As the year comes to a close, it’s time to look back at the wild ride and whirlwind that was 2017. For this series of Live For Live Music staff picks, we’ll be reliving many of the glorious musical moments from the past year. We’ve already taken a look at a select few of the awesome jams and huge bust outs that went down this year, and today, we’re revisiting our staff’s favorite live covers of 2017. Enjoy!
L4LM Staff Picks: Our Favorite Jams Of 2017
L4LM Staff Picks: Our Favorite Bust Outs Of 2017
Phish | “On The Road Again” by Willie Nelson | Madison Square Garden | New York, NY | 8/6/2017
When Phish closed out their Baker’s Dozen residency at Madison Square Garden this summer, they had completed the impossible—thirteen nights at one of the most iconic venues in the world with no repeats. On the last night, after their commemorative banner was raised to the rafters of the arena, the band returned with an encore of Willie Nelson’s “On The Road Again”, and it was deeply emotional for both musicians and fans alike. Hearing Trey Anastasio and Page McConnell’s voices crack during the tune has stuck with us, and the song’s lyrics and entire vibe were a perfect way to cap of such a monumental two weeks. You can listen to the song in its entirety here, and relive the magic of the “Glazed” night thirteen of Baker’s Dozen here.
Umphrey’s McGee with Marcus King | “Can’t You Hear Me Knockin'” by The Rolling Stones| Augusta Commons | Augusta, GA | 6/1/2017
Umphrey’s McGee is already a force to be reckoned with, so when the group had the wildly talented up-and-comers of Marcus King Band open for them at a performance in Augusta, Georgia, over the summer, we were hoping for a collaboration. Luckily, the young musical prodigy Marcus King did join the group during Umphrey’s second set, and we were blown away by this explosive cover of the Rolling Stones’ classic “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking”. Read more about this ferocious show here.
[Video: Mike Geeslin]
Dopapod & Motet Members | “Waterfalls” by TLC | Lincoln Theatre | Raleigh, NC | 11/16/2017
This fall, The Motet and Dopapod teamed up for a number of shows during a mini-run across the East Coast. One of our favorite moments from this mini-tour came during a performance at the Lincoln Theatre in Raleigh, North Carolina, on November 16th. During Dopapod’s set, the band invited Motet vocalist Lyle Divinsky, keys player Joey Porter, trumpet player Gabe Mervine, and saxophonist Drew Sayers to join them, making for a stand-out rendition of the TLC classic “Waterfalls”. Read more about this special collaboration here.
[Video: mk devo]
Tedeschi Trucks Band | “Alabama” by Neil Young | Fox Theatre | Oakland, CA | 11/18/2017
Back in November, Tedeschi Trucks Band debuted their take on Neil Young’s “Alabama” off his iconic 1972 album Harvest in Phoenix. The band kept the song in their song rotation for the remainder of the tour, later playing it on November 18th during their triumphant return to Oakland, California’s Fox Theatre. Derek Trucks himself said of the number, “This Neil Young song is as timely now as when it was written,” and we can’t help but agree. Take a listen to the official recording of the tune, and read more about the song and Tedeschi Trucks Band’s return to the studio here.
[Video: TTBFromTheRoad]
Brownie / Magner / Cummins / Greenfield / Jalbert / Hartswick / Cressman | “Toxic” By Britney Spears | Brooklyn Bowl | New York, NY | 9/23/2017
At Brooklyn Comes Alive in Williamsburg, New York City, this fall, one of the most highly anticipated acts at the festival was the massive super jam featuring The Disco Biscuits’ Marc Brownstein and Aron Magner, Umphrey’s McGee’s Joel Cummins, Lotus’ Mike Greenfield, The Motet’s Ryan Jalbert, and Trey Anastasio Band’s Jennifer Hartswick and Natalie Cressman. While the group laid out a number of pop classics and R&B tunes, one of our favorite was their out-of-left-field rendition of Britney Spears’ “Toxic”. Read more this super jam, and watch the group’s take on Blondie’s “Rapture” here.
[Video: Live For Live Music]