Root Down in the Shadow

After dinner and a beer at Boot & Saddle recently, crossing the threshold of the venue was more than going to a concert; it was a chance to go back in time.  For the evening, the talented outfits of Foxhound, Hezekiah Jones , and Ali Wadsworth transformed themselves into Nirvana , the Lemonheads , and Pearl Jam .  On any ordinary night, this would be a stellar line-up without any covers, but just talent alone.  But for this Saturday night, it stood to be an incredible night; recreating a night that many music fans wish they would have ever been a part of. First up was Foxhound.  Normally the duo of Chris Kasper and Kylie Ryan , they recruited some friends to make Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York happen.  Sean Hoots, complete with ripped jeans and a tied on flannel, played an acoustic bass and Tom Bendel was on drums.  Just as Nirvana took some liberties for the live recording, Foxhound made this their own as well as they played the whole album end to end sans &qu

- Coolest roundabout discoveries on the net.. I was out and about on the net, following up on some leads. I had been turned onto a band Jason Heath and the Greedy Souls, due to their cool cover of 'Crazy Train' found on their debut release The Vain Hope Of Horse 'Crazy Train is an incredible song as you all should know.  Who doesn't know the Ozzy track most recently made famous again on the MegaMind Soundtrack .  But this is the perfect cover as there is a fantastic departure musically from the original. It's only in instances like this that you are forced to get to know the original song, instead of just banging along to a tune you've known for years and never actually listened to deeply. Of course a click or two later, I'm on the video for 'Anarchist Girl' by Jason Heath and the Greedy Souls, from their Packed for Exile (Sampler EP)   A few clicks later, I'm checking out their site ( www.jasonheathandthegreedysouls.com) .  On

Cool Web Gem: Foster the People @ NPR's Tiny Desk Concert Set List: :"Houdini",current single "Helena Beat" & mega hit "Pumped Up Kicks". I dig this set as it is really a stripped down version of the band. You see it raw and personal. I can appreciate the album more, as I now hear his voice more than I ever did in the heavily produced super fun Torches . Oh, and for those of you wondering "What??" when you hear 'Pumped Up Kicks' Such a great song, but is he for guns and violence? Here's your answers   Fast Fact: Pearl Jam Ten Club memberships have changed .. It used to be that membership was $20 a year, and if the band got around to it, you would get the newsletter and holiday vinyl.  The band has come to terms that some fans are just not into vinyl, but also that we do so much in a digital world. Now you have the choice of Digital or Analog.  Digiital is the same old membership, but no longer getting t

One of my favorite series here @ Root Down in the Shadow by McGurkMusic is the Cover Song of the Week I was listening to some Beck with my little Molly. I came across 'Halo of Gold' and for some reason decided to learn more about the song. I've had a copy of  Beck 's 'Halo of Gold' since 1998 via a  CMJ New Music Monthly  sampler disc.  Sadly, I only found out the history of it today.  I had no idea it was a cover of "Skip" Spence's 'Furry Heroine'  According to Wikipedia on the'Tropicalia' song page, "It was released as a single in the UK in December 1998. The b-side "Halo of Gold" is a drastically reworked cover version of "Furry Heroine (Halo of Gold)" by  Skip Spence ." I've had the Skip Spence  OAR  album on my wish list in iTunes since the Daniel Lefkowitz interview back in April, but I haven't taken the chance yet.  Needless to say, Beck Hanson's stamp of approval seems

I've been contemplating this list for quite some time now.  It is really an exercise in futility for so many reasons.  After watching over 100 shows, it is very hard to break that list down.  What makes the show great: * being a part of the crowd & dripping with sweat at the end? * the sing along * the venue & acoustics? * knowing the lyrics word for word? * the people you went with * getting lost in the experience for 2 hours * the entire day experience? * staying dry, un-injured & happy? * seeing a festival, ampitheater, club show, etc for the 1st time * a 20 person crowd or a 20,000 person crowd? As the nerd I am, I have kept a list through the years of bands that I see.  Different memories jump out as I review the list.  Thinking back to the venues, the friends, the openers, the sound, the fun & experience.  Without a doubt, one thing that hasn't changed through the last 20 years is, my TOP CONCERT OF ALL TIME , is 311 with openers the Phunk Ju