*Photo of William H. Bonney, aka “Billy The Kid,” taken from Wikipedia, credited to Bill Wittick, circa 1880 and probably copyrighted I’m not sure why, but lately I’ve taken to saying to the Rock Chick, “You’ve always been an outlaw.” Perhaps some context is in order. I usually say this to her when I’m riding…
As I do every year in March, in 2026 I compiled our “40 year look back” playlist, this year to (obviously) 1986. It’s where I pick one song off different albums from the year in question. Those playlists are a real “snapshot in time,” if you will. One of the albums that I chose a…
When most people hear the name Peter Frampton their first thought is of his popular 1976 live album, Frampton Comes Alive. It’s one of the most iconic (double) live albums ever released. I can remember going to parties in the early 80s when I was in high school and hearing the live version of “Do You Feel…
I have to confess, I don’t buy every single box set that I review. Sure, I’d love to, but then I’d be living alone in a two bedroom apartment… one room for me, one for my box sets. The Rock Chick would exile me back to bachelorhood. Maybe I’d get a cat. But when I…
Legendary Orange County California cow punk/punk rockers Social Distortion are back with their first album in 15 years with the newly released Born To Kill. Fifteen years between albums ranks them up there with the Cure, the Stones and Peter Gabriel as artists who take a more “leisurely” approach to putting out new LPs. Of course…
The Stones are back, baby! After a few weeks of “marketing tease” the Stones finally formally announced their new album, Foreign Tongues, being released on July 10th this year. As part of the announcement the Stones released the first “official” single from the album, “In The Stars.” This album follows the great Hackney Diamonds which came…
Last Friday the Black Keys, one of our favorites down here at B&V, dropped a new album Peaches! and it’s a collection of wonderful blues covers. The album was preceded by the blues stomper of a single, “You Got To Lose,” written by Ike Turner and first recorded by Earl Hooker in 1969 and later recorded by…
*Photo taken by your intrepid blogger I found myself wandering the house this week, looking for any distraction I could find from the rather grim stuff happening in the world right now. Especially since my Artemis II buzz wore off. I found myself standing in the B&V Labs (aka my listening room) and staring “with…
“Tell me a story, I don’t care if it’s true…” – Ringo Starr, “Returning Without Tears” Ringo Starr has returned with his second T Bone Burnett produced LP in a row, Long Long Road. This of course, follows Ringo’s fabulous album Look Up which came in January of 2025. I’d call this streak a comeback, but as LL Cool…
*Image of Artemis II’s photo of the Earth taken from the internet & likely copyrighted We are living in, arguably, some pretty dark times. Every day the news brings more – for lack of a better word – crappy news. But in the midst of all the darkness being caused by evil, greedy, corrupt men,…