The Smiths, live at Hacienda, 02/04/83. Watch the Smiths perform only their third live concert.
“We are the Smiths. We are not ‘Smiths,’ we are the Smiths.”
Setlist:
These Things Take Time
What Difference Does It Make?
The Hand That Rocks The Cradle
Handsome Devil
Jeanne
Wonderful Woman
Hand In Glove
Miserable Lie
Not everyone in my life gets my many musical obsessions.
I grew up in Phoenix, which means that I didn’t have a whole lot of cultural options, but Bob Corritore and the Blues was always a constant in my life. I remember sometimes thinking: “How can this guy play five hours of Blues every week and not get tired of it?”
Years ago, I also knew someone that hosted a regular Reggae radio show that was 3-hours each week and I remember thinking: “How can this guy play five hours of Blues every week and not get tired of it?”
And here I am having professed my love for Tuareg guitar music and music from the Sahel region in general recommending yet another album. I could easily play five ours of Tuareg music, and no, it’s doesn’t all sound the same. In addition to the newest album album by Etran De L'Aïr :: 100% Sahara Guitar, the fabulous Sahel Sounds label recently put out the newest album from Tidiane Thiam :: Africa Yontii.
This one is laid-back.
Relaxing.
Meditative yet driving.
Exquisite interplay. With overlapping melodies.
Enjoy.
Watch “Yewende”:
By now you’re familiar with my love of Tuareg guitar music and music from the Sahel region in general. One of my favorite labels, Sahel Sounds, is releasing the newest album by one of my favorite acts, Etran De L'Aïr.
Entitled 100% Sahara Guitar, the album will be out next month. To celebrate, the band has released a video for one of their live staples, “Imouha.” Filmed on a green screen at Vancouver BC's Shoreline Studios Vancouver BC by Christopher Kirkley with additional footage courtesy of Abdou Hamani (Discothèque Ambiance de Tchiro), the song is a great teaser for the full album.
Enjoy.
If you’ve ever visited this music blog, chances are that you’ve already watched this. Watch it again.
Phish recently stopped by NPR’s Tiny Desk for a 35-minute, 5-song set.
You enjoy myself . . .
Setlist:
“Sigma Oasis”
“Evolve”
“You Enjoy Myself”
“Sample in a Jar”
“Chalk Dust Torture”
Here are my favorite 20 releases of 2024 so far.
Ghosted II by Oren Ambarchi / Johan Berthling / Andreas Werliin
Live in Paris 1973 by Can
Lives Outgrown by Beth Gibbons
the Collective by Kim Gordon
Blu Wav by Grandaddy
the Handover by the Handover
Bright Future by Adrianne Lenker
Drop 7 by Little Simz
Two Improvisations by Joshua Massad & Dylan Aycock
Locust Land by Bill MacKay
Funeral For Justice by Mdou Moctar
the Messthetics and James Brandon Lewis by The Messthetics
David Nance & Mowed Sound by David Nance
Bite Down by Rosali
Water Still Flows by Rich Ruth
Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace by Shabaka
Exotic Birds of Prey by Shabazz Palaces
Time Is Glass by Six Organs of Admittance
Africa Yontii by Tidiane Thiam
Tiger’s Blood by Waxahatchee
Continuing to explore the WFMU Monty Hall archives, here is Group Doueh Live at WFMU (2017).
From the show’s Youtube page:
“One of the most blasted psychedelic Western Saharan combos to hit American shores. Founded in the 1980's, headmaster and guitarist Doueh's raw distorted electric guitar stylings juxtapose western elements of Hendrix and James Brown with the poetry of Hassania language in Saharawi folk tradition, all centered around a big band environment that includes two vocalists. "Unhinged virtuosity" is a common phrase attributed to the sound of Group Doueh, truly a spectacle to behold, and thanks to some high profile releases on the Sublime Frequencies imprint, the band's audience has grown greatly. This gig, presented by Brian Turner's program, also featureed NYC's excellent 75 Dollar Bill supporting. Severe thanks to Doueh, Scott Konzelmann and Glenn Luttman for the mix, Ruth Polduk, Todd Abramson, Bridget Murray for cam work.”
Now if that 75 Dollar Bill set could just see the light of day . . .
Recorded at WFMU's Monty Hall in Jersey City, NJ on October 7, 2017.
WFMU recently announced the opening of their vaults and began sharing videos from their Monty Hall archives. So guess what we’ll be featuring more of lately!?
From the show’s Youtube page:
“Japanese psych band Kikagaku Moyo played at WFMU's Monty Hall in 2019, following the release of their album Masana Temples on the Guruguru Brain label in 2018. The powerhouse group announced their final tour in 2022 and are on an indefinite hiatus.
Recorded at WFMU's Monty Hall in Jersey City, NJ on June 27, 2019.”
The Deets and Setlist:
Recorded at WFMU's Monty Hall in Jersey City, NJ on June 27, 2019.
Green Sugar
Nazo Nazo
Kogarashi
Tree Smoke
Fluffy Kosmich
Entrance
Dripping Sun
Gatherings
Streets of Calcutta (Ananda Shankar cover)
By now I’m sure you’ve seen the videos of Billy Strings and Chris Thile for CBS’ Saturday Sessions. That’s OK. You can watch them again and again and still be amazed by the interplay between these two master musicians. The duo performed three songs (I don’t know the order they originally appeared):
"I've Been All Around This World,”
"I Am A Pilgrim,”
"Wild Bill Jones.”
Enjoy.
KEXP presents King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard performing live in the KEXP studio. Recorded October 11, 2017.
Setlist:
Welcome to an Altered Future
Digital Black
Han-Tyumi The Confused Cyborg
The Lord of Lightning
Altered Beast I
Alter Me I
Altered Beast II
Alter Me II
Altered Beast III
Alter Me III
Altered Beast IV
Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily live at NPR’s Tiny Desk (May 12, 2023).
Setlist:
Eyes Of The Endless
The Deets:
Musicians:
Vijay Iyer: Fender Rhodes, piano
Arooj Aftab: vocals
Shahzad Ismaily: bass, Moog
Tiny Desk Team:
Producer: Bob Boilen
Director/Editor: Maia Stern
Audio Engineer: Josh Rogosin
Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Maia Stern, Kara Frame, Sofia Seidel
Audio Assistant: Hannah Gluvna
Production Assistant: Ashley Pointer
Tiny Desk Team: Suraya Mohamed, Joshua Bryant, Marissa Lorusso, Hazel Cills, Ashley Pointer, Pilar Galván, Jill Britton
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
Senior VP, Programming: Anya Grundmann
Today we feature a live duo performance from Raz Mesinai and Shahzad Ismaily.
The Deets:
Raz Mesinai - frame drum, effects
Shahzad Ismaily - bass
Bob Marley and the Wailers, live at the Santa Barbara County Bowl, 11/25/79.
Setlist:
Positive Vibration
Wake Up And Live
I Shot The Sheriff
Ambush In The Night
Concrete Jungle
Running Away
Crazy Baldhead
Them Belly Full
Heathen
Ride Natty Ride
Africa Unite
One Drop
Exodus
So Much Things To Say
Zimbabwe
Jamming
Is This Love
Kinky Reggae
Stir It Up
Get Up Stand Up
Saw this come across my Twitter feed. Sorry, I can’t remember who posted it if it was you, THANK YOU!
From the show’s Youtube page:
“This is full footage of Talking Heads performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, July 9th 1982. Originally broadcasted on Swiss TV and radio, but this footage is from an archive of the master tapes (except the last song)”
Setlist:
Psycho Killer
Cities
Big Blue Plymouth (Eyes Wide Open)
Once in a Lifetime
Mind
My Big Hands (Fall Through the Cracks)
Big Business
I Zimbra
Swamp
Slink
Houses in Motion
What a Day That Was
Life During Wartime
Take Me To The River
We recently highlighted Goat’s fabulous 2023 album “Medicine” as one that we heard too late to make our favorites list. I still can’t believe we missed it. Goat has been a long-time favorite around the Holiday at the Sea Fake Offices.
In penance, I offer you this short but terrific live set from 2022.
From the Youtube page: “Swedish psych outfit Goat perform live at Le Guess Who? 2022 following the release of their latest album 'Oh Death' via Rocket Recordings.”
Setlist:
Under No Nation
Gathering of Ancient Tribes
Do The Dance
Disco Fever
Goatman
Deets and Credits:
Captured at TivoliVredenburg’s Ronda on Saturday, 12 November during Le Guess Who? 2022.
Direction: Dammes Kieft
Camera: Anaïs Saebu, Jonathan Sipkema, Nicky Pajkić, Rikash Gobardhan, Yuma Eekman, Dammes Kieft
Production: Claudia Rison, Studio Dammes
Coordination: Barry Spooren Montage: Nicky Pajkić S
ound recording: Marc Broer
Welcome to the third and pen-ultimate (for now) of our Heard Too Late 2023 series. Today, I humbly present to you a band I love with an album I somehow missed last year. Scandinavian Pscy-Rock-Folk-Space Voyagers Goat put out a solid album of space out music called Medicine. It is indeed medicine for what ails ya.
This one’s right up my alley for working and studying. I think you’ll dig it too.
Watch the video for “Join The Resistance”
Watch the video for “Tripping In The Graveyard”
Yesterday we began a short series of posts highlighting 2023 albums I didn’t get a chance to spend enough time with prior to compiling my year-end list with Lee Gallagher and the Hallelujah’s “The Falcon Ate The Flower.”
Next up is the self-titled release from Dosh, Ismaily, Young. Featuring “drummer Marty Dosh (Dosh, Andrew Bird, Fog), bassist Shahzad Ismaily (Marc Ribot’s Ceramic Dog, Secret Chiefs 3, Arooj Aftub), and guitarist Tim Young (Wayne Horvitz’s Zony Mash, David Sylvian, Michael White).”
With Shazad already appearing on the 2023 round up with Love In Exile by Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, Shahzad Ismaily, this marks Ismaily’s second appearance on my favorite albums of 2023.
This is not so much a review as a profile, so I take no shame in quoting the Bandcamp page to help you get a picture of this wild ride: “On their debut self-titled release, these master musicians effortlessly deliver six solid tracks including an 11-minute krautrock mindblower, a meditation on the end of the world, and explorations into Stax-soul, space-rock, and free-jazz.”
If you’ve taken the time and effort to read this far, it’s probably because we share the same music vibes. I highly recommend this release, especially since physical copies are in short supply.
Watch the official video for the opening track, “Blast:”
Welcome to Heard Too Late, a short series of posts where I highlight artists and albums I didn’t spend enough time with to put on my 2023 year-end list. However, with hindsight being what it is and all, it is safe to say that if I had heard these albums sooner, they would most definitely have made the cut.
First up is “The Falcon Ate The Flower” by Lee Gallagher And The Hallelujah. As you might ascertain from the name, Gallagher’s CA (by way of Ohio) cosmic country space rock taps in to the spiritual side of life without being preachy. Maybe we’ll call it existential rock? Anyways, having recorded with Victoria Williams and others after moving to CA, Gallagher has continued to expand his sound and scope. Reviewers and biographers are quick to point to Gram Parsons, Workingman’s Dead, Humble Pie, and, surprisingly enough Rod Stewart (that last one came up a few times!) and, of course; all of these apply, but only as touch-points.
Album opener “Planes” soars in perhaps the most psychedelic country jam the album reaches, but it sets a great opening bar. Though “The Falcon Ate The Flower” doesn’t quite reach those same heights throughout the rest of the album’s songs, we take a journey through ballads, and no review would be complete without mentioning the stellar performances by violin legend Scarlet Rivera (probably best known to this crowd by her appearances in the Rolling Thunder Revue. She here appears on the tracks “Something Better,” & “Can Anyone Hear Me?”, both of which are well worth your time.
Head out on a road trip. Blare this and then let’s talk.
Watch the official video for “Baby I’m There:”
Listen to “Something Better:”
Listen to Half Lit (The Future’s Ours):
Welcome to the 2023 Holiday at the Sea year-end music list. There was a lot of great music in 2023, but I’ve narrowed it down to my favorite top 50, presented here in alphabetical order. I hope you see some of your favorites and find something new. I’d love to hear your thoughts. What has been your favorite music of 2023?
the 2023 Holiday at the Sea year-end music list:
Afro Futuristic Dreams by Idris Ackamoor & The Pyramids // BC // FB // Amzn //
A Trip To Bolgatanga by African Head Charge // BC // FB // Insta //Amzn //
Tony Allen JID018 by Tony Allen, Adrian Younge, & Ali Shaheed Muhammad (Jazz Is Dead) // site // BC // FB // Amzn //
My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross by Anohni & The Johnsons // site // BC // Insta // Amzn //
James and the Giants by James and the Giants // BC // Amzn //
Did You Know That There's A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd by Lana Del Rey // site // FB // Amzn //
New Future City Radio by Damon Locks & Rob Mazurek // BC // Amzn //
No Fixed Point In Space by Modern Nature // site // BC // FB // Amzn //
the Age of Pleasure by Janelle Monae // site // BC // FB // Amzn //
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard :: Live at Lowlands 2023.
Setlist:
Gila Monster
Converge
Witchcraft
Self-Immolate
This Thing
The Garden Goblin
Hypertension
Magma
