Good Cover / Bad Cover – “Someday I Will Treat You Good”

For every good cover version of a song, there is a bad one. Sorry, that’s just how the universe works.

In all the years I’ve been shouting chatting about music with people, absolutely no one has asked me, “Hey Jeff, what’s your favorite song about being left on the side of the road?” and that really bothers me because I have not one, but two A+ answers. To remedy this, let’s pretend you and I are sitting in a Starbucks getting to know each other, drinking some fartberry-spiced coffees and splitting a $7 doughnut. You say, “Jeff, I know it’s none of my business and we just met but what are your two favorite songs about being left on the side of the road?”

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More: Get Down with The Low Times Podcast

Guest: Jon Solomon has been playing and promoting top-notch indie music for years on the mighty WPRB. He can be heard every Wednesday night from 7:00 – 10:00 pm ET. Listen at wprb.com!

Topics: Pumpkin Chucking, Russ “Fireballer” Starke, Fruit Slingshots, Halloween Superstores, Gig Posters, Jon’s 24-Hour Holiday Radio Show, Lenny & Squiggy, Ric Flair, The Misfits, Big Efforts to See a Band, Merch Tables, Owning a Record Label, Long Songs, Bands Reuniting, Digital Downloads, Jam Bands, Top Scary Movies, Drive-Ins, Bad Date Movies, Benjamin Linus and BBC’s Sherlock!

Teaser: “What’s your noodle song, Jon?”

Audio Note: We used a new audio rig and had a little sound problem, you might need to pump up the volume a bit. Sorry!

Playlist: “Drawn Down the Moon” by Edsel, “Under Heavy Manners” by Dissociates

Play Now: http://www.usedwigs.com/pod/podcast89.mp3

iTunes: Download, Listen and Subscribe

Facebook: JOIN our New Facebook Page! It’s so in your face!

Giveaway: Thanks to our friends at Quirk Books for the super cool “Gig Posters Volume 2″ book by Clay Hayes we gave away to a lucky audience member.

Have a little music group and can’t decide on a name? Lucky for you, we’ve thought up a bunch of ORIGINAL BAND NAMES just for you. To take one of our fabulous free monikers, just write in the “Comments” and tell us why you deserve it and where you’re from. Want to thank us? Buy a book and listen to Our Podcast. Rock On!

• SteamSpünk
• The Draculovers
• Peru McClanahan
• Death from a Shove
• The Girl Getters
• Michael Ironside Deficiency – taken by Tri-State Area Power Trio
• Creamy Pasta Bonanza
• Mopz
• Hope Springs a Turtle
• First Available Agent
• Game Time Decision – alternative rock band from Springfield, IL.
• Laundromatic
• Blunt Force Drama
• My Dad’s Cover Band
• Mush Buhdaydoe
• The Nazzy Snappers
• The Verified Accountants
• Amsterdarn
• Horse Drawn Carnage – Taken by a band from belleville michigan
• The Low Hanging Fruits
• The Dumbskulls
• Millionaire Friend
• Punchsylvania
• Future Human Slavery Update
• Colonel Blimp
• Horror Bulls
• Focus People, Focus

• Hammock View
• The Swine Flutes
• Noah’s Orc
• The Kitchenettes
• Greaseberries
• Emit The Odder
• Hungarian Forkfight – 4 piece hardcore punk band from redding, california
• Maunsell Army Sea Forts
• Grandpa vs. Prowler
• All The Lonely Peep Holes
• The Knighthoodies
• Non-Explosive Chemistry – taken by punk girl band from Chicago.
• Things Not to Do While Alive
• The farTenders
• Doug is Miserable
• Gee Male
• Companion Peace
• Pale Hail
• 74 Fruit Wagon
• Lost Wiikend - taken by a band from Houston, TX
• The Opposition Leaders
• Pop-Art Pantyhose
• Oh! Bee City
• Fat Ice
• Whoa Horsey Whoa
• Such Creatures Exist – taken by hardcore/nintendocore band from High Point, NC
• Bacon 3.0
• Unibody Construction
• Chimp-Powered Blimp
• Border-Collapse
• Mind Erase Her
• The Hairdo Chairs
• Wild Front Tears
• Lump Sum Payout
• Good Times USA
• Deservedly So
• Human Hair Hammock
• Pomegranate Cleanse
• September Fishfood
• The Whoradors
• Thanks, Alaska – taken by band from Peoria AZ
• Install>Crash>Curse – taken by a screamo girl band from NC
• That Being Said
• wooden leg real foot
• The Worst of It – taken by Punk band from Holland
• The Ideal Situation – taken by a band from South Carolina
• Something Suddenly Came Up
• No Biggie
• Michigan Face
• Up Against It
• Big Fat Toddlers
• Duodenum
• The Dead Knot Seas
• Horror Bulls
• Focus People, Focus
• The Low Hanging Fruits
• Colony Collapse
• Week Need
• Skeptic System
• The Gently Used Gents
• Better Football for Boys and Girls

