Just to be different and, well, just because I can, I'm going to start providing semi-regular "Random Playlists of the Moment" that you could burn onto your very own 80 minute blank CD (as opposed to the non-blank kind that is) to enjoy at home or in your car, whatever; consider it my little blog version of "take-out". These lists may not always make sense or follow any prescribed genre or theme, it's just another quirky insight into those superior musical tastes of mine that you've come to crave and rely on. Think of them as random collections of what's captured my attention recently and something, of course, that you really should check out.

How and where you find these tunes is your own problem, however. I have assumed then that you have figured out the omnipotent powerful tool known as the INTERNET, and by this point are quite apt at using Google.

Enjoy.

"Pirate Princess Pickle Bunny"

1. Baby I'm a Fool - Spiritualized
2. Steve's Last Ramble - Steve Earl
3. Pancho & Lefty - Townes Van Zandt
4. Summerteeth (solo) - Jeff Tweedy
5. Right Place, Wrong Time - Dr. John
6. Light Up Or Leave Me Alone - Traffic
7. Burn On - Randy Newman
8. Tell My Mama - Ryan Bingham
9. It's a Long Way To the Top If You Wanna Rock n' Roll - AC/DC
10. Who Killed Davey Moore (live) - Bob Dylan
11. Indian Summer - Duke the Bull
12. Oh, Alberta - Elliot Brood
13. The Girl - City & Color
14. Mustang Sally - Albert King

Ben Harper
ACT Theater - Falls Thrust
Seattle, WA
04-06-98

Solo acoustic. 'Nuff said.

Temptations
Shibuya-Kokaido
Tokyo, Japan
12-13-73

A fantastic oddball holiday treat.

Beck
Live at the Rehearsal Hall
Bravo!

It's not often I find enjoyable live sets to watch on television, much less defer My Name Is Earl to continue watching. This is a beautifully percussive set of very catchy, witty rhythms played on very odd impromptu instruments a la typical Beck.

On vinyl no less. Life is sweet.

Bela Fleck & Toumani Diabate
36th Telluride Bluegrass Festival
Telluride, CO
06-19-09

Old school bluegrass meets old school African folk. The two originally met on Bela's trip to Africa to film Throw Down Your Heart, a movie that follows the American banjo virtuoso on his journey to Africa to explore the little known African roots of the banjo and record an album. It’s a boundary-breaking musical adventure that celebrates the beauty and complexity of Africa – an Africa that is very different from what is often seen in the media today.

Bluegrass Gospel Project
The Back Door
Montpelier, VT
12-22-06

Some belated bluegrass-style Christmas tunes (second set only). Something to set the mood for making pasta salad and mentally preparing myself for a seasonal afternoon with the 'ol fam. "Serenity now!"

George Thurogood
El Mocambo
St. Catharines, ON
1978

The original FM broadcast of the live event. Not exactly Christmas themed, but it sure puts some dazzle in your spinning legs early in the morning.

Medeski, Martin & Wood
The Palace Theater
Albany, NY
12-01-00

Okay, I lied. So what? This is still a pretty sweet show featuring Oren Bloedow, Cyro Baptista, and unknown dipshit named Trey Anastasio. I'll get to the Toronto JVC Jazzfest show sooner or later...

Bullfrog w/ Kid Koala
JVC Jazz Festival, Harbourfront Theater
Toronto, ON
06-15-02

Old school Montreal hip hip-hopsters with the Kid. Opening act for Medeski, Martin & Wood. I'm sure I'll break that set out eventually for old times sake as well.

Legion of Mary
Keystone
Berkeley, CA
05-21-75

Old school Jerry band with an awesome 20+ minute rendition of Jimmy Cliff's Harder They Come. Of course, the You Can Leave Your Hat On is nice as well. All that's missing from this is a horned up Kim Basinger grinding away in a frilly negligee. Oh well, maybe for next Christmas.

It was just one of those Man in Black kind of days I guess.

