Daryl's House

Live from Daryl's House is on the Palladia Network and all over YouTube.  Featuring Daryl Hall of Hall & Oates from his home studio in Pawling, NY along with his guests it's worth a look and listen.  The hour long show consists of live music, switching between Hall & Oates tunes and those of the guest star and some eating and cooking.  THC thinks of him as younger than those rock stars from the 1960s but it turns out Daryl is 68 and still sounds great.

Here's a couple of cuts.  First up is Cee Lo Green (1/2 of Gnarls Barkley) with Daryl contemplating the eternal moral dilemma faced by humankind performing I Can't Go For That (No Can Do) a song THC didn't care for when first done by Hall & Oates but this version is terrific.  Next is Paris, a song by and with Grace Potter and the Nocturnals along with Daryl.  If you'd like to hear more from Grace listen to this cover of Cortez The Killer with an unearthly guitar solo from Joe Satriani and haunting horn from Willy Waldman.  It's not only the best of the approximately 37,522 covers of the song, it surpasses Neil Young's original.

Bands THC Would Like To See

The bands you would like to see don't necessarily include all those with your favorite songs.  A live act needs to brings something exciting to the table and can't be too dependent on studio magic for their sound.  Oh, and no lip syncing or backup tracks (unless you are The Who).

THC has raved before about his favorite contemporary live act, Robert Randolph & The Family Band and also seen and enjoyed Los Lonely Boys.  Here are his top three acts that he has not yet seen live and each has a New England link.

TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND

Fronted by the husband and wife team of Derek Trucks on slide guitar (and nephew of Allman Brothers drummer Butch Trucks) and singer and guitarist Susan Tedeschi (from East Boston).  They've played in separate bands but more recently have been recording together.  The current configuration of the band is so strong that the former lead singer, Mike Mattison (who is excellent, listen to him here) is doing backup now and occasionally pinch-hitting on lead. Here they are with a tune from their newest album that displays Susan's smoky vocals and Derek's fluid and soaring slide.

DROPKICK MURPHYS

Official band of Red Sox Nation and best known for I'm Shipping Up To Boston.  My favorite; the tough-love rocker State of Massachusetts. 

She had excuses and she chose to use them
She was the victim of unspeakable abuses
Her husband was violent, malicious and distant
Her kids now belong to the state of Massachusetts

They've been taken away! Hey!
They've been taken away!

Billy was a bright one, Tommy's off his head
Mother loved them both the same, at least that's what she said
I don't predict the future, I don't care about the past
Send them both to DSS, now you've had your chance

The poison stole your babies
The judges took your rights
You can have your children or the night

I suppose you've been a victim, I suspect you may have lied
Have you lost all ambition, won't you give this thing a try
If you can't and you fail, you won't be the only loser
These kids don't stand a chance with you in their future

They've been taken away! Hey!
They've been taken away!

GRACE POTTER & THE NOCTURNALS

Out of Vermont.  Grace Potter on vocals and keyboard with a hard pounding band.  Here they are on a studio cut: They also do some terrific covers.  This is White Rabbit: Grace has also done some good stuff with other artists.  Listen to her on Neil Young's Cortez The Killer with Joe Satriani contributing astounding guitar work.

He Came Dancing Across The Water

A couple of years ago we were out with friends one night and while driving home we had WPKN (89.5) on the radio.  We often have no clue what we are listening to on that station but we like the eclectic variety of music they play.  A song comes on and after a few minutes we realize it's a cover of the 1970s Neil Young tune Cortez The Killer.  It rambles along for about 20 minutes and at the end the DJ goes on to the next song without saying who played the last one.

Well, when we got home we did the usual - went on the Internet and YouTube to find it.  We never did find the version we heard on the radio but we did find the amazing version embedded below featuring Joe Satriani (guitar), Grace Potter (vocal and organ) and Willy Waldman (horn), which I've often listened to since that night.

This was the first we'd heard of Grace Potter but then started listening to her band (Grace Potter and The Nocturnals) and we've tried to find an opportunity to see them live ever since.  Here's some samples:

Treat Me Right
Sweet Hands