March 2025 Challenge Thread - Live Music (Really) Is Better!

Day 20 - Play a ‘supergroup’ or an artist that’s also been part of a larger group.

I mean, just check out his band on Earthling (and the Earthling tour):

Reeves Gabrels (lead guitar): Tin Machine, The Mission, Deaf School, Sandie Shaw, The Rolling Stones, Ozzy Osbourne and The Cure.
Gail Ann Dorsey (bass, vocals, keyboards): Tears for Fears, The National, Lenny Kravitz, Bryan Ferry, Boy George, the Indigo Girls, Khaled, Jane Siberry, The The, Skin, Gwen Stefani, Charlie Watts, Seal, Gang of Four, Susan Werner, Ani DiFranco and Dar Williams.
Zachary Alford (drums, percussion): The B-52's, Bruce Springsteen, Psychedelic Furs

Mike Garson (keyboards): Nine Inch Nails, St. Vincent, Duran Duran, Free Flight, The Smashing Pumpkins, Melissa Auf der Maur, CSS and The Pretty Reckless.


David Bowie - Earthling

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Switched turntables as I’m starting lunch prep.
 
Day 13: Tash Sultana October 2019, Ohana Festival – As opposed to The Strokes, Tash played a mellow yet spectacular sunset set. Just her looping various instruments creating a great collage. Was wholly unfamiliar with her before, but have made it a point to see her every time since. Play something by a solo artist.

Ani DiFranco – Ani DiFranco
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Day 23: Björk / Interpol / Jesus & Mary Chain / Arctic Monkeys / Gillian Welch & David Rawlings / Noisettes April 2007, Coachella – Play someone you saw at a festival, or someone who you would have headline your dream festival.

For a few years, I was part of a crew that taped every show at the Hopscotch Music Festival. It was hard work. It was also a complete blast.

My first year was 2012. Our team taped 175 shows over 3 days in 15 different venues. Quite a feat.

The great thing about the inaugural pass of documenting this festival is the organizer pretty much let us (the tapers) choose what gigs we wanted to cover. And with that, my musical Groundhog Day was born.

On night two, I taped Built To Spill, The Jesus And Mary Chain and Yo La Tengo back to back to back. BTS & JAMC played the same stage. After they both killed it, I had to quickly break down the gear and hustle a couple blocks away to get set up for YLT.

Every band was great and, with that said, I feel compelled to represent each here. The crazy thing - none of these recordings have seen the light of day as far as mass sharing goes. Since I was given free entry and press credentials as a taper, the festival organizers retained all rights to the recordings. After 5 years I actually put one of these shows up on Dimeadozen because I'm all about freely giving good music to good people. Within a couple hours, it was taken down.

This is my under the radar way of getting some of this stuff out there...



Built To Spill - 'Conventional Wisdom'. The earth physically moved...






The Jesus And Mary Chain - Hopscotch Montage. A collage of songs performed throughout the set melded together...






Yo La Tengo - 'Time Fades Away'. Of course, you want to start your festival set off with a more obscure, blazing, 8-minute Neil Young cover, right @imtheocean?




Built To Spill - Live

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Day 23: Björk / Interpol / Jesus & Mary Chain / Arctic Monkeys / Gillian Welch & David Rawlings / Noisettes April 2007, Coachella – Play someone you saw at a festival, or someone who you would have headline your dream festival.

For a few years, I was part of a crew that taped every show at the Hopscotch Music Festival. It was hard work. It was also a complete blast.

My first year was 2012. Our team taped 175 shows over 3 days in 15 different venues. Quite a feat.

The great thing about the inaugural pass of documenting this festival is the organizer pretty much let us (the tapers) choose what gigs we wanted to cover. And with that, my musical Groundhog Day was born.

On night two, I taped Built To Spill, The Jesus And Mary Chain and Yo La Tengo back to back to back. BTS & JAMC played the same stage. After they both killed it, I had to quickly break down the gear and hustle a couple blocks away to get set up for YLT.

Every band was great and, with that said, I feel compelled to represent each here. The crazy thing - none of these recordings have seen the light of day as far as mass sharing goes. Since I was given free entry and press credentials as a taper, the festival organizers retained all rights to the recordings. After 5 years I actually put one of these shows up on Dimeadozen because I'm all about freely giving good music to good people. Within a couple hours, it was taken down.

This is my under the radar way of getting some of this stuff out there...



