You should be listening to the Randy Rogers Band!

The Randy Rogers Band is a country band that hales from the great state of Texas.  Yes, I realize that this Texas kick I’m on is stretching in to its second week and, well, I don’t care. Their debut album was a live album recorded at a bar in San Marcos, Texas in 2000.  By 2002 they had signed with an independent label and released their first studio album Like It Used To Be. 

Rand Rogers Band Discography:

• Live at the Cheatum Street Warehouse (2000)
• Like It Used To Be (2002)
• Rollercoaster (2004)
• Live at Billy Bob’s Texas (2005)
• Just a Matter of Time (2006)
• The Randy Rogers Band (2008)
• Burning the Day (Set to release Aug. 2010)

They have come a long way since the bar scene of San Marcos.  They have opened for artists such as the Eagles, Willie Nelson, Gary Allan, and Dierks Bentley.  Their music fits the college scene with its good time party vibe but also digs a little deeper with each new release.  It is an interesting fusion of country and a rugged swagger that comes across as the musical love child of Waylon Jennings and Steve Earle.

Top 5 Rand Rogers Band Songs:

• Tommy Jackson (Like It Used To Be)
• Love Must Follow You Around (Rollercoaster)
• This Is Goodbye (Randy Rogers Band)
• Wicked Ways (Randy Rogers Band)
• Somebody Take Me Home (Rollercoaster)

Rogers is the main songwriter in the band Kenny Chesney covered “Somebody Take Me Home” on his album The Road and the Radio.  Through constant touring and a record release schedule of about every two years, the band has built a solid fan base and Rolling Stone magazine listed them as a Top 10 Must See Artist in the summer of 2007.

Check out the Randy Rogers Band at www.randyrogersband.com

 Great music awaits!

You should be listening to Lucinda Williams!

Lucinda William’s is everyone’s collaborating darling who released her first album Ramblin’ in 1978.  In her thirty plus years in the music business, she has released nine studio albums.  Some might consider her a bit methodical or even a perfectionist based on the span of years between album releases.  She started out in the country genre that was occasionally tinged with the blues. 

She is a genre shifting chanteuse who has been nominated for ten Grammys in the following musical categories: 

• Americana
• Rock
• Country
• Folk
• Pop

Williams received early critical recognition and the respect of her musical peers, but it took considerably longer for her to raise public awareness.  This was due, in large part, to her renowned fastidiousness and the sporadic release of her albums.  The pendulum swung with the release of her 1998 album Car Wheels on a Gravel Road.  She has received three Grammy’s.

Lucinda Williams Discography:

• Ramblin’
• Happy Woman Blues
• Lucinda Williams
• Sweet Old World
• Car Wheels on a Gravel Road
• Essence
• World Without Tears
• West
• Little Honey

Williams is a prolific songwriter whose music has been covered by Tom Petty, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Emmylou Harris. In addition to covering her songs, many artist have saught her out to record with them.  She has an unbelievable list of guest appearances.  Below are just a few of the over sixty artists that Williams has collaborated or guest appeared on their album. 

Willie Nelson	Steve Earle	Elvis Costello
North Mississippi All Stars	Flogging Molly	M. Ward
Graham Parker	John Prine	Ray Wylie Hubbard

Top five Lucinda Williams Songs:

1. Are You Alright (West)
2. Right In Time (Car Wheels on a Gravel Road)
3. Real Love (Little Honey)
4. Get Right with God (Essence)
5. Still I Long for Your Kiss (Car Wheels on a Gravel Road)

Check out Lucinda Williams at www.lucindawilliams.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oPgZoXZ1Z0

www.youtube.com/watch?v=10rdtk6Vixw&feature=related

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiKk9PCcTgY

Great music awaits!

Concerts

We hear a song, purchase/download some music; it raises our awareness of the band and then we become a fan.  The concert is the culmination of our musical inclinations.  It is the holy grail of the musical experience.  At least, in our mind, it is. 

The concert is the musical equivalent of craps (the game of chance, not Jack in the Box 2 for $1 greasy tacos passing through your bowels)

Some nights go like this:

You purchase your ticket with the expectation that it will be musical bliss and a night to remember.  You get there, fight the crowd, listen to the mediocre, at best, opening act, and wait impatiently for the headlining show.   After what seems like an eternity, out stumbles the drunk/high lead singer, forgets the words to your favorite song, becomes enraged at the crowds displeasure and walks of the stage giving you the double fisted one finger salute. 

