Godspeed You! Black Emperor Live At Sojus (1998)

This music blog is a hobby. I do it because I enjoy sharing music. I’ve mentioned several times how much tape trading through the mail played an important role in my musical development. I’ve shared lots of live concerts that I was first exposed to during my tape-trading days.

Today we return to those roots and feature a show by Godspeed! You Black Emperor. 12.17.98. Live at Sojus, Monheim, Germany. This remains one of the most pristine live recordings I have come across. I don’t tape trade any more but this one always holds a special place in my memory. I vividly remember putting this on and writing a paper (with headphones on) in one of the seminary lobbies where I used to study.

I have also shared my personal giddiness every time one of these personally-memorable shows is already available online so that I don’t have to upload, label, and all that crap. This is one of my favorites.

Oh, and feel free to skip the “Intro.” Otherwise, Enjoy.

Setlist:

1. Intro

2. The Dead Flag Blues

3. Moya

4. World Police And Friendly Fire

5. She Dreamt She Was A Bulldozer, She Dreamt She Was Alone In An Empty Field -> String Loop Manufactured During Downpour”

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Cowboy Junkies Sessions at West 54th

That’s right. We’re back on the Sessions at West 54th train. This time with Cowboy Junkies.

The group was paired with Kronos Quartet and the episode originally aired 09/06/98)

Sorry, not sure of the setlist on this one.

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Vic Chestnutt Sessions at West 54th

Of course you knew we’d be visiting the Sessions at West 54th files today. And today we found this gem from Vic Chestnutt from Season 02 when David Byrne was hosting. I don’t think I recorded this one (not sure why) but I do remember watching it. Lambchop was Vic’s band.

Enjoy

Setlist:

• Maiden

• Until The Led

• Duty Free

• Kick My Ass

• ~interview~

• New Town (solo)

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Sonic Youth Sessions At West 54th

Imagine a time when Sonic Youth was beamed into PBS stations covering 85% of the country. Such was the magic of Sessions at West 54th, the three-season live music extravaganza hosted by KCRW’s Chris Douridas (Season 01), David Byrne (Season 02) and John Hiatt (Season 03). So far we’ve featured sessions from Medeski Martin and Wood with DJ Logic, Phish, David, Byrne, and Beck.

Sonic Youth appeared on Season 01 paired with Bill Frisell.

Setlist:

• Anagrama

• The Ineffable Me

• Wildflower Soul

• Stil

• Female Mechanic Now on Duty

• Hits of Sunshine (for Allen Ginsberg)

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Beck Live For Sessions At West 54th

Beck performs for Sessions at West 54th, season one with host Chris Douridas. 09/07/97

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David Byrne Sessions at West 54th

As long as we’re jumping down the Sessions at West 54th Rabbit Hole, here’s another one that I remember recording but for some reason no longer have. David Byrne performed for season 01 of the show while KCRW’s Chris Douridas hosted, before himself becoming host for season 02.

Setlist and Times:

• 0:32 -  Fuzzy Freaky

• 5:54 -  Making Flippy Floppy

• 12:01- Take Me To The River

• 17:54- Help Me Somebody

• 22:06- Dance On Vaseline

• 27:04 -Back In The Box

• 33:30- Miss America

• 39:21- Psycho Killer

• 44:16- I Zimbra.

The Players:

• Lead/Backing Vocals – Christina Wheeler

• Bass, Guitar, Vocals – Desmond Foster

• Drums, Sampler – Rea Mochiach

• Lead Vocals, Guitar – David Byrne

• Steel Guitar, Keyboards, Guitar – Bruce Kaphan

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Medeski Martin and Wood with DJ Logic Live: Sessions At West 54th

I still have this show on VHS.

I don’t have a VHS player.

Technically this doesn’t fall in the “I had this show via tape trading” category that a lot of things I post. I recorded this on to VHS directly from my faithful local PBS station. I remember watching it.

I don’t know if you remember, but Sessions at West 54th was a New York variation of Austin City Limits. Originally hosted by KCRW’s Chris Douridas, David Byrne took over hosting duties beginning of the second season while John Hiatt hosted the third season. Yes, PBS is that cool.

Enjoy:

I never took the time to write down a setlist but the Wikipedia blurb for this episode of the show (Season Two Episode 06 originally aired 08/14/98) lists:

• Wiggly's Way

• Coconut Boogaloo

• Latin Shuffle

Enjoy.

