(Note: this series was originally published elsewhere.)

Something in music: origin

One evening at a hot, trendy L.A. nightclub on a rare solo outing, yours truly found himself standing alone at the bar preparing to review the upcoming act. Before he had taken more than a few notes, however, he was bookended by a pair of vivacious vixens who insisted on engaging your rockin’ writer in cozy conversation. Strangely, the subject of “marriage” arose.

One of the young ladies noted that when a gal is about to get hitched, she needs “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.” Your provocative penman was immediately inspired. After all, those very same terms could be applied to music too: “Something old” or classic, “something new” or recently released, “something borrowed”, a cover, and “something blue”, a blues song or a song with “blue” in the title. The rest is history.

‘Something’ in Music 297

Something Old

Our “something old” in this edition is the classic cut “You Better Run” written by Eddie Brigati and Felix Caliere of the Young Rascals in 1966. This rockin’ cover is by American singer Pat Benatar. It first appeared on her second album, Crimes of Passion, which dropped in 1980.

Something New

Our “something new” this time is the new song “Dancing on the Floor” written and recorded by the Phoenix blues rock band Until The Sun. The Arizona act’s band roster currently includes Alyssa Swartz on vocals, Brandon Teskey on lead guitar, Chris Tex on drums, and David Raymer on bass guitar. In a recent email, Teskey spoke of this single “is a fun, funky upbeat blues song that will make you want to dance this Summer. [It’s a] song with its heart in the blues, but with a grooving funk beat that'll make you want to move your feet."

The track is the first single off their new upcoming album titled Enchantment which drops July 21st. If you’d like to see the band perform live, you’re in luck. They’re currently touring. Here are some upcoming concert dates:

July 22 (Sat) RIPS BAR Phoenix AZ
Sept 4 (Mon) NEW BLUES FESTIVAL Long Beach CA
Sept 17 (Sun) RHYTHM ROOM Phoenix AZ
Dec 1 (Fri) GYPSY'S ROADHOUSE Phoenix AZ
Feb 25 (Sun) MALAINEY'S Long Beach CA
Feb 26 (Mon) MAUI SUGAR MILL Tarzana CA

Something Borrowed

Our “something borrowed” this edition is the song "Voodoo Child" (officially titled “Voodoo Child (SlightReturn)”). It was written by American singer-songwriter and guitarist Jimi Hendrix and first recorded by the Jimi Hendrix Experience for his 1968 platter Electric Ladyland. This cover was recorded by the act known as New Jersey-based act known as the Billy Walton Band.

The song was recorded live in March, 2008 at the House of Blues in Atlantic City, New Jersey. If you’d like to hear more of the band’s music, you’re in luck. The Billy Walton Band is performing live every Thursday at The Point in New Jersey from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. Admission to this 21+ residency, a.k.a. “Rockin’ The Point”, is free.

In an e-communique band frontman guitarist and vocalist Billy Walton discussed the gig saying: "For our Residency at The Point, we'll dig into our back catalog, play some favorites, debut new songs, and jam on some classic covers. We even put our stamp on some more current songs. There's something for everyone.”

If you can’t make it to the band’s 2023 Thursday night Summer Residency at The Point, the group will be performing elsewhere too. The band will be playing at the Angelsea Blues Festival in Wildwood, New Jersey on July 16th; and the Rye Bread Music & Arts Festival in Schaghticoke, New York on July 25th and 26th.

The band roster currently features Walton (Southside Johnny, Little Steven, Gary US Bonds), bassist William Paris, singer and guitarist Destinee Monroe, saxophonist Tom Petraccaro, keyboardist Eric Safka and drummer Daniel Gonzalez.

Something Blue

Finally, our “something blue” this edition is the song “God Loves The Blues (Revisited)” by the Los Angeles, California-based blues band Toni Dodd and Southbound Blues. The track is off the act’s 2012 disc titled Too Much Car for the Road. The video features Toni Dodd, Eric Davis, and Phil Gates.

If you’re in the area and want to see Toni and company play live, they will be playing live at the Grand Opening of the VFW All American Post 2323 on July 15th, 2023 in Granada Hills, California. There will also be four other acts, Brad Groswold, Joe Kolacheck, Eddie Ray, and Styxx. The show will run from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Did we mention your favorite “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”? If not, let us know. Don’t forget to send us your bride photos too!

(Images courtesy of Rock n Roll Chapel and The Wedding Secret Co respectively)