While other nights go like this:

You show up at some little dive barbeque joint and begin to think the show has been canceled because there are only four cars in the parking lot.  You go in, order some food and a beer, take you pick of the abundantly available tables and notice two chairs on the stage and a couple of guitars.  You take a seat, sip your bear and out strolls the singer and his buddy and the play for several hours, come sit down and thank you for coming to the show and take your request and play it before the night is over.

I’ve regaled you with some stories of concerts from my past and touted the greatness of Austin City Limits Music Festival but today, I’m going to chronologically list the concerts, to the best of my recollection, I’ve attended over the years.

Year	Band
1983	Quiet Riot
Interesting Facts
7th grade, first concert to attend and broke my ankle that afternoon after being chased by a large classmate who took off his belt and began swinging it at me.  I left the hospital on crutches and planned on going to concert while my mother drove along beside me screaming at me to get in the car.  Being 12 and disabled, mom won and I missed the concert.  I did, however, get the t shirt as a consolation prize from my buddy who I gave the ticket to.
1985	Def Leppard
Interesting Facts
My first official concert that I actually got to attend.  Reunion Arena in Dallas, TX.  Oddly enough, I do not remember much about the concert other than it kicked much 14 year old musical butt.

1985-1989

Tom Petty Stevie Nicks Elton John Don Henley White Snake Tesla The Cult Metallica

Interesting Facts

This period was the high school years and while there are funny stories, time has blurred the lines a bit. One concert I went to with a group of girls and as soon as we got to Starplex Amphitheater, they all had to go to the rest room.  So, they opened the passenger door and all took turns squatting in the parking lot under the shroud of secrecy that was the afore mentioned door.  Don’t worry ladies; your identity is safe with me. Another concert had some of the above mentioned girls and on the way home we got lost and drove around through an amazing fog which we likened to the moors, a Sherlock Holmes reference at the time, and eventually made it home.  Some of attendees were really upset with the turn of events. White Snake concert we bought tickets from scalpers and got totally ripped off but thought we were so cool because we were seeing White Snake. Metallica was an amazing show and the first time I had seen mosh pits and thoroughly enjoyed the frantic pace of the music.  Some fans really enjoyed the show and started lighting the lawn on fire and once security came out, the fire just seemed to move to another location.

1989-1992

Travis Tritt Shenandoah Various country acts at Billy Bobs

Interesting Facts

Some of my buddies were really in to country music and I would often tag along because I had nothing else to do and wanted to make some new female acquaintances. The Shenandoah concert was particularly memorable, not because the concert was good, in fact, I never actually saw them.  I got kicked out of the bar because I was 18 and using a fake ID to buy beer.  My buddies, of course, stayed and watched the show.  The crushing event of the night was that the girl I took to the show also stayed inside and I sat alone in the back of my friend’s truck for several hours.  The night was not a total loss, because I drank all of the beer in the cooler while sitting in the parking lot of Billy Bob’s.

1993-1995

Lots of local acts in the musical mecca of Denton, TX Rush

Interesting Facts

The Rush show stands out for two reasons:To procure the tickets for this concert, my buddy and I left Denton very, very early on a Saturday morning after a very, very, late Friday night to go to Lewisville Mall to get tickets.  We arrived way too early and drove to Braums and got a double order of biscuits and gravy.  While this might not read as funny as it was, we were way hung over and those biscuits and gravy were the magic elixir that restored our health. Night of the concert we pick up our dates, have dinner and head to Dallas.  There is mild drinking, as colleges kids are known to do, and before you know it, we are on the floor of Reunion Arena basking in the glory of Rush.  On the way home there is some conversation of the concert and the girl that I took begins to nod off a bit and then suddenly hurls into and on the door.  We stop and ask if she is ok and she looks at us as if nothing happened and denies what is clearly on her chin, clothes, seat, floor, and of course door.  We get home she gets out like nothing happened.

