Denver, Colorado group Aftershock cover "We're An American Band," a 1973 hit for Flint, Michigan arena rockers Grand Funk Railroad.
On select nights, Aftershock up the entertainment factor by allowing children seated near the stage to pop balloons on their guitarist's hair.
This may seem like sacrilege, but the 1981 hit single "Happy Birthday" from Glasgow, Scotland new wavers Altered Images.... is kind of stinky cheese.
The lyrics blow.
It's.... catchy enough, I guess?
But, this.... THIS.... is awesome.
A veritable army of young kids wearing Brobee t-shirts and dancing semi-rhythmically?
A cotton candy drumstick?
Quirkus McGirkus DJ Lance Rock being himself?
Manchester, UK indie pop duo The TING TINGS?
In less than three minutes, this video takes a regular old birthday and cranks it up a full two notches on the happy-o-meter.
The only thing that could make a birthday happier than this here video would be the Philadelphia Flyers clinching it on home ice tonight. C'mon, Flyers!
For a cover of The Ting Tings, the Sunscreen version of "That's Not My Name" can be found here.
St Louis, Missouri electro rock artist Warm Electric covers "All Day Day Light," a 2010 baroque pop release from Brooklyn by way of Berkeley, California indie group The Morning Benders.
All day day light occurs in Alaska for multiple months at a time, due to Earth's axial tilt.
Quezon City, Philippines acoustic artists MYMP cover "These Dreams," a 1985 single from Seattle, Washington hard rock band Heart.
According to the website My Sleep Advisor, these dreams about hearts could symbolize love and affection, or could be a warning sign of unresolved emotional issues and a need for self-care.
For more Heart covers, the Oceans of Slumber version of "Alone" can be found here, and the Blitzen Trapper version of "Crazy on You" can be found here.
Hittin' different this year, as the youngsters would say, is the Surrey, UK duo Dragonfly Sky with their cover of the 2001 sobfest "The Luckiest" from Winston-Salem, North Carolina pianist and suburb rocker Ben Folds.
For past versions of "The Luckiest," check out:
Nashua, New Hampshire singer/actress Mandy Moore covers "Breaking Us in Two," a 1982 sophisto-pop single from Staffordshire, UK artist Joe Jackson.
A short list of Mandy Moore's couplings that were broken in two:
Emo dudes Lake Rana cover "Birds of a Feather," a 2024 baroque pop release from fellow Los Angeles, California artist Billie Eilish.
If you're looking for an emo bird of a feather, here you go.
For more Eilish covers, the Carver Commodore version of "Bad Guy" can be found here, and the Rain Paris version of "Therefore I Am" can be found here.
Burbank, Illinois band Cluster Fuzz cover "Safari Song," a 2017 single from Frankenmuth, Michigan predominantly sibling blues rock group Greta Van Fleet.
Asbury Park, New Jersey indie duo Yawn Mower cover "Friends of P," an oft forgotten gem released by Santa Monica, California power pop band The Rentals in 1995.
I like it, but I miss the male/female harmonies of the original. After all, this is a good song for a gal (Ooh Woo Hoo Hoo.....)
Minneapolis, Minnesota dream rockers Serenity Now cover "Maps," a 2003 single from New York City indie band Yeah Yeah Yeahs.
In a bowling alley.
Though bowling alleys don't have maps, per se, they do have floor plans.... which is close.... I guess.
It's 4/20.
So, here's Chicago, Illinois singer/songwriter/excitable boy Warren Zevon with his version of "Back in the High Life Again," a 1986 single from Birmingham, UK blue-eyed soul artist Steve Winwood.
For another Winwood cover, the Ra Ra Riot version of "Valerie" can be found here.
For a cover of Warren Zevon, the Alixandrea Corvyn version of "Werewolves of London" can be found here.
Lucid Node cover "Guilty," a 1996 track from St Louis, Missouri industrial band Gravity Kills.
While I was unable to find a bio for Lucid Node, their collaboration with Echelon Sound Collective leads me to believe that they're based in or around New York City.
Flensburg, Germany band Molecule cover "I Put a Spell on You," a 1956 shock rock single from Cleveland, Ohio artist Screamin' Jay Hawkins.
If folk aren't as upfront about their hexing as Screamin' Jay, this article from Witches Lore gives you indicators on whether or not you've been cursed.
Moscow, Russia singer Lisha covers "Impossible," a 2020 single from Essex, UK indie rockers Nothing but Thieves.
