Dispatch

Dispatch is a band that broke up in 2002 with a huge cult following.  They mix folk, rock, jam, ska and funk into their music.  They became very popular during the jamband craze more than 10 years ago but broke up before they could break into the mainstream.  They reunited in 2004 for free farewell show in Boston that drew 100,000 fans.  In 2007 they did two reunion shows at Madison Square Garden that sold out within hours.  They are planning another reunion this summer.  You should definitely give them a listen.

Dispatch - Bang Bang (mp3)
Dispatch - Two Coins (mp3)
Dispatch - Hey Hey (mp3)

Gerry Rafferty R.I.P.

Gerry Rafferty who sung such hits as "Stuck In The Middle With You" with Stealers Wheel and "Baker Street" is dead at the age of 63.  I know you listened to him back in the days of AM radio.

Here are more details about his life:  Gerry Rafferty obituary.

Gerry Rafferty - Right Down The Line (mp3)

Here are the Foo Fighters doing "Baker Street":
Foo Fighters - Baker Street (mp3)

More Bing and Bowie sort of

Here is Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly as David Bowie and Bing Crosby.

Peace on Earth/Little Drummer Boy with Will Ferrell & John C. Reilly from Will Ferrell

Bing and Bowie

Here is a classic holiday song from Bing Crosby and David Bowie.

David Bowie and Bing Crosby - Peace On Earth/Little Drummer Boy (mp3)

Dawes

If you have not had a chance to check out the band Dawes you should go listen to their debut album North Hills.  They have a great sound with good lyrics.

Dawes - Give Me Time (mp3)
Dawes - Bedside Manner (mp3)

Mavis Staples

I recently picked up Mavis Staples' new album You Are Not Alone.  It was produced by Jeff Tweedy of Wilco.  The album is good to listen to because it is mixed with blues, gospel and folk.  Good stuff!

Mavis Staples - Don't Knock (mp3)
Mavis Staples - Wrote A Song For Everyone (mp3)
Staple Singers - I'll Take You There (mp3)

Lissie

Lissie is a new artist from Rock Island, IL that I have been listening to quite a bit lately.  She is poppy with a little edge.  She has a very nice sound.  I have also included some interesting covers she has performed live.  She is worth checking out.

Lissie - Cuckoo (mp3)
Lissie - Little Lovin' (mp3)

Kid Cudi - Pursuit of Happiness (mp3)

Lady GaGa - Bad Romance (mp3)

Buffalo Springfield to Reunite

The 60's band Buffalo Springfield will reunite at Neil Young’s annual Bridge School Benefit Concert on October 23 and 24.  The band’s lineup will feature classic members Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina.  Buffalo Springfield has not performed since 1968.

Rain Rain Go Away

photo via @gorillavsbear

We have just been getting hammered by rain in Dallas the past 3 days.  We need the rain but not in this volume.  There were actually tornadoes that touched down yesterday evening.  We need a break.  In the meantime, here are some rainy songs.

Blind Melon - No Rain (mp3)

Bryan Ferry - A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall (mp3)
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Who'll Stop The Rain (mp3)
John Hiatt - Feels Like Rain (mp3)
K-OS - The Rain (mp3)
Paul Weller - Early Morning Rain (mp3)
Red House Painters - I Feel The Rain Fall (mp3)
William Elliot Whitmore - Let the Rain Come In (mp3)
Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble - Texas Flood (mp3)

Happy Birthday Van Morrison

George Ivan Morrison was born on this day 65 years ago.  Many of you know him better as Van "The Man" Morrison.

Van Morrison with Georgie Fame - Early In The Morning (mp3)
Van Morrison - Saint Dominic's Preview (mp3)

I'm Goin' Down

Vampire Weekend covered Bruce Springsteen's "I'm Goin' Down" the other night in concert.  Check how they compare to the original.  Not too bad.

