Katrina and the Waves - Washington DC (USA) 1985

Katrina and The Waves are understandably considered a one hit wonder band for many, largely as a result of the success and longevity of 'Walking On Sunshine'.

That's hardly that surprising, as according to a survey by the UK's Performing Rights Society, the song was the second most played summer song on radio in 2008.

In Europe they also remain well known because they surprisingly (if briefly) surged back into the limelight by winning the 1997 Eurovision Song Contest for the United Kingdom, with the song 'Love Shine a Light'.

This is the band around the time of their original period of success performing for the King Biscuit Flower Hour, at the 9:30 Club, in Washington, DC, USA on the 16th May 1985.

Source: Pre FM recording.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3 @192kbps.

Genre: Pop, 80's Rock.

Set: Full KBFH set.

Set List:

1. Intro
2. Jealous Browned Eyed Son
3. Lovely Lindsay
4. Que Te Quiero
5. Do You Want Crying
6. The Game Of Love
7. Cry For Me
8. Going Down To Liverpool
9. Mexico
10. Machine Gun Smith
11. Crowd
12. Do You Love Me
13. Walking On Sunshine

Band Line Up:

Alex Cooper - drums, background vocals
Vince de la Cruz - bass
Katrina Leskanich - guitar, vocals
Kimberley Rew - organ, guitar, background vocals

Links: Official site HERE. Katrina Leskanich personal site HERE. Wolfgangs Vault HERE.

Comments:
Four year after the band was formed in Cambridge, England, Katrina and the Waves played this energetic show.
Opening with 'Jealous Browned Eyed Son', the band kicks in with a country-pop song that excels in its use of vocal harmonies.

Next up is 'Lovely Lindsay', supposedly written about Lindsey Buckingham.
Most of the rest of the show comes from tracks that made up the first U.S. release for Katrina and the Waves. Among the highlights are 'Do You Want Crying', 'The Game Of Love', 'Cry For Me', and a feisty version of 'Going Down To Liverpool' (which was of course covered later by The Bangles).

They close the show with the big hit, 'Walking On Sunshine'.

Replacement Download link in comments below.

Bruce Springsteen - RCDS Benefit Concert, New Jersey - 2005

It's not surprising there are so many live bootlegs of Bruce Springsteen to be found, the guys been a prolific tourer across four decades now, so it's nice to come across one that's a little bit different.

This is the second half of a benefit concert for the Rumson Country Day School (RCDS) that Bruce Springsteen had performed at every year between 2002 and 2006 (during April-May).

On this occasion he is playing alongside past and present members of The Asbury Dukes, and is joined on several numbers by Southside Johnny.

This is from the 2005 benefit, and in someways sounds like you have gate crashed someones private party, the interaction with the audience is intimate and spontaneous, the music superb.

Performing on the 10th April 2005, at The Stone Pony, New Jersey, this is Bruce Springsteen and friends.

Source: Soundboard recording.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3 @224kbps.

Genre: Rock, Folk, Blues Rock, Heartland rock.

Set: Second part of concert.

Set List:
1. The Fever (with Southside Johnny)
2. I Don't Wanna Go Home (with Southside Johnny)
3. Toast to Mr. Goode
4. Darlington County
5. Seaside Bar Song
6. Bad Moon Risin'
7. Stand On It
8. Shake (with Southside Johnny)
9. Raffle
10. If I Should Fall Behind
11. 10th Avenue Freezeout
12. Joining the band
13. Twist and Shout - with Southside Johnny and a cast of many.

The first half as I understand was as follows, Wipeout, The Wanderer (intro only), 634-5789, Talk To Me (with Southside), Seven Nights To Rock, Two Hearts, Spirit In The Night, Rendezvous, All That Heaven Will Allow, Tell Him, Son Of A Preacher Man, Boy From New York City, Further On Up The Road, and Waiting On A Sunny Day. (If you have a copy of the first half, feel free to share it, through The Beehive).

Band Line Up:

Bruce Springsteen, Bobby Bandiera, Joey Stann , Muddy Shews, Joe Belia, Kevin Kavanaugh, Ed Manion and Chris Anderson. (Guests include Southside Johnny).

Links: Official site HERE. Stone Pony Club HERE.

Comments: The Stone Pony venue is on Ocean Avenue, Asbury Park, New Jersey (USA).

The Stone Pony continues to attract top musical artists from across the world while also showcasing up and coming local acts.

Bruce Springsteen still drops by occasionally to jam with a headliner, as he did on May 17, 2008 with former Social Distortion guitarist Mike Ness.

The Stone Pony also hosts the annual Asbury Music Awards, a ceremony and stage show that features a continuous set of local recording artists representing the area's best talents in several genres.

According to the vice president of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Robert Santelli, "the club has already earned its place in history as one of rock 'n' rolls great venues. Most rock critics and historians that I come in contact with on a regular basis feel that The Stone Pony is one of the greatest rock clubs of all time."

Reloaded - 29/May/2015 - download link in comments. 

Purchase: MP3's (DRM free) through Amazon.co.uk - Bruce Springsteen Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes

The Psychedelic Furs - Live In Providence, USA - 1981

The Psychedelic Furs have been a favorite band of mine since first hearing 'Sister Europe' back in 1980, a song that seems as fresh and original today, as it did getting on for thirty years ago.

The band came together in England's developing punk scene in 1977, where they were initially called 'RKO' then 'Radio'.

