GOTTA RUN . . .
Busy stretch the next couple days (but I got a jump-start on the Friday post over the weekend, so it's coming tomorrow. Hell, high-water, or anything else be damned).
By the way, the show last night was pretty good, even though I still wouldn't know one of their songs if I heard it. They covered a Modern Lovers tune during the encore, which was the best, rockingest song in the show.
Anyone have a good cover-at-a-live-show tale to tell? Or any other cool concert story?
By the way, the show last night was pretty good, even though I still wouldn't know one of their songs if I heard it. They covered a Modern Lovers tune during the encore, which was the best, rockingest song in the show.
Anyone have a good cover-at-a-live-show tale to tell? Or any other cool concert story?
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posted by Mike at 9:49 AM
10 Comments:
Okay, way back in my law school days -- and after that because I always needed the cash -- I was part of the Houston Rodeo video crew (this crew was essentially the same as the Astros video crew since the events were in the same facility).
The big star for the day in question was one Billy Ray Cyrus. Now, you can only do Achy Breaky Heart so many times in one concert, so Billy Ray, needing another song to fill out his time, did these Boots Are Made for Walking. And, well, Billy ain't quite Nancy Sinatra, especially when he's wearing tennis shoes.
Now, I was on the floor of the Dome, about 10 feet away, and in view of the cameras, so I had to be careful not to laugh, but, I've got to tell you, it's one of the funniest things that I've ever seen. I know I could hear people in the audience laughing.
A few years ago I saw Ben Folds, Guster and Rufus Wainwright together on tour, and Ben Folds and Rufus Wainwright did a hilarious cover of George Michael's "Careless Whispers"
Ben Folds also does a great cover of Dr. Dre's "Bitches Ain't Shit" and The Cure's "In Between Days".
I saw Richard Thompson for the millionth time last night (we're both old), so although he didn't play either yesterday, I'd like to offer up his versions of "Kiss" and "Oops! I Did It Again." The first is amazing because it's a huge surprise a single white guy with a guitar can do it so well. The second is amazing because who knew anyone could do it well?
Two recent ones, both taking place at SummerStage in Central Park.
First, saw Death Cab for Cutie with the Decemberists opening. They both came out together for the encore, which was a smoking cover of Duran Duran's "Hungry Like The Wolf."
Second, saw Arcade Fire at the same stage, and for their encore they came out and did David Bowie's "Queen Bitch." And they brought Bowie out to sing it with them.
i've been killing live shows with a reggae cover of the archie's sugar, sugar. working on doing the same to three dog night's cover of buckwheat stevenson's shambala. i've been also successful playing cyndi lauper's time after time on my 5-string. start it out instrumental, then i watch the crowd struggling through that whole "i know this song, but. . ." thing. then when i start the lyrics they go into recognition and relief. shit like that's fun.
Which Modern Lovers song?
Oh, and I don't care how busy you are: You must drop in on the Tourney Thread.
Ben Folds also does a great cover of Dr. Dre's "Bitches Ain't Shit"
Know what's funny? I heard the real version of that for the first time last night on my iTunes shuffle. I was three minutes into it before I realized, Hey, this is that song Ben does!
Them's some wacky covers. Britney, Nancy Sinatra, Billy Ray Cyrus, George Michael,Prince, Duran Duran, Dr. Dre and The Archies in one permutation or another. Whoa.
Toast, the Modern Lovers song was "Someone I Care About."
Oh, a couple of years ago, I saw Liz Phair. In her encore, she did The Cars' "Just What I Needed" and she did some Chicago song. She did a good job on The Cars, but it was one of Chicago's mid-70s power ballads, and Liz just ain't at her best when she does power ballads.
When I saw PJ Harvey at Irving Plaza in '92, she did "Highway 61 Revisited," and knocked it out of the park. But that was part of her regular repertoire.
The first time I saw The Dead, in Rochester in '88, the opened their second set with "Green Onions." Little did I know I was witnessing the first -- and last -- time they ever did it.
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