First Sugar Show Since 1995! Sugar- Webster Hall, New York, NY, May 2, 2026

Screenshot photo from video (Concerts Hub)

 

Yes, it finally happened, Sugar is back! They played their first show since January 16, 1995, in New York City on May 2nd, for three reunion concerts before heading to Europe for a massive tour (May/June), before bringing the act to the US in August. The American portion includes, three nights in Minneapolis in September and the final show of the tour wraps up in Athens, GA (I think the first ever Sugar show was there) on October 24th. Very exciting news, I would love to go, but with no dates in Canada, I'll have to watch and listen to the shows second-hand, via live audio recordings and YouTube. 

 

I've always felt Bob Mould's strongest material, post-Husker Du was with Sugar. I bought Copper Blue on cassette when I was in Minneapolis (just after it was released) "sight unheard" and popped it in the car tape deck on the drive home and was instantly blown away! The first 4 tracks are killer, hell, it's one of the best debuts from the 90's and I played the hell out of that tape for the next couple of months. The live recording for the first reunion show is thanks to John Loughney who posted it to Dime and also provides some really good video from the show (The Act We Act, Changes, If I Can't Change Your Mind). The sound quality is excellent and though it would have been amazing to be there, I feel like this is a pretty incredible consolation prize. Thank you for sharing!

Enjoy! 

  

Already there are several outstanding videos from the first 2 nights:

Sugar- Full set (Concerts Hub)- May 2, 2026

Sugar- Full set (John Loughney)- May 3, 2026 

 

Please do NOT sell or profit from this recording!

Do NOT convert to lossy formats, except for personal use.

Please share! 

 

Setlist photo by John Loughney

  

SUGAR

Webster Hall

New York, NY 

2026 05 02

Taper: lachtna productions
Location: FOB
Lineage: Schoeps MK4 > BabyNBox > Sony A10 > WAV (24/48) > SoundForge (levels, fades, declick) > CDWAVE (splits) > FLAC > MP3Tag (tags) 

01. She Said She Said [The Beatles] (tape)
02. The Act We Act
03. A Good Idea
04. Changes
05. Company Book
06. After All the Roads Have Led to Nowhere
07. In the Eyes of My Friends
08. Hoover Dam
09. Where Diamonds Are Halos
10. Running Out of Time
11. Gift
12. Your Favorite Thing
13. Clownmaster
14. Frustration
15. House of Dead Memories
16. Long Live Love
17. Panama City Motel
18. Can't Help You Anymore
19. Fortune Teller
20. Anyone
21. Tilted
22. JC Auto
>> Encore:
23. Helpless
24. Gee Angel
25. If I Can't Change Your Mind

Support:
Michael Azerrad (DJ set)

SUGAR- 2026-05-02 Webster Hall, NYC FLAC. rar

Bootlegs Gone Mainstream? Nirvana- Dreamerz, Chicago, July 8, 1989

 

 

Last week, I opened the entertainment section of the local newspaper and spotted an (over) half-page article titled, BOOTLEG BONANZA, with the subtitle, "Volunteers turn fan's recordings of 10,000 concert into online treasure trove". The fan in question, you've read about here on the blog back in December 2024, Aadam Jacobs has made 1000's of live recordings of shows he attended and archived them in his home before sharing them online. I check the collection on archive.org everyday to see the latest shows posted and I've downloaded a big chunk onto the hard drive in case they disappear at some point. So many great bands I'm already a fan of, as well as lesser known groups that you can listen to and sample without any cost. My first thought when I read the article (you can read it online on the CBC website with additional photos) was, "WOW", have bootlegs and live recordings gone mainstream? I still have the belief these kind of unauthorized live recordings were still considered a grey area and borderline illegal (obviously, I don't feel that way!) and for that reason I stay stealth and under the radar and don't openly record because some venues don't take kindly to audio recording (ban it!). Yet it seems to be common practice to blatantly wave around your smartphone and video record as much as you want without any concern. My definition of the term "bootleg" is more to do with the selling and profit from these recordings, but most of the recordings I've acquired have been through trades and sharing and my recordings have never been up for sale (yet, a local record store has in the past had my actual live concert recordings for sale at the store). This really is a bonanza for fans of live music, as my feeling is that hearing a live recording of a concert you attended is the ultimate souvenir of the show. For hardcore fans, you hear the band in their element, not just the studio versions of the songs, but the performer performing and capturing this moment is special. For many people, the inferior sound quality of an audience recording is hard to listen to with the crowd noise/talking a distraction, muffled vocals and distorted instruments, but for tapers, this is the actual sound we hear at the concert, it's real and it feels like they're there. I'm sure Aadam would agree, the audio recording of the band is just one of the elements of a live show. It's the atmosphere and experience that comes with being in a crowd of like-minded music fans and though there is nothing that beats actually being there live, you can at least relive some of this experience with a tape of the show. 

 

  

The Nirvana show from 1989 (below) is described in the opening paragraph of the article and is a terrific listen. The rawness of the recording is something hard to describe without hearing it and we can thank Aadam for being there in the moment. There are several shows of bands on the cusp of success before hitting bigger fame (and fortune?) and it's a treat to hear them play in smaller, intimate venues. There's another Nirvana show in the collection that took place a few months later in a larger venue, that shows the growth of band in a short period, which is cool. Reading the article reminds me I need to digitize the rest of my live recordings on cassette, before it's too late and this will be my goal in 2026.

