Double Lives

A podcast exploring the joy and energy of live albums. Hosts James Hearne and Dan Drago highlight and obsess over the best live albums of our time, discuss the history and context of performances, and fall down the occasional rabbit hole, all while celebrating what they love about live music.

S1E8. A Live One (Phish, 1995)- Part 2 11/09/2020

S1E8. A Live One (Phish, 1995)- Part 2 In the final episode of the first season, James and Dan conclude their look at Phish's 1995 'A Live One' with an in depth discussion about disc 2. They talk about the band's secret language with their audience, tackle the massive 'Tweezer' that takes up nearly half of the disc's run-time, and answer the question "Could this be the only Phish record you own?" Thank you all for a great season, we look forward to putting out the next one. /episode/index/show/doublelivespod/id/15607787

S1E7. A Live One (Phish, 1995)- Part 1 11/02/2020

S1E7. A Live One (Phish, 1995)- Part 1 We're wrapping up the season with two-parter on Phish's 1995 double CD 'A Live One', recorded from the '94 summer and fall tour. James and Dan dive into disc 1, talking about what makes Phish a unique live band, and a unique live-album band. How do you even capture the phenomenon of one of THE live bands of our time on a CD, especially in the mid 90s, as the band was growing rapidly along with their devoted fanbase? Dan and James go deep on one of their favorite bands, with "minimal trivial diversions". /episode/index/show/doublelivespod/id/15607778

S1E6. Aretha Live at the Fillmore West (Aretha Franklin, 1971) 10/12/2020

S1E6. Aretha Live at the Fillmore West (Aretha Franklin, 1971) There are more Aretha Franklin live records out there than most bands have in their entire catalogs. Why this one? James and Dan get wowed not only by the Queen of Soul's not-of-this-world vocals, but by the fiery performance from King Curtis and the Kingpins, backed the Memphis Horns. Whether it's her superior takes on a few classic hits of the day, her own hits, or Aretha's gospel-steeped crowd work, there's a lot to talk about on this record that doesn't even clock in at an hour. /episode/index/show/doublelivespod/id/15607739

S1E5. Live Between Us (The Tragically Hip, 1997) 09/28/2020

S1E5. Live Between Us (The Tragically Hip, 1997) There was no band bigger, no band greater, and no band that represents Canada better than The Tragically Hip. Their 1997 live album is a full-of-energy artifact of what the band could offer every night onstage. James and Dan talk about the late poet/frontman Gord Downie and his antics, the band's massive popularity in their home nation (while never really making a big splash in the US), and the evolution of The Hip from a solid barroom blues band to stadium kings. /episode/index/show/doublelivespod/id/16018304

S1E4. Roseland NYC Live (Portishead, 1998) 09/14/2020

S1E4. Roseland NYC Live (Portishead, 1998) In the 90s, there was no other group like Portishead. And there is no live album from the modern rock era that swings for the fences like this one, and pulls it off as beautifully. James and Dan both cite this album, the band, and the accompanying concert film as life changing for them as late teens, and they talk about the brilliant use of orchestration for an otherwise sample-heavy band, the delicacy of dynamics, and Beth Gibbons' haunting vocal range. /episode/index/show/doublelivespod/id/15607073

S1E3. Live At Carnegie Hall (Bill Withers, 1973) 08/31/2020

S1E3. Live At Carnegie Hall (Bill Withers, 1973) Bill Withers may be one of the finest voices in r&b that not nearly enough people talk about. James and Dan delve into the man's career (which he began after age 30), the amazing band he put together for this concert, the sheer volume of hits he had in such a short time, and that 'Lean On Me' should be our national anthem. /episode/index/show/doublelivespod/id/15607046

S1E2. Living in Clip (Ani Difranco, 1997)- Part 2 08/17/2020

S1E2. Living in Clip (Ani Difranco, 1997)- Part 2 In Part 2, we slide disc 2 of 'Living In Clip' into the player for more great live Ani Difranco. James and Dan get more into Ani as a lyricist, some of her classic folk singer moves, her work with Utah Phillips, what she means to the LGBTQ community, and more hilarious onstage banter. They wrap up by answering the question: Should this be the only Ani record you own? /episode/index/show/doublelivespod/id/15607034

S1E1. Living In Clip (Ani Difranco, 1997)- Part 1 08/03/2020

S1E1. Living In Clip (Ani Difranco, 1997)- Part 1 Welcome to Double Lives, a podcast about live albums. James Hearne and Dan Drago will help answer the questions: Should I own this record? Should it be the only one I own? What makes this live record so special, anyways? /episode/index/show/doublelivespod/id/15439859

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