Iron & Wine + Ben Bridwell Cover Kendrick Lamar and SZA

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Folk covers of hip hop songs tend to come across as novelty songs, but when it's Iron & Wine and Ben Bridwell (Band of Horses) covering a song from Kendrick Lamar and SZA, everything gets elevated. It's been ten years since Sam Beam and Bridwell have collaborated, and their version of "Luther" is amazing. They completely avoid the silly/novelty trappings of a folk/hip hop cover, and reimagine Lamar and SZA's hit as a gorgeous folk song. Something about the song shows that they have complete reverence and respect for the source material. It's a fun cover, but not a funny one. Plus, it will have you wanting to dive back into the catalogs of everyone involved in the song.

Ben Briswell says of their new cover:

“Working with Sam again feels like a homecoming in so many ways. To circle back ten years after Sing Into My Mouth and expand the project is a wonderful dream relived. 


"I chose to focus on ‘Luther' after kinda hitting a wall wondering which songs would be best to contribute. After much hand-wringing, it hit me, 'Why not just do my favorite song?' I’d been playing the then newly released GNX album on repeat and that song in particular with my girls to the point of exhaustion.  


"About a week later, Kendrick strangled the game at the Super Bowl and ‘Luther' would soon become a number 1 hit for so many weeks. Seems a little late now to share this as it’s been many months since recording it, but I knew that damn song was headed for big things. Praying we did some justice." 

You can listen to Iron & Wine and Ben Bridwell's cover of "Luther" below. Making Good Time is due out September 12, and is available for pre-order here. For more on Iron & Wine, check out the artist here. For Ben Bridwell, you can find Band of Horses' website here. Upcoming co-headlining tour dates are below the song.


9/18 Seattle, WA @ Marymoor Park

9/19 Eugene, WA @ The Cuthbert Amphitheater

9/20 Portland, OR @ McMenamins Grand Lodge

9/22 Saratoga, CA @ The Mountain Winery

9/23 San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield

9/24 Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern

9/26 Del Mar, CA @ The Sound at Del Mar

9/27 Las Vegas, NV @ Bel-Aire Backyard

9/28 Chandler, AZ @ Gila River Resorts & Casinos - Wild Horse Pass

9/30 Flagstaff, AZ @ Pepsi Amphitheater

10/2 Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues Anaheim

10/3 Santa Barbara, CA @ The Arlington Theatre

On Repeat...

Liam Kazar - "Shoes Too Tight"

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Live Shows: Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys, Eight Foot Manchild, and Lovina Falls, The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA 7/12/25

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One of my favorite things is going to see a diverse live bill. Anyone can put together a show with three pop punk bands on it, but it's a challenge (and far more interesting) to put three unique bands on the same show and have it work out perfectly. Saturday night at The Sinclair saw the steamcrunk of Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys, doombrass heroes Eight Foot Manchild, and the baroque pop of Lovina Falls, and it was perfect. Opening the show was Lovina Falls, the current musical project of Valerie Forgione of Mistle Thrush. This was my third or fourth time seeing them in just a few months, and I'm still entertained every time. It's been interesting to watch Lovina Falls adjust and discover their sound over the past two or so years, and I think they've nailed their current sound down. It's an engaging blend of the baroque pop they started out with mixed with a more rock based sound. Songs like "Ellery Way" and "Vaulted" continue to ...
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