Enjoy!

 

 

Please do NOT sell or profit from this recording!

Do NOT convert to lossy formats, except for personal use.

Please share! 

 

 

 

Nirvana

Dreamerz

Chicago, IL

July 8, 1989 

Recording generously loaned from the Aadam Jacobs Audio Archive.

Source: Aiwa CM-30A Stereo Mic > Sony TC-D5M > Cassette (M)
Transfer: Cassette (M) > Nakamichi LX-5 > WAV
Mastering: WAV > Audacity (tracking) > FLAC > MP3Tag

Recorded by: Aadam Jacobs
Transferred by: Avery/vanark
Mastered by: Kliked

Setlist 

1. Intro
2. School
3. Floyd the Barber
4. Love Buzz
5. Mr. Moustache  
6. Paper Cuts
7. Polly
8. Big Cheese
9. Spank Thru
10. Dive
11. About A Girl
12. Scoff
13. Negative Creep
14. Blew

Kurt Cobain (vocals, guitar)
Krist Novoselic (bass)
Chad Channing (drums)
Jason Everman (guitar)

Opened for Precious Wax Drippings.

NIRVANA- 1989-07-08 Dreamerz, Chicago, IL FLAC. rar

Tranzmitors + Guests!- The American, Vancouver, BC: April 11, 2026

 

 

Opening for the Young Fresh Fellows in Vancouver was, the Tranzmitors who are comprised of many veterans of the local rock scene. I don't believe they've released a full album of new material in almost 20 years, but there was a promise of a new record and along the way there's been singles and even a collaboration with Lisa Marr, from CUB for a 7"er in 2019. The lineup of the band that played the American on April 11th, included a few former-Smugglers including guitarist, Nick Thomas. The day of the show, the local music paper, Georgia Straight, featured an article about Thomas that covered a lot of material, along with a brief history about the bands he's performed in. An interesting, informative read from a really good publication (I wish Winnipeg had a decent local music paper!) that also published a couple of pieces a day earlier about, Kurt Bloch and the Young Fresh Fellows (it mentioned the 1991 Hoodoo Gurus/YFF Winnipeg show/incident I wrote about last post), all written by Allan MacInnis (he writes a great blog). The blog has a review of the show with much more pro photos.

 

  

What caught my attention with the Tranzmitors set was the promise of special guests, Grant Lawrence and Andrew Molloy. I would consider the Smugglers and BUM, two of my favourite Canadian bands, who released some truly classic albums, Selling The Sizzle and Wanna Smash Sensation . It was through the Popllama mail order catalog that I first heard about BUM and ordered WSS, based on the fact it was produced by Kurt Bloch and the Smugglers, In The Hall of Fame CD. Hearing some of those songs again with Lawrence and Molloy backed by the Tranzmitors was definitely a highlight. I would love to see a BUM/Smugglers show in the future and I would seriously consider traveling back to the West Coast to see it!

 

 

The recording turned out okay, the vocals were a little hard to make out at times, but mainly it sounds good. Overall, I'm glad I recorded the set! Unfortunately, I'm not familiar enough with the Tranzmitors to know the names of some of the songs on their setlist. If anyone can figure out the song titles (tracks 2-5, 7), it would be greatly appreciated. Looking forward to coming back to Vancouver in the near future, it's been too long!

Enjoy!

 

 

Please do NOT sell or profit from this recording!

Do NOT convert to lossy formats, except for personal use.

Please share!

 

 

TRANZMITORS
The American
Vancouver, BC
April 11, 2026
Audience Master

Sony ECM-DS70P mic> Tascam DR-07> SD card > 16 bit Wav>
Direct Wave MP3 splitter> FLAC> rar

01. Dancing In The Front Row
02. ?
03. ?
04. ?
05. ?
06. Beating Up My Heart
07. ?
08. Look What You're Doing To Me
09. Instant Kool Ayd (BUM)
10. Your Disciple (BUM)
11. <banter- Grant Lawrence>
12. To Serve, Protect And Entertain (The Smugglers)
13. She Ain't No Egyptian (The Smugglers)
14. Stay with Me (The Dictators)

Special guests:
Track 9, 10- Andrew Molloy- lead vocals
Tracks 12, 13- Grant Lawrence- lead vocals, Beez- backing vocals
Track 14- Molloy, Lawrence, Beez

 

TRANZMITORS- 2026-04-11 The American, Vancouver, BC FLAC Master. rar

Young Fresh Fellows- The American, Vancouver, BC: April 11, 2026

 

  

Well, as the old saying goes, "I can die happy now!" was the feeling I had after leaving the American on Saturday night, after seeing the Young Fresh Fellows perform live for the first time in over 30 years and quite possibly the last. I traveled halfway across the country for this show and since they probably won't play anywhere near Winnipeg ever again, I had to take the initiative, get off my ass, buy the concert ticket, book a flight, secure accommodations and just do it! No regrets! I chose the Vancouver date, because it was in Canada (no border crossing for me anytime soon) and I have relatives I can stay with and besides, Vancouver is a beautiful city I know quite well already and it gave me a chance to explore some great record stores. I've previously said, that I saw the Fellows back in 1992 at the Commodore in Vancouver and was excited to return and see them perform a headlining set and to hopefully record the show. It all went without a hitch (more on that later) and I couldn't be more pleased with the results. So many highlights, I'm sure others have reviewed/commented about the show and posted tons of great photos, but I'll give you kinda an "outsider" perspective and observations.