“Quality Workday Distractions”

• Dreamcrusher Jones – taken by a dance punk band from St Louis, MO
• Beast Infection
• The Button Pushers - taken by indie pop alternative band from UK
• Cement Nose
• Grand Theft Otto
• LungBash
• The Grillables
• Major Incident Response Team
• The Record Lows – taken by pop-punk Band from New York
• Quick Fire Challenge
• Meth Lab for Cutie – Meth Lab for Cutie
• thrust parry thrust
• {AwkwardHug} -  taken by Moose (8-Bit Nu-Rave solo project)
• Growth Spurtz
• Ruling The Earth from Within
• Elf Made Man
• The Neck Wringers
• Shapeshifting for Beginners – taken by Nathan
• Ape Sherman: Private Eye
• The Hardlees
• Bone Crushing the Feet – taken by a band of 5 and in VA
• Do My Chores
• Twit Turds
• The Fey Kits
• The Strum Pets
• The Bluto/Brutus Issue
• Is This All There Is
• The Special Darks
• Sixth Grade Square Dance – taken by a Punk-Emo band from LA
• Body by Botero
• South American Toe Biters
• Mostly Cloudy – taken by alternative rock band from Cheshire, MA
• Pleiad
• Hard-Fought Hugs – taken by Alex from Ohio
• Shorter in Person – Shorter In Person taken by a band in madison indaina
• Dancing with Sitars
• Seaside Pillage
• Come What Mayhem – taken by Pop-rock Band from Westfield, Mass.
• Recalling The Beef
• Les XX
• Fife Hero
• The Dim Bulbs
• World’s Strongest Lamb
• Oh Bombahs!
• Baby Fur
• The Weight and The Warmth
• Mist Calls
• The Rushin’ Goo Logs
• Bar Made
• Gee Gnomes
• Today’s Top Stories – taken by a band in Little Rock, Arkansas
• Not What It Looks Like – taken by Callum
• All Gussied Up
• Wither or Not
• Not The First Time I’ve Been Shot
• Canadian Drug Lords
• 10 Shun – taken by uk acoustic band
• püp
• Tweenage Shriekfest – taken by a screamo band from LA
• Burn The Maps – taken by punk/metal band
• in the well of the great wave
• All Right Hamilton – taken by band from cape town, south africa
• Filo Betto
• Such Great Widths
• Your Top Friends
• Try This at Home – Taken by CurrieKid in the UK
• Terror Tapes – Taken by indie alt band from Maryland
• Photos from The Flume
• Thread Bears
• Win Win Situation – taken by Nathan Singletary, South Carolina
• Gnarly Chaplain – taken by pop-punk band in the southwest UK
• Ponies Never Ran Before
• Philthy – taken by punk/metal band from Seymour TN
• The Soft Tissue
• Mrs. Desi Arnez Jr.
• Jan, You Dingaling
• Mouse Mummy
• Just Oates
• Li’l Gotten Gains
• Laps Around The Lake
• Daughter of A Mounty
• The Thinnest of Margins
• Scott Beowulf
• Phil Got Phat
• Reheated Debate
• The Cleve
• B.J. and The Bare
• Salon des Refusés
• Wedgie Proof
• The Bay Gashers
• Rejection Seat – taken by Kasey, Zeeland Michigan
• All The Pitied Fools
• Hellicity – taken by a rock band from Brisbane.
• Glancing Blows
• Ghost Dad
• Leonard Part I
• überNürd
• Pardon Our Parts
• Dark Sky Parks – Taken by were an alt pop punk band from Devon, UK.
• That Less than Fresh Feeling – taken by Justin from KY.
• Castle Repair Squad
• The Bledbugs
• In Control Mild Fire
• Greedo Was Provoked
• Funambulist Falls
• Extended Tuba Solo
• Bodewash
• Body Harmer
• The Droopingtons
• Small Emergent Sea
• Lustful Gaze
• The Gosh Darns
• Temper Temper – Taken by a band from Harrisburg, PA
• Stately Wayne Manor
• Helmet-Mounted Pistol
• May The Best Man Survive – taken by a rock band from the UK
• mangoose
• The Showcase Showdown
• The Manbugs
• Stallone Rangers
• Husky Tuffskins
• Muscle Mouse – taken by alternative stoner band from Reidsville, Georgia
• Six Solid Reasons to Run – taken by a punk/rock band from California.
• Green Achers – taken by a Bluegrass band from Arkansas.
• Tucked in Bed
• Property of – taken by small punk band in toronto.
• Hearts of Midlothian
• Gaper Delay
• Your Potential Love Match – taken by new punk band from Texas
• Jaganath – taken by a stoner band from KY.
• Pick Up The Slacks
• Bulbous Knows
• Super Silly Us
• Mobile Vulgus

Band Names Archive

Philly six-piece Audible recently released their latest EP “Isolette”, which as of this writing you can still download for free here – but move fast, as I’ve been assured that’s only temporary. In fact, you might want to do that now, and have these great new tunes as a companion for the review. Go ahead. I’ll wait for you.

Congratulations! You’re in for quite a ride. This is the band’s first outing since their fabulous 2009 full-length “In Simple Intervals”, and it serves up the story arc of a rock opera of yore without the two-record length, while packing twice the emotional wallop.

Before we get into the content, if you dig smart pop-rock with guy/girl harmonies and great musicianship with a loose, authentic vibe, you’ll love this for nothing other than the music. There are great memorable choruses in these mostly mid-tempo, introspective tracks – songs that smolder and evolve as they reveal their secrets. Interesting guitar tones, airy vocals, and masterful arrangements are anchored by some seriously tasteful and musical drumming (I just HAVE to call this out here – because drummer Steve Cawley really plays for the song – on several of my many repeated listens, I’ve delighted in just focusing in on what he’s doing). So, you could concentrate solely on the music…but you wouldn’t be able to escape the palpable emotional undercurrent – the air around these pieces is heavy with it.

So that’s where the content comes in – what we’ve got here isn’t trumped up emo-drama equating crushes or feelings of personal isolation to epic struggles (I mean that’s fine too, in it’s own way) but something that is in a whole different league of “real”. The story goes like this: Audible nucleus Mike Kennedy was all set to start touring behind “In Simple Intervals” with the band when his wife (and Audible’s bassist) Kristine went into extremely early labor just 25 weeks into her pregnancy. If you’ve ever been there (and I have), that’s the “holy shit, we’re not playing games here anymore” type stuff that makes pretty much everything else you’ve gotten worked up about recently pale in comparison. And amazingly, Mike went ahead and documented the experience in these songs – they should put this in the Library Of Congress for its sociological value alone.

But let me be clear about something: this collection is anything BUT a “bummer”. Maybe the most amazing thing about it is the way that even in the darkest moments, the optimism is palpable. You actually don’t need to have had a similar experience to hear yourself in these songs – and that, my friends, is true songcraft. If you know the background, it’s fascinating and the metaphors come a little clearer – but if you don’t, it’s still the story of wrestling with major uncertainty and knowing what it feels like to be completely powerless, pushing through it while waiting for the clouds to clear, and the final quiet release of having made it (check out the gorgeous “Fourteen Weeks”).

Yes, like all good rock operas, there’s a happy ending – on the EP and in life too, evidenced in little Alex’s appearance in the video for “The Last Thing I Remember” filmed at the band’s Y-Rock session at WXPN’s studios. Funny I should mention that, since the band will be joining us at that very location this coming Friday (3/19) at the second Used Wigs Live event! You will NOT want to miss this!

Russ Starke

CD: Pain Is A Reliable Signal

When we last checked in with Sam Jacobs, we were reviewing the latest release from LiPSTIK – the EP “There Is Only One Thing”. At the time, work on the follow-up full length was already underway – and it has finally arrived, along with a name change for the group to “The Flying Change”. Lest you think that was off the cuff, it was inspired by the poetry of family friend and Pulitzer-prize winner, Henry Taylor, who happened to be the college roommate of Sam’s father. Swish!

This is one of the reasons why I like Sam and his music so much – take a look at the blog over at www.theflyingchange.com when you have a few minutes to kill, and you’ll see that this is a thoughtful dude who likes to have meaning and substance behind his art (and his thoughts about what constitutes “art” and good music are right along the lines of what we argue about so often on the podcast). Better yet, that intellectual and artistic framework is there if you’re into that sort of thing, but you’re not beat over the head with it – a sentiment that some people seem to have walked away with from the latest Andrew Bird outing.

Anyway – the new full length. Probably one of the strongest endorsements was blindly playing the track “Dirty White Coats” for Jeff – who said “wow, that is a fantastic song – who is that?” Indeed, on an album full of high points, that track is probably my favorite – with its gentle ukulele, strings, and harmonies – it obscures the dark subject matter: “it’s about how doctors (well some doctors at least) can cause great harm and pain and how the process of sticking needles and tubes and machines in people, at least intuitively, seems to run contrary to the notion of making them feel better”. That insight will produce one of those “woah” moments during your second or third spin of the track…but that has always been Sam’s calling card: “painful words over uplifting music”.

That’s not to say that the whole album is heavy in that sort of way though – in fact, there are some downright rockers (“St. Mary’s”), and the playful take on the subway slogan “if you see something, say something” on the track “If You See Something”, is purely infectious.

In a nutshell, when you listen to the first song and the smoky vocals kick in, the first reaction may be “ah, OK – this will fit nicely alongside my Bon Iver, Iron & Wine, and Over The Rhine albums”. But don’t be fooled – this album is a journey, and it echoes of many different locales, emotions, and musical influences. As you progress, you’ll first start to notice all of the tasteful instrumentation filling out the arrangements (horns, flute, strings…and, you cheeky devil, is that a harpsichord in there?), and then the strength of the rhythms hits you. For me they evoke a more subdued version of “The Honeymoon Is Over” by The Cruel Sea (a fantastic old gem worth hunting down itself) and the production of one of my favorite albums of all time, Willie Nelson’s “Teatro”.

The Flying Change. What’s in a name? Nothing. The proof is in the pudding – and this one is rich, complex, and worth a sample. Join the conversation and enjoy the ride.

More: www.theflyingchange.com

- Russ Starke

Topics: Gene Ween, Pirate Bay File Sharing, Eating Humans, Conan & Late Night TV, SXSW, Music Festivals, That Dumb Journey Song, Al Pacino Stinks, Sci-Fi Philly!

Playlist: The Spinto Band, O Pioneers!!!, Fiction Family, Heartless Bastards and Dog Day.

Play Now: http://www.usedwigs.com/pod/podcast59.mp3

Subscribe: iTunes

Artwork: White Rocket at Sci-Fi Philly by Todd Marrone.

Website: www.usedwigsradio.com

Prog rock is back! And that’s a good thing, love these guys.

Website: www.trailofdead.com

New CD: The Century of Self

The pride of Omaha is back and Tim Kasher’s voice has never sounded better. Beautiful!

Download: “From The Hips” [MP3]

Website: www.cursivearmy.com

Vally Lodge

Heaping helping of power pop served with a side of awesomeness.

Download: Baby It’s a Shame [MP3]

Website: www.valleylodgemusic.com

Lukestar

Highly-inventive and super catchy indie rock from Oslo, Norway.

Download: White Shade [MP3]

Website: www.lukestar.com

I know you kids rely on your Uncle Jeff for his impeccable taste in music and I am also aware that my opinions may border on snobbery to some, but c’mon, my recommendations rarely disappoint. My crap filter is pretty much flawless, but every so often something sneaks through that many might consider “odd,” “not what I expected,” or “okay, this is so weak!” In the spirit of sharing, here are some chinks in my rarely-battered platemail armor (I got hit points to spare, my friends).

Nik Kershaw – “Wouldn’t It Be Good”

Just me and Ducky sitting around in dumb hats and blazers with rolled up sleeves pining away for Andie Walsh.

Cheap Trick – “Tonight It’s You”

Cheap Trick is a great band, that should never be in doubt. But the words, “All I want is a place in your heart to fall into, all I need is someone to love…” is a bit cheese-filled, but dammit, it gets me every time.

Bourgeois Tagg – “Mutual Surrender”

Can’t defend this one, won’t even try.

Zebra – “Tell Me What You Want”

Videos do not get much worse than this, okay maybe this one, but I do still dig this big blasting chunk of rock from Long Island’s answer to Triumph.

Tin Machine – “Baby Universal”

Honestly can’t tell if this was well received or not by Bowie fans. I know teaming up with Soupy Sales’ sons seemed a bit dubious when this band was announced, but like the majority of Bowie’s stuff, I loved this record.

Duncan Sheik – She Runs Away

I love every single song on this 1996 easy-listening gem.

Glen Campbell – “Wichita Lineman”

Good lord, I’m tearing up as I type this. “And I need you more than want you…” Magnificent.  Just discovered R.E.M. did a nice cover of this.

Seal – “Prayer for the Dying”

I love Seal. There, I said it.

Sting – “Fortress Around Your Heart”

Sting’s last good song. This video is atrocious. Sting’s one direct order request to the director, “Don’t you dare take the camera off me for one effing millisecond! Got it, mate. I’m at my peak of handsomeness!”

Kristen Vigard – “God Give Me Strength” from Grace Of My Heart

I know Elvis Costello wrote it and did a nice version of it, but I like this one better, so there, get off my back.

Okay music geeks, give me your guilty pleasures via comments.

More Unearthed Videos:

• Unearthed Videos: An Odd Mix of Very Early MTV Videos
• Unearthed Videos: Irish Rock
• Complete List of Unearthed Videos

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Price: $15 for individual set -  $55 for all 4 sets

Buy Here: www.jimflora.com