Cover Wars: Helplessly Hoping

Tom Hamilton, Krista Nielsen and Jim Hamilton perform this cover at an American Babies show in 2005. Source: 5-7-2005

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Brock Butler is joined by his sister Erin on this performance from Jam Cruise in 2008. Audio Source: 1-8-2008

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Video of the same performance:

Chelsea Williams, who I estimate to be in her late teens/early 20’s when this YouTube video was posted back in 2006, delivers a fantastic rendition with the help of two female backup singers.

“You have two choices, you can either sing along – and if you sing along try and sing in tune. Or you can be quiet. But that’s your two options, OK? It’s a short little ditty and it will be over in just a second”, Warren Haynes announces at this Gov’t Mule NYE 2009 show. Warren is joined by Marc Quinones, Dana Fuchs, Jenny Hill and Danny Louis. Source: 12-31-2009

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Video of the same performance from NYE 2009:

Long-time Cover Wars contestants Mr. Blotto extends the song a bit by adding a vocal outro. The band also uses more instrumentation than the original which is only vocals and guitar. I have faded out the track because it segues directly into They Love Each Other. Source: 3-23-2002

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And finally we’ve got Richie Havens who actually doesn’t use any harmonies at all in this live cover. But that’s OK, we’ll allow it since he opened up Woodstock. Source: Live at the Cellar Door

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Checking in on last week’s War Pigs Cover Wars, Gov’t Mule has emerged as the clear winner. Cake & Faith No More both did quite well, currently tied for second place.