 

•  Opening the evening was, Like Whatever, a female fronted band that blasted a loud, menacing sound that really caught your attention. Not many rock bands are fronted by a saxophone playing vocalist and they pull it off well (the rest of the band is rounded out with the traditional, guitar, bass and drums) and they were entertaining. I'm not familiar with the songs, but what I heard was good and they have an EP, Baby Steps that would be worth checking out for a more focused listen. If you have a chance to see them live, go for it!

• The next band was the Tranzmitors, who have several members that were (at some point) in the Smugglers and sported a similar look and sound, with the suits and an energetic pop-punk rock sound. They remind me a bit of a Winnipeg based band, Novillero (fronted by Rod Slaughter from Duotang) who also embrace a British Mod-pop style and the Jam. The Tranzmitors rocked much harder with a straight forward rock 'n' roll sound that is infectious, fun and sweaty. I would definitely see these guys again if I lived in Vancouver!

 

• The Tranzmitors set featured special guests, Andrew Molloy from BUM and the evening's host and former Smuggler's front-man, Grant Lawrence. Both performed 2 songs with the band, then Andrew and Grant joined in together for a last song, the Dictator's, Stay With Me. The Smuggler's bass player, Beez also joined in to add more vocals. I also recorded the Tranzmitors set and I'll post it along with more photos soon. 
• The Young Fresh Fellows began their set after an introduction from Grant Lawrence, who managed to convince the band to return to Vancouver. Lawrence's band, the Smugglers shared many gigs throughout the years with the Fellows and my first introduction to his band was in 1991, at a lunch hour show the day of the show in Winnipeg at the University of Manitoba. The school paper said the YFFs were playing the nooner, but when I showed up (taking time off work!), much to my surprise (and disappointment?) it was the Smugglers dressed in their suits and rubber boots. They did win me over, though most of the crowd ignored the band on stage and I was pissed that evening when they were "squeezed" out of the opening slot, but the Fellows brought them up for a mini set within their own set. The headliners were the Hoodoo Gurus.

• The setlist touched on most of their career, with an emphasis on songs from the latest album, Loft. The new songs benefited being played live, that brought a freshness and energy to the songs and the more I listen to the album, the more I like it. Of course, they played all the songs I wanted to hear, Groovy Town, How Much About Last Night, Taco Wagon/Picture Book, Ringo, Get Outta My Cave, Pest Control and the YFF Theme. I wanted to hear, Teenage Dogs In Trouble, for obvious reasons, but they did play it in Tacoma the next night. I'm always pleased by the covers, especially Jonathan Richman's, Someone I Care About and Picture Book by the Kinks.  Heaven And Hell (The Who) and the Sonic's classic, Strychnine closed out the show.
• After the show, I bought the "original" Loft record, the one they sold only at a couple of shows in 2025, since I already had the limited edition Record Store version. Scott was at the merch table so he signed it and I also got Jim and John to autograph it. Unfortunately, I didn't see Kurt, so no luck. They were selling that cool gig poster (see last post) for cheap, but I didn't buy one because it was cardstock and unrollable (it will bend), so I couldn't risk bringing it in my carry-on luggage home. A nice girl in line had a setlist from the stage, who generously allowed me to take a photo, thanks!
• I was impressed by the sound at The American, as I didn't know what to expect from this venue. It seems to be a restaurant/bar complete with a pool table and a wall of pinball machines and other games. There was an open floor in front of the stage and tables and chairs behind, as well as a raised seating area at the back. I tried to position myself close to the middle, not too close up, but about midway back on the floor. The recording turned out quite well, maybe one of my best, or at least one of the most important. It's balanced, with clear vocals and the volume was perfect. I've been anxious about taping the show before I arrived, but once the music started and the settings were adjusted, I was much more relaxed and enjoyed the show. Before the Young Fresh Fellows set, I spotted a fellow taper (we share the same mic) and it was cool to compare notes and talk "shop", something I rarely do since I've never met another taper at the same show. Very cool!  

 

 Overall, it was a wonderful experience! Seeing my favourite band in another city really was a dream come true. To me, the Young Fresh Fellows are a special band that I came to discover and love by chance at a record store in Fargo, purchasing Topsy Turvy and The Men Who Loved Music on a whim (sight unheard) and the rest is history. Their music has been an essential part of my soundtrack for almost 40 years and seeing the band live (3x now), where they really shine, is something that is beyond memorable. Now go buy their records and see them live when you have the chance!

Enjoy!

 

 

Please do NOT sell or profit from this recording!

Do NOT convert to lossy formats, except for personal use.

Please share! 

