Sun is shining, the spring is finally here for real. So it was more than welcome to get some Blues-Roots with the American rock duo THE BLACK KEYS and their new album "Delta Kream".
"Delta Kream" is the tenth album, released through Easy Eye Sound and Nonesuch Records on May 14, 2021.
"Delta Kream" is a cover album with their own rendition of the Mississippi artists who inspired them over the years. So this is an album full of hill country blues songs. Here you get some covers of songs by Kimbrough, Burnside, Mississippi Fred McDowell, and others. Each of its 11 tunes sounds like it's really handpicked from their stash of Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney’s favorite tunes, with some nice company of the slide guitarist Kenny Brown, who is known to be playing on some of Kimbrough’s finest albums and the bassist Eric Deaton, a former sideman to R. L. Burnside.
The album opens up with the first single, a cover of "Crawling Kingsnake", a version of Big Joe Williams and John Lee Hooker, where they do an excellent rendition. "Mellow Peaches" is another nice one of Big Joe Williams's creations. Dirty hilly billy blues in the best possible way. Junior Kimbrough is the one who was the inspiration to all this started and his tunes are the most played in their own versions, like the tunes "Stay All Night" that turns out to be more lay back than Junior Kimbrough even if the soundscape is way bigger. The same goes with "Do The Romp", "Sad Days, Lonely Nights", "Walk With Me" and the very soulful and sensitive version of "Come And Go With Me". R. L. Burnside's tunes "Poor Boy A Long Way From Home" have a great stomp, while he sings with a light voice on "Going Down South". Mississippi Fred McDowell's tune "Louise" gets a sleek caress and the old Ranie Burnette's blues classic "Coal Black Mattie" with the marvelous lyrics gets a really dirty rendition. "Delta Kream" is an excellent blues honor record, even if this might feel like a collection of single b-sides and bonus tunes for many KEYS fans. But I do like what I hear and during these spring days it works brilliantly and I'm almost sure this will be played a lot in the upcoming months.
Patrick Carney – Drums
Dan Auerbach – Vocals, Electric Guitar
Sum: Excellent swampy blues roots to add to the collection!
Today's tune "Going Down South" is the second single out of "Delta Kream", enjoy!
On May 14, THE BLACK KEYS releases their tenth studio album, "Delta Kream", via Nonesuch Records. The record celebrates the band’s roots, featuring eleven Mississippi hill country blues standards that they have loved since they were teenagers, before they were a band, including songs by R. L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough, among others.
Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney recorded "Delta Kream" at Auerbach’s Easy Eye Sound studio in Nashville; they were joined by musicians Kenny Brown and Eric Deaton, long-time members of the bands of blues legends including R. L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough. The album takes its name from William Eggleston’s iconic Mississippi photograph that is on its cover.
Today's tune "Crawling Kingsnake" is a blues song that has been recorded by numerous blues and other artists. It is believed to have originated as a Delta blues in the 1920s and be related to earlier songs, such as "Black Snake Blues" by Victoria Spivey and "Black Snake Moan" by Blind Lemon Jefferson.
As "Crawling King Snake", it was first recorded by Big Joe Williams on March 27, 1941. The song is a country-style blues, with Williams on vocal and nine-string guitar and William Mitchell providing imitation bass accompaniment. On June 3, 1941, Delta bluesman Tony Hollins recorded "a markedly different version", which served as the basis for many subsequent versions.
John Lee Hooker began performing "Crawling King Snake" early in his career and included it in his sets after arriving in Detroit, Michigan in the early 1940s. In an interview, Hooker explained that he adapted Tony Hollins' song: "I got that 'Crawling King Snake' from him". Hooker first recorded the song in Detroit on February 18, 1949 for producer Bernard Besman. When it was released by Los Angeles-based Modern Records, "Crawling King Snake" became one of Hooker's most successful singles, reaching number six on the Billboard R&B chart in 1949. Hooker recorded several subsequent versions of the song, including one with Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards for Hooker's 1991 album Mr. Lucky.
The video for “Crawling Kingsnake” was directed by Tim Hardiman and filmed at Jimmy Duck Holmes’ Blue Front Café, which is the oldest active juke joint in America.
Dan Auerbach says: “We were honored to play alongside Kenny Brown and Eric Deaton, who are a direct link to R.L. Burnside and Junior Kimbrough. This is the Mississippi hill country sound that Pat and I first bonded over.”
