It's Election Day

If you don't vote...don't bitch.

Tim O'Brien and Darrell Scott - We're Usually A Lot Better Than This

Early on Tim O'Brien (I believe) quips "we're usually a lot better than this".  Well if that is the case I'd love to hear a good day because the playing and singing on this live disc recorded in 2005 and 2006 and released in October is clinic on how acoustic music should be performed.  Just check out the acapella version of Hank William's House of Gold to whet your appetite for the rest of the record.  Townes Van Zant's "White Freightliner Blues" positively smokes with some killer guitar-mandolin exchanges.  Darrell Scott's "Long Time Gone" is far more bluegrass than the Dixie Chicks version and is far superior (in my opinion).  There is a ton of great playing, singing and songs to be found on this great live record.  Well worth your time if you are even a casual bluegrass or Americana fan.

Usually a lot better than this...hard to believe.

Marley's Ghost - Jubilee

Marley's Ghost is celebrating 25 years of making music this year...and I had no idea about how good a group of musicians they are!  The opening one-punch of Rollin' and Wake Up Mama get things off to a nice country music start (real country sounding not Jason Aldean sounding) with very strong playing (there is not enough steel guitar in 2012) and some really good vocals courtesy of Dan Wheetman.

The album is all over the country map (in a very good way) from the western swing of South for A Change to very strong cuts featuring guests such as John Prine, Emmylou Harris, Old Crow Medicine Show and Marty Stuart.  All of the guests make great turns but this remains Marley's Ghost's show and the results are fantastic.  Another great example of the how ReviewShine can turn people on to sounds that you otherwise would have missed.


Here's a nice version of Levon Helm's Growin' Trade
New York shows please! Bobby Womcack's I Used To Lover Her

Melody Walker - Gold Rush Goddess

It's been a while since I have gone through my ReviewShine downloads and actually gave 'em a listen.  This has been a crazy year and I just haven't seemed to find the time.  Over the past couple of weeks I have been listening to a lot of new stuff while sitting around in the Superstorm Sandy aftermath.  We've been fine at the OldRockr homestead...just short on gasoline!

Melody Walker is a singer-songwriter out of the Bay Area and I have to tell you that I love this record.  I've been playing it quite a bit and continually find something new to like.  Great vocals, strong bluegrass-Americana playing and great songs.  "Gold Rush Goddess" is a little sultry, "Family Band" is a great tune that features The Buck Walters (Humboldt County, CA).  Jacob Groopman is all over the record with some very strong playing but the highlight here is Ms. Walker's vocals. 

A nice California twist on the Americana sound.  You can grab it on her website as a pay what you want release.  Pay something folks 'cause this is a good one.  It's gets the OldRockr1 Seal of Approval for sure.

Bruce Springsteen - Met Life Stadium

I know these shows were a couple of weeks back but life has been pretty hectic for me and I just couldn't find some time to write about them.  I was lucky enough to make it to the second and third nights of the run and as expected Bruce put on a couple of amazing shows.

Night 2 (9/21) 

This was my first time to Met Life Stadium.  It's new.  It's huge.  It reminds me of...well, Giants Stadium but bigger.  I hate stadiums and the only one who could get me there for a concert is Bruce.   This show was a fan's dream...could it be nothing was played off of Darkness?  The setlist was loaded with rarities top to bottom.

SET LIST

1. Living on the Edge of the World
2. Out in the Street
3. Night
4. Hungry Heart
5. No Surrender
6. Lost in the Flood
7. We Take Care of Our Own
8. Wrecking Ball
9. Death to My Hometown
10. My City of Ruins
11. Does This Bus Stop at 82nd Street?
12. Jole Blon
13. This Little Girl
14. From Small Things (Big Things One Day Come)
15. Talk to Me
16. This Depression
17. Shackled and Drawn
18. Mary's Place
19. Waitin' on a Sunny Day
20. Incident on 57th Street
21. Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)

ENCORE

1. Rocky Ground
2. Born to Run
3. Ramrod
4. Bobby Jean
5. Dancing in the Dark
6. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
7. American Land

Night 3 (9/22)
It was Bruce's birthday at midnight so we expected a late night, but nothing like this. There was a 3 hour rain delay (really 2 if you go by the usual start time). Bruce hit the stage around 10:30 and played until well past the midnight hour. 2AM!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Another night of tour firsts and a great party atmosphere rain and all.

SET LIST

1. Out in the Street
2. The Ties That Bind
3. Cynthia
4. Badlands
5. Who'll Stop The Rain
6. Cover Me
7. Downbound Train
8. We Take Care of Our Own
9. Wrecking Ball
10. Death to My Hometown
11. My City of Ruins
12. It's Hard to Be a Saint in the City
13. Jole Blon
14. This Little Girl
15. Pay Me My Money Down
16. Janey, Don't You Lose Heart
17. In The Midnight Hour
18. Into the Fire
19. Because the Night
20. She's the One
21. Working on the Highway
22. Shackled and Drawn
23. Waitin' on a Sunny Day
24. Meeting Across the River
25. Jungleland

ENCORE

1. Thunder Road
2. Rocky Ground
3. Born to Run
4. Glory Days
5. Seven Nights to Rock
6. Dancing in the Dark
7. Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
8. Twist And Shout