 

 

 

YOUNG FRESH FELLOWS
The American
Vancouver, BC
April 11, 2026
Audience Master

Sony ECM-DS70P mic> Tascam DR-07> SD card > 16 bit Wav>
Direct Wave MP3 splitter> FLAC> rar

01. Intro
02. Where Is Groovy Town?
03. Down By The Pharmacy
04. I'm A Prison
05. Never Had It Bad
06. 99 Girls
07. Killing Time In Union Square
08. Hang Out Right
09. How Much About Last Night Do You Remember?
10. Three Gasconading Saints
11. Taco Wagon
12. Picture Book
13. Tad's Pad
14. Lamp Industries
15. Hillbilly Drummer Girl
16. Destination
17. Sittin' On A Pitchfork
18. Whispering Hole
19. I Don't Let The Little Things Get Me Down
20. Get Outta My Cave
21. Someone I Care About
22. My Friend Ringo
23. Rock 'n' Roll Pest Control
ENCORE
24. Backroom Of The Bar
25. Still There's Hope
26. All I Want For Christmas Is A Dead President
27. Heaven And Hell
28. Young Fresh Fellows Theme
29. Strychnine
30. Outro
 

Scott McCaughey- vocals, guitar 

Kurt Bloch- guitar, vocals 

Jim Sangster- guitar, vocals 

John Perrin- drums

 

YOUNG FRESH FELLOWS- 2026-04-11 The American, Vancouver, BC FLAC Master. rar

 

Young Fresh Fellows- Seattle Center Flag Pavilion, Seattle, WA: October 5, 1990 (Gonna See The Fellows!!)

 

Amazing gig poster by Tom Bagley!

 

As I mentioned in the last post of 2025, this music blog is celebrating it's 20th anniversary this August. What better way to celebrate than to see my favourite band, the Young Fresh Fellows live in concert, next weekend in sunny Vancouver BC! If you've read this blog before you know how much I love the band, so much so I named the blog after one of their songs! I bought my ticket about a month ago and booked my flight soon after, so I'm set to see a band I haven't see live since 1992, when by coincidence I saw them in Vancouver at the Commodore opening for, They Might Be Giants. It's the only other time I saw a concert in Van and it almost didn't happen because I only saw they were playing the day of the show in the local entertainment paper. A day earlier, my brother and sister drove to Seattle in a rented car, bought a shit tons of records and wished the Fellows were playing in their hometown, so seeing them was definitely the highlight of that trip. The show on April 11 will be incredible and I'm grateful I have family there (save $$$) and I don't have to cross into the states (no updated passport) in a city I like a lot. I'm looking forward to meeting other fans, I know Vancouver has lots of them and this will be the dream show I've been anticipating since I last saw them and can't wait to soak it all in. Oh, and I plan to buy lots of records during this trip, this will be great!

 

  

To get you and me in the mood, here's a Young Fresh Fellows show I've seen sitting on for a long time. I acquired the tape with several others via a trade with someone from the Seattle area and though many aren't great sound quality, this one from 1990 sounds really good. I transferred it to CD a while back and recently digitized it. This seems like the perfect time to share this epic performance with the band (Kurt era) in top notch form. Lots of tracks, many deep cuts and it's up there with my favourite YFF live recordings. Hopefully, the upcoming tour will have similar memorable moments of splendor that gets captured on tape. 

Enjoy!

 

 

If you like this show, you'll love this one I shared in 2016!

Young Fresh Fellows- Lounge Ax, Chicago, IL 1990 

 

 

Please do NOT sell or profit from this recording!

Do NOT convert to lossy versions, except for personal use. 

Please share!

 

  

YOUNG FRESH FELLOWS
Seattle Center Flag Pavilion
Seattle, WA
October 5, 1990
AUD

01. That Letter
02. Get Outta My Cave
03. My Boyfriend's In Killdozer
04. 76 Trombones
05. Carrothead
06. I Blew My Stack
07. When Things Is Cheap
08. Down At The Pharmacy
09. The Sharing Patrol
10. Back Room Of The Bar
11. 3 Sides To This Story
12. How Much About Last Night Do You Remember?
13. Mr. Salamander's Review
14. Middleman Of Time
15. Taco Wagon
16. Picture Book
17. Sesame Street Theme
18. Miss Lonely Hearts
19. Where Is Groovy Town?
20. Do The Fonzie
21. Gorilla
22. Gorilla/Do You Care?
23. High Time
24. Hillbilly Drummer Girl
25. My Friend Ringo
26. Sick & Tired Of Me
27. Two Lives
28. Young Fresh Fellows Theme
29. Sittin' Round Doin' Nothing
30. I Wish I Was Your Mother
31. When The Girls Get Here
32. Still There's Hope
33. Little Softy
34. Filet Of Soul
35. Rock 'n' Roll Pest Control

 

YOUNG FRESH FELLOWS- 1990-10-05 Seattle Center Flag Pavilion, Seattle, WA FLAC. rar

Grapes Of Wrath- Acoustic Duo, Live In Winnipeg: March 26, 2026

 

Sometimes the lure of nostalgia is a powerful incentive of expectations of what once was and the hope that you won't be disappointed. The Grapes of Wrath was a Canadian band that had a respectable run of some really fine albums in the late 80's and early 90's. Led by singer/guitarist, Kevin Kane and the Hooper brothers, Tom (bass) and Chris (drums), the band produced a satisfying jangly, folk-rock sound that was commercial enough to get some radio play (CBC...), yet not too popular to be annoying and they were one of the few Canadian bands I liked at the time. I saw them once in 1989, but for some reason missed them the other times they toured through town. 

