Sights and Sounds: TJR on Beck's $60 go-to guitar; Cheap Trick, Mary Chapin Carpenter, The Who's 'WHO'

Here are some noteworthy items I wasn't able to feature during the week that are worthy checking out...

TJR has posted his must-see video titled "Beck Recorded His Albums With a $60 Guitar," and it's a fascinating watch and well worth your time.

Beck performing in 2017.

Very few (including yours truly) likely had a chance to pick up Cheap Trick's limited-edition vinyl Black Friday Record Store Day release, a fiery take on John Lennon's 1971 protest song "Gimme Some Truth." But now the American rockers have issued the track on streaming platforms. I'm loving this. Get a listen via YouTube here.

Cheap Trick notes that the rousing cover teases the band's upcoming 19th studio album, which will be the quartet's first since the 2017 album We're All Alright! Lead singer Robin Zander's vocals are incredible on the track.

I'll be sure to post more information about Cheap Trick's forthcoming album when it lands in my inbox!



Mary Chapin Carpenter’s new single, “Our Man Walter Cronkite,” is out today. Watch the song’s official music video, premiering at Rolling Stone, HERE.

Of the song, Carpenter shares, “Growing up, Walter Cronkite was in our house Monday through Friday, presenting the news as The Most Trusted Man In America, as he was known in his time. My parents raised us to believe that people in jobs like Cronkite's told the truth; they raised us to believe in a world that reaches out to those who need help, that does not turn away from those less fortunate, or homeless, or those forced to leave their country because of the threat of violence, poverty and persecution. The arms were there to hold them, the eyes to see them, and the hearts of the world were there to love them. Because that was the right thing. It’s a different time now. I miss my parents, and I miss Walter Cronkite.”

Produced by Jamie Mefford (Gregory Alan Isakov, Nathaniel Rateliff) and recorded at Colorado Sound Studios, “Our Man Walter Cronkite” is the first new music released by Carpenter since last year’s acclaimed Sometimes Just The Sky, which celebrated her acclaimed 30-year recording career. Of the project, Folk Alley proclaimed, “As an artistic statement, the album is a feat,” while Billboard asserted, “…the new rendition features not only different flavors and textures created by the players but also a deeper meaning within the lyrics, which hold up 30 years later.”  

Carpenter is currently on the road with friend and collaborator Shawn Colvin as part of their intimate acoustic duo performances, “Mary Chapin Carpenter & Shawn Colvin: Together On Stage.” See below for complete tour itinerary. 

MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER & SHAWN COLVIN: TOGETHER ON STAGE 

December 6—Thousand Oaks, CA—Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza
December 7—Monterey, CA—Golden State Theatre
December 8—Davis, CA—The Mondavi Center, UC Davis
December 10—Corvallis, OR—The LaSells Steward Center

December 11—Seattle, WA—Benaroya Hall

December 12—Portland, OR—Revolution Hall

December 13—Chico, CA—Laxson Auditorium

December 14—San Francisco, CA—Palace of Fine Arts

The Who are back with their first new album (titled WHO, and released on Friday, Dec. 6) since 2006's Endless Wire. Although I have not yet had a chance to listen to the long-awaited WHO, Rock Cellar magazine has a overview that I thought I would share. You can read it here.

I plan to listen to the new album this weekend and include a review in my next regular column.



Robert Kinsler