This is enough to make Herman Melville rise from his earthly slumber and headbang along. Led Zeppelin has rarely been handled with more aplomb than instrumental interpreters Bustle In Your Hedgerow, which is comprised of Marco Benevento (keys), Joe Russo (drums), Scott Metzger (guitar) and Dave Dreiwitz (bass). These cats really get inside Zep’s material in such a loving way. Sadly, they don’t get together too often to do their Misty Mountain Hop due to their myriad other obligations. However, lucky East Coasters have a shot at seeing them this coming weekend – Friday, March 9th at Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, NY, and Saturday, March 10th at River Street Jazz Cafe in Wilkes Barre, PA. You can get in the mood by reading Joe Russo’s Gimme Some Skin entry, and here’s a show review for Bustle. In time, DI hopes to get Metzger, Dreiwitz and Benevento to do instrument questionnaires for us, too. And this clip of a recent performance shows what the Bustle boys are capable of. Somewhere Bonzo is smiling.
Posts by Dirty Impound
Unquestionably, one of the coolest double features to hit the touring circuit in 2012 thus far was beloved comfort rockers Wilco and hard charging up & comers White Denim (who released one of DI’s favorite albums of 2011). You can catch Dennis’ full thoughts on this pairing here, but these bang-up shots from lensman extraordinaire Jay Blakesberg go a fair ways towards showing the pleasure and passion of these two bands. Captured at The Warfield in SF (1/29) and The Fox Theater in Oakland (1/31), these images ensnare the enjoyment and in-the-moment feel of the music offered up these nights. It’s a neat trick to pull off without sound but Blakesberg rolls like that.
We asked Brooklyn by way of Burlington’s Rubblebucket to give DI the business, and they didn’t even wait to pull over to do it! These bleary highway warriors just answered the Free Bird call from their roving office, where they are currently on tour, headed to SXSW and points North, West and well, everywhere since they seem to be tireless road dogs. Check ‘em out. Really. They have a tendency to put the zap on one’s head in the swellest ways.
Rubblebucket's Kalmia Traver
Rubblebucket
Balance is a good thing. While AgesandAges – one of DI’s favorite new bands – throws out bright light and color on their uplifting 2011 debut, Alright You Restless, they show off an equal knack for funereal vibes in this video premiere, the second in a monthly series of handpicked cover tunes the band will be rolling out in 2012. Bandleader Tim Perry explains why they tackled this Jay Reatard song: “We covered it because we are fans of the song and the artist. His version is awesome and fast and frantic. We wanted to convey the same feeling of darkness and utter despair, but in our own way. The shitty Portland weather, among other circumstances, made February a good month for this.” The video is directed by Jaclyn Campanaro, and altogether, this one shows that AgesandAges has fine taste and a healthy willingness to move outside of their comfort zone. We’ve included Jay’s original version for comparison purposes.
In this edition: Otis Taylor, Field Music, The Dirty Three, Barry Adamson and Band of Skulls.
While Dirty Impound remains ambiguous about the return of Van Halen – it doesn’t feel totally legit to us without Michael Anthony – our man Ron Hart gave some love to the new album, and we’re pretty happy to see Diamond Dave holding forth again. The internet age with its myriad ways to connect and mouth off seems custom made for a man like Roth, who always seems to thrive best when there’s an audience – onstage, in the bedroom, etc. Case in point, this series of bug-fuck ramblings, ostensibly about tunes on the new album for most part but really more of a Prairie Home Companion from someone who toasted parts of their brain through epic partying for decades on end. Much of what’s said makes almost no sense but still has a whacked fortune cookie feel. Really, it seems like Dave is just glad people are listening to him again. Charlie Sheen figures in one clip, and we like the overalls as a “uniform” for this comeback. If you’re gonna shovel shit it’s good to have the right outfit. Prepare to giggle. Remember kids, as DLR remarks here, “Larceny is like hot sauce. It goes with everything.” A true fount of “good” advice is he!
In many ways, The Beatles serve as rock’s “standards,” fulfilling the same role that the likes of “My Favorite Things” and “Round Midnight” in jazz or “Smokestack Lightning” and “Sittin’ On Top of the World” in blues. The Beatles’ songs have enormous, widespread familiarity and most players worth their salt will be able to jump into most major songs from their catalog. Which brings us to this recent New Year’s Eve performance from The Flaming Lips with special guest shredder Nels Cline, a mammoth, trudging, noisy celebration of this Abbey Road fave, which positively revels in the simple, repeating lines and opportunities for improvisation of the original stretched to absurd lengths. One imagines some truly Dionysian behavior breaking out in the crowd during this one.
If ever a jazz combo knew their way around rock ‘n’ roll it’s Soulive, who unerringly find the sweet spot between high end instrumental prowess and the more populist, gutbucket charms that rock affords. As with all things Soulive, even this flagrant display of hooligan behavior below is accomplished with style and obvious passion. Thanks to DI regular Brad Hodge, who snapped this one a week ago at the Fox Theater in Boulder, CO, where the trio had their way with The Beatles [example video below].
Soulive by Brad Hodge