1995-2005

The Dave Matthews BandMetallica Linkin Park Beastie Boys Pat Green Willie Nelson Jack Johnson Bob Dylan Bruce Springsteen Beck G. Love & Special Sauce Merle Haggard Tori Amos Korn Chevelle Robert Earl Keen

Interesting Facts

All pretty good shows and some artist like Dave Matthews and Pat Green I’ve seen multiple times.  The one stand out concert story is this:A group of folks went to see Willie Nelson at Lone Star Park which is an outdoor horse track.  His stage was set back a bit and there were risers and bleachers that elevated the fans to better see the stage.  I am walking up, wearing loose cargo shorts and minding my own business, when I feel something moving up my leg and heading north central.  I look down and there is an older woman with her hand up my shorts grabbing my junk.  I jump up and swat at her as if she is some form of annoying insect and she looks up, smiles with what teeth she has left and says “Oh, excuse me” as if she had accidently bumped into me as were passing on a sidewalk.  She then turned and walked away as if nothing had happened.

2006-Present

Pearl JamBen Harper Foo Fighters Tom Petty Beck G. Love & Special Sauce Wilco Son Volt Drive-By Truckers State Radio Brett Dennen Bruce Springsteen B-52’s Robert Plant & Allison Krause Joe Purdy Cross Canadian Ragweed The Killers The Tragically Hip The Eli Young Band Pete Yorn Bob Schneider James McMurtry Kris Kristofferson Merle Haggard

Damien RiceDonovan Frankenreiter Arcade Fire The Shins Okkervil River Mason Jennings The Black Keys Ray LaMontagne Queens of the Stone Age Bob Dylan Willie Nelson Van Morrison The Toadies The Killers John Mayer Steve Earle Bjork Iron & Wine Walt Wilkins The Dead Weather The Raconteurs Lucinda Williams Erin Ivey Amos Lee

Interesting Facts

The majority of these artists have been seen at the Austin City Limits Music Festival which is an annual pilgrimage for me.  Some artist I have seen both at ACL and their own headlining tour.

So, there you have it, a little stroll down concert memory lane.  Let me know about some of your favorite or at least memorable concert experiences and who is a must see when they roll through town.

Great music awaits!

50 Artists you should be listening to and own at least one album!

Ok, I thought yesterday’s blog was fun and elicited some reaction from you, the sweet , gentle reader  and a few David Cassidy fans( ITILY ladies and possibly gentlemen) and also caused a bit of a stir on facebook as well.  So, let’s go and reverse the whip.

I will attempt to continue to WOW you with my vast musical knowledge and then silently judge you if you are not impressed with my musical prowess.  Just kidding, I would never judge you or your poor musical taste. 

I do think that there are some artists that transcend genres and have universal appeal.  Others have a loyal following and then have that one album that regales the masses and they are beloved for generations.  Some of us grew up on music and we think it is greatness based solely on the nostalgia for the time and place in which we first heard it.  And then there are music purist who likes a band /artist because they respect the lineage and the impact that they had on music.

I tend to be a bit of all of the above.  There are some artists that I like because there is some form of connectivity that I really can’t explain, while others are truly a moment in time that has endeared me to an artist, and then there is the whole musical heritage piece.  I am intrigued by the evolution of music and the artists that find themselves compelled to play.  As mentioned previously in a blog, I have no musical talent.  I do not play and instrument, I do not sing close to well, and I’ve never had aspirations to do either.  I simply love to listen to music. 

As much as I have a propensity to scorn/judge, in my humble opinion, awful music, I really respect the fact that those dreadful musicians had the nerve to attempt to play, at some point get signed, and were able to release an album or at the very least a single.  When it comes down to it, I don’t judge the horrific musicians as mercilessly as I judge the faction who listens and procures the music.

So, below is a listing of artists/bands that you should be listening to and would be in any reputable music collection.  

