Captain Beefheart - Amsterdam 1974

Captain Beefheart (aka Don Van Vliet) and The Magic Band had a rather tumultuous relationship at times, and in early 1974 he found himself touring with a new set of musicians.

Don Van Vliet's music attracted a devoted following and his influence on fellow musicians, particularly those of the punk and New Wave movements, has been described as incalculable. He stopped touring and recording in the early 1980's to concentrate on painting.

This is Captain Beefheart nonetheless in characteristic form back live at The Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, on the 22nd June 1974.

Source: FM Broadcast

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@320kbps

Genre: Experimental rock, psychedelic rock, blues-rock, avant garde, protopunk.

Set: Full set

Set List:

1. Mighty Crazy - Be Your Dog.
2. Sweet Georgia Brown.
3. This Is The Day.
4. Abba Zaba.
5. Peaches.
6. Who'll Be The Next One ? and Yer Gonna Need Somebody On Yer bond.

Links: Semi Official Fan Site HERE.

Comments: In 1974, immediately after the recording of Unconditionally Guaranteed, an album which continued the trend towards a more commercial sound heard on several of the Clear Spot tracks, The Magic Band, which had by then coalesced around the core of Art Tripp III, Alex St. Clair, Bill Harkleroad and Rockette Morton, decided they could no longer work with Don Van Vliet, who was by all accounts a severe taskmaster. They left to form Mallard.

Don Van Vliet quickly formed a new Magic Band of musicians who had no experience with his music and in fact had never heard it. Having no knowledge of the previous Magic Band style they simply improvised what they thought would go with each song, played much slicker versions that have been described as "bar band" versions of Beefheart's songs. A negative review described this incarnation of the Magic Band as the "Tragic Band," a term that has sadly stuck over the years.

Reloaded - 09/06/2015 - download link in comments.

Gong - Live In Norway 1974

This is the classic line up of Gong performing live in Oslo, Norway back on the 15th December 1974.

For the uninitiated Gong are a Franco-British progressive/psychedelic rock band formed by Australian musician Daevid Allen.

Between 1973 and 1974, Gong, now augmented by guitarist Steve Hillage, released their best-known work, the "Radio Gnome Trilogy", three records that expounded upon the (previously only hinted at) Gong mythology, Flying Teapot, Angel's Egg, and You.

In 1975 the band line began to alter and key members of the group moved on.

Source: Soundboard

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@320kbps

Genre: Progressive rock, psychedelic rock, space rock, jazz fusion

Set: Full set (unable to confirm).

Set List:

01. Invocation [06:13]
02. Master Builder [07:00]
03. A Perfect Mystery [02:59]
04. Tropical Fish [07:13]
05. I Never Did Before [07:56]
06. White Christmas [00:28]
07. Solar Musik Suite pt. 1 [06:09]
08. Solar Musik Suite pt. 2 [03:42]
09. Flute Salad [09:35]
10. Oily Way [03:10]
11. Outer Temple [03:51]
12. Inner Temple [05:16]
13. A Sprinkling of Clouds [02:30]

Links: Official Site HERE.

Comments: This year has seen the classic Gong line up reunite and record a brand new (and quite funky) album entitled 2032. I first discovered the band through there initial British release of Camembert Electrique which was given a belated UK release in late 1974. It was priced at 59p (that was the price of a typical single rather than an album), ensuring that sufficient numbers were sold for the album to chart had it not been barred from the charts for being so cheap.

I discovered this concert on another site and as a long time fan of Pothead Pixies, Flying Teapots, and all manner of other crazy Gong things, could not resist presenting this concert on the Beehive !

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

Buy: - MP3's at Amazon.co.uk - Gong

Arcade Fire - White Session 2005

This is Arcade Fire performing live for France Inters 'White Session' back on the 9th March 2005. I read somewhere that the difference between the White and Black sessions on France Inter was that the White session was without an audience, well there is clearly an audience here so who knows.

There is also a French presenter that likes to get his voice heard between songs, I am sure you could edit him out fully but in fairness he does stop before they start a new number.

Source: FM Stereo

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@224kbps

Genre: Indie Rock, Post Punk, Baroque.

Set: Full set

Set List:

Intro
01 - Wake Up
02 - Neighborhood (Laika)
03 - No Cars Go
04 - Une Année Sans Lumière
05 - Power Out
06 - Rebellion
07 - Neighborhood (Kettles)
08 - Crown Of Love
09 - Neighborhood (Tunnels)
Outro

Links: Official Site HERE.

Comments: The session was recorded at Maison de la Radio, Studio 106, White Session
Paris, France, on the 9th March 2005 and subsequently broadcast on France Inter on the 5th May 2005. This is a really feisty performance from Arcade Fire once again demonstrating just what a superb band they are. I know this has been in circulation as a boot for some time however this really is a fine audio copy.

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

Buy: - MP3's at Amazon.co.uk - Arcade Fire

Beehive Recommends - Loads of Different Music!

It's getting nearer to that time of year when the music biz tends to release what they hope will be big sellers (and the repackaged best of 'whoever' emerge of course), so it's great to see that there is still no shortage of new & newer bands vying for attention.

The Kora Records continue on their march for world domination with Sweden's Fredrik (pictured) who have their second full length album 'Trilogi' released this coming November 17th. Fredrik started out in late 2006 as the songwriter/sound artist duo of Fredrik and Lindefelt. The idea was to attempt narrative structures in music through the combination of electro acoustic composition and folk-infused musical form. Before the release of their critically acclaimed debut, Na Na Ni, the lineup was expanded to a 6-piece.

