All Covers

I've always enjoyed it when a band, especially a good one, pulls out a cover. Maybe it's because most of my musical ear is bent toward the rock and roll/jam band sound. These musicians tend to play a fair amount of covers over the span of say a summer tour.

So this post is a long comment to a blog Allison wrote, "RadioPotato Goes Under the Covers." I will say reading RadioPotato and having shared some music back and forth; she has gotten me to step out of my familiar musical doldrums (yes, I had to look that up).

I won't do least favorite covers because I've no desire to create a shitty music widget.

Some of the tunes are live cuts. That is what's near and dear to my heart; musicians connecting in the moment. As per Allison I won't list the original artist. I think if you don't know it helps you take an insightful musical journey finding the answer.

"Baba O'Reilly" - Pearl Jam, "It Makes No Difference" - My Morning Jacket, "Paint it Black" - Vanessa Carlton, "Waste" - Dave Matthews, "Big River" - Grateful Dead, "Don't Bring Me Down" - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" - Peter Frampton, "The Night They Drove Ol' Dixie Down" - Black Crowes, "What'd I Say" - John Scofield, "Bad Company" - Tori Amos, "White Rabbit" - Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, "You Can't Always Get What You Want" - Rusted Root, "Carry On" - Alana Davis, "Fields of Gold" - Eva Cassidy, "Imagine" Blues Traveler, "Across the Universe" - John Butler Trio, "Boogie on Reggae Woman" - Phish, "30 Days in the Hole" - Gov't Mule, "Burning Down the House" - Bonnie Raitt, "Fortunate Son" - Donavon Frankenreiter, "Bring it on Home" - Led Zeppelin

*Eva Cassidy will always be on a phenomenal covers list, it had to be in mine Allison.

I do enjoy a good case of familiar especially with a sweet jam washdown. Let me know what you think and what you would add.

~bbryon

I miss you Jerry :'(

Jerry Garcia August 1, 1942 - August 9, 1995

I believe many people remember, not just Deadheads. - That's how I started my comment on: "Jerry Garcia's long, strange trip rolls on 15 years after his death, Grateful Dead leader's influence ingrained in culture."

I started trading tapes of Grateful Dead shows in 1995. Yes, that's cassette tapes, usually from master DATs.

My best friend from a little coffee house in Stuart, FL known as the Java Joint gave me my first show: 5/5/77 New Haven, CT. My favorite tune from the show is Estimated Prophet. We'd ride around down-town Stuart in his car when he was on break and I just remember how magical it sounded to me. I had listened to "Skeletons in the Closet" before and a few other best-of albums, but this wasn't an album. This was listening to history (a live concert recording).

My father who grew up during the counter-culture 60's - 70's didn't care for the Grateful Dead. He loved Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, Led Zeppelin. (He just never go into the Dead). He became an over-the-road truck driver in the early 2000's. By this time I had digitized my entire tape collection either to CDs or on a hard drive. Now he's a huge fan. That's an example of generational love for the Grateful Dead in reverse.

Some people get it, some don't. Even though I cut the long hair; when I go to any type of jam band concert now, I still get the "knowing" nod from "Deadheads" who are strangers. I think we can just sense each other.

It's unvelievable to me now that it has already been 15 years since Jerry passed.

I believe Chuck Palahniuk said it best, "We all die. The goal isn't to live forever, the goal is to create something that will."

So with a tear in my eye, I stand up and applaud you Jerry. Wherever you are, you helped create something so very special and the songs are still filling the air.

For myself and many, many others, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and the depths of my soul.

~bbryon

 

 

My younger days of music

This is a follow-up to one of my earliest posts "My listening when I was younger," which received a great response from some seriously awesome folks: @Ironshef and @dopeburger. These guys also added some gems I missed. Not because I didn't listen to some of the bands they mentioned, but sadly I had just forgotten some of them.

Yes, most of what I listen to now somehow or usually revolves around the "jam band" type genre.

Growing up and during adolescence most of us who love music believe, and I know for me it's true, that moments and life experiences are associated with the music we listen to.

Like breaking up with your 7th grad girlfriend (you know, the one you basically held hands with around school and maybe went to the movies with). I remember getting home and listening/seeing "November Rain" on MTV.

Or, standing right by the speakers at dances (middle & high school) head banging to "Cryin'."

So continuing the trip down musical memory lane (1990-200) and of course sharing it with all of you, here's what's in store ( a side note - this list definitely goes past 11):

1. Pearl Jam: Who didn't/doesn't love this band and their epic album "Ten"?

2. Blues Traveler: Remember not the Hooty video, but "Runaround" off of "Four."

3. Smashing Pumpkins: Before "Melancholy & the Infinite Sadness" there was "Siamese Dream."

4. Guns N' Roses: Of course Slash's epic guitar playing on "November Rain" is a solo to remember.

5. Nirvana: I think this anthem helped sell more plaid shirts than any other song, "Smells Like Teen Spirit."

6. The Black Crowes: I don't believe there's a better cover of this song by another band, "Hard to Handle."

7. Ben Harper: Did anyone else see him on the H.O.R.D.E. tour? In case you forgot "Fight for Your Mind" came out in 1995, his last solo album before adding the Innocent Criminals.

8. Blind Melon: Nobody can forget the bee girl, yet "Change" was so soulful and haunting, especially in lieu of Shannon Hoon's death.

9. Aerosmith: "Get A Grip" was an awesome comeback on the scene album and Alicia Silverstone with that navel piercing made us guys "Cryin'" with joy.

10. Soundgarden: Chris Cornell has one of the best rock voices of all time and it was out there on "Black Hole Sun."

11. Primus: Gotta love Les Claypool and I was lucky enough to see "My Name is Mud" performed live.

12. Tribe Called Quest: when it came to hip hop/rap, these guys were on.

13. Digable Planets: "Rebirth of Slick was my favorite bass line to play for warm-up in jazz band.

14. Sublime: "40 Oz. to Freedom" has six covers and their self-titled "Sublime" was their only album to produce a top hit.

15. Green Day: Hell, now they even have their own Broadway show.

16. Red Hot Chili Peppers: Probably "Blood Sugar Sex Magik" was one of the first explicit lyric albums I had to hide from my parents.

17. Live: "Throwing Copper" was even produced by Jerry Harrison of the Talking Heads.

18. R.E.M.: I think everyone knew the lyrics to "Losing My Religion."

19. Counting Crows: They were/are just so much fun and of course everyone loved Adam's stage presence.

20. U2: "Achtung Baby" was the first CD I ever owned.