this is one of those tracks i feel like i heard over and over in the 90s but never sat down and really listened and paid attention until now. thanks so much for being the Music Teacher out here with these reviews, man. this one really reminds me of the track by Ellis Paul called "Autobiography of a Pistol," where he sings from the point-of-view of a handgun -- th-cam.com/video/0yVjam80VhU/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=EllisPaul-Topic
I seen this group on their 2nd album tour in Hollywood. Johnette lived in Silver Lake at the time as many other artists. i went to her place many times but she'd be on tour, so hooked up with another band who was staying in back house.. Her dear Mum gave me a Concrete Blonde T.. nice peeps. That's my lil reflection. Peace
I'm confused. Do you rate them low? Nobody I ever met rated them low. Who is this rating service that keeps getting "it" wrong? Concrete Blonde "under" rated. LOL. Right.
@@ryancampbell2192 funny thing about Leonard Cohen - his songs are absolute brilliance, but I always seem to "get more" out of them when they're performed by other people. "Hallelujah" would likely be the penultimate example.
Jamaj, my daughter first brought Concrete Blond into my awareness in the late 90's. We went to see her in Chicago, at the Vic theatre, an old, spooky, beautiful theatre - perfect backdrop for Johnette's unique sound and style. And she was amazing. My daughter was very pregnant with her first baby at the time. A couple of months later, I emailed Johnette to tell her my first grandbaby was just born and named Isabella Johnette, after her. Johnette emailed me back right away & said she felt so honored. She remembered the pregnant lady at her concert, and she was sincerely pleased. She couldn't have been nicer. I was already a fan, and her down-to-earth warmth and friendliness further solidified this. She's a phenomenal talent and a wonderful person.
Concrete Blonde has some killer songs. Tomorrow Wendy is heartbreaking, Still In Hollywood is punk as hell, Bloodletting is every goth kids favorite vampire theme song, Everybody Knows is a great Leonard Cohen cover...
She is my favorite female rock voice, you can feel the passion and pain pour out of her. The whole band was amazing. Caroline is another great song. Put on the ReCollection album, basically a greatest hits, you can’t go wrong with any of the songs on there. I love re-living music for the first through you Jamel.
Hey Jamel. Thank you for exploring Concrete Blonde. And yes, her name is pronounced like "John-nette". 😄 I also recommend "Everybody Knows", their cover of a Leonard Cohen song. Also, "Caroline" and "Bloodletting". ☮ out!
Unless she's drunk sadly. That was a HARD concert to be at. She started out strong but ended up unable to finish the songs and stumbling off the stage ending the show because she hurt her leg really bad, never found out of it broke or was just sprained. My heart broke for her.
Awesome! So many reactors just do "Joey" and walk away, but _Concrete Blonde_ (And Johnette's other projects) has *_such_* an excellent catalogue that more than deserves a look! Such as: _Bloodletting_ _Heal It Up_ _Ghost of a Texas ladies Man_ Their cover of Leonard Cohen's _Everybody Knows_ etc., etc., etc. EDIT: TH-cam won't let me post the links in a comment but is letting me post 'em in a reply for some reason? Anyway, there are links in the reply. EDIT again: Nope, the reply got deleted...
Everyone I have ever talked to likes Concrete Blonde. It's been argued that due to fact that they appealed to such a wide variety of fans, that Concrete Blonde was not focused enough on a fan base to gain popularity at a level they so richly deserved.
The lack of success is probably more due to constant fights with IRS Records head Miles Copeland, over their albums and promotion of the band. They did not get the attention from him that his brother's band, The Police did, or other IRS artists. They didn't fit the stereotyped roles that were promoted and Johnette did not play the sexpot.
@@jeffnettleton3858 It's truly saddening they did not gain a much stronger place in music. Johnette Napolitano's voice is amazing. One of my prized possessions is the Dream 6 ep (honestly, I've got a lot of prized possessions, but I do like that one quite a bit).
@@jeffnettleton3858 true, Johnette wrote what was on her mind & her mind was full of vivid stories.she was never going to be the sexpot although she is a very attractive lady.I like all of their songs but my favorites are: this song, Jonestown,Everybody Knows,Ghost of a Texas ladies man,City Screaming,Joey, I call it Love, Caroline,Heal it up..they never played a mediocre song!
Sadder still that it is one of those "true story" songs. It was written by Andy Prieboy, who replaced Stan Ridgeway in the band "Wall of Voodoo" (listen to "Far Side of Crazy" from that version of the band - it's awesome). Wendy apparently had AIDS and decided to die on her own terms.
