What makes a great cover?

 

 

 

My guy is on my Spotify account so being the super, sweet woman that I am I decided to listen to some tunes on Youtube.  I then discovered this fabulous cover of Kopecky Family Band playing "All You Do Is Talk"  by another one of my favorite bands BRMC.  Such awesomeness.  I would now like all my favorite bands to cover each other because it makes me so happy.  I really can't even remember if I wrote a post on covers but oh well if I did here's another one. 

 

So there was a time when I really didn't like covers at all.  I thought everyone should play their own music but then I heard some covers that blew me away.  Covers that change the mood, the tempo, the style, the feel of the song.  Some that were better than the original.  So now I'm a fan of covers though it's still embarrassing when I love a cover and DON'T EVEN KNOW IT'S A COVER.  Then I just have to pretend I knew but I feel like an idiot.  Oh well, it's still great to discover new and fabulous music even if you look stupid in the process.  Such as when KFB covered "Tusk" by Fleetwood Mac at their show but I didn't know that until my friend told me.  KFB did a fabulous job on that cover and of course I had to go and listen to the original. 

 

So first up KFB's cover of BRMC.  Check it.   

 

 

 

 

Not better than the original but a great soft interpretation of Three Little Birds by The Postmarks orignally by Bob Marley, of course. 

 

Walking with a Ghost original by Teagan and Sarah covered by the White Stripes

 

 

 

 

Better Be Home by Kasey Chambers covering Crowded House Well I would have shared that song if youtube and blogger would cooperate for me but they aren't.  Good tune though.

 

 

Okay the my favorite version of Lay Lady Lay by Magnet and Gemma Hayes covering Bob Dylan.  I love the song but hate the video.  I suggest you listen to it with your eyes closed. 

 

 

 

Here is Glen Phillips covering Huey Lewis and the News "I Want a New Drug".  Unique cover.  Glen is the singer for Toad the Wet Sprocket.  Grrr that one won't load either but look it up and listen to it. 

 

Okay last one Karen O with Trent Reznor covering Led Zepelin's "Immigrant Song"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My imaginary walk on songs

So I'm at the Rangers game last night and I start thinking what songs I would have as walk on songs if I were a Texas Ranger.  Admittedly, I will never be a Texas Ranger.  I played softball because my friends co-ed team needed more females.  That is pretty much all I brought was my femaleness to the game.  I felt like I hit a home run if my bat made contact with the ball.  Foul ball - didn't matter.  Easily caught pop up - still didn't matter.  My bat hit the ball, therefore I am awesome. lol.

So what makes a great walk up song.  It has to get you pumped and the crowd pumped.  It has to start strong because you don't get too hear too much before you're at bat. 

Howlin for you by Black Keys - That will definitely work. 

I have to have some BRMC.  I've decided on Spread your Love just because it has such a strong recognizable opening. 

Juicebox by the Strokes

Bring It by Trapt - awesomeness for a walk on song

 

Japandroids - The House that Heaven Built

So while I'm at this I would also like to make a playlist for the fireworks show too.  Really, Rangers, I love you but Ghostbusters?  You can do so much better than that.  I would like to create a job for myself that shall have the title Person in charge of Awesome Music at Rangers games.  Some little perks I would add to my million dollar contract would be that I get to sit next to Nolan Ryan at all games, rub Yu's shoulders before he takes the field and get to kiss Ian on the lips whenever I feel like it.  Yes, I have a rich fantasy life. 

My seven favorite albums of 2013 (so far)

 

 

When you favorite song after song on an album, you know that's going to be a favorite.  I think Kacey is just fresh and fun and so talented.  My favorite songs from this album are "It is What It Is", "Follow Your Arrow" and "Merry Go Round".

 

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club is one of my absolute favorite bands and their new album did not disappoint.  I love the title which is from Shakespeare.  They were one of the top shows I've been to this year.  Honestly, they're one of my top shows ever.  My favorite song from this album is "Firewalker".  I also love "Hate the Taste" and "Let the Day Begin".  Also I cannot mention BRMC without mentioning how much I love Peter Hayes!  Peter Hayes, I adore you!

 

 

I just love Dawe's mellow, Americana, folky sound.  I caught a short set from them at the KXT Summer Cut.  I hope to see a whole show from them some day.  I feel like they were just finding their groove when they were cut short.  My favorite songs from this album are "Most People", "Just Beneath the Surface" and "Someone Will".  I also dig "From a Window  Seat" for the Steely Dan sound and the lyric about eating boots. 

