Denver-based The Yawpers made their inaugural trip to Boston (well, really Cambridge) last week. They drew a respectable crowd for a late Sunday night set and proceeded to whip the audience into a frenzy with their distinctive blend of punk, rockabilly and bad-ass rock and roll. They even seemed to take in stride (and actually […]
Monday Morning Video – Let It Go with Cowboy Mouth
There are certain bands that one needs to see live. New Orleans-based Cowboy Mouth are one of those bands. For more than 25 years they’ve brought their hometown party attitude to venues around the world. The band is about to release a greatest hits album called The Name of the Band Is…Cowboy Mouth: Best Of […]
Monday Morning Video – Revisiting Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land”
Inspired, or more rather provoked, as a populist response to Irving Berlin’s “America the Beautiful,” Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” has become an American institution in its own right. In celebration of Independence Day, here is a video playlist that includes some engaging covers of the Guthrie classic from the likes of the […]
Monday Morning Video – Escondido Take on an Everly Brothers Classic
We’re going to continue our string of covers for another week. Escondido passed through Boston two weeks ago and delivered a mighty fine performance. They rocked through most of the set but slowed things down for a jaw-dropping take on the Everly Brothers “When Will I Be Loved.” In Boston they gave the song a […]
Monday Morning Video – Matt the Electrician Covers Rick Springfield
We’re going to keep with the covers theme this week. The video quality is a bit iffy on this one, but Matt the Electrician’s humor and personality shine on his cover of this Rick Springfield classic. “In a very real way, as well as a metaphysical way, I think Rick is inside each and every […]
A (Brand) Spankin’ New Video from Brett Newski
At one point in every musician’s career, he or she has done some D.I.Y. touring. Brett Newski has become a zen master at it. Last year he spent 3.5 months on a planes, trains and automobiles journey around the world – an itinerary that would make even the most hardened traveler wince. Somehow Newski managed […]
Monday Morning Video – Dave Alvin Covers The Beach Boys
Here’s a fun cover to kick off your week. This is Dave Alvin recasting fellow Californians The Beach Boys classic “Surfer Girl” as a tender acoustic ballad.
Monday Morning Video – Greg Trooper’s Ode to Muhammad Ali
Singer-songwriter Greg Trooper often introduces this song by saying, “This is my thank you note to Muhammad Ali for being the greatest.” The song originally appeared on Trooper’s 2003 release Floating. That album featured liner notes by Trooper fan Steve Earle, who wrote, “I taped a TV show with Troop and some other songwriters sitting […]
Monday Morning Video – Town Mountain Cover Bruce Springsteen
North Carolina’s Town Mountain give Bruce Springsteen’s “I’m On Fire” a bluegrass make-over. Sounds mighty fine to me.
Monday Morning Video – A Double Dose of Beach Slang
Beach Slang, a Philadelphia rock band (apparently with some Rhode Island roots), passed through Boston last week and put on one hell of a show. The quartet unleashed a fury of guitars and attitude, much to the crowds delight. The set list was a moving target in the best way. Plenty of band originals, along […]