The entire album, bloodletting, is a story about a girl that gets aids from her junkie boyfriend.. and at the end decides suicide.. tomorrow Wendy is the last song. The entire album is fire... Her lyrics are genius... the vampire song starts ... there's a crack in the mirror (bad luck) and a blood stain on the bed (she was a virgin)... she gets aids from having sex with him.. ya, awesome music...
Man, such a great band. "tomorrow, Wendy..." "Happy Birthday" (one of my FAVES), "Roses Grow", "Jenny, i read" (another FAVE) have gun going down the rabbit hole.
"They're gonna call me sir, they'll all stop pickin' on me, I'm a high school grad, I'm over 5-foot 3, I'll get a badge and a gun and I'll join the PD... they'll see"!
And Kim! Or all of the first album. Fuckin slayed me as a kid in so cal disconnected from glitz and shine that the powers tried to project upon the world. Something like that. Cheers.
@@chrisandersen5635 Kim is a bullseye. My favorite CB song is Help Me with Dancing Along The Edge close behind. If you want another look at non glitzy LA, try Warren Zevon's first album (called Warren Zevon). If you haven't already. The French Inhaler. Desperados Under The Eaves. Carmelita. Join Me In LA. Poor Poor Pitiful Me.
This is their second album (recorded in 1988, released in '89) I was already a fan and kept waiting for them to explode onto the scene. They kinda did but not the way they should have. Cheers. "Still In Hollywood"
Jamal when I saw Joey, I had hoped you’d do this one. Her voice still gives me chills. Maybe check out Under A Mexican Moon. And of course Bloodletting. Always had a crush on her.
If you want keep checking out more of their music, "Tomorrow Wendy" is powerful. "Still in Hollywood" might resonate with you as an L.A. native. They have a couple covers that are outstanding, "Everybody Knows" originally by Leonard Cohen and "The Ship Song" originally by Nick Cave (another artist you should check out!). My personal favorites by this band are "Darkening of the Light" and "Carry Me Away." I would love to hear your opinions on any of these songs.
oooh yes.... the Ship Song! and yes, Jamel needs to get some Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds! Red Right Hand seems like an obvious choice, but so would so many others- The Mercy Seat, Tupelo, The Weeping Song. So many good ones.
@@cynon767 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds was probably the best concert I have ever seen. "Red Right Hand" is a good starting point, but I would love to see a reaction to "Dig, Lazarus, Dig!"
Finally some Concrete Blonde reactions! Criminally underrated, one of my favorite bands of all time. I suggest Caroline, Heal It Up, Take Me Home, Mexican Moon, Little Conversations, Bloodletting... Really any of their songs are worth checking out.
one of the greatest live acts ever! in my top 10. I've seen them 5 times, the last time was the Bloodletting 20th anniversary tour. Jim & Johnette are a formidable pair and the outstanding trio with Harry is my favorite iteration of the band and maybe because of nostalgia but CB never failed to kick ass live!
Jamal, thank you for reviewing this fantastic song & video. It’s powerful my brother. I’m a gunshot survivor. I can tell you that my chest wound occurred 46 years ago & I still have PTSD & nightmares. Again, many thanks. Peace & love to you & yours.
Concrete Blonde grew out of the Los Angeles post-punk club circuit that produced bands like Wall of Voodoo and the Go-Go's. Vocalist Johnette Napolitano founded the group with guitarist James Mankey and drummer Harry Rushakoff. Fun, awesome group! Thanks for the vid, Peace
Jamal you always have such honest insights & interest in what you view.I'm glad you heard "God is a Bullet".Johnette wrote songs that asked "why is our world so f**ked up?"she has a great voice plus she had James/guitar & Harry/drums.i get a feeling from this about how crazy & violent LA could be on a bad day
This right here is why I love the internet!!! My day was emotional draining, was playing music to relieve stress and next thing I know I’m enjoying watching people listen to one of my favorite musicians for the first time. Thank you for this video! Seeing you enjoy Johnette Napolitano as a singer and songwriter for the first time was such an amazing experience ❤️
Check out their cover of James' Brown It's A Man's World. Or Jesus , Please Forgive Me For What I'm About To Say. So soulful. Was so in love with Johnette in the late 80's early 90's when I was in HS
So, this is a very personal song to Her, as well as all prison issues. When I lived in HI Concrete Blonde came down to play The World Cafe,as part of a tour but mostly because she was there to visit her Brother, who was incarcerated there in Honolulu. She's a deeply intelligent Woman on these issues as well as others. For a lighter subject material from this band may I suggest the foloowing: Tomorrow Wendy Bloodletting Caroline...hahahahahaha! Lighter material.
Fun fact, I saw them on my birthday October 27, 1992 in Charlotte North Carolina. Perhaps the best concert I’ve seen since seeing the base of Waze earlier that year at the Michigan State Fairgrounds with everything action Beck.
