It's time to get your video geek on and explore some live performance videos that I really like that are out there on YouTube. As we all know, YouTube is the refuge of pretty much every form of music video, from crappy cell phone clips, to digitized old TV footage, to well shot digital video. Sometimes the videos are official, while others are posted by fans without permission from the artists. Some bands scream when they see the shaky video clips and have discussed ways of jamming people's phones or using special lighting to prevent video, but overall, in 2018, most have given up. Perhaps they are making the calculation that the visibility is better than none at all.

Bottom line, there is tremendous history available in these videos, offering glimpses into shows that only a decade ago were exclusive to those who were physically in attendance. That is the nature of the Internet nowadays, making every day a treasure hunt, as you search through the chaff and garbage to find some true jewels.

Here is a list of YouTube videos that I think you will find interesting – some you might even really like. The quality of some leave much to be desired, but I often believe the historic audio trumps the poor visuals. Hopefully they will spur you to embark on your own treasure hunt in a sea of unlimited videos.

Steve's YouTube picks:

1) "Grateful Dawg" by Garcia Grisman
This song launched the popularity of the Grisman and Garcia projects, resulting in a string of albums that delighted fans and helped David Grisman build the successful independent label, Acoustic Disc. http://bit.ly/2pHLyiV

2) "The Sahara of Snow" by Bruford
This clip from a TV show called, "Rock Goes to College," features the great 80's fusion band Bruford, starring Yes and King Crimson drummer, Bill Bruford, Canterbury rock pioneer, Dave Stewart, on the keyboard, bass wizard Jeff Berlin, and the vastly unappreciated (now passed-on) guitarist, Allan Holdsworth. I love this stuff. http://bit.ly/2pJ8Y8o

3) "12 Bar Blues" by NRBQ
Dubbed the greatest bar band ever, with the great Al Anderson on lead guitar and vocals, this video of NRBQ's best lineup really rocks. Al is now a highly successful Nashville songwriter, and NRBQ continues to play with original keyboardists Terry Adams and a group of new guys. http://bit.ly/2pH0miQ

4) "Stevie's Spanking" by Zappa
Filmed at a concert in Rome, this duo guitar solo section from the song "Stevie's Spanking" features Frank Zappa and his Berklee-trained stunt guitarist Steve Vai, who joined the band after transcribing Zappa's vast catalog of music. http://bit.ly/2G8Bfj8

5) "San Lorenzo" by Pat Metheny Group
Shot in 1978, the year I first saw the group at the Telluride Jazz Festival, this video catches the essence of what is now the extraordinary foundation of the long-standing Pat Metheny Group. The music is melodic, ethereal, hypnotic…genius…and Lyle May's piano solo in this tune ranks as one of the very best ever in jazz-rock fusion. http://bit.ly/2GdX250

6) "Inca Roads" by Mike Keneally
Mike Keneally was Frank Zappa's stunt guitarist during the last Zappa tour in 1988. He went on to an eclectic and relatively unknown solo career that occasionally features songs from the Zappa catalog. It's a shame more people have not heard of this virtuoso multi-instrumentalist and composer. Here he embarks on a solo version of the complex Zappa classic, "Inca Roads," much to my delight (and hopefully yours, too). http://bit.ly/2IVqkqE

7) "Green Cat Eyes" by The Plank Stompers
The Plank Stompers continue to be hot in the local music scene with their eclectic Appalachian fusion tunes. Here's a video they posted a few years back that gives you the essence of the band's sound. http://bit.ly/2umds9J

8) "Fare Thee Well" by The Grateful Dead
One of the biggest musical events of the decade was the Dead's Fare Thee Well Shows. The band brought on Trey Anastasio to serve as Jerry Garcia's surrogate. This band-sponsored Youtube video gives you the whole show from Santa Clara, June 27th, 2015 (all four plus hours!). Call some friends, warm up that 80 inch LCD screen, turn up the volume, and dig on some Grateful Dead. http://bit.ly/2DUM16Eg

This month's Spotify playlist is something I put together for the recent Mayo Brown dinner party at the Unison Store, hosted by Mayo and the Unison Preservation Society. It's got a good dose of piano jazz with some other good stuff mixed in to keep things spicy. Try it, you'll like it. http://bit.ly/2pIGr2e

Steve Chase lives in Unison and plays music too loud.