Colosseum - Live In Boston 1969

Colosseum were one of the bands that passed me by in the late sixties & early seventies. I was probably a little to young to appreciate their music and with an overload of choice some bands just stayed off the radar screen.

Colosseum were formed originally in 1968 by drummer Jon Hiseman, saxophonist Dick Heckstall-Smith and bassist Tony Reeves, all of whom had previously been in John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, and played on his acclaimed "Bare Wires" album. The group was completed by keyboard wizard Dave Greenslade and guitarist/vocalist James Litherland. Colosseum were immediately signed to the Fontana label who released the bands debut "Those Who Are About To Die Salute You" which became the first of four album chart successes for the band. A change to the newly formed Vertigo label in 1969 accompanied the bands second album "Valentyne Suite". The title track was a twenty minute rock classic written by Greenslade/Hiseman/Heckstall-Smith which showcased the individual talents of the musicians within a heart-stopping elegiac and beautiful tapestry of sound.

This is the band live on the 22nd February 1969 at The Boston Tea Party, in Boston, USA.

Source: Soundboard.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@320kbps

Genre: Prog Rock, Jazz & Blues Influenced Rock.

Set: Full set.

Set List:

01. Butty's Blues
02. The Machine Demands A Sacrifice
03. Valentyne Suite 1
04. Valentyne Suite 2
05. Valentyne Suite 3

Band Line Up:

Dick Heckstall Smith: saxophones
John Hiseman: drums
James Litherland : guitar, vocals
Dave Greenslade. keyboards
Tony Reeves : bass

Links: Wikipedia entry HERE.

Comments:

I did get to see one of the bands that formed in the aftermath of Colosseum that of Greenslade, and I having now listened to this concert I can hear Dave Greenslade's influence in the bands performance. I guess lengthy drum solos are pretty dated these days, however the band take us back to a time when for many musicians experimentation and crafted musicianship were considered as or more important than image and marketing. Colosseum were probably upstaged in terms of media publicity by the likes of The Nice and King Crimson, they are however a very good reference point for that era.

Download links (two) in comments below.

Buy: Mp3's at Amazon.co.uk: Colosseum

Beehive Recommends - A Variety Of Acts & Styles !

Right then ! The inbox has been filling up with some great new or newish artists and albums so here is a quick pick of the best that has taken my attention in the last few days...

Kicking Off with Bottle Up And Go whose 'darker louder' hi energy blasts into your ears from the opening chord. Their Press says 'Crush up some shards of broken whiskey bottles and colorful confetti and put in a cannon and what bursts out is the raucous, uncaged bunch that is Bottle Up and Go. Comprised of singer and guitarist Keenan “Hot Pants” Mitchell, drummer Fareed “The Prince” Sajan, and saxophonist accompanist Andrew Carrico, Bottle Up and Go are a two-and-a-half-piece, lo-fi blues-punk band from primitive Brooklyn, NY'. Not a bad description at all!

Listen:



Website: MySpace.
Buy/More: (Mp3's at Amazon)Bottle Up & Go

Also heralding from NYC are Jupiter One who are currently touring with Regina Spektor (until the 12th November). The band have an excellent new album called 'Sunshower' in fact as I type I am enjoying a mixture of great and quite catchy indie pop and rock tunes that make up this new release.

Their biography reads - A Sunshower can be a rare occurrence, but when these opposing forces meet, magic and allure is in the air. This is exactly why Jupiter One chose the title (inspired by the Japanese short film, Dreams, by Akira Kurosawa) for their newest Ryko release, which hit the streets on September 15. Their far-out freshness mixed with timeless musical inspirations meshes together in a bittersweet indie-pop rock concoction—produced by the group and noted engineer Chris Ribando (Diamond Nights, The Black Crowes, The Fever).

This young quartet consisting of K Ishibashi (lead vocals), Zac Colwell (lead guitar), Dave Heilman (drums) and Pat Dougherty (bass), has a knack for unifying their contemporary style with a range of musical influences. Sunshower is the result of Jupiter One's experienced ear. For instance, the dancefloor-friendly “Simple Stones,” filled with handclaps and soulful riffs, boasts a bass line for all ages while blending ‘80s Rolling Stones and MGMT. The epic opener “Volcano” resurrects the youthful spirit of the Beach Boys with The Flaming Lips, while delivering one of the disc’s best choruses. And if Ishibashi conjures The Shins on “Find Me a Place,” then he drops vintage, finger-picking folk on “People in the Mountain”. Lastly but certainly not least, their current single “Flaming Arrow,” a shimmering acoustic folk tune, shoots through with a bumping bass line and New Orleans inspired drum groove. This genre-bending approach creates a hook-heavy opus well suited for our A.D.D. times.

Listen:



MP3: HERE.
Website: MySpace - Official.
Buy/More: Sunshower

OK so we are definitely stuck in New York at the moment indeed back to Brooklyn for Peter Squires whose debut album 'Woe Is Me' contrasts totally with the above featured bands. Stripped back to guitar, vocals and a littler percussion his indie folk sound is both as refreshing as it is intelligent. His press rightly states - Peter’s direct and honest vocal delivery will make you think of contemporaries like Kimya Dawson and Luke Temple… or even legacy artists like Cat Stevens or minimalist composer Steve Reisch subtle productions while playing with emotions in the way Morrissey would or The Cure. Each song creaks beyond your shield and into your soul creating an album that is all heart, laid bare for our aural pleasure. The up-front honestly, heart on a sleeve Woe Is Me was recorded in Peter Squires Brooklyn bedroom. This stark look at one man’s journalistic view of heartbreak, complete with dark imagery and tender moments too, leaves us listeners with some amazing folk gems.

Full of soul, fear, laughs, tears, broken dreams – Woe is Me is the perfect album for your own woe’s, your own story, your own life as you choose your own adventures.

Listen:



MP3: HERE.
Website: Official
Buy/More: Check out his website above you might be pleasantly surprised.

James Taylor - Amsterdam 1986

This is a really fine concert recording of James Taylor back in 1986 a period in which he had put many of his personal problems of the early eighties behind him and was back on form both with albums and live concerts. The previous December he had married actress Kathryn Walker and in this concert he comes across as upbeat and enjoying himself.

From the Carre Theatre, Amsterdam, Netherlands on the 24th March 1986 this is James Taylor with a superb group of musicians and singers.

Source: Soundboard.

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@192kbps

Genre: Country, Folk, Rock.

Set: Full set.

Set List:

01 Close Your Eyes
02 Something in the Way She Moves
03 Sweet Baby James
04 Wondering
05 Up on the Roof
06 That's Why I'm Here
07 Only a Dream in Rio
08 Don't Let me be Lonely Tonight
09 Handyman
10 Walking Man
11 Country Road
12 Your Smiling Face
13 Long Ago and Far Away
14 Millworker
15 Traffic Jam
16 Sea Cruise
17 Everyday
18 Only One

Links: Official site HERE.

Comments:

James mentions his Rio concert from January 1985 during this gig, years later he reflected that this was a significant turning point for him in becoming energised again in terms of performing and recording. He also mentions how good the venue is. The Carre Theatre is possibly the most famous theatre in Holland and dates back to 1887 when in it was initially a circus venue. See you learn something when you drop by the Beehive!

Download link in comments below or click on the picture.

Buy: Mp3's at Amazon.co.uk James Taylor

Beehive Recommends - The Wooden Sky

The Wooden Sky undertook a month-long tour entitled “Bedrooms and Backstreets” in August, The Wooden Sky are now eager to share their experiences with audiences everywhere. With the help of producer and director Scott Cudmore, a documentary capturing the beautiful and strange reality behind the unconventional tour is being released in ten parts, with Part One & Two accessible now on Vimeo.com.

When the Wooden Sky embarked on their summer tour beginning in Guelph, Ontario on July 19th, they were ready for the excitement and uncertainty they’d be sure to face along the way. Avoiding traditional venues and performances, the band continuously pleased crowds while performing old favorites along with new tunes from their album “If I Don’t Come Home You’ll Know I’m Gone” (released on August 25th with Black Box Music/Fontana North). The documentary reveals personal insights of the Canadian musicians as they performed in unique locations, such as the hull of a boat, a canoe against rocky mountains in Banff, a gondola at the top of Whistler, and within a giant field of beautiful sunflowers.

Take a listen to the excellent 'Something Hiding For Us In The Night' from The Wooden Sky.

Listen:
Something Hiding For Us In The Night



MP3: HERE.
Web Site: MySpace.
Buy: Wooden Sky
Watch: A Documentary In Pieces.