 

 

On this recent Grapes of Wrath tour, the principle singer/songwriters Tom Hooper and Kane traveled light, bringing only acoustic guitars (along with a harmonica for Hooper) for stripped down versions of their best known songs. It was a pretty mellow show, with lots of interesting storytelling, even if it wasn't about the song at hand and the duo's harmonies were still bang on. Here are some notes:

•  The show at the Park Theatre was sold out. It was a seated event, rush seating which I always dislike because you have to arrive early when the doors open to get a decent seat. I don't like being too close to the front, so I chose to sit maybe 3 or 4 rows from the back in front of the soundboard and dead centre, so the stereo sound is balanced.
• The setlist touched on all their studio albums and performed two new songs. I Live For You (Hooper) and Blanket In The Sun (Kane). They played a request, which meant they bumped a "well-known popular song". I'm guessing it must have been, O Lucky Man, one of their best songs. The first encore song, You And Your Sister, is a Chris Bell (Big Star) cover. During the song I was thinking about how much they remind me of the Posies, or at least when Ken and Jon perform duo acoustic sets (the Posies play a lot of Big Star covers and played in the "reunited" version of Big Star). Both groups key strengths are their harmonies, though the Posies can rock a lot harder.
• The recording sounds really great! The sound at the Park Theatre is always good, at least when I've been there and the vocals and guitars are crystal clear. I wish I set the levels a bit higher, as it's quiet at times so you have to turn the volume up, but be forewarned the applause is loud! The good thing about seated, acoustic concerts is that people don't talk during the songs, but people still shout out stupid stuff between. 
• Overall, I wasn't disappointed. Acoustic shows are okay, though I prefer the full band performances, but as a performer it must be nice to connect with your audience and not have your ears blasted night after night. With a majority of the crowd around my age or older and lots of white hair around, at least I didn't feel like I was the oldest in the room. Yikes!

Enjoy! 

 

  

Please do NOT sell or profit from this recording!

Do NOT convert to lossy formats, except for personal use.

Please share!

 

 

Grapes Of Wrath
Park Theatre
Winnipeg, MB
March 26, 2026

Audience Master
Acoustic Duo

Sony ECM-DS70P mic> Tascam DR-07> SD card> 24 bit wav> 16 bit Wav>
Direct Wave MP3 splitter> FLAC

SET 1
01. Intro.
02. Do You Want To Tell Me
03. You May Be Right
04. Misunderstanding
05. I Live For You
06. A Dream
07. Mexico
08. Blind
09. I Can't Find My Home
10. Backward Town
11. What Was Going Through My Head

SET 2
12. Good To See You
13. Isn't There
14. Stay
15. Blanket In The Sun
16. Like A Fool
17. Peace Of Mind
18. I Am Here
19. All The Things I Wasn't
ENCORE
20. You And Your Sister
21. A Very Special Day

Kevin Kane- vocals, guitar
Tom Hooper- vocals, guitar, harmonica

 

GRAPES OF WRATH- 2026-03-26, Park Theatre, Winnipeg, MB FLAC Master. rar

 

Guess Who Played The White House In 1970 (?)

 

Guess which five of these people are in The Guess Who?

  

Remember when it was an honour to receive an invitation to visit the White House and meet the President of the United States? Recently, it's been a polarizing question about the political/personal statement it insinuated by meeting the current President and his personal baggage, for obvious reasons. We usually associate sports teams that won national championships (NFL, NBA, NHL MLB etc.) with visiting the White House, but this was extended to a Canadian rock band, The Guess Who in 1970. This event coincided with a visit from (then) Price Charles and his sister Anne to the White House and the band performed on the front lawn as a personal request from President Nixon's youngest daughter, Tricia Nixon, who was a Guess Who fan. Ironically, the band was riding the success of their #1 North American hit, American Woman, but was told not to play it, which was weird and bizarre.   

 

The Winnipeg Free Press reported on the event. “I had mixed emotions about the White House,” Cummings reflected years later. “It was strange. All the guests were white, all the military aids were white in full military dress, and all the people serving food were black. It seemed terribly racist. And the way the White House was landscaped it kind of looked like you were in Alabama in the 1840s before Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. It left a bad taste in my mouth. They wanted a Commonwealth act when Charles and Anne went there. We were the token Commonwealthers.” The contradiction inherent in the Guess Who’s appearance at the Nixon White House was not lost on guitarist, Greg Leskiw. “Here was one of the most hated politicians of the hippie generation and your subculture tells you this guy is bad,” he mused. “Then someone says, ‘Do you want to play the White House?’ But we all wanted to do it because it was something very few people get to do.”

 

This is a recording I didn't know anything about until recently, but I thought the concept and dynamics were good timing. This weekend is the Juno Awards (that I rarely watch), which honours and awards the "best" of Canadain music. Winnipeg's, Guess Who have been honoured numerous times and are a member of the Canadian Music Hall of Fame and have an upcoming tour with the reunited, Burton Cummings and Randy Bachman that will take them through Canada and the US from May to August. See them while you still can!

Enjoy!

 

 

Please do NOT sell or profit from this recording!

Do NOT convert to lossy formats, except for personal use.

Please share! 