Thanks for reacting to Concrete Blonde. Johnette always sang from the gut and put her whole soul into her performances. I have so many great memories of seeing them live. Love them so much.
Someday is also a very cool song from Concrete Blond. Had a friend back in the 90's we would regularly go have drinks with on a Friday or Saturday night. Someday was always a staple song in the play list!
I've been a fan of Concrete Blonde since they started releasing music, and have heard God Is A Bullet many, many times. It's a powerful song and I've always liked it. But I never had the complete context to appreciate where it came from until I watched this reaction video. Something about seeing the video, with a narrator who recognized the places in LA made it all click. Now I see the song in a different light, and it's even more powerful, even chilling. I also got the impression that watching it had a big impact on you (meaning Jamel) as you put all the pieces together. That was very compelling to watch.
I'm excited that you just discovered Concrete Blonde. You have a lot of "new" music to catch up on. 😃 It's hard to choose a favorite but I think for me it's "Cold Part of Town". Anyone that's lived alone in a crappy side of a city will feel it. A really fun one is "Ghost of a Texas Lady's Man".
I remember hearing this song when it was released in 1989 and thinking something like, "This isn't the usual radio-oriented pop/rock. This is something different!" Concrete Blonde really rocked, and they had very thoughtful lyrics too. They had some success, but they should have had much more!
It is John - ette! You're right! This song is about South L.A. *Where she's from!* She was one of my idols when it came to vocals. I had her singing voice smashed with Thom Yorke. She gave me the conference and pride to just SING!
So glad you discovered Concrete Blonde. They were one of my favorite bands in the late '80s. Johnette and the rest of the band were all part of the L.A. punk/indie metal scene in the late '70s/early '80s, hanging around the Hollywood rock clubs until they formed their own band in 1982. I'm not a big believer in the psychic/spiritual world, but Johnette has always claimed she has some psychic/spiritual connection and some of her song lyrics focus on that. One of my favorites is "Ghost of a Texas Ladies Man," which Johnette claims is based on her psychic experiences with the spirit of a Texas cattle rustler from the 1800s. "Walking In London" is another one, based on Johnette's experiences in London with Concrete Blonde, feeling like there was someone/something else with her as she walked around the city streets. And one of Concrete Blonde's biggest hits, "Bloodletting" (the entire album is great), definitely evokes the feeling that Johnette lived a past life with a coven of vampires in New Orleans. I don't think Johnette has ever claimed that experience was a reality, but the song certainly gives that feeling, and the original video is worth checking out, a personal favorite.
Thank you for reacting to this _highly_ underrated band from the late '80's early '90's. They're phenom. Also the lead singer is one of the only female bass player/singers in rock. Try their _Tomorrow Wendy_ live. :)
I totally agree with you about how amazing this group is, but from this first time listening to what you have to say about this particular song, you too are amazing. You obviously have a lot to share, so keep sharing. You move, for real. Thanks for being there.
Listen to "Heal It Up" (loud), and "Little Wing". This woman has got heart and soul. Had to share. Thank you for this!!! I am excited for you to try music. I just spent hours with a friend, sharing the songs we love, one-on-one, with each other. You are doing this, and we all benefit from sharing the music that speaks to us. It's a beautiful thing.
Royal Thunder- April Showers or Time Machine Dax Riggs- Say Goodnight To The World or Let Me Be Your Cigarette Think you’d dig both great bluesy rock bands with amazing vocalists, love the channel and positivity message.
Concrete Blonde are great, "Mexican Moon" is a favorite. Also, check out the late 60's early 70's band Fanny. One of the early all female rock bands. There are some good live videos of them around.
I love everything about this band. I worked with Johnette and on our last day she told me she was quitting so she could focus on her music. She asked me to come to a gig and I had those nerves that you do when you're hoping you'll like them... I was blown away when the trio hit the stage and she was playing bass and started to sing. Always and forever one of my favorite vocalists. No one is mentioning how great the first album is... I still play it regularly and remember my LA days seeing as many gigs as possible.
“Jon-et” is I believe her pronunciation… I saw Concrete Blond perform in the ‘90’s, and Johnette perform solo at a small venue years ago. I was - and AM - so impressed by the integrity of the work, the uncompromising effort, and the “Being Yourself”-ness of these artists!!
thank you so much for reacting to Concrete Blonde - please do Caroline and especially Roses Grow. you’ve touched on a very deep LA based vein here - thanks for keeping this great music alive!
From 1986, Dance along the edge. Is a heavy base hitting song! My brother's band played a copy of it and my sister in-law sang vocals! Even if my brother's didn't play it. It's still a bangin song! You should really ck it out!
