Dean Johnson Creates Soulful Cover of Lucinda Williams’ “Lake Charles”

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Apr 172025
 
Dean Johnson

Lucinda Williams’ “Lake Charles” was first written in 1998. At its heart, it is melancholic and nostalgic. The song was originally written for her ex-boyfriend, who had passed, but still tugged at her emotionally.

In the hands of Dean Johnson, a Seattle-based singer-songwriter who has been charming audiences with his warm and honest rawness for some time now, the ballad takes on a more folk-ish sensibility. Whereas the original had more of a forward-moving rhythm (and a strong and obvious backbeat), this cover is decidedly pared down. But the most notable part of the performance is his voice, which ebbs and flows like the ocean. Even from the first note, which is more of an emotive vocal crack, down to the affecting harmonies at the end, this is one you’ll want to add to your next pensive playlist.

Surprisingly, the artist never planned for this cover to be released, posting on Instagram, “This was recorded in my bedroom around 2011. Sorry to anyone offended by my lyric alterations, I never intended you to hear this recording”

Weezer Covers Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” at Coachella

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Apr 162025
 
weezer covers metallica

Weezer played Coachella this past weekend and, on top of playing a bevy of their hits, they also threw in one of their more popular covers, Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.”

The group has performed this live in the past and, recorded a version of the song on the 2021 tribute album, Blacklist, which featured covers of every song on Metallica’s “Black Album.” Their version hews pretty closely to the original, with most of the joy of the performance coming from seeing lead singer Rivers Cuomo try to ape James Hetfield’s vocals. Though they did toss in a “Buddy Holly” reference into the song, ending the song’s solo with the popular nine-note ending riff. (They then closed their set with the song.)

Cuomo has said Metallica was his favorite band when he was in high school.

Pissed Jeans Covers Lou Reed’s “Waves of Fear”

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Apr 162025
 
pissed jeans waves of fear cover

A harrowing, dingy, noisy song about the DTs, “Waves of Fear” from Lou Reed‘s eleventh album The Blue Mask is one of his more uncompromising songs (which is saying something). It’s just Reed’s description of what it’s like to detox, with no varnish and no protecting the listener from the misery, with Reed almost spitting the lyrics. It’s combined with an extremely grimy and relatively noisy rhythm guitar part, followed by just a bonkers solo from former Voidoid Robert Quine. It’s a deep cup fora  number of reasons. Continue reading »

The Go-Go’s Cover Chappell Roan’s “Hot To Go” at Coachella

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Apr 162025
 
The Go-Go's Cover Chappell Roan

The Go-Go‘s filled their set on night one of Coachella with their brand of upbeat pop music, but in the performing of one of their best-loved songs, they also paid tribute to a performer of today. When the band played their classic “We Got the Beat,” as their final song of their set, the capped it off with a little bit of Chappell Roan‘s “Hot to Go.” Continue reading »

Matilda Mann Covers Chet Baker for New Tribute Album

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Apr 152025
 
chet baker tribute album

Chet Baker was an outstanding trumpet player, but it was his voice that immortalized him. His speaking voice was able to convince lovers, partners of lovers, concert promoters, fellow musicians and people he had borrowed money from of the plaintive platitudes that accompany the life of the hopeless dope fiend. His singing voice was a unique thing of exquisite beauty, apparent simplicity and, crucially, vulnerability. His love songs are timeless, and retained their punch long after Baker’s trumpet playing lost its shape, due to a drug dealer ruining Baker’s embouchure with some vicious dental work. At one of his final recordings in 1988, his “I Fall In Love Too Easily” is poignant, emotive and, almost, optimistic. You could, almost, believe that all would be all right. Those times are captured so well in the elegiac, poetic film Let’s Get Lost.

Blue Note is about to release a new tribute album to Baker’s songs, titled re:imagined, and Matilda Mann has contributed her version of “There Will Never Be Another You” to the compilation. Continue reading »

Ball Park Music Makes Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek” Go Heartland-Indie

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Apr 142025
 
ball park music

Ball Park Music, an independent rock band, recently took to the Like a Version stage with one of Imogen Heap’s most famous tunes: “Hide and Seek.” The group has performed for the radio station Triple J many times and it’s no wonder. To quote Triple J, “The way this cover unfolded is truly gorgeous, and proves why we just keep asking Ball Park Music to come back to the Like A Version studio again and again.”

“I’ve cherished this song most of my life now,” the band’s Sam Cromack said. “Even though it presents as this really mysterious song, it actually pretty much just has four simple chords underneath it.”

The beginning of this rendition bears little similarity to the original acapella indie-folktronica hit. However, the solo guitar seamlessly fills the space the vocoder had once filled, giving it more of a melancholic indie-rock feeling. As we reach the second verse, the band adds vocal harmonies, a heartbeat-like beat, gentle keys, and bass. At this point, it blossoms into full-on, enriched heartland indie. In the hands of Ball Park Music, we have a lush ballad which ebbs and flows.

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