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The Smiths, Top Of The Pops (1983 - 1985)

“Top of The Pops performances ranging from '83 to '85 are now available on The Smiths' official YouTube Channel. 'Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now', 'William, It Was Really Nothing', 'How Soon Is Now?' and 'This Charming Man' are all available to watch now.”

“This Charming Man” (Live on Top of The Pops '83)

“Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now” (Live on Top of The Pops '84)

“William, It Was Really Nothing (Live on Top of The Pops '84)

“How Soon is Now?” (Live on Top of The Pops '85)

The band also recently released several remastered official music videos:

“The music videos for 'This Charming Man', 'Ask' and 'How Soon Is Now' have been remastered in HD and are now available to watch on The Smiths' official YouTube channel.”

• Visit the Smiths’ official website

• Visit the Smiths’ official Youtube page for all the videos

• Follow the Smiths at Facebook

• Purchase the Smiths’ music at Amazon

Fela Kuti "Teacher Don't Teach Me Nonsense"

Fela’s website says this is what was happening in 1984:

“On 4 September, as Fela is about to board a plane from Lagos to New York to start a US tour, he is arrested on charges of currency smuggling. The Afrika 70 musicians board the plane, believing Fela will be allowed to follow on a later flight. Instead, Fela is held pending trial.”

“The band plays a few US gigs then, with no sign of Fela, returns to Nigeria. In court, Fela explains that he declared the £1,600 found on him on a Customs Declaration form, but – to widespread disbelief - the police say that this has been “lost.” Customs officials who offer to testify that Fela is telling the truth are held in detention and so are unable to appear in court. Fela is sentenced to five years. First held in Kiri-Kiri Prison in Lagos, he is then moved to one further away, in Maiduguiri in the north of the country. Femi and Egypt 80 continue to perform at the Shrine.”

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Soul Coughing (1996 Houston)

As I’ve mentioned before, one of the things I like doing here at Ye Olde Music Blogge is to post concerts that I first came across when I used to do a lot of tape trading. Yes, through the mail. People would make copies of concerts and trade them and mail them across the world. It was glorious and probably still goes on. I never had many Soul Coughing shows but I did have a cassette copy of this 11.01.97 show from the Urban Art Bar in Houston, TX.

I just realized the other day that there is also video for the show. So, I says to myself: “Self: why not go ahead and post that video for the fine folks who happen by Ye Olde Music Blogge?” And, well, danged if you didn’t know; that’s exactly what I did.

Enjoy.

The Deets:

Soul Coughing - (live)
Urban Art Bar
Houston,Tx
11.1.96
(8mm Master)

Setlist:

1. Soft Serve

2. White Girl

3. Disseminated

4. Down to This

5. Don't Go Wreck the Car

6. Soundtrack to Mary

7. City of Motors

8. Moon Sammy

9. Paint

• Purchase Soul Coughing music at Amazon

• Hear “His Truth Is Marching On” by Mike Doughty at the Musical Worldview Project

Ramsay Midwood Live At Sam's Town Point

Holiday at the Sea favorite Ramsay Midwood recently posted a four-song set to help raise money to keep Sam’s Town Point going.

“4 songs and some chatter...and a chance to fund a bar and some musicians you might like... “

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NPR Gets Spiritualized (2012)

Thanks to a friend with a great name (Brent. His name is Brent. Actually, you might know him from his previous recommendations here at Holiday at the Sea: An Hour With Pink Floyd), for posting this fantastic 2012 Spiritualized concert from the 9:30 Club in Washington DC. on May 10, 2012.

I don’t know that I really need to say much more other than enjoy.

Setlist:

• "Hey Jane"

• "Lord Let It Rain On Me"

• "Headin' for the Top Now"

• "Walkin' with Jesus"

• "Oh Baby"

• "Rated X"

• "Born Never Asked"

• "Electric Mainline"

• "Soul on Fire"

• "I Am What I Am" *

• "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space" *

• "Mary"

• "Stay with Me" *

• "So Long You Pretty Thing" *

• "She Kissed Me (And It Felt Like a Hit)" *

• "Come Together" *

• "Cop Shoot Cop"

NPR’s original page adds the following commentary:

“Pierce almost died twice in the last seven years, once from double-pneumonia and once from degenerative liver disease which necessitated chemotherapy. He recorded Spiritualized's remarkable new record, Sweet Heart Sweet Light, while recovering from the latter, and its songs don't hesitate to leer into the abyss. Even as they swagger and seethe, they document a frail and flawed man's circuitous journey through self-inflicted agonies and righteous redemption, and back around to agony.

