Fish Picks: “Top 10 Covers of 2018”

Covers can serve to make us feel nostalgic, make us feel connected or sometimes just help keep the party going. Some covers mean more because of the cover choice, others derive their emotional impact from the performance, but ultimately, covers serve as a tribute to the artist they are mimicking. A tip of the hat to the artists that inspire us all. A way to both serve the artist performing and the artist they are referencing. The art of the cover is not lost on the jam scene and often times reminds us of how musically fluid we have all become. It is not uncommon that I learn about new music through an outstanding cover, so hopefully this list will help broaden your musical palette or at least give you something familiar yet new to listen to. Check out my favorite covers of 2018 from the Space Tapes archive.

#10: Judo Chop – “Heart Shaped Box” (Nirvana cover) (2018-05-10 @ Mile High Spirits, Denver, CO)

Reinterpretations and new compositions of existing songs are where covers truly excel. Adding your own style or a different genre to a classic tune forces listeners to see things through a new lens and may inspire them to enjoy something outside of their normal comfort zone. Judo Chop made good use of guitarist Brant Williams‘ propensity towards jazz music as they performed an instrumental jazz take on Nirvana‘s “Heart Shaped Box”. This version is as smooth as any lounge jazz tune while keeping the bite of the original song’s powerful and iconic chorus. A true testament to the lasting power of Nirvana‘s music, music that not only transcends its time but its genre.

Read our full show review: http://thespacefish.com/judo-chop-2018-05-10-mile-high-spirits-denver-co-sbd-aud-matrix/

Check out the full show: https://archive.org/details/JC2018-05-10.AKG.P170.CA14.cards.AUD.SBD.Matrix.flac16.

Listen to Judo Chop – “Heart Shaped Box” (Nirvana cover) below:

#9: The SWAT Team – “Got To Give It Up > Electric Avenue > Got To Give It Up” (Eddy Grant cover) (2018-01-06 @ Cervantes’ Other Side, Denver, CO)

Steveland Swatkins may not be human— between his skill on the talk-box and his constant high-energy, the guy is a beacon of positivity and vigor on stage. His vitality seems to be contagious because when he put together a super group containing Adam Deitch (Lettuce) on drums, Garret Sayers (The Motet) on bass, Dan Scwhindt (Kyle Hollingsworth Band) on guitar and Joey Porter (The Motet) on clavinet, true to the name, Swatkins had back-up. The set was dripping with funk and 80’s synth tones, positive vibes and soulful vocal performances. After a star-studded set that included sit-ins from Lyle Divinsky (The Motet), Kim Dawson (Pimps Of Joytime) and Gabe Mervine (The Motet) on trumpet, one had to wonder what they had in store for the encore. Luckily for fans, the encore had another 20 minutes of funk to deliver in the form of a Stevie Wonder / Eddy Grant sandwich, paying tribute to two different decades of funk with two of the best talk-box-virtuousos in the scene.

Read our full show review: http://thespacefish.com/the-swat-team-2018-01-06-cervantes-other-side-denver-co-sbd-aud-matrix/

Listen to The SWAT Team – “Got To Give It Up > Electric Avenue > Got To Give It Up (Stevie Wonder / Eddy Grant cover)” below or check out the full show https://archive.org/details/TheSWATTeam2018-01-06.AKG.P170.SBD.Matrix/

#8: The Workshy – “Airbag” (Radiohead cover) (2018-03-03 @ Ophelia’s Electric Soapbox)

Sometimes the mark of a great cover is putting a unique spin on a well known classic. Other times, the sign of a great cover is how well the band is able to take-on the persona of the original artist, sonically mimicking a cherished classic and appealing to the guaranteed fans in the audience. The Workshy chose the latter when they donned their best Radiohead musical costume for a take on the band’s anthem to rebirth, “Airbag”. From the opening riff to guitarist Brant Wiliams‘ reverb-drenched vocal performance, the execution was spot-on and even allowed for an affected little jam near the end, before eventually blending back in the opening riff and closing out the tune. An honorable mention also goes out to the set closing cover of Rage Against The Machine‘s “Bulls On Parade” which featured keyboardist Ben Rafferty not only on vocals but also playing the solo, mimicking Tom Morrello‘s unique hand-slide style which ironically is trying to impersonate record scratches. The performance really puts a final exclamation point on the set and is executed with equal attention to detail.