Glad you got into Concrete Blonde. You have to listen to their song Heal It Up, Johnette's voice is SO POWERFUL in that one. I get chills from it whenever i hear it.
Great reaction video, thank you for listening and sharing! The album Mexican Moon is realllly good, as well as well as Group Therapy, which has one of my favorite songs, "Take Me Home".
SOOOO glad to see your reaction on the Choice Checkerboard at the end of the official vid...the same one you watched, after seeking it out after ANOTHER CB tune turned up in a Leonard Cohen YT-mix(!) Johnette and James are a formidable pair...forgot there was someone else on bass in this...great drummer too...saw it when it came out, and a friend, since sadly passed, with awesome pipes - they'd have to be - was covering it when I met her in the early 90s.
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Thank you my friend I'm glad you were showing some interest in concrete blond great band
this is one of those tracks i feel like i heard over and over in the 90s but never sat down and really listened and paid attention until now. thanks so much for being the Music Teacher out here with these reviews, man. this one really reminds me of the track by Ellis Paul called "Autobiography of a Pistol," where he sings from the point-of-view of a handgun -- th-cam.com/video/0yVjam80VhU/w-d-xo.html&ab_channel=EllisPaul-Topic
I seen this group on their 2nd album tour in Hollywood. Johnette lived in Silver Lake at the time as many other artists. i went to her place many times but she'd be on tour, so hooked up with another band who was staying in back house.. Her dear Mum gave me a Concrete Blonde T.. nice peeps. That's my lil reflection. Peace
i member @Jamel. ELA the hood i grew up in. That bridge many movies made their.
th-cam.com/video/fQlKa1IeZF8/w-d-xo.html
Concrete Blonde is the most underrated indie/alternative band that ever played
I couldn't agree with you more!
Absolutely!!! I have been fortunate to see them live twice and Johnette killed it.
Yes! I whole heartedly agree.
Couldn't agree more, at least I don't think I could. Wish they were still making music.
I'm confused. Do you rate them low? Nobody I ever met rated them low. Who is this rating service that keeps getting "it" wrong? Concrete Blonde "under" rated. LOL. Right.
"Tomorrow, Wendy" and their cover of Leonard Cohen's "Everybody Knows" are the cream of the crop.
Let's go down the Leonard Cohen rabbit hole please!
@@ryancampbell2192 funny thing about Leonard Cohen - his songs are absolute brilliance, but I always seem to "get more" out of them when they're performed by other people. "Hallelujah" would likely be the penultimate example.
@@anthonyboucher7077 yeah, I agree with regard to hallelujah, but Darkness couldn't be anyone else's voice imho
@@ryancampbell2192 I concede that, for sure!
keep pushing this song!!!!
Jamaj, my daughter first brought Concrete Blond into my awareness in the late 90's. We went to see her in Chicago, at the Vic theatre, an old, spooky, beautiful theatre - perfect backdrop for Johnette's unique sound and style. And she was amazing. My daughter was very pregnant with her first baby at the time. A couple of months later, I emailed Johnette to tell her my first grandbaby was just born and named Isabella Johnette, after her. Johnette emailed me back right away & said she felt so honored. She remembered the pregnant lady at her concert, and she was sincerely pleased. She couldn't have been nicer. I was already a fan, and her down-to-earth warmth and friendliness further solidified this. She's a phenomenal talent and a wonderful person.
I may have been at that show. They're great live. Her voice live... Wow.
Concrete Blonde has some killer songs. Tomorrow Wendy is heartbreaking, Still In Hollywood is punk as hell, Bloodletting is every goth kids favorite vampire theme song, Everybody Knows is a great Leonard Cohen cover...
Well said
Caroline and Everybody Knows are excellent. Her voice has so much GUTS.
True. I really love the groove and vibe of "Caroline".
Ooh ooh “Everybody Knows”!!!
If you do Everybody Knows you should also react to the Leonard Cohen version.
"Caroline" and "Tomorrow Wendy" are incredible as is the whole "Bloodletting" album
She is my favorite female rock voice, you can feel the passion and pain pour out of her. The whole band was amazing. Caroline is another great song. Put on the ReCollection album, basically a greatest hits, you can’t go wrong with any of the songs on there. I love re-living music for the first through you Jamel.
LOOK UP HELIX BY PHIDEAUX
Such an underrated band, more people should be reacting to these guys.
Hey Jamel. Thank you for exploring Concrete Blonde. And yes, her name is pronounced like "John-nette". 😄 I also recommend "Everybody Knows", their cover of a Leonard Cohen song. Also, "Caroline" and "Bloodletting". ☮ out!