That said, a Spiritualized concert is the stuff of big-hearted, spaced-out, bliss-packed joy and celebration. Sweet Heart Sweet Light overtly pursues salvation through divine intervention — it doesn't take a careful parsing of lyrics to figure that out — so it's appropriate that Spiritualized in concert can convey the spirit of a revival show.”

• Visit Spiritualized’s official website

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• Visit the NPR page for this show

Faran Ensemble Live

Israel’s Faran Ensemble live “Mezrab recording from 2015-04-22.”

I first heard Faran Ensemble while looking for music for the Global Elite Music Radio Podcast Supershow and their track “Reflection” appeared on Episode 03.

I couldn’t find a setlist for this show but there was some commentary on the video’s page which is included below.

Enjoy.

“The Faran Ensemble was formed in 2009 by three musicians sharing similar musical vibes and values, who decided to embark together on a spiritual quest. Their journey, expressed in music and sound, reflects the beauty of nature, travelling through different sceneries, from the clean and quiet desert to luscious green hills, sometimes even passing through the hectic noise of the city.

Their instruments belong to the ancient traditions of the east, allowing the musicians to combine mystical sounds with modern influences. In their music, Mediterranean landscapes weave an enchanted soundscape, a magic carpet to take the listener on a voyage to faraway lands.

The ensemble’s name, Faran, refers to Wadi Faran, a dry desert riverbed which in winter fills with water and life and in summer is silent and pristine. The Faran crosses three countries, but ignores all artificial human borders.”

• Visit Faran Ensemble’s official website

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• Hear “Reflection” by Faran Ensemble on Episode 03 of the Global Elite Music Radio Podcast Supershow.

The Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band

So much to tell you about here.

Music-loving, like life, is a journey of learning and exploration. I recently posted a live session by Sarathy Korwar and friends for a site called The Boiler Room. I featured Korwar’s track “"Bismillah" from his 2016 album Day To Day on Episode 08 of The Global Elite Music Radio Podcast Supershow.

I had not heard of The Boiler Room before this but I have since become quite enamored. Their Facebook “About” section says:

“Boiler Room televises underground music as it happens from around the world to a massive online community. By doing so, we create windows into scenes and sounds from every corner of the globe, connecting millions of music heads with the specific music they love. This communal participation has redrawn the map for underground culture and proven that mass audiences now subscribe to alternative choice.”

And that’s a vision I can get behind.

I recently came across a 2016 live set from The Paradise Bangkok Molam International Band. I featured the band’s Thai band’s song "Lai Wua (Chasing the Cow)" from their 2016 album Planet Lam on Episode 11 of The Global Elite Music Radio Podcast Supershow.

There is a link on the video’s Youtube page that says: “TRACKLIST & DOWNLOAD HERE” but the link doesn’t go to anything and the video’s page at the Boiler Room page doesn’t include a setlist so if you have that information it would be greatly appreciated. Though not knowing the song titles (or words for that matter) doesn’t inhibit the global choogle.

• Visit the Paradise Bangkok website.

• Visit the group on Facebook.

• Purchase the group's music on Bandcamp.

• Purchase the album at Amazon.

Eishan Ensemble Live For Phoenix Central Park

Eishan Ensemble’s Afternoon Tea At Six has been one of my favorite albums 0f 2020. In fact, I recently featured the track “Signs” on my Apothecary of Wonders playlist.

The group’s official website says:

“Led by acclaimed Persian-Australian tar player and composer, Hamed Sadeghi, the quintet Eishan Ensemble draws on contemporary and classical music traditions of both East and West. Eishan’s repertoire consists predominantly of Sadeghi’s original compositions with diverse improvisatory idioms featured powerfully. Variously described as “Persian chamber jazz” and “Middle-Eastern jazz fusion”, Eishan defies neat labels.”

Here is a three-song live set they did earlier this year for Phoenix Central Park.