Read our full show review: http://thespacefish.com/the-workshy-2018-03-03-ophelias-electric-soapbox-denver-co-sbd-aud-matrix/

Check out the full show: https://archive.org/details/TheWorkshy2018-03-03.AKG.P170.AUD.SBD.Matrix.flac16/

Listen to The Workshy – “Airbag” (Radiohead cover) below:

#7: Part & Parcel – “On Your Way Down” (Allen Toussaint cover) (2018-06-30 @ Beanstalk Music Festival at Rancho Del Rio, Bond, CO)

Bluegrass has a unique way of being able to interpret song structures, often times taking songs for a much faster ride than they are normally accustomed to. Part & Parcel took such course when they covered Allen Toussaint‘s bluesy opus “On Your Way Down”, kicking up the tempo and ferocity with quick picking and a full-hearted vocal performance that turns the original on its head. The composed sections of the song are very well performed and delivered with a unique contrast to the original but the real highlight is the jam. The section starts off with a hypnotizing psychedelic segment, tinted with a middle eastern flair. The band slowly builds the sound and tempo before colliding back into a feverish classic bluegrass sound. They continue to flirt with the middle eastern vibe throughout the end of a jam, going back and forth between styles before the final chorus brought it all home. An invigorating take on one of the many model soul classics from the New Orlean’s legend.

Read our full show review: http://thespacefish.com/stream-download-part-parcel-2018-06-30-beanstalk-music-mountains-festival-at-rancho-del-rio-bond-co-sbd-aud-matrix/

Check out the full show: https://archive.org/details/PartandParcel2018-06-30.AKG.P170.AUD.SBD.Matrix

Listen to Part & Parcel – “On Your Way Down” (Allen Toussaint cover) below:

#6: The Hang Featuring Jessica Jones – “Special Affair” (The Internet cover) (2018-12-17 @ Cervantes’ Other Side, Denver, CO)

Another key component to a great cover is the song selection – it’s easy for artists to sometimes make “safe” cover choices…jam fans usually don’t balk at a cover of “Psycho Killer” or “Shakedown Street”. Don’t get me wrong, I love these songs and the artists behind them but part of truly appreciating the live music experience is often times being open to anything and everything. People often complain that there is no good new music but I think sometimes you just need to be a little open and know where to look. One genre that has been constantly producing transcendent material in the new age has been soul music. Over the past decade, pioneers like Erykah Badu, Frank Ocean and D’Angelo have been pushing the envelope of what soul means in the 21st century. One such group is The Internet, a soul group born from two of the former members of the prodigious rap group Odd Future. Blending elements of the neo-soul sound with elements of hip hop is something The Internet and The Hang have in common. This rendition not only features the striking vocal work of Jessica Jones but also features a significant jam from The Hang who had invited up the Brothers Of Brass for the last two songs of the evening to add some flair to mix. This cover is an eclectic blend of genres in a beautifully fluid style that captures exactly what makes live music great… a little bit of everything.

Read our full show review: http://thespacefish.com/the-hang-featuring-jessica-jones-2018-12-17-cervantes-ohter-side-denver-co-sbd-aud-matrix/

Check out the full show: https://archive.org/details/TheHangFeaturingJessicaJones2018-12-17.AKG.P170.CA14.cards.AUD.SBD.Matrix.flac16/

Listen to The Hang Featuring Jessica Jones – “Special Affair” (The Internet cover) below:

#5: Aqueous – “Benny & The Jets” (Elton John cover) (2018-06-29 @ Beanstalk Music Festival at Rancho Del Rio, Bond, CO)