You might listen to their live tracks as well... Johnette Napolitano utterly tears it up live.
The live in Brazil album was perfect
@@moxiesmama6907 I was able to see them a couple times live. Jaw dropping.
Saw them live in ventura when I was married, as soon as the now ex wife heard her voice she recognized, she loved everyone knows
Unless she's drunk sadly. That was a HARD concert to be at. She started out strong but ended up unable to finish the songs and stumbling off the stage ending the show because she hurt her leg really bad, never found out of it broke or was just sprained. My heart broke for her.
@@nyxskids oh no. That is incredibly saddening.
Awesome! So many reactors just do "Joey" and walk away, but _Concrete Blonde_ (And Johnette's other projects) has *_such_* an excellent catalogue that more than deserves a look!
Such as: _Bloodletting_
_Heal It Up_
_Ghost of a Texas ladies Man_
Their cover of Leonard Cohen's _Everybody Knows_
etc., etc., etc.
EDIT: TH-cam won't let me post the links in a comment but is letting me post 'em in a reply for some reason? Anyway, there are links in the reply.
EDIT again: Nope, the reply got deleted...
Pretty and Twisted...!
Tomorrow, Wendy is a great song by this band
Every song on Bloodletting is SO good!!
Concrete Blonde best song us Heal It Up. What a incredible voice performance ! Try the official video of that song ! You won't regret it Jamal ! ;-)
Love that song.
Yes heal it. Powerful!
That whole album is incredible.
I second this, amazing!
Everyone I have ever talked to likes Concrete Blonde. It's been argued that due to fact that they appealed to such a wide variety of fans, that Concrete Blonde was not focused enough on a fan base to gain popularity at a level they so richly deserved.
The lack of success is probably more due to constant fights with IRS Records head Miles Copeland, over their albums and promotion of the band. They did not get the attention from him that his brother's band, The Police did, or other IRS artists. They didn't fit the stereotyped roles that were promoted and Johnette did not play the sexpot.
@@jeffnettleton3858 It's truly saddening they did not gain a much stronger place in music. Johnette Napolitano's voice is amazing. One of my prized possessions is the Dream 6 ep (honestly, I've got a lot of prized possessions, but I do like that one quite a bit).
@@jeffnettleton3858 true, Johnette wrote what was on her mind & her mind was full of vivid stories.she was never going to be the sexpot although she is a very attractive lady.I like all of their songs but my favorites are: this song, Jonestown,Everybody Knows,Ghost of a Texas ladies man,City Screaming,Joey, I call it Love, Caroline,Heal it up..they never played a mediocre song!
Tomorrow, Wendy is the most beautiful and sad song I have ever heard dude please react to it
Sadder still that it is one of those "true story" songs. It was written by Andy Prieboy, who replaced Stan Ridgeway in the band "Wall of Voodoo" (listen to "Far Side of Crazy" from that version of the band - it's awesome). Wendy apparently had AIDS and decided to die on her own terms.
@@anthonyboucher7077 With those she loved and who loved her at her side.
The entire album, bloodletting, is a story about a girl that gets aids from her junkie boyfriend.. and at the end decides suicide.. tomorrow Wendy is the last song. The entire album is fire... Her lyrics are genius... the vampire song starts ... there's a crack in the mirror (bad luck) and a blood stain on the bed (she was a virgin)... she gets aids from having sex with him.. ya, awesome music...
Very underrated band, and you might be surprised how many songs you've actually heard from them! So glad you connected with the song!
Their cover of Everybody Knows (Leonard Cohen) remains on my playlist. Her voice is fire.
Man, such a great band. "tomorrow, Wendy..." "Happy Birthday" (one of my FAVES), "Roses Grow", "Jenny, i read" (another FAVE) have gun going down the rabbit hole.
The live version of Roses Grow is amazing if you haven't heard it, have a listen. 😊
After Jamel's reaction to Joey, I pulled out my copy of bloodletting and listened to it this morning on my drive to work. It still sounds so good.
one of the few albums that 30 years later is still SO good.
"Scene of a perfect crime" and "Mexican Moon" also "Heal it up" great ones by Concrete Blond. Thank you for your videos.
"Mexican Moon", "Heal it up", "Beware of Darkness", and "End of the Line" are my favorites
Man, you'll also love "Someday" and "Bloodletting"
Several more great songs like "Tomorrow Wendy" and "Mexican Moon."
And _Heal It Up_ , _Walking In London_ , _Caroline_ , _Mexican Moon_ ,... They have so many excellent tracks!
Bloodletting!
@@BoojumFed You are so right!!!!
