The Killers: Tidal Wave
20 January 2009 in Live Performances, Tours, VideoSometimes you get lucky and come across one of those unexpected gems, such as this acoustic rendition of the “Tidal Wave” by The Killers during a concert last week in Boulder, Colorado. Apparently, the band had some technical difficulties when they decided to continue the set with an acoustic guitar.
From Arjan Write’s Music Blog:
After waiting for a moment to see if their electronics would turn back on, the two decided to just deliver a lo-fi version of “Tidal Wave” without a mic or amplifier. This shows off some true musicianship. And Brandon’s delivery is just gorgeous.
Jon Bream in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune caught the band’s act at the Roy Wilkins Auditorium and gave the band props (though I’m assuming the show was mostly, if not all, plugged in): Continue reading…
Lyle Lovett: I’ve Been to Memphis
13 January 2009 in Live Performances, Tours, VideoLyle Lovett. You know, the guy with the weird hair. The guy who was married to Julia Roberts. That country music dude. Whatever your first impression might be, the lasting one should be that he’s one talented Texan. He’s on an acoustic tour right now with John Hiatt, another really talented, multi-dimensional musician.
The Vail Daily has a nice writeup about Lovett’s concert on Wednesday in Beaver Creek, Colorado:
Lovett’s music crosses so many genres that critics have never been able to categorize him. However, they all agree that he’s good. In fact, with homage to his most recent album, “Lyle Lovett and His Large Band — It’s Not Big It’s Large,” Lovett is not just good, he’s great.
Hiatt, apparently, won’t be on hand Wednesday in Beaver Creek but Lovett will be backed by a mandolin and cello player, along with acoustic guitar and upright bass. That’s cool. Continue reading…
J-Minus: Someone for Everyone
10 January 2009 in VideoJ Minus isn’t well known outside the Pacific Northwest but that could change if they keep putting out songs like “Someone for Everyone” off their new album Mr. Robotron on the Byway. Though they’re not the stereotypical Seattle band, I think it’s somewhat unfair to pigeonhole them as pop rock. They’ve got the soul of an indie band, with meaningful lyrics and vocal harmonies on “Someone for Everyone” that remind me a bit of Death Cab for Cutie.
The driving force behind the band is drummer Dylan Fant, a Seattle sound engineer who writes the songs but doesn’t sing because he says his voice is “lame.” Instead, vocal duties fall to keyboardist Trevor Wheetman and guitarist Chris Mongillo. Continue reading…
Two new tracks from Franz Ferdinand
10 January 2009 in UncategorizedFrom Will at We All Want Someone To Shout For:
I actually found these on youtube. These are some new acoustic versions of upcoming tracks from the highly anticipated 3rd album from Franz Ferdinand. The songs are fantastic as expected. The songs I found are ‘Ulysses’ and ‘No You Girls’. Check them out, these are must have’s!!! :
Bryan Adams back to basics
9 January 2009 in Live Performances, Tours, VideoThe version of “Heaven” in the video above was from Bryan Adams’ 1997 MTV Unplugged appearance. Eleven years later, Adams is doing a solo acoustic tour for the first time in his career. Adams told Dave Paulson of TuneInMusicCity.com that the new acoustic arrangements of his songs are giving some of his old hits a second life:
“I just started doing it last year, and now I can’t believe I didn’t start doing it 20 years ago,” he says. “I really enjoy it, and I’m learning a lot. I’m kind of rediscovering the songs. It gives me a lot of confidence that the songs can stand on their own.”
Is there anyone over 40 who didn’t make out to this song in high school? Sean Daly of the St. Pete Times pokes a little fun at Adams’ penchant for writing pop love songs: Continue reading…
Meet the Meat Puppets (again)
8 January 2009 in Live Performances, Tours, VideoQuote of the day from the San Diego City Beat:
“One of the cool things about Meat Puppets is that people always considered us a part of the punk-rock scene . . .But we’re always just about the fuckin’ weird little trip that we’re on. There’s no getting around aging, but if you continue to hone your craft, it will evolve and grow. And I’m really diggin’ where it’s at right now.”
That’s from Cris Kirkwood, who founded the Meat Puppets along with his brother Curt in 1980. After years of toiling away as a mainstay of the American punk scene, the group hit the mainstream in 1994 after they appeared with Nirvana on MTV’s Unplugged. During that performance, which I put up there as one of the greatest moments in televised rock history, Nirvana covered three songs from the Meat Puppets — “Plateau,” “Oh, Me” and “Lake of Fire.” Continue reading…
Glenn Hughes sets two shows in Europe
7 January 2009 in Live Performances, Tours
From Blabbermouth.net: Former Black Sabbath and Deep Purple vocalist Glenn Hughes has announced two acoustic shows for March: on the 12th at Madam Felle in Bergen, Norway and the 14th at Sigurdsgatan 25 in Västerås, Sweden.
Here’s an acoustic version of Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water” performed by Hughes and Joe Lynn Turner, a former Rainbow and Deep Purple vocalist (Hughes is the one shrieking). Hughes and Turner collaborated on a couple albums under the name Hughes Turner Project. I don’t have any background info on this clip except that it appears they played it live on someone’s radio show.
Staind’s Aaron Lewis solo
6 January 2009 in Live Performances, Tours, VideoAaron Lewis, frontman for Staind, is on a mini solo tour through Nevada, California and Florida, according to Rolling Stone’s Rock & Roll Daily. Lewis, whose solo show is mostly acoustic, does a mix of Staind hits, solo work and covers. Lewis tells RS:
“I’ve never made a set list once, I never had any clue as to what I was going to play when I went out there, I just winged it,” Lewis says of his solo shows. “It creates a very fun atmosphere, it’s very loose. People yell out requests, and if they yell out the right song, I might play it.”
In the video above, Lewis covers Pearl Jam’s “Black.” Continue reading…
Marley & Me’s Nirvana cover
6 January 2009 in CoversMarley & Me, the movie about the dog, is tops at the box office for the second week in a row, having brought in $106.5 million since it opened on Christmas Day (I met Marley once. More on that later). That kind of success usually means huge sales for the soundtrack but, in this case, you won’t find the songs from the movie, including several acoustic pieces, on any soundtrack. Instead, Teddy Shapiro’s original score is available for download from iTunes.
If there had been a disc with songs, it would have included “Rockin’ the Suburbs” by Ben Folds, “River Song” by Dennis Wilson, “One Love” by Bob Marley & the Wailers, “Shiny Happy People” by R.E.M. and “Lucky Man” and “Rather Be” by the Verve. We can be thankful that this disc was never put together because it also would have included a cover of Nirvana’s “Lithium” by Bruce Lash, a version I can’t listen to without throwing up a little in my mouth. Continue reading…
Serving up some Cool Vibes
5 January 2009 in Podcasts
There’s a little bit of everything at The Cool Vibes Acoustic Diner, a thrice a week podcast devoted to the best in acoustic rock music. Updated at noon Eastern time on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, put the show hosted by Dylan Michaels on your “must download” list of musical podcasts.
The beauty of a show like the Acoustic Diner is that Michaels builds the indie playlist like a master chef might put together a five-course dinner. Imagine a chef who heads down to the open-air market to hand pick the ingredients for that night’s menu and you get the idea behind Michael’s two-hour show. Continue reading…
