"Hold On" by Transient Ace

 

Athens, Alabama southern blues band Alabama Shakes had their critically acclaimed 2012 single "Hold On" covered by Transient Ace.

I try to learn a little something about the covering artists, but they don't always make it easy.

Take Transient Ace, for example.

There's no bio information on their YouTube channel that was established in 2012, with all of their videos uploaded over a 2-year span from 2014 to 2016.

Their catalog isn't on any of the major music streaming services.

No Facebook or Instagram profile.

BUT

A poster visible on one of their videos reads "Honig," with "Franz K Reutlingen" written below.

Franz K is a cultural center in Reutlingen, Germany.

Though I can't stake my life that all of the acts are locals, according to this Facebook event, Honig played on the same stage April 22nd, 2014. 

I'm pretty gosh derned confident that Transient Ace are a German band.

"What's Going On" by A Perfect Circle

 

To a certain extent, April 4th will always be a day of mourning.

On this day in 1968, the world lost a truly brilliant soul, the epitome of nonviolent protest and civil disobedience, Rev. Martin Luther King.

Though not directly about King's assassination, Washington, DC singer songwriter Marvin Gaye's 1971 protest anthem "What's Going On" was adopted as a rallying cry against social injustice. The opening lines “Mother, mother, there’s far too many of you crying / Brother, brother, brother, there’s far too many of you dying” were powerful words that buoyed the Civil Rights movement.

Here is a cover version from post-industrial Los Angeles, California band A Perfect Circle.

For more Marvin Gaye covers, James Taylor's version of "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" can be found here, and Hot Chip's version of "Sexual Healing" can be found here.

"A Bar Song (Tipsy)" by Rita Ora

 

Pristina, Kosovo born singer/songwriter/television personality/actress/tax accountant/seamstress/IT professional/cable technician Rita Ora performs a laid-back acoustic version of Woodbridge, Virginia Americana rapper Shaboozey's 2024 slur-along "A Bar Song (Tipsy)."

Everybody's at the bar getting tipsy, because Rita Ora's serving up drinks as well.  Did I mention she's a bartender/Registered Nurse/wood finisher/CDL truck driver/youth sports instructor?

A gal of many, many, many talents.

"Grey Cell Green" by Palm Ghosts

 

Yesterday afternoon, Stourbridge, UK grebo band Ned's Atomic Dustbin posted on the social medias "Happy 34th Birthday to 'God Fodder!'"

Of course, I took that as an April Fool's joke.

Because, there ain't no friggin' way.

Then, I looked up the release date of the album.

And cried.

And continued applying lidocaine to my aching joints.

Anyway, here's Philadelphia, Pennsylvania based dream pop band Palm Ghosts with their remake of the *sob* 1991 noisepop single "Grey Cell Green." 

For a cover by Ned's Atomic Dustbin, their take on "Saturday Night" can be found here.

"April's Fool" by The Tuesdays

 

It's April Fool's Day!

This year, it happens to fall on a Tuesday.

So, here's a cover of Swedish duo The Merrymakers' 1997 pop single "April's Fool" covered by Larvik, Norway rock band The Tuesdays.