On stage the sextet could be seen playing banjo, clarinet, cello, wind up music boxes and hand made instruments along side bass, guitars and drums. The following 6 months saw Fredrik back in Malmö recording new material in the form of an EP-trilogy. Each one was surreptitiously self-released on highly limited 3" CDs in hand made origami packaging. Fredrik and Kora present the release of the EP’s as a proper full length entitled Trilogi. You can get a good feel for the band at their MySpace site.

Listen:
'Locked in the Basement'


MP3: HERE
Website: MySpace
Kora Records: Store.

Paper Garden records are also pretty busy right now and will be featuring a number of their acts at the Pop Montreal Festival on October 1st & 2nd.

We've featured Darla Farmer already here on the Beehive, and now its the turn of the fabulous Emanuel and The Fear.

From Brooklyn, New York this 11 piece band are a little bit Arcade Fire, a tiny bit Polyphonic Spree and pretty much their own thing as well.

Both Darla Farmer & Emanuel and The Fear have been drawing the attention of the likes of David Byrne, TV On The Radio, and Apples In Stereo, and if you are in or around Montreal here's a chance to catch up with them.

For the rest of us you can check them out here.

Listen:
'The Rain Becomes'



MP3: HERE.
Website: MySpace.
Paper Garden Records: Shop.

I have of course featured The Dimes here before and not to long ago at that. The band have a new album scheduled to be out on the 24th November 09 entitled 'The King Can Drink The Harbor Dry'.

It is a mixture of modern folk meeting sixties pop, with influences ranging from Simon and Garfunkel to The Beatles' White Album, my goodness we are name dropping today!

Anyhow from what I have heard so far it could well be the Folk-Pop album of the year, but as always don't just take my word for it, here is the opening song from the forthcoming album.

Listen:
'Damrells Fire'



MP3: HERE.
Website: MySpace.

The new album form Brookville is out on the 29th September the third and some time since the last his bio explains why. 'After releasing two critically acclaimed albums—2003’s Wonderfully Nothing and 2006’s Life In the Shade— under the Brookville moniker, musician and producer Andy Chase didn’t think he had another in him. Whatever it was that had inspired those albums seemed to have disappeared and Chase, who also plays in the critically-acclaimed band Ivy, assumed that his tenure with Brookville was complete.

Turned out that after the release of Life In the Shade and a North American tour with French pop act Tahiti 80 - whom he produced - Chase simply needed a break. Simultaneously playing in three bands, producing Juliana Hatfield and Trashcan Sinatras, being a partner in New York’s Stratosphere Sound recording studio, signing three new acts to his label Unfiltered Records, and trying to maintain a ‘normal’ life as a husband and a father can do that to you'.

Seems a reasonable enough explanation for me. Anyhow this remixed version of one of the forthcoming songs arrived in the mailbox on Friday, and as I liked what I heard he gets the Beehive thumbs up.

Listen:
'Break My Heart (James Iha remix)'



MP3: HERE.
Website: MySpace.

Finally just one piece of news. WNYC's Soundcheck hosts the premiere Performance by Rosanne Cash of Her Upcoming Album 'The List'.

Rosanne Cash and her band will debut several songs from the album live and over the airwaves at 93.9 FM on WNYC's popular chronicle of music and culture, Soundcheck, on September 23 at 2 PM, giving the world intimate insight into one of America 's best loved musical families. Her performance will simultaneously stream live as a videocast.

*UPDATE* The link for the video stream on Wednesday 23rd September 2pm (New York time) is www.wnyc.org/thegreenspace

Hope you enjoy some of the recommendations, new music is alive and well!

10000 Maniacs - Tour Rehearsals 1992

This is 10000 Maniacs back on the 30th March 1992 during their 'Our Time In Eden' tour rehearsals, at the Bearsville Theater; Bearsville, NY.

The tour that promoted the new album has a few live recordings (more about them another time), however I found it interesting listening to the band developing the live versions of songs that seem so familiar now, If You Intend * is a good example of the band rehearsing the then new material if not exactly one for your mp3 player, the majority of the songs are however tight live performances and highly enjoyable versions.

Source: Soundboard

Sound Quality: Very good stereo mp3@256kbps

Genre: Alternative Rock, Indie.

Set: Rehersal Session (not complete day).

Rehearsal List:

01 - These Are Days (incomplete)
02 - Few and Far Between
03 - Hey Jack Kerouac
04 - Eat For Two
05 - I'm Not The Man
06 - If You Intend *
07 - Noah's Dove (incomplete)
08 - Eden
09 - Jezebel
10 - What's The Matter Here?
11 - Stockton Gala Days
12 - Candy Everybody Wants
13 - Like The Weather
14 - How You've Grown
15 - Trouble Me
16 - Circle Dream
17 - Tolerance
18 - Gold Rush Brides

Links: 10000 Maniacs site HERE. Natalie Merchant site HERE.

Comments: In 1991, during the recordings of a new album, Natalie Merchant revealed to the other members that she would be leaving for a solo career in two years' time. In 1992, Our Time in Eden was released. On Wednesday, April 21, 1993, 10,000 Maniacs recorded MTV Unplugged and Natalie Merchant announced her leaving the band on MTV on Thursday, August 5, 1993. The MTV Unplugged (10,000 Maniacs album) album was released in October 1993.

It is clear listening to this session that Natalie was still enjoying herself within the band.

Download links are in comments below.

Buy: - MP3's at Amazon.co.uk 10000 Maniacs