Built To Spill - 'Conventional Wisdom'. The earth physically moved...






The Jesus And Mary Chain - Hopscotch Montage. A collage of songs performed throughout the set melded together...






Yo La Tengo - 'Time Fades Away'. Of course, you want to start your festival set off with a more obscure, blazing, 10-minute Neil Young cover, right @imtheocean?




Built To Spill - Live

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This is one of my whales and it makes no sense to me that they haven't repressed it.
 
Day 20: L.A.M.F. / Jessie Malin December 2017, Belly Up Tavern
Play a ‘supergroup’ or an artist that’s also been part of a larger group.

Golden Smog - Weird Tales
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A supergroup consisting of members of The Replacements, Wilco, The Jayhawks, Soul Asylum (amongst others).

I've spent most of my life in California, except a few years in Chicago and Minneapolis. The first show I saw when I moved to San Diego was at the aforementioned Belly Up Tavern, and it was Golden Smog. Jeff Tweedy was part of this run and (although its not on this setlist link) and performed a lovely version of Pecan Pie off of the Down by the Old Mainstream album. Plus a cover of Neil Young's Revolution Blues. Can never have enough Neil.

 
Day 23: Björk / Interpol / Jesus & Mary Chain / Arctic Monkeys / Gillian Welch & David Rawlings / Noisettes April 2007, Coachella – Went primarily for Björk and the first Jesus & Mary Chain show in 6 years. This was back when Coachella sold one day passes. Saw a fantastic variety of bands that day. Play someone you saw at a festival, or someone who you would have headline your dream festival.

I've referenced the Ohana Festival a few times in this prompt, its held in Dana Point on Doheny State Beach. Excellent venue right on the water as @Matt M can attest to, was a pleasure to finally meet up with him last year.

The first festival I went to at this venue was the now discontinued Doheney Heritage Music Festival. Los Lobos headlined (and never fail to put on a great show), and we caught Dirty Dozen Brass Band too.

Robert Randolph & The Family Band were on early in the day, and captured all the energy and spontaneity of the Live at the Wetlands album that they haven't been able to tap into since in my opinion.

The highlight though was getting to see Lucinda Williams for the first time, along with Doug Pettibone on guitar. So good.

Lucinda Williams ~ Live @ The Fillmore

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Day 14: Oingo Boingo December 1986, Hollywood Palladium – One of my favorite memories of my late friend Jim was seeing Oingo Boingo with him and jumping around in the pit. Play something for a friend.

Sarah Jane Scouten – When The Bloom Falls From The Rose
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This is for Meg. We met 20 years ago and she quickly became my little sister, for all intents and purposes. We've taken the train across the country together and hitchhiked halfway home; we've been in the trenches of running a cafe and running festivals together: and we've shared many a stage, though not for years now. Meg is also the one who introduced me to Sarah Jane Scouten and her music, so spinning this always puts her on my mind.
 
Day 15: Flight To Mars May 2012, The Casbah – Flight To Mars was a UFO cover band formed by Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, and raised money every year for Chron's & Colitis foundation. 2012 was the one year they did a small tour, and it was great to see Mike in a small (250 person) room. Best part of the night was when Ace Frehley popped up on stage for Black Diamond. Play something with a guest star.

Missy Elliott – Under Construction
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Bunch of guest stars on this one.
 
Day 23: Björk / Interpol / Jesus & Mary Chain / Arctic Monkeys / Gillian Welch & David Rawlings / Noisettes April 2007, Coachella – Play someone you saw at a festival.

2004 Bonnaroo. We only watched about half their set, we wanted to see Buckethead for a bit. My favorite set of the entire weekend was Wilco but I saw this record on the shelf, and haven't spun it in quite awhile.

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Day 24: The Beat Farmers November 1990, The Barn at UC Riverside - The Beat Farmers were led by the late, great Country Dick Montana who died onstage in 1995. One of the best bar bands I’ve seen. Play something by someone who leaves it all on stage.

I've never seen a Nick Cave show where he held back one iota of his emotional, spiritual and physical being. His concerts are religious experiences. If you've never had the opportunity, I really hope you do.

A nice pull from the friendly acoustics of Thomas Wolfe Auditorium. I was 3/4 the way up the mezzanine left of center and it's still a decent soundstage. Love that room...


From Her To Eternity...



Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Live From KCRW

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Day 20: L.A.M.F. / Jessie Malin December 2017, Belly Up Tavern – This was a celebration of the Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers album of the same name, with the lineup being Walter Lure (Heartbreakers), Mike Ness (Social Distortion), Clem Burke (Blondie), Glen Matlock (Sex Pistols). Play a ‘supergroup’ or an artist that’s also been part of a larger group.

Czarface "The Odd Czar Against Us" (2019 Silver Age)
Supergroup comprising Ghostface Killah with 7L & Esoteric.

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Day 21: Yngwie Malmsteen May 2019, House of Blues– Went with a friend who wanted to see some shredding. Fully enjoyed the experience. Play something with a shredding guitar solo.

Led Zeppelin "Presence" (1976 Swan Song Japan)
Achilles Last Stand has an epic shredding guitar solo.

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Day 24: The Beat Farmers November 1990, The Barn at UC Riverside - The Beat Farmers were led by the late, great Country Dick Montana who died onstage in 1995. One of the best bar bands I’ve seen. Play something by someone who leaves it all on stage.

Besides being where I was introduced to the Beat Farmers, the Barn is also where I first saw Mike Watt with fIREHOSE a few times in the late 80's/early 90s. Seen him a few times in other iterations/bands since, and he never fails to give less than his all.

Bringing it full circle, the Beat Farmers do a hootenany every once in a while to celebrate their legacy, and bring special guests. Wayne Kramer, Jesse Hughes, Jack Tempchin have all been involved, and Watt showed up a few years ago to sing "Happy Boy" with the Beat Farmers, where the pic below is from. Also adding Country Dick's drum kit, cause its too good not to.

Minutemen ~ Double Nickels on the Dime

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Day 22: Grateful Dead December 1989, Great Western Forum – Hearing the Dead bust out Help On The Way --> Slipknot! --> Franklin’s Tower to start the second set was a surprise in the best possible way. Play a rarity, or something that would blow you away if you heard it live.

Robyn "Body Talk" (2010 Konichiwa Records; 2019 RSD version)
Apparently, this pressing has shot way up in value, now hitting the US$350 median mark. So I'll call it a rarity.

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Day 23: Björk / Interpol / Jesus & Mary Chain / Arctic Monkeys / Gillian Welch & David Rawlings / Noisettes April 2007, Coachella – Went primarily for Björk and the first Jesus & Mary Chain show in 6 years. This was back when Coachella sold one day passes. Saw a fantastic variety of bands that day. Play someone you saw at a festival, or someone who you would have headline your dream festival.

The Flaming Lips "Embryonic" (2009 Warner)
I already played some Flaming Lips this month, but their show headlining a Saturday at the Ottawa Blues Festival (yes, it's not really a "blues" festival), touring this album, was fantastic.

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Day 23: Björk / Interpol / Jesus & Mary Chain / Arctic Monkeys / Gillian Welch & David Rawlings / Noisettes April 2007, Coachella – Went primarily for Björk and the first Jesus & Mary Chain show in 6 years. This was back when Coachella sold one day passes. Saw a fantastic variety of bands that day. Play someone you saw at a festival, or someone who you would have headline your dream festival.

The Flaming Lips "Embryonic" (2009 Warner)
I already played some Flaming Lips this month, but their show headlining a Saturday at the Ottawa Blues Festival (yes, it's not really a "blues" festival), touring this album, was fantastic.

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The Lips shows can be hit or miss for sure. I've seen a few that stand out as some of the best shows I've seen, and others that just fell flat.

Fun fact that I think I've shared before. Yoshimi was also a Musical that was supposed to go to broadway, but I've never seen any other productions beyond the initial pre-broadway run here in San Diego that I was lucky enough to win tickets to through a radio station giveaway. Was primarily comprised of Soft Bulletin / Yoshimi / At War With The Mystics songs in a relatively coherent storyline if I remember correctly.

 
Day 16: Drive~By Truckers May 2010, House of Blues – I’ve seen the DBT many times over the years, and more often than not they close out with Let There Be Rock, which name checks bands that Patterson Hood saw, or didn’t see, and includes this refrain at the end:

So I never saw Lynyrd Skynyrd
But I sure saw Ozzy Osbourne with Randy Rhoads in 82
Right before that plane crash.
And I never saw Lynyrd Skynyrd but I sure saw AC/DC
With Bon Scott singing, "Let There Be Rock Tour".


Play something by an artist you wish you could have seen.

Tracy Chapman – Tracy Chapman
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