 

 

The Guess Who
White House
Washington, DC
July 17th 1970

Conversion = SBD>?>CDR Trade>EAC>Wav>Flac 

Sound Quality approx  7 out of 10 
samples to be provided 
sorry no artwork 
A Bargain Basement Tape Production 

Setlist

01. Bus Rider
02. Undun
03. We're Comin' To Dine
04. Close Up The Honky Tonks
05. No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature
06. These Eyes
07. Hand Me Down World
08. Share The Land
09. No Time

The Guess Who- 1970-07-17  Washington, DC FLAC. rar

 

Grapes Of Wrath- Walker Theatre, Winnipeg, MB. October 25, 1991

 

 

It's already March and I finally attended my first concert of the year, this past Saturday at the Park Theatre, The Fuse, a local treasure, that are celebrating their 50th anniversary. For the past decade or so, The Fuse have played an annual fundraiser (once a year) usually in March and I make an effort to attend. I've also bought a ticket and a flight for a concert in Vancouver, in April (more details on that in a later post), which I am very excited about and I return to the Park Theatre this week, March 26 for the Grapes of Wrath Acoustic Duo show. With this spattering of shows this early in the year, my hope is that 2026 will be my return to watching more live music. I've had a bit of a dry spell the past few years and I really do enjoy watching concerts and the next two I definitely need to record!

 

To get you warmed up for the Grapes of Wrath event this week, I dug up a live recording (not mine) from 1991, when the band was arguably in their height touring These Days, before Kevin Kane left the band in 1992. They've reformed and released more records since, but their heyday was definitely in the late 80's/early 90's, with classic albums, Treehouse and Now And Again. This recording is almost 35 years old and the historic Walker Theatre, has since been renamed the Burton Cummings Theatre. I don't usually buy "bootleg" live recordings, but I found it in the used CD bin of a local record store several years ago and I was intrigued, because I've never seen or heard this before (why didn't I go?). I saw the band during the Now And Again tour in 1989, when the opener was a somewhat unknown, Sarah McLachlan. The sound quality here is excellent, as it's a radio broadcast (probably CBC) and the show is a good length, my version is 2 CD's. I don't know exactly what to expect with this recent acoustic tour that lands here on Thursday, but I will try to get a good recording, stay tuned!

Enjoy! 

 

 

Please do NOT sell or profit from this recording!

Do NOT convert to lossy formats, except for personal use.

Please share!

 

 

GRAPES OF WRATH
Walker Theatre
Winnipeg, MB
October 25, 1991
FM Broadcast> CD> FreeRip> Wave> FLAC

Disc 1
01. Away
02. Stay
03. The Most
04. You May Be Right
05. Thru To You
06. I Can Tell
07. I Can't Find My Way Home
08. Backward Town
09. The Time Is Near
10. All The Things I Wasn't

Disc 2
01. Travelin'
02. Days
03. I Am Here
04. Peace Of Mind
05. A Fishing Tale
06. What Was Going Through My Head
07. Miracle
08. Oh Lucky Man
09. See Emily Play

GRAPES OF WRATH- 1991-10-25 Walker Theatre, Winnipeg, MB FLAC. rar

 

Liz Phair- Lounge Ax, Chicago, IL. March 14, 1999

  

 

As the Aadam Jacobs audio archives continues to be shared, I hoped a Liz Phair show would appear at some point since Chicago was her home turf and she performed there frequently, especially in the "early days". Fortunately, there is a recording from the Lounge Ax, a smaller intimate venue that would have been wild to see Liz live. This show from 1999, was actually a fundraiser featuring, a Hot Damn Fashion Show (by Liz's sister-in-law) that followed Phair's set (Sally Timms opened), where she was accompanied by Buddy Judge on guitar. This show wasn't publicized or listed on the Ax's website and it wasn't handled by her management. The cool thing was that tickets were a mere $15 and only sold at the bar. It's not a full blown band show, but the up-close and personal aspect of the evening must have quite the thrill to be there! The sound quality is incredibly good and the performance is fun, loose and well worth the listen!

Enjoy!

 

 

Please do NOT sell or profit from this recording!

Do NOT convert to lossy format, except for personal use.

Please share!

 

Here's the link for Aadam's original post on the archives. There are lots of amazing shows to listen to and enjoy there! In the banter between Polyester Bride and Go On Ahead, it's interesting that Liz says she was asked if she was pissed with bootlegs and replies, "I am so thankful someone has a record of all this stuff". Yes!!

 

 

Super-fan, Katie Brown accompanied Liz on vocals, for Flower.

 

Liz Phair
Lounge Ax
Chicago, IL

March 14, 1999

Recording generously loaned from the Aadam Jacobs Audio Archive

Transfer:
DAT (M) > Panasonic SV-3700 SPDIF > Marantz PMD570

Mastering: FLAC > WAV > Cool Edit Pro 2.0 (normalization; added fades at beginning and end; 16/44 conversion) > CDWav (tracking) > Trader's Little Helper (level 8) > FLAC > TagScanner 6.1.20 (tagging)

Recorded by: Aadam Jacobs
Transferred by: John Bartol
Mastered by: elegymart


Total running time [1:02:21]
---------------------------------------------------
01  intro 
02  Liz intro 
03  Glory
04  Girls Room
05  6'1"
06  Divorce Song
07  Wild Thing
08  Johnny Feelgood
09  Dance of the Seven Veils
10  Flower
11  Mesmerizing
12  Perfect World
13  Polyester Bride
14  Go on Ahead
15  Conversation Overheard Between Two Bouncers
16  Fuck and Run
17  Explain It to Me
18  Supernova
19  MC / Liz comments


