Elvis Costello Covers Ailing Debbie Harry at Tibet House Benefit

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Mar 132026
 
Elvis Costello Covers Debbie Harry

The annual Tibet House US benefit concert is always a great group of musicians assembled for a great cause. This year’s version, held March 3rd at Carnegie Hall was no different. With Debbie Harry out sick, Elvis Costello stepped in to take her place. Costello explained that he was in Nashville when Laurie Anderson called and asked if he could fill in for Harry. “When you think of Debbie, you think of who else? Me,” said Costello by way of introduction. And then he launched into a cover of Blondie‘s “Picture This,” delivered with his usual affection and clear love of the song. Continue reading »

mad/no/mad Releases Campy Folk Cover of Green Day’s “Basket Case”

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Mar 122026
 
mad/no/mad

“Basket Case” was Green Day‘s second hit single and their international breakthrough, as it was their only Top 10 hit in the UK in the ’90s. Infamously, it’s about experiencing confusion due to panic attacks but was treated as salacious by some because a word was censored on American radio and there was controversy around the words “whore,” the bleeped word, and “stoned” in the lyrics.

mad/no/mad is another pseudonym of Barry Gottlieb aka the internet humorist Mad Dog. It’s his folk singer persona which he uses to cover famous songs on occasion.

Instead of the aggressive, palm-muted strumming of the original, his cover opens with a sort of country shuffle on rhythm guitar. Gottlieb speaks the lyrics as if he’s doing a talking blues and the pace is a gentle one. His delivery is just the tiniest bit campy, as if he’s willing to let on that this might not be the most serious he’s ever been, but you have to think about it. Continue reading »

Matt Berninger and Rosanne Cash Cover The Velvet Underground for New TV Show

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Mar 122026
 

The fourth Velvet Underground album Loaded opens up with “Who Loves the Sun,” a fun, light, upbeat song, complete with a chorus including backup singers singing “ba-baba-ba.” And a new cover of the song by Matt Berninger and Rosanne Cash is serving as the credits music for the new Hulu series, Sunny Days.

“I’ve been a Trent O’Donnell fan for a long time,” said Berninger. “We became good friends when he cast my brother, Tom, in an episode of his show No Activity, and we’ve had a close, creative bond ever since. When he asked me to cover the Velvet Underground for Sunny Nights, I immediately thought of it as a duet with Rose and John [Leventhal].”

When describing the division of labor in recording the song, Berninger said, “John did most of the work while Rose and I drank chardonnay in the garden in the sun.”

While the song is a pretty straight-ahead version of the song, Berninger’s vocal tone adds some darker qualities not completely missing in the original.

 

Skip Marley Covers His Grandfather Bob

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Mar 122026
 
Skip Marley

“One Love” is one of those feel-good songs, one that makes you feel like it’s always the right time to listen to (it). So what happens when Bob Marley’s grandson puts his own spin on it?

Skip Marley took this ’70s anthem about peace and love to honor his grandfather and celebrate the Adidas x Bob Marley Foundation capsule collection launch. The music video showcases a variety of locations, including the Bob Marley Museum, Tuff Gong Studios, and Kingston. Continue reading »

St. Vincent Covers Jeff Buckley’s “Grace” at Intimate Live Performance

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Mar 102026
 
St Vincent Covers Jeff Buckley

At a March 4th show at the 280-seat club Little Saint in California, St. Vincent performed an emotional cover of Jeff Buckley‘s “Grace.” Introducing the song by saying, “I love this song, that’s all,” Annie Clark played the song for the second time publicly. (She also played it at a surprise show in Los Angeles the week before, but no cameras were allowed.) She was joined on-stage by keyboardist Rachel Eckroth, who did not accompany her on the cover. Continue reading »

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