Stockholm, Sweden trio-sisses Baskery cover "River," a 1971 folk single from Alberta, Canada artist Joni Mitchell.
Their version was recorded inside of Bredsattra Kyrka, a church on the island of Oland, the foundation walls and gable of which are still intact after over 800 years.
Richmond, Virginia band Cracker's 1992 single "Happy Birthday to Me" was covered by Uncommon Core at Dolphinstock 2015.
I was somewhat amazed by the sheer number of places holding an event called "Dolphinstock."
There's one in Arkansas.
There's another in Lancaster, UK.
There's a Fishstock concert in Wisconsin, and that's almost the same thing.
Then, there's this one. Took some digging, but found that this event was held on May 30th, 2015 at Leonardo da Vinci K-8 in Sacramento, California.
For another Cracker cover, The Legend of the Dogu's version of "Teen Angst (What the World Needs Now)" can be found here.
Nashville, Tennessee husband and wife team The Running Mates started out as mere bandmates circa 2010. Then they got to marryin', and YouTube-in', including this web cover of Waverly, Ohio country rock band Pure Prairie League's 1972 cut "Amie."
Wertheim, Germany band Breakaway Paradise cover "Domino," the 2011 debut single from London, UK electropop artist Jessie J.
Speaking of Dominos, if you haven't had the parmesan stuffed crust pizza yet.... now would be as good a time as any.
From the village of Winneconne, Wisconsin come Fox Menagerie, a rotating ensemble of musicians who record cover songs and originals in their high school library, doncha know?
Here is their version of "The Luckiest," a 2001 tearjerker from Winston-Salem, North Carolina musician Ben Folds.
As ever, April 26th is set aside for a cover of this song, and each year I get to reaffirm just how lucky I am.
Happy 17 years, Jess. I'm sorry I know that a cover song recorded in the Winneconne High library is a strange way to tell you that I know we belong. That I am.... I am.... I am the luckiest.
For other versions of "The Luckiest," here's one from Charlotte Littlehales, here's one from Stephanie Erin Brill, and here's one from Sara Gazarek.
Cambridge, Massachusetts alternative jazz rock band Morphine had their laid back 1992 single "You Lok Like Rain" covered by Groovytation.
Though I can't say for certain where the covering band is from, I have two guesses.
Going through their past tour dates with the aid of Google translate, they performed a show at Moskovsky Prospekt in March of 2019. Ergo, there's a strong possibility that the band is from the St. Petersburg, Russia vicinity.
They may also be Kazakhstani, as the first picture on an Instagram profile for Alina Vselennaya shows a hand holding a passport for the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Hamilton, Ontario band Moonlight Desires cover "Circle in the Sand," the final US charting single for Los Angeles, California artist Belinda Carlisle.
They serve up some nostalgia with a side of studded leather bracelets.
No other solo covers, but for alt versions of Go'Go's songs, Everclear's version of "Our Lips Are Sealed" can be found here, and "Head Over Heels" by the Lascivious Biddies can be found here.
San Antonio, Texas indie rockers Girl in a Coma cover "Come On, Let's Go," a 1958 single from San Fernando, California Chicano rock pioneer Ritchie Valens.
Though their style may seem to be whimsical and carefree, Girl in a Coma.... I know... I know they're really serious.
For another Valens cover, the Telex version of "La Bamba" can be found here.
Los Angeles, California alternative dance band Smallpools cover short-lived one album wonder New Radicals' 1998 power pop single "You Get What You Give."
Tempe, Arizona punk trio Sedusa cover "Bratty B," a fuzzed out 2010 indie surf single from Los Angeles, California garage rockers Best Coast.
Happy 4/20!
Here's Sydney, Australia area duo Havenir with their version of "Higher," a 1999 post grunge single from Tallahassee, Florida hard rock band Creed.
For another Creed cover, Bleeding Heart Theory's version of "With Arms Wide Open" can be found here.
Sao Paulo, Brazil web artist Luciana Zogbi covers "Say You Won't Let Go," a 2016 chart topping love ballad from North Yorkshire, UK pop singer James Arthur.
It's a song that's in a dead heat with Men at Work's "Down Under" for my favorite tune that casually mentions drunken vomiting.
Missoula, Montana formed folky bluegrass group Tophouse head out to the lake for their version of "Fly Me to the Moon."
The definitive version of the song was recorded in 1964 by Hoboken, New Jersey megastar Frank Sinatra.
The origins of the song date back a decade, though, with the first rendering recorded by Cleveland, Ohio actress/comedian/singer Kaye Ballard.
And, there were metric tons of notable singers to tackle it before Ol' Blue Eyes.
They include:
Here's the 1992 hit "Connected," originally by London, UK trip hoppers Stereo MC's, as covered by the band Pop Shot.
Pop Shot's YouTube channel is @PopShotNS, so I figured that they were from Nova Scotia.
However, their video footage was largely recorded in Becej, and Sombor, so chances are better that they're a Serbian group.
So, what does that NS stand for?
Here were some possibilities that I'd considered:
Fort Lauderdale, Florida metal band Nonpoint heavy up "In the Air Tonight," the 1981 debut single from London, UK singer/songwriter Phil Collins.
My only criticism is that they could have done a bit more with the drum fill.
For another cover of Phil Collins (well, Collins with Genesis), Disturbed's version of "Land of Confusion" can be found here.
Los Angeles, California industrial duo Kidneythieves cover "Crazy," the 1961 country crossover hit single from Winchester, Virginia legend Patsy Cline.
When they aren't covering songs in an abrasive electro style, Kidneythieves can often be found trying to lure unicorns to Candy Mountain.
For another Patsy Cline cover, Rubber Rodeo's version of "Walkin' After Midnight" can be found here.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma neo psychedelia artists The Flaming Lips had their 1999 experimental soft bulletin "A Spoonful Weighs a Ton" covered by Atlanta, Georgia sludge metal band Mastodon.
For another Flaming Lips cover, Cavedoll's version of "She Don't Use Jelly" can be found here.
Youthful Erie, Pennsylvania rockers Rosegun Vibe cover "Devil," a 2018 release from Jacksonville, Florida alternative metal band Shinedown.
This is likely among their last performances, as their Instagram and Facebook profiles went dormant in 2018, and the last mention of the group appears to be this article on the GoErie website from February 2019.
That's a shame. This cover is amazing..... even more so considering that the group's members were between 13-16 years of age at the time of recording.
Happy Saturday!
Steubenville, Ohio band Someday Saturday cover "Everybody Loves Somebody."
The band is crediting fellow Steubenvill-ian singer/comedian Dean Martin with the original, though the song dates back a couple of decades, originally recorded by Jamestown, North Dakota pop jazz singer Peggy Lee in 1947.
They're performing out on Fourth Street, in front of Drosselmeyer's, where you can buy a nutcracker in May.... you know, if you're into that kind of thing.
She's one bad-assed Hufflepuff.
By day, she tries to save Hogwarts from Death Eaters.
By night, she grabs a muh' fuh'n' ACCORDION and fronts London, UK based group Molotov Jukebox.
Here's their version of "Power of Love," a 1985 power pop single from San Francisco, California rock band Huey Lewis and the News, written for the movie "Back to the Future."
For more Huey Lewis covers, The Glen Phillips version of "I Want a New Drug" can be found here, and the Lovers League version of "Hip to be Square" can be found here.
Paramus, New Jersey glam metal band Trixter cover "Take the Long Way Home," a 1979 single from London, UK prog rock group Supertramp.
If Trixter were in London and wanted to take the long way home, they'd fly Heathrow Airport to Washington, then board a subway to Union Station, followed by a train to Penn Station, and, finally, a bus to Century Road in Paramus. Estimated time: 13 hours and 29 minutes.
For another Supertramp cover, The 48th St. Collective's version of "Breakfast in America" can be found here.
Orem, Utah dark indie rock band My Fair Fiend's cover of New York City trip hop artist Poe's 1995 debut single "Angry Johnny" is as full of slick sax licks as it is of innuendos.
For over 40 years, Honolulu, Hawaii band Kapena have brought their musical aloha throughout the South Pacific, while maintaining fairly regular Saturday shows at Duke's in Waikiki.
Here, they serve up some island flavor on their version of "Listen to the Music," a 1972 single from San Jose, California rock group The Doobie Brothers.
For another Doobie cover, Self's version of "What a Fool Believes" can be found here.
New Orleans, Louisiana is home to Chicken on the Bone, a cover band with the whitest keytar and shiniest pants that I've done ever seen.
Here, they belt out "I'm the Only One," the 1993 single about a woman confronting her lover who is tempted by the fruit of another.... tempted, but the truth is discovered.... what's been going on.... originally by Leavenworth, Kansas singer songwriter Melissa Etheridge.
This footage was recorded at the National Fried Chicken Festival in N'Awlins, which I'm highly disappointed that nobody's ever told me was a thing. It's like they don't even know me.
For a cover by Etheridge, her version of "Piece of My Heart" can be found here.
Nampa, Idaho sometimes solo project The Orange Teeth performs "Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand," a single from Ventura, California alternative act Primitive Radio Gods.
The single won some prestigious honors in 1996, like "Best Soft Synth Future One Hit Wonder Award" and "Holy Wow, What an Obnoxiously Long Song Title Award."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