Sometimes a great cover is all about set placement. As Aqueous performed their headlining set of the second night of the Beanstalk Music Festival, it seemed they could do no wrong, crushing each of their originals including a 20 minute “Weight Of The World” only two songs in. So when the sharp opening chords of Elton John‘s “Benny & The Jets” rang out, the crowd was overwhelmed with shouts of excitement for the classic tune. Sir Elton John is currently on his farewell tour; an epic three-year journey that started in 2018 and will end in 2021 which features him playing a 3 hour set each night. A part of me thought this was a nod to the legend’s announced retirement but I conceded that it wasn’t. Elton’s music will outlast him performing it live and in a way it already has. Aqueous‘ cover resonated with the crowd on a viscerally nostalgic level even though 90% of them weren’t alive 15 years after its release. That’s true rock stardom. Aqueous delivered the music with their own twangy guitar-driven swagger, staying true to the structure of the original, intermittently including finger-sweeps in-between verses until the end when they teased a deeper jam before ultimately transitioning into the second huge jam of their set “Kitty Chaser (Explosions)”. I wish that jam would have gone longer but the cover still stands on its own as one of the best of the weekend.

Read our full show review: http://thespacefish.com/stream-download-lespecial-2018-06-29-beanstalk-music-mountains-festival-at-rancho-del-rio-bond-co-sbd-aud-matrix/

Check out the full show: https://archive.org/details/Lespecial2018-06-29.AKG.P170.AUD.SBD.Matrix

Listen to Aqueous – “Benny & The Jets” (Elton John cover) below:

#4: Lespecial – “Enter Sandstorm” (Metallica / Darude mash-up) (2018-06-29 @ Beanstalk Music Festival at Rancho Del Rio, Bond, CO)

Sometimes we change the definition of what a cover is entirely. Mash ups are a way to effectively cover two songs at once while pointing out the beautiful synchronicity of music. When it comes to picking just one cover song from Lespecial‘s day set at Beanstalk Music & Mountains Festival 2018, the choice was almost impossible. From the comical take on Cardi B‘s “Bodak Yellow” or the at times poignant version of Kendrick Lamar’s “Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe” or even the tribute to Phil Collins towards the end of the set, Lespecial know how to please a crowd with a broad cover selection. Maybe none more apparent than in their mash-up of two genre defining songs, Metallica‘s “Enter Sandman” and Darude‘s “Sandstorm” cleverly coined “Enter Sandstorm”. The result is a smorgasbord of one of the most well known guitar riffs locking horns with one of electronic music’s most familiar samples. By the end you aren’t quite sure where Sandman ends and the storm begins, and the moment was made even more appropriate by the setting. As the Sandman riff bore on, Beanstalk attendees kicked up an actual sandstorm as they danced to the stirring amalgam of genres. By the time the dust settled, the only thing you could be sure of was….that…was…awesome.

Read our full show review: http://thespacefish.com/stream-download-lespecial-2018-06-29-beanstalk-music-mountains-festival-at-rancho-del-rio-bond-co-sbd-aud-matrix/

Check out the full show: https://archive.org/details/Lespecial2018-06-29.AKG.P170.AUD.SBD.Matrix

Listen to Lespecial – “Enter Sandstorm” (Metallica / Darude mash-up) below:

#3: Cycles – “Shuggie” (Foxygen cover) (2018-06-30 @ Beanstalk Music Festival at Rancho Del Rio, Bond, CO)

Sometimes covers help you learn about a band you might not normally be into. If you’ve never heard of Foxygen, then you’re missing out on some incredibly fresh folk indie-rock from the California based duo. Cycles paid tribute to Foxygen‘s first single off their break-through 2013 record “We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace & Magic” with a cover of “Shuggie”. Their version is a much rawer interpretation with crunchy guitars and a ripping jam section. The transposition of genres helps Cycles inject their own style of psychedelic fusion-rock into the tune, making it feel entirely their own, another mark of a great cover. When Cycles covers a tune, it’s not exciting because it’s going to sound exactly like the original—it’s exciting because it’s going to sound completely new, and that’s what often times makes it great. While the jam in “Shuggie” is short, it opens up the song in ways that Foxygen may never explore and the cover choice itself may open up some fans to a new band they never knew they could enjoy. A win-win for the music fan.

