Whats Up Doc - Number Six - February 2008

I am not a number !! - I am a free man !! - welcome to number six of 'Whats Up Doc' (fans of the sixties TV series The Prisoner, will know what I am on about).

The Drive By Truckers new album 'Brighter Than Creation's Dark', is the top choice for both of the UK's leading music monthlies, Uncut and Mojo Magazine, for their album reviews, in the March 2008 publications.

Not surprising, this is one incredible album.

Based in Athens, Georgia, though three out of five members (Mike Cooley, Patterson Hood, and Shonna Tucker) originally hail from The Shoals region of Northern Alabama, this is 'southern rock / Alt Country' at it's finest, I cannot recommend this album enough!

From the album check out:

Links Removed - MP3 Policy.

Drive By Truckers - Self Destructive Zones (07).mp3

Here is a live version (unofficial) recorded in Athens, Georgia a month ago, of another track on the new album.

Drive By Truckers - 3 Dimes Down (Live Version - 12th Jan 08).mp3

Buy or discover more HERE.

Serious fans of indie rock are no doubt already aware of Vampire Weekend, whose self titled debut album is now released.

Ignore the hype, this band are talented, and they do not rely on their 'Brooklyn New York' pedigree, in fact they just get on with playing what comes naturally to them, a nice mix of intelligence, street wise awareness, and energy.

The indie blogs are putting them about - here are the four main mp3's getting plugged.

Vampire Weekend - (02) - Oxford Comma.mp3
Vampire Weekend - M79.mp3
Vampire Weekend - (04) - Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa.mp3
Vampire Weekend - (10) - Walcott.mp3

Bet they exit the year, a whole lot better known.

Check out the new album with discount purchase options HERE.

Nick Cave's 'Grinderman' venture last year, has understandably led to a new 'Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' album.

The Grinderman album and subsequent live performances, seem to have lifted a weight off of Nicks shoulders, and this new 'Bad Seeds' album, has that edge, I have selfishly come to expect.

Check out the title track:

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig.mp3

Buy the album (inc discount) with 54 page booklet, including writings, lyrics, and photos HERE.

You have to be brave/mad/inspired/indulgent etc, to undertake an entire album of Dusty Springfield greatest hits covers.

Shelby Lynne has proven to be both inspired and highly respectful of Dusty, and has produced a lesson for anyone inclined to undertake a 'stripped down' or 'unplugged' version, of such a major and much missed artist.

Like many (I expect) I assumed this would be awful. It is not, it is emotional, yet so fresh and clean, go on, check these two songs, and differ if you must.

Shelby Lynne - How Can I Be Sure.mp3

Shelby Lynne - (02) - Anyone Who Had A Heart.mp3

Buy 'Just A Little Lovin' by Shelby Lynne HERE.

Following on from the Goldfrapp Glastonbury concert recently provided on the Beehive, and the 'A&E mp3' provided from their brand new album, here are a couple more tracks, to ensure as many visitors as possible, buy this superb release.

Goldfrapp - Happiness.mp3
Goldfrapp - Caravan Girl.mp3

Buy the new Goldfrapp album 'Seventh Tree' (deluxe CD/DVD plus generous discount) HERE.

These are just a taste from 'Seventh Tree' - Goldfrapp never cease to astound, and the album is an absolute pleasure.

In keeping with 'Whats Up Doc' the usual 'final song' or in this case couple of songs, are as ever for no other reason than, they are currently getting played in my car, and bringing back memories, some more recently then others...

JJ72 - Snow.mp3
Lee Marvin - I Was Born Under A Wandering Star (from 'Paint Your Wagon')).mp3

More HERE.

Until next time - Whats Up Doc?

Dresden Dolls - Live In St Louis USA - 2008

Something tells me, we need a little more current music, and from an act, to young to remember the last couple or so of postings, first time around.

Yep 'old timers' we need to take our 'recent tablets'.

The Dresden Dolls are a musical duo from Boston, Massachusetts USA.

Formed in 2001, the group consists of Amanda Palmer (vocals, piano, harmonica, ukelele) and Brian Viglione (drums, percussion, guitar, vocals).

This is the important bit!

The two describe their style as 'Brechtian punk cabaret', a phrase invented by Amanda Palmer because she was terrified that the press would invent a name that would involve the word Gothic.

Now any band that includes punk and cabaret along with another word that means nothing to me, as describers of their music gains my attention.

Seriously they are very good. Having enjoyed their music for a couple of years, I was delighted to receive the following concert from their recent series of live dates in the USA.

Along with their own 'Brechtian punk cabaret' originals, they will often perform a cover song, and this concert is no exception.

This is the Dresden Dolls, live at The Pageant, St. Louis, MO, USA, on January 6th, 2008.

The set list is:

1. In the Flesh (Pink Floyd cover)
2. Girl Anachronism
3. Missed Me
4. Sex Changes
5. Ultima Esperanza
6. Glass Slipper
7. The Gardener
8. Golden Age (Beck cover)
9. Fight For Your Right To Party (Beastie Boys cover)
10. Coin Operated Boy
11. Sorry Bunch
12. Mandy Goes To Med School
13. Astronaut
14. Mein Herr
15. Gravity

The sound quality is good - however I do not know the stereo source.

TO DOWNLOAD GO TO COMMENTS BELOW FOR THE LINKS.

As mentioned they perform some excellent covers, and here are a couple more examples, to enjoy.

Dresden Dolls - 2005-04-26 - Life On Mars.mp3 (David Bowie).

Dresden Dolls - 2005-05-31 - Karma Police.mp3 (Radiohead)

For a host of other Dresden Dolls goodies, and the opportunity to share a dollar or two with them in exchange for some excellent songs go to their official site HERE.

Check out their own 'official boots' that you can download for free, (and make a real contribution to the band whilst cutting out the 'middle man').

Jimi Hendrix - Koln (Cologne) Germany 1969

I was still a little to young to appreciate what Jimi Hendrix was all about at the time.

I guess by the time I started to really appreciate rock & blues music, Jimi was already a casualty.

My clearest recollection of Jimi Hendrix was seeing him performing live on Lulu's BBC Saturday night show 'A happening For Lulu' on January 4th 1969.

Fittingly this bootleg is from a performance just nine days later in Germany.

On the day Jimi attended an autograph session at Studio Du Monde Book & Record Shop.

Part of the event was filmed and later featured as part of the German television program Beat Club.

In the evening The Jimi Hendrix Experience performed two shows with support 'Eire Apparent' at Studio Dumont in Cologne, Germany.

This then is one of those shows from the 13th January 1969. It is a very good quality soundboard recording.

The set list is:

01- Come On (Let The Good Times Roll)
02- Foxey Lady
03- Red House
04- Voodoo Child (Slight Return)
05- Fire
06- Spanish Castle Magic
07- Hey Joe
08- Sunshine Of Your Love
09- Star Spangled Banner
10- Purple Haze

TO DOWNLOAD CLICK ON COMMENTS BELOW FOR THE LINK.

A few Jimi Hendrix CD options HERE.

Bootleg Originals Part Eight - Joni Mitchell - Cambridge, MA, 1968

Joni Mitchell first played Club 47 in Cambridge, MA (USA), in December 1966, she returned for a second time in late April 1967.

While she was playing one night during November 1967 at 'The Gaslight South', a club in Florida, David Crosby walked in and was immediately struck by her ability and her appeal as an artist.

He took her back to Los Angeles, where he set about introducing her and her music to his friends.

David convinced a record company to agree to let Joni record a solo acoustic album without all the folk-rock overdubs that were in vogue at the time, and his clout earned him a producer's credit in March 1968, when Reprise records released her debut album, Song to a Seagull.

It is therefore likely that Joni Mitchell's third appearance at Club 47, a three night set of performances, from the 8th to 10th January 1968, were just prior to the recording of her debut album.

It is really something then, to have a good quality recording of an artist with the pedigree of Joni Mitchell, prior to their debut album, and from back in the 1960's.

This is Joni Mitchell live at Club 47, Cambridge, MA, USA, on her final night there back on the 10th January 1968.

Set List:

01. Cactus Tree
02. Morning Morgantown
03. Conversation
04. Gift Of the Magi
05. Chelsea Morning
06. Song To A Seagull
07. I Had A King
08. Night In The City
09. Ballerina Valerie
10. Pirates Of Penance
11. The Way It Is
12. Dawn treader
13. Both Sides Now

Sound: This is a very good sound board recording.

Reloaded 21/June/2015 Link in comments.

Steve Miller Band - Live in New York 1975

Ahead of the 1976 release of the very popular album 'Fly Like An Eagle' Steve Miller spent a reasonable part of 1975 touring.

Having gone to Knebworth Park in England, in the summer of 1975, along with 100,000 other fairly typical 'raving and drooling' Pink Floyd fans, I was absolutely 'blown over' by the final band of the day prior to Pink Floyd, namely the Steve Miller Band.

This was my introduction to Steve Miller, and I have been after live material from that year, or tour ever since.

I have a recording of the Pink Floyd element of Knebworth 75, however the audio is very 'low tech' and I wonder if this particular festival is designated for the memories of those fortunate enough to have attended only.

Therefore I am delighted to have obtained a copy of Steve Miller live, from earlier in 1975 and in superb quality. I am not sure if this is a 'King Biscuit' FM broadcast, whatever it is an excellent recording. This then is The Steve Miller Band - Live At The Beacon Theatre, New York City, USA, during April 1975.

Source: Soundboard or FM stereo.

Sound Quality: Very good mp3@192kbps.

Set List:

1. Fly Like An Eagle 7:00
2. Wild Mountain Honey 5:00
3. Come On In My Kitchen 4:10
4. Goin' To The Country 3:12
5. Nothin' Lasts 3:28
6. Goin' To Mexico 4:09
7. The Joker 5:38
8. Take The Money And Run 4:15
9. Gangster Of Love 2:52
10. Your Cash Aint Nothin' But Trash 4:09
11. Shu Ba Da Ma Ma Ma Ma 6:14

Band Line Up:

Steve Miller: Guitars/Vocals
Gary Mallaber: Drums/Percussion
Lonnie Turner: Bass
Norton Buffalo: Harmonica
Joachim Young: Keyboards
David Denny: Guitars

Official Steve Miller Band material is available from their exclusive store HERE.

It's a rather ironic 'touch' that the bootleg cover above is 'lifted' from the following years album release, some say imitation is the greatest form of flattery, however you view it, this is an excellent show.

Replacement download link in comments (3rd January 2011).