Rob Nichols

VIDEO: Todd Snider (Live) "The Last Laugh"/"Bad, Bad Leroy Brown"

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Me and Todd Snider. We go way back. All the way back to 1995 at his show at the legendary (and now defunct) Patio in Indianapolis. Todd and the Nervous Wrecks. The band was fuckin’ amazing. Hell, I didn’t know what to expect. I had heard “Alright Guy” on the radio and thought there might be somethin’ there. There was, times a million. Long about 1998, he dropped the band and went solo. (Though I saw he had a reunion show not long ago, so there is always the sliver of selfish hope that they return to rock again). Meanwhile, he has proven to be the real deal, and tours endlessly as a solo act. The lyrics are unbeatable, he writes tunes that are anthemic in their own little (or big) way and he is funny as shit too. Plus, as he would say, the songs mostly rhyme…
– – Found this up-close video with awesome sounding soundboard audio bootleg of a song from a show in South Carolina…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjY5XvTCB0w]
So you know…this is what the band looked and felt like when I saw ’em about 15 years ago. Hang on until you get to the middle of the video and they throw in a killer cover song. It’ll be worth it. Trust your friend Rob.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LBYBpMGQBg4]

U2 concert live this Sunday on YouTube

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u2_barcelonaSee. This is what the web was meant to do. Live events. Stuff that TV won’t do.
U2 live webcast of their concert this (10.25.09) Sunday night from the Rose Bowl in CA. – 11:30pm (ET).
Will be an interesting piece to watch, and see if it translates well to the web and if the images and audio rock appropriately.
Oh yeah – U2 ain’t bad either.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2xae9dcAVg]

VIDEO: Springsteen Brings Elvis Back in Philly

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Who knew? Elvis joined Bruce Springsteen on stage at the Spectrum in Philadelphia on Monday night. On the third night of his four night stand at the soon-to-be-demolished arena, Bruce took some requests from the audience midway through the show, and dusted off “All Shook Up”. Keep an eye out for “The King” midway through the tune – and watch the surprised reaction of the band – and Bruce…. Only at a Springsteen show can rock & roll and comedy and a long lost King come together. Excellent audience video from up close.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyJgPQRw4JA]

VIDEO: Bottle Rockets Live in the studio

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Outstanding up-close video of Brian Henneman and the great Bottle Rockets at the KEXP radio studios out in Seattle. Perveyors of sturdy, soul-grabbing American rock and roll, the B-Rockets’ new record (“Lean Forward”) is a return to the country-rockish sounds of albums like their excellent 1997 release “24 Hours a Day”.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBg4GJ0dw0Q] 
see two more videos from Seattle – from the KEXP youtube channel.  Lots of other great live rock and roll on here – worth checking out.  They’ve done a nice job of blending a live performance space with outstanding audio and intimate camera work.

Bob Dylan's band regains guitarist Charlie Sexton; see vintage live Charlie video

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Bob Dylan opened a three-night run in LA Tuesday night – and we mention because one of our favorite guitar slingers, Charlie Sexton, is back in his band. Ah, we remember little Charlie when he was only 17 and playing bars and clubs, promoting his “Beats So Lonely” record way back in 1986. Saw him at a little dive in Toledo called Kip’s West. Short show (about an hour) and he and the band played everything off that record. But we could tell he had the guitar goods. He’s matured into one of the best guitar players out of Austin, TX, which a damn good feat.
read about the show from rollingstone.com
Bob Dylans’ Setlist
“Gonna Change My Way of Thinking”
“Shooting Star”
“Beyond Here Lies Nothin’”
“Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right”
“Cold Irons Bound”
“Most Likely You Go Your Way (And I’ll Go Mine)”
“My Wife’s Home Town”
“Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again”
“High Water (for Charlie Patton)”
“I Feel a Change Comin’ On”
“Highway 61 Revisited”
“Nettie Moore”
“Thunder on the Mountain”
“Ballad of a Thin Man”
“Like a Rolling Stone”
“Jolene”
“All Along the Watchtower”
Here’s a vintage video. 
Two notes: a young David Grissom is on guitar in the band. Those are two of the best of their generation to come out of the Austin scene.  And here they are in the same band.  Secondly.  Charlie’s hair.  These days, he’s aged into a good looking rock star, but here?  It’s the 80’s, man.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J37oBBjW7dI]