cuckoobird

[mp3] Simon & Garfunkel – Amsterdam 5/2/1970

Matt — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 04:26:40 +0000

This a classic Paul Simon & Art Garfunkel performance and a must listen for any fan. At the time they’d just released Bridge Over Troubled Water three months prior on January 26, 1970 and you can hear the newness of the material and the passion that they have for the songs when they play them. This recording captures Simon & Garfunkel in their prime years at their peak and serves as a reminder of the pure brilliance of the duo. I hope you enjoy it and are inclined to share with other Simon & Garfunkel fans!

The live music taping community has done a wonderful job of preserving and remastering the original and I think you’ll agree that the sound quality is terrific. Here are the source notes for further info.

The Boxer
Homeward Bound
Fakin It
Feelin Groovy
Silver Haired Daddy
I Am A Rock
For Emily
Mrs Robinson
Scarborough Fair
El Condor Pasa
Leaves That Are Green
Punky’s Dilemma
America
So Long, Frank
Song For The Asking
A Poem On The Underground Wall
Bridge Over Troubled Water
The Sound of Silence
Bye Bye Love
Old Friends Bookends

[mp3] Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble – The Spectrum 5/23/88

Matt — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 16:30:00 +0000

Here is a delicious Stevie Ray Vaughan performance from The Spectrum in Philadelphia. This is from the Non Stop Go Tour in which Stevie was opening for Robert Plant. The recording comes from a radio broadcast sans the commercials. It contains my favorite performance of Mary Had a Little Lamb. I love the later era versions of Stevie’s early songs because they’ve been reimagined to include Reese Wynan’s keyboard wizardry.

Dust My Blues / Love Struck Baby
Look At Little Sister
You’ll Be Mine
Mary Had A Little Lamb
Texas Flood
Superstition
Willie The Wimp
Cold Shot
Couldn’t Stand The Weather
Life Without You
Voodoo Chile
Goodbye

David Garza – Disco Ball World – ACL Stage Left

Matt — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 14:02:53 +0000

You were so fine with your train track smile
And I fell for your coffee eyes, your half and half, white lies
Back around in 92 I lost God, I found you

This video is too excellent not to share! Make sure to go check out a David Garza show in the near future. The man puts is an incredible performer with an arsenal of amazing songs. Here is his schedule:

December 2 – Los Angeles, CA @ Eastside Luv.
December 9 – Houston, TX @ Continental Club
December 11 – Austin, TX @ Austin Music Hall (Sims Benefit Bash)
December 17 – Dallas, TX @ Kessler Theatre

[mp3] Pearl Jam – Bridge School Benefit 10/24/10

Matt — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 14:20:33 +0000

Here is a unique and rare acoustic Pearl Jam set from Neil Young’s 24th Annual Bridge School Benefit. Pearl Jam headlined the benefit along with a recently reunited Buffalo Springfield as well as Elvis Costello, Kris Kristofferson, Modest Mouse, Grizzly Bear, Lucinda Williams, Jackson Browne and David Lindley.

This performance marks Pearl Jam’s 20th anniversary as a band. No need to break out your reading glasses and read that again. I did say 20 years and if you are an original fan of the band like me then you probably feel old right about now. Of all the bands of their generation Pearl Jam has aged the most gracefully. Their last two records have been two of their best which is extremely rare.

This is the second of two sets that Pearl Jam played during the benefit and has a great mixture of new and old. My personal favorite is a first ever live performance Other Side which was written by Jeff Ament and released on the Lost Dogs compilation.

If you’ve enjoyed this show please consider making a small donation to the Bridge School. There is no more worthy cause than supporting children with disabilities.

Daughter
Down
“It’s been 20 years”
Driftin’
Other Side
The End
Walk With Me (Neil Young cover) (w/Neil Young)
“A few more”
Lukin
“Sending Flowers”
Just Breathe
Black (new arrangment)
Eldery Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town

[mp3] Built to Spill – Emos 10/22/10

Matt — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 14:12:19 +0000

Happy Friday! Here is a decent recording of an epic Built To Spill show from Emos Austin a few weeks back. If you have an opportunity to see them on their current tour do it! BTS is the finest indie rock band that Boise has to offer. Dates below.

Liar
In The Morning
You Were Right
Hindsight
Kick It In The Sun
Stab
Ripple
Whenever You Go
Time Trap
The Weather
Dystopian Dream Girl
Carry The Zero
Control / Offer
Stop The Show
Car
Conventional Wisdom

Built To Spill 2010 Tour Dates:

Fri, 11/12/2010 WOW Hall – Eugene, OR
Sat, 11/13/2010 Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR
Mon, 11/15/2010 The Wild Buffalo – Bellingham, WA
Wed, 11/17/2010 Wilma Theatre – Missoula, MT
Thu, 11/18/2010 Knitting Factory – Spokane, WA
Fri, 11/19/2010 The Showbox – Seattle, WA
Sat, 11/20/2010 The Showbox – Seattle, WA
Wed, 12/29/2010 Metro – Sydney, NSW
Thu, 12/30/2010 Peats Ridge Festival – Glenworth Valley, NSW
Fri, 12/31/2010 Pyramid Rock Festival – Phillip Island, VIC
Sat, 01/01/2011 Corner Hotel – Melbourne, VIC
Sun, 01/02/2011 The Zoo – Brisbane, QLD
Tue, 01/04/2011 Rosemount Hotel – Perth, WA

Live From Austin, Texas [This Weekend]

Matt — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 14:48:09 +0000

Unsurprisingly, there are some terrific shows on tap this weekend in the ATX. The biggest dilemma is choosing from the many options! Hopefully this post will help you with that decision. Here are some of the top picks…

Dr. Dog @ Stubbs on Friday 11/12

Dr Dog puts on one of the most energy fueled shows around. They have a way of engaging a crowd that inspires even the most rigid hipster in the room to drop all inhibitions. Their 70s infused song writing and on stage energy makes it impossible not to fall in love with this band at first sight. Their latest record Shame, Shame which came out last April is a great next step in the evolution of their sound and while (at least for this fan) it doesn’t capture the same magic as 2008′s Fate it is worthy of some heavy rotation.

Grupo Fantasma @ Antones on Friday 11/12

Viva Nuevo Latino! This is the tenth anniversary party for Grupo Fantasma and it they are guaranteed to light the place up. There will be many special guests and they will be screening the debut of their new video for Montanozo. A fun time will be had by all!

Slobberbone @ The Continental Club – Saturday 11/13

Its thrilling to see Slobberbone playing shows again. After having been on hiatus for a couple years they are back and you can see in the video above from The Continental Club in Houston that they haven’t lost their touch. I’d put their record Slippage up there with any of the best rock records of the past ten years. Great songwriting, heavy guitar, plenty of heartache and a heaping dose of desperation. What more could you ask for in a rock band?

Redd Volkaert @ The Continental Club – Saturday 11/13

I’ve never gone to a Redd Volkaert show and not been completely stunned by his guitar playing. The master of the telecaster is a regular fixture at the Continental Club on Saturday afternoons and you won’t find a finer western swing picker out there. Redd has played sessions and toured with everybody from Merle Haggard to Niko Case. The man is a legend. The man is a god. Go see him!

My Morning Jacket + The Roots on Jimmy Fallon 10/13/10

Matt — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 14:16:38 +0000

This one completely escaped my DVR for some reason. Thank goodness for the audioperv! The only thing better than My Morning Jacket live is My Morning Jacket with The Roots live on Jimmy Fallon! I can’t imagine the amazing drumgasm that Patrick Hallahan and Questo must’ve had during the sound check! This video also leads me to the conclusion that MMJ needs to add a tuba player to the band.

On a related note, have you checked out the new John Legend and The Roots record, Wake Up? It is amazing.

[show preview] Anders Osborne with the Stanton Moore Trio – The Parish, 12/10/10

Matt — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 15:58:56 +0000

Browsing through the Austin music calendar I noticed that Anders Osborne is coming to The Parish on December 10. If you’ve got a penchant for heavy electrified, open tuned, gut wrenching blues guitar you owe it to your ears to check out this show.

Anders is a legendary musician from New Orleans whose heavy blues licks are juxtaposed by his melodic songwriting. I love musicians that have a dynamic range of songs and Anders definitely covers a million musical miles from a stylistic standpoint. At one moment he can be as soft as a song bird and the next moment he’s like T Rex. Check out this show then go buy his new record American Patchwork!

Here’s the bio from his website:

Anders story (his life, his career) is not unlike those of the other great songwriters and artists that he’s been compared to by critics and roots purists Dylan, Guthrie, and Van Morrison, by the time he found New Orleans (or maybe it is the other way around) by taking the long way trekking through Africa and Egypt, working odd jobs to get to his next destination, he had the miles and music down to begin his career in his new home.

“Oftentimes the most true portraits of America have been rendered by those who have come from outside its borders, yet somehow seem to understand and inhabit our culture more than those of us who have lived here all our lives.” JAMBASE

Anders has spent most of career since honing his songwriting at the same time creating a solid fan-base by touring the East and West coast as a performer, while dividing time between New Orleans and Nashville as a staff writer for the Universal Music and Razor and Tie publishing companies.

He’s worked his magic for other performers, writing “Watchin the Wind Blow By,” a number one hit for country superstar Tim McGraw and “I Was Wrong” and “A Better Man,” both Grammy-winning songs from Keb’ Mo’s album Slow Down. Anders has written songs for Brad Paisely, Jonny Lang, Tab Benoit and Jimmy Thackery, to name a few.

“Anders Osborne artfully blends blues, rock, soul and classic R&B to create his own distinctive synthesis and original style.” ALL MUSIC GUIDE

Anders hit the national scene with the 1995 release “Which Way To Here”. He and his band began to tour the country and later that year he was signed to Okeh Records, which had just been revived by Sony’s Michael Caplan. The record received rave reviews world wide and became Osborne’s first commercial break with two top-five singles on the national charts, “Favorite Son” and “Pleasin’ You.” Both were featured on movie soundracks movies, the latter later recorded by Johnny Lang. Anders also recorded a second CD for the label, titled “New Madrid”, which remains, unfortunately, unreleased.

Three other independent-label releases — “Live at Tipitina’s” appeared on Shanachie in 1998 followed by “Living Room” and the next year the introspective “Ash Wednesday Blues” were issued. The following year Anders emerged as producer on the two historic recordings “Bury the Hatchet,” on which he and Big Chief Monk Boudreaux are double billed. Later Anders produced Monks “Mr. Stranger Man”, both distributed by Shanachie Music. In 2007, MC Records released Osborne’s critically acclaimed “Coming Down.”

His performances have been described as equally spiritual as musical, creating the elusive connection between artist and audience. His emotive guitar complements the message and the music, enticing listeners into his heart and soul. His life is transformed via his song performances into a vehicle to take you to his destination, let you linger awhile, and bring you home a bit better than you left it to step into his world. He is able to refine and relate to the ordinary, making you feel a bit extraordinary in the process. No wonder he is in demand by perfomers of all stripes as a songwriter.

“Anders Osborne wrote the story of my life” Edwin McCain

Today Anders is finishing his new release which drops in April, followed by a two week stint of performances in conjunction with the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.

Then Anders, Robert Walter, and Stanton Moore launch a six week double bill tour featuring both Osborne’s band and the Stanton Moore Trio.

[mp3] Patterson Hood – Richmond, VA 10/30/10

Matt — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 20:54:50 +0000

Here is a soundboard from an amazingly intimate performance Patterson Hood gave in the alley of Deep Groove Records a couple weeks back. If you’ve ever wondered what it would sound like to sit on a porch with Patterson and listen him play a few tunes this should give you a pretty good idea.

Patterson is currently touring Europe with the Drive By Truckers and you should take the opportunity to see them live if you haven’t. They are one of the best live bands touring today!

Intro
Too Much Sex, Too Little Jesus
Nine Bullets
Uncle Disney
Sinkhole
Heathens
Everybody Needs Love
Murdering Oscar
Pollyanna

Waiting Around To Die

Matt — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 13:22:21 +0000

I recently watched the great Townes Van Zandt documentary Be Here To Love Me again for what seems like the 100th time. It has to be one of the most moving documentaries ever made partially because Townes had such an incredibly sad life and partially because his songs are filled with so much heartache and pain.

The video above contains the most poignant seen in the movie. The clip is Townes’ performance of Waiting Around To Die which amazingly is the first song Townes ever wrote. When the man in the room listening to Townes sing begins to cry I almost lose it every time.

Waiting Around To Die by Townes Van Zandt

Sometimes I don’t know where this dirty road is taking me
Sometimes I can’t even see the reason why
I guess I keep on gamblin’, lots of booze and lots of ramblin’
It’s easier than just a-waitin’ ’round to die

One-time friends I had a ma, I even had a pa
He beat her with a belt once cause she cried
She told him to take care of me, she headed down to Tennessee
It’s easier than just a-waitin’ ’round to die

I came of age and found a girl in a Tuscaloosa bar
She cleaned me out and hit it on the sly
I tried to kill the pain, I bought some wine and hopped a train
Seemed easier than just a-waitin’ ’round to die

A friend said he knew where some easy money was
We robbed a man and brother did we fly
The posse caught up with me, drug me back to Muskogee
It’s two long years, just a-waitin’ ’round to die

Now I’m out of prison, I got me a friend at last
He don’t steal or cheat or drink or lie
His name’s codeine, he’s the nicest thing I’ve seen
Together we’re gonna wait around and die