• Ryan Adams
• The Band
• The Beastie Boys
• The Beatles
• Beck
• The Black Crowes
• Jimmy Buffet (with love to Gwendolyn)
• Johnny Cash
• Eric Clapton
• Credence Clearwater Revival
• Drive-By Truckers
• Bob Dylan
• The Eagles
• Steve Earle
• Foo Fighters
• Pat Green
• Merle Haggard
• Ben Harper
• Jimi Hendrix
• Robert Earl Keen
• Led Zeppelin
• Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Dave Matthews Band
• John Mellencamp
• Metallica
• Willie Nelson
• Nirvana
• Pearl Jam
• Tom Petty
• Pink Floyd
• The Pixies
• Joe Purdy
• Radiohead
• R.E.M
• Red Hot Chili Peppers
• The Rolling Stones
• Rush
• Paul Simon
• Sonic Youth
• Sound Garden
• Bruce Springsteen
• James Taylor
• Traveling Wilburys
• U2
• Stevie Ray Vaughan
• Wilco
• Whiskeytown
• The Who
• Neil Young
• ZZ Top

I just listed the artist and not the album or albums that you should be listening to and really own by said artist.  Also, I stopped at 50 and that took a considerable amount of restraint.

This is fundamentally meant to light the candle of thought and get you to think about your 50 artists.  If you only had 50 artists that you could listen to, who would they be?  Think of yourself as Tom Hanks in Cast Away and instead of Wilson the volleyball, you have an iPod with 50 artists and their entire catalog. 

So take some time, peruse the list and let me know who you would have added or deleted from the list or send me you complete list.

Great music awaits!

You should be listening to Cross Canadian Ragweed!

Cross Canadian Ragweed is the red dirt alt/country musical quartet that hales from Yukon, Oklahoma.  The name is derived from a mixture of three of the four member’s names Grady Cross, Cody Canada, and Randy Ragsdale.  Shortly after forming in Yukon, the band moved to the hopping college town of Stillwater, Oklahoma. 

The band released its first album, Carney, in 1998 while already receiving considerable airplay on college radio.  This was due to their relentless touring of Oklahoma and Texas.  Their second release was their live album from the Wormy Dog Saloon, which is in Oklahoma and is a bar that I was kicked out of one fateful trip to Oklahoma.  Their second studio album Highway 377 was released in 2001.  All of the above mentioned albums were released on the bands independent label Underground Sound.

Cross Canadian Ragweed, also known as the Purple album, cleverly assigned, due to the purple cover, was the bands major label debut.  The album cover’s color was attribute to Randy Ragsdale’s little sister who died prior to the album’s release.

In 2004, their sixth release Soul Gravy debuted on the county charts at #4.  Their next studio album, Garage, yielded their first top 40 hit on the country charts with “Fighin For”.  It also contains a tribute song “Dimebag” for the late, great Dimebag Darrell from the cowboys from hell, Pantera!

Mission California is the bands ninth album and has two great cover songs.  “Cry Lonely” is a Chris Knight cover of and they also cover Todd Snider’s “I Believe You”.  Their tenth album Happiness and All Other Things was released in 2009 and was dedicated to Willie Nelson’s late, longtime stage manager Randall “Poodie” Locke.

Cross Canadian Ragweed Discography:

• Carney
• Live and Loud at the Wormy Dog Saloon
• Highway 377
• Live and Loud at Billy Bob’s
• Cross Canadian Ragweed
• Soul Gravy
• Garage
• Back to Tulsa – Live an Loud at Cain’s Ballroom
• Mission California
• Happiness and All Other Things

Top 5 Cross Canadian Ragweed Songs:

1. Proud Souls (Caney)
2. Breakdown (Garage)
3. Broken (Cross Canadian Ragweed)
4. Flowers (Soul Gravy)
5. Jenny (Mission California)

Their sound is a nice blend of country swagger and southern rock that is evocative of band such as the Marshall Tucker Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd.  They tend to tour and travel with like minded folks such as Randy Rogers Band, Stoney LaRue, and Wade Bowen (who is married to Cody Canada’s sister).   

This year, Cross Canadian Ragweed will grace the hallowed grounds of Bonnaroo Music Festival!

Check out Cross Canadian Ragweed at www.crosscanadianragweed.com

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkFtl50kqYE

www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFVCMIyE9gw

Great music awaits!

You should be listening to Reckless Kelly!

Reckless Kelly is the rocking alt/country Austin based band via Bend, Oregon, where they originally formed, but moved to Texas as quick as they could.  The band was organized and helmed by Braun brothers, Cody and Willy.  Their father happened to have a western swing band, Muzzie and the Boys, where the boys cut their early musical chops. 

