Since the news broke on August 25th, musicians have been including one of Dolly Parton‘s songs in their live performances as a tribute to the late country music singer and songwriter. Jack White, who has a long history of adoring Parton, was one of the first. At his show in London at the Eventim Apollo, White tore into an emotional version of Parton’s “Jolene.” It was his first live performance of the song in 20 years. Continue reading »
Bryan Adams has been on tour for almost a full year promoting his newest record, Roll with the Punches. And since then he’s had support from Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo. But, as he noted at his August 15th show in Detroit, they had yet to join him on stage. Adams remedied that at their penultimate show, where he invited the two Hall of Famers to join him in a tribute to Detroit great, Stevie Wonder. As they walked onto the stage, Adams’ drummer kicked into the instantly recognizable beat of Wonder’s “Superstition.” Adams and Benatar traded off lines while Giraldo and guitarist Keith Scott traded off lead. Continue reading »
Tied to America’s 250th birthday, Salt Lick Sessions’ “Songs of U.S.” series features musicians covering “songs that have shaped the country’s cultural identity while exploring what belongs in the American songbook today.” Nashville singer-songwriter Joy Oladokun selected Roy Hawkins and Rick Darnell’s “The Thrill Is Gone,” best known for the B.B. King version. She says the song “feels really powerful without being so poetic that people could be left behind.” Unlike many of the King-inspired blues-rock covers that feature copious guitar solos, she strips it back to a beautiful folky ballad. She also covered “Ain’t No Sunshine.” Continue reading »
Appearing on BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge, Phoebe Bridgers played two of her new songs and included a Nirvana cover for good measure. Recorded before her appendicitis diagnosis, Bridgers played her first widely available live performance of “Bobby,” from her new album Lost Weekend. She also played the album’s first single, “Lost Boys.” Continue reading »
Wet Leg‘s Rhian Teasdale is appearing in a new commercial for Deutsche Telekom and the band is providing the music: a cover of The Cardigans‘ “My Favorite Game.” Appearing as part of a new campaign titled, “Not a Passenger,” the ad features Teasdale driving while being inundated with influencers, ads and AI slop. All the while, the background music is Wet Leg’s new take on The Cardigans’ song. Continue reading »
Jam band Dogs in a Pile played a homecoming gig in Asbury Park, New Jersey at the Stone Pony and as part of the celebration, included a brand new cover (for them) of a Smashing Pumpkins song in the set. The cover of “Cherub Rock” popped up during the band’s second set, which began with a performance of their song, “Tillie.” (Which is named after the smiling face painted on the side of a boardwalk arcade.) After a 23+ minute version of the song, the band appeared to be transitioning into playing the Grateful Dead‘s “Truckin'” when drummer Joey Babick kicked off with “Cherub Rock”‘s memorable snare drum roll opening. Continue reading »