As the recent Aquarium Drunkard e-mail says: jaimie "breezy" branch forever!
We are all deeply saddened by branch’s passing. Let’s visit some live breezy.
First up is a solo set from “Record Shop - July 2 2022.”
Not much else information about this one, but it’s well worth your time.
Many thanks to Harvey G. Cohen for pointing out this fantastic live set on Twitter. Harvey says:
“Earlier this year, Sons of Kemet, quite possibly the best band in jazz today, announced they are disbanding by the end of the year. Terrible news. But here is a newly filmed concert of theirs, live in London. Awesome. And not just because they have a tuba:”
Setlist:
Pick Up Your Burning Cross
Think Of Home
In Remembrance Of Those Fallen
Throughout The Madness, Stay Strong
I’ll be honest: I’ve tried to dig Goose several times. I’ve watched several live sets and lots of people I respect dig them. I don’t know why, but I just didn’t connect with them. I think it may have something to do with the moustaches and my own biases. You see, my Dad had a mustache, and any time I try to grow one, I just see my Dad in the mirror, and I love my Dad, but that’s not what you want to see when you look in the mirror.
Anyhoo: (as always), I’m on a big Kurt Vonnegut kick, and I just watched the 2021 documentary which included the quote from Cat’s Cradle: “As Bokonon says: 'peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from god.” That’s when Pitchfork decided to review the bands newest album Dripfield and I decided to give them another try.
Brady Gerber’s review includes this short section:
Watching their viral set at Peach Fest 2019—which, like many Goose sets, you can stream in full on YouTube—I thought wow, these guys can play. But it wasn’t just their virtuosic performances: Between the sprawling solos, they had actual songs that I walked away humming.
So, like any good Bokononist would, I went and watched that “viral'“ 2019 Peach Fest set. And I ended up digging it. A Lot. I sent it to my brother and a friend with the caption: “I think I might have been won over.” You see, they too had tried Goose before and found it not to their taste. But this set won them both over just like it did me. Maybe it will do the same for you. Maybe not. Either way, I hope you enjoy and occasionally stop along to remember that “I urge you to please notice when you are happy, and exclaim or murmur or think at some point, 'If this isn't nice, I don't know what is.”
The Deets:
Goose plays Peach Fest 2019 in Scranton, PA.
Setlist:
Madhuvan
Time to Flee
All I Need
Wysteria Lane
Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo
Arcadia
The Way It Is
Hot Tea
Trey Anastasio of that band from VT sat in the other night with Goose in NYC and thanks to the wonders of the technology, you can watch it right here right now:
The Deets:
Goose - Hungersite → Arcadia (feat. Trey Anastasio) - 6/25/22 Radio City Music Hall, New York, NY
Here is the band’s official video for Hungersite:
It’s only February, but I can already tell you that Jake Xerxes Fussell’s newest album Good and Green Again will be on my year-end favorites list.
Drawing from folk, American and even bits of Appalachian music, Fussell has created a beautiful, challenging and yet hopeful album. His incorporation of strings and horns (sometimes reminding me of Gregory Alan Isakov flourishes) brings a lushness to the music that’s comfortable in all the right ways.
Earlier this year, Fussell recorded his (at home) NPR Tiny Desk Concert. According to NPR: “Fussell recorded at a friend's home in Pittsboro, N.C., with Casey Toll on upright bass and Libby Rodenbough on violin, harmonium and backup vocals. The mantle behind them is adorned with a tiny desk surrounded by various vegetable-shaped candles.”
You’re not going to find much better things to do with 18 minutes. Give it a try:
Setlist:
“The River St. Johns"
"Have You Ever Seen Peaches Growing on a Sweet Potato Vine?"
"Breast of Glass"
Players:
Jake Xerxes Fussell: guitar, vocals
Libby Rodenbough: violin, harmonium, backing vocals
Casey Toll: upright bass
Their label describes them as “Jewish mystics/drone/space pop explorers” and that gives you a pretty good starting point.
Solilans is the project of keyboardist Benjamin Malkin and began when Malkin wrote a 7” soundtrack for Ian Densford’s Binah Comics, a “super-powers tale sans violence”
Now a quartet featuring two vocalists, Neptune Sweet (Electric Djinn) and Sharon Malkin.
In the Running 2 is the second in I Heart Noise’s ongoing In the Running series and the second featuring Solilans. The first was a split EP with Boston’s Skyjelly. But this release find the attention placed on Solilans. As far as I can tell, “Klezmische” is a clever play on the group’s fusion of Kosmische with Klezmer music. If that’s difficult to imagine, you’re on the right track.
Fusing psychedelic, ambient, drone, and folk and even Indian instrumentation, the group creates sonic soundscapes that wash over you and wrap around your soul. With hypnotic, trance-like vocals, you might think of something along the lines of Sky Cries Mary (anyone remember them?). But this is truly original and creative music. There’s a balance throughout the release that weaves in and out itself. The disparate elements create a tension that keeps you engaged while the swooning vocals and repeating loops provide counteract that tension with mesmerizing effect. This balance between tension and release/relaxation is a wonderful musical theme throughout. I can’t wait to hear more from Solilans.
Highly recommended.
Preview:
The fine and fabulous folks over at Foxy Digitalis premiered the video for “Old Schmeckled Hen” earlier this year. Check it:
Thanks so much to the amazing Bryon Whitley for posting this amazing set.
Steve Gunn, Shahzad Ismaily, and Ryan Sawyer performing a live improv set at Union Pool, Brooklyn, NY 9/4/21.
“A set of wonderful improvisational music created by three sensational musicians.”
“There’s a fury at the core of Yoko Ono’s 1973 rock opus Approximately Infinite Universe that was not apparent on previously recorded efforts. Ono has always been a master of turning pain and sadness into art, but here, there’s a clenched-fist intensity that sets it apart in her deep, unparalleled catalogue. Ono is angry. She proved that one can carry a boundless love for humanity and still be furious — furious at male/female relationships, at war, at your partner.”
Notes:
Yoko Ono (with John Lennon) is interviewed on May 12, 1973 for the PBS television program "Flipside" at The Record Plant East in New York City. She also performs tracks from her then latest album "Approximately Infinite Universe" (as well as a track released only as a single in Japan) with the Plastic Ono Elephant's Memory Band.
(Aired on June 30, 1973).
Setlist:
Joseijoi Banzai
Death of Samantha
Catman (The Rosies Are Coming)
Winter Song
Death of Samantha (Reprise)
Endless Boogie performs live at The Bootleg Theater, Echo Park, Los Angeles, California (April 5, 2016 ).
Sorry, don’t have the setlist for this one. You could probably figure it out if you wanted to. Otherwise, just jam.
Players:
Jesper Eklow (aka "The Governor") on guitar
Paul Major (aka "Top Dollar") on guitar and vocals
Mark Ohe (aka "Memories from Reno") on bass
Harry Druzd on drums
Neil Diamond Live at the BBC (1971).
Setlist:
Countdown
Sweet Caroline
Neil Talking (solitary man story)
Solitary Man
Neil Talking (cracklin’ rosie story)
Cracklin’ Rosie
Neil Talking (BBC cup)
Done Too Soon
Modern Day Version of Love
Neil Talking (Bob Russell)
He Aint Heavy, He’s my Brother
Neil Talking (Holly Holy)
Holly Holy
I am, I said
Neil Talking (BLTSS Story)
Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show
This was originally a mix that was supposed to just feature some live Grateful Dead and live Velvet Underground cuts. That mix is still in the works, by the way, but this one morphed out of that project and features several other bands from the 1968-1971 sliver of time. Don’t ask me how it ended up being that, the mix made itself, man.
What we ended up with is a mix that features MC5, the Beatles, the Velvet Underground, Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Rolling Stones, the Grateful Dead, and the Stooges (and then kept going until I whittled it back down to these tracks). This is a mix I regularly play around the house, so, I hope you enjoy it; because this mix has been getting lots of Sonos time around here, whether the kids like it or not.
Setlist:
Kick Out The Jams by MC5
Get Back by the Beatles
Sweet Jane by the Velvet Underground
Commotion by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Parachute Woman by the Rolling Stones
St. Stephen by the Grateful Dead
The Eleven by the Grateful Dead
Rock & Roll by the Velvet Underground
Shakin’ Street by MC5
Down On the Street by the Stooges
Dig A Pony by the Beatles
Bootleg by Creedence Clearwater Revival
The American Ruse by MC5
Street Fighting Man by the Rolling Stones
I’ve Got A Feeling by the Beatles
Real Cool Time by the Stooges
Graveyard Train by Creedence Clearwater Revival
Visit the Beatles’ official site
Purchase the Beatles’ music at Amazon
Follow Creedence Clearwater Revival at Facebook
Purchase Creedence Clearwater Revival’s music at Amazon
Visit the Grateful Dead’s official website
Follow the Grateful Dead on Facebook
Follow Grateful Dead on Twitter
Purchase Grateful Dead music on Amazon
Purchase MC5’s music at Amazon
Visit the official page for the Stooges
Purchase the Stooges’ music at Amazon
Visit the Velvet Underground’s official site
Purchase the Velvet Underground’s music at Amazon
In February 1981, a year-and-a-half before ‘Chronic Town’ would be released, R.E.M. played three at Atlanta’s 688 Club.
Setlist:
1. “Rave On” (Partial)
2. “Burning Down”
3. “Dangerous Times”
4. “I Don’t Want You Anymore”
5. “Get on Their Way”
6. “Different Girl”
7. “Permanent Vacation”
8. “White Tornado”
9. “Narrator”
10. “Wind Out”
11. “Gardening at Night”
12. “Mystery to Me”
13. “Radio Free Europe”
Charles Mingus Sextet, at the Konserthuset Stockholm, Sweden, April 13th, 1964 (Colorized).
Setlist:
So Long Eric
Meditations
So Long Eric (Second Version)
Players:
Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Eric Dolphy
Bass – Charles Mingus
Drums – Dannie Richmond
Piano – Jaki Byard
Tenor Saxophone – Clifford Jordan
Trumpet – Johnny Coles
Phish live at Ak-Chin Pavilion. Phoenix, AZ. 10.22.21.
My wife and I hadn’t seen Phish live for 22 or 23 years (they haven’t played Phoenix in 18 years!). I think the last time we saw them was in San Diego? Anyway, that drought ended the other night with a phenomenal show.
Enjoy.
Setlist:
Set One:
Julius
Martian Monster
Soul Planet
My Friend, My Friend
Bouncing Around the Room
Scent of a Mule
More
Ghost
Set Two:
Loving Cup
Mike's Song--
I Am Hydrogen--
Weekapaug Groove
Everything's Right
A Life Beyond the Dream
Cities
Harry Hood
Encore:
Suzy Greenberg
Cavern
The Deets:
Phish 10/22/2021 Ak-Chin Pavilion - Phoenix, AZ
Source: DPA 4011a(PAS/40mm split/OTS@8')--Portico 5012--SD788t(24bit/96kHz)--MBit(16bit/44.1kHz)--FLAC
Recorded and transferred by Scott Schneider
The Housemartins were an English Pop group active in the ‘80’s. The group blended British Pop, Soul and Gospel.
They were notable for their keen sense of humor; often billing themselves as “the fourth best band in Hull" (he best three bands being Red Guitars, Everything but the Girl, and the Gargoyles). But the band was about more than just humor. As Wikipedia notes: “Many of their lyrics were a mixture of socialist politics and Christianity, reflecting the beliefs of the band (the back cover of their debut album, London 0 Hull 4, contained the message, "Take Jesus – Take Marx – Take Hope").
Here’s another live video from 1986. This one says:
“On December 3rd, 1986, Granada TV show ‘Hold Tight’ featured THE HOUSEMARTINS in concert.
A special live production at the City Lites night club in Farnworth in December 1986.”
Enjoy.
Setlist:
Intro
The Mighty Ship
Think For A Minute
Anxious / Me And The Farmer
Get Up Off Our Knees
Caravan Of Love
Happy Hour
Rap Around The Clock
The Housemartins were an English Pop group active in the ‘80’s. The group blended British Pop, Soul and Gospel.
They were notable for their keen sense of humor; often billing themselves as “the fourth best band in Hull" (he best three bands being Red Guitars, Everything but the Girl, and the Gargoyles). But the band was about more than just humor. As Wikipedia notes: “Many of their lyrics were a mixture of socialist politics and Christianity, reflecting the beliefs of the band (the back cover of their debut album, London 0 Hull 4, contained the message, "Take Jesus – Take Marx – Take Hope").
Here’s a short (but two-part) film profiling the group. A short profile piece made for TV and broadcast in 1986. Features the band (Paul Heaton, Stan Cullimore, Hugh Whitaker, Norman Cook) in and around Hull plus interviews and live footage.
This is also known as the “Whistle Test” Documentary. I have only ever seen it edited into two parts. And, I mean, is it’ really a documentary? A feature? A featurette?
Whatever.
And here’s a special bonus piece with Norman and Stan “discussing” the breakup of the band:
The Housemartins were an English Pop group active in the ‘80’s. The group blended British Pop, Soul and Gospel.
They were notable for their keen sense of humor; often billing themselves as “the fourth best band in Hull" (he best three bands being Red Guitars, Everything but the Girl, and the Gargoyles). But the band was about more than just humor. As Wikipedia notes: “Many of their lyrics were a mixture of socialist politics and Christianity, reflecting the beliefs of the band (the back cover of their debut album, London 0 Hull 4, contained the message, "Take Jesus – Take Marx – Take Hope").
Here’s a live video from 1986 simply billed on the Youtubes as: “the Housemartins Konzert 24.11.1986 - Ausschnitte.”
Enjoy.
Setlist:
The People Who Grinned Themselves To Death
The Mighty Ship
I Smell Winter
I Bit My Lip
Anxious
Caravan of Love
We’re Not Deep