Reckless Kelly’s debut “Millican” was released in 1998 and the title is a reference to Millican Oregon.  The album has one of my favorite songs “Drink Your Whiskey Down”.  In 2000 they released two albums “Acoustic: Live at Stubbs”, a great Austin barbeque joint, and “The Day”.  The live album features covers of Bob Dylan (Subterranean Homesick Blues), AC/DC (You Shook Me All Night Long), and Led Zeppelin (Whole Lotta Love).

In 2003 they switched labels and released “Under the Table and Above the Sun” on Sugar Hill Records who have had such high profile artist as Robert Earl Keen, James McMurtry, Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, and Townes Van Zandt to name a few. They followed up with 2005’s “Wicked Twisted Road” which had three singles “These Tears’, “Stick Around”, and “Baby’s Got a Whole Lot More” that broke the Top 10 on the Texas Music Chart.  In 2006 the live CD/DVD “Reckless Kelly Was Here” was released

In 2008 they again switched labels (Yup Roc Records) and released “Bulletproof” which the band taking umbrage with the current sociopolitical landscape.  The single “Ragged as the Road” peaked at #1 on the Texas Music Chart. 

Reckless Kelly Discography:

• Millican
• Acoustic: Live at Stubbs
• The Day
• Under the Table and Above the Sun
• Wicked Twisted Road
• Reckless Kelly Was Here
• Best of the Sugar Hill Years
• Bulletproof
• Somewhere In Time

Top 5 Reckless Kelly Songs: (in no particular order)

1. Let’s Just Fall (Under the table and Above the Sun)
2. Drink Your Whiskey Down (Millican)
3. Baby’s Got a Whole Lot More (Wicked Twisted Road)
4. May Peace Find You Tonight (Under the table and Above the Sun)
5. American Blood (Bulletproof)

Their music is typical alt/country with guitars (acoustic, electric, & occasional steel), bass, fiddle, mandolin, harmonica, and drums.  They have a surprising pop sensibility with catchy hooks and well crafted songs.  It is their ability to take tired themes (love, loss, redemption, etc…) and rejuvenate them with a fresh sound that is a combination of their musical prowess and the gruff, weathered vocal styling of Willy Braun.  They are known for their straight forward musical approach, the connectivity and energy of their live shows, and the fierce loyalty of their fans

Check out Reckless Kelly at www.recklesskelly.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpUXrDrUfDM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko2BRa5o_84

Great music awaits!

You should partake in Austin City Limits Music Festival!

Austin City Limits Music Festival is a three day music festival that takes place in Austin, Texas at Zilker Park and unites 65,000 people (music lovers, drunks, stoners, hippies, college kids who don’t own shirts, middle aged men and their 20 something mid life crisis, middle aged women wearing their mid life crisis, etc…) and showcases 130 bands that range from established acts, up and coming artists, and cult bands.

As I have mentioned in previous blogs, I am a huge fan of Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL) and have attended each year since 2005.  In addition to being a fan of the event, Austin is my favorite city in Texas and ranks in the top five in the country.  Shout out to San Francisco and Chicago as well.

Each year is special and I recall fondly my time spent with the mass of people who endure a new environmental nemesis while responding to the siren sound of the multi staged musical extravaganza.  In five wonderful years, I have seen fire (burning trailers while Pete Yorn performed and burning speaker while Bjork performed) and I’ve seen rain (thanks James Taylor), I’ve seen dust (Foo Fighters were absolutely worth the 2 weeks of brown soot seeping from my nose) and I’ve seen what some thought was mud (Eddie Vedder became one with the crowd and slid in it) but smelled a bit more pungent and was actually some animal fecal matter. 

