B List: 10 Great Covers by Brock Butler

2. Jessica (Allman Brothers Band) – August 19, 2010

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3d5UqiJ3juY[/youtube]

Another cover featuring great use of loops, Brock digs in to this Allman Brothers Band instrumental and does a nice job of soloing with himself. Unfortunately the clip cuts out just as the “jam” gets good, but you can listen to a complete version from the latest Amberland here.

3. Breathe In (STS9) – September 5, 2007

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v88P2u_HSJ4[/youtube]

Years before STS9 went unplugged with their Axe The Cables show, Brock started performing the jamtronica group’s most beautiful composition, Breathe In, at some of his solo shows. You’ve got to love that Butler has no problem covering songs by his peers in the jam world.

4. Alone, Jealous and Stoned (The Secret Machines) – July 22, 2007

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i86bjGHMCQI[/youtube]

The PGroove front man doesn’t wait until a song has been played out to start covering it. As an example, Brock debuted his take on The Secret Machines’ Alone, Jealous and Stoned shortly after the release of Ten Silver Drops. Butler’s emotion-filled vocal delivery works so well for this tune.

5. All Night Long (Lionel Richie) – February 19, 2011

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0doFx1Fi-z0[/youtube]

Brock cut his teeth playing parties around the Savannah area and there were a few songs he could always count on to win over audiences including this classic ’80s cover. One of my favorite moments of Jam Cruise 9 was backing Butler with the “all night” vocals along with the rest of the 20 or so folks who had gathered for one of his famed sunrise sets.

6. Queen Bee (Taj Mahal) – January 8, 2011

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8OwmQ-JFg8[/youtube]

Speaking of Butler’s sunrise sets aboard Jam Cruise, here’s his take on Taj Mahal’s Queen Bee from one of those performances aboard Jam Cruise 9. I love that he doesn’t imitate the artists he’s covering, instead Brock uses the original versions as a blueprint upon which he puts his own spin. If you look close enough, you’ll notice a legendary drummer pass by just as Brock gets cookin’.

7. All My Friends (LCD Soundsystem) – December 9, 2010

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b9YKfqJv4Q[/youtube]

Perpetual Groove has been covering All My Friends for years and while I love the full band version, I also dig Brock’s solo take on the tune. This clip is the best of both worlds with PGroove bassist Adam Perry joining Butler for the LCD classic.

8 & 9. Long May You Run (Neil Young) / Graceland (Paul Simon) – January 6, 2010

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5rurXQWxWU[/youtube]

One of the most amazing musical experiences I ever had was stumbling upon Brock’s sunrise performance with Ellie LaBar on Jam Cruise 8 just as the sun was rising over the Grand Caymans. Luckily, one of the other folks who caught this set captured the pair’s gorgeous versions of Long May You Run by Neil Young and Graceland by Paul Simon. For more on Brock and Ellie’s magical duets be sure to read my article.

10. This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody) – July 14, 2010

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoUC_4-MBuQ[/youtube]

I just had to end this list with my favorite cover in Brock’s repertoire – Naive Melody. Again, Butler doesn’t try to imitate David Byrne, he just puts his soul into each and every heart-wrenching lyric in a way that if we could bottle it might bring peace to the middle east.