New Music, New Mix, & Goodbye Bob Weir
🎶 One More Saturday Night
I was fortunate to see The Grateful Dead three times and to see two more memorable shows with Bob Weir. One of those was particularly heavy. It was August 9, 1995, at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom. It was the day Jerry Garcia passed, and Bob played an incredible set with Ratdog dedicated to his longtime friend. The second time was more recent, back in 2022 at the Westside Music Bowl, where he and the Wolf Brothers gave us a beautiful Americana take on the Dead’s catalog.
With Bob’s passing this past Saturday at age 78, we’ve lost a true American icon. Whether you were a Deadhead or not, his impact is undeniable. From psychedelia to country and rock ‘n’ roll, he didn’t just play music history, he helped write it.
I took these photos and the video in New Haven, Connecticut, on October 1, 2022, at the Bob Weir and Wolf Brothers performance. Rest in peace, Mr. Weir.
Fresh Finds & New Releases
We might only be eleven days into the new year, but the buzz around upcoming records is already building. We’re still in the early stages, but I see next Friday as the official start of the 2026 music cycle. I think it’s the week that we truly step out of the holiday shadow… I’ve found these two sites to be some of the best resources for keeping tabs on new releases. If you’re looking to plan your listening for the coming months, give these a look: upcomingvinyl.com & albumoftheyear.org/releases
Even with the few new releases, I still managed to add a few albums to my collection this week.
🎧 In My Collection
Music acquired this week at local record shops or online.
Gregory Corso - Die On Me:
This is a fascinating piece of history, blending archival tapes from 1959 with sessions captured by Hal Willner back in January 2001. Available for the first time on vinyl. What makes this collection so special is that it features the final voice recordings of legendary Beat poet Gregory Corso. You will also hear Corso musing on his life in conversation with Allen Ginsberg, Marianne Faithfull, and Studs Terkel. Hearing him recite his poems and break down his own work in such detail is a real gift for anyone who appreciates the Beat era.
“People say that I’m the greatest American poet of the 20th Century. I tell them they’re wrong. Gregory Corso is a far greater poet.” - Allen Ginsberg
Hank Mobley - Hank: This is another top-tier Blue Note session, featuring a lineup led by Hank Mobley (tenor saxophone). Along with Donald Byrd (trumpet), they were the front line for the second iteration of the Jazz Messengers with Art Blakey. This 1957 album was just reissued on Blue Note Records as part of the Tone Poet series. It also features Bobby Timmons (piano), John Jenkins (alto saxophone), Wilbur Ware (bass), and Philly Joe Jones (drums).
“middleweight champion of the tenor saxophone.” - Leonard Feather
Pullman - III: Pullman is a great ‘studio-born’ project from Chicago in the late 1990s. It brought together a core group of musicians from bands like Tortoise, Rex, and Come to explore a more acoustic, stripped-back sound. Their 1998 Thrill Jockey debut, Turnstyles & Junkpiles, is a delightful LP full of atmospheric guitar work. Some have compared it to the style of John Fahey and Leo Kottke. It’s a quiet, intricate record that still holds up perfectly today. Fast forward 28 years, and they’re back with their third album, produced by Bundy K. Brown and now available on Western Vinyl.
On the Radar
New or recent releases available on streaming.
Parlor Greens - Emeralds
This band is one of the most fun, energetic, and tightest organ trios I’ve ever seen live. The band is led by Jimmy James (The True Loves, Delvin Lamarr Organ Trio), and if you ever get a chance to see them perform live, don’t miss out. He’s such a trip and fun to watch play the guitar …and a wonderful human being, too. The new release arrives on March 26th on Colemine Records.
For now, have a taste of the first track, Eat Your Greens.
The Lone Bellow - What A Time To Be Alive
I’ve been a fan of this band since I first saw them live at The Newport Folk Festival back in 2012. After their set, I met the trio, each of whom signed the LP I bought, and we discussed their performance and upcoming tour. On stage, they were full of energy and passion, and each song was delivered with deep emotion and grace. I’ve seen them perform a handful of times, and I look forward to this new album due out in February. It’s been almost 14 years since their debut, and it’s great to see how they have evolved in songwriting and musically, too. Below, click to hear the first track from their forthcoming new album.
The Playlist
I created an electronic mix with a retro feel. I mixed and selected these tracks to ease you into the cold winter air and, hopefully, not another cold war. ☮️
I created this mix with Mixcloud. I hope you enjoy.
00:00:00 Pole - Rondell Zwei
00:06:48 Four Tet - Teenage Birdsong
00:09:24 Boys’ Shorts - Athena
00:14:28 St Germain - Rose Rouge
00:20:42 Oskar Offermann - Silent Prayers
00:28:49 Kolsch - In Bottles
00:34:12 Deadbeat & Camara - I Don’t Get It After Midnight (Medley)
00:41:34 Schneider TM - The Light 3000 (Schneider TM & KPT.michi.gan)
00:45:00 Coki - Buzzin’
00:48:40 Paul Van Dyk - Another Way
00:53:36 UNKLE - Portishead Plays U.N.K.L.E
00:57:17 KILN - Ero
01:00:55 Tricky - Christiansands
In Conclusion…
Thanks for reading! As we proceed deeper into January and wintertime, I wish you and your loved ones peace. Think positively, do good, and treat one another kindly. I’ll have more music news next week.
Join the Conversation: Are there any new releases you’re excited about in 2026? Let me know in the comments! If you enjoyed this, please consider sharing it with a fellow music lover. See you next week, JB