They then alternated between calling themselves 'The Europeans' and 'The Psychedelic Furs', playing gigs under both names before permanently settling on the latter.
The band initially consisted of Richard Butler (vocals), Tim Butler (bass guitar), Duncan Kilburn (saxophone), Paul Wilson (drums) and Roger Morris (guitars).

By 1979, this line up had expanded to a sextet with Vince Ely replacing Wilson on drums and John Ashton being added on guitar.

By 1981 the band had found reasonable success in the USA, and were picked up by mainstream radio stations.

This is the band live in Providence, Rhode Island, USA, (Main Event), back on the 28th October 1982.

Source: Pre FM Master.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo, mp3 @ 320kbps.

Genre: Post Punk, New Wave.

Set: Full Set.

Set List:
1. President Gas.
2. Merry Go Round.
3. Into You Like A Train.
4. Only You And I
5. Pretty In Pink.
6. Run And Run.
7. Love My Way.
8. Sister Europe.
9. Danger.
10. Goodbye.
11. No Easy Street.
12. Sleep Comes Down.
13. Forever Now.
14. Imitation Of Christ.
15. India.
16. Dumb Waiters.

Total Time: 1:16:33

Band Line Up:

John Ashton - guitar
Richard Butler - vocals
Tim Butler - bass
Phill Calvert - drums
Ann Sheldon - cello
Mars Williams - saxophone

Links: Official record label site HERE.

Comments: This is one of three King Biscuit Flower Hour recordings of The Psychedelic Furs from 1981 and 1982 such was their growing popularity both sides of the Atlantic.

The other two concerts were both performed in New York (29th August 1981 & 2nd December 1982).

The above photo is courtesy of Wolfgangs Vault, where you can check out many, many excellent live gigs.

New file link in comments below - Re-uploaded 2012 (Stealth project).

Purchase: MP3's (DRM free) through Amazon.co.uk - The Psychedelic Furs

June Music Selection - 2009

I still read several of the UK music press publications every month, and have built up a personal list of music sites, that have reliably led me to discover highly enjoyable new music on a regular basis.

Along with that, one of the perks of running this music website, is the material from promoters, agencies, and bands themselves, that come this way.

I select new music to share on a simple criteria, either I like it (another perk), it complements the live material, or finally, it adds to the diversity of music on Beehive Candy.

There's a selection of all of the above in this months recommendations, nicely mixed up, see what you think.

Camera Obscura. OK this is easy, I love the very excellent Scottish band Camera Obscura, and am a little late in encouraging some more interest in their latest album (released back in April).

The new album 'My Maudlin Career' is their fourth and continues to present some wonderful indie pop songs, crafted in a very definitive and warm style.

Listen:



MP3: My Maudlin Career
Web Link: MySpace.
Buy: Camera Obscura


David Mead has a unique sound, that draws comparisons with Paul Simon or Harry Nilsson, not a bad couple of reference points. His calm atmospheric sound is just fine to unwind to. He has a new album out on Cheap Lullaby Records in August, this is from it.

Listen:



MP3: Last Train Home.
Web Link: My Space.
Buy: New Album HERE. MP3's selection David Mead


Donny Hue and the Colors, Have a new album coming out on June 23rd (Letter From New Virginia - Kora Records), and ahead of this they have been releasing some free 'b sides' from the recordings.

They describe themselves as a mixture of experimental & country. The song 'Steps' reminds me of Syd Barrett & early Pink Floyd, whilst 'Oh Lord', is someplace else all together.

'Recorded in an old barn in the middle of Luray, VA, Letter from New Virginia paints a majestic landscape of harmonica laced hoe down folk. Once again, the Colors came from all over the eastern seaboard and west coast to put together the follow up to 2007’s Donny Hue and the Colors debut Folkmote. Burleigh Seaver (former member of OK GO) brought in his recording gear and captured all of the harmonies of the album at once with mixing and mastering done back in DC'.

Listen:

Steps.


Oh Lord.


MP3: Steps. Oh Lord.
Web Link: My Space. Official Site HERE.
Buy: Donny Hue and The Colors


Fanfarlo from London, England, are totally new to me, and am I glad that a promo for them came my way!

They initially reminded me in part of Arcade Fire, and also Beirut, in a very positive way, that said they have a unique sound of their own, a real mixture of alternative pop & modern folk music. Please check them out.

Listen:

Pilot


Finish Line


MP3: Pilot. Finish Line.
Web Link: My Space. Official site HERE.
Buy: New Album HERE. Some mp3's at Amazon.co.ukFanfarlo


Josh Ottum is from Seattle, Washington, USA, home of so many fine bands and artists, along with the very excellent KEXP.

Upbeat and refreshing music is how I would describe this. I know very little about Josh, the music can be likened to anything from Sufjan Stevens to Steely Dan, its worth a listen to, that's for sure.

Listen:



MP3: The Easy Way Out.
Web Link: My Space.
Buy: Josh Ottum


School of Seven Bells are rightly in my humble opinion getting broader recognition, for their superb music. Their mixture of dream pop, shoegaze and Indie electronic music is just oh so good.

Often referred to just as SVIIB, they are a three-piece band formed by Benjamin Curtis of Secret Machines, together with identical twins Alejandra and Claudia Deheza.

Listen:



MP3: Half Asleep.
Web Link: My Space HERE.
Buy: School Of Seven Bells

Well that's it for this round up, I do hope you get to enjoy some of these, and as always support the artist's where you can.