Just What I Needed

July 29, 2012 8:39 PM

This is a single-link YouTube post in which the Freebadge Serenaders, a "discount jazz" duo from Sacramento, play the Cars' classic "Just What I Needed" on washboard, cowbell, banjo, and kazoo, live on local NBC affiliate KCRA. That is all it is.
posted by escabeche (33 comments total)

Oh hells to the yes. These guys need to come to Austin now.
posted by immlass at 8:46 PM on July 29, 2012

Ric Ocasek is spinning in his grave.
posted by Daddy-O at 8:47 PM on July 29, 2012 [4 favorites]

That is all? That's enough.
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:47 PM on July 29, 2012

Awesome. Sacramento puts on a great music festival every year and I wouldn't be surprised if I saw these guys while I was down there. Tons of great dixieland, bluegrass, zydeco, jazz, and lots of banjos.

If you like these guys, you might also want to give the Two Man Gentlemen Band a listen, too. (My favorite song's William Howard Taft.)
posted by Old Man McKay at 8:52 PM on July 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

Ric Ocasek isn't dead.
posted by dobbs at 8:53 PM on July 29, 2012

Ric Ocasek isn't dead.
posted by dobbs at 8:53 PM on July 29 [+] [!]

If we hafta explain the joke...
posted by tantrumthecat at 8:54 PM on July 29, 2012 [4 favorites]

More seriously, this is awesome.
posted by tantrumthecat at 8:55 PM on July 29, 2012

He might be now. BTW, there's a great slide whistle solo at the end.
posted by Daddy-O at 8:55 PM on July 29, 2012

That's my favorite part but I didn't want to ruin the delightful surprise in the post.
posted by escabeche at 8:56 PM on July 29, 2012

Needs more megaphone.

A few atonal runs thrown in and that banjo would be encroaching on Eugene Chadbourne territory. Me likey.
posted by sourwookie at 9:03 PM on July 29, 2012

OH HELLS YES
posted by samofidelis at 9:12 PM on July 29, 2012

I had no idea that R Crumb was a Cars fan!
posted by GavinR at 9:13 PM on July 29, 2012 [2 favorites]

Reminds me of the non-ironic (but quite enjoyable) Punch Brothers cover a few months back.
posted by stevil at 9:27 PM on July 29, 2012 [6 favorites]

just what I needed shoodley-bop
posted by infinitewindow at 9:27 PM on July 29, 2012 [8 favorites]

Needs more cowbell.

Yes. More.
posted by Mezentian at 9:32 PM on July 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

This is a really little nit to pick, but, man, that's a terrible splash cymbal.
posted by Sys Rq at 9:46 PM on July 29, 2012

Nice! That slide whistle bit just improved my mood immensely.
posted by Mrrranda at 10:01 PM on July 29, 2012

I expected to enjoy that so much more than I did.
posted by smirkette at 10:50 PM on July 29, 2012 [3 favorites]

stevil: That Chris Eigeman sure can play the banjo.
posted by Redfield at 1:04 AM on July 30, 2012

smirkette: try this.
posted by flabdablet at 2:09 AM on July 30, 2012 [3 favorites]

There are some cover songs that are exponentially better than the original.

This isn't one of them, but it's awfully fun anyway!
posted by Bindyree at 2:21 AM on July 30, 2012

That is appropriate rocking for a very nice Bacon & Day plectrum banjo, complete with knee mute. There aren't many of these about; most of them have been butchered to make 5-strings.
posted by scruss at 4:49 AM on July 30, 2012

Are these gentlemen trying to shake it up?
posted by orme at 4:55 AM on July 30, 2012

Holy moly, that Billy Jean thing is amazing. Where's his hidden hand?
posted by DU at 5:34 AM on July 30, 2012

This is, in fact, rocking me.
posted by joedanger at 6:54 AM on July 30, 2012

DU, I can't be sure, but I'm pretty sure he used a pedal to loop. flabdablet, that was awesome!
posted by smirkette at 8:31 AM on July 30, 2012

That was great fun, and now I'm off to practice the kazoo head toss.

(Billy Jean clip amazing!)
posted by pymsical at 11:37 AM on July 30, 2012

I don't think he can be looping. The parts change throughout and he doesn't re-record.
posted by DU at 4:35 PM on July 30, 2012

YAY, SACTO!
posted by Duffington at 4:59 PM on July 30, 2012

No loop pedal.
posted by flabdablet at 8:56 PM on July 30, 2012

Is this available on 78RPM?
posted by wallabear at 9:12 PM on July 30, 2012

Cool country version. Jesse Dayton. Unfortunately I can find the album version. This recordings not great quality but the song is still cool. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuOo6wS6ung
posted by Che boludo! at 1:47 PM on August 16, 2012

Let's try this again. Jesse Dayton link.
posted by Che boludo! at 1:47 PM on August 16, 2012