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One Track Mind: Mike Watt – “Dirty Blue Gene” (Captain Beefheart cover)

by Greg Szeto | May 6th 2009, 8:00 AM
Posted in Audio |Captain Beefheart |Mike Watt |One Track Mind
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neon-meate

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MP3: Mike Watt – Dirty Blue Gene (Captain Beefheart cover) from Neon Meate Dream Of A Octafish (2003)

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MP3: Captain Beefheart – Dirty Blue Gene from Doc at the Radar Station (1980)

In my review of Mike Watt’s brilliant performance Saturday night (outshining even the massive Dinosaur Jr.), I remarked that he bears some startling similarity to Captain Beefheart.  From the scorched-raw vocals, to the frenetic free-jazz breakdowns soaked in punk rock, there were just too many instances of this parallel for it to be coincidence.

I love it when I’m right.  Behold, a little searching unearthed Mike Watt contributing an extremely faithful cover of “Dirty Blue Gene” to a 2003 Captain Beefheart tribute comp titled Neon Meate Dream Of A Octafish.  The original was a classic Beefheart track: blistering, mind-bending instumentals (only outdone by the lyrics themselves) that congeal into an oddly satisfying and remarkably funky groove.

I think it pretty much speaks for itself.

Psychedelic mix – Captain Beefheart, Roky Erickson and the 13th Floor Elevators

by Greg Szeto | March 16th 2008, 9:14 PM
Posted in Artists |13th Floor Elevators |Captain Beefheart |Roky Erickson |Van Vilet
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As promised earlier, here’s a healthy dose of classic mind-bending psych/weird-rock courtesy of Captain Beefheart (Wiki, pictured left) aka Don Van Vilet and Roky Erickson (Wiki, pictured right), the Austinite 60s psychedelic icon who fronted the 13th Floor Elevators (Wiki).

Mildly related anecdote: I actually got turned onto this whole genre when I started getting mentored in tuba performance and music theory by Sumner Erickson (Roky’s brother, also pictured right), a renowned musician and former principal tuba of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

Roky’s story of recovery is phenomenal and a testament to his brother’s love, dedication and tenacity. As well as the support of many other rock notables including the ever out-spoke Henry Rollins. I highly recommend you check out his documentary, You’re Gonna Miss Me.

Check after the jump for the absolutely insane video for “Ice Cream for Crow” and a few epic Roky performance clips.

Enjoy the MP3s, culled from the 2xCD Roky Anthology I Have Always Been Here Before, the 13th Floor Elevators Last Concert Live CD, the Roky Tribute Where the Pyramid Meets the Eye and Captain Beefheart’s Trout Mask Replica and Ice Cream for Crow.