Two High String Band
Old Settlers Music Festival, Campground Stage
Austin, TX
04-24-05

This band has been on my "To See" list for years. Lovable acoustic ditties about barn dances, unrequited love, and drinking corn liquor in mason jars.

www.twohighstringband.com

Don't laugh! This shit is abso-fucking-lutely amazing. Think about it: it's Neil Patrick Harris in a musical about a mad scientist lobbying to be inducted into the Evil League of Evil. Enter a love interest and an arch nemesis named Captain Hammer and you have yourself one incredible cinematic experience that will have you laughing and singing-a-long between bong hits. Trust me...

Grapes of Vaudevillian Fantasy
Gathering of the Vibes
Mariaville, NY
07-04-02

The festival opener featuring guests Mystic Bowie and the Deep Banana Blackout horns. Groovy set for sure. I only remember hearing this from the campground as I was busy at the time setting up the tent and staking out my turf against the other encroaching lot rats.

Bruce Hornsby
Shoreline Amphitheater
Mountainview, CA
08-02-97

An old Further Festival performance featuring guest musicians Bonnie Raitt, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir. I love 'ol Brucie. Nice Wharf Rat> Valley Road> Rainbow Cadillac segue to end the set.

Evan Dando
Copenhagen, Denmark
02-12-05

I was never the greatest Lemonheads fan, but I will admit that their music really translated well acoustically and Dando really rocks this shit out on his rickety old Kmart special. There is so much soul and emotion here that just didn't come out before with the Lemonheads. I nearly balled half way through It's a Shame About Ray, or All My Life. Dando's lonely and shady past is pretty much laid bare. And besides, how can you not love something that can - in all seriousness - include lyrics like:

"If I was a booger, would you blow your nose?
Would you keep it? Would you eat it?
I'm just tryin to give myself a reason, for being around."

Beck w/ The Flaming Lips
Austin City Limits
Austin, TX
11-11-02

I absolutely love this concert. If you ever see this advertised on the boob tube late at night - make sure you stay up to check it out! As weird as they already are, The Flaming Lips were the ideal backing band for someone as strange and eclectic as Beck...the two just gel perfectly. This would be one of my 'desert island concerts' if I ever had to make such a list. Hmmm, not a bad idea actually....

Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band - Night Moves (vinyl)
Delaney & Bonnie & Friends - "On Tour with Eric Clapton..." (vinyl)
Joe Walsh - The Smoker You Drink, the Player You Get (vinyl)
Ozark Mountain Daredevils - It's Alive! (vinyl)
Art of Noise - Who's Afraid Of the Art of Noise? (vinyl)

It kinda felt like one of those cold, wet afternoons where you just want to smoke yourself stupid, and head to the local flea market to shop for records. And that's exactly what I did. I apologize not. So there!

Pete Seeger w/ Studs Terkle
Mandel Hall, University of Chicago
Chicago, IL
10-13-57

I have no flippin' idea who the guy is, but Studs Terkle might just be the greatest sounding name in the history of music. Period. The two together deliver an intimate acoustic performance where you could hear a sparrow fart amongst the absolutely captivated crowd.

Phish
Comcast Center (Great Woods)
Mansfield, MA
06-06-09

So I'm digging the jam these days...blow me. Nice Stealing Time From the Faulty Plan to open the show. It's all phatty jams and glow sticks from there.

Oresund Space Collective
Torvi
Lahti, Finland
10-30-09

This is fucking awesome! Every now and again my curiosity pays off in dividends on torrent sites. This is a ambient cocktail with splashes of Stereolab, Sonic Youth and Cocteau Twins featuring pedal steel, drums, synthesizers, guitar and bass. This is what William Burroughs would masturbate to. Crazy Fins!