"They're gonna call me sir, they'll all stop pickin' on me, I'm a high school grad, I'm over 5-foot 3, I'll get a badge and a gun and I'll join the PD... they'll see"!
You REALLY need to check out their cover of Everybody Knows. It is their finest. ❤🙂
Tomorrow Wendy is incredible.
So is Heal It Up.
Check out "Bloodletting" by Concrete Blonde, too. Badass Bassline.
If you want some more LA feeling, try Still In Hollywood.
And Kim! Or all of the first album. Fuckin slayed me as a kid in so cal disconnected from glitz and shine that the powers tried to project upon the world. Something like that. Cheers.
@@chrisandersen5635 Kim is a bullseye. My favorite CB song is Help Me with Dancing Along The Edge close behind.
If you want another look at non glitzy LA, try Warren Zevon's first album (called Warren Zevon). If you haven't already. The French Inhaler. Desperados Under The Eaves. Carmelita. Join Me In LA. Poor Poor Pitiful Me.
This is their second album (recorded in 1988, released in '89) I was already a fan and kept waiting for them to explode onto the scene. They kinda did but not the way they should have. Cheers. "Still In Hollywood"
Jamel, everyone is mentioning it, y'all have to react to Tomorrow Wendy by them
So glad and thankful to see someone else acknowledge this woman. She had power , exquisite tonal quality , and a very deep richness to every note !
Kenny Wayne Shepard - Blue on Black
Pretty please
Jamal when I saw Joey, I had hoped you’d do this one. Her voice still gives me chills.
Maybe check out Under A Mexican Moon. And of course Bloodletting. Always had a crush on her.
I think that this was late 80s, actually.
Yup. Just barely. This came out in '89.
My favorite by Concrete Blonde is 'Tomorrow, Wendy'. A real heart-breaker.
Concrete Blonde perform my favorite Happy Birthday song. Thanks for listening!
They had their song "Still in Hollywood" in the old 80's movie "The Hidden". Only reason I know of this band.
I love their early song Still In Hollywood. Really different sound from these later jams.
Delve deeper, their entire catalog is amazing
If you want keep checking out more of their music, "Tomorrow Wendy" is powerful. "Still in Hollywood" might resonate with you as an L.A. native. They have a couple covers that are outstanding, "Everybody Knows" originally by Leonard Cohen and "The Ship Song" originally by Nick Cave (another artist you should check out!). My personal favorites by this band are "Darkening of the Light" and "Carry Me Away." I would love to hear your opinions on any of these songs.
oooh yes.... the Ship Song! and yes, Jamel needs to get some Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds! Red Right Hand seems like an obvious choice, but so would so many others- The Mercy Seat, Tupelo, The Weeping Song. So many good ones.
@@cynon767 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds was probably the best concert I have ever seen. "Red Right Hand" is a good starting point, but I would love to see a reaction to "Dig, Lazarus, Dig!"
I have no idea why ... but this reminds me of Siouxsie and the Banshees
(It is interesting that both the lead singers are the exact same age lol)
th-cam.com/video/gGH_16SICL0/w-d-xo.html
Similar vocal quality in Siouxsie; so, yeah, I can see that. Also, Janis Joplin.
@@MrRedjack12 I always loved this song - thanks for the link!
Yaas I get Siouxsie vibes too!! Peekaboo one of my favs!
Finally some Concrete Blonde reactions! Criminally underrated, one of my favorite bands of all time. I suggest Caroline, Heal It Up, Take Me Home, Mexican Moon, Little Conversations, Bloodletting... Really any of their songs are worth checking out.
one of the greatest live acts ever! in my top 10. I've seen them 5 times, the last time was the Bloodletting 20th anniversary tour. Jim & Johnette are a formidable pair and the outstanding trio with Harry is my favorite iteration of the band and maybe because of nostalgia but CB never failed to kick ass live!
Love them so very very much....💖💖💖
Concrete Blonde Still in Hollywood. Is great. 😄😄😄😄
Jamal, thank you for reviewing this fantastic song & video.
It’s powerful my brother.
I’m a gunshot survivor. I can tell you that my chest wound occurred 46 years ago & I still have PTSD & nightmares.
Again, many thanks.
Peace & love to you & yours.
Concrete Blonde grew out of the Los Angeles post-punk club circuit that produced bands like Wall of Voodoo and the Go-Go's. Vocalist Johnette Napolitano founded the group with guitarist James Mankey and drummer Harry Rushakoff. Fun, awesome group! Thanks for the vid, Peace
"Still In Hollywood" - early Blonde, up-tempo, and more scenes of LA streets in a great video.
Jamal you always have such honest insights & interest in what you view.I'm glad you heard "God is a Bullet".Johnette wrote songs that asked "why is our world so f**ked up?"she has a great voice plus she had James/guitar & Harry/drums.i get a feeling from this about how crazy & violent LA could be on a bad day
This right here is why I love the internet!!! My day was emotional draining, was playing music to relieve stress and next thing I know I’m enjoying watching people listen to one of my favorite musicians for the first time.
Thank you for this video! Seeing you enjoy Johnette Napolitano as a singer and songwriter for the first time was such an amazing experience ❤️
Check out their cover of James' Brown It's A Man's World. Or Jesus , Please Forgive Me For What I'm About To Say. So soulful. Was so in love with Johnette in the late 80's early 90's when I was in HS
Since you're doing some Concrete Blonde, I gotta recommend their song Bloodletting.
So, this is a very personal song to Her, as well as all prison issues. When I lived in HI Concrete Blonde came down to play The World Cafe,as part of a tour but mostly because she was there to visit her Brother, who was incarcerated there in Honolulu. She's a deeply intelligent Woman on these issues as well as others.
For a lighter subject material from this band may I suggest the foloowing:
Tomorrow Wendy
Bloodletting
Caroline...hahahahahaha!
Lighter material.
If you want another deep one you have to give Tomorrow Wendy a listen
Yes! I was one that suggested this... My favorite CB song
Please do : Your Haunted Head by Concrete Blonde My parents were huge fans, so I grew up listening to them. 💖
Fun fact, I saw them on my birthday October 27, 1992 in Charlotte North Carolina. Perhaps the best concert I’ve seen since seeing the base of Waze earlier that year at the Michigan State Fairgrounds with everything action Beck.
So so happy you like Concrete Blonde. If you like God is a Bullet, react to Still in Hollywood. I guarantee you won't be able to sit still!!💖
That song is the JAM!
Thanks for reacting to Concrete Blonde. Johnette always sang from the gut and put her whole soul into her performances. I have so many great memories of seeing them live. Love them so much.
Someday is also a very cool song from Concrete Blond. Had a friend back in the 90's we would regularly go have drinks with on a Friday or Saturday night. Someday was always a staple song in the play list!
I've been a fan of Concrete Blonde since they started releasing music, and have heard God Is A Bullet many, many times. It's a powerful song and I've always liked it. But I never had the complete context to appreciate where it came from until I watched this reaction video. Something about seeing the video, with a narrator who recognized the places in LA made it all click. Now I see the song in a different light, and it's even more powerful, even chilling. I also got the impression that watching it had a big impact on you (meaning Jamel) as you put all the pieces together. That was very compelling to watch.
I'm excited that you just discovered Concrete Blonde. You have a lot of "new" music to catch up on. 😃
It's hard to choose a favorite but I think for me it's "Cold Part of Town". Anyone that's lived alone in a crappy side of a city will feel it.
A really fun one is "Ghost of a Texas Lady's Man".
I remember hearing this song when it was released in 1989 and thinking something like, "This isn't the usual radio-oriented pop/rock. This is something different!" Concrete Blonde really rocked, and they had very thoughtful lyrics too. They had some success, but they should have had much more!
So happy you're visiting the Concrete Blonde catalogue. Thankyou.
It is John - ette! You're right!
This song is about South L.A. *Where she's from!*
She was one of my idols when it came to vocals. I had her singing voice smashed with Thom Yorke.
She gave me the conference and pride to just SING!
Have not thought of this song in years
more concrete blonde - the beast...walking in london...so great..check em out..this band is incredible
Not only keepin' great music alive, but keepin' REAL music alive.
Music by people who lived the life.
More power to you friend.
This was a great era in music, because of great, and raw songs like this. When artists were still artists out for the art itself.
My favorite Concrete Blonde song by a country mile. One of the best songs of its era, period.
So glad you discovered Concrete Blonde. They were one of my favorite bands in the late '80s. Johnette and the rest of the band were all part of the L.A. punk/indie metal scene in the late '70s/early '80s, hanging around the Hollywood rock clubs until they formed their own band in 1982.
I'm not a big believer in the psychic/spiritual world, but Johnette has always claimed she has some psychic/spiritual connection and some of her song lyrics focus on that. One of my favorites is "Ghost of a Texas Ladies Man," which Johnette claims is based on her psychic experiences with the spirit of a Texas cattle rustler from the 1800s.
"Walking In London" is another one, based on Johnette's experiences in London with Concrete Blonde, feeling like there was someone/something else with her as she walked around the city streets. And one of Concrete Blonde's biggest hits, "Bloodletting" (the entire album is great), definitely evokes the feeling that Johnette lived a past life with a coven of vampires in New Orleans. I don't think Johnette has ever claimed that experience was a reality, but the song certainly gives that feeling, and the original video is worth checking out, a personal favorite.