Band line-up:
Liz Phair - vocals, guitar
Buddy Judge - electric guitar
Katie Brown - harmony vocals on t10

LIZ PHAIR- 1999-03-14 Lounge Ax, Chicago, IL FLAC. rar

 

The Replacements- Goodnight! Go Home! Chicago 1984

(incredible) Photo by Gail Butensky (gailwithacamera)

 

To celebrate the end of 2025, I have a special treat for the Replacements fans that didn't buy the recent deluxe remastered box-set of the band's third full-length LP from 1984, but wanted to hear the live album (or disc). Due to technical (and possibly legal reasons), I won't refer to the album's title to stay under the radar, if you know what I mean. I am only posting the complete live show that was included with the box-set, and as you know I'm always a sucker for a live concert I haven't heard before. This set is longer and has a better setlist than when they played at the Cubby Bear a month earlier. Though there are "complaints" the sound isn't great here, it's a solid, lively concert with the band in top form. Celebrate the end of year the right way, with a band that released the best reissue of the year! 

 

See you in 2026! Later in the year, I'll be celebrating 20 years (seriously!) here at the Teenage Dogs In Trouble blog! Stay tuned!

Enjoy! 

 

 

Please do NOT sell or profit from this recording!

Do NOT convert to lossy formats, except for personal use

Please share! 

 

 

THE REPLACEMENTS
Goodnight! Go Home!

Live at Cubby Bear, Chicago, IL, 

August 17, 1984

01. Can’t Hardly Wait 
02. Left In The Dark 
03. Unsatisfied 
04. I Will Dare 
05. Favorite Thing 
06. Kids Don’t Follow 
07. Run It 
08. Color Me Impressed 
09. Hayday 
10. Nowhere Is My Home
11. Love You Till Friday
12. Help Me Rhonda/G.T.O.
13. Takin’ A Ride
14. Tommy Gets His Tonsils Out
15. Gary’s Got A Boner
16. Johnny’s Gonna Die
17. Can’t Get Enough
18. I’m In Trouble
19. Don’t Ask Why
20. Take Me Down To The Hospital
21. Shiftless When Idle
22. Mr. Whirly
23. Hitchin’ A Ride
24. Black Diamond
25. 20th Century Boy
26. Go
27. Gimme Noise
28. White And Lazy

 

THE REPLACEMENTS- 1984-08-17 Goodnight! Go Home FLAC. rar 

Frampton Brothers- Reunion Show! October 4, 2025, Pittsburgh, PA

  

  

...Speaking of reunions, 2025 saw the reuniting of one of my all time top 10 bands, the Frampton Brothers! Back in October, Sean Lally and Ed Masley reassembled members from the group for a one-off reunion set in their hometown of Pittsburgh. Choice cuts from all their underappreciated full length albums, as well as the EP, Hate You and cassette, The Hits of the Staten Island Ferries were performed to a dedicated, enthusiastic crowd. I've been a big fan of the band and the opportunity to see the band live had eluded me in the past and I seriously considered making a road trip to attend this event. Unfortunately, the political climate between Canada and the U.S. is making everything difficult and I just couldn't make it happen. I will regret this!

 

 

I first heard of the Frampton Brothers when I (blindly) mail ordered a copy of the 7" Do The Chair/(I Wanna Be Your) Furniture from Popllama Records in 1992 and loved it so much I mailed Bogus Records in Pittsburgh for a catalog. I found out they had their debut album available and I immediately sent a money order for the CD and the Bonograph cassette with covers of Sonny (& Cher) songs, which included the Framptons, Young Fresh Fellows, Ben Vaughn and Charlie Chesterman (who produced their first album, I Am Curious (George). Their music instantly connected, I loved it and I eventually got the rest of their catalog when it became available. I corresponded with Sean, who sent me lots and lots of musical goodies (that I'm forever grateful for!) and bought discs from Ed's follow-up band, the Breakup Society, another under-the-radar band you must hear!

Though I didn't have a chance to record the band's set in person, fortunately someone took a video of the complete concert that had decent clear audio. The video was shaky at times, but it's watchable and thrill to see the show, kinda like being there (I'm sure my view would be just as obstructed). The took the audio from the video (using an app/site that converts just the audio), split the tracks and figured out the track listing with the help of a photo of the setlist. It's all here if you want a listen, (I prefer listening to the audio so I can do other things, like writing this post) but if you prefer here's the original YouTube video link: Frampton Brothers LIVE @GOVT. CNTR 10.4.2025 

Enjoy!

 

Please do NOT sell or profit from this recording!

Please share! 

 

 

  

FRAMPTON BROTHERS
Government Center
Pittsburgh, PA
October 4, 2025

audio from video
YouTube> wave> Direct Wave splitter> FLAC

01. File Under F
02. Dressing Room
03. Overly Optimistic Blues
04. The Beginning Of The End Of The Fun Years
05. Gimme Back My Empty Head
06. New Deli Bandits Theme
07. Miss America Cares
08. Big Stoopid World
09. Brian Wilson Said
10. Soda Pop
11. Like An Oliver Stone
12. If She Were My Girl
13. Mayor Of Frogtown
14. Ain't No Parade
15. Bread And Butter
16. Freak Show
17. Touch Of Shit
18. Evil Twin
19. Do The Chair
20. The Potato Song

 

FRAMPTON BROTHERS- 2025-10-04 Government Center, Pittsburgh, PA FLAC. rar 

The Refreshments- Hayden Square, Tempe, AZ. May 5, 1998: Last Show!

