The recent two-night performance by The Nels Cline Singers (Sept. 2nd and 3rd) at San Francisco's Cafe Du Nord was absolutely smoking. Guitarist extraordinaire Nels Cline (pictured here in Charlottesville, VA, in June 2008, courtesy of photographer Brandon Wu) and his band, featuring the inventive drummer Scott Amendola and the intense bassist, Devin Hoff, played an impromptu version of Sonic Youth's "Mildred Pierce" (on Sept. 2nd) and a dive-bomb twin set (on Sept. 3rd), with shredding versions of "Thurston County," "Mettle" and a Weather Report cover, which I call, "Weather Hendrix," (and was accompanied by the three main members of Deerhoof). If you get an opportunity to see The Nels Cline Singers perform, the Boy Wonder urges you to see improvisation from this trio of brilliant musicians, at its most creative and jaw-dropping.
In the Basement / ETTA JAMES & SUGAR PIE DESANTO ('66)
Shake’Em On Down/ R.L. BURNSIDE (’93, Too Bad Jim)
Devil Woman/ THE RED DEVILS (’92, King King) [Def American]
Before the Money Came/ BETTY LAVETTE (’07, The Scene of the Crime)
Too Bad/ THE FACES (’71, A Nod Is as Good as a Wink…To A Blind Horse)
Roadrunner/ BO DIDDLEY (‘59)
A Knife and Fork / KIP
Brand New Cadillac/ VINCE TAYLOR & THE PLAYBOYS (’58)
Zombie/ LOS SLEEPERS (’06, Mas Rock and Roll)
Your Love is Mine (’98)/ HOLLY GOLIGHTLY (’01 collection, Singles Round-Up)
Time of the Season/ THE ZOMBIES (’68, Odessey and Oracle)
I Love My Label/ NICK LOWE (’08 reissue, Jesus of Cool)
Peaches/ THE STRANGLERS (’77, Rattus Norvegicus)
Dancing the Night Away/ THE MOTORS (’77, Motors 1)
Top of the World/ CHEAP TRICK (’78, Heaven Tonight)
Feel Alright (’72)/ CARGOE (’08 collection, Thank You Friends: The Ardent Story)
I Can See For Miles/ THE WHO (’67, The Who Sell Out)
Side With the Seeds/ WILCO (’09, Ashes of American Flags)*
Camera/ REM (’84, Reckoning)
When It’s Dark/ YO LA TENGO (’09, Popular Songs)*
Satellites/ THE BATS (’09, Guilty Office)*
One Block Wonders/ CRYPTACIZE (’09, Mythomania)*
This Magnificent Bird Will Rise/ DEERHOOF (’02, Reveille)
Mildred Pierce/ SONIC YOUTH (’90, Goo)
Sleepy Head/ NELS CLINE SINGERS (’02, Instrumentals)
*new or recent release
.gif)