Vinyl variants for Delta Kream include a standard black double vinyl and an exclusive Purple Haze vinyl. Pre-order now from the Official Shop: https://TheBlackKeys.lnk.to/DeltaKream
John Mellencamp has unveiled his politically charged video for “Eyes on the Prize,” one of the 10 covers that appear on the rocker’s upcoming "Other People’s Stuff".
“Protest songs can still make a difference,” Mellencamp said of the track; for Other People’s Stuff, due out December 7th, Mellencamp collected cover songs he recorded throughout his career from “seminal albums, compilations, unearthed sessions and documentaries.” “Most, if not all, of the songs on Other People’s Stuff come from The Great American Songbook,” Mellencamp previously said in a statement. “These are songs that have been recorded over the last 40 years of my career, but had never been put together as one piece of work. Now, they have.”
John J Mellencamp (born October 7, 1951), previously known as Johnny Cougar, John Cougar, and John Cougar Mellencamp, is an American musician, singer-songwriter, painter, and actor. He is known for his catchy, populist brand of heartland rock, which emphasizes traditional instrumentation. Mellencamp rose to fame in the 1980s while "honing an almost startlingly plainspoken writing style that, starting in 1982, yielded a string of Top 10 singles," including "Hurts So Good," "Jack & Diane," "Crumblin' Down," "Pink Houses," "Lonely Ol' Night," "Small Town," "R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.," "Paper in Fire" and "Cherry Bomb." He released his latest album, Sad Clowns & Hillbillies, on April 28, 2017, to widespread critical acclaim.
Mellencamp have also announced plans to tour in support of his new album on a 2019 “The John Mellencamp Show.” The video accompanying the song comes in time for the midterm elections. Protest songs can still make a difference.
Mellencamp’s “Eyes on the Prize,” a variation on the traditional folk song “Keep Your Hands on the Plow,” was originally performed live by the singer in 2010 as part of The White House Celebration of Music from the Civil Rights Movement special.
Upcoming 2019 Tourdates:
February 7, 2019 - South Bend, IN - Morris Performing Arts Center
February 8, 2019 - Milwaukee, WI - Riverside Theatre
February 10, 2019 - Cincinnati, OH - Aronoff Center for the Arts
February 12, 2019 - Fort Wayne, IN - Embassy Theatre
February 14, 2019 - Rockford, IL - Coronado Performing Arts Center
February 15, 2019 - Peoria, IL - Peoria Civic Center
February 17, 2019 - Grand Rapids, MI - DeVos Performance Hall
February 19, 2019 - Youngstown, OH - Stambaugh Auditorium
February 20, 2019 - Baltimore, MD - Modell Performing Arts Center at The Lyric
February 22, 2019 - Providence, RI - Providence Performing Arts Center
February 23, 2019 - New Brunswick, NJ - State Theatre New Jersey
February 25, 2019 - New York, NY - Beacon Theatre*
February 26, 2019 - New York, NY - Beacon Theatre*
February 27, 2019 - New York, NY - Beacon Theatre*
March 9, 2019 - Louisville, KY - Louisville Palace Theatre
March 10, 2019 - Evansville, IN - Aiken Theatre at Old National Events Plaza
March 12, 2019 - St. Louis, MO - Stifel Theatre
March 14, 2019 - Kansas City, MO - Arvest Bank Theatre At The Midland
March 16, 2019 - Tulsa, OK - Brady Theatre
March 17, 2019 - Memphis, TN - Orpheum Theatre
March 19, 2019 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
March 20, 2019 - Nashville, TN - Ryman Auditorium
March 22, 2019 - Charlotte, NC - Ovens Auditorium
March 24, 2019 - Orlando, FL - Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts
March 27, 2019 - Ft. Meyers, FL - Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall
March 29, 2019 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall
March 30, 2019 - Clearwater, FL - Ruth Eckerd Hall
Monday, New Week, time to introduce "Record Of The Week"
"Live From the Fox Oakland" captures the TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND firing on all cylinders at their Sept 9, 2016 show that fans and band members regard as one of their finest performances to date. "Live From the Fox Oakland" is a fantastic live album, clearly one of the best released in later period of the 21st century. The sound is amazing, you can hear every note that is played, I am totally stunned of the performance, what a joy and presence. The group, led by husband-and-wife duo Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks and the 12-person band, a real travelling circus.