Dutch psychobilly band Milwaukee Wildmen cover "You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)," a 1984 new wave single from Liverpool, UK Eurodisco outfit Dead or Alive.
According to this article, the amusement park ride Gravitron can spin right round like a record at 24 revolutions per minute.
Fort Collins, Colorado ska/reggae band 12 Cents for Marvin cover "Lola," a 1970 mixed up, muddled up, shook up tune from London, UK rockers The Kinks.
For more Kinks covers, the Good Riddance version of "Come Dancing" can be found here, and the Oingo Boingo version of "You Really Got Me" can be found here.
Athens, Greece melodic metal conglomerate Panos Geo cover "Themata," a 2005 release from Perth, Australia band Karnivool.
Potsdam, New York power pop band Gigolo Aunts cover "I Am the Cosmos," a song that was recorded in 1978 by Memphis, Tennessee artist Chris Bell of Big Star fame, posthumously released in 1992.
For a Big Star cover, the Snakes in Exile version of "Thirteen" can be found here.
My friends across the pond have been keeping Mr Blobby a closely guarded secret for over three decades.
I recently discovered the pure joy that is Mr Blobby.
Inexplicably, Blobby had a hit single on UK radio back in 1993.
Here's a cover version by Norwich metal band Falling Gods.
London, UK synth pop band Black Box Recorder cover "Seasons in the Sun," the definitive version of which was released in 1973 by Winnipeg, Canada soft country artist Terry Jacks.
Long Island, New York sibling band The Lemon Twigs cover "I Can Hear the Grass Grow," a 1967 psychedelic rock hit from Buckingham, UK progressive rock group The Move.
According to this article from Hearing Health, you can hear plants grow!
Maybe not grass specifically, but "I Can Hear the Grass Grow" is a much better song title than "I Can Hear the Rhubarbs Grow."
My Own Accord cover "Dirty Little Secret," a 2005 power pop single from Stillwater, Oklahoma punks The All-American Rejects.
According to their Facebook profile and Bandcamp, My Own Accord are based out of Boston, Massachusetts.
Myspace profiles, though, show that the band (or, at least 66% of the band) hail from Fayetteville, North Carolina.
For another AAR cover, the Andie Case version of "Swing, Swing" can be found here.
Bournemouth, UK duo Missing Digit cover "Ooh La La," a 2020 release from Atlanta, Georgia and Brooklyn, New York hip hoppers Run the Jewels.
Ogden, Utah party band 1.21 Gigawatts cover "Sweet Child O' Mine," a 1988 hard rock ballad from Los Angeles, California group Guns N' Roses.
For more GNR covers, Woman's version of "Paradise City" can be found here, and the Prom Queen version of "November Rain" can be found here.
Tiverton, UK lads Leave Before Dawn cover "Leave a Light On," a 2017 release from Kilsyth, Scotland musician Tom Walker.
According to Southern Living, leaving a single 60-Watt bulb on overnight will add $20 per year in energy bills.
Happy Easter!
Durham, North Carolina band Tea Cup Gin cover "Easter Parade," the definitive version being released in the eponymous 1948 film starring Judy Garland and Fred Astaire.
The song was first recorded, though, by Evansville, Indiana Broadway star Marilyn Miller in 1933.
Pop quartet Mercury4 cover "All Out of Love," a 1980 single from fellow Melbourne, Australia natives Air Supply.
According to NASA, Mercury has no air supply, as the planet is too small and hot to retain an atmosphere. Instead, it has a thin exosphere made up of atoms blasted off of the planet by extreme solar winds and meteor strikes.
Welsh nippers Lindsay's Shirt cover "Loverboy," a 2011 alternative rock single from Surrey, UK post hardcore band You Me at Six.
Bristol, UK acoustic wedding duo The Hot Hats cover "Big Yellow Taxi," a 1970 folk song from Fort Macleod, Canada songstress Joni Mitchell.
If you drove a big yellow taxi and wanted a hot hat, it looks like Target's got you covered.
For another Joni cover, the Baskery version of "River" can be found here.
It's April Fool's Day!
So, here's San Antonio, Texas internet celebrity Viking Barbie with her rendition of "Foolish Games," a melancholy 1994 number from Homer, Alaska singer Jewel.
For more Jewel covers, the Emerson Parris version of "Standing Still" can be found here, and the Patchwork Road version of "Who Will Save Your Soul" can be found here.
