Featuring the remarkable voice of Marilyn McCoo.
Tag: live performances
Titans of the Indie music display their awesome gifts. Featuring Neutral Milk Hotel, The Shins, Beta Band, John Vanderslice, Luke Haines, The Mekons, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.
Addendum: Vandaveer, Richard Hawley, Iron and Wine, The Postal Service, Darden Smith, Cats on Fire, Hot Hot Heat, Gledhill, Western States Motels, Decemberists, and Robbers on High Street. And Mercury Rev. And Flaming Lips. And M. Ward.
Queen, featuring vocalist Freddie Mercury, and guitarist Brian May, with a live You’re My Best Friend, performed in December of 1979 at the Hammersmith Odeon. This shows Mercury in top form vocally; a true maestro at work.
Another shining exemplar of Queen’s formidable power is this iteration of the remarkable hit single Killer Queen. Recorded June 7, 1977 at Earl’s Court, this rendition is quite canonical. The synergy between Freddie Mercury and guitarist Brian May is really working, and both are in magnificent form. Speaking of Mercury, Roger Daltrey once stated that he was “the best virtuoso rock ‘n’ roll singer of all time”, and well known soprano Montserrat Caballé felt that “his technique was astonishing; he sang with an incisive sense of rhythm; he also had a great musicality, and he was able to find the right colouring or expressive nuance for each word”. An extraordinary, charismatic performer, Mr. Mercury was described by guitarist Brian May as being so magnetic “he could make the last person at the back of the furthest stand in a stadium feel that he was connected”. The British vocalist also was unafraid to rank 58th in a poll of 100 Greatest Britons, finishing just behind Alexander Graham Bell. And The Cliff Richard (??). George Harrison was also bettered; however, and in the most controversial decision, legendary Welsh actor Richard Burton came-a-cropper, finishing behind—by a significant margin—the great vocalist. Observers reported the Welshman appeared visibly shaken, ashen-faced, and extremely bitter during the ceremony. Some claim he wiped away tears, as he abruptly stormed off to whereabouts unknown.
“Burton later claimed ill health, but those near him were positive the Welshman wept openly, clenched his fists in impotent rage, and frequently muttered uncomplimentary remarks whilst shaking with hysteria, losing his balance more than once.” -Thrustus Simmonds, noted author of “Titans of Britondom, and Such”.
Mr. Murphy is in top form still. He is in full command of his towering vocal abilities. A vampiric mesmerist is in the house. And, *you* let him in!!!!!!!!!!!!
The enigmatic and other-worldly Peter Murphy presents an imposing, daunting figure, one who seems unlacking in self-assurance. And, if anything, his *astonishing* vocal talents are fully—possibly more fully than ever—intact. Like unto a god. Or whatever he is.
Titanic moments of ecstasy, pathos, and catharsis are the norm for this great man, in his legendary live performances.
Titans of music abound in this post. From the preternatural pipes of Mr. Yoakam, to the not-in-need-of-rocking-chairs legend George Jones, to guitar legend Junior Brown, to the inimitable Hoyt Axton, to the Lanois-ing Willie Nelson…then the hugely underappreciated Dick Curless, the mighty Johnny Paycheck, the irresistible Lucinda Williams, to Dan Auerbach and his mesmerizing ways, Buck Owens in his prime with Don Rich, the great Merle Haggard, the Silver Fox…B.J. Thomas…and we conclude with Dwight once more, with Eddy Shaver. Damn Right. And Townes Van Zandt.
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The Eric Carmen.
The great vocalist/pianist/composer performs both solo and with his group Raspberries. The range and breadth of Mr. Carmen’s talent has really never been fully appreciated. And his voice is truly a thing of wonder.
Thaumaturge, wizard, vocalist/performer/showman supreme. Mr. Ian Anderson, and his idiosyncrasies.
Note: Revised 7/31/2019.
And:
The Dubliners and The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem and Shane MacGowan work their inimitable magic. Treasures abound. Don’t miss Brennan & Roche.
Special extra added bonus: a performance by the not-really-that-Irish Chad Mitchell Trio.
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Ramones.
Kings of the 2-minute and under weight-division, the Ramones pack quite the copious wallop of mordant wit into their creations. And Joey Ramone leaves no doubt in these masterful performances as to his total command of the vocal art. Remarkably inventive, powerful, sublime.
Bideodromage 