My Thermos

A couple of cool YouTube finds today. Go ahead and watch them, they're good. Really.

Jackie Greene & Phil Lesh - Brokedown Palace

We saw Jackie a couple years back at Red Rocks opening for Gov't Mule and were terribly impressed. Was glad to hear he is playing with Phil now, should make for some interesting shows. Here is a beautiful version of brokedown, just amazing.

Gov't Mule - Get Behind The Mule

A great performance of the Tom Waits song by Gov't Mule during the Woody era. A fantastic song - and a great sentiment. If you aren't familiar with Warren Haynes & Gov't Mule - shame on you!!

Tim Easton - Wish You Well

Not sure where I discovered Tim but am really glad I did. A great voice and talented player. Really need to dig deeper into his catalog.

Adam Hood - Fool Of An Honest Man

One of my favorite finds of the past couple years. His 6th Street EP is just brilliant and I am really enjoying his new release. He is making his way to Chicago at the end of the month, am trying to figure out how to make it to see him.

Jackson Browne - These Days

Could easily be one of the greatest songs ever written... Such an amazing songwriter.

and finally

Paul Weller - Brand New Start

One of my biggest regrets is that I have never seen this man live. From his work with The Jam to now, he is an artist I really respect and enjoy.

Ok - that's it. Hope you enjoyed - and perhaps had a chance to see something new.

Cheers!
SB

Please note: Any claim I make as to a song being the Greatest Song Ever Written is only valid while that individual song is currently playing and is subject to change once another Greatest Song Ever Written starts.

Tom Waits - Ol' 55



Enjoy - SB

I've initiated a number of "features" here over the last year including the I Recommend (where I post an album I like), and my VOTD series (where I choose a cool youtube video), neither of which lasted all that long.

This here Build Your Own Best Of series is on it's third week though and shows no sign of stopping. I think this might be a record for me.

So once again inspired by Nat at Mini-Obs, the idea is the same as always:

Pick one of your favorite bands / artists and list 10-15 songs by that band / artist to compile your own best of compilation.

So here goes - The Best of Rush as compiled by me: Continue reading "Build Your Own Best Of III - Rush" »

It's cold here. Really cold. -4 F or -21 F wind chill. I'm currently on the couch in sweats, under a homemade afghan, stealing warmth from a couple of cats, sitting near a space heater, enjoying a wonderful mug of cocoa, and the chill is still in my bones.

Earlier today, my wife wrote about how she is thinking about warmer things like cooking to combat the cold. My brain goes to other things - like music.

So here, in an attempt to trick my head into thinking that I'm not really freezing, are some songs about various things hot:

• Heat Wave - Martha & The Vandellas
• Hot 'Lanta - The Allman Brothers
• Hot Hot Hot - Buster Poindexter (aka David Johansen)
• Hot Fun in the Summertime - Sly & the Family Stone
• In the Summertime - Mungo Jerry
• White Light / White Heat - The Velvet Underground
• Hotter Than Hell - Kiss
• Summer in the City - The Lovin' Spoonful
• Hot Stuff - The Rolling Stones
• Sun Dance - Gov't Mule

Nope - didn't work. I'm still cold.

Cheers
SB

Back in July of 2005 I was toying with the idea of starting my own business. I had an idea, the start of a business plan, and a dream. Tending to be an above board kind of guy, I called the village and asked them about the requirements to register my business where I live.

That was when I met Connie Woolfolk. At the time, Connie worked in the Economic Development Department for The Village of Park Forest and was in charge of issuing business licensing. She was bursting with enthusiasm and very helpful in the answering of my questions.

Her excitement was infectious and a few weeks after my initial exploratory call, I decided to take the plunge and eSeMBe was born.

Connie helped me every step of the way through the licensing and registration. She called me personally to invite me to the quarterly business breakfast that the village hosted, and greeted me with a hug at our first meeting.

She went out of her way to make me feel welcome, and took the time to introduce me to other folks in the village that she thought would be interested in my services. She was a champion for me and my business.

Over the next year or so we worked together often and I never saw her without a smile on her face, and I don't think more than a few minutes ever passed without her laughing or making a joke. When she left the village to work with her family, I hated to see her leave but wished her the best.

Tragically, Connie was killed this last weekend in the senseless shooting of 5 people in a neighboring community.

I'm having trouble writing anything more about that. I still feel like I got punched in the stomach when I think about it.

Sometimes this world just sucks.

SB

(Photo Courtesy of The Village of Park Forest)

I tried to think of a better title for this post - but that really is the reaction I had when I stumbled across Wolfgang's Vault yesterday.



Wolfgang in this case is the legendary Bill Graham and his vault features an amazing collection of poster art, apparel, and of course - MUSIC!!

If you've read more than a few of my posts, you'll know of my fondness for music, particularly live music - and The Concert Vault is the place to find live music. Lots of music. Great music. Lots of great music.

Right now I'm streaming a Genesis show from The Shrine Auditorium, Jan 24, 1975. Featuring the amazing and wonderful Lamb Lies Down on Broadway w/ original vocalist Peter Gabriel, this show is just smoking.

Don't like Classic Old Genesis? How about The Who at The Spectrum Dec 4, 1973 (which is actually next in my queue) or maybe you would prefer Frank Zappa's premier Halloween show at the Palladium Oct 31, 1977.

No?

Perhaps Pink Floyd's Oakland Coliseum show from May 9, 1977 is more to your liking. How about Little Feat from '76, Chicago from 1969, Humble Pie from 1973, Elvis Costello from 1978, Springsteen in 78, or a good healthy dose of The Allman Brothers Band from 71-74, including a great set from The Fillmore West in Jan of 71 that predates the famous Fillmore East shows.

I've just begun to scratch the surface of what is really just an unbelievable collection of live music, and it seems so have they. The process of unearthing and digitizing all of the material accumulated in the vaults is ongoing so new music seems to be made available as it is prepared.

If you are a fan of live music at all, you must, must, must drop whatever you are doing and visit this site.

Now!!

Cheers!
SB

Once again inspired by Nat at Mini-Obs, here is the next in my series of Build Your Own Best Of lists.

The idea - Pick one of your favorite bands / artists and list 10-15 songs by that band / artist to compile your own best of compilation.

My first victim was Led Zeppelin but today we feature The Rolling Stones.

I was just going to post the tracklist from Exile on Main Street as that is the only Stones album one really needs, but I figured I would try to be a bit more open minded. So here goes - The Best of The Rolling Stones as compiled by me: Continue reading "Build Your Own Best Of II - The Rolling Stones" »