"Live From the Fox Oakland" is an delicious table of Southern snacks, warm, soulful and groovy natural rhythm. It's bluesy with a rootsy feels, splotches of brass, explosive slide guitar and soulful backing vocals. Six of its fifteen tracks originate from last year’s "Let Me Get By". There are many highlights on the album, take for instance "Crying Over You" a groovy tune with Derek on the lead, the jam part is stunning with the organ and the horn section. A cool and really rugged version of Bobby Blands tune "I Pity the Fool". There are a few more classics that gets it's treat, like the nearly 11-minute cover of DEREK AND THE DOMINOS "Keep on Growing", Leonard Cohen’s "Bird on a Wire" done by Susan's soulful vocals, the obscure jazzy tune "Ali".
The 15 tunes are split on 3 disc Vinyl version, was mastered separately and specifically for vinyl to ensure true Vinyl sound and pressed on 180 gram discs for highest sound quality. The double CD (also available with DVD or Blu-ray video) puts you in the middle of the music, making this the perfect way to absorb the impact of THE TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND firing on all cylinders in their natural habitat.
THE TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND is a blues rock group based in Jacksonville, Florida, US. Formed in 2010, the band is led by Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi. Their debut album, Revelator (2011), won the 2012 Grammy Award for Best Blues Album. The band has released three studio and two live albums.
Live from the Fox Oakland album track list:
1. "Don't Know What It Means"
2. "Keep On Growing"
3. "Bird On the Wire"
4. "Within You, Without You"
5. "Just As Strange"
6. "Crying Over You"
7. "These Walls (featuring Alam Khan)"
8. "Anyhow"
9. "Right On Time"
10. "Leavin' Trunk"
11. "Don't Drift Away"
12. "I Want More (Soul Sacrifice outro)"
13. "I Pity the Fool"
14. "Ali"
15. "Let Me Get By"
Sum: "Live From The Fox Oakland" is a new peak of a great American blues rock, a record that should not be missed.
Today's tune "Keep On Growing" taken from their live release "Live From The Fox Oakland."
"Blue & Lonesome" is a covers album by THE ROLLING STONES, their 23rd British and 25th American studio album—released on 2 December 2016. It is the band's first album to feature only cover songs. It is their first studio release since 2005's "A Bigger Bang". "Just Your Fool", a Buddy Johnson cover, was released as the first single from the album on 6 October.
"Blue & Lonesome" was recorded in just three days in December 2015. In April 2016, at the launch of THE ROLLING STONES career retrospective Exhibitionism, the band confirmed their new album due to be released "some time in the autumn". Richards said the album would feature "a lot of Chicago blues". Eric Clapton plays guitar on two tracks. Clapton was recording his own album in the same studio as the Stones were and was asked to play on a few tracks. The album is entirely blues-based, consisting of covers of artists such as Howlin' Wolf and Little Walter.
This is the first album since "Dirty Work" to not feature any guitar playing from Jagger (who instead concentrates completely on vocals and harmonica) and also the first since It's Only Rock 'n Roll to not feature a lead vocal from Richards.
Today's tune is a cover of Eddie Taylor's "Ride 'Em On Down" originally recorded by Taylor in Chicago on 5 December 1955 for the Vee-Jay Label (and released as VJ 185) under the titel ""Shake 'Em On Down". The video features actress Kristen Stewart riding through Los Angeles driving a blue 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback.
The Swedish occult rockers GHOST have released a video for their brand new tune "Square Hammer", taken from their brand-new Popestar EP.
The five-track title is released today (September 16), following third full-length album Meliora, which was launched last year.
GHOST commence a North American tour today – full dates can be found below. They’re planning to follow it up with another European run before starting work on their next album.
GHOST : Popestar EP tracklist
1."Square Hammer"
2."Nocturnal Me" (ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN cover)
3."I Believe" (SIMIAN MOBILE DISCO cover)
4."Missionary Man" (EURYTHMICS cover)
5."Bible" (IMPERIET cover)
Sep 16: Rochester The Armory, NY
Sep 17: New London Revolution Rock Fest, CT
Sep 18: Chester Monster Energy Rock Allegiance Festival, PA
Sep 19: Pittsburgh Stage AE, PA
Sep 21: Cleveland Masonic Auditorium, OH
Sep 23: Memphis Minglewood Hall, TN
Sep 24: Fort Worth Texas Munity, TX
Sep 25: Houston Open Air, TX
Sep 27: Tulsa Brady Theater, OK
Sep 28: St Louis The Pageat, MO
Sep 30: Kansas City Midland Theatre, MO
Oct 01: Janesville Sonic Boom, WI
Oct 02: Louisville Louder Than Life Festival, KY
Oct 03: Detroit The Fillmore, MI
Oct 04: Kalamazoo State Theatre, MI
Oct 05: Cedar Rapids Paramount Theatre, IA
Oct 07: Denver Paramount Theatre, CO
Oct 08: Salt Lake City The Complex, UT
Oct 09: Missoula The Wilma Theater, MT
Oct 11: Calgary MacEwan Hall, AB
Oct 13: Vancouver The Vogue Theater, BC
Oct 14: Seattle The Moore Theater, WA
Oct 15: Eugene McDonald Theatre, OR
Oct 16: Portland The Roseland Theater, OR
Oct 18: Riverside Municipal Auditorium, CA
Oct 20: Los Angeles The Wiltern, CA
Oct 21: Los Angeles The Wiltern, CA
Oct 22: Las Vegas Brooklyn Bowl, NV
Oct 23: Sacramento Discovery Park, CA
Oct 25: Phoenix Comercia Theatre, AZ
Oct 27: Lubbock City Bank Auditorium, TX
Oct 28: San Antonio The Aztec Theater, TX
Oct 31: Little Rock Metroplex, AR
Nov 02: Orlando The Hard Rock, FL
Nov 03: Miami Beach Fillmore Miami Beach, FL
Nov 04: Jacksonville The Florida Theatre, FL
Nov 05: Charlotte The Fillmore, NC
Nov 07: Raleigh The Ritz, NC
Nov 09: Toronto Queen Elizabeth Theatre, ON
Nov 11: Montreal Metropolis, QC
Nov 12: Brooklyn Kings Theatre, NY
Monday, New week and you guys know the drill by now, it's time to introduce this week's "Record Of The Week"
"Songs From The Blackhole" the latest release from the American metal band PRONG. It's a new album full of undeniable cover versions originally recorded by artists such as BLACK FLAG, BAD BRAING; ADOLESCENTS, THE SISTERS OF MERCY, KILLING JOKE, HüSKER Dü and NEIL YOUNG.
At first I thought, a cover album, do they lack of ideas to create something new??? Well since they released the ninth studio album "Ruining Lives" last year they must have something to offer to their fans.
"Songs From The Blackhole" is an eclectic batch of covers, masterfully recorded by Prong. The album contains 10 tracks that have a pretty wide span of tunes that have influence the band during their years. After a few spins on the record I must say that this is a really fun album, they interpret the songs in an excellent manner and adds their own PRONG mark on the songs. That most cover album are pretty obvious, or that the songs choices are more to please than to satisfy their own choices. It feels like they really have chosen the tune them selfs without been influenced by external factors which I like a lot, maybe I'm wrong, but this what I feel when I listen to "Songs From The Blackhole". It's a great cover album with excellent crossover by PRONG. Give it a spin and tell me what you like, start with listen to today's tune!
To sum this up:
"Songs From The Blackhole" is a excellent and entertaining cover album and will be a perfect party record or a excellent finger drumming on the steering wheel in your car.
PRONG is an American metal band formed in 1986. PRONG had two independent releases, Primitive Origins and Force Fed. The albums attracted the attention of Epic Records, who signed the trio in 1989. The group disbanded in 1997 after the Rude Awakening tour, but re-formed in 2002. To date, they have released nine studio albums, one live album, one cover album, four EPs, one DVD and one remix album. A pioneer of the urban metal scene, Prong is fronted by Tommy Victor. Korn's Jonathan Davis, Demon Hunter's Ryan Clark, and NINE INCE NAILS Trent Reznor all cite PRONG as an influence to their musical style.
Songs From The Blackhole - Tracklisting:
1) Doomsday (originally by DISCHARGE)
2) Vision Thing (originally by SISTERS OF MERCY)
3) Goofy’s Concern (originally by BUTTHOLE SURFERS)
4) Kids of the Black Hole (originally by ADOLESCENTS)
5) The Bars (originally by BLACK FLAG)
6) Seeing Red (originally by KILLING JOKE)
7) Don’t Want To Know If You Are Lonely (originally by HÜSKER DÜ)
8) Give Me The Cure (originally by FUGAZI)
9) Banned In D.C. (originally by BAD BRAINS)
10) Cortez The Killer (originally by NEIL YOUNG
Listen to ”Prong - Goofy’s Concern" on Spotify