Over the course of my attendance, I have seen some pretty amazing shows.  Listed below are just some of the high lights: 

Ben Harper	Tom Petty	Foo Fighters	Pearl Jam
Beck	Robert Plant & Allison Krause	The Raconteurs	Drive-By Truckers
Son Volt	Donavon Frankenreiter	State Radio	Brett Dennen
The Dead Weather	Damien Rice	Cross Canadian Ragweed	Arcade Fire
Amos Lee	Robert Earl Keen	Iron & Wine	Mason Jennings
Van Morrison	John Mayer	Ray LaMontagne	Wilco
G Love & Special Sauce	The Toadies	The Shins	B-52’s
Slightly Stoopid	Eli Young Band	The Black Keys	Okkervil River
Queens of the Stone Age	Bjork	The Killers	Steve Earle
Bob Dylan	Lucinda Williams	The Tragically Hip	Willie Nelson

Over the last few years, it has become a tradition for me and my long term, heterosexual, significant other, life partner to attend.  We eagerly anticipate the sale of the early bird tickets and the unveiling of the lineup.  She too is a huge fan of the festival and city.  Which makes the trip all the better.  While our musical tastes are similar, with the variety of acts available at the festival, we have a ritual of mapping out the days and comparing our schedules and see how close they match.  There is usually some slight difference with the day shows but most of the evening shows are fairly in-line

Last year was particularly memorable because we took our oldest children (her daughter, my son). It was my son’s first concert, he is fifteen and we share a pretty strong bond over music.  Several of his favorite bands were playing and I surprised him by waking him up early Sunday morning and driving to Austin and living vicariously through him as he excitedly took in the whole seen.  His first concert consisted of Brett Dennen, The Toadies, State Radio (his favorite), Ben Harper, and Pearl Jam.  Not a bad first concert.  As if this were not enough, he got to meet State Radio, get a picture with the band and their brand new CD “Let It Go” signed. The look on his face was priceless as he posed for a picture and the band talked to him for a few minutes.   Add to this day, Home Slice Pizza, two concert shirts, and the use of port-a-pots on the last day of a three day festival.  It was indeed a day to remember.

All this, is to say, if you have not attended ACL, I strongly suggest you take the time and attend a day or two if the thought of three days is too grueling.  I am a fan of the three days and love every minute of the music and the experience.  However, I recognize it is not for everyone and as I have gotten older I have come to realize that the recovery time is just a bit longer with each passing year.  My days include less beer, more water, sunscreen, comfortable shoes, and a chair.

So, if you have some time and disposable income, check out www.aclfestival.com.

Great music awaits!

You should be listening to Ryan Adams!

Ryan Adams is the brilliant yet mercurial singer songwriter who broke on to the music scene in the early 90’s with the alt/country group Whiskeytown. The oft troubled singer has carved out a prolific and somewhat unpredictable solo career that has seen both critical and commercial success. 

His solo debut “Heartbreaker” was released in 2000 with critical praise but lacked commercial clout.  In 2001, he released “Gold” but was reluctant to work the media circuit to promote the album but eventually capitulated to the powers that be and made a video for his single “New York, New York” which eerily and fortuitously for him featured Adams playing with the city skyline behind him.  The video was filmed four days prior to the 9/11 attacks and was put into heavy rotation on both MTV and VH1 which helped Adams find an audience with mainstream, commercial America.

Following the success of “Gold” Adams released “Demolition” with the similar results; critical attention but low volume sales.  He then went on to produce Jesse Malin’s debut the aptly titled “The Fine Art of Self Destruction”.  During 2002-03 Adams worked on the album “Love is Hell” which he eventually had to release as Pt. 1 & 2 EP’s due to his labels (Lost Highway) insistence that the album as a whole was not commercially viable.  He went back and made another album “Rock N Roll” which was released in Nov. 2003 along with “Love is Hell Pt. 1” with Pt.2 following in December.  Much to the surprise of Lost Highway “Love is Hell Pt. 1 & Pt. 2” were well received and in 2004 released it as intended, a complete album.  This album features the cover of the Oasis classic “Wonderwall” which Adam’s earned a Grammy nomination for his rendition of the song.

In 2005 Adams brought together “The Cardinals” and released two albums “Jacksonville Nights” and “Cold Roses”.  Rachel Yamagata covers backing vocals on several songs from “Cold Roses” while Nora Jones lends her dusky, dulcet tone to one song from “Jacksonville Nights”.  In 2006 he produced Willie Nelson’s album “Songbird” and Adams and The Cardinals performed as Nelson’s backing band. 