 

Ah, a brand new to me band. They are Irish and fabulous.  "The John Wayne", "Harper Lee" and "Big Red Dragon" are my favorites.  I believe they were at SXSW but I don't think they've been to the DFW area yet.  I would love to catch their show. I think you can be Irish and Americana too.

 

 

 

Jason Isbell is such a great song writer.  I love, love, love the song "Live Oak".  My favorite lyric "There's a man who walks beside me, It is who I used to be, I wonder if she sees him and confuses him with me".  It just speaks to me when you are a changed person, a new different person but you look the same to everyone who sees you.  "Traveling Alone", "Elephant" and "Super 8" are all fun songs.

 

 

Another fabulous, I'm using the word fabulous too much.  Another awesome band from Austin, the Wheeler Brothers.  New to me but not new.  I love this album.  My favorite songs "Straight and Steady", "My Time", "You've Got A Lot of Love" and "Cigarette Smoke are some of my favorites.  I am hoping to catch their show at Queen  City Music Hall in Fort Worth. 

 

Vampire Weekend is just some great, chill music.  "Diane Young", "Obvious Believers" and "Step are some of my favorites. 

 

 

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at House of Blues Dallas

 

Such an incredibly awesome show!!! Absolutely the best show that I've been to this year and BRMC is always in my top five best shows I've seen! Now admittedly I'm biased because I love, love, love them and I have a mad crush on Peter Hayes but truly an amazing show.  I've been writing this post in my head for the past two days.  I was too sleep deprived to get to this before now.  I had to go to work the next morning which is always a bummer but absolutely worth it. 

I discovered BRMC maybe five years ago when I saw them at the Grenada in Dallas.  I'm thinking it must have been 2007 because I remember loving the songs from Baby 81 and at that time I was not into the Howl songs at all.  My appreciation of Howl has grown.   What I do know is that I was an instant fan.  I couldn't even see Peter's face with all his hair but he just exuded cool. 

This was the second time I saw them and so much better because I know most of the songs this time.  BRMC has some very hard, driving songs and then more ambient and introspective songs.   It's a great mix and they hit it hard then pull back.  It keeps the show fresh.  They're not very chatty on stage but that keeps the cool vibe going.  They let the music speak.  Also they play for a long time.  I really think longer than any other band I've seen, a solid two hours and maybe even a little longer than that.  Now that they have six albums I know it's not possible for them to play everyone's favorites songs but there were a few I would have loved to hear that didn't make it.

Now I'm really considering getting the old lady seats in the balcony next time.  Being short stinks.  Always there is a tall guy in front of me.  I finally get around or beside the tall guy and somehow another tall guy pops up in front of me.  I love being in middle of the crowd.  I love feeling the energy and working my way up closer to the stage.  I would say the last half of the show I was able to see without standing on my tiptoes peaking between shoulders.   I'm just thinking it's a trade off between being close and being able to see.  Still sitting at a show seems lame. I want to feel the bass coming up through the floor. I want to be a part of it not an observer.

 

So if you haven't listened to Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, I say listen to them and love them.  I really don't know how anyone could not appreciate their music.  Here's the set list.  It was a fabulous night!

Let the Day Begin - The Call cover
Rival
Red Eyes and Tears
Hate the Taste
Beat the Devils Tattoo
Whatever Happened to My Rock n Roll
Ain't No Easy Way
Berlin
666 Conducer
Returning
You Run - acoustic Robert
Devil's Waiting - acoustic Peter (Note: I wanted to junk punch those talking during this song)
Fire Walker
Windows
Conscience Killer
Stop
Love Burns
Lullaby
In Like the Rose
White Palms
Funny Games
Six Barrel Shotgun
Spread You Love

Encore:

Sell It
Lose Yourself

 

Also I want to buy Peter a gift of a quit smoking hypnosis CDs and Nicorette. I want him to live forever or at the very least longer than me.

 

BRMC - Firestarter

 

 

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's new album Specter at the Feast is out.  So many great songs and I like them more the more I listen to them.  This is Firewalker.  I'm so looking forward to seeing them at the House of Blues Dallas in April.  I think its been five years since I've seen them and I'm interested to see what's new and different since then besides their new drummer.  My favorite lyric "maybe I'm too far to reach, what's inside of you is inside of me"  I also have always loved Peter but find myself appreciating Robert more and more.   I love that bass at the beginning of this song.  There's just something about the way you can feel the bass come through the speakers and vibrate in your being.