional training at Barbara Speake Stage School in London. He played the artful dodger in a London production of “Oliver” and he even served as an extra in The Beatles’ “A Hard Day’s Night.” Obviously, music attracted him more (specifically drums) than acting and after answering a classified ad for a drummer, “sensitive to acoustic music,” he won an audition and became the new drummer for Genesis. And, we know where he went from there. Yes, eventually into the ears of Mike Tyson.

Here are my favorite two questions from John Sellers’ interview:

1.) Who would win in a battle of singing drummers — you or Don Henley?
Well, like Don Henley, I can sing from behind the drums, but it just looks so shitty. That’s why you don’t get many singing drummers now. And, you know, I never wanted to be a singer. When Peter left Genesis and we couldn’t find another singer, I drew the short straw. So, in many ways, my career happened by accident. I just wanted to be a drummer.

Comment: I guess it’s a good thing that Peter Gabriel left. Collins has a great voice that would have been rather untapped if it wasn’t for Gabriel’s departure.

2.) Are you ever amazed that you got to play drums with Led Zeppelin?
It wasn’t amazing to be there, I have to say. They weren’t very good. And I was made to feel a little uncomfortable by the dribbling Jimmy Page. If I could have walked off, I would have — but then we’d be talking about why Phil Collins walked off from Led Zeppelin. So I just stayed there and bit my tongue.

Comment: Yeah, I know Phil, Zeppelin is just not very good. Most Overrated Band Ever to take a line from comic book guy. I prefer not to get completely into my stance on Zeppelin (at least not now), but, I am not their biggest fan.

Check out the rest of the interview: http://www.spin.com/articles/tough-questions-phil-collins

Runnin’ Down A Dream

16 Aug

During my search for blog content, I occasionally come across a wonderful story that just gives me goosebumps. It is generally an ode to a fallen rocker, or a fantastic profile on an obscure musician. But, this morning, an article from the Washington Post caught my eye. It was written by a 14-year-old named Griffin Black, of Virginia, and told his amazing story about his love for one particular guitar.

This "Red Dog" guitar...well, one that looks and feels very much like it

I'll trade you my lunch money for it

Music Court writer Josh Lampert and I often watch Youtube videos of famous guitarists playing their trademark guitars. Whether it’s Jimi Hendrix’s Fender 60’s Reverse Headstock Stratocaster or B.B. King’s black Gibson, Lucille, Josh and I like to stare at these guitars and go wow…I want that. Well, we don’t need Hendrix’s guitar because we both strum the guitar with our right hand, but still, that does not mean I would not take the guitar. These are the guitars of our idols and no one knows more about guitar idolatry than Griffin Black.

Black, a proud classic rock fan, is a blooming guitarist with a keen ear and skilled manufacturing skills. A Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers fan, and, more specifically, a huge fan of guitarist Mike Campbell, Black found himself watching Youtube videos of past performances. Oh, don’t we all. In watching these videos, he came across a package of Mike Campbell guitar bits and fell in love with, “a brilliant red ’60s Fender Telecaster around his neck.” That guitar was Campbell’s “Red Dog”

And, persistent Griffin decided he would not just settle with saying cool guitar. He would build his own and over a three month span that is what he did. And, what is the natural step after making a famous guitar. Have its originator sign it. So, with help from his Dad, he tracked down the band’s manager and impressed Campbell so much that the Heartbreaker’s guitarist invited them for a backstage visit before a show. And, you’ll never believe what happened next.

It is a great article depicting a 14-year-old’s success story and it definitely proves that classic rock is alive and well among the youth of the nation. Hey, like I say, there will always be interest in good music.

Check out the article: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/13/AR2010081306140.html?hpid=artslot&sid=ST2010081306555

TomPetty.com: http://www.tompetty.com/news/title/runnin-down-a-dream-mike-campbell-meets-14-year-old-griffin-black

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David Gray and Ray LaMontagne: Hard-Workin’ and Tourin’

15 Aug

When you think of the top folk singer-songwriter’s producing music today, David Gray and Ray LaMontagne appear on the list. And, when you add the hard working sentiment, there are not many current artists who can beat them.

Gray and LaMontagne begin their joint 16-city Summer/Fall tour tonight in Columbia, MD and both release their new albums the following day. Hard working? David Gray is technically still on his Draw The Line tour celebrating the album he released last September. Tomorrow, he will release a double album entitled Foundling and it’s all new material. This is a musician who has a song entitled, “Life in Slow Motion.” Yeah, Gray, somehow it don’t feel real.