This hasn't been a great year for the number of posts on this blog, so in an attempt to boost the numbers, I have several shows to share before the end 2025. I had a request (this is for you, Iggy!) for a Refreshments show I mentioned in an earlier post that, at the time, was the final live show from the band. Soon after, front man, Roger Clyne renamed the band, Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, who sounded similar and often performed Refreshments songs in their live shows. Track 7 features one of the earliest performances of Never Thought, that was later recorded by RCPM. I tend to enjoy farewell shows, but this one is a little more low key, without much fanfare, so if you don't listen carefully to the banter you might have little idea this was the last. Of course, the band did reunite and performed as the Refreshments in 2013, as well as in 2016 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Fizzy Fuzzy Big & Buzzy and 2021 live-streamed for the 25th anniversary. Still, this is a great sounding concert from a band I really enjoyed in the 1990's.

Enjoy!

 

Please do NOT sell or profit from this recording!

Do NOT convert to lossy formats, except for personal use

Please share! 

 

 

THE REFRESHMENTS
Hayden Square Amphitheater
Tempe, AZ

May 5, 1998

Final show!

01. Mexico
02. Broken Record
03. Down Together
04. Preacher's Daughter
05. Mekong
06. Nada
07. Never Thought
08. Dolly
09. Rearranging Deck Chairs On The Titanic
10. Yahoos & Triangles

 

THE REFRESHMENTS- 1998-05-05, Hayden Square, Tempe, AZ FLAC. rar 

Sloan- Burton Cummings Theatre, Winnipeg MB, November 25, 2025

 

It's sad to say, but this has to be one of my worst years for attending concerts. My apathy and lack of interest in the bands coming to town is probably a weak excuse for a generally enjoyable experience. My wife suffers from tinnitus, so to her it's all a roar and I still feel the need to record all the concerts I attend and sometimes I still get worked up and anxious about it, more than I should be. Recording live shows in the 21st century is easier than ever before (no tapes to flip, longer battery life) and with almost every frickin' person in the crowd waving their phones in the air (and filming videos), the chances of getting "caught" is at the minimum, though I try to avoid venues that use metal detectors. The guy immediately in front of me at the Sloan show, spent most of his time filming videos with his phone and even posted clips during the intermission. I'll post a link below so you can see pretty much where I was sitting. 

 

 

Though I don't go to many shows anymore, there are certain bands that will get me out of the house. I like Sloan (I saw them once) and they always put on a solid live show. In reality, it's only Chris Murphy (vocals/bass/drums) that engages with the crowd, but they always feel sincere and appreciative of their fans. Their set was split in two with a brief intermission between, which meant no opening band, which is always a bonus. There aren't a lot of bands that have been around as long as them that play a lot of new stuff live. They performed several tracks from the newest album, Based On The Best Seller (they sound as good as ever!) and they sprinkled in songs, in both sets, from throughout their long and modestly successful career. They saved the best for the finale (last 5 songs, including encore) that had everyone on their feet. Definitely the highlight! The recording turned out good, as the Burt has decent (not great) sound and I was ideally situated in the third row, centre in the first balcony with a clear sound path to the stage and speakers. If you want the best view of the stage at the Burt, I highly recommend the first few rows in the balcony, especially if you're not tall. Another tip, never sit in the 2nd balcony! Worst sound ever and the views are claustrophobic and scary! A fun night and I MUST go to more concerts in the future!

Enjoy!

 

 

Please do NOT sell or profit from this recording!

Do NOT convert to lossy formats, except for personal use

Please share!

 

Here's a couple video links from the guy sitting in front of me:

Sloan- The Lines You Amend 

Sloan- Underwhelmed

Sloan took/posted this selfie with their endearing fans! Note: If you look closely I'm visible in the first balcony, third row, left of the aisle. I have fuzzy hair.

  

SLOAN
Burton Cummings Theatre
Winnipeg, MB
November 25, 2025
Audience Master

Sony ECM-DS70P mic> Tascam DR-07> SD card > 16 bit Wav>
Direct Wave MP3 splitter> FLAC

SET 1
01. Capitol Cooler
02. Live Forever
03. Scratch the Surface
04. Right to Roam
05. The Other Man
06. Ill Placed Trust
07. Baxter
08. Traces
09. Dream It All Over Again
10. All I Am Is All You're Not
11. So Far Down
12. The Lines You Amend
13. Take It In
14. Unkind

SET 2
15. Dream Destroyer
16. Congratulations
17. Fortune Teller
18. No Damn Fears
19. I Can't Sleep
20. The Dogs
21. All Used Up
22. Witch's Wand
23. The Rest of My Life
24. Money City Maniacs

ENCORE
25. Snowsuit Sound
26. Underwhelmed
27. The Good in Everyone

 

SLOAN- 2025-11-25 Burton Cummings Theatre, Winnipeg, MB FLAC. rar