Bruce Springsteen - I'm Goin' Down (mp3)

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings

I just recently started listening to Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings' latest album, I Learned the Hard Way, that came out in April of this year.  Just like their previous album, 100 Days, 100 Nights, this album is great from beginning to end.  Sharon Jones has such a powerful voice and the Dap-Kings are awesome.

Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings - 100 Days, 100 Nights (mp3)
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings - Better Things (mp3)

Recently, at a festival in a Chicago suburb, a teen band (Northbrook Garage) performed a cover version of Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings' "She Ain't a Child No More".  They do a good job.  Here is their version along with the original.

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings - "She Ain't A Child No More" - WOXY Lounge SXSW 2010 from WOXY on Vimeo.

One Eskimo

There is a great band called One Eskimo that the local public radio station, KXT, has been playing.  My wife really likes the song "Kandi" and she wears the kids out every time it plays on the radio.  The song is real catchy especially when they sample Candi Stanton's song "He Called Me Baby".  One Eskimo is definitely worth checking out.

One Eskimo - Simple Day (mp3)
One Eskimo - Kandi (mp3)

Candi Stanton - He Called Me Baby (mp3)

Happy Birthday John Lee Hooker

John Lee Hooker was born on this day back in 1917.  Please take a moment of silence and pour yourself one bourbon, one scotch, one beer.  Then let John Lee Hooker play the blues.

John Lee Hooker - Boom Boom Boom (mp3)

John Lee Hooker with Bonnie Raitt - I'm In The Mood(mp3)

John Lee Hooker with Van Morrison - Gloria (mp3)

Cadillac Ranch

On our way back from Colorado we stopped at Cadillac Ranch just west of Amarillo, TX on I40.  It is a public art display of old cadillacs sticking in the ground of a farm pasture.  If you are ever driving near Amarillo it is worth the stop and make sure you bring spray paint.

 

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Cadillac Ranch (mp3)
Bruce Springsteen - Cadillac Ranch (mp3)
Bruce Springsteen - Pink Cadillac (mp3)
Rosanne Cash - Black Cadillac (mp3)
The Clash - Brand New Cadillac (mp3)
Drive-By Truckers - Carl Perkins' Cadillac (mp3)
Peppermint Harris - Cadillac Funeral (mp3)

Road Trip

I am sure at some point this summer you have loaded up the family in the family truckster and headed out on a road trip.  Here are some great road trip tunes so do not spill your Big Gulp while you are tapping toes and heading on down the road.  Safe travels!

Matt Pond PA - Holiday Road (mp3)

Willie Nelson - On The Road Again (mp3)

John Denver - Take Me Home, Country Roads (mp3)

Old Crow Medicine Show - Wagon Wheel (mp3)

The Replacements - Someone Take The Wheel (mp3)

Steve Earle - Guitar Town (mp3)

James McMurtry - Walk Between The Raindrops (mp3)

Gram Parsons' International Submarine Band - Folsom Prison Blues/That's All Right (mp3)

John Fogerty - Lookin' Out My Back Door (mp3)

Bruce Springsteen - Thunder Road (mp3)

Rolling Stones - Memory Motel (mp3)

Roadside Graves - Holiday Road (mp3)

In Between Days

"In Between Days" by The Cure is a song that always brings back fond memories.  We were all listening to The Cure in the eighties.  Here is a couple of good cover versions by Ben Folds and Superchunk along with the original.

The Cure - In Between Days (mp3)

Superchunk covers The Cure

Jerry Garcia's Birthday

Photo from mannythmovieguy.com

Today is Jerry Garcia's birthday.  If he were still living he would be 68 today.  Happy birthday Jerry!

Grateful Dead - Scarlett Begonias (mp3)
Jerry Garcia - Deal (mp3)

Sarah Jaffe

Last night I took my two older children over to see Sarah Jaffe.  She played a free concert at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas.  It was a great show.  We hooked up with David Beck and his two younger kids.  Here are some pictures from the show along with a picture of David & I with Sarah.

Sarah Jaffe - Vulnerable (mp3)

Jackson Browne Sings "Freebird"