Phish
Alpine Valley Music Theater
East Troy, WI
06-21-09

Great set two openers: Cross-eyed and Painless> Down With Disease> Bug> Piper> Wading in the Velvet Sea. And I don't care what everyone else thinks, I like the saccharin sweet schmoopiness of Joy. It kinda makes for one those moments, as in 'Say Anything', where John Cusak holds the ghetto blaster over his head while it plays Peter Gabriel's In Your Eyes. How can you not love that?

Phish
Fenway PArk
Boston, MA
05-31-09

Features the boys singing the National Anthem acapella from the pitcher's mound and a fabulous Destiny Unbound> Character Zero to close out the first set.

The Dead & Wycleff Jean
Obama Mid-Atlantic Inaugural Ball
Washington, DC
2009-01-20

This is about the extent of political involvement as I ever get.

Jackie Greene Band
Britt Pavilion
Jacksonville, OR
08-21-09

Best thing to "jam" music since microdot.

Lloyd Cannady & Flying Clouds
Grassroots Festival
Trumansburg, NY
07-19-09

A gospel jam band. No shit.

Hot 8 Brass Band
Pink Floyd Garden Stage - Floydfest
Floyd, VA
07-24-09

Another set from the smaller summer festival series. Nothing like ripping tubas, trumpets and trombones to help get your funky-ass groove on.

Pete Seeger & Studs Terkle
Mandel Hall, University of Chicago
October 13, 1957

Pete tells his tall tales and covering traditional folk songs; from Woody Guthrie to Ledbelly to Robert Schmertz. He, he, he..."Schmertz". Poor bastard. He and Studs, no doubt, had their heads flushed in high school so many times they probably developed gills.

Jorma Kaukonen
Schoenburg Guitars
Tiburon, CA
01-04-04

Leading founder of Jefferson Airplane takes it solo and acoustic. Nobody sucks a listener in and makes an emotional connection like Jorma. Good Sheppard or Serpent of Dreams can reduce me to a sniveling puddle of saline in seconds.

Phish
Festival 8 - Empire Polo club
Indio, CA
10-31-09

The infamous Halloween set featuring a reprise of the Stones classic 'Exile on Main Street'. My first thought: "Hey, don't fuck with the classics, brah!" My thoughts upon hearing: "Holy shit, this is fucking awesome!". The Ventilator Blues> I Just Want to See His Face> Let It Loose may just be one of my favorite Phish seques ever.

Reid Genauer
State Theater
Falls Church, VA
09-12-09

My favorite type of Reid Genauer - solo. No Strangefolk; no Assembly of Dust...just Reid and his trusty guitar. This particular performance features guest appearances from Scott Murawski (Max Creek) and Mike Gordon (Phish).

John Butler Trio
Austin City Limits Festival - Zilker Park
Austin, TX
09-17-04

I was lucky enough to be in attendance for this show. Unfortunately, all I remember from this time was my skin roasting off the bone in the 120-degree Texan heat. Too bad, as there was some great jamming here that I might have otherwise enjoyed. also of interest, the tune Funky might just one of the best songs to spin to, like, ever.

Saving Your Soul with Rock n' Roll

I bet you thought this blog was dead, right? That 'ol Crazytigerrabbitman had hung up his headphones for good and packed it all in. Well, I guess I kinda did as far as radio goes. But the music never stops at home.

Needless to say that I love my music. More than you do. So much so that I've decided to keep (and update regularly) this on-going blog of uber-cool albums, concerts, what have you. 'Cuz y'all know how cool I am. So these are the choices that I listen to on a day-to-day basis and will, hopefully, serve to better influence your otherwise average cookie-cutter FM glow-pop radio bullshit for a more hip, intelligent choice of tunage.

Hey, I'm trying to save your soul here. Listen up!

So put away all your sad Queen reissues and whatever latest Police 'Greatest Hits' collection that "Crazy" Uncle Leo gave you for your birthday this year. Turn off the 'Random Play' features on your iPod's and mp3 players and check out these tasty l'il numbers instead. You know you wanna. You know you should...

You, too, could be cool like me...