Read our full show review: http://thespacefish.com/stream-download-cycles-2018-06-30-beanstalk-music-mountains-festival-at-rancho-del-rio-bond-co-sbd-aud-matrix/

Check out the full show: https://archive.org/details/Cycles2018-06-30.AKG.P170.AUD.SBD.Matrix.flac16

Listen to Cycles – “Shuggie” (Foxygen cover) below:

#2: Eufórquestra – “No Quarter” (Led Zeppelin cover) (2018-03-30 @ The Bluebird Theater, Denver, CO)

Sometimes a great cover just hits you in the feels. I absolutely adore Led Zeppelin‘s “No Quarter”; with its cryptic lyrics, haunting organ notes and crushing guitar riff, it has all the ingredients for a classic rock song. It’s no surprise the song has transcended its time period and inspired so many artists along the way. Eufórquestra creates a fully atmospheric moment during their headlining set at the Bluebird Theater by paying tribute to one of rock ‘n’ roll’s most legendary acts. Their cover combines a fiercely poignant vocal performance with an intensely layered jam featuring brilliant guitar work from guitarist Mike Tallman accompanied by the punctuating horn work from the band’s brass section. The cover was executed impeccably which shouldn’t be surprising to anyone who caught them a few months earlier when they performed a full tribute set to Led Zeppelin over Halloween. Whatever practice went into that show certainly showed as they nailed every single aspect of the tune, a feat that can often times prove quite challenging for songs that so many people have such a fondness for. A real treat for any Zeppelin fan.

Read our full show review: http://thespacefish.com/euforquestra-2018-03-30-the-bluebird-theater-denver-co-sbd-aud-matrix/

Check out the full show: https://archive.org/details/euforquestra2018-03-30.AKG.P170.AUD.SBD.Matrix.flac16

Listen to Eufórquestra  – “No Quarter” (Led Zeppelin cover) below:

#1: Horseshoes & Hand Grenades – “Rhiannon” (Fleetwood Mac cover) (2018-06-30 @ Beanstalk Music Festival at Rancho Del Rio, Bond, CO)

This cover crushes on pretty much every level discussed so far. Creative interpretive cover of a well known classic in a completely different genre? Check. Incredible musicianship both through the execution of the composed sections as well as a massive jam section in the middle? Check. Placed at the peak of the first part of their set after a slew of well received originals? Check. As the sun set on the final night of the Beanstalk Music & Mountains Festival, Horseshoes and Hand Grenades channeled their best Stevie Nicks / Fleetwood Mac impression with an epic cover of “Rhiannon” that put on display the band’s super locked-in playing. Building peaks and creating tension furiously plucking away at the fabled riff, Horseshoes and Hand Grenades elevated the song to soaring heights, letting the song breathe as it occupied its new sonic space. The band performed the cover with purpose, delivering an emotional vocal performance somewhat overshadowed by one of the most stirring jams of the entire weekend. Each member took their solo with such conviction, building their own narratives for the moment and propelling each segment with increasing fervor. At times it would feel as if they would bring it down just to bring it back again, to the objection of no one. A fitting tribute to the mystical “Rhiannon” and my personal favorite cover of the festival and of the year.

Read our full show review: http://thespacefish.com/horseshoes-hand-grenades-2018-06-30-beanstalk-music-mountains-festival-at-rancho-del-rio-bond-co-sbd-aud-matrix/

Check out the full show: https://archive.org/details/HAH2018-06-30.AKG.P170.AUD.SBD.Matrix.flac16/

Listen to Horseshoes & Hand Grenades – “Rhiannon” (Fleetwood Mac cover) below: