ZZ Top "Manic Mechanic"

One of the FUNNIEST songs I have ever heard.  ZZ Top "Manic Mechanic" from their 1979 "Deguello" record.  Great record on the whole.  But the humor in this song is priceless!  Listen, and you'll understand why.

In memoriam: Doc Watson

Legendary bluegrass guitarist Doc Watson has passed away.  I remember covering one of his songs for a music therapy class I was part of years ago called "Mama Don't Allow No Music" and having a lot of fun with that.  Watson was an innovator in terms of his flatpicking technique on the acoustic guitar, bringing it along with upright bass, banjo, mandolin and fiddle into the core of a bluegrass band.  

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/30/arts/music/doc-watson-folk-musician-dies-at-89.html?emc=na

Here is an example of Watson's playing.  This is a performance from 1979 in which Watson plays the tune, "Tennessee Stud".

Rest In Peace, Doc Watson.  

record collection revisited: Warren Haynes "Live At The Moody Theater"

Warren Haynes and his band did a live performance on their 2011 tour at the Moody Theater in Austin, Texas, and that performance was recently released on a live CD and DVD set.  I have watched the DVD and listened to the CD several times and it's an enjoyable performance, even though it's a bit different as compared to what Haynes is capable of with the Allman Brothers or Gov't Mule (both bands are ones I've seen live before).  Never had the chance to see Haynes with his R&B band live, so this set is as close as I can get to that.  Still, it's fun to listen to.

Haynes tackles many tracks from the "Man In Motion" record as well as some of his other solo songs and assorted, well chosen cover tunes.  The band has two members left over from the studio recording besides Haynes on guitar of course.  Tenor saxophonist Ron Holloway is one, and the other (who made a guest appearance at the concert), is keyboardist Ian McLagan from The Small Faces and The Faces (which were basically the same band, I think).  Correct me if I am wrong on that.  Other band members include vocalist Alecia Chakour, Nigel Hall on keyboards and vocals, Ron Johnson on bass, and Terence Higgins on drums.
For these songs, Haynes relies on his two main semi hollow Gibson ES335 guitars, only playing his signature Les Paul on two of the tunes. 

The band is very tight even though Johnson's bass playing is not as inspiring as one would think.  He's just holding the groove together.  Who can blame him on that one?  That's the job of the bass player, to lock in with the drummer.  Haynes, Chakour, and Hall provide most of the vocals.  Nigel Hall does a good job on backing vocals, just as Ivan Neville did on the record.  He's no slouch on the keys and is very soulful no matter if he's wailing on the B3 or pounding out riffs on the Clavinet or the Wurlitzer piano.

Some of the covers that Haynes chooses in addition to his own songs are very interesting.  He wrote a song with Ziggy Marley called "Dreaming The Same Dream" and performs his solo number, "Fire In The Kitchen" which is, well, hot!  Towards the end of the set, he also covers "Pretzel Logic" by Steely Dan, really putting a groove on it, and "Spanish Castle Magic" by Jimi Hendrix.  Two songs from the end, he performs his original tune "Tear Me Down" (which was featured on this blog a while ago), and absolutely smokes it!

The encore features two songs.  "Your Wildest Dreams" from "Man In Motion", and Haynes' trademark song "Soulshine" that he's played with both the Allman Brothers and Gov't Mule.  There are bonus tracks in the DVD, too including a sound check version of "Hattiesburg Hustle" from "Man In Motion" and Haynes' number, "Patchwork Quilt".  Those, as well as an original tune called "Power And The Glory" are featured on the DVD, but not the CD.

Great record to listen to if you are an Allman Brothers or Gov't Mule fan who wants to hear a new endeavor from Haynes which was an honest experiment I am sure, that turned out to work well.  Here's the track listing by set and not necessarily by disc.

Warren Haynes Band "Live At The Moody Theater"

Set 1:

1. Man In Motion
2. River's Gonna Rise
3. Sick Of My Shadow
4. A Friend To You
5. On A Real Lonely Night
6. Power & The Glory (DVD)
7. Invisible

Set 2:

8. Take A Bullet
9. Hattiesburg Hustle
10. Everyday Will Be Like A Holiday
11. Frozen Fear
12. Dreaming The Same Dream (written by Warren Haynes & Ziggy Marley)
13. Pretzel Logic (Steely Dan cover)
14. Fire In The Kitchen
15. A Change Is Gonna Come (Sam Cooke cover)
16. Spanish Castle Magic (Jimi Hendrix cover)
17. WHB band intro>
18. Tear Me Down

Encore:

19. Your Wildest Dreams
20. Soulshine

DVD bonus tracks

Patchwork Quilt (soundcheck)
Hattiesburg Hustle (rehearsal)

Levon Helm Band "Chest Fever"

Levon Helm would have turned 72 years old yesterday (May 26th).  I had no idea that he and Miles Davis shared the same birthday.  Wow.  To honor Levon (as many have done after his passing and also just because of his wonderful musical legacy), here is a wicked version of The Band's "Chest Fever" featuring Larry Campbell (guitarist for Levon's band), and, Warren Haynes.  Check this out.  Rest In Peace, Levon Helm. 

Sea Level "Storm Warning"

Here's one of the track's I've really been digging off of the recently blogged Sea Level record.  This one is called "Storm Warning".  Check it out.  There may be more of the individual songs blogged in short snippets here soon.  Stay tuned. 

Happy Birthday, Miles Davis

Happy Birthday to Miles Davis!  Today (May 26th) would mark his 86th birthday.  Have a couple Miles fusion albums in mind to write about on the blog and maybe some of his earlier stuff, too.  Stay tuned.

Record Collection revisited: Sea Level “Best Of Sea Level”

The band Sea Level is an interesting one.  The name is a parody on keyboardist Chuck Leavell’s last name.  Leavell is known for his work on B3, as well as acoustic and electric piano.  He’s played with the Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton, the Black Crowes, and the Rolling Stones before.

This band was an Allman Brothers offshoot which had success after the first breakup of the Allman’s in 1976.  Chuck Leavell on keys was joined by Jaimoe (one of the drummers for the Allman Brothers), along with Lamar Williams on bass (a friend of Jaimoe’s also in the Allman Brothers).  Other members rotated around and included (at various points in the band’s career), Davis Causey and Jimmy Nalls on guitars, Joe English on drums, and David Earle Johnson on percussion and congas.

The band did employ a horn section for many of their songs, particularly on this album.  The horn section included:

Charlie Brent           alto & baritone saxophones

Tony DeGrady         tenor saxophone

Ed Dowling              Trumpet

Rodney Lafon           Trumpet

John Robert Smith     tenor saxophone

This band had an interesting sound.  They crossed boundaries between boogie rock, jazz fusion and R&B.  The sound is unique, and pleasing to the ear.  Guitar and keyboards are the dominant forces between Leavell, Nalls and Causey.  Many tunes are instrumental, but there were some written with lyrics as well including what is probably their most well-known track, “Tear Down This Wall” sung by Leavell with backing vocals by master guitarist and songwriter, Tommy Talton who (along with songwriting partner Scott Boyer), has a connection to the Allman Brothers. 

The music is syncopated and has a definite groove along with it’s polished aura and is played by musicians who can really deliver.  It’s maybe a good introduction to fusion jazz because though it’s complex, it isn’t really jarring or bewildering like some of the more well known fusion bands that have been mentioned in this blog before (i.e. Return To Forever or Weather Report).  The album is worth a listen even if people may dismiss a “greatest hits” album as just being something repackaged from a band’s car

Since this band had a relatively brief lifespan, this is a significant recording.  It’s an innovative sound, especially when it comes to the so often cliché and oxymoron term of “southern boogie rock” that was so prevalent in the 1970s.  Here are the songs on the record.

1. Rain In Spain
2. Shake A Leg
3. Tidal Wave
4. Nothing Matters But The Fever
5. That's Your Secret
6. It Hurts To Want It So Bad
7. Storm Warning
8. Midnight Pass
9. King Grand
10. Living In A Dream
11. This Could Be The Worst
12. Tear Down This Wall
13. Canine Man
14. Twenty Miles From Nowhere