Concrete Blonde is 🔥 and also will be. Relevant music resonates in many generation! Peace 💗
WINNER! This song is fantastic!!!!! One of the great underrated bands.
Try Still In Hollywood! You’ll love it.
Thank you for reacting to this _highly_ underrated band from the late '80's early '90's. They're phenom. Also the lead singer is one of the only female bass player/singers in rock. Try their _Tomorrow Wendy_ live. :)
Umm Kim Deal from the Pixies sang and played bass. She went on to form The Breeders, which she sang lead and played bass all about the same time.
@@kimodell101 Thanks for the info. I did say one of the only.... :)
Jamel, react to Bloodletting. 👍
Little Conversations is my favorite
That song sums me up so much....it hate insincere conversations. I'd rather have silence!
I totally agree with you about how amazing this group is, but from this first time listening to what you have to say about this particular song, you too are amazing. You obviously have a lot to share, so keep sharing. You move, for real. Thanks for being there.
My son told me Concrete Blonde reminds him of his childhood…they were always playing in the background. ☺️
Listen to "Heal It Up" (loud), and "Little Wing". This woman has got heart and soul. Had to share. Thank you for this!!! I am excited for you to try music. I just spent hours with a friend, sharing the songs we love, one-on-one, with each other. You are doing this, and we all benefit from sharing the music that speaks to us. It's a beautiful thing.
Tomorrow, Wendy
Royal Thunder- April Showers or Time Machine
Dax Riggs- Say Goodnight To The World or Let Me Be Your Cigarette
Think you’d dig both great bluesy rock bands with amazing vocalists, love the channel and positivity message.
Royal Thunder
th-cam.com/video/QPCdr8vR_wA/w-d-xo.html
This is the definition of an underrated band. They deserved a far bigger audience than they ever had.
Concrete Blonde are great, "Mexican Moon" is a favorite. Also, check out the late 60's early 70's band Fanny. One of the early all female rock bands. There are some good live videos of them around.
I love everything about this band. I worked with Johnette and on our last day she told me she was quitting so she could focus on her music. She asked me to come to a gig and I had those nerves that you do when you're hoping you'll like them... I was blown away when the trio hit the stage and she was playing bass and started to sing. Always and forever one of my favorite vocalists. No one is mentioning how great the first album is... I still play it regularly and remember my LA days seeing as many gigs as possible.
It is SO COOL to watch you discover this music - ROCK ON!... and DANCE!!!!!
Her voice is captivating I love this band Thanks Jamal
Got to see them live at the Whiskey a Go Go on Sunset back in 87', crazy weekend great show. I love great music.
Holy cow. I couldn't sleep and was checking out your videos randomly. Concrete Blonde is my favorite band!!! Saw them live in 1991.
One of my favourite bands, ever. This song never gets tired, Soo good. Listen to their song "True".
She is one of my favorite songwriters of all time...
“Jon-et” is I believe her pronunciation…
I saw Concrete Blond perform in the ‘90’s, and Johnette perform solo at a small venue years ago.
I was - and AM - so impressed by the integrity of the work, the uncompromising effort, and the “Being Yourself”-ness of these artists!!
thank you so much for reacting to Concrete Blonde - please do Caroline and especially Roses Grow. you’ve touched on a very deep LA based vein here - thanks for keeping this great music alive!
Always Loved Them
Please react to Concrete Blonde's "Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)" and "Tomorrow, Wendy." :)
From 1986, Dance along the edge. Is a heavy base hitting song! My brother's band played a copy of it and my sister in-law sang vocals!
Even if my brother's didn't play it. It's still a bangin song! You should really ck it out!
Glad you got into Concrete Blonde. You have to listen to their song Heal It Up, Johnette's voice is SO POWERFUL in that one. I get chills from it whenever i hear it.
Great reaction video, thank you for listening and sharing! The album Mexican Moon is realllly good, as well as well as Group Therapy, which has one of my favorite songs, "Take Me Home".
SOOOO glad to see your reaction on the Choice Checkerboard at the end of the official vid...the same one you watched, after seeking it out after ANOTHER CB tune turned up in a Leonard Cohen YT-mix(!) Johnette and James are a formidable pair...forgot there was someone else on bass in this...great drummer too...saw it when it came out, and a friend, since sadly passed, with awesome pipes - they'd have to be - was covering it when I met her in the early 90s.
Keep the Concrete Blonde coming Jamel, and as others have said I would LOVE to hear your discovery of the late, great Leonard Cohen.
Before Concrete Blond she recorded an album as Dream 6 and that version of Rain is amazing . It was featured in Party Animal soundtrack.