And, don’t forget about Ray LaMontagne.

Lamontagne (second from the left) --- courtesy of the artist

LaMontagne’s God Willin’ And The Creek Don’t Rise, named after the Benjamin Hawkins phrase (http://ngeorgia.com/ang/God_Willing_and_the_creek_don%27t_rise), was recorded in only two weeks at LaMontagne’s sylvan home in western Massachusetts. It’s not rushing…sometimes a recording session is just efficient. Well, with LaMontagne’s newly formed Pariah Dogs consisting of Jay Bellarose on drums, Jennifer Condos on bass, Patrick Warren on keys, Eric Heywood on guitar and Greg Leisz on steel guitar, it is hard not to make good music.

God Willin’ is LaMontagne’s fourth studio album and is the first one he has produced by himself. The sound? Calm folk/country, mixed with little portions of LaMontagne’s trademark swing (the first song “Repo Man” is loud). If you like LaMontagne’s soul (music type of soul) this should be in line with expectations.

Review of the album: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128986999

David Gray

Like I said above, Foundling, is a double album. Why he is producing so much music? “A very fertile recording session,” said Gray. Seriously, dude, like rabbits. “These are some of the most dynamic recordings I’ve ever done,” he says. This is all good news for David Gray fans. His brand of folk-rock is infectious and, does not receive any where close to the commercial success it should. Get ready. This release will be good.

Review: http://www.usatoday.com/life/music/news/2010-08-15-david-gray_N.htm

The Tour

Below I will post the full list of dates. I hope to possibly go and see them on the 19th but I will see how that goes. If you do have the opportunity to see them, go. This is a productive combination of musicians.

August 2010
15 – Columbia, MD – Merriweather Post Pavilion
17 – Mansfield, MA – Bank of America Pavilion
19 – Wantagh, NY – Nikon @ Jones Beach
20 – Camden, NJ – Susquehanna Bank Center
22 – Nashville, TN – Grand Ole Opry
25 – Chicago, IL – Millennium Park
26 – Rochester, MI – Meadow Brook Theatre
29 – Council Bluffs, IA – Stir Cover @ Harrah’s Council Bluffs
30 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
31 – Santa Fe, NM – Santa Fe Opera House

September 2010
1 – Phoenix, AZ – Dodge Theatre
3 – Las Vegas, NV – The Pearl
4 – Valley Center, CA – Harrahs Rincon
5 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl
8 – Los Angeles, CA – Greek Theatre
10 – Berkeley, CA – Greek Theatre

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I Am Still Most Certainly “Home”

13 Aug

Edward Sharpe is Alex Ebert. The Magnetic Zeros are his band. I am borderline obsessed with their energetic, effervescent, pop supertrack, characterized by loud “heys,” a spiritual trumpet, a whistling inception, and a love-filled, at times unscripted dialogue with chocolate candy and pay phone calls, all wrapped up tightly with a body-rocking, unmistakeable beat. It is track six on their debut full-length album, Up From Below. Yeah, so, basically the song is a refreshing piece of energy-fused modern music. It portrays talent and a form of musical eclecticism that I, personally, have not seen in a while. I can go on for a while. How about a listen? Here is them performing on Letterman:

Check out an organic acoustic version: http://www.novafm.com.au/Video_Edward-Sharpe-and-the-Magnetic-Zeros-Home-acoustic_101308

See what I mean? Well, this is all the brain child of Alex Ebert whose alter-ego is Edward Sharpe, a character he formed after breaking up with his girlfriend, moving out of his house, and breaking away from a 12-step program as to, “live in a more honest reaction to the truth of the moment, not be bound to certain behaviors by fear-based dogma.” Alright, all the power to you my man. Edward Sharpe? A messianic book character who was, “sent down to Earth to kinda heal and save mankind, but he kept getting distracted by girls and falling in love.”

The real-life Edward Sharpe became distracted by singer Jade Castrinos. He met her outside a cafe in Los Angeles and she proved not to be much of a distraction. Combining with several musicians they formed the band and started touring the country in a big white bus. Thus the story of Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros. The production of “Home” is the by-product of spirituality, love and youth. And, yeah, it’s pretty awesome!

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