Saturday Matinee – Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, The Contours, and Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros is a bit of an enigma to me. Some songs sound like folk busker music, some seem almost evangelical, and then they morph into a psychedelic jug band. Formed by singer Alex Ebert, the band’s name is based on a story he wrote about a messianic figure named Edward Sharpe.

The Contours should need no introduction, but not according to some of the comments in the Utoobage. The 1962 hit Do You Love Me was written by James Brown and Pee Wee Ellis.

A former James Brown impersonator, Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires turned up the soul groove with this retro gem from 2014. Great bassline too.

Happy Memorial Day weekend, stay safe in your travels, and we’ll be sitting on the porch as usual if you want to stop by.

Saturday Matinee – Valerie June, Steve ‘n’ Seagulls & The Forbidden Pigs

Valerie June plays “organic moonshine roots music.” More popular in Europe than the U.S., her recording of “Workin’ Woman Blues” was produced and engineered in Budapest. [via]

A Finnish redneck bluegrass band playing AC/DC with Irish influences and an anvil? Steve ‘n’ Seagulls cover of “Thunderstruck” is awesome. [via]

“Rake My Back” by The Forbidden Pigs (live at the Zoo Bar, Lincoln Nebraska 2001). The missus and I saw them in L.A. about 10 years prior by accident. We went to see The Paladins, and Jimmy & The Mustangs were there, too. The Paladins were great, The Mustangs were loud, but The F Pigs blew everyone away.  Best stunt was when the drummer got up on his stool, took a flip over his kit, landed on his feet and beat the strings of Bacon’s bass. Pure awesome.

Have a great Labor Day weekend, folks. We’re not going anywhere soon.

Saturday Matinee – DZappa plays FZappa

I was talking to a younger co-worker today, and out of the blue he asked what my favorite band was. Good question with an easy answer.

My response was Frank Zappa, any lineup post-Mothers, beginning with “Apostrophe.” Jazz, rock, & pop, Zappa had all genres covered, and he did them all well (especially R&B DooWop). “Peaches En Regalia” is one of my favorite songs [00:54:00].

Zappa was one of the few popular musicians/composers that I would have liked to have met face-to-face, but since I’m not in the industry, and that Frank Zappa passed away years ago, it’s not going to happen.

Dweezil & Co. plays Frank. Jump to 0:2:45 for the start of awesome (and yes, according to FZ, Dweezil was named after his mother’s little toe).

Have a great weekend, folks, and be back here tomorrow.