Though they’ve been around since the very beginning of Lollapalooza 20 years ago, the Mountain Goats played the fest for the first time on Saturday. Ever ones to seize the moment, they performed a new cover in honor of Chicago. “Let’s play a song by a band that’s meant a lot to the Chicago scene over the years,” singer John Darnielle said. “We all love this band. We grew up with this band.” Continue reading »
By now you’ve probably seen the video of Anne Hathaway and some Hollywood-types inviting Staten Island’s PS22 Chorus to the Oscars. That video acts as a sure sign, if one was needed, that this mass of fifth graders has “made it.” They’ll be performing the 1939 Judy Garland classic “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony, which airs on February 27. Continue reading »
Cover Commissions is a monthly series in which a featured artist produces a special cover for this blog. The song to be covered is usually chosen by blog readers via a poll or suggestions form. Any artists interested in participating in a future installment, please email me at the address on the right.
Only two weeks ago we debuted James Eric’s Devo cover, and the ’80s love continues today with our second Cover Commissions artist, John Anealio. At the beginning of March you voted for which sci-fi song you wanted John to cover here, and it was neck and neck between the Flaming Lips’ “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots” and Styx “Mr. Roboto.” John picked the latter to cover, and I couldn’t be happier with the results (and Lips fans, don’t be sad, Damien Rice did an unbeatable Yoshimi cover you can snag here).
John’s Mr. Roboto reimagines the tune in a way you’ve never heard. But don’t take my word for it; listen to him describe it himself at a podcast on his fabulous blog Sci Fi Songs. And remember, his originals are terrific whether you know the source material or not. Learn more about those in a new interview over at SF Signal.
But enough about all that. On to the tune!
This mp3 may be freely shared with the artist’s blessing. Post it on your blog, send it to your friends, burn it for your office mates. When you do share this however, please include a link to this site. Cover Commissions is a monthly occurrence here, and the more traffic this project draws the more exciting we can make future installments.
Another Cover Commissions in the bag, but we’re not wasting any time. Check back in the next couple days for the next installment and get your voting hands ready!