Doom & Gloom From the Tomb

A selection of rad bootlegs + other music-y stuff. Come fly with me. tywilc at gmail.com @tywilc

“Hero Blues” - Bob Dylan & The Band, Chicago Stadium, Chicago, IL, January 3, 1974

Here’s something cool. Dylan kicked off his 1974 jaunt with The Band — his first tour in nearly eight years — with a deep obscurity, the Freewheelin’ outtake, “Hero Blues” (the original of which you can hear here). Totally random — though I suppose its anti-hero worship message was perhaps directed at the audience. And then, naturally, they never played it again. Dylan probably hasn’t even thought about this song since the last notes rang out that night in Chicago. But it’s a kickass version, and it’s paired with some shakey, new-to-me Super-8 audience footage here. It’s like you’re there! And wearing someone else’s glasses!

Daniel Bachman :: 12/22/12 - 12/28/12 Grab a tour-only release recorded late last year, via Broadcasts from Poor Farm. They say: “This CDr is the first to feature Daniel on lap slide guitar. This recent tour saw him performing a new composition on it as well. ‘Nandina’ is my personal favorite - choice cut, prime grade stuff here. Banjo player Charlie Devine accompanies Daniel on the bulk of these tunes.” Daniel Bachman and Michael Sage :: Low In the High Desert This super-limited cassette release is sold out, but you can download this improv session, recorded last month in Fort Collins, CO, at the link above, courtesy of the Patient Sounds label. And of course, go get Bachman’s Seven Pines and Oh Be Joyful, both released last year. Really, really great stuff.

Daniel Bachman :: 12/22/12 - 12/28/12

Grab a tour-only release recorded late last year, via Broadcasts from Poor Farm. They say: “This CDr is the first to feature Daniel on lap slide guitar. This recent tour saw him performing a new composition on it as well. ‘Nandina’ is my personal favorite - choice cut, prime grade stuff here. Banjo player Charlie Devine accompanies Daniel on the bulk of these tunes.”

Daniel Bachman and Michael Sage :: Low In the High Desert

This super-limited cassette release is sold out, but you can download this improv session, recorded last month in Fort Collins, CO, at the link above, courtesy of the Patient Sounds label.

And of course, go get Bachman’s Seven Pines and Oh Be Joyful, both released last year. Really, really great stuff.

The Feelies - Green Parrot, Neptune, NJ, September 23, 1988 The excellent dB’s Repercussion blog isn’t just about the dB’s. Case in point, this fiery, new-to-me recording of The Feelies in their beloved Garden State, just about a quarter century ago. I don’t have to tell you that it is absolutely awesome. And the recording is actually one of the better audience tapes I’ve heard from this period. As if that wasn’t enough, you can also scroll down to grab mp3s of the time Lou Reed himself joined The Feelies onstage for a few songs. His Lou-ness actually sounds a little bit freaked out by how fast they’re playing his songs.

The Feelies - Green Parrot, Neptune, NJ, September 23, 1988

The excellent dB’s Repercussion blog isn’t just about the dB’s. Case in point, this fiery, new-to-me recording of The Feelies in their beloved Garden State, just about a quarter century ago. I don’t have to tell you that it is absolutely awesome. And the recording is actually one of the better audience tapes I’ve heard from this period. As if that wasn’t enough, you can also scroll down to grab mp3s of the time Lou Reed himself joined The Feelies onstage for a few songs. His Lou-ness actually sounds a little bit freaked out by how fast they’re playing his songs.

“Southern California Brings Me Down” - Neil Young An anonymous donor sent me this previously unknown Neil Young outtake. Not sure of the year, but I’m guessing it comes from the After The Gold Rush sessions? You be the judge!

“Southern California Brings Me Down” - Neil Young

An anonymous donor sent me this previously unknown Neil Young outtake. Not sure of the year, but I’m guessing it comes from the After The Gold Rush sessions? You be the judge!

Crawdaddy Magazine, 1966-1968 Scans of the late Paul Williams’ original rock magazine. An amazing time capsule!

Crawdaddy Magazine, 1966-1968

Scans of the late Paul Williams’ original rock magazine. An amazing time capsule!

Grateful Dead - KQED Studios, San Francisco, CA, August 30, 1970

The image quality of this half-hour live-in-the-studio performance is a bit abysmal, but the music is magnificent, especially the scorching “Easy Wind” that opens things up. I’ve made the executive decision that this year’s Summer of Dead extravaganza will focus exclusively on 1970. You’ve been warned!

RIP Paul Williams Just heard that this pioneering rock writer passed away yesterday. Sort of the anti-Jann Wenner, Wiliams founded the original rock mag, Crawdaddy. Over the years I’ve enjoyed his passionate, enthusiastic writing about Dylan, the Beach Boys and many others. His Performing Artist series on Dylan in particular served as a great guide through the man’s life onstage, with detailed accounts of hundreds of shows through the decades. Rock on, Paul!

RIP Paul Williams

Just heard that this pioneering rock writer passed away yesterday. Sort of the anti-Jann Wenner, Wiliams founded the original rock mag, Crawdaddy. Over the years I’ve enjoyed his passionate, enthusiastic writing about Dylan, the Beach Boys and many others. His Performing Artist series on Dylan in particular served as a great guide through the man’s life onstage, with detailed accounts of hundreds of shows through the decades. Rock on, Paul!

Fleetwood Mac - Rosebud In what can only be described as a cosmic coincidence, yesterday I won tickets to see Fleetwood Mac in concert this June, just as I was finishing up Ken Caillat’s Making Rumours, the producer’s detailed account of, you guessed it, making Rumours. Incredible, I know. And while it’s a bummer that Christine McVie is no longer playing with the band, it’s still going to be fun, right? The book is recommended! Not exactly a masterpiece of writing, but if you want to know how many lines of cocaine and Heinekens it took for Mick Fleetwood to get really wild on the drums, or how foxy the ladies of Sausalito, CA were in the mid-70s, or about that time Lindsey Buckingham tried to strangle Caillat for erasing one of his guitar solos … well, this is the book for you, my friend. There’s a segment describing the making of the very great half-hour film I’ve linked to above — very much worth your time. Stevie twirls, Lindsey shreds, John rocks some cut-offs, Mick makes ridiculous faces, and Christine is Perfect. A lot of the footage has been recycled endlessly, but I’d never seen the whole thing uncut ‘til this week. Man, I hope they play “I’m So Afraid” when I see them.

Fleetwood Mac - Rosebud

In what can only be described as a cosmic coincidence, yesterday I won tickets to see Fleetwood Mac in concert this June, just as I was finishing up Ken Caillat’s Making Rumours, the producer’s detailed account of, you guessed it, making Rumours. Incredible, I know. And while it’s a bummer that Christine McVie is no longer playing with the band, it’s still going to be fun, right?

The book is recommended! Not exactly a masterpiece of writing, but if you want to know how many lines of cocaine and Heinekens it took for Mick Fleetwood to get really wild on the drums, or how foxy the ladies of Sausalito, CA were in the mid-70s, or about that time Lindsey Buckingham tried to strangle Caillat for erasing one of his guitar solos … well, this is the book for you, my friend. There’s a segment describing the making of the very great half-hour film I’ve linked to above — very much worth your time. Stevie twirls, Lindsey shreds, John rocks some cut-offs, Mick makes ridiculous faces, and Christine is Perfect. A lot of the footage has been recycled endlessly, but I’d never seen the whole thing uncut ‘til this week. Man, I hope they play “I’m So Afraid” when I see them.

The Howling Hex - Navajo Rag More Hex! Here’s something new to me — a recent cassette that seems to be a kinda experimental mix of ambient noise, found sounds and tracks from The Best of the Howling Hex,created in collaboration with the band Harpoon Forever? Something like that anyway. Scroll down at the above link to either order the physical thing or download for free.

The Howling Hex - Navajo Rag

More Hex! Here’s something new to me — a recent cassette that seems to be a kinda experimental mix of ambient noise, found sounds and tracks from The Best of the Howling Hex,created in collaboration with the band Harpoon Forever? Something like that anyway. Scroll down at the above link to either order the physical thing or download for free.

The Howling Hex - Live at the Lost Lake, Denver, CO, June 21, 2012

Hey, I reviewed Neil Michael Hagerty’s latest/greatest (though not a greatest hits LP), The Best of the Howling Hex, over at Aquarium Drunkard. Here’s a video of one of those residency gigs I caught last summer. Man, the Lost Lake really needs someone to work on their lights — I took a similarly dark/murky video at one of the other shows. Surely they can afford more than one bare bulb? Maybe not.

“Get Off Of My Cloud / Sooner or Later” - The Feelies, Ottobar, Baltimore, MD, March 23, 2013

The Feelies added another cover to their massive repertoire last week. At least I’ve never heard them do this one properly — though I do have a tape of them jamming it out in instrumental form way back in 1978 with Richard Lloyd. Yes, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m a nerd about this band.

John Fahey - Live at SUNY Stony Brook, October 1, 1972 The indispensable Delta Slider presented their annual Fahey Week earlier this month. This one is a choice live recording from right around what I think is the dude’s peak. A very clear, if occasionally wobbly, tape! Dig around and you’ll also find some extremely rare unissued stuff from 1959, a 1977 gig and — for those of you who want to make yourself crazy — some guitar tabs!

John Fahey - Live at SUNY Stony Brook, October 1, 1972

The indispensable Delta Slider presented their annual Fahey Week earlier this month. This one is a choice live recording from right around what I think is the dude’s peak. A very clear, if occasionally wobbly, tape! Dig around and you’ll also find some extremely rare unissued stuff from 1959, a 1977 gig and — for those of you who want to make yourself crazy — some guitar tabs!

“1880 or So” - Television, The Cat’s Cradle, Chapel Hill, NC, March 2, 1993 Your recommended weekly dose of Verlaine/Lloyd/Ficca/Smith, this time towards the end of their first reunion tour, in support of the self-titled third LP. Which is great, by the way — don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. A whole different thing from their 1970s work, but killer nonetheless. This is a live rendition of that album’s opening track, and it’s basically perfect — a freakishly hopped-up Lloyd solo in the middle and an astonishing, Verlaine-led section at the end, with the whole band hurtling towards the sun.

“1880 or So” - Television, The Cat’s Cradle, Chapel Hill, NC, March 2, 1993

Your recommended weekly dose of Verlaine/Lloyd/Ficca/Smith, this time towards the end of their first reunion tour, in support of the self-titled third LP. Which is great, by the way — don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. A whole different thing from their 1970s work, but killer nonetheless. This is a live rendition of that album’s opening track, and it’s basically perfect — a freakishly hopped-up Lloyd solo in the middle and an astonishing, Verlaine-led section at the end, with the whole band hurtling towards the sun.

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA, July 4, 1971 God bless America. Also of interest: WFMU’s deep investigation into the mystical process known as Chooglin’. If you can choose it, who can refuse it?

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fillmore West, San Francisco, CA, July 4, 1971

God bless America. Also of interest: WFMU’s deep investigation into the mystical process known as Chooglin’. If you can choose it, who can refuse it?

The Madness of Love (take 2) After I posted some of Richard & Linda Thompson’s “lost” 1977 tracks, a kind reader supplied me with the complete show from which those tracks came. Even if you grabbed the previous download, you want this — the more I listen, the more I’m convinced this unreleased stuff can stand up with the best of Richard & Linda’s work together. The added “lost” tracks here include “Rescue Me” and “The Fire In The Garden,” both great. There are also excellent versions of “Strange Affair” and “First Light,” both of which would turn up on First Light a bit later. The only weak link is “When I Get To The Border,” which Richard seems to have forgotten how to sing. Otherwise, a really fabulous set — as I said before, the songs are deeply religious, but in an earthbound, sensual way. Erotic, even! Sex Jamz To The Lord? OK, maybe not. But close! Dig it. Download

The Madness of Love (take 2)

After I posted some of Richard & Linda Thompson’s “lost” 1977 tracks, a kind reader supplied me with the complete show from which those tracks came. Even if you grabbed the previous download, you want this — the more I listen, the more I’m convinced this unreleased stuff can stand up with the best of Richard & Linda’s work together. The added “lost” tracks here include “Rescue Me” and “The Fire In The Garden,” both great. There are also excellent versions of “Strange Affair” and “First Light,” both of which would turn up on First Light a bit later. The only weak link is “When I Get To The Border,” which Richard seems to have forgotten how to sing. Otherwise, a really fabulous set — as I said before, the songs are deeply religious, but in an earthbound, sensual way. Erotic, even! Sex Jamz To The Lord? OK, maybe not. But close! Dig it.

Download