Halloween traditions are going to be quite different this year. Kids will be doing trick ‘r treating through PVC pipes.and we are going to have to work a face mask into any costume we were going for. One tradition that is still going this year involves a beloved alternative band doing an entire tribute set as one of their favorite bands. 101WKQX’s beloved pals Local H will perform as Nirvana at a socially-distant drive-in concert on Halloween October 31st outside the Schaumberg Boomers stadium. Get your tickets here.
On that note, let’s stream some of the best covers of the Seattle legends. These are listed in no apparent order, just enjoy them wishing you were back in the 90’s.
Nirvana and St. Vincent – Lithium
When Nirvana was inducted into the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame, the surviving members Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl came up with a unique way to perform: have a whose-who of female singers perform with them. One of the best of the bunch was Annie Clark who you likely know as St. Vincent.
Post Malone Nirvana Livestream.
As the COVID-19 pandemic forced us all home, rapper and rock musician Post Malone assembled a killer band including Blink-182’s Travis Barker on drums to do a full set of Nirvana covers that helped raise over $7 million for the World Health Organization’S fight against the virus. It is so outstanding that it pulled in 14 million-plus views on YouTube. We could not do this list without including this.
Patti Smith- Smells like teen spirit
This folksy take on the song that changed the world is quite chill in comparison to the original but Smith her emotional gravity really pulls it off.
Evanescence – Heart-Shaped Box
Amy Lee’s voice croons and swoons through this acoustic cover and still retains all of this tracks originally dreary grit.
The Coverups – Drain You
You should not just blindly scroll past this one because you did not recognize the name. The Coverups are just a not-so-secret cover band lead by Billie Joe Armstrong and other Green Day friends on special occasions.
Polyphonic Spree – Lithium
This twenty-something membered collective is known for putting out a very positive and at-times psychedelic vibe with grandiose results. That all plays up this song off the ‘Nevermind’ with horn sections, many backup singers, cellos, harps, and many elements never featured in the original version.
Tori Amos – Smells like teen spirit
The haunting sustain hum of a grand piano with the queen of emotional 90s alternative anthems Tori Amos. Yes, it will raise the hair on your arms.
Big Scary – Come As You Are
Australia’s Triple J has produced some very popular live covers on YouTube including this dream-pop spin of ‘Comes Ad You Are’ from Big Scary.
Architects – Territorial Pissings
This UK rock band unleashes the rage of the 1991 gem on the BBC audience.
Sinead O’Connor – All Apologies
Released just a few months after Kurt Cobain’s death, this gracefully delivered softer version by Irish songbird Sinead O’Connor saw her share the mental health struggles she has had with Cobain.