The deets:

Eishan Ensemble:

• Hamed Sadeghi | Tar

• Pedram Layegh | Acoustic guitar

• Michael Avgenicos | Saxophone

• Elsen Price | Double bass

• Adem Yilmaz | Percussion

Songs:

• Black and White

• Signs

• Street

  • Composed by Hamed Sadeghi

• Visit Eishan Ensemble’s official website

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• Listen to “Signs” by Eishan Ensemble at the Holiday at the Sea playlist “Apothecary of Wonders”

Bill Withers live for Musikladen/Beat Club (1972)

Bill Withers for German TV show Musikladen/Beat Club (1972).

The Band:

• Melvin Dunlap on Bass

• James Gadson on Drums

• Benorce Blackmon on Guitar

• Ray Jackson on Keyboard

Setlist:

• Lonely Town, Lonely Street

• Ain't No Sunshine

• Use Me

• Let Me In Your Life

• Kissin' My Love

• Lean On Me

• Harlem

• Visit Bill Withers’ official website

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Muddy Waters Copenhagen 1968

Muddy Waters live at Copenhagen Jazz festival (October 27,1968).

The Band:

• Muddy Waters - guitar & vocals

• 'Pee Wee' Madison – guitar

• Luther "Snakeboy" Johnson - guitar

• Otis Spann – piano

• Paul Oscher – harmônica

• Sonny Wimberley – bass

• S.P. Leary - drums

Setlist:

1. "Back At The Chicken Shack" 

2. "Train Fare Home Blues" 

3. "(I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man" 

4. "Long Distance Call" 

5. "Nobody Knows My Trouble" 

6. "Cold Cold Feeling" 

7. "Got My Mojo Working" 

8. "Tiger In Your Tank" 

• Visit Muddy Waters’ official website

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Bob Marley and the Wailers, Rockpalast (06/13/80)

One of the fun parts of doing this music blog has been revisiting concerts that I first came across through tape-trading. I don’t know if you were ever part of that culture, but I have a lot of good memories and was privy to a lot of great music through the U.S. postal system. I once had stacks of tapes of CDRs that I wish I had kept. But sometimes life leads you in other directions and you revisit those memories through the Internet.

Today we’re re-visiting Bob Marley and the Wailers live for Rockpalast (06/13/80). I gave this CDR away several years ago during one of our moves, but I have kept digital versions of the show. Until just the other day, I didn’t know that video of the show existed (I know, I know, you all knew this video existed a long time ago). But it does and it’s worth your time.

The Dealio:

• Bob Marley & The Wailers at Westfalenhalle (06.13.80, Dortmund)

• Filmed for the German live music television program Rockpalast.

Setlist:

• Marley Chant

• Natural Mystic

• Positive Vibration

• Revolution

• I Shot the Sheriff  

• War

• No More Trouble  

• Zimbabwe

• Jamming

• No Woman, No Cry

• Zion Train

• Exodus

Encore 01:

• Redemption Song

• Could You Be Loved

• Work

• Natty Dread

• Is This Love

• Get Up, Stand Up  

Encore 02:

• Coming in From the Cold

• Lively Up Yourself

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Stevie Wonder live for Musikladen/Beat Club (1974)

Get down with Stevie Wonder live on the German television program Musikladen/Beat Club in 1974.

The Youtube page provides the following information:

“Stevie Wonder 1974 concert on German TV show Musikladen/Beat Club.

I recorded from the European TV channel VH1 in 2003. I wish this would be released on DVD! If someone can help me identify the musicians, it would be great. One of the ladies, Afro and a polo shirt, singing backing vocals is Denice Williams. She was part of Wonder's female background singing group Wonderlove. I think this is the partial lineup, based on what Stevie says at 23.15: Reggie McBride plays bass. Michael "Mike" Sembello on guitar and keys, Ollie E. Brown on drums.”

Setlist:

1. Jam

2. Contusion

3. Higher Ground

4. Don't You Worry 'Bout A Thing

5. I Can See The Sun In Late December

6. He's Misstra Know-It-All

7. Living For The City

8. Superstition

• Visit Stevie Wonder’s official website

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Rainer Plays That Voodoo Music

The relevant information:

Rainer Ptacek performing "Voodoo Music" in the kitchen of "The 818 Club" during a live cablecast of the local music show "Electric Window".

• Hosted and Produced by Chris Wagganer

• Cameras: Don Dalen, Chris Babbie, Ben Minot

• Audio: David Slutes

• Engineering: Roy Knappenberger, Chris Babbie

• Cablecast Support: Mark Taylor

June 6, 1986

• Visit Rainer Ptacek’s official website.

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• Visit previous posts about Rainer.