Currently, in true unpredictable Adam’s form, he has quit The Cardinals, become disillusioned with the musical world, is releasing some books, and spurring rumors of a Whiskeytown reunion.  He also married singer/actress Mandy Moore.

Ryan Adams Discography:

• Heartbreaker
• Gold
• Demolition
• Rock N Roll
• Love Is Hell
• Cold Roses
• Jacksonville Nights
• 29
• Easy Tiger
• Follow the Lights
• Cardinology

Top 5 Ryan Adams Songs:

1. Wonderwall (Love Is Hell)
2. Two (Easy Tiger)
3. My Love for You Is Real (Follow the Lights)
4. New York, New York (Gold)
5. Cold Roses (Cold Roses)

 Ryan Adam’s music is available on iTunes and record stores.

Great music awaits!

Live albums you should be listening to!

The live album is always a risky proposition.  In years past, it was the other give up album (hello Greatest Hits) that was done to fulfill the contract with the record company.  Not to say that there have not been great live albums but there have been some less than stellar albums that have not quite stood the test of time (“Frampton Comes Alive” anyone?). 

 I think, as music has progressed, the live album was a great way for bands to better connect with their audience.  Some bands have earned the reputation as a great “Live” band and the live album was just an obvious avenue for them.  Artists like Phish and The Dave Matthews Band have more live albums in their discography than studio albums.  In 2000 Pearl Jam, in an attempt provide their fans with a better quality and affordable live recording, recorded all of their concerts. 

 So, here is a list of great live albums.  This is by no means a list of the greatest live albums, but merely an installment of great live albums.

Metallica S&M 

This album features Metallica and the San Francisco Symphony.  Such a brilliant merging of two seemingly polar opposites sounds and styles.  The set list takes a bit from each of the early works as well as their late 90’s work.  Definitely worth adding to your collection.

Tom Petty Live Anthology

This album is a compilation of thirty years of live concerts.  Petty is timeless and the music is amazing.  Radio staples such as “Refugee”, “American Girl”, and “Free Falling” are comfortably arranged around deeper cuts like “Louisiana Rain”, “Angel Dream (No.2)”, and “”Straight Into Darkness”.  The covers on this four disc set are a real treat including The Grateful Dead’s “Friend of the Devil” and Fleetwood Mac’s ”Oh Well”. 

The Dave Matthews Band The Central Park Concert

This is a three disc set that is a typical Dave Matthews jam session with the usual song suspects in the lineup and has a great cover of Neil Young’s “Cortez the Killer” with Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers & Govt. Mule) and Dave sharing the vocals.  It is not overly produced or reworked so you get more of the raw concert sound and vibe. 

 Ben Harper Live from Mars

If you are going to own one Ben Harper album, this is the one.  This two disc set is a great cross section of his work as well as covers of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love”, Marvin Gaye’s “Sexual Healing” and The Verve “The Drugs Don’t Work”.

Counting Crows Across A Wire Live in New York

This two disc set is actually two separate concerts.  Disc one is an acoustic set while disc two cranks up a bit electrically.  The set list is comprised of songs from their first two albums “August and Everything After” and “Recovering the Satellites”. 

Undone: A Musical Tribute to Robert Earl Keen

This two disc live album has great covers of Keen’s music by the likes of:  Walt Wilkins, Wade Bowen, Randy Rogers, Reckless Kelly, Chris Knight, Cody Canada (Cross Canadian Ragweed), and Max Stallings.  Robert also appears on the last few song son disc two. 

Alice in Chains Unplugged

This album captured the essence and greatness of the late, great Layne Staley.  All acoustic (hence the unplugged) set that include “Would”, “Angry Chair”, and ‘The Killer is Me”.  This was one of the final performances of the original band. 

Chris & Rich Robinson (The Black Crowes) Brothers of a Feather

This two man acoustic set is the brothers and their guitars at their greatest.  The album is a variety of cuts from their shows at the Roxy Theater.  It features songs from The Black Crowes and a few cover tunes.  My favorite tracks are “Thorn in My Pride” and “My Heart is Killing Me”. 

Rage Against the Machine Live at the Grand Olympic Auditorium

Great album recorded during their last two shows in September 2000.  The intensity of the album lasts al sixteen tracks.  Standout tracks on the album are “No Shelter”, “Bulls On Parade”, “Bomb Track”, and “Killing In the Name of”. 

Pearl Jam Live (any of the band produced live albums)

In an effort to better connect with the fans and provide quality and affordable live recordings Pearl Jam recorded a series of concerts in the early 00’s.  Sets often included “Crazy Mary”, “State of Love and Trust”, covers of Neil Young’s “Rockin in the Free World”, Bob Dylan’s “Masters of War”, The Who’s “Baba O’Riley”.  So, take your pick as any of the live series is a treasure.

Dispatch All Points Bulletin

This two disc set is the final farewell concert that was held in Boston that had over 100,000 fans in attendance.  It is the subject of the DVD “Last Dispatch.  This album has an early version of the State Radio song “Riddle In Londontown” and a fan sing along to the Dispatch tune “The General”.

Bruce Springsteen & The E Street Band Live in New York City

Amazing two disc set that at the time of release has two new and unreleased songs “Land of Hopes and Dreams” and “American Skin (41 Shots)”.  Both stellar songs but in my opinion, “Youngstown” is the gem of this album. 

Paul Simon’s Concert In the Park

This live recording was done in New York’s famous Central Park on August 15^th 1991. The album opens with one of my all time favorite Simon songs “The Obvious Child”.  He also covers the Simon and Garfunkel period with “The Boxer”, “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and closes the set with “The Sounds of Silence”.  This concert also featured many of the South American and African musicians that played on “Rhythm of the Saints” and “Graceland” respectively.

Rush Different Stages

It is a three disc set that covers several of their concerts in 1994 and 1997.  Disc three is a concert in London from 1978.  They cover quite a bit of their catalog but the one glaring omission is “Mystic Rhythms”

 Bob Dylan The 30^th Anniversary Concert Celebration

This tribute concert was a star studded event with performances from: John Mellencamp, Kris Kristofferson, Stevie Wonder, Lou Reed, Eddie Vedder, Willie Nelson, Neil Young, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, George Harrison, The Band, and Roger McGuinn to name just a few!  While all of the performances were amazing, Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready’s cover of “Masters of War” was the highlight of the show. 

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Great Music Awaits!

You should be listening to Jeffrey Foucault

Jeffrey Foucault is a singer/songwriter who creates reflective roots music that wraps you up with a striking intimacy that reveals layers of wisdom and wonder.  A Wisconsin native who seems to be cut from the folk troubadour cloth, Foucault has built an independent career touring extensively in the United States, Canada, and the UK.

 He explores and explains complex emotions through his music which is raw and intimate. 

 Jeffrey Foucault Discography

• Miles from Lightening
• Stripping Cane
• Ghost Repeater
• Shoot the Moon Right Between the Eyes (A collection of John Prine)

 Of all his releases, “Stripping Cane” is by far my favorite.  This is by no means a slight of the other three, but rather exquisite praise for the greatness of the album.  What holds the album together so well is the way Foucault paints such a vivid picture with his words and phrases.  The title track “Stripping Cane”, “Cross of Flowers”, and “the Bluest Blade” will draw you in and compel you to play them again. He does a great cover of Credence Clearwater Revival’s “Lodi”.

 In addition to his solo career, Foucault also recorded an album with Kris Delmhorst and Peter Mulvey.  The band and the album are called Redbird.  The album is a smattering of cover songs that radically range from Tom Waits to Willie Nelson.  Seventeen total songs on the album and not a bad one in the bunch.  Uncle Tupelo’s “Moonshiner” and R.E.M’s “You are the Everything” are the high points for me. 

 Top 5 Jeffrey Foucault Songs according to Butler (Albums listed to right of song):

1.  Cross of Flowers (Stripping Cane)
2. The Bluest Blade (Stripping Cane)
3. Stripping Cane (Stripping Cane)
4. Miles from Lightening (Miles from Lightening)
5. Dove and the Waterline (Miles from Lightening)

 Enjoy the greatness of Jeffrey Foucault and let me know what you think.  Songs are available to stream for free from his website www.jeffreyfoucault.com

 Jeffrey Foucault’s music is available on iTunes, CD Baby, and